Jim Vallion and Gena Vallion from Trochta’s talk about the heat and flowers on Parties Extra!
Jim Vallion and Gena Vallion talk flowers on Parties Extra!
David Mahone celebrates at birthday party
Steve Stephens, Brad Ellis, David Mahone, Ford Farris and Tom Talley celebrate David Mahone’s birthday. (Photos provided).
David Mahone was surprised on his 60th birthday with a party in the home of his mother, Abby Mahone. Co-hosts were Molly and Larry Holder, Kelly Mahone, Lauren and Juston Weems, Erin Holder and Madelyn Holder.
Large pictures from different times in the honoree’s life decorated the home along with old milk bottles filled with crimson and cream flowers noting his habit of milk and cookies before bedtime.
David Mahone’s favorite Oklahoma City foods were served at the event…enchiladas from Ted’s, barbecue from Swadleys, vodka chicken pasta from What’s Cooking. There were 60 cupcakes with candles and his mother’s chocolate chip cookies.
Friends came from Texas, Colorado, and from all over Oklahoma. They included Robin White, M.L. and Gary Hart, Tom Talley, Beth and Ed Wells, Judy and Bill Howard, Barbara and George Dahnke, Jerry and John Lockwood, Peggy and Kevin Kuhn, Jimmy Webber, Jon Varion, Ford Farris, Colette Ellis, Brad Ellis and Steve Stephens.
Carol Borg, Abby Mahone, Jessica Fredericks, Louis Brigham enjoy the party in the Mahone home.
Photos of the honoree decorated the house.
Robin White and David Mahone listen to a poem called “Ode to the Golfer” read by Jim Webber.
Physicians tour new Peggy and Charles Stephenson Oklahoma Cancer Center
Molly Boren, Colin FitzSimons, David Boren tour the new Cancer Center. (Photo by David Faytinger).
A seated dinner and tour of the Peggy and Charles Stephenson Oklahoma Cancer Center was held July 8th prior to the July 18th opening. University of Oklahoma President David L. Boren and his wife, Molly Shi Boren, and Center Director Dr. Robert S. Mannel hosted the dinner, on the fifth floor.
The Center is located at 800 NE 10th, OU Health Sciences Center campus.
Local and state physicians arrived at the main lobby of the Center for a glass of wine and hors d’oeuvres before taking guided tours throughout the building.
Everyone enjoyed seeing the exam rooms, the two vaults for proton-generating accelerators, state-of the-art equipment, beautiful rooms, colorful original artwork, the healing garden, bookshelves filled with books and games on the tables… all planned with patients in mind.
The fifth floor featured tables set with pink cloths and bouquets of pink and white lilies. Guests had a view of the state capitol and the sunset on the Oklahoma City skyline. On the menu was Beef Ragout and English Sherry Trifle.
President David L. Boren talked about the Center and its’ high standards for Oklahoma and the nation. “With every patient, we will learn to make the Center better,” he said.
Among the guests were Colin FitzSimons, Dr. Carl Bogardus, Gayla and Dr. Jason Breed, Jari Askins, Dr. Sameer Keole, Rebecca and Dr. Dewayne Andrews, Catherine Bishop, Joy and Dr. Roger Quinn, Sherry and Dr. Gary Strebel, Dian and Dr. Royice Everett, Dr. Betsy Jett, Dr. Robert Ringrose, Dr. Michelle Ponder, Dr. Corey Ponder, Dr. Jesus Medina, Dr. Russell Postier, Dr. Michael Bronze, Dr. Timothy Lyons, Dr. Steven Crawford, Dr. Gerald Clancy, Paula Clancy, Judy and Ken King, Matt Cloud, Stacey Maxon, Kelsey and Dr. Roland Walters and Dr. Alice McInnis.
Kelsey Walters, Joy Quinn and Sherry Strebel were at the dinner and tour of the Oklahoma Cancer Center on the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center campus. (Photo by Helen Ford Wallace).
Rebecca and Dr. Dewayne Andrews greeted guests. (Photo by Helen Ford Wallace).
Jari Askins and Dr. Sameer Keole talk at the party. (Photo by Helen Ford Wallace).
20-40-60 Etiquette—Should I get a babysitter?
QUESTION: I was one of the hostesses for a shower and was the one who took the RSVP’s. An invited guest said she would be attending and would have her 4- and 6- year-old daughters with her. Children were not invited, as almost all of the guests have children. What should my response have been?
CALLLIE’S ANSWER: Be straight with her. It is inappropriate to bring others to a party uninvited, even if you have asked, especially children under the age of 6. They don’t want to be there!
LILLIE-BETH’S ANSWER: You could look on the bright side — at least the guest mentioned the fact that she planned to bring her children with her, which gave you an opportunity to politely prevent that from happening. I would tell her nicely that the party was for adults only and assume she misunderstood the invitation to mean that.
If you knew the guest and knew she was in a childcare bind, then you could offer the name of a babysitter. Or, since you said almost all of the guests have children, you can tell her you’ll keep her in mind if you hear of anyone pooling babysitting resources during the shower.
HELEN’S ANSWER: Politely ask the guest if she could get a babysitter since the others invited guests are all adults. Tell her that they have children too and would like to bring them, but, it is not the time or place for them. If everyone brought their children, it would be a children’s party.
It is truly the bride’s time to have adult conversation and just be with her friends. Children distract from that and if she had wanted them to come, she would have put them on the invitation list.
GUEST’S ANSWER: Bebe MacKellar, local community leader: It has always surprised me that people think they should bring their children to a shower, especially when their name is not on the invitation. If every guest brought a child or two the event would quickly change from being a shower to “honor” a bride or future mother into a “sip and see” for guests children.
In general, I think it is incredibly rude to bring children to events where they are not invited. Usually parents are looking forward to a bit of adult time and have planned accordingly by hiring a sitter. I have known of occasions where some young children are included and even then only those who have been specifically invited by the host should attend.
Callie Gordon, a college senior, was an Oklahoma City 2009 debutante. Lillie-Beth Brinkman is a former debutante and currently the assistant features editor for The Oklahoman. Helen Wallace has written a social column for The Oklahoman for many years and has been on various local Ball committees. Guest is Bebe Mackellar, local community leader.
This group does not always agree (via age differences), but they ALL see the need for proper behavior.
Ask a specific etiquette question and you will get three answers…Then you decide for yourself how you would handle the situation. The answers have information for every age range….Callie is 20-ish; Lillie-Beth is 40-something, and Helen is 60-plus.
Please email us with your questions and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and daily blogs. We will try to answer your etiquette questions weekly on the Parties Extra! blog. Sometimes we will ask other people for their opinions.
Look for us!
E-mail us! helen.wallace@cox.net …lbrinkman@opubco.com…calliezok3@aol.com
Tom Hoch celebrates 80th birthday in Oklahoma City
Liz London, Joanne, Tom, Tim, and Tom C. Hoch enjoy the birthday party. (Photos by David Faytinger).
Sophie, Audrey (5), Hallie, Joseph (4), and Stephen Hoch, Ian Wallace, Chris and Luke Hoch celebrate Tom Hoch’s birthday.
Tom Hoch was honored on his 80th birthday with a party in the atrium in Christ the King Catholic Church. Hosts were his wife, Joanne, his four children, Liz London, Tim Hoch, Will Hoch and Tom Hoch and their families.
In tribute to the honoree’s love of antique toys and trains, a cake was designed as a replica of an antique train with a load of miniature antique toys, golf clubs and a likeness of Tom’s antique car. Daughter-in-law Sandra Maihos Hoch created the cake. Balloons and paper centerpieces were on the tables along with large vases of Gerber daisies, sunflowers arranged by Jim Vallion.
A book called “Yesterday’s Child, The Life and Times of Tom Hoch” was written by his son, Will Hoch, and presented to him by his family.
Check out The Assemblies for 5th and 6th grade girls and boys
Buffy Heater, Emily Pilcher and Sherry Sullivan talk about The Assemblies on Parties Extra!
20-40-60 Etiquette—I cannot go to the party
QUESTION: How do I handle this one? I am invited to a wedding shower, but I already know that I cannot go due to a previous commitment. Should I drop off a gift or have it sent online or just not send one since I cannot go? Then, am I supposed to send a wedding gift too? Is one gift for both sufficient?
CALLIE’S ANSWER: Send a gift if you are not able to make it. Also, send a wedding gift as well. Depending on your personal preference, you can do both. When we are talking ‘etiquette’ send a gift to both.
LILLIE-BETH’S ANSWER: Any of your ideas sounds like the right way to handle this.
If you cannot go to the wedding shower and are close to the couple and want to do something, then probably your best idea would be to drop off a gift with one of the hostesses. That way the bride can open it on the day of the shower.
However, since you’ve sent your regrets to the shower, I think you could also simply send a bigger gift for the wedding to cover both presents, whether by mail or online, and forgo a shower gift altogether. I don’t know of an etiquette instance where you’re required to buy a gift for a shower that you do not attend, although it’s a nice, meaningful gesture.
HELEN’S ANSWER: If you are invited to the party and cannot go, send a gift to the honoree. Usually, a gift goes to the wedding also. If you are out of time and cannot get a gift to the shower, take it by the house later, or send something really nice for the wedding. Some of the wedding rules can be expanded to suit your time frame and circumstances. Use your best judgment when it comes to gift giving.
GUEST’S ANSWER: Hilarie Blaney, Etiquette and International Protocol Consultant: If invited, you need to send a gift by store delivery, online or by delivering it yourself. If you are also invited to the wedding you should give a gift as well.
I would determine my budget based upon the relationship to the person. Then I would divide the cost of the two gifts with the wedding gift being the most expensive purchase.
Callie Gordon, a college senior, was an Oklahoma City 2009 debutante. Lillie-Beth Brinkman is a former debutante and currently the assistant features editor for The Oklahoman. Helen Wallace has written a social column for The Oklahoman for many years and has been on various local Ball committees. Guest is Hilarie Blaney, Etiquette and International Protocol Consultant.
This group does not always agree (via age differences), but they ALL see the need for proper behavior.
Ask a specific etiquette question and you will get three answers…Then you decide for yourself how you would handle the situation. The answers have information for every age range….Callie is 20-ish; Lillie-Beth is 40-something, and Helen is 60-plus.
Please email us with your questions and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and daily blogs. We will try to answer your etiquette questions weekly on the Parties Extra! blog. Sometimes we will ask other people for their opinions.
Look for us!
E-mail us! helen.wallace@cox.net …lbrinkman@opubco.com…calliezok3@aol.com
Mary and Bill Jones celebrate 40th anniversary
Mary and Bill Jones cut the anniversary cake, a replica of their wedding cake 40 years ago. (Photo provided).
Mary and Bill Jones were honored at a 40th anniversary party. Hosts were their children, Ami Arthur, Casey Jones, Tom Jones, Molly Jones and Nick Jones in the Santa Fe Depot in Norman.
A frog theme was used because Bill Jones has told the children a frog story through the years so the mantra for the family is to “keep jumping.”
Besides the frogs everywhere there were framed pictures from their wedding and a slideshow playing during the event.
Bouquets of yellow gladiolus, yellow daisies and white hydrangeas were on the tables with white flower candles and green ribbons.
Mary Jones’ sister, Gloria Criser, made an exact replica of the cake decorated with doves, rings, flowers and netting that the Jones had at their wedding reception in 1971.
Greg Puckett, a groomsman from the wedding, and Marla Nix and Gina Newlin, two of the bridesmaids, were among the guests.
Dealing for Dreams for Make-A-Wish Foundation set for July 30th
What: “Dealing for Dreams,” a party for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Oklahoma.
When: July 30 at 7 p.m.
Where: National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.
It will be a casino night party with Las Vegas-style entertainment including blackjack, craps, roulette, Texas Hold ‘Em, Three card poker and Let It Ride. Dinner will be from the Paseo Grill and there will be live entertainment.
Tickets are $60. and can be purchased online, at The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Oklahoma office.
Becky Stevenson and Clay Taylor honored at couple’s shower
Clayton, Marnie, and Clay Taylor, Becky, Ginny, and Bob Stevenson enjoy the party. (Photo by David Faytinger).
Becky Stevenson and Clay Taylor were honorees at a couple’s shower given by Meg Salyer, Edie Roodman and Dr.Georgi Snowden and Porter Berry, Edie Roodman, Dr. Eli Reshef.
Theme for the party was a Mexican fiesta with hot and spicy Mexican food from Ted’s, along with frozen margaritas. Pinatas and outdoor lighting decorated the back yard and Mariachi music played.
Among the people at the party were Ginny and Bob Stevenson, Marnie and Clayton Taylor, Leslie and Cliff Hudson, Patti and Dr. Mark Mellow, Suzie and John Swinford, Marsha and John Funk, Olivia Hansen, Julie Richardson, Patsy Gaberino Carey, Terry Murray, Teresa Rose, James Pickel, Miki and Jim Farris.
Guests brought an assortment of items for their new home from Home Depot.
