Creating a Staff Luncheon....

So this year was my first venture into organizing the duanesburg school district's staff appreciation luncheon. It is sponsored by the PTSO (Secretary here) and the food was provided by parents in the community. It essentially takes making a hundred or so phone calls to get various kinds of desserts, sides, main dishes, and salads, some shopping for various supplies, drinks, etc. and a vision of what you like the overall feel of it to be. I was nervous but really excited about the entire affair. I got through the first dozen phone calls by pacing rapidly around my house but after realizing that most people were more than willing to help I lost the shy factor and did about 20 or so calls a night. Kelly (the wonderful lady that has been doing this for years) came over to give me some help in the beginning and said that she would be there the day of with a few student volunteers so I was all set up in that area and the only thing left was shopping and decorating (my specialties). The event is held in the high school cafeteria and using the picnic style like tables which are not exactly the glamorous round tables I saw in my head, so table cloths were a must to soften the room and add ambiance. The theme I picked was cherry blossoms which I thought would be delicate and pretty and remind everyone of the coming spring. I had a friend that just so happens to be a wiz with photoshop make the invitations to send out and recognition notes that went on the tables, and due to the fact that I was working with a tight budget and there were 20 tables plus buffet, I made the flowers. The grand flower arrangements that I wanted would have depleted to much of my funds and I really wanted something unexpected. I got the idea off another blog which pointed me in the direction of the great martha stewart and a tutorial. It called for pink tissue paper and a branch and since my birch tree had a big limb fall off this winter I new just were to get them. I purchased simple vases and river rocks for the base and covered each table in a white paper roll cloth with a hand cut scalloped edge. The flowers were pink and the buffet tables I did in pink as well for a nice contrast. Each place was set with a simple rolled napkin containing their silverware and tied off with a ribbon. All in all everything came out beautiful and the staff were surprised and delighted! I will be doing it again next year and only hope I can make it equally as stunning!