Lilly Pulitzer Inspired Bridal Shower

I love everything Lilly! I sure wish they had these cute stationary products when I was getting married because I love the Lilly Themed Bridal Shower. Encourage all the guests to wear their favorite Lilly!

When guests arrive they are greeted with a tray of Pomegranate lemonade spiked with a little iced tea vodka and a galvanized bucket full of colorful IZZE sparkling bottles


Table Decor: cute yellow linens from Party Rental Ltd. with glass vases of gerbera daisies.


The Menu -cucumber-avocado soup with cilantro then grilled shrimp and pineapple skewers and a spring mix salad with pear and blue cheese crumbles.
and for dessert - cute cupcakes with pink floral wrappers from Paper Orchid

Lil'bit of Advice

ENJOY YOUR WEDDING DAY

-Before you walk down the aisle with your new husband or wife - look at the guests, take in the moment of everyone you care about smiling back at you
-Visit with your guests either at the table or on the dance floor
-Dance with your brother and sorority sisters
-Hire a planner to take care of behind the scene details
-Eat dinner - you spent so much time choosing the right meal
and lastly
-Hug, Kiss and thank your parents


Remember the best weddings are the ones where the bride and groom really enjoy themselves and are Guests at Their Own Wedding!

Add a little Pazazz!

ICE is so HOT right now!

Consider using some ice for your next event - I love the new ice balls from Icecaters.

Make your favorite martini and have it poured over an ice ball.

Or try this recipe:
Something Blue
1 1/2 oz Hpnotiq
1 oz Dry Champagne
1/2 oz Grand Marnier
Combine and pour over ice and garnish if needed.

(thanks to Maria McBride)

You are THE Star!

These days people love to document their lives, capture all the special moments. They also want to be a star - to feel important.

Well how about you hire some paparazzi to follow you around and document the occasion? I think this would be so fun for an engagement or bachelor/bachelorette party. You deserve the star treatment and it would be so much fun!

This is becoming a huge trend right now. Celeb 4 A Day offers the service in Los Angeles, Austin and San Francisco. I am sure you could talk to some photographers in your area (maybe even your wedding photographer) and see if they would be up for it. The cost is a bit steep - running about $500 for 30 mins to $2500 for 2 hours.

I can picture it now: Boy sets up romantic dinner, hires limo, sets up delivery of flowers tableside. He pops down on one knee proposes - of course she screams YES - as they leave the restaurant the paparazzi is all around, snapping pictures, asking how he proposed, did she say Yes? lets see the ring...the streets go crazy. People are wondering what is going on and you and your fiance feel like STARS! Your engagement was just recorded and you will have amazing pics to show for it!

Hot-lanta

As you know I was in Atlanta last week for The Special Event Conference. Now let me tell you how shocked I was when it started to snow! It was a great place to see friends, make new ones, learn a lot and take home with me some ideas for my clients. I plan to showcase here some of the tabelscapes or reception decor that we saw and give you some inspiration. Clients watch out I can't wait to share with you some product ideas, colors and fabrics for your next event.

We attended night events at the World of Coca-cola and at the Georgia Aquarium and had a taste of the South with the wedding luncheon.

Fun Wedding Their Way

After a whirlwind but very educational trip to Atlanta for The Special Event Conference last week I headed to Columbia, SC for a friends wedding.

The ceremony and cocktail reception took place on the historic horseshoe of the University of South Carolina campus. Cami and Dustin always want to do things a little different so there were a few surprises in store. It started with the invites - The ceremony was to take place at 5:32 in the afternoon! During the ceremony the readings were actually famous song quotes and were read by the BM and MOH. After the newlyweds kissed a friend and musician broke into 'How Sweet it is to Loved by You' while strumming a guitar down the aisle.

Now that wasn't it - during the reception there was a very special guest - Cocky - The USC mascot joined the festivities and had everyone dancing!

Remember a wedding is all about your personalities - its ok to do things out of the norm. Your wedding your way!

Congrats to our new married friends - enjoy Jamaica!

(look out for more posts on the inspiration and trends we learned last week)

Holiday Fun Facts Part 2

6-The first candy cane dates back to 1670 in Germany. A choir director distributed the sugar sticks to young singers during a Christmas services to keep them quite.

7- More then 1.7 billion candy canes are made every year.

8- Charles Dickens write 'A Christmas Carol' between Oct and November of 1843. The story was a hit, selling 6,000 copies by Christmas Day.

9- Mele Kalikimaka (Hawaiian for Merry Christmas) is actually phonetic. When Westerners brought the tradition to Hawaii the locals were having trouble pronouncing Merry Christmas so turned it into words more easy to roll off their tongue.

10- Santa arrives to Hawaii in a bright red outrigger canoe, it carries him across the sea right onto the beach. Sleighs aren't much use so the reindeer can take a little rest while deliveries are made on the islands!

My Favorite Thing

So Oprah has her favorite things and now thanks to my KD sorority sister I do to! ~SIGG Water bottles~

Have you heard about how you shouldn't reuse your plastic water bottles because of bacteria and toxins? I have been doing this for years - just filling up the bottle with my filtered refrigerator water. Well now I use SIGG Water bottles (20 or 33 oz).

www.mysigg.com


They are made of aluminum, hardy, doesn't hold the flavor, cleans up nicely, fun to carry and easy to use!

What a great stocking stuffer!

Last minute gift ideas

For your concert going buddy- I got this idea from Uncommon Goods - they are sold out but you can make your own version. Ticket Stub Frame - Buy a frame and put pictures of you and your friend at the event with a space for him/her to add the tix stub.

For your movie loving buddy-
Popcorn Goodies - Run out to the nearest Target and get the Whirly Pop popcorn kit for $27 and then stop by Blockbuster for a gift card for movie rentals.

One more thing to add to your aunts present - how about a chocolate brown faux fur throw - also from Target $19.99
Looking for something a little extra to add to anyones gift - check out Blue Tulip.
Online orders must be received by Wed but there are various stores around the area. Red velvet picture frames or even a chip and dip bowl.

And if you really don't know what to get for your godparents - glass snowflake ornaments. www.gumps.com

Happy Shopping!

Trees, Trees, Trees

As you know I am in a new house this holiday season and I am having so much fun decorating! I am putting garland all the way up my staircase and over the landing and I have decided to decorate 2 trees. For my living room I am doing teal and brown to match the rooms decor (walls are chocolate) with handmade ornaments and eucalyptus and for the family room I am doing red and gold with traditional every day ornaments.

My mom is the bow making queen so she came up yesterday and helped make bows for my garland and bows for my glitter ornaments. I got 2 great ideas out of Better Homes and Gardens Holiday magazine, using glass and styrofoam balls, paint and glitter!
Enjoy the pictures.



I am using fuzzy chocolate brown fabric draped around the base as my tree skirt.

My husband doesn't get my addiction to decorating but he didn't seem to mind me wanting to do two trees. This tree sure looks gorgeous!

The Moshulu

I had a wonderful lunch today on the moshulu. The food was delicious, the presentation beautiful and what a cool space for an event. Thanks Amy!

I had butternut squash soup and then a Cesar salad with shrimp that was wrapped in prosciutto for presentation, then pumpkin cheesecake with Cabernet sorbet on the side!
Yum!

Although it was raining we enjoyed sitting by the window enjoying our food then she gave me a tour. There are many different rooms and great outside spaces for a wedding or special event. Picture this - ceremony on the outside upper deck, move inside for dinner and toasts then back outside for dancing and dessert.

They can accommodate large or small groups. They are also open for lunch or dinner and have a great outdoor bar from Memorial Day to Labor Day!

so go check it out

Mysteries of Fashion

Did you ever wonder why we do what we do, wear what we wear or where something got its name? well I have solved some of the mysteries!

Purse - Women used to stow their essentials in a mini waist pack tied under their clothing. When fashions changed and the fabrics wouldn't conceal this bulge women started carrying a pocketbook.

French Cuffs - French royalty invented the style in the 1500's when flowing sleeves were all the rage, nobles would tie their sleeves back with fasteners.

Blue Jeans - Levi Strauss made the first blue jeans in 1873 and used denim fabric because it was sturdier.

Shoes - called a Pump for the pumping noise it made when male servants wore them in 1550.
Sneakers were rubber soled shoes that were quiet or 'sneaky'. Stiletto is an Italian word for an assassin's narrow bladed knife made its debut in 1953, the pointed heels were murder on wood floors(and on most women's feet).
Cardigan - button front sweater was invented by the Earl of Cardigan to keep his troops warm.

Lilly Pulitzer Dresses -Inspired after a juice stand uniform to camouflage the citrus stains. People started ordering dresses and not the juice.

and Abercrombie and Fitch began as a camping supply store in 1892. They equipped Lindbergh for his historic flight across the Atlantic.

Grooms Guide

Most of the time we talk about the bride, her dress, her bridesmaids and other decisions about her...well what about the groom? I am going to do a series on the groom and/or the guys in the wedding.

I found this article in Mens Health Magazine - great suggestions.
Guys Guide to Surviving Your Buddies Big Day

My favorites are:

Toasting-the ideal speech lasts 3 minutes or less. Segue from humorous, PG-rated stories into tender moments. "Now that's what I call love," or "And yet, she still said yes." Remember, it's not a roast or a bachelor party. Keep it clean. "Don't say anything you wouldn't be comfortable whispering into the bride's mother's ear," says Roney.

(I just wish the BM at our wedding listened to this advice - we still aren't speaking...)

or

Dancing-It's your best chance of wooing a bridesmaid, so ease on out there, Astaire. If your proficiency peaked in junior high, embrace slow songs or ones that revolve around jumping ("Shout"), simple hand movements ("YMCA"), headbanging ("You Shook Me All Night Long"), and hand grabbing ("We Are Family"), suggests Craig Michaels, author of Thirty to Wife: The Tell-All Groom's Guide to Weddings. And know your own limitations. "Never slide across the dance floor like you're stealing third," he says.

Illumination!

CB2 has these great clear taper candle holders.
Perfect for your mantle, sideboard table, holiday table, wedding ceremony, reception tables, birthday or cocktail party.

Imagine creating an alter of candles for your ceremony or creating a unique element to your cocktail hour.

Between $4 and $13 you can afford to add that little extra.

I think CB2 has a lot of unique items to spruce up your next event - check them out.

Never be boring again!

Here is another very cool bridesmaids gift (or heck since the holidays are coming up - a general great gift idea)!!

Check out www.maxsui.com

They are colorful belts, about 1 1/2 inches. Sarah will customize one just for you in your theme, colors and fabric. Cute inner labels with your name or event on it can be added for more customization.

She also has some standard belts available pre made for $45.

Speciality Drinks

So I just love having some sort of specialty or signature drink available at a party, let it be a Halloween Party, book club or even a wedding.

If your ceremony is taking place outside in mid Oct - try offering this to your guests as they enter, it will keep them warm during your vows:

Spiced Apple Cider (16 cups)
32 whole allspice berries
24 cinnamon sticks
24 cardamom pods
12 whole cloves
12 strips of orange zest (about 3 oranges)
1 gallon apple cider

Combine all ingredients in a pot. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, and cook until fragrant, about 5 minutes. Cider can be kept warm over a low heat. Strain before serving, reserving cinnamon sticks for garnish.

Enjoy

New Halloween Tradition

So last night I was Ghosted!
My neighborhood is the best - I heard a knock at the door and when I opened it there was a bucket of candy and a ghost sign.

Here is what it said -

You've Been Ghosted

-Now it's your turn to 'ghost' one other house in our neighborhood
-You should 'ghost' this house within in 2 days of receiving your treat
-Hang the ghost on your front door so that everyone can see that you have been 'ghosted' and will not ghost you again. This will also let you know who you can ghost
-Fill 1 bag with candy and treats. Copy this letter and the ghost. Include treats, letter and ghost in your bag of goodies for the neighbor that you choose
-After dark, and only with an adult, 'ghost' your neighbor. Do not let the person that you are 'ghosting' see you, for it adds to the fun of it all. Place the treat bag on the doorstep, ring the doorbell and run!
-It will be fun to see how many ghosts will appear in our neighborhood by Hall0ween.

This is soo cool - What a great way to encourage a cozy fun neighborhood.

Now when I went to Target to get candy today I noticed that Hershey's is promoting this same thing - calling it Booed. They even had ready made containers to give out and encouraged this with your coworkers, neighbors or friends at school.

So go have a spooktacular Halloween!

Fun for Philly Brides

I was looking through a local Brides Magazine and came across 2 very cool and very Philadelphia type ideas.

What doesn't say The City of Brotherly Love other then the soft Pretzel and Yummy Gelato!

Philly Soft Pretzel Factory is now offering pretzels to be served at your reception and they will even customize them with your names and wedding date. Very reasonably priced.

Capogiro Gelato Artisans will put a cart at your reception and serve your guests. They have 346 flavors to pick from, how about a white chocolate or a raspberry. Rental fees start at $1000.

I think these are two great ways to add another layer of personalization to your wedding.

MOB's Know Best

I received two of the most wonderful thank you notes from former clients - not just the bride but their moms. They are still hearing great things from their friends and reminiscing about a wonderful stress free FUN day. Thanks for sharing your experience with me.

"Your organizational skills and ability to deal firmly with whatever situation presented itself enabled us all to have a happy and enjoyable day without any concerns. From our first meeting it became obvious that your expertise was just what we needed to assure the same easy, worry-free experience for ourselves." Dede May 2007

"You are the ultimate organizer, and on top of it all, you have a sincere caring personality. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts." Carol July 2007


Just to show Mom's do know best!
Thank you for allowing me to be apart of your special day.

Cameron and Nick

This couple and I have been working together for over year and now they are honeymooning in Cabo after a very successful wedding. The wedding was all about Fushia and Lime - and having fun!

The reception was held at the Westin Grand and we used fun bright linens and lighting to create amazing atmosphere. The band Janitors were a hit and had the guests dancing the whole time!