I seriously cannot find a font that works! I don't want a run-of-the-mill font, but it
needs to be legible.
So, besides the
awesome font issues...
Juan was amazing and got me two of the greatest things for my birthday:
1,000 Places to See Before You Die, and tickets to the
Philadelphia Flower Show, (which just so happens to be one of the 1,000 places to see before you die.)
Both are
incredible and but I only have pictures of the latter. Three words: A. Ma. Zing! I am so glad we (yes, the
whole fam) were able to go last Saturday. Besides hitting up the main floor, I sat in on a couple of design workshops, one of which was taught by Robert De Bellis, AIFD* (more about what that means later.) They were workshops mostly for the amateur designer, but I actually
did learn a thing or two. The smell as you walked into the HUGE Pennsylvania Convention Center was so fresh and sweet and I couldn't help but walk from design to design with a perma-smile on my face. The things that typify the Flower Show are as follows: crazy-cool, innovative designs from professionals from around the world, inspiring outdoor living areas, color and rhythm everywhere you turn, thought-provoking interpretations of other art pieces made from natural elements; and of course, you get the hoards of people walking around with bundles of pussy willow, curly willow, salix, and forsythia branches, samplings of the latest herbal teas and cheeses, and vendors clamoring for change as their booths were bursting at the seams with customers. We were there from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m
***., minus a short lunch break in Chinatown and loved every minute of it. Siena was enthralled, Juan was patient beyond what was required of him, and Qiana slept most of the time in the stroller. It couldn't have been a more memorable birthday gift.
The show also inspired me to continue with my goal of becoming a member of the American Institute of Floral Designers (*AIFD.) What this requires is completion of a specific pathway (i.e. design school, undergrad degree in Horticulture, etc.,) then a passing score of an extensive online comprehensive test, followed by critiqued hands-on designs before a judging committee, passing with an overall score of at least 4.0 out of 5 to become a Certified Floral Designer (CFD) and an invitation from the AIFD Board to apply for AIFD status. (Oh, and I can't forget the letters of recommendation: At least two need to be from AIFD professionals. To give you an idea of how many AIFD members there are in the
entire state of Utah: only
2! There are only 4 in WA, and 3 in OR. Juan and I joke that there are more Oral Surgeons in the country than AIFD members in the world.) Once I make it there, like every other professional accreditation, I'll have to take Continuing Education Courses, as well as participate as an educator for at least 5 of those credits per three years, pay my annual dues, and attend the annual National Symposium to keep my status. Ever since college, I've known I was going to do it, but now that I've really researched it, I am going to work it into my ten-year plan. I could do it earlier, but I don't think I'll have the time to raise my kids
and earn my AIFD title. Besides which, it costs mucho dinero (about $2,000+travel expenses just to get to the AIFD status, not including maintenance.) But it would mean a lot to me if I accomplish something like this and I really want to show my kids that they can aspire for higher education and success in their fields, too. Okay, okay, and it would be incredibly FUN to participate in the National Symposium, too.
PHOTOS! (If you click on it, it will take you to Photobucket, where you can see the titles/descriptions... I'm out of time, or I'd write them out again here on the blog.)
***As some have pointed out, that was a long time for Juan and the girls to be there. I wasn't very clear--they only were there for the first three hours. Juan took the girls home after he dropped me off back at the convention center after lunch. He was a real trooper, though.
