Go Green for your next event!

Today was a special treat in many ways! First, my sister Carol drove down from Nocatee to take me out to lunch for my birthday. I'm not sure we have ever done this - it was so sweet. I suggested a new place that a friend just told me about, The Survey Cafe in Bonita Springs.

"Take a break at the Survey Cafe, and step back in time to when the City of Bonita Springs was known as Survey. Experience good old fashioned southern hospitality in this historic home turned Cafe. www.thesurveycafe.com"

Our time was so special, we sat on the porch and ate delicious vegie wraps and we sipped water out of "corncups"! These are cups made from corn that are compostable!

How fun would these cute little cups be at a "green" wedding or corporate event. Go green!

Corncups:

These clear corn plastic cups are 100% compostable. With the same look and feel as clear plastic cups, our PLA cups will completely compost under commercial composting conditions in just 45-60 days.

Made from corn, an annually renewable resource, NatureWorks PLA is a plastic-like resin that is fully biodegradable. NatureWorks has a heat tolerance of up to 110 degrees (F).

Why put your beverages in containers made from petroleum-based plastic? Your food comes from nature and now so does its packaging!

Ashley Brockinton Photography Studio Grand Opening

Ashley & Sam Brockinton just opened their new studio in Bonita Springs. They are awesome photographers and dear friends. I was able to coordinate their wedding 5 years ago and have know Ashley for much longer than that - I love her and her family, her extended family and her staff including Ashley Albee. Ashley and Sam have been holding a series of Grand Opening events. Here are a few photos (these are from my little Canon Power Shot - my Grandson gave it to me for Christmas!):

My day and my fortune!

I am fortunate and blessed to work out of my home. I am also extremely honored to be able to watch my grandson a few days a week while my daughter-in-law works at Senator Martinez's office! By the way, I have an awesome daughter-in-law - my son is Ok too! Today included dipping fortune cookies for Ashley Brockinton Photography's studio grand opening (I'm pretending to be a caterer as well as an event coordinator) and playing with Soren. Here are a few pictures from my day...

Lunch with friends at Bentley Village....

For months now, a group of wedding professionals have been meeting monthly for lunch to visit and do a bit of networking. Its been great fun. I love meeting new friends and connecting people in new relationships.

In these interesting economic times, its been great to be able encourage one another in our efforts to provide quality wedding services to our clients and earn a living! At the core of who we are, we want to know that we belong and we matter - we desire relationships. I believe this is why Facebook and Twitter are becoming so popular, but that is another post for another time.

Today's luncheon was hosted by my dear friend Vicki Tracy, Community Relations & Outreach Manager for Bentley Village, a Hyatt property. Lunch was very delicious, the company was wonderful and tour of the venue was great and very informative. THANK YOU Vicki! I had a great time today with my dear wedding professional friends!

Mary Ann Shea - Mediterra
Dale Kubala – Connie Duglin Linens
Carri Adams – BBJ Linens
Deborah Cull – Deborah Cull Photography
Debbie Iberseder – Irberseder Productions
Sonya Cranmer – KC Tecs
Peter Pecci – Pecci Photography
Mary & Sarah Hines – Chandelier Productions
Tammy Schaffer & Marcia Hendrix - Irresistible Confections

We will meet again in May - I'll send out information soon!

Wine & Cheese Surprise Party

I've always loved planning parties, especially "themed" parties. I remember as a teenager I would throw themed parties, although back then no one would come to my parties :(. My favorite was a luau in my Aunt's backyard around her pool. It was great. Those are my roots as an event planner!

Tonight I hosted a surprise birthday party for a dear friend of mine. We had a wine and cheese party and we had a lot of fun. I had a great time designing it and I have enclosed some photos. I found some great things at "Michael's" like wine charms, matching coasters, garden "markers" that I used to label the cheese, etc.

Everyone was asked to bring a bottle of wine and I put blank labels on the bottles and people voted for their favorite. I had a fun little prize for the winner.

Happy Birthday Kendrick!