Sunday, 22 November 2009

AVOID using Crown Catering

Last week, we were married. It was FANTASTIC!!!! The day was perfect! So was the weather and EVERYTHING!
There was just one little thing that seemed to want to put a 'spanner in the works' and that was the so-called professional company Crown Catering.
Its a Sydney based company and I feel it is my duty to let everyone know what happened to us whilst using this company as we don't want it to happen to others.
So here is my Testimonial:

Pre Wedding:

We had organised for all cutlery, glasses and plates to be delivered up before the wedding. Crown Catering informed me that this would be a $100 delivery fee. Sure, I thought, after all, it is my wedding and I want things to go smoothly. Deliveries are made monday-friday and I'd hear from them in the week to know when they would be delivered.

I would just like to add, Crown Catering demands that they have FULL payment 3 days prior to the function. Which ofcourse, I was early with my FULL payment as I didn't want any hiccups.

On the thursday prior to the saturday wedding, I was getting a little concerned that I hadn't heard from them. I called three times throughout the day, only to be told that the person I was speaking to was unable to help me but they took my name and number and they'd get someont to get back to me asap.

Friday. Okay, I was worried now! I called Crown Catering at 9am, 10am & 11am. Oh, they took my name and would get someone to call. Eventually Matt got through to someone in the afternoon, only to be informed that it would not be delivered as it was not on the delivery list! I paid $100 already!!! So, after a lot of telephoning around my brother kindy offered to DRIVE the 2 hour drive to Sydney to pick all the dishes up! He arrived. Oh, the warehouse wasn't ready yet (approx 4:30pm by this time). Eventually the unenthuiastic staff members filled his car for him to drive back up to the mountains for another 2 hour drive in PEAK HOUR!

Oh well, we thought, at least we have everything before the wedding!! We stayed positive even when having to wash and polish all 80 wine glasses and 80 sparkling wine glasses, as we were given new ones that were still un washed!

Wedding:

Chef turns up in his old bomb of a station wagon car, windows wound down as I think its a model that existed before airconditioning was even invented! And ta da, all our food is in this car! It has been since he left Sydney for the 2 hour drive up. I didn't think about it at the time, but I'm sure the health authorities aren't approving of that amount (enough to feed 87 people) of food should be transported without refridgeration!?

Wedding goes well. My Dad, being the sticky beak that he is, goes and looks at the meat roasting on the spit and nearly had a cardiac arrest when he see's the TINY bit of meat roasting away.
"Mate!" he says to the chef, "This is the meat? You cant be serious! There is only about 3kg of meat there. It won't feed 90 people!!!".
"Don't worry", replies the chef. "i've got more pre-cooked meat that I brought up with me from Sydney.

Hmmmmmmm. Why didn't it click with me yet????!!!

Then came time for desserts. We had ordered fruit platters with cream and Pavlovas. Mmmmm!! Oh wait! The pavlovas never showed up!
Oh and I hope you didn't feel like a cup of tea or coffee at my wedding, as even though we PAID for china tea cups and PAID to hire an urn from Crown Catering, these things NEVER turned up!!!!

Never the less, we still all had a wonderful time and had fun! fun! fun! I loved our wedding!!!

Post Wedding:

Without getting into too much description.... 30. yes, THIRTY people fell ill. Mostly on the monday. With vomiting and dirroreah!!!! Food poisoning?? Well thats what my doctor told me! Thats what our friend that ended up in HOSPITAL was also told. And I tell you what, I was so upset to see Liberty (only 17 months old) vomiting uncontrollably eleven times on monday night. Yep, she ate the food.

Oh and our honeymoon?? Well, with Matt, Libby and I not being able to be too far from the toilet at anytime, sadly, we have had to cancel.

I contacted Crown Catering, I've been told that oh, thats never happened before (which bloody bit???!), and can she have it in writing. So I wrote... 8 days later, I haven't heard back. Nothing. Nada!

So, if you are thinking about using a caterer for any occasion, be it a wedding, christmas party, etc etc.
I warn you from experience. DO.NOT.USE. Crown Catering.

Edited To Add: I forgot to mention... all their dirty plates, cutlery, glasses etc are still sitting in the shed on my parents property waiting to be picked up!!! They promised me it would be picked up yesterday. Uhm, yeah, well that didn't happen!

Wednesday, 18 November 2009

Just Married!!!


On the weekend I married Matty my boyfriend of 6 years and the father to our baby girl Liberty, at a beautiful ceremony held at my parents farm!!
It was perfect!!!
I haven't seen many photos yet but I did steal this photo from Dar's blog. So go over to her blog for details of our wedding and also just to check out her blog as she is such a good writer and story teller!!!
Anyway, just wanted to let you know we are a very happy married couple!
And i'd also like to announce.....
We are expecting baby #2!!!!!! Due in May next year!!! It's all happening for us at the moment!!!
Xx Jess

Wednesday, 7 October 2009

Giveaway....

Everyone loves a giveaway right?!!!
If your into stationary like these beauties....

You have to go and visit Dar's blog!! Quickly!! Go there now!! All you have to do is leave a comment on her awesome blog to be in the running to win some 'mooo' thank you cards.

Xx Jess

Thursday, 24 September 2009

tie dye

Yesterday Matty and I along with Liberty went to Centro to escape from this....

The dust storm that suffocated Sydney and plenty of NSW yesterday!! This is a photo of the roof of my silver car!
So, whilst we were shopping ~to escape the dust~ I bought Liberty some much needed bigger singlets! I actually bought them in a size 2 so she'll be able to grow into them! They only had white ones which Matt and I thought were a bit boring so we went to the sewing section and they had about 3 colours of dye to choose from, so we chose purple!
When Libby went down for her nap, I did the dyeing...
Here she is wearing one of the singlets (whilst also doing some crazy acrobatic stunt - haha)

Im happy with the results of my first time tie dying singlets for Lib! It was good fun to do too!!!
Now, to go clean the kitchen from orange dust and purple dye! hahaha
Xx Jess

Wednesday, 9 September 2009

Zoo Friends

Today, for our family day we went to Taronga Zoo! We did visit here back in April this year and seeing as we returned today we decided to become Zoo Friends! Seeing as we live so close it is definately worth becoming a friend. Especially the fact that we will get to see this little one grow...
Isn't he a little cutie!! I cant believe he weighs 164kg! wow!! Big appetite!! haha!

We also went to see the seal show! Libby just loves the seal show! She loved it heaps last time we went and again this time!! (she wasn't loving wearing her hat though - haha!)
We also went to the farm playground bit. Libby and I patted a little lamb and she was very interested in the pig. There was also a great playground for Libby to play around in! And ofcourse, we couldn't leave the show without seeing the gorgeous and always entertaining chimps!
We also went to the birl show and in total spent 4 hours exploring the zoo and riding on the gondola (ofcourse).
Xx Jess

Tuesday, 8 September 2009

nappy cake!

Hello!
So... here is cake #2 from the order from my friend. The request for this one was for it to be $50 and unisex!
Here's what I made...
Ingredients:

  • 24 Huggies nappies
  • 1 soft stuffed toy
  • 'happy baby' dummy
  • yellow muslin wrap
  • hair brush
  • comb
  • 'johnsons & johnsons' baby powder

Monday, 7 September 2009

nappy cake!

Yippie! A friend of mine has ordered TWO nappy cakes from me!!! Thank you!!! This one here was requested to be for a baby girl due in spring, with a budget of $50.
Here's what I made...

Ingredients:

  • 19 Huggies newborn nappies
  • nail clippers
  • nail scissors
  • 2 pairs of socks
  • a 'happy baby' dummy
  • a soft lamb toy
  • a pink Muslin wrap

Sunday, 6 September 2009

Happy Fathers Day!!!

Happy 2nd Fathers day to Matty! Liberty loves you very very much!!
And ofcourse, Happy Fathers Day to my dad too!!!
Xx Jess

Saturday, 5 September 2009

nappy cake!

Congratulations to our friends Leea and Matty A on the arrival of their beautiful and healthy baby girl, Zuri born this week! I was lucky enough to meet little Zuri when she was only 4 days old, so tiny!!!
Cant wait to see her again soon!!

I had to get 'baking' again! haha! I've decided to call my nappy cakes 'Jessycakes*'. I would love to be able to sell them somewhere but im not sure if they are good enough! A friend of ours has ordered 2 (which im in the process of making). I love making them and would love to have more orders. Now... to figure out how to do this.... hmm.

Anyways, here's Zuri's nappy cake....
Ingredients:

  • 30 newborn nappies
  • 'pumpkin patch' top
  • 'pumpkin patch' pants
  • hairbrush
  • comb
  • nail clippers
  • nail scissors
  • 'happy baby' dummy
  • 'bright stars' teething rattle
  • baby bottle

best friends

For the last couple of months I've been looking after Arabella 1 day a week (sometimes more, sometimes less). Its been good fun! Liberty and Arabella get on so well together! Bella is 5 months older and I think Libby looks up to her and is learning lots from her! They are both the sweetest little girls! Im so lucky to be able to watch them play together so often! I hope they will stay great friends whilst growing up!
Xx Jess

* dont forget to check out my photo-a-day-2009 flickr account HERE.