Blog Category Archives: Seasonal Related

Administrative Professionals Day formerly known as Secretary's Day is an unofficial secular holiday observed on the Wednesday of the last full week of April, to recognize the work of secretaries, administrative assistants, receptionists, and other administrative support professionals.

National Secretaries Week was created in 1952 through the work of Harry F. Klemfuss of Young & Rubicam, in conjunction with the National Secretaries Association, now known as the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP). His goal was to encourage more people to consider careers in the secretarial/administrative support field. Using his skill and experience in public relations, Klemfuss promoted the values and importance of the job of administrative assistants. In doing so, he also created the holiday in recognition of the importance of administrative assistants.

The official period of appreciation/"celebration" was first proclaimed by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Charles Sawyer as "National Secretaries Week," which was held June 1-7 in 1952, with Wednesday, June 4, 1952 designated National Secretaries Day. The first Secretaries' Day was held in that year by the National Secretaries Association (now the IAAP), with the support of an association of corporate groups.

In 1955, the observance date of National Secretaries Week was moved to the last full week of April. The name was changed to Professional Secretaries Week in 1981, and became Administrative Professionals Week in 2000 to encompass the expanding responsibilities and wide-ranging job titles of administrative support staff.

Over the years, Administrative Professionals Week has become one of the largest workplace observances. The event is "celebrated" worldwide, bringing together millions of people for community events, social gatherings, and individual corporate activities recognizing support staff with gifts of appreciation. In the United States, the day is often "celebrated" by giving one's assistant Flowers, candy, small gifts, lunch at a restaurant, and time off.
By far the most common practice is to give flowers for Administrative Professionals Day.

The International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP), the sole official sponsor of Administrative Professionals Week and Administrative Professionals Day, suggests that employers show their support for the holiday, and their staff, by providing training opportunities for their administrative staff, whether through continuing education, self-study materials, or seminars.

Administrative Professionals Day is a registered trademark with registration number 2,475,334 (serial number 75/898930). The registrant is the International Association of Administrative Professionals.

Ideas for Showing Your Appreciation of your Administrative Assistant

To help bosses along with some additional options beyond the traditional gifts of Flowers for Secretaries Day and candy, we contacted several administrative assistants who were more than willing to give us some suggestions for bosses to show their appreciation during Administrative Professionals Week.

Each business relationship is different so you may want to talk to your assistant first, but here are some of the ideas that these administrative professionals came up with:

• Take her/him out for a nice, long lunch at a local fine restaurant;
  
  
• Provide a morning at a local spa;
  
  
• Give a gift certificate for a dinner for two or an evening at a hotel or resort;
  
  
• Arrange for the afternoon off to go shopping and throw in a little spending money;
  
  
• Provide a long distance calling card;
  
  
• Arrange for a housekeeper for the day;
  
  
• Book and pay to have the car tuned up and spring cleaned;
  
  
• Present a plaque for her/his years of valued work;
  
  
• Provide a family pass to the movies and plenty of popcorn money;
  
  
• Arrange to have her/his carpets cleaned or yard prepared for the coming season;
  
  
• Arrange for groceries to be paid for and delivered;
  
  
• Find out who is her/his favorite author and buy their latest book;
  
  
• Offer a three hour lunch or, better yet, the day off!;
  
  
• Outsource some of his/her work to an off-site administrative professional, such as a virtual assistant.

Since 1952, the last full week of April has been designated Administrative Professionals Week (formerly called Secretaries Week) by the International Association of Administrative Professionals, with the 23rd being the official Administrative Professionals Day. Traditionally, bosses use this time to show their assistants some appreciation for all of their hard work throughout the year.

Don’t forget that Administrative Professionals Day or Week isn’t the only time of year you should show your appreciation to the administrative professionals in your life. Ensure that you make them feel valued throughout the year. You'd be amazed at how far a "thank you" or kind word can go.

Now, if you are an entrepreneur without an assistant, don't let this day go by without patting yourself on the back for handling all of the administrative tasks. Why not outsource some of your work to a Virtual Assistant and give yourself back some personal or revenue generating time.

Janice Byer, owner of Docu-Type Administrative & Web Design Services provides professional, creative and affordable virtual office assistance, small business website design, and website hosting. She is a Certified Canadian Virtual Assistant (CCVA), Master Virtual Assistant (MVA), and co-founder of the Canadian Virtual Assistant Connection. She is also the author of Surfin' The Net - Docu-Type's Virtual Collection of Links, which is filled with the secrets of her success. Visit her website for more information and to get your copy.

Thanksgiving Flowers - An Inspired Addition to Your Home

Why send Thanksgiving flowers? Thanksgiving is a holiday with a long history in North America. It is often associated with the Pilgrims of Massachusetts, but some claim the first Thanksgiving actually held on this continent took place in 1578 in Newfoundland, when English explorer Martin Frobisher held a ceremony to give thanks for having survived his failed attempt at finding a northern passage to the Orient. After this first celebration, other variations on Thanksgiving occurred in locales across North America. Some were occasions for giving thanks, while others owed their origins to the harvest festivals that were common in Europe at the time. By the late 1800s, Thanksgiving was enshrined as a national holiday in both Canada and the United States.

For most people food is the primary focus of this holiday. In fact, the imagery of Thanksgiving is filled with nature’s bounty – gourds and squash, turkey and cranberries. Those images often translate to your home’s decor in the form of centerpieces and other decorative accents. Small gourds and pumpkins are often used to adorn the table. Parents of young children may also add a special craft made at school. Acorns and leaves are also common ornaments. But flowers are often overlooked as decorative elements for the harvest table. Flowers are associated closely with other holidays – think of the lily at Easter or the poinsettia at Christmas – but the notion of Thanksgiving flowers is not as commonplace.

The vivid palette of colours that emerges in fall is ideal for a floral arrangement gift. And there is no need to limit yourself to a centerpiece. Flower arrangements outside and in the common areas of your home add a welcoming touch that your guests will certainly appreciate on any day of the year.

Thanksgiving flowers, or fresh fall flowers, come in many varieties and colors, providing almost limitless options for arrangements. The combination of deep autumn reds, oranges and yellows can be found in traditional Thanksgiving flowers, like chrysanthemums, sunflowers and gerberas. Other Thanksgiving flowers include carnations, solidago, monte casino and marigolds. But you are not restricted to Thanksgiving flowers only. Roses and lilies are also available in fall colors and add a touch of classic beauty to any arrangement. And don’t forget to accent your Thanksgiving flowers with other holiday touches – wheat, acorns, oak leaves, small gourds, corn cobs or even a pumpkin vase.

When choosing Thanksgiving flowers, keep these other tips in mind:

• You should use a round centerpiece for a round table and a long centerpiece for a rectangular table.
• Add candles to your centerpiece to soften the mood.
• If you have a large table, use a few small arrangements to complement the main centerpiece.
• Colorful fall leaves can also complement the main centerpiece. Select leaves in a variety of colors and shapes. Oak and maple have a distinct appearance often associated with the season.
• Many florists offer stunning wreaths made of Thanksgiving flowers and other fall accents for delivery. A wreath on your door provides a warm welcome to your home.

And, instead of the usual bottle of wine, try Thanksgiving flowers or baskets as a hostess gift. Whether it consists of a bouquet in a traditional vase, a glass hurricane and candle, or a cascading cornucopia, a beautiful arrangement in fall colors will be received with great thanks.

The history of valentine flowers

Around the middle of the twentieth century we saw the emergence of gift-giving as a popular tradition for Valentine's Day, including the exchange of valentine flowers. The valentine flowers themselves are perhaps the most meaningful to us today, as a beautiful and fresh bouquet shares with us a timeless life and elegance most fitting on a day devoted to love.

Consistently we have seen the rose dominate the ranks of valentine flowers as the most commonly-picked and overall favorite. Perhaps it has something to do with its soft curves and pleasing fragrance, but whatever the reason it remains at the top of all valentine flowers and has earned a place in the heart of all.

The tradition of valentine flowers is only growing stronger over time, with florists devoting more and more creative energy to provide the highest quality and largest selection for your needs. Valentine flowers are something that we all enjoy, so we can rest assured that they will be around for a long while.

Why valentine flowers are the perfect gift

Valentine flowers make the perfect gift for an assortment of reasons. First of all, valentine flowers are a living tribute to the beauty of our world, and spread with them happiness and joy for life itself. More than gifts like jewellery or chocolates valentine flowers send with them a message of love unrivaled by anything we can provide.

Studies have proven that attractive plants cleanse our minds of ill thought just as well as they do the air of pollutants, meaning that valentine flowers will help whomever you give them to feel healthier and happier while enjoying the visual stimulation that goes along with pleasing aroma.

Roses in particular are extremely popular valentine flowers, making them an ideal choice for your wife or girlfriend. Consider valentine flowers as a powerful compliment to jewellery or other gifts.

Valentine flowers and the meaning of color in roses

Thanks to genetic engineering and advancements in horticulture we are today gifted with over one hundred and fifty varieties of rose alone, meaning that it might be somewhat challenging to pick out the best valentines flowers. It is perhaps unsurprising that the simple red rose is losing favor in the world of valentine flowers.

One popular choice for valentine flowers is to mix and match colors to send an assortment of messages. For example, mixing red with white signifies unity, whereas red with yellow suggests joviality and pleasant feelings. Other color meanings of rose-specific valentine flowers include orange, which suggests desire and purple, which signifies love at first sight.

If you have any questions about the meanings behind the color of valentine flowers, a florist would be delighted to assist you. Making the right choice and presenting the appropriate valentine flowers will help to ensure a very pleasant evening.

Great ways to order valentine flowers

When ordering valentine flowers you are no longer limited only to a local store. You can now head online and visit a florist’s website to mix and match your valentine flowers or to select an appropriate basket or arrangement for the person you love. Most florists guarantee same-day delivery to many places in the world by making the arrangements through a flower shop local to the destination, meaning that your valentine flowers will reach that destination fresh and on time.

Floral staff will be very happy to provide their service to assist you in making the best choice if you are unable to decide what the ideal assortment of valentine flowers would be. To answer further questions, a florist’s website will more than likely contain much of the information pertaining to color choices for valentine flowers, making your decision that much easier.

Contact a florist today to make arrangements for valentine flowers! They are the recipe to success and a memorable day.

Wedding flowers as fashion: How flowers beautify your special day
Wedding flowers play an important part in both the planning and execution of your wedding. One of the biggest decisions a bride will have to make involves the design of beautiful and elegant arrangements of flowers for the dress, corsages, boutonnieres, and any centerpieces desired for the wedding itself.
As a result of the changing times, weddings are no longer following strict conventions, with individual and unique designs becoming more and more popular. This is great because it leaves you and your family free to perfect your wedding with the aid of professional florists, ultimately resulting in fresh and unique ideas to suit your personal style.

One example of conventions being replaced is that many brides are no longer restricted to reserved looks like traditional white flowers for the bride and bridesmaids. Colours including plum and lavender are top choices, and can add a personal touch to your special day.

A professional florist will be more than happy to offer advice for matching the colour and design of flowers for your wedding to create the custom feel you are looking for. Right from the start, the florist shop you contact will work with you to stay inside your budget, offering the best prices for the flowers you desire for your wedding.

For your convenience, many florists have websites with links to examples of wedding arrangements and decorations that they've designed in the past and currently offer. The ease of being able to do so much of your wedding planning just from an online site will do you many favours in the end.

You can also call to speak with a helpful representative about the best available options for your wedding flowers. Should you decide to have your wedding at home, a florist can visit you in order to get a good idea of what types of flowers would match those already growing in and around your house.

Flowers are also important additions to rehearsal dinners and bridal showers, helping to decorate and to give a taste of things to come. Not only will you impress your guests with an amazing centerpiece, but you'll also create a lasting memory to treasure forever.

Other assorted uses for wedding flowers include decorating candle holders, stair railings, windows and doorways. Even ponds can be brought to life with a floating design. The potential is limited only by your imagination, and a professional florist is able to accommodate any ideas you may present.

When speaking with your florist, make sure to describe the wedding dress, mention the colour and pattern of bridesmaid dresses, and point out any arrangements that you are particularly fond of. It is also a good idea to highlight the designs that don't suit your tastes.

Further useful information for the florist includes a description of the church and any rules that they might have regarding flowers, as well as those of the facility where you intend to hold the reception. Armed with this information, the florist will be best able to work out detailed plans and produce the results that are within your rights as the bride.

Remember that flowers are one of the most important aspects of weddings, and one of the easiest for you to control! Just submit your plans to the florist of choice, detail what you're looking for, and they'll be able to proceed from there. Being able to show off amazing arrangements of flowers to your friends and family will not only help make your special day that much more memorable for yourself, but for everyone you've invited.