You're Invited, Menomonee Falls Open House

Menomonee Falls store will host their Christmas Open House Sunday, November 27th 12-4 during the downtown annual Menomonee Falls Christmas walk. Don't forget the Christmas parade at 4:30 which begins at Harrison Avenue on Main St. and travels west on Main, continuing south on Appleton Avenue and ending at Arthur Avenue. The village Christmas tree will also be lit up for the first time this season at 4:00!

Bank of Memories & Flowers offers a wide variety of unique Christmas ornaments, home decor, and holiday scented candles. Don't miss out on our one time only specials. You will also have the chance to enter to win a beautiful Christmas centerpiece. Purchase a gift card for $10.00 or more and receive 15% off your purchase that day. Gift cards make awesome stocking stuffers!!!

Linda and Chad's Wedding Day

Linda and Chad were married on September 17th at The Country Springs Hotel in Pewaukee. The weather was perfect for the wedding ceremony under the gazebo. The flowers they chose for their wedding party was green hydrangeas, lavender roses, purple lizzy and freesia. Linda, our bride, carried the timeless all white bouquet of hydrangeas, roses, lizzy, and orchids that just smelled amazing!

Thanks to Ann Oleinik Photography for these beautiful pictures. Her gallery of this wedding was amazing to choose from. She didn't miss a shot and really captured the day.

Wedding Show Guide

The wedding shows have been kicking up in full swing. Did anyone see our very own Pewaukee designers, Danyell and Lauren, at ‘The Bridal Faire’ at Olympia Resort in Oconomowoc On Sunday November 6th? Danyell and Lauren met tons of wonderful brides eager to plan their weddings. And of course, they loved discussing ideas with all of the girls! Because
of all the wonderful brides they met, consultations are filling up fast, book yours today!!

On that thought, attending bridal shows are very helpful when planning a wedding; there are a variety of vendors at the tip of your finger. However, walking in and seeing dozens and dozens of vendors can make the process seem very overwhelming. To guarantee a fantastic time and beat the overwhelming feeling, have a plan. If you are just starting your wedding planning, be open to soaking it all in and get to know what vendors are offering. If you have some plans made, even just the date of the wedding, make a plan of what kind of vendors you want to
keep an eye out for. For example, while venturing through the fair keep an eye out for florists if you haven’t found one yet, in particular Bank of Memories and Flowers!

Other tips:
-Bring your calendar to book a consultation on the spot (they fill up fast!)

-After walking away from a vendor, take notes how to distinguish the
vendor (when you get home everything will blend together!)

-Be prepared to pay consultation fees, Bank of Memories charges $25 but the money goes towards your wedding flowers :)

With that being said, come visit us at ‘The Wonderful World of Weddings’ January 7 & 8 10:00-4:30 at the Wisconsin State Fair grounds. Come with questions for our designers and book a consultation with us!

Pewaukee's Christmas Open House

Our Pewaukee shop will be holding its annual “Christmas Open House” on Friday November 18^th from 11-5 and Saturday November 19^th from 11-4.

We invite you to join us in the Spirit of Christmas! There will be sales and giveaways throughout the store. Enjoy our featured Wassail hot cider and Christmas cookies. We also will be serving featuring Becky's Blissful Bakery caramels and sauces handmade right here in Pewaukee! Yummy! We will also be holding a free drawing with prizes including a free Christmas floral centerpiece, Spargo Salon & Spa gift basket and more!

Last but not least…brand new this year…fill out your “Christmas Wish List”, we will keep it on file, you will receive a coupon to help drop the *hint* that will include special discounts on gifts purchased from your list!

Everyone is invited and we hope to see you there!

Sweetest Day Wedding

Kristin and Jim were married on October 15th, Sweetest Day! Kristen choose for her bouquet a beautiful mix of white hydrangeas, purple lizzy and freesia, green hypericum, variegated pit and plum callas. The style is a hand held with a soft textured and botanical look. The wedding took place at St Joseph Church in Wauwatosa. Her bridesmaids carried all white gerbera daisy with black centers. The reception took place at the historical Renaissance Place in Milwaukee. The center pieces where two white gerberas tailored with bear grass swirled in a cylinder vase that she rented from Bank of Memories & Flowers. A simple inexpensive look that makes a statement!
Thank you to Jessica Lauren Photography who captured these beautiful photos. Jessica' style is a more creative out of the box way of taking photography. For more information on Jessica, her web site is www.jessicalaurenphotography.com

Christmas Fantasy Home

Every year Melissa Maas, owner of Bank of Memories & Flowers, volunteers her time to decorate a tree at the American Cancer Society's Christmas Fantasy House. " I just love coming up with the theme of my tree. This year I choose to use chocolate browns, coppers and pops of lime green, naming it a 'Classic Copper Christmas'."

This event is held at a different home each year. Entering this gorgeous home in Elm Grove will definitely get you in the Christmas spirit. Each of the rooms are all decked out with fabulous decorations. After touring the home, do early holiday shopping at the Boutique and purchase raffle tickets in hopes to win holiday wreaths, tree decorations, and assorted gift baskets. Before you leave, don't forget to enjoy a treat from the sweet shop!!

Make a difference this Christmas season. Together with their millions of supporters, the American Cancer Society saves lives and creates more birthdays. Tour this home for $20.00 from Saturday, November 5- Sunday, November 13. For more information on exact times visit their website at christmasfantasyhouse.com.

Breast Cancer Awareness

Our last breast cancer story taught us about how strong women like Marcia can be battling breast cancer. However, Marcia’s story taught
us that her family was also going through emotional times. Therefore,
the designers at Bank of Memories & Flowers want to emphasize the effect breast cancer has on the families as well. This is designer Lauren’s story....

I was a freshman in college living in Minnesota when I found out my
mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was already having a difficult time adjusting to college classes, new friends, dormitories
and of course a whole new lifestyle. One night I had received a call from a friend informing me that one of my life long mentors had passed away. It was then that I called my mom to find out the details if I would be able to attend his funeral (keep in mind I was in tears before my mom even answered the phone). Right away my mom asked what was wrong and I asked about the details of the passing of my mentor. After I hung up the phone, I went next door to my newly made friends and cried on their shoulders. Being far away with all the new stresses enhanced the sadness I had. After I finished the tears, I began to focus on the huge Philosophy test I had the next day. And wouldn’t you know, about 30 minutes later my mom called and asked me to put her on speaker phone so my sister could hear what she was about to say (yes, my twin sister and I were roommates at college).

We then heard the words that no one wants to hear from their mother, “Ladies, I have breast cancer”. She had told us that she had known for a couple of days but wanted to learn all of the details before she told us. When we had called crying just 30 minutes before, she thought we had heard from another person. It might sound crazy she hadn’t told us until then, but she knew we were still adjusting to a new lifestyle, and of course wanted to protect us. After we heard all of
the details of the surgery, radiation and other necessary measures, I hung up the phone with Philosophy far from my mind and knocked on my neighbors door once again.

Even though I was absent from most of everything that my mom had gone through, my college track coach allowed me to travel home during spring break to be with my mom. Many people forget about the stress that the family goes through. Of course, my family was lucky we had loved ones bring dinners over to the house and I received many calls in Minnesota making sure I was doing okay through it all.

It is important to remember that spouses, sons, daughters and other family members are faced with some of the same emotional stresses the patient is going through. If you are a family member watching someone go through something like breast cancer, make sure you express your feelings. Keep a journal, or confide in friends (even the girls living next door to you in a dorm). I can say my neighbors that helped me through my mom’s cancer are now my best friends today (even living six hours apart).

Buy a ‘Petals for Hope’ arrangement to help people like my family, my mom, Marcia and everyone else fighting for their loved ones.

~Lauren, Pewaukee Designer

Pictured: Lauren (Left), Ann (Center), Alison (Right)