Snow in the City: A Southerner's Story

Although originally from Chicago, IL, I spent most of my life in Charlotte, NC and went to college in Columbia, SC. I argue with anyone who calls me a southerner because I am lacking a southern accent and an endless collection of Vera Bradley and Lilly Pulitzer dresses. Just as I start to think my recent move to the north was easy and I blended in, I look out the window of a bar, break from the crowd, and run outside screaming “It’s Snowing!!!” Duh! It’s New York City in December.
Don’t get me wrong, I have seen snow before but it has been a long time since. In the Carolinas it doesn’t really snow, it ices. Rain falls, or maybe really wet snow, and school is cancelled. We all layer up and look ridiculous in mismatching layers and play in the ice. Sure, one or two neighbors have sleighs that we dust off and share, but it is more painful and colder that we thought. Within an hour or so we are all inside sipping hot chocolate by the fire. In New York, most people know how to dress for the cold weather. Where I would just grab the warmest thing I own and look like a caterpillar in a cocoon, New Yorkers are stylish in their hats, scarves, coats, and tall boots.
I hope to evolve into the fashionable New York winter wear scene. Thankfully, I do love to shop so adding to my wardrobe will not be a problem. I am looking forward to going home for the holidays and showing off my new style but being that it is 65 degrees in my hometown today, I think I will be right back to my old ways in no time. I will always appreciate snowfall because it will remind me of this time of change in my life. I think from now on I will hold back the sudden urgency to broadcast the weather and scream "It's Snowing!" and replace it with a simple smile.

---Emily

‘Twas The Week Before The Holidays

When I was 10 years old I won a poetry contest and my poem was published. Since then my poetry writing has been nonexistent…until now. I decided to take out my poetry skills, dust them off and prepare something special for this year’s Holiday season. I hope you enjoy this literary effort.

‘Twas The Week Before The Holidays

‘Twas the week before the holidays, when all through the workplace
Every creature was stirring, with a smile on their face.
The Penta girls were assisting clients with care,
In hopes their events would cause bystanders to stop and stare.

Even at night, when the girls are nestled all snug at their beds,
Visions of decorations and Holiday cocktails dance in their heads.
At work with their blackberries and paper and pencil,
They settled their brains to talk decorating with garland or tinsel.

Any event, personal or corporate,
Choosing Penta to plan is a sure fit.
Thinking cost-effectively in this crazy economy,
Penta considers every event’s autonomy.

Then on the phone there arose such a clatter,
No worry of the problem, Penta can solve the matter.
Away to the dilemma they flew like a flash,
The clients never knew and it was a successful bash.

Their eyes-how they twinkle! Their dimples so merry!
The clients’ walk into the event, no longer are they wary.
The decorations, treats and entertainment were fantastic!
A couple drinks down the hatch and the crowd was enthusiastic.

Laughing and singing to Holiday tunes we all know,
You would think they were Santa’s elves dancing in the snow.
Penta watches from afar and surveys their work of art,
All the crowd’s smiles warm their heart.

With time running out and Holiday parties to plan,
The team can’t lose their attention span.
Strange desires from clients and last minute requests,
Penta does the work so you don’t have to stress.

As you remember the good times as this year ends,
Have fun at your parties with your family and friends.
Good luck with your New Years Resolutions,
Happy Holidays to you from Penta Dynamic Solutions!

---Emily Ohnstad

Good and Bad Holiday Traditions

Another Christmas is almost here and it is time to decorate the tree, light the Menorah or the Kinara. I can almost taste the decorated sugar cookies and hear the holiday music favorites playing on a low volume serenading the scene. Then I remember the long lines at stores, rude shoppers, paper cuts from wrapping paper, the arduous task of bringing the decorations out of that black hole of an attic or basement. O! Please do not forget the inevitable family arguments. Good or bad, these are all the traditions that make the holiday season so memorable and family moments so loveable. Penta decided to share some of our personal favorite holiday traditions with you. Enjoy!

“We have a tradition in my family. Every year on the day after Thanksgiving, while many people are braving the long lines of Black Friday, my father and I lug the artificial Christmas tree up from the basement. We assemble the tree and then settle in for a long day involving the ceremonial shaping of the branches. For anyone who has ever tried to make an artificial tree look good, I'm sure you can commiserate with me. It takes us hours and just about the time when we can barely feel our fingers, in walks my mother. She stands from a distance, looks at the tree and says "Are you guys kidding? Can't you see the big hole in the middle of the tree? You have to step back and look at it from all angles." And the ceremonial shaping of the branches continues for several more hours.
As if the ceremonial shaping of the branches isn't tradition enough, we then move on to decorating the tree. When my brothers and I were young, my mother took beading classes and made these beautiful bells and angels. The ornaments are delicate and when we were little, we were instructed not to touch them – they were fondly referred to as the sacred beaded ornaments. Still, to this day, while my mother wants help to decorate the Christmas tree we are still not permitted to place the sacred beaded ornaments on the tree. We're also not really allowed to place any ornaments on the tree and we may not be accurate with our spacing. After hours and days of work, the tree finally becomes a complete work of art. Thank goodness the days of tinsel are finished because placing tinsel strand by strand used to add weeks to the process.
As crazy as they are, the traditions are fun and I wouldn't have it any other way!”
---Michele Verdino

Ever have the thought, “Can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.” This is one of those moments.

The night of Thanksgiving, a mall near my parents’ house has an annual tree lighting. Although it does not hold a candle to the Rockefeller tree lighting, it is a cheesy fun night with family and a chance to reunite with friends. Everyone wears Styrofoam antlers, drinks hot cider, and sings Christmas carols. For me, it is the official start of Christmas and I am happy to participate in such a lame celebration.
Another Holiday tradition that stands out in my mind is cooking the Christmas feast. My mother and I love to cook but professional chefs, we are not. Every year we experiment with different recipes, some delicious and some disastrous, but they are always fun to create. After dinner my family and friends typically sit around a campfire, roast marshmallows, drink wine and laugh about past Christmases. The night ends with the reading of “The Night Before Christmas” and then the wait for Santa begins. No matter how old I get I will always look forward to Santa’s gifts on Christmas morning.
---Emily Ohnstad

Happy Holidays From Penta—Your Event Planning Solution!

Gift Ideas For Those Hard To Buy For:

Ever have a friend or family member that is difficult to shop for? Penta wants to help find the perfect gift for anyone on your shopping list.

This being my first year in the ‘real world,’ out of college and in a job, I cannot wait to spend my hard earned money on my friends and family this holiday season. But, of course, there is always that one person I can never figure out what the perfect gift for them would be. I have found that a little creativity can go a long way. Through my past experiences I have created a list of great gift ideas that may help as you shop for the Holidays.

Personalized Apparel---My eighteen year old brother never knows what he wants for the holidays, unless it’s the latest and greatest expensive piece of technology. I know he loves hats and llamas. (Don’t ask!) Adding a personal touch to an everyday item is a classic way to spice up a gift. Online sites are available to personalize and item of clothing with a funny quote or photo that relates to the person you are looking to purchase a gift for. I purchased a hat with a picture of a llama on the front and it was my brother’s favorite gift of the year.

Personalized Stationary---Online sites are also available to personalize stationary. The day after Christmas, my brothers and I could not play with our new gifts until our thank you cards were completed. Decorative or monogrammed thank you notes, blank cards or stationary are a great way to provide a useful and personal gift.

Gift Basket---Sometimes the key to a great gift is a collection of a lot of small ones. After being invited to a Holiday party I put together a gift bag to show my appreciation for her hard work and planning. Prepare a gift basket with a bottle of wine, glasses, and a corkscrew or prepare a basket for the day after the event. This basket may include a good book, hot cocoa, and a calming CD to celebrate a morning after a busy night of hosting an event.

Date Night---Couples sometimes forget to take time out of their busy schedules and treat themselves to a date night. When researching a present for my boyfriend’s parents, I found out their favorite restaurant and a movie theatre in the same vicinity. I bought gift cards for dinner and movie.

Gifts don’t have to be expensive; they are more special when a wealth of creativity is used to find the perfect gift for that ‘hard to buy for’ friend or family member.

Happy Holidays!

---Emily Ohnstad

Goodbye to Penta (and New York!)

Having been here for 3 months now, my time in New York and as an intern at Penta is nearly over! I’m heading back to England next week and so before I go, I wanted to write a blog about my experience.

Although I planned events before, I’ve had an opportunity to work with my colleagues at Penta on really different kinds of events than those I was used to, particularly the Charity Golf Outing and the Live the Good Life Gala at the Waldorf Astoria in November which helped raise a huge amount for the American Diabetes Association.

Two of the other things I was most looking forward to experiencing before I came here were the Presidential election and my first Thanksgiving and they definitely lived up to my expectations! I’ve also loved seeing the holiday decorations go up all around the city and in the big stores and I even watched the Rockefeller Christmas Tree lighting on TV to get into the festive spirit.

Some things have proved to be more difficult than I thought though… It took me a while to remember to say “line” when I mean “queue” or “elevator” instead of “lift”, but I got there in the end. The other thing that I found difficult was the subway. My proudest moment came about two weeks into my stay when I managed to get on the right subway train on my own – without my husband telling me where to go!

So although I’m pleased to be going home to see my family and friends in time for the holidays, I feel sad that I’m leaving New York and my new friends at Penta. I’ve really loved my time here and I’m so grateful to Michele and Christina for offering me the chance to work with them and Emily, Katie and Sarah to experience a different side to the event planning industry.

New York really is the city of opportunity and I can’t wait to have the opportunity to come back!

Jodie

Penta’s Tips on Going Green

Penta has been thinking of ways to make our office more environmentally friendly. With your help, we can all make a difference. We have compiled a list of ways to reduce your office’s carbon footprint.

• Always turn off equipment when not in use. Remember to make sure the power is off on your computer and printer at the end of the day. Even turning off your screen when you are away from your desk can make a difference.


• Bring green plants into the office as this can help reduce CO2 levels and absorb indoor pollution. It also helps to brightens up the office!


• Change your light bulbs to low energy bulbs. Artificial lighting accounts for 44% of electricity use in the office. Energy Star rated light bulbs and fixtures use at least two thirds less energy than standard bulbs. Always remind the last person to leave the office to turn off the lights.


• Bring your lunch to work? Plastic utensils are indestructible and sit in a landfill for years before they break down. Although efforts are being made to create a more biodegradable cutlery, such as ‘Spudware’ and dissolvable plastic, silverware brought from home is your best option. Remember the three R’s to Rinse, Reuse and Recycle.


• Place recycle bins in high traffic areas to make paper products easier to recycle.


• Make money by recycling! Some businesses offer cash for recycled ink cartridges and old cell phones.


• Instead of bringing water bottles and disposable coffee cups into work, bring a washable mug or a cup from home. Bring a filtered water pitcher into the office for clean and delicious water.
  
  Penta- your event planning (and recycling) solution!
  
  

Favorite Holiday Cocktails

Holiday cocktails are a festive way to add spice to any holiday event. Whether you are planning a company party, hosting a few friends or celebrating with family, always remember the drink menu. Here our favorite holiday cocktails:

Sarah’s Pick: Mazeltov Hanukkah Cocktail

4 oz Blue Curacao
2 oz Vodka
6 oz ginger ale
1 oz lime juice
Top with lime peel

Katie’s Pick: Caramel Apple Pie-tini

1 ¾ oz Baileys with a hint of caramel
1/3 oz Smirnoff Twist- green apple vodka
1/3 oz Apple Sauce
Dash of Caramel Syrup

Jodie’s Pick: Christmas Cranberry

2 oz Orange Juice
1 oz Hazelnut Liqueur
1 oz Vodka
3 oz Cranberry Juice

Emily’s Pick: Raspberry Bellini

1 oz Chambord
3 Raspberries
Fill the glass with Champagne

Christina’s Pick: Dark Christmas

1 part Vodka
1 part Kahlua
1 part Baileys

Michele’s Pick: Gingerbread Martini

2 ounces vodka 1/2 to 1 ounce gingerbread syrup
Ginger Syrup:
3/4 cup water 3/4 cup sugar 3/4 (2-inch) piece fresh ginger, coarsely chopped 2 sticks of cinnamon 3 whole cloves
Directions:
Simmer water, sugar, ginger, cloves and cinnamon stirring occasionally, until reduced to about 3/4 cup, about 15 minutes.
Pour hot syrup through a fine sieve and chill.
Let stand 20 minutes until using, so all sediment has settled to the bottom.

Please remember to drink responsibly