Parties and Wedding RSVP Frustration and Annoyance

In life, we have special moments that come up with friends and family and planning parties, weddings and everything else is absolutely so difficult with inviting people and it becomes so stressful. When you want people to be part of your special day and when you enjoy the process of setting up the cards, mailing them out, and happily do it until stress strikes.

It is not everything that is the most difficult, frustrating and annoying; it is sending the invites to people with a due date that is never honoured and respected and some take their sweet time and others respect it and send the invite on time, whereas others respond after the due date. Some you have to remind. It is absolutely crazy.

You also have those people who don’t respond at all and then just show up. It doesn’t work like that. In most cases RSVP Cards come in, people need to fill those out and return them. The people inviting put postage stamps and have those cards out for a reason. To get organized. You can’t just tell the person they are coming by mouth. Chances are the people planning the wedding or event will forget, so it’s important to fill out the cards and mail it back in a time-sensitive and timely manner.

When you get an invite to any party, it is either a yes or a no. It is not that difficult. You look at your schedule, and boom, you answer and send back the RSVPs. It is not cool to wait for people to respond back while you have a million things to do and plan with the tables, how many favours or gifts you need to get for the guests arriving to your party as well as financially too with how many people you need to pay for.

It really isn’t easy to plan things when some people do not co-operate and respect you enough to send the RSVP’s back. It is common courtesy. It isn’t nice at all having someone wait and then hunting people down with calling, messaging, emailing, texting them until the last weeks of the wedding to see if it is a yes or a no.

Then there are those people who respond with attending, and then you write them down on a table card or chart and then they never show up or give an explanation as to why they did not bother to show up where you spent money for their meal. It is absolutely unfair and disgusting behaviour which needs to really stop. Some do not even respond back and you know you sent it to them and it did get sent to them or else it will be returned back to the person who mailed them with the return address.

Weddings and parties all go smoothly with planning until it comes time to the people attending them. You expect people to respond right away, but that never happens and it probably never will even with a strict time limit and being time sensitive.

The guests don’t think about how much work it takes to plan tables and everything. If you have ever been in these shoes where you plan an event and you wait for responses, it’s absolutely so frustrating and annoying and so absolutely ridiculous.

Yes, I realize some people cannot financially to maybe afford to go to parties, weddings and everything, but there is no excuse not to answer on due dates. It is not right at all. There is no excuse unless something very very important comes up or some other things arise, but it doesn’t give someone the right to delay an RSVP.

Have you ever been through this situation? Have you been frustrated and annoyed with this? Would love to hear all about it.

All the best with planning. It is not easy.

My Sweet 16 Birthday that Never happened

When I was in high school and about to turn 16, I have heard about the sweet 16’s birthday parties and the fun those people had, and planned their birthdays that it was perfect, the people who had gone to those parties, the decorations, the planning all kicked off perfectly.

Even though I did not have friends back in the day, and those who I thought were somehow, I decided to throw a sweet 16 birthday party for me. As I had invited 20 people from my school. So now when it came toward the last couple of days to my birthday, I assured people to ask if they are going to be attending my birthday and they said yes we will be there. I got so excited. I remember it was April 28, 2001, on a Saturday and Monday is my real birthday on the 30th, and decided to have it 2 days early because of School on the right day.

As I had begun decorating, and had ordered the cake and the food, as well has putting some games so people can play. As the time was nearing for people to come, I got so excited that I stood by the door to wait for them to come, my anticipation was growing deeper. As I looked at the time again and it was 2pm where the time said on the invitations, I look at the clock and it said 2:15. I said ok its ok, they are running late. Then one person came around 2:30, I welcome her into the house and she decided to wait with me. then it became almost 4pm, and it was just her and I was devastated, humiliated, embarrassed, and crying so much.

That one girl who came to my party wiped my tears away and said it will be ok. Don’t worry, I am here. lets enjoy together. Who cares about the rest that stood you up? I said yeah you are right. So we enjoyed the food, and desert and cake and watched a couple of movies until it was time for her to go home. She hugged me and said, Talin, do not worry about anybody else, they are cowards. God is watching them. Then she left as her mom came and picked her up. My heart shattered to pieces. It was a feeling that I never wish on anybody else.

After her leaving, I let out a huge cry. I said, I cannot believe this happened to me and my mom comforted me and told me, don’t worry God will punish them. So Monday came and I was still crying and devastated. I did not enjoy my real 16th birthday, but I did go out to dinner with my family, which made everything better. I actually skipped school for a couple of days and just stood home. I just didn’t feel like seeing anybody. Then I decided to go to school on the Wednesday, and none of them said I am sorry and did not bother to give me an explanation as to why they did that. All the planning, food and everything went to waste, however we kept the food and ate it throughout the week.

From then on, I didn’t care about interacting with anybody and I just went about and studied, did my homework, attended all my classes, and then once school was finished, I’d never waste another second and just go home. I was so disgusted. That one girl changed schools the year after because her family had moved somewhere further, and that really made me even cry more. She was the only one who really cared. It was so nice of her. I still have the give she gave me 14-15 years later.

As I reached another milestone this year. At the end of April on the 30th of 2015, I will be celebrating my champagne birthday turning 30 on 30 and it is coming up so quickly. As I almost say Goodbye to my 20’s, I am truly hoping that I can have a sweet 30th birthday that will make up for the sweet 16th birthday I never had. I know it is not good to expect it, but when you’ve never had a birthday party reaching a milestone, it makes you wonder how and what might have been. I just want to have a great time with my lovely and beautiful loved ones I have in my life which really matter to me more than anything else.

Have you experienced a disappointing turnout at a party or function you have had? I am sure you felt humiliated and distraught. Have you had a similar situation where people didn’t bother to show up and not telling you why and not having the common decency to call and explain? If you have, I am so sorry to hear that. I know exactly how you feel. It is not a good feeling at all.

Hopefully nobody has to go through what I went through. Best wishes to you and may your dreams come true, because everyday is our birthday and celebrate it by the gift of breathing and living through another day. We are blessed and that is what matters the most.

The 2013 Armenian Toronto ACC Summerfest Was A Great Success

This year from July 12, until the 14th, 2013 The Armenian Community Center of Toronto held a huge party under the tent for the Armenian community and this year was the 17th season. This year like from the year our Summerfest have begun, they have become a great success from bringing many known Armenian and International Performers from Dancers, to Singers, Comedians, Radio Broadcasters and so many more surprises that occur each year. The Armenian Summerfest is held at the Armenian Community Youth Center Parking lot.

This year many Armenian singers from Los Angeles, Lebanon, Cambridge Ontario, Montreal, and other places attended and sang at our Summerfest and they are Ararad Aharonian, Khoren Mouradian, Onnig Dinkjian our folk Traditional Singer, Kevork Artinian, Armenchik, and Andy Madadian with their bands that graced our stage with their incredible and beautiful talent in our Armenian Culture singing a variety of songs from slow to fast and while the crowd was dancing traditional Armenian Dances as well as just dancing with family, friends and enjoying our time with our Armenian community. Some of the performers also did a duet on stage as well which blew the crowd away and people were dancing like no tomorrow. We were then Broadcasted live from our Radio Station present and that is Setrak Garabedian who traveled from Montreal, and his radio station is called TrikTrak With Setrak and he updated and tuned those people who were unable to join at the Summerfest across the world so they too can enjoy with us.

The purpose of the Armenian Summerfest is to bring the Armenian community together, to strengthen our bonds, to make new friends, to reuniting people who have not seen each other in a while, and nowadays people meet each other on Facebook and make friends on the social networking site and people connect in person together for the first time or many times before and it makes Summerfest to be a smaller world when people reunite together. People of All ages were in attendance at the Summerfest which made us into one big happy family of our Community. a few thousand people were in attendance this year.

There were many vendors and traditional cultural Armenian and Middle Eastern Food and Desserts for people to enjoy while at the summerfest, there was also a Kids area where there was deflatable playing centers, Along with Cotton Candy, Ice Cream, and So many things to do for people of all ages.

I am glad that I attended all 3 nights and I got to reunite with my Friend whom I call a sister from Montreal, I got to see my friend from Boston who I had not seen since last year, and I saw all my facebook friends and some I met for the first time. It was so incredible and It was special time. I had such a great time and My face was always smiling and I was just so happy all around.

I would like to personally thank the Organizing committee of the Annual Summerfest and I appreciate all the hard work, commitment, dedication, nights and days that are put to pull of a huge event with renting of the big tent, organizing and planning the performers, the food, the communications, advertising committees and so many more things that go into planning an event. Thanks again and I am excited for the 18th year in 2014. Thanks for a fun weekend. Until next time.

Happy Easter Everyone! Wishing You The Best

Hello everyone, I am going to keep this short and sweet today as Today for some people it is Easter and I’d like to wish you all a happy Easter and wish you all the best. Many blessings to all of you. Thank you for your continued support in reading, and engaging into my blog. It is much appreciated. What are your Easter traditions? What do you cook for Easter? Is there anything in Particular that you and your friends or family do during Easter time? In My Family we get together for dinner, then we have egg cracking contests, distribute Chocolate, and then we usually pray and Thank the Lord for all that he has done for us.

Remember, it is not just about the Chocolates, Bunny Rabbits, Eggs, and the Pretty colours of Easter, it is about our Jesus Christ who sacrificed his life for us all and his love for us and he was crucified on the Cross. Today, Jesus Rose, and he is watching for all of us, but Easter may mean different things to different people and that is all okay too. What are you most Thankful for when it comes to Easter time? Being with Family and Friends is the most important and coming together during days like this is something great. It should always be that way right?

Well, I am going to keep this short today, so I wish you all the best and have a blessed and joyful day.

The Oscars Are Around The Corner – 85th Academy Awards

It is that time again where the 85th Annual Oscars Academy Awards are on the way this Sunday on February 24th, 2013. The glitz, glamor, dresses, the ambiance, displays, celebrities, artists, and celebrating an evening filled with incredible and great talent that makes television and movies the way they are now. I never miss a year of the Oscars and I always watch it. I make some amazing dishes for dinner and snacking, and prepare for the Oscars. It is a tradition in my family where we watch the Oscars and pick out our nominees and see who will win. I think ARGO is going to win this year. I have this feeling they are. I have never seen the movie yet, but I have heard incredible reviews and read so much about it. I haven’t seen most of the movies that are Oscar Academy nominees, but I plan to watch them. I don’t watch every movie out there, but the ones that are interesting to me. So I will watch ARGO when the DVD comes out.Who do you think the Award should go to for best picture and for best movie of the year? Django Unchanged? Les Miserables? or others?

The only thing is we don’t usually dress up for the occasion, we just have a cozy night in and watch the red carpet preview, then the award itself. Do you think Seth Macfarlane will do a great job as a host? I am confident he will be. I am sure he will add a flare of comedy into his introduction to the Oscar night. It must be an honor to be chosen to be a host for such a huge night in Entertainment. I wish him all the best in that and I am rooting for Seth. Way to go! I also liked it when Ellen DeGeneres Hosted as well. She added so much to it. I don’t know if you remember that year.

Do you have an Oscars Academy awards tradition? What do you do? Do you watch the Oscars? What do you think of the fashions as the years go by? Do you concentrate on everything in the background, and whats happening on camera? I am sure a lot of people do. I am thrilled and excited for Sunday. Are you?

I Love This Time Of Year During Christmas Season

Since I was a little girl, I remember when Christmas was approaching and I would be so excited to wear different dresses and see my cousins who would come out of town and those who are in town. I remember how much fun we all had together and we still do. We had so much food cooked every year, each person would bring something, and then Santa Comes over, and sings along with us and everything. We used to go all out. I love this time of year when my family comes together and celebrate the greatness of Christmas and the bonds and memories of it all. When we had Christmas parties at my cousins house, there would be Christmas Carolers coming over and singing a few Christmas songs and then heading over to the next house wherever you would call them. It was super nice and I would look around the room to see my family and just enjoy those moments when these songs were being sung. I said I am so lucky and so thankful to God, I have a great family like them and they all have a special place in my heart, my life and beyond. I would do anything for my family. I remember Traveling to Daytona Beach, Florida for 2 weeks during Christmas and New Years. We made a road trip out of it and we drove all the way to Daytona, It was long for me at the time in 1997 because I was too young to drive, and I was so bored, I said are we there yet? LOL, but when we went down there, we went to a Christmas party and then we went to this restaurant for New Years. It was a fun time. We have also been on Some Cruise Ship vacations during that time of year. I will never forget these moments for as long as I live. In the recent years, It has become difficult to get together with family, but this year we will be celebrating altogether in one roof again and I am very happy and cannot wait. Merry Early Christmas everyone! Enjoy!

What are your traditions and memories you have had?