14 minute read
Prom & Flowers Memories in the Making
from FF March 2022
by Forsyth Mags
Prom & Flowers
Memories in the Making
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BY ANGELIA CORNATZER
Flowers are often a part of the most special occasions. We include beautiful colors and petals in the brightest moments of life as well as the hardest moments. When life begins and ends, when times are celebratory or sorrowful, flowers are the go-to gesture that we extend to those we love. One of the busiest flower seasons is prom season! Every year, thousands of young people gather for a night of glam and fun with their dress, their date, and their flowers. Whether they are worn on the wrist or on the lapel, flowers have been a timeless touch for prom night through the years. The history of wearing flowers began in the ancient days when flowers were worn on the bodice of a woman’s dress. It was believed that the floral scents from these mini bouquets would ward off evil spirits at weddings. Through the years, the tradition has since moved to wearing flowers on the wrist for women and the lapel for men at any kind of special event. The tradition we now know of wearing flowers to prom with your date began in the 20th century! When choosing where to place the beautiful small arrangement, it is usual that the young man will wear his prom flower pinned to the left side of his lapel. Typically, the young woman may choose to wear it displayed on her wrist or pinned to the dress on the left side. There are a few things to think about when picking out your prom flowers. It is popular to match two things to your corsage, those being your date and your dress. When it comes to matching your flowers with your date, one option would be to have identical arrangements with your date. You could both wear the same flower in the same color. Another option would be to match the color that you both have, but with differing flowers. When it comes to matching the flowers to your dress, you have many options of how to combine the two. The color of your flowers could complement or match the color of the fabric of the dress. If you desire something different than your dress color, flowers with neutral colors will complement any color of dress. If you’re anything like me, you don’t want to throw away something so beautiful and special after just one day! There are many options to keep your prom flowers around after the dreamy night is complete. One option would be to air-dry your flowers. This entails placing the flowers in a vase or hanging t hem upside down to dry them out. After letting them sit for 2-4 weeks, they will be dry, and you can place them around your house for decoration. Another way to save your flowers would be to press them. You will need a book and parchment paper. Place the flowers in the parchment paper, lay them under the book, and leave them for 2-4 weeks. If you want to speed up the process, there is a way to press flowers instantly by using the microwave. Namely, you can place the flowers into a paper towel, press under a book, and microwave it all for 30-60-second increments, waiting for the flowers to cool between microwave runs. Lastly, you can preserve your flowers using silica sand. Simply place the flowers into a bowl of silica sand and wait 2-7 days, checking on its status each day. When the flowers are to your liking, remove them from the sand and display as wanted!
Whichever look of prom flower you choose to go with and however you choose to save them, flowers are the icing on the cake for prom season. Enjoy every moment of picking out your date, your dress, and your flowers!
“Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food, and medicine for the
soul.” ~ Luther Burbank SOURCES: proflowers.com/blog/how-to-press-flowers gardenguides.com/84908-history-corsages.html
The Final Countdown to Prom The Ultimate Checklist
BY TARYN JEREZ
There’s a reason we see film after film recreate the iconic prom scene in teen movies; there are few rites of passage as memorable. Counting down for your own iconic prom night? With so much to do before the big event, the process can sometimes feel a little overwhelming! Planning things out ahead of time can make your prom stressfree and effortless, allowing you to focus on the most important part—having a good time. Here’s your all-inclusive list of everything you’ll need and when to follow through to help you have your best prom night ever!
If you haven’t taken care of these things, do so immediately!
o Start pulling inspiration for your prom style of choice. Going Old Hollywood?
Glitz and Glam? Staying Classic or going trendy? o Note any dress-code rules for your school that need following before you start shopping for attire. o Confirm if you’ll be attending with a group of friends, a date or rocking it solo. o Start saving a little money for prom expenses by picking up odd jobs, like tutoring, dog walking or mowing lawns. o Purchase your Prom Tickets or make sure your date has got them covered. o Shop for your Prom Dress, Suit or
Tuxedo. Don’t forget to check out local formalwear shops like Hip
Chics in Clemmons and Nitsa’s in
Winston Salem! o If your formalwear needs a little help in fitting, schedule an alterations appointment. o Start finding inspiration for Hair and
Makeup online or in magazines. o Book plans for transportation and any after-prom activities with friends (limousine, party bus, hotel reservation, beach rental, etc.).
1 MONTH BEFORE
o Book your hair, nail and/or makeup appointments, if needed. o Purchase or borrow any accessories or jewelry for the big night. o Finalize all alterations for your attire. 2 WEEKS BEFORE
o Start breaking in new dress shoes you’ll be wearing, to make sure you’re ready for the dance floor o Order your date’s corsage or boutonniere from your local florist. o Make dinner reservations, if you’re planning on a pre-prom bite out.
Fratelli’s Italian Steakhouse and Jeffrey
Adams in Winston-Salem are two great options!
1 WEEK BEFORE
o Start pampering yourself a little early!
Get lots of sleep, take care of your skin, and drink plenty of water! o Coordinate your plans with friends; who’s meeting, at what time and where?
o Schedule pre-prom photos with your parents, friends’ group and anyone else you want to include. 1 DAY BEFORE
o Pack your bag for any after-prom overnight or weekend plans with friends. o Create an emergency kit of anything you may need and will want with you (e.g., garment tape, bobby pins, Tylenol, cash, etc.) o Print out or save to your phone any inspirational images for your hair and beauty appointments. o Attend a nail appointment or do them yourself at home or with friends. o Get a good night’s sleep—you have some partying to do the next night!
THE BIG DAY
o Make time to eat and drink. You need food for energy and you want to stay hydrated! o Be sure to charge your phone and camera. o Attend hair and makeup appointments earlier in the day. o Get ready an hour or so before you are supposed to be ready, to make sure you have everything you need and can avoid rushing. o Photos! A selfie or two are great, but have someone get some shots of you and your fellow prom goers that will last a lifetime.
PROM NIGHT
o Remember—safety first! Look out for yourself and your friends. o Have a blast! Don’t stress and have fun. Remember, this is your special night!
YIN and YANG
A Recipe for an “Enlightened” Call Center Culture
Combined, Alphonse “Al” Oliveri and Stacey Sanchez have 35 years of call center experience, yet their paths and leadership styles to call center management at Piedmont Advantage Credit Union in Winston-Salem couldn’t be more different. Oliveri was raised in a community not far from New York City. He’s a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Manhattan, acted professionally and managed restaurants for several years; while Sanchez was born in Florida and raised in Forsyth County when her father joined Piedmont Airlines. Sanchez also worked in the airline industry in passenger services and with the Winston-Salem Police Department as a prisoner processor and crime scene technician for five years. Oliveri is driven to break the traditional call center business model. Sanchez lives to problem-solve and uses facts to advance performance. As a management team, they balance each other out, which has led to an enlightened call center culture at Piedmont Advantage. In this context, enlightened means individuals are inspired to do their best in everything they do. “In general, call center metrics, like average handle time, are designed to demonstrate cost-efficiency and a quick customer journey. At Piedmont Advantage, I want our call center team to connect with our members,” said Oliveri, Piedmont Advantage’s Member Relationship Team (MRT) Manager.
“As my job title reflects, customer service is about building trusting and authentic relationships. I view myself as a relationship leader, so
I’m more concerned with how well we are strengthening connections with our members and not so much about the length of time it takes to do this well,” he said.
Pictured left are Alphonse “Al” Oliveri and Stacey Sanchez of Piedmont Advantage Credit Union.
as the MRT Workforce Operations Manager. She is primarily tasked with holding team members accountable in their efforts to meet service level standards, which drives the member efficient experience in how quickly calls are answered.
“I try to do my best to set clear expectations and equip our team with the skills and resources to do their jobs
well,” she said.
“Al is the ‘Yin’ of our center with his ability to provide opportunities for our team members to apply their skills in new and greater ways; and I’m the ‘Yang’ with my desire to problemsolve and measure progress individually and as a team,” Sanchez added. This Yin and Yang collaboration between Oliveri and Sanchez has led to many promotions among their team members. “Call centers are the best place to learn everything about the organization, so if representatives ai164389776017_Debt Simplified - FF-02 outlined.pdf 1 2/3/2022 9:16:03 AMwant to use the call center experience and vast knowledge to advance their careers, we’ll do our part to put them in a successful position to do so,” Oliveri said. Inspired by Disney’s exceptional customer service, Oliveri coaches his team members to take pride in their call center work. “We’re doing hero’s work each and every day,” he said, which is similar to what Walt Disney is known to have said. When Disneyland was under construction, Disney asked a construction crew member what he was doing. The reply was “I’m laying bricks.” Disney responded, “No. You’re building a castle.” Oliveri and Sanchez instill pride in the workplace. When filling vacancies, they look for individuals who are compassionate and caring and have a knack for being able to see things from the perspective of others. Together, they empower others and assume responsibility for managing outcomes. For opportunities to work with Oliveri and Sanchez as a Member Relationship Team Representative or within other areas of Piedmont Advantage, visit PACU.com/Careers.
PACU
Bountiful Benefits of Expressing & Sharing Your Life’s Book
BY SUSAN BB SCHABACKER
Life’s story; everyone has one, and it’s always worth sharing, whether solely with yourself, your family and friends, or the entire world. Even the ordinary can be extraordinary. Whatever chapter you’re currently in, you’re in the process of living a chapter of your life’s book. Documenting your life can help you make sense of things and deepen your understanding of who and where you are. Self-expression and reflection on your life can help keep track of where you have been, where you are now, and also where you’re going, as you capture the highlights (and lowlights) of your life’s journey. Thoughtful reflections can enable self-acceptance and making peace with your life. Here are some ideas and inspiration, tips and tidbits on documenting and sharing your life story, whether journaling as a personal account, or via writing, or through multimedia. The concept of capturing your life’s story can feel like a daunting and arduous task, but don’t let it intimidate you. Don’t feel pressured to make your story public right away. You can always decide whether or not to share with the world later on. It’s up to you who you want to share your story with and in what medium(s)/media. Even if your life’s story is only reviewed by yourself and your loved ones, it can be inspirational. There may be elements of your life you feel embarrassed or even ashamed of, but mustering up the courage to share them can be therapeutic. There are many ways to document your life’s story. Writing, which can be therapeutic, is not for everyone, so consider other options. Maybe you’d rather start by recording some impromptu audio that can later be translated into writing. Or, if you’re comfortable being in front of the camera, a series of video recordings can be a personable way to express yourself. On the flip side, if you want to minimize rambling, dead spaces, or moments you’d rather edit out in post-production, it makes sense to have a script to go by. Having a script to work with can provide an ideal framework, whether you read, memorize, or simply use it as a guide. Some key advantages are staying on track, as well as editability, share-ability, and flexibility. And, if you’re audio- or camera- shy, you can always have someone else read or act it for you. Don’t worry about where to start. You can overcome writer’s block. Though you may prefer to organize your content into chronological order in the editing process, there’s no need to force it. Write what comes naturally. An outline, though not mandatory, can also help provide structure, like a blueprint, for organizing your life’s story sequentially. Consider identifying some of the major highlights, life milestones, and events before you delve into all the details and specifics. Tips and Tidbits on Sharing Your Life’s Story
• Relax, as you reflect on your life. • If you have enough material to cover several novels, break it up. • Write without a filter (i.e., don’t edit at first) • Be honest and tell the truth, however ugly. • Know the audience (whether one person or multiple people) you’re reaching. • Don’t be afraid to think outside the box. • Don’t diminish the dark side. Life is like a coin. It’s two-sided, so if you want to share your full story, don’t just stick with the good times and positive memories. • Focus on your own healing as you make peace with a past and move forward from any hurt and harm you’ve been through. • Allow the recap to improve your life; learn from mistakes, rid yourself of regrets, and keep the pages turning. • Don’t overwhelm yourself; pour a bit at a time into the glass and pretty soon the drops of water falling into it will make it full (and when it’s halfway there, you can see the glass as halfway full, too). Remember, it’s your life and your choice to share it. Accept it. Love it. Claim it.
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