Why should you use 48LongStems for your next recital?

48Longstems is the largest supplier of recital bouquets to the dance industry!! As a full service floral company, we can ship wholesale bulk flowers or ready made bouquets directly to your location in the US or Canada.

• Tired of making your own bouquets?
• Not making any money selling recital bouquets?
• Let us show you how to make money selling flowers at your next recital!!!

48Longstems contracts with all major flower farms in the United States and South America. When you place an order with us, our flowers are cut and shipped directly from our farms or warehouse – guaranteeing their freshness. We are so confident in the quality of our flowers, we offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on all orders. No questions asked.

In addition to the quality and freshness of our flowers, our proprietary farm contracts allow us to pass on wholesale pricing directly to our customers. No middle men, no florists, no extra costs means you get the lowest cost pricing available – and we can ship them to any location in the US or Canada!! You can decide if you want to purchase bulk, wholesale flowers, or already pre-made bouquets, wrapped and ready to sell!! And since you determine the final sales price to your parents, you can control the profit margin you wish to make: 30%, 40% even 50% is possible.

Not sure how many or what kind of recital bouquets to order? 48Longstems can take the guesswork out of ordering to ensure you purchase just what you need; you don’t want to lose profit margins purchasing too many bouquets.

48Longstems will design a custom web site for your school, highlighting the bouquets you wish to offer. This will help you to market your bouquets to your parents BEFORE your recital or competitions and allow your parents to pre-order and pre-pay, if desired. By allowing parents to pre-order, you can determine how many and what type of bouquets your families want in advance, making it easy to determine what size order you need to place. Our bouquets are shipped in small, medium and large size boxes allowing you to order just the right amount for your recitals or competitions.

Selling recital or competition flowers should be easy and profitable. With 48Longstems it is!!

You may know all there is to know about Valentine's Day (hello, most over-commercialized holiday ever!) but what about Sweetest Day? Though many think it has a dark history, it's actually rather sweet! If there was ever a holiday to celebrate, this is the one!

Legend has it that in 1922, a candy store employee named Herbert Birch Kingston wanted to give thanks to the under appreciated, like orphans and people down on their luck. Though it started as a regional holiday in the Midwest, it's now seen as a sincere way to give thanks to all the people you love, including family, friends and that special someone.

So the big question is: how are you going to celebrate this holiday? We have a few ideas...depending on how crafty you are!

Make Your Own Macaroons:

If you weren't already aware, macaroons and basically anything French are having a huge moment. We think it would be so cute if you made your own macaroons. Turns out, it's not even that difficult! With a recipe like this, let your inner baker have a moment and give them out to your friends, parents, coworkers, or anybody that makes you smile. Bonus points: make the ultimate ganache or frosting to go inside of your freshly baked french cookies!

Homemade Friendship Card:

If baking just isn't your thing, there's nothing more adorable than a homemade card. Confession time: when I was a kid, this was my thing. We're talking homemade cards sent to everyone in my family, for everything from Christmas to thank you notes. I even had my own logo, which was a handwritten tulip. If you're not that crafty, not to worry! All you need is paper and some nice things to say about the people who are in your life.

Mini Gift Basket (combine all of the things you just baked or crafted!)

If you want a gift that pulls it all together, for your best friend on the planet, consider building them a mini gift basket, featuring your freshly baked macaroons, friendship card, and some chocolates. After all, it's the thought that counts, but the way to anyone's heart is with a well thought out gift that includes food! To do this, go to your local craft store (we recommend Michael's) and pick up a basket. Then all you have to do is stack it high with goodies your friend will love. Maybe include a bottle of wine if you want the gift to keep on giving.

Taste The Town:

If you live in a place that's dynamic, it can be super fun to "taste the town!" Yes, you can do this on a limited budget too. What is the town that you live in known for? Maybe it's apples, or maple syrup. Go downtown and support local businesses to gather this taste on the town. Put in candies, cupcakes or cute tourist items that will make friends or family smile. Buy a cute bag and bring it all together! A great way to give your taste on the town some pizazz is some tissue paper or glitter. Make it creative, and they'll know that it came from the heart!

The Old Classic:

Our ideas are pretty different, we know. If you're feeling nervous about finding ingredients or tapping into your creative side, you could always go with flowers or a gift basket for your sweets on Sweetest Day! Flowers are shown to make even the crankiest people smile, which is ultimately the goal of this feel good holiday. And if you need a reason to treat yourself: make yourself your own Sweetie for a day. Give yourself flowers!

Everyone loves getting flowers. They make your home smell amazing, brighten up any room and are a welcome change of pace to see in everyday life. But what do you do with them when they die? Most people just throw them away, but we think that you can repurpose them instead! Ahead, these are our favorite ways to give your flowers a little extra life! 

Framing Them

This is by far our favorite idea of what to do with old flowers, because you can incorporate them into your home permanently! We think a fun way to frame them would be to mix up varieties, like roses with daisies, or violets with sunflowers. The idea with framing them is texture, and of course, making something that you're proud to display on your wall! This way, your framed flowers become a focal point in your home, long after they've stopped blooming. 

Making Soap With Them

This option is for the crafty people out there who love repurposing anything and everything. To make soap with your flowers, we recommend crumbling petals or breaking them up into smaller pieces. Find a hardy recipe and get to testing! Once you've made your flower soaps, they are a great gift to give for the holidays or just because!

Pressing Them In Scrapbooks

If crafting involving lye and chemicals isn't quite your thing, pressing flowers is definitely the easiest way to preserve and repurpose them! All you need are heavy books and flowers that you'd like to press. The first step is to find flowers. The next is to make sure they are dry, and have heavy books nearby. Take your flowers out and put them inside of a heavy book. Close the book and then put other heavy books on top of the flowers. Give them about a week and they'll be perfectly pressed! Once they are, you can glue them into a scrapbook. It's a fun way to give a personal touch to a journal or scrapbook when pictures just aren't enough.

Make Your Own Potpourri!

Don't want to put your flowers up on the wall or between the pages of books? Potpourri is a beautiful way to keep the essence of your flowers alive for years to come! The key to potpourri is to select ingredients that will smell good together. Start with things from outside that are in season, and then add your flowers. Roses are extremely fragrant, and hold their aroma for a long time, making them a good candidate for potpourri. Making potpourri is not a fast process, but once finished, you can put it in a fun dish or bowl and admire it in your home for years and years!

Customize Some Coasters

Making coasters requires patience (as all of these projects do!) but it's well worth it in the end. Since coasters are small, we recommend small flowers, like pansies or buds of flowers so they fit on the glass pane. Make sure you have all of your materials that you need, because this is a project that requires a good eye and a steady hand. There's nothing worse than when you're crafting and have to go get something that you forgot! 

We Are Ready For Fall! Are You?

There's definitely no denying it: fall is here (after all, it was September 22nd yesterday) and we are loving it. The second the temperature dropped to 70, it was just a sign that fall was around the corner. After a few mornings waking up to a cool breeze, the best season of the year is finally here! Here's why we love fall!

Fall is the beginning of apple season, complete with apple picking, apple cider donuts and more apple pie than you'll ever be able to finish. It starts with apple picking, which is every New Englander's favorite fall activity. Apple picking at the apple orchard is never complete without a few fresh out of the oven apple cider donuts! Seriously, it's a life changing event that everyone should experience at least once in their life.

After you've picked just about every apple that your hands can handle, it's time to bake. Of course, there's the classic apple pie or apple crisp (here's our favorite recipe) that you can bake, but don't forget about coffee cake, muffins and just plain sliced apples with a little bit of caramel dipping sauce.

Besides the food, which definitely takes the cake, we absolutely adore the fall weather. In New England, fall is the most beautiful season, and it's incredibly easy to see why. The crisp air, combined with a salty breeze (we love you, Portland, Maine!) just begs for long walks downtown or on the waterfront. Combine that with big, cozy sweaters from L.L. Bean, and you've got a perfect New England fall day. 

The best part though: the foliage. You can go anywhere in the world, but the foliage is just better here. In beautiful hues of gold, yellow, orange, red and pink, the leaves paint a masterpiece everywhere they fall. Fall colors are just richer, vibrant and beautiful everywhere you look. 

Are you ready for fall? Tell us what your favorite part of the season is in the comments!

Last week, all we could talk about is whether or not fall is upon us. After temperatures dropped to a comfortable 70 degrees here on the East Coast, and the kids returned to school for week number two this week, it's sure starting to feel that way! Look outside and you'll be greeted by trees turning gold and red, as well as a crisper bite to the air. And don't forget: the PSL is back and better than ever at Starbucks (if that's what you're into).

So if fall is really here, then it's time to celebrate! And how do we celebrate at 48LongStems, you ask? By giving you a gift, of course! In honor of fall, we are offering $9.99 shipping on our best selling Fall Bouquets, until September 20th!

We think that there's no better way to welcome fall than with open arms. Whether this means filling your home with flowers in every room, or giving bouquets to everyone that you know...just because! Whatever your reason, we think you're going to fall in love with our bright and vibrant fall bouquets!

Autumn Sunset:

The Autumn Sunset bouquet makes an eye catching addition to any home or office. With beautiful fall colors like orange, green and butterscotch, this bouquet will become something you look forward to seeing, over and over again!

Autumn Treasures:

Hydrangeas and roses are a beautiful pair for this Autumn bouquet, which features other seasonal flowers that brighten up any room they are in. Go for an out of the ordinary arrangement with this bouquet!

Colors of Fall:

This bouquet is beautiful on any table that you place it on, and sure to be a conversation starter! With red carnations, orange kangaroo, and a Gourde pick, this bouquet keeps on giving!

Fall Splendor:

The Fall Splendor bouquet is an arrangement that just screams fall to us. In orange, green and gold, the flowers will bloom and grow more beautiful each day you have them around.

Harvest Joy:

With red roses and alstromeria, this bouquet may be just what you need to get into the spirit of fall. Want to say I love you to someone far away? This bouquet is a great way to make them smile!

Harvest Traditions:

We love this bouquet for many reasons, but one of the best reasons: it can double as a centerpiece, especially during Thanksgiving! Filled with orange and terracotta roses, it's sure to dazzle any dinner guests!

Are you happy that summer is almost over? Like it or not, summer is going, going...gone? To some people, summer has already ended! It brings up the timeless debate: are you Team Summer or Team Autumn? It's hard to think that summer is over when temperatures are soaring to 90+ degrees this week on the East Coast! 

Team Autumn: Summer Is Over When Kids Go Back To School

Are you a parent? Chances are, you're on Team Autumn, thinking that when school starts and the kids go back, summer is over (and good riddance!) It's the beginning of getting back into the swing of things at work, without weeks of vacations and traveling to worry about. Most schools choose to begin after Labor Day, which is everyone's favorite long weekend. But once that's over, you're ready for fall and the peace of mind it brings you. Kids need stability and routines, which they aren't very likely to get when they are home each and every day, or getting shuttled back and forth to camp. In the fall, you can be you again, and count down the days until winter and being cold begins.

Team Summer: Summer Is Over When The Temperatures Drop

If you're not on Team Autumn, you probably subscribe to the idea that summer is over when it's no longer 90 degrees outside. It's hard to imagine fall when you're sweating just walking down the street! Fall brings to mind cozy sweaters, apple cider, chunky scarves, boots and a crispness in the air. By the end of summer, you're sweating, hot, and more than ready to trade your shorts and flip flops for cooler evenings and all the delicious flavors of fall. We're almost there, Team Summer!

Team Pumpkin Spice Latte: Summer Is Over When Starbucks Has The PSL

Let's not forget the reason that the rest of the world waits for: the return of the Pumpkin Spice Latte. It doesn't matter if it's 30 degrees outside or 103, PSL lovers will go and order their favorite drink and declare that fall has arrived! The PSL arrived in stores on September 8th, but many obsessive fans were able to try it early with a secret password. This year, the PSL has "real pumpkin" in it, which is supposed to make it even better than before. 

What The Experts At The Farmer's Almanac Say

While Labor Day unofficially signifies the end of summer, the official last day of summer is actually September 22, 2015. Autumn officially starts on September 23 at 4:21 am. As far as it feeling like fall, the Farmers¹ Almanac long-range forecasts do include some cooler weather next week but the official cool off will come late September/early October. So don¹t wish away this last heat wave too fast. Winter is coming!

Here's what we can all agree on: flowers! Many of your favorite summer flowers happen to also carry over into fall. Roses, daisies, and calla lilies are all beautiful ways to welcome fall into your home, while you reap the benefits of having flowers around. No matter what team you're playing for, we think that's a win for everyone!

There's truly nothing better than making someone smile. It can be like the sun coming out to play unexpectedly, or seeing an old friend who is part of your soul. No matter what age you are, smiling is contagious! Imagine making someone smile who really needs it, in the simplest way possible.

For people who live in nursing homes, visitors can sometimes be scarce, or they may not get any at all. Flowers are a powerful way to show that you care, even if you don't know who you are giving them to. The mere act of doing something nice is a rare opportunity, but one that we should embrace wholeheartedly if we can. Flowers are a perfect example of this!

Performing this random act of kindness has many benefits, but the most important is that having flowers delivered to elderly people (especially those that don't expect it) can help with boosting mood and improved social interaction, along with enhanced memory! This means that your small act can have lasting effects, but most of all, you can make someone smile.

All of this, just because you took some time out of your day to give flowers to a nursing home! Doing something good for others always makes the receiver smile too! In the end, it's about taking a few minutes out of your busy day or week and just doing something nice for someone else. In this case, we think that delivering flowers and interacting with seniors is an easy, but equally powerful way to make an impact! Happy giving! 

Like it or not, summer is almost over, and school is about to start again. For students and parents alike, this is met with trepidation and a little bit of glee. For teachers, it's the beginning of a long year, filled with learning, compassion and endless amounts of patience. Give the teachers in your life something special and make them feel appreciated this school year! Here are some of our favorites:

Sunflowers:

What better way to brighten up a classroom than with a gorgeous basket of sunflowers?  Many people believe that they are the "happy flowers" especially when they are in full bloom! Our sunflowers are bright and cheery, and will be a great addition to the classroom!

Carnations:

Typically thought of as cheap flowers, we think that carnations are a beautiful way to add a little extra color to a room, especially a classroom! Any teacher who receives these will be smelling them all week long. Not to mention, it's been shown that having flowers and plants around helps improve productivity, so bring on the blooms!

Roses:

If you want to have your gift remembered, get your favorite teacher something crazy, like 100 roses! The best thing about so many roses is there's more to go around, so they can leave some at home and bring in a dozen for the classroom to enjoy during the school week. We call that a great win!

Mixed Bouquets:

Can't decide which flowers to send? Mixed bouquets are a great option because they have a little bit of everything. We love how colorful they are, and kids in school do too!

The school year is coming up, and you know what that means: dance season is right around the corner! Make sure this year's Nutcracker (or spring recital) is the best one yet. Have these things with you and watch the stress just melt away. Whether you're a teacher, dancer or parent, it's important to know what you need!

For Teachers:

-check out our Pre Order Form to make buying flowers and selling them as a fundraiser stress free for you this year!

-order costumes soon, before prices go up and availability shrinks. (We recommend Revolution Dancewear!)

-Go over whether or not students are wearing fake eyelashes

-Plan dates and times for the recital, as well as your venue. Consider giving online ticketing a try this year with TutuTix!

-Are you having a photographer come in and document your recital? Make the process easier with Memory Makers!

For Dancers:

-Mascara

-Stage Makeup

Make sure stage makeup matches your dancer's complexion, because there's nothing worse than buying the wrong shade and looking like a ghost! Mode Dion makes gorgeous stage makeup that's easy to use!

-Blush

-Lipstick

-Tights

-Clear nail polish for snags

-Quiet activities like books, Kindles, and a deck of cards

-Extra chargers for electronics

-Healthy and non messy snacks, like veggie sticks or dried fruit

-Plenty of water

-Travel toothbrush and toothpaste

-Bobby pins (the color of the dancer's hair so they blend in)

-Hairbrush

-Hairspray

-Extra glitter or rhinestones

-Costume (don't forget it!)

-Spare tights

-Flowers, because there's no better way to say job well done after the recital

-Appropriate dance shoes for the recital

-Extra shoes to run around in before the recital

For Parents:

-Lots of space to store all of the above!

-Baby wipes

-Patience

-Energy

-Nude leotards for quick changes if you're helping out backstage

-If the school is having a photographer, make sure to fill out the check sooner rather than later so you can just hand it over.

We hope this list is helpful as the stress of dance school season and recitals begins to pile on! And don't forget, whatever your flower needs may be for your recital, 48LongStems can help. Feel free to give us a call anytime!

No matter what time of year it may be, anniversaries are always around the corner. Stumped and don't know what to get? Flowers are a major part of how to pull off a meaningful and special anniversary this year!

Year 1: Pansy

Don't over think the first year! Pansies are an easy and beautiful flower, meant to help your love grow as you move forward in marriage. The Pansy is a symbol of love and togetherness, making it perfect for that first year of marriage.

Year 5: Daisy

If you've made it to your 5th anniversary, it's a big deal. Daisies symbolize loyal love and innocence. The daisy states that your marriage has only just begun. The best thing about daisies: they are very colorful flowers! Pick from all white to multi colored Gerber Daisies to show your love off.

Year 10: Daffodil

The 10th anniversary! Congratulations on keeping it going for a whole decade. Many people say give daffodils for the 10th anniversary, as they are said to mean new beginnings, which is a nice message to think about after being married for 10 years. However, if you really want to stun them, we highly recommend a bouquet with lilies. Not only are they elegant, but lilies have a beautiful advantage over other flowers because they bloom for longer and look absolutely magnificent while they are in bloom. What better way to symbolize a marriage of 10 years than with flowers that bloom and look better over time?

Year 15: Rose

By the fifteenth year, it's probably starting to feel like you've been married forever. But you haven't, and giving roses for your anniversary this year will help stir up some passion. Roses are always held in high regard when it comes to love and romance, and it's simple to see why. Not only are they beautiful, but they are fragrant and hold themselves with the kind of poise that your love has come to represent over the last fifteen years.

With this helpful guide, anniversaries will become something you'll enjoy buying flowers for, year after year. Of course, there's nothing wrong with giving flowers "just because" as well!

Did you survive recital season? If you're a dance school teacher or studio owner, we know that you're probably already thinking about next year's dance school season, and so are we. This summer has seen us hard at work fixing the things that don't work, and discussing what we can do to make the recital flower process better than ever.

But what we want most are your opinions. Are you a new customer of 48LongStems and bought recital bouquets from us for the first time? Maybe you tried out the pre order form and didn't have the best results. We want to know! Click here to fill out our new customer survey!

Are you a dance school owner in the Los Angeles or Long Beach area? Make sure to come and see us at Dance Teacher Summit July 28-30th! We love meeting our customers, and putting names to faces!

Look for us in Connecticut at Fox Woods Resort & Casino for Dance Teacher Web Live August 3-6th as well. We can't wait to see everyone, and hear how your dance recital season went!

We're nearing the end of June, and it feels like things are slowing down in the dance world. But just because some schools are out for the summer doesn't mean that all of them are. If you're one of those dance schools, this is for you. Have a recital in July or August? Or maybe you're just trying to plan your Winter recital ahead of time before things get too chaotic. We can help! Not only will we provide the flowers, but we have great tools that you never knew you needed, but you'll be happy to have!

Recital Flowers, All Year

48LongStems offers recital flowers year round. This means that we're great for mid season recitals, or private shows as well as your dance recitals. We know that dancers truly never stop dancing, and usually attend dance camps during the summer. You reward them for their hard work during the dance season, but why stop? We can deliver our beautiful recital bouquets anywhere in the country, making it easy for dance camps to use our flowers for performances throughout the summer!

Online Pre Order Forms For All Seasons

For those that are tired of handing out paper sheets that never get used, we created a pre order form that's set up online. Fill out our form and we'll create a custom site for you, with your logo, dance school name, and flower options that you'd like to sell. Pre order forms are great because they allow for online payment, and give dance school owners a smarter way to order flowers. Buy by the box from us, and make a profit at your recital!

Our pre order forms become something that parents expect from you, both for its ease of use and the expectation of flowers at recitals. Pre order forms can be put back up, so that all you have to do is adjust what products you'd like to sell, as well as any general information that you provide to parents. This tool works with you, not against you, and is great for both Winter and Spring recitals!

All You Ever Wanted To Know About Recital Flowers

You don't become the premier source for recital flowers without knowing what you're talking about. Whether you've never sold flowers before, or you're unsure about switching from your local florist, we've dealt with it all. Chances are, we know just what flowers parents and dancers alike will love! Easy delivery, and numerous color options make us the only choice when it comes to recital flowers this season.

Dad's favorite holiday isn't his birthday or Christmas, but Father's Day! Show Dad just how much you appreciate everything he does for you with our specialty gift baskets. We know that Father's Day is important, which is why we've brought in a few new choices, along with keeping his favorites!

For The Root Beer & Beer Lover:

Root beer is the distant cousin of beer, and when done right, is really a knockout! Give Dad this tasty basket, filled with chocolate raspberry cookies, chocolate chip cookies, and of course, Virgil's award-winning root beer! This fun gift is sure to make a lasting impression with Dad.

The Gourmet Golfer:

Good food and golfing go together like a perfectly manicured course and a warm summer day. If your Dad is a foodie, this gift basket is chock full of tasty treats that he's guaranteed to love (and maybe share!) like stone ground mustard, peanut crunch, rosemary & olive oil crackers, garlic herb cheese wedges, plus a gorgeous bamboo cutting board and cheese knife to enjoy everything, on or off the course!

The Foodie That's Tried It All:

It's hard work being a foodie, but that doesn't make it less fun! If Dad loves the finest things in life, make sure to give him the gift that keeps on giving by being delicious! The Deluxe Cut Above comes with a large bamboo cutting board and is piled high with things like smoked gouda cheese spread, Bavarian pretzels, shortbread cookies and much, much more! Perfect for a Saturday picnic or to enjoy at home, Dad will never forget that you remembered this year!

For The Barbecue Connoisseur:

Dad loves barbecuing on Friday nights after a long work week? Give him something that he'll appreciate, and use over and over again! Our barbecue collection gift basket has everything he needs to treat himself to a relaxing afternoon on the grill, including savory snacks, special edition Bavarian Nutmeg root beer, and of course, Stubb's Original Bar-B-Q sauce made with sweet molasses. How could he not love it?

Here at 48LongStems, we pride ourselves on our dedication to the many dance schools that require bouquets during recital season! Though we can't solve every problem instantly, we listen to everything you say, including what you really want!

Easy Pre Ordering

You wanted a way to pre order flowers, so you don't have to chase down parents for pre orders. We created a better pre order form this year, allowing you to have your own personal pre ordering site. Being able to take online orders has never been so easy! Of course there are things that need to be worked out, but we hope that this is just one of many tools that you come to rely on us for.

New Color Options

This year, it's all about recital bouquet options. This means we've kept old favorites like all red bouquets and assorted bouquets, while adding a few new offerings to keep this recital season fresh and exciting!

Parents complain about too much red in bouquets? We're excited to be offering non-red assorted recital bouquets this year! Our non-red assorted bouquets contain all colors that an assorted bouquet has, except for red. Your non-red assorted bouquet could include: pink, white, orange, lavender, or yellow roses.

If you haven't heard the news yet, we also are now offering all pink recital bouquets. Our beautiful all pink bouquets are available in 1 stem, 3 stem, 6 stem, and 12 stem bouquets. Roses are a must at dance recitals, but pink roses are perfect for little girls who dream of becoming prima ballerinas. Make it a recital to remember this year!

We Are Still Accepting Pre Order Forms For Spring!

Still thinking about submitting a pre order form? There's still time. We know that recital season is stressful, and we want to take some of the weight off your shoulders. Had a pre order form last year but haven't submitted a new one? Still time!

Imagine being in a new place, surrounded by people you don't know. Add that your husband is thousands of miles away, and you're about to give birth to your first child, alone. For many military families, this is a common reality. But don't think that they can't handle it, because they can. 

It may be hard, but moms who are part of military families are incredibly strong. It's about "embracing the chaos" as Kelly Kavetski puts it. Kelly is a new mom, whose husband is currently deployed aboard the USS Normandy. This means she's both mom and dad to her 17 month old son, who is blissfully unaware of the hardships his mother is under. 

Kelly met her husband after she graduated from college in Illinois, while he was stationed at the Great Lakes Naval Station, and she was working in Waukegan, not too far away. They lived there for a bit before he was transferred to San Diego, and he is now stationed in Norfolk, Virginia. Her husband is no stranger to this kind of life, as he's been in the Navy for 14 years. Kelly is a clinical dietician, in addition to being a new mom.

Family is an incredibly important part of the military, and it's nice to know that the military does take care of these families who are serving their country. FRG groups (Family Readiness Groups) can help keep military families going after deployment. Though FRGs aren't required, they are one of the best resources the military has for these incredible families, besides free counseling for parents and kids that are struggling to cope. Planning events and meeting new people through the FRGs forges close bonds, with people who understand exactly is going on, in a time that can feel extremely isolating.  

From fun countdowns like a kiss a day (complete with chocolate kisses for each day that a family member is gone) to keeping kids as busy as possible, everyone who is involved in a military family knows what struggle and sacrifice really is. 

As Mother's Day approaches, it's easy to get caught up in the fun and anticipation that usually surrounds this holiday. Brunch out for Mom's special day, beautiful flowers on the coffee table, and gifts to show Mom your sincere appreciation for her. In the military, it's no different, except it becomes more meaningful. For many families, holidays bring more meaning, along with trying to keep things as normal as they can be. All moms are important, but military moms really have a full plate. 

Though it's incredibly difficult to be separated from her husband, Kelly says she feels incredibly fulfilled because every time her husband puts on his uniform, she knows that she is part of something that's bigger than her, allowing her to support her country and him.

Every mom deserves something special on Mother's Day, and military moms are no exception to that! They are tough and resourceful women. Though many may believe it, they are not damsels in distress. As Kelly says, it's amazing what happens when you have no choice but to be strong, both for yourself and your family.

A very important holiday is today, and many people won't remember it. Though celebrated world wide, Administrative Professionals Day sometimes gets swept under the rug and forgotten. This holiday is a great way to show your appreciation for the Admin Professionals in your life. Whether they are answering phones or identify as an office manager, we want you to show the Admin Professional in your life just how much you appreciate them and their hard work!

Pamper Them: 

It's hard to go wrong with a gift basket bursting with spa goodies, like Cru de Provence vanilla coconut scented spa products, shower gel, body scrub, soft waffle slippers and much more! After a long day at the office working, Administrative Professionals deserve a gift basket that will bring them pleasure, again and again!

Appeal to their Sweet Side:

Say thank you in the best way possible: with cookies, cheese spread, sea salt & olive oil crackers, toffee almonds, English tea and more tasty treats in a beautiful gift basket! Have it delivered to your Admin Professional's desk and watch them instantly become the talk of the office. We can't think of a more enticing way to say thank you!

Brighten Their Desk:

Does your Admin Professional spend most of their time at their desk, answering phones and making sure things are running smoothly in the office? These beautiful sunflowers are sure to brighten up their desk, no matter how busy they may be this week! It's hard not to smile when you're surrounded by these classic sunflowers.

Give Them Something Gourmet:

They don't have to travel to Italy to taste it! We love this gorgeous gift basket, filled with traditional gourmet Italian food, such as milk chocolate pralines, roasted garlic crackers, rigatoni pasta and more! Flowers may last a few days, but we love gifts that keep giving!

Go With a Gift Giving Classic:

When words just don't say enough, 25 red roses always save the day. Roses are truly the goddesses of the flower world, and we think it's easy to see why! Beautiful, fragrant, and dramatic, red roses will make your Admin Professional truly feel appreciated. Make their day with just one thing this year, and make it roses.

A miserable March, and half of April has finally brought us some gorgeous spring weather! In April, some of the most beautiful flowers are in bloom. What excuse can you possibly have not to take advantage of that and have flowers throughout your home? Check out our favorites for spring, and make April bright & beautiful!

Tulips:

Tulips are the queen of flowers in the spring. Hardy, resilient, and beautiful, tulips are popular wherever the sun is shining! We think the best place for them is in your living room, where they can soak up all the sun that's slowly making its way into homes everywhere. April is when they start to pop up everywhere, why shouldn't that include in your home as a bright pop of color?

Calla Lilies:

Calla lilies are elegant and refined flowers. Putting them in a bouquet of flowers instantly changes the way that your bouquet is interpreted. In the modern home, calla lilies act as a focal point, bringing a direct focus to the part of the home that they are placed in.

Sunflowers:

Sunflowers are the cheeriest of flowers that spring has to offer us. With their bright yellow color and large blooms, it's hard to stay upset when you're surrounded by this beautiful flowers! These are great at making a workplace feel more creative, and less uptight. Sunflowers are also great for letting someone know who may be recovering or sick that you care about them, and are there for them.  Let that sunshine in!

Roses:

Roses are beautiful anytime of year, but they especially shine in the spring! Whether they are in mixed bouquets, or are by themselves, roses are stunning! We love bright bouquets for spring in pink, orange, yellow and white!

Gerber Daisies:

Don't confuse the gerber daisy with a sunflower, because they are completely different. Gerber daisies bring a serious punch of color, which is well deserved after dealing with winter! Get them in pink, white, yellow, red or orange as the perfect thing to brighten up your kitchen table. Throw open the drapes, and feel spring, inside and out!

If you're a dance school teacher or owner, then you know that crunch time is coming. With costumes to order, students to teach and parents to deal with, it's understandable if you're feeling overwhelmed. Maybe you think to yourself, "I wish this was easier." Or you stare in dismay as the list of things that you have to do just piles up in front of you. 48LongStems is here to help! This year, we're offering pre-order forms for dance schools that need to sell flowers at their recitals. We've eliminated one of the things that can cause a lot of stress, so you can focus on the things that really matter. Like teaching!

Below is a sample image of what our pre order form looks like (and here's the demo site for the full picture). We keep it simple, because we want to make sure this helps you, instead of making things more stressful. Our pre order form allows you to take payments online, making the process more streamlined. After all, who likes chasing down parents? We know that flowers are crucial for young dancers, and this is a really simple way to do it!

How It Works:

Submit the pre order form on our site. Include your logo, copy of what you want the site to say, and what items you'd like to have available on the form. Once we receive your form, we'll give you a call to go over your form and make sure you understand how the process works. We create the site, and give you the URL a few weeks later. We go over the site with you one more time, and get your approval. 

From there, you give out the URL to the parents and friends who want to pre order flowers, marketing it however you see fit. We recommend Dance School Facebook Pages, emails, and flyers to hand out to get the word out about your program! 

1 week before your recital, we'll shut down the pre order page (or sooner, if you let us know) and will send you a master spreadsheet that shows you what everyone has pre ordered. From there, you make your master order with us for flowers. We ship and deliver them to you! It's easy, efficient, and lets you take care of more important things during recital season.

As we all know, Mother's Day is next month, and is considered one of the most popular holidays in the spring. But before you prepare for that, take a moment to remember World Autism Awareness Day this year. 

If you're not familiar with it, here's a little bit of background on this internationally celebrated day. Autism Awareness Day and Month were started to bring awareness to Autism, and the idea of inclusion and self determination to all. Autism Awareness is important because  Autism is simply part of life. Many people don't understand autism, but being aware is a good way to start. 

As a company, 48LongStems is dedicated to giving back. This year, we're actively participating in Autism Awareness Month in the best way that we know how: through our beautiful Rainbow Roses. After all, roses are considered some of the most beautiful flowers, and it's only fitting that they be used to do good to go with their immense beauty.

For the month of April, 10% of all proceeds raised from our 12 Stem Rainbow Roses will be going to Autism Speaks, a prevalent Autism charity. We hope that by giving back and raising awareness, we can help further the cause that allows people to better understand autism and accept it.

Though you may not be personally touched by Autism, someone that you know may be. A neighbor, friend, student...Autism has the power to touch each and every one of us. Being aware means celebrating what it means, and accepting that being different is okay. Normal is a subjective term, just like perfect. In the end, we are all people. For the month of April, we hope you'll support us in this important cause.

-48LongStems

How much does it cost to keep someone happy? You may think it's millions of dollars, but it's much less than that. First of all, it's about the thought behind the gesture. When you love someone, you'd do anything and everything for them. Whether it means staying up all night with them when they are sick, or buying them a special treat because it reminded you of them, love is all encompassing! 

And it doesn't matter what your age is, because love doesn't discriminate. If you haven't seen it already, this video is an amazing example of the power of love.

For that special someone, only the best will do. Well, it's the middle of March, and we think you should give them something beautiful, just like them. Our new bouquets of roses (just in time for spring!) are quite literally, stunning. Whoever is lucky enough to receive them will feel the light of love shining down on them. Not to be mushy, but sometimes the cost of love is just seeing them smile, right?

Take your pick from our new rainbow roses, pastel roses, Fire & Ice roses, or the always elegant white and yellow rose bouquet pairing. Someone who brings beauty to your life, inside and out, deserves roses that are just one more way to say I love you.

And I love you said with flowers that take their breath away? It's the perfect way to say everything, when words just don't say enough.

You may not want to hear it, but guess what: St. Patrick's Day is this month! Everyone needs a little luck, and this is the perfect holiday to celebrate. From corned beef and cabbage to shamrocks, 48LongStems loves this holiday so much that we're offering you your own piece of the rainbow!

Hosting a party for everyone's favorite holiday of leprechauns and a bit of luck? Beautiful rainbow roses are an impeccable centerpiece for your St. Patrick's Day party. Find a pot o' gold to put beside them and you'll be celebrating this international holiday with grace and poise. Can you see it now?

In vibrant colors of red, pink, yellow, orange, white, and peach, these 

rainbow roses are just the thing for your favorite leprechaun. Any day can be an excuse for love, and St. Patrick's Day is certainly no exception. For someone who already has it all, rainbow roses stand out. No one can resist opening a box and finding this piece of the rainbow inside, just for them.

After all, we're able to taste the rainbow thanks to Skittles.   

Isn't it time to wake up and smell the rainbow with a bouquet of roses this year?

Whether you've realized it or not, International Women's Day is right around the corner. Occurring every year on March 8th, International Women's Day represents the efforts of millions of women worldwide, striving for true equality. As a result, this is a holiday for everyone. Whether you're male or female, there's someone that deserves to be thanked for changing your life for the better! Ahead, our list of unsung heroes that you may have forgotten to say thank you to in your life.

1. Teachers:

Education is a crucial thing for everyone, and we have our amazing teachers to thank for our ability to think critically and interact with the world around us. Do something sweet and send them our Caramel Bonanza gift basket! After all, teachers are known for apples, and what's better than a gourmet caramel apple to say thanks, just because you can?

2. Grandmothers & Aunts:

There's really nothing better than family, and if you're lucky, that means more than just your mother who you can honor for International Women's Day. It doesn't take much to brighten someone's day, like your grandmother or an aunt. Why not send them some beautiful Gerber daisies? Their bright colors and vibrant beauty will make International Women's Day incredibly special this year!

3. Mother-in-Law

Marriage means the start of a new family, and your mother-in-law is a crucial part of that new family! What better way to show you respect and appreciate her companionship than sending her 12 long stem yellow roses? Roses are typically thought to be the most beautiful roses that money can buy, and yellow roses have special meaning. Make her smile!

4. Sister

If you're lucky enough to have a sister, then you know that it's a complicated, but one of a kind relationship. Whether she lives 5 minutes down the road, or on the other side of the country, let her know you're thinking about her by sending her tulips. It'll make her think of spring and hold your sisterly bond in high regard.

5. Best Friend

A best friend that can resist the tests of time is worth more than money could ever buy. Friendship is a privilege, and deserves recognition. Someone who is always there for you, and understands you inside and out can only be honored with something as stunning as 25 red roses. Though they are usually reserved for love and romance, the love between two best friends can be just as passionate, if not more!

No matter what part of the country you're living in, winter has not been playing nice this year. From over 3 feet of snow covering the Northeast to a miserable drought in California, and snow in places like Kentucky, things have not been running smoothly. It's times like this that you start to wonder, is spring ever going to make an appearance?

We can't promise you that it will (we hope so) but we think that there is something that could make spring feel like it's finally within reach: fresh flowers! Yes, we may be a little bit bias, but did you know that having them in your home is actually good for your mental health? It makes sense when you think about it, because flowers are what you bring when someone is in the hospital! It's a well known fact that having bright, colorful, and most importantly, fresh flowers  can help brighten your mood.

When science backs you up, you know that you have to sit down and listen. Having flowers in your home regularly can lead to a decrease in anxiety, depression, and feelings of being stressed out. Not to say that they are a miracle cure, but winter is a dark time, both literally and figuratively. Having fresh flowers in your home is a simple way to bring the sunshine inside with you!

Fresh flowers aren't just effective in the home; they also can make quite the impact in your office. Having plants and vibrant flowers can lead to increased productivity. Creativity also sees a boost, and concentration increases because of a greater amount of oxygen being contributed to the air. Who wouldn't want to see a boost in all of these things?

It just goes to show that even if spring isn't here yet, flowers can still have a powerful impact on your life!

It's the week after Valentine's Day. Chances are, you received roses or some other bouquet of flowers over the weekend. Now you're wondering: what do I do with them? Though there are literally hundreds of ways that people claim to be the best method, these are the tried and true ways that the pros use!

1. Flowers are thirsty

After being in a box for a day or two, it makes sense that your 48 Long Stems flowers would be a little thirsty, right? Treat them with love and care by placing them in room temperature water, sooner rather than later. The sooner, the better, because they sometimes need a little bit of time before they look their best. Receive roses that don't look alive?  There's a decent chance that putting them in water will help them perk back up, though it's not always the case.

2. Use the flower food that they come with

There's a reason why your 48 Long Stems flowers come with pre-packaged flower food. Time and time again, those home remedies (like aspirin in the water or soda) will let you down. Our flower food does everything that those things can't, and are key in making your flowers stay beautiful for more than a few days.

3. Cut flowers at an angle

This is one of the more well known flower care tips, since it's easy to remember. Whenever you receive freshly cut flowers, make sure to cut them at an angle before putting them in water. But why? Cutting at an angle gives the stem more surface area, allowing it to soak up more water, and stay in bloom for longer!

4. Change the water regularly

A lot of people make the mistake in thinking that you can fill a vase up with water and be done with it. The answer is to change the water in your vase regularly. The water should be changed every two days or so, in order to avoid bacteria build up and droopiness in the blooms.

5. Don't forget to re-cut your 48 Long Stems flowers!

After a few days, make sure to cut another inch off of your flowers if they are looking limp or lifeless. This ensures that your flowers are still getting enough surface area in the water, and prolongs their life.

Everybody's favorite time of year has returned. It's filled with chocolates, teddy bears, and of course: long stemmed roses. Usually red roses, all in the name of romance. Valentine's Day is meant to be a special time, but between making orders that don't come on time, ordering the wrong color roses (yes, you can mess this up!) and just worrying about finding a Valentine, it can be stressful.

Rest assured, we know flowers, and roses are always a winner when you want to impress. These are some of our favorites and bestsellers!

50 Long Stem Lavender Roses

For the special someone who doesn't want what everybody else has, lavender roses are beautiful, vibrant, and unforgettable. This is the perfect moment to let them know that they have conquered your heart! After all, purple is the color of royalty.

50 Long Stem Assorted Roses

Assorted roses make for a varied and sensational bouquet. Imagine the look on their face when they see these on Valentine's Day. Once they come out of the box, you'll be entranced by the beauty that a rainbow of roses can create.

100 Long Stem Red Roses

It doesn't get much more classic than this! 100 long stem red roses are sure to stop them right in their tracks. Make sure to write a meaningful message to make it a Valentine's Day to remember for years to come!

Flower of the Month

Want to give them a Valentine's Day that lasts all year? Try out our Flower of the Month option. Each month, roses will be delivered to your home, making their day, each and every time.

Whether you're looking for red long stemmed roses, a flower of the month package, fresh roses or just something special to make Valentine's Day matter this year, 48 Long Stems has you covered. Order now and be worry free, knowing that your beautiful roses will be arriving right on time, guaranteed!

Order with us by Friday, 2/13/15 @ 2 pm to make sure your gift will arrive on Valentine's Day!

Nothing says I love you like a dozen red roses. Especially when you're thousands of miles away from home on Valentine's Day. For those that are in the military, keeping in contact with loved ones back home becomes a constant struggle. From bad internet connections to no WiFi or phones, soldiers essentially feel cut off from those that they love the most.                             

This year, we're aiming to make this holiday a little bit easier on you! If you're a soldier looking to send Valentine's Day flowers, use our promo code military15 to get 10% off your total order. We appreciate everything that you do, and know how important it is to get your flowers to your family safely and quickly! 

Through our Military Appreciation program, we were able to raise $75,000 in gift cards so that soldiers in the Middle East can send their loved ones back home flowers and other gifts at little to no cost. We take pride in supporting our troops in any way that we can.

Don't let distance get in the way of telling your family and friends just how much they matter to you!

Roses are the flowers of love, romance, lust, and friendship. As a result, it can be a challenge to order roses, especially when big holidays like Valentine's Day are right around the corner! So how do you know which roses you should give someone this year? Wonder no more because 48 LongStems has you covered!

Roses for a friend

Roses are thought to be the most beautiful flowers, and it makes sense to send them to those that you care about. But when you order roses for a friend, things can get tricky. This is because different roses can mean different things. For a friend, yellow or white roses are appropriate, as well as salmon colored and orange. They can convey emotions of tranquility, innocence, friendship and other similar feelings. These are the best kinds to order when you want to thank someone for being in your life.

Roses that say I love you

These are the most common reasons people order roses for Valentine's Day, Sweetest Day, and anniversaries. For these occasions, the brighter, the better. The most popular: deep crimson red (rose red) and bright fuchsia pink. Though pink and red are ordered the most, this can be a great opportunity to truly show how much you care about someone! Many think that pink and red roses can be cliche, and some people may want something that is more original than a dozen red roses. Whether that means a mixed bouquet, a 100 rose bouquet or a thousand, creativity is something they will always remember! Imagine the look on their face when you hand them a dozen lavender roses; could there be a better way to tell someone they truly are the ruler of your heart?

Roses for a new someone special

Valentine's Day can be incredibly difficult if you've started a new relationship, and your feelings aren't cemented. Flower color and meanings can really work in your favor here, especially when you mix it up! With someone new, it can be fun to give them just a few flowers, with a small box of chocolates, or some cupcakes. Light pink, orange and purple roses together make for a unique bouquet that will never look ordinary!

One of my favorite stories about love involves my parents. They were working for the same company in Rhode Island, and when they met there was an immediate connection. After several months of shyness, my Dad finally got the courage to ask my Mom out on a date, which was the beginning of a life-long romance.

One day my Dad said to my mom “when I know I love you I’ll give you white roses.” My Mom answered with “when I know I love you I’ll give you daisies.”

After several months of dating, before arriving at her house, my dad stopped at a florist to pick up a dozen white roses. Little did he know that my Mom was at home spreading around daisies waiting to surprise him. I can only imagine their reaction when they found out they had gotten their flowers on the same day.

All it takes are some flowers to create a beautiful story! Order yours today to say “I love you” to your special someone this Valentine’s Day! 

One of the most stressful things about Valentine’s Day is deciding what to write in the card. How do you choose the perfect words? Sometimes it makes me miss the elementary school days when you could go to the store and buy a Star Wars themed 12-pack of notes saying “You’re the Obi-Won for me” and write the name of all your classmates.

Nevertheless, nothing adds to a gorgeous bouquet of flowers than the perfect note! That’s why we thought it would be helpful to give you some ideas:

“You are the one who knows my stories, gets my jokes, warms my feet, takes my side, ignores my quirks, finishes my sentences, and soothes my worries. You’re the one who makes all my days better and makes me a better me. HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!"

“We just fit.”

“For the person who has shown me what love is, who has brought out the best in me, and who consumes my every thought... Please accept these as a small token of my love for you.”

“Hugs and Kisses XOXO and so much love”

“You’re my better half.”

“Happy Valentine’s Day to my love. You’re more than I could ever think to ask for and I’m so thankful you’re mine.”

“Thank you for letting me fall in love with you more and more every day. Happy Valentine’s Day.”

“Loved you then, love you still. Always have, always will. Happy Valentine’s Day.”

“Here’s to us. I love you. Happy Valentine’s Day.” 

With the beginning of a new year comes another fast approaching Valentine’s Day. This means it’s time to start thinking about what you want to do for your special someone. I know that one of my favorite Valentine’s Day surprises was coming out to my car to find a beautiful bouquet of red carnations waiting for me! 

Do you have a great Valentine’s Day memory that you’d like to share? We’d love to hear them! Post to our Facebook or tweet at us @48LongStems using the hashtag #VDayWith48LongStems

Despite all of the fun stories, there’s one thing that’s always timeless memory: a beautiful bouquet of flowers. As the date nears closer make sure you check out our “Valentine’s Day” page on our website to pick out the perfect arrangement of fresh roses for your loved one!

Recital season is here and there is a company that specializes in ticketing and recital management for dance studios and their patrons. If you love holding performances, but not the hassle of selling the tickets, ShOvation is a company that can take this stress out of your next event! This is very cool. It is like having your very own online box office to sell your tickets for you. No hassle at all.

They have a limited time offer for your spring recital. If you book your spring performance with them by June 30, 2013 you will receive a $50 DISCOUNT DANCE GIFT CARD ( 500 ticket minimum).

Check out their web site to see some of the benefits that their customers enjoy…

• Print at home tickets • Mobile ticketing convenience • Purchase and show e-ticket on smartphone • Merchandise sales like recital bouquets • Facebook ticket sales • Assigned or General Admission seating • Interactive seat maps

Visit their website to look at their Welcome Kit. This company has been featured on Dance Studio Owner, Dance Teacher Magazine, and Dance Teacher Web

Check them out – you won’t be sorry.

Shantha Wilson ShOvation, Inc www.ShOvation.com Mobile: 480-748-7512 Phoenix AZ Office

The 48LongStems Flower of the Month program allows you to send roses to a loved one or to an office to freshen up the lobby every month without ever having to think about it. You choose when you want it to start. Then we will make sure they arrive on the third Wednesday of every month depending upon the length of the program.

You can choose from a 3 Month, 6 Month, or even a 12 Month program. Also you can choose from a 12-stem or even a gigantic 25-stem bouquets. Whichever bouquet you choose you will be sure to make someone’s day this Christmas.

Flower of The Month…The Gift that Keeps on Giving

Writer's Block?

Do you get stuck when you buy a bouquet of roses or send roses, but can’t think of what to say on the message card? A message attached to fresh flowers is the finishing touch. We’ve heard it before, finding the right words is not always easy. Here’s a collection of messages for a variety of occasions that we feel express their sentiments well. If you’re looking for ideas check out the messages below – and feel free to adapt any of these to fit your own situation.

Anniversary

You are the one who knows my stories, gets my jokes, warms my feet, takes my side, ignores my quirks, finishes my sentences, soothes my worries. You’re the one who makes all my days better and makes me a better me. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

~~~~~~~~~~

25 BEAUTIFUL ROSES FOR MY BEAUTIFUL WIFE OF 25 YEARS. I LOVE YOU

~~~~~~~~~~

Thank you for 10 wonderful years. We have had ups and downs, and in-betweens. But we have made it through it all, our love is strong and lasting. I will love you forever, you are the true love of my life. Happy Anniversary

~~~~~~~~~~

One rose for every year you’ve brightened my life. I wish there were more ways to say all that you are to me. Love always.

Birthday (wife)

To My Beautiful Wife, You are the love of my life and you are my best friend. God has blessed me with you and I am truly grateful for his wisdom. I love you more each year. Happy Birthday!! Love, Me

Birthday (Generic) Happy Birthday and don’t ever forget you are the best there is!!!!!! Love and best wishes.

~~~~~~~~~~

Birthdays are good for you. Statistics show that people who have the most live the longest!

~~~~~~~~~~ Hoping that your day will be as special as you are. ~~~~~~~~~~ Count your life by smiles, not tears. Count your age by friends, not years. ~~~~~~~~~~

May each and every passing year bring you wisdom, peace and cheer.

~~~~~~~~~~

Today is your day to shine as every day should be. Happy Birthday!

~~~~~~~~~~

Wishing you a year filled with the same joy you bring to others.

~~~~~~~~~~

Birthdays are filled with yesterday's memories, today's joys, and tomorrow's dreams.

~~~~~~~~~~

Wishing you miles of smiles in the coming years.

~~~~~~~~~~

Best wishes on your birthday and throughout the coming year.

Apology I love you more than you realize. Forgive me.

Just Because June, Thank You For Marrying Me!

~~~~~~~~~~

One rose for every year you’ve brightened my life. I wish there were more ways to say all that you are to me. Love always.

~~~~~~~~~~

For the woman who has shown me what love is, who has brought out the best in me, and who consumes my every thought... Please accept these as a small token of my love for you.

~~~~~~~~~~

So today I was feeling down I thought about buying me something Nice but I realize... seeing you feel good makes me feel even better Love You!

~~~~~~~~~~

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart. I love you

~~~~~~~~~~

Have you had your fruit today? How about your morning coffee? If so, you're on the right path! Did you know that coffee beans are not beans at all, but seeds from the coffee cherry? They’re a small fruit found on trees in over 70 countries across the world. These trees grow from 15-30 ft, begin bearing fruit after 3-5 years, and continue for the next 10-20 after that. Most coffee berries are still handpicked since a tree will have ripe and unripe berries at the same time. As you can imagine it's quite labor intensive!

"Coffee Cherries Still On Their Branches"

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Once these berries are picked, either wet or dry methods of processing can be used. The wet method involves stripping the seeds from the flesh of the berry and soaking them in water for about two days to clean the seeds. The dry method is simpler, and more common - the cherries are spread out on large concrete slabs and left to dry naturally in the sun for a week or more. These cherries are turned regularly to ensure even drying, and husked by machine to reveal each seed once the drying process is complete.

The next steps are where the magic happens. These coffee beans are sorted, roasted, packaged and prepared for distribution across the world. There are thousands of different roasting processes, each resulting in their own unique flavor. Beans that are lightly roasted maintain more of their original flavor. Those roasted for longer periods of time become darker and begin to take on more of the “roast flavor,” making it harder to distinguish between the original flavors of each bean.

Now that you know a little more about the process, we have to ask…what’s your cup of tea? (or coffee as the case may be!) Do you prefer lighter roasts, or is it a rich dark roast that excites your palate each morning? Check out some of our great coffee gift baskets and enjoy your morning brew!

"Golden Gate Ficus Bonsai Plant"

Golden Gate Ficus

Bonsai is a Japanese term that when translated means “tray plantings.” It is an art form that dates back over a thousand years, and describes miniature trees that are grown in containers. Many plants and trees are grown for food production, medicine, or landscapes. Bonsai have a different purpose—these are created to inspire contemplation by the viewer.

Most people think Bonsai trees are specially cultivated to produce smaller plants than we might find in nature. Bonsai does not require special sized trees, rather their size is maintained by pruning, potting, trimming roots, and constant maintenance to produce smaller versions of their full size counterparts.

You’ve seen these mysterious little trees before and you’d love to have one in your home or office but you’re intimidated at the idea. How do I take care of one? Well it’s simple. One hug each morning and a pat on its trunk twice a day and you’ll be all set! Alright, perhaps there’s a bit more involved but we can assure you, bonsai are becoming a very popular item–and they’re a wonderful gift idea when you need to make a lasting impression! There’s a great selection of bonsai to choose from here at 48LongStems, so what are you waiting for? Give it a try!

I just want to give you a "peek" at what Sarah did for her wedding with only wholesale roses.  With a box of 100 pink roses, a box of 100 white roses, and 25 David Austin roses (these are like Garen Roses which are kinda fancy) she was able to make all the flower arrangements she needed for her wedding. 

There were no complicated wiring of flowers or special equipment required.  Sarah did an absolutely beautiful job in pulling this all together.  The blending of the white and pink was a great choice.  

Everyone should know that doing this herself she saves a Lot Of Money!.  Good going Sarah.  You can see the flowers she ordered at the links below:

David Austin Roses

White Roses

Pink Roses

November is a wonderful time of year, especially here in Maine.

Granted, the moment we’ve been dreading has finally arrived…it’s time to pack away our summer gear and turn up the thermostat.  Brrr! With change there is always something new to look forward to, and new opportunities around the bend.  We say bring it on, but honestly there isn’t much of a choice! Halloween seemed to fly by before we knew it and Thanksgiving is well on its way.  In just a couple weeks there will be more turkey, stuffing, and sweet potatoes than you’ll know what to do with!   Then it’s off to the races in retail madness – selecting just the right gift for everyone on your list.  Phew!  We’re tired just thinking about it all! November marks the beginning of the holiday season (or madness, as it often seems) – it’s easy to get caught up in our routines, trying to make preparations so everything goes according to plan. 

It’s funny though, when we look back and remember holidays from years past it’s the memories of our families and friends that stand out most.   In fact, I hardly remember those missing peas or worrying about serving whole berry instead of jellied cranberry sauce.  This year, take a step back and enjoy the things most important in your life.  Who are you most thankful for this year?   What do you cherish this Thanksgivng holiday season? Don’t forget to stop and smell the roses!

Tis the season for Christmas Holiday shows and of course the most popular of all, the Nutcracker, will be presented by studios across the country. In many cases this will be presented on a large stage and may require a little more facial enhancement than a typical small stage performance. The makeup used for the nutcracker features many characters. With the following performances, a simple eye makeup change is all that’s needed to add drama and help enhance the theme of the look.

Here are a few tips to help:

1. Sugar Plum Fairies and the Land Of Snow. Where traditional ballet makeup is required keep in mind that the brows need a little more enhancement and extending. Eyeliner will need to be extended a bit further at the ends. Be sure to not meet the lower and upper lines at the sides.I like to use a brown cake/shadow liner below lower lashes and a black cake/shadow liner at the end of upper lashes to create a softer look. A Mode Dion Pro Pallet eyeshadow compact has all the colors you need. Keep eyes wide with white pencil in between. Add a little white shimmer like Mode Dion’s Shimmer Pot to the center of lid, brow arch and inner eye corner to open eyes even more. False lashes will be a must to create big elegant eyes. Adding a bit of magical glimmer to the cheekbones and eyes can really create more enchantment. Use glitter in opal/white like Mode Dion’s Crystalina and secure it with spirit gum like Mode Dion’s Diva Glue.

2. Arabian dancers can quickly get the look just by extending the black cake/shadow liner towards the inner eye corner creating a cat eye appearance. White pencil will help define the look by applying a little at the inner eye corner and between the two lines out at the end of the eye corners. Extend liner a bit there too as this will lengthen eyes creating a more exotic effect. (photo Arabian) Rhinestones placed along the upper brow line can create more drama. Place little dots with your eyeliner first to get the design and spacing right then adhere them with eyelash glue. If the costume is sparkly, enhance that with matching glitter secured with Mode Dion's Diva Glue.

3. Chinese Dance only requires a very red lipstick applied just at the middle of the upper and lower lip to create a tiny rosebud mouth and lengthened eyeliner extended out at the sides of the eyes up. Meet the upper and lower eyeliners at the sides to close and angle eyes for an Asian look. If lids are naturally full they can easily be reduced to a more Asian almond eyed look by using black shadow across the lid. Very red cheeks just on the apples will make the face look rounder. This tutorial is a very dramatic version to create a classic Shanghai Doll look. For a softer effect use brown onto the lid instead of black.

The Doll/Toy look is an easy twist form a standard stage makeup look. Add more red cheek color to the rounds of the cheek. Remove lip color from the sides of the mouth and create a more rounded lip look for a baby doll lip. Highlight center of upper and lower lip so lips look even more pulled forward. Draw lines below lower lashes to look like painted on lashes and in between use white pencil to help them look more pronounced from a distance. Apply shimmer highlighter like Mode Dion Shimmer Pot (opaque shimmer) to cheekbones, chin, forehead and down center of nose to make skin look light reflective like plastic.

4. Clara and other children in the party scene should have a softer more natural looking makeup. Skin should appear flawless by applying a matte oil-free foundation and powder. Brows should be well defined and shaped along with lips and cheeks slightly flushed. Mode Dion’s Stage Red cheek color and Rhubarb lipstick add just enough color to look natural and show up on stage.

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5. Men and boys should be sure to wear foundation, concealer to cover dark circles under eyes and powder to set. A cheek contour shade under cheekbones and along sides of nose will help further define features. Shade sides of mouth with a natural lip pencil and apply a lipstick close to the same shade as lips. Define brows, line eyes with brown liner lightly and apply black mascara.

by Christine Dion

About the Author...

Christine Dion has been setting the trends in stage beauty for over 30 years. As a Speaker, Author, Columnist and Stage Cosmetic Designer in the Dance Beauty Industry.

MODE DION offers high quality stage make-up and professional products with support and education including books & DVD’s. The company website www.modedion.com is a full beauty resource featuring beauty training from street to stage, Christine's many magazine articles under “Media”, “How to Videos”, Shopping and step by steps. Connect through the website and find more training on the You TubeChannel at “Mode Dion Makeup University”, Newsletter “Look of the Month”, Face Book and Twitter with tips/updates.

Make-up kits and bulk discounts available for studio owners. Call (760) 837-9433 for more info!

Believe it or not, but Mother’ Day was not invented by a big company looking to sell greeting cards. It is felt that the roots of this day date back to an annual Greek festival to honor Rhea and Cybele who were the mothers of many gods. Originally, Christians celebrated this festival on the fourth Sunday of Lent.

160 years ago in the United States Anna Jarvis organized a day to make people aware of the poor health conditions in her town. She felt that it would be best if mothers promoted this day so she called it “Mother’s Working Day”.

Julia Ward Howe who was a poet and pacifist in Boston (also lyricist of the Battle Hymn of the Republic) organized a day to rally mothers to promote peace. She felt mothers hurt more over the loss of life than anyone else.

Anna Jarvis died in 1905 and her daughter, also called Anna Jarvis, campaigned to follow in her mother’s work to promote a day for mothers. She worked with businessman, John Wannamaker and Presidents Taft and Roosevelt to create this special day. In 1913 the House of Representatives adopted a resolution requiring federal government officials to wear white carnations on Mother’s Day. In 1914 a bill was signed by Woodrow Wilson acknowledging Mother’s day as a national holiday.

The early years of Mother’s Day people attended church with their mothers, wrote them letters of gratitude, and gave flowers and gifts. As gift giving grew in popularity during this holiday, Anna became angry. She felt that the commercialization of this holiday diminished the purpose of the holiday. In 1948, Anna said that she regretted establishing the mother’s day holiday.

Regardless of Anna’s feelings, Mother’s Day is extremely popular in the United Sates. Mother’s Day is the most popular day of the year to dine out, telephone lines have their busiest traffic day of the year, and it is the biggest day of the year to send roses or flowers. Regardless, sons and daughters take time out of their busy schedules to honor and express their appreciation to their moms for everything they have done for them.

When planning to order recital bouquets you have three size boxes you can choose from at 48LongStems (Large, Medium, and Small). There are some things to keep in mind. In each of the three box sizes we put as many 1-stem, 3-stem, 6-stem, or 12-stem rose bouquets as we can without breaking the stems. Things to keep in mind:

A large box is where you make the most money. This is because the large box has more stems to amortize the shipping costs over. Therefore the bouquets in the large box have the lowest cost per bouquet which allows you to make more money on each sale if you use our suggested selling price.

A medium box should be considered when you are trying to build up your business but don’t have enough orders to sell a large box. You can make some money with a medium box, but not as much money as a large box. As my accounting friends might say, your ROI “return on investment” is less on a medium box than a large box.

A small box has so few bouquets that you really don’t make any money on them. You may break even, but don’t trick yourself into thinking that you are making money. You really are breaking even. They are a good way to see if a bouquet will sell without investing a lot of money. It is good to test something new, and a small box can do this for you. This box makes great teacher gifts.

Combo Boxes have a selection of 1-stem, 3-stem, 6-stem, or 12-stem rose bouquets. These boxes do not give you the lowest price per bouquets. However, it is great for a dance school that wants to sell bouquets for the first time to test selling all four bouquets. After getting this box, your school will better understand what your parents will most likely want to buy.