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Thursday, April 29, 2010

Formal Place Setting- Napkin Debate

So, honestly, when I asked for photographs of place settings, I honestly thought I'd find major faux-pas that I could rip a part and complain endlessly about people putting the linen napkin in the water or wine glass, and how wrong that is.... but instead, I got this.... the most beauteous place settings EVER!

















Photos by: ENV Photography

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Birthday Continued



Ok here is the promised birthday post... enjoy seeing how incredible the people in my life are...

So instead of just a 1 day birthday, I got 5!!! Each day I was presented with a letter from Matt explaining what was happening that day and what the theme was...\

Day 1- New Found Romance
-This day was dedicated to remembering when Matt and I started dating so we went out with our friends, Jon and Trista, who at the time had been dating for 4 days. We went bowling and watched part of Wolverine. This day Matt gave me some funds for my India trip!

Day 2- The Parents
-My parents came up for my concert and to celebrate. They brought Cindy Shearer too. After the concert, my parents, Cindy, Matt and I went out to Bourbon Street and had a VERY fun little birthday party there with cute little cupcakes and the biggest birthday present EVER?!? (Matthew got me a sports bag and mom could only find the LARGEST bag EVER to fit it. My parents also gave me some money for India...such a blessing. And Cindy gave me an adorable scarf) Don't I have great parents and wonderful friends?!?

Day 3- Matt and My Time
-Matt picked me up and brought me to Brown Bottle to celebrate. Although we spent most of the time listening to the very entertaining conversation of a senior boy on his way to prom, it was still wonderful! We got dessert to go and went to the top of the union and ate it. The only problem is that it was raining so we sat, me on his lap trying to stay dry under the umbrella and eating our desserts... on top of the union. We then went and finished Wolverine at his house.

Day 4- Friends Time
-On Sunday, a few of my friends took me out to Hu Hot for dinner! They blindfolded me and drove me around forever so that I had no idea where I was. Then they walked me blindfolded through the mall to the restaurant! Aren't they hilarious?!? It was so much fun to have this time with them and just enjoy each other.

Day 5- Triple the Fun
-The Actual Day: April 26th. This day started out at midnight when my roommates alarm went off, a tired little "happy birthday Amy" was heard and then the night of sleep continued. Then after my first class, my music friends decided that we shouldn't go to our next class so we skipped and went to Panera! :) Then during my next class, Nicole and Chris called so I just ran out of the room and got to talk to them... they also left me quite the HILARIOUS message this day! I got to also talk to my amazing brother, handsome father, and charming mother and each one of them had their own little additions into the day! I have the best family EVER! At 5:30, I was picked up again by Matt and brought on a triple date with our friends Abbey, Sky, Lauren, and Steven. Abbey and Lauren got me the cutest gift... a picnic present (stone pie dish, frisbee, picnic blanket, bubbles, pineapple, sparkling cider, glasses, glowing hair flower, etc) Then after dinner with them I went to bible study and Kristin, our leader, had made a birthday cake. This wasn't just for me since 4 of us have our birthdays within 2 weeks. It was wonderful celebrating this day with every one!

Thanks to all who called, texted, left messages, saw me, etc. You are all SO amazing!

Formal Place Setting- Napkin Debate

Someone emailed me yesterday and asked what a formal place setting with a menu card could look like. Well, there are so many, but here is one that I like!



What about you, what do you guys think?







This is from Agape Weddings and More

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Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Need a beach getaway? Win a FREE luxury beach vacation from Surf & Sand Resort!


Who doesn't need a break? Who wouldn't love sitting on their balcony overlooking the ocean and having an evening cocktail before going out to eat at one of Laguna Beach's BEST restaurants? Well, that's what I thought! So, when I heard about an opportunity to win a free luxury beach weekend away valued at $850, I wanted to share it with you guys! Because if I don't win, at least hopefully, one of us will ;p I read the following blog on SnapKnot and thought I'd give it a go! Here you go and best of luck!

"An incomparable, understated yet elegant setting right on the Laguna Beach Coastline, Surf & Sand Resort makes for a memorable getaway – whether you need the relaxation that only a world-class spa could offer or a little romance over wine and ocean views. Thanks to our generous friends at the Resort, this memorable escape could be yours FREE!

You could win a 2-night stay and breakfast for two at this beautiful oceanfront property. Just imagine two nights in an ocean-view room, the sound of waves lulling you to sleep, and breakfast each morning at the famous Splashes Restaurant…there’s no better way to get away than that!




Luxurious amenities, a private balcony and a view that never ends – those are just a few of the features you’ll find at Surf & Sand Resort. For more than 60 years, the Resort has provided couples and families alike with a quintessential luxury beach vacation right on the shores of the Laguna Beach coastline. Each guest room and suite provides a variety of spacious retreats with comfortable, sophisticated custom furnishings, flat-screen TV’s, wireless internet access and the natural beauty of the Pacific Ocean just beyond your balcony. 15fiftyfive, the resort’s open-air lounge, is the perfect place to sip a cocktail, savor a creative appetizer and watch the sun set over the Pacific.



Terraced above the beach, with waves breaking just 25 feet below, the casually elegant Splashes Restaurant boasts some of California’s best views and finest cuisine. And while there is almost nothing as relaxing as a day at the beach, Aquaterra Spa is the perfect alternative, where you can relax with personalized spa treatments enhanced by the healing properties of native botanicals and the natural essences of ocean and earth.




Approximate prize value: $850!*
How to Win!

Please read carefully- there are multiple opportunities for entry. You can enter up to 4 times! You may choose as many of the methods as you like.

The contest will end on July 31, 2010.

1) COMMENT ON THIS POST

STEP 1: Visit Surf & Sand Resort

STEP 2: Share with us below what you love about the resort and why you would like to win this FREE luxury oceanfront getaway.

A maximum of one entry via a comment below per person will be allowed.

2) BLOG ABOUT THIS CONTEST

STEP 1: If you have a blog, put up a post about this contest with a link to this post: http://bit.ly/d7KN9s

STEP 2: Let us know via comments below with a link to your blog.

3) TWITTER

STEP 1: Follow us on twitter here: http://www.twitter.com/snapknot. If you win, you must still be following us at the time the winner is announced.

STEP 2: Post a tweet saying EXACTLY this:

Win a FREE Luxury Oceanfront Vacation from Surf & Sand Resort & @SnapKnot. Details: http://bit.ly/d7KN9s Please RT!

YOU MUST COMPLETE BOTH STEPS

Make sure your tweets are public. If your tweets are private, we can’t see them, which means you can’t win.

A maximum of one entry via Twitter per person will be allowed.

Multiple tweets will not mean multiple entries.

4) FACEBOOK

STEP 1: Become a Fan at http://facebook.com/snapknot. If you win, you must still be a Fan at the time the winner is announced.

STEP 2: Share a link to this contest blog entry on your wall. Make sure you also tag us in your wall post (by writing @SnapKnot in the post) so we will be able to see it!

YOU MUST COMPLETE BOTH STEPS

A maximum of one entry via Facebook person will be allowed.

Multiple wall posts will not mean multiple entries.

SUMMARY: UP TO 4 WAYS TO ENTER

1. Leave a comment on this post.
2. Create your own blog post with a link back to this contest.
3. Follow us on Twitter: @SnapKnot and tweet our EXACT contest tweet above.
4. Become a fan on Facebook: www.facebook.com/snapknot and share a link to our contest post on your wall with a @SnapKnot tag.

Leave a comment and make sure to let us know which of the above methods you completed so you can get full credit for your entries!

Contest Rules:
1. Winner will be announced on the SnapKnot blog, SnapKnot Facebook fan page, and on SnapKnot’s Twitter feed.
2. Winner will be responsible for making their own reservation with the Surf and Sand Resort per the instructions provided.
3. Winner will be responsible for any related taxes or restrictions according to their state and/or country laws.
4. Winner will be responsible for all transportation expenses and all other travel expenses not explicitly mentioned as part of the prize.
5. Winner must use prize by April 31, 2011. If prize is not used by this date the prize is void.
6. Once contacted, winners will be responsible for providing the correct mailing address and personal information within 5 days.
7. One winner per Twitter/Facebook account.
8. Usage of automated scripts of any kind will automatically disqualify you from the contest.
9. Creating multiple accounts on Twitter or Facebook to enter multiple times will automatically disqualify you from the contest.
10. No purchase necessary to enter. You do not need to have a SnapKnot.com account to participate.
11. Participants must be 18 years of age or older to enter.
12. Cash will not be awarded in lieu of vacation prize.
13. Odds of winning the prize will depend on the number of eligible entries received during the promotion period.
14. This contest is void where prohibited by law.
15. The contest will end July 31, 2010
16. The winner will be announced August 1, 2010
17. SnapKnot.com is not liable for an injuries or damages that may occur as a result of entering the contest or awarded prize.
18. By entering the contest you agree to release SnapKnot.com of any and all liabilities that may be directly or indirectly related to the contest."

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!!!!
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Selecting the Perfect Wedding Shoes

Wedding shoes are an important accessory item for brides, especially today, when "fun and funky" is totally "in" when it comes to selecting your wedding shoes. What a great way to express your personal style, by selecting a great shoe...perhaps one no one would expect!
As you prepare to walk down the aisle, your choice of wedding footwear can either provide comfort or be a source of pain. Whether you choose wedding athletic shoes, jewel-encrusted flip-flops or chunky heels, your wedding shoe must complement your dress and provide comfort throughout your special day.
Wedding shoes are an important accessory item for brides. As you prepare to walk down the aisle, your choice of wedding footwear can either provide comfort or be a source of pain. Whether you choose wedding athletic shoes, jewel-encrusted flip-flops or chunky heels, a wedding shoe must complement the dress and provide comfort throughout the wearer's special day.



    Function

  1. The wedding shoe is a style element that matches the theme of the bridal gown. In fact, shoe styles range from traditional to unconventional. Elegant brides who prefer column gowns may select a pump without embellishment or beading. A trendy bride, whose style choices reflect current fashion trends, will choose a strappy evening sandal over satin ballet flats.
  2. Types

  3. The types of bridal shoe choice vary based upon style and fabric choices.Wedding shoes are constructed from satin, silk and lace to velvet, cotton, crepe and even plastic. Brides may select from the following footwear options: sandals, flip flops, open-toed, mules, platform, flats, stilettos and slingbacks. Heel height can soar as high as 5 inches (ouch!) or remain comfortably chic as low-heeled flats and sneakers....ummm. Prices for wedding shoes can range from $29 for basic footwear to $900 for designer wedding shoe creations.
  4. Prevention/Solution

  5. Many a bride has made a wrong choice when selecting bridal shoes. The most popular mistakes are buying the gown without considering the heel height of the shoe, or not factoring in shoe shrinkage and color matching when dying wedding shoes. To prevent these wedding shoe mistakes, brides should wear their bridal shoes during their dress fitting. Prevent wedding shoe sizing errors by trying on your wedding shoes towards the end of the day when your feet are at their largest.
  6. Warning

  7. From dyable sandals to satin pumps, finding the perfect wedding shoes can be easy, considering you know the important rules of the bridal footwear selection process. Variations of white and ivory for wedding shoes differ greatly. Ask the bridal store for an accurate color swatch from your gown to select shoes that complement the style of your gown and its color exactly. Consider your wedding venue before selecting shoes. If you have an outdoor wedding on a lawn or in the woods, certain silks and satin shoes will soil easily.
  8. Expert Insight

  9. Match the bottom of your wedding gown with the style and color of your shoes. To break in your shoes, wear your shoes for one hour at the end of the day. Start this shoe stretching process at least 4 weeks before the wedding to ensure a proper fit. Don't let your wedding shoes overpower your bridal gown. Shoes with sparkle and embellishment complement simple dresses, while elaborate gowns require a basic wedding shoe. If your feet swell when standing for long periods of time, select an additional pair of flat shoes to wear on your wedding day in case of a wedding shoe emergency.




PLANNING AN A+ WEDDING RECEPTION

Every bride-to-be has dreamed about getting married practically since they were little girls. Some brides remember drawing themselves with veils in crayon in preschool. Others remember practicing a new surname on the back of a high school notebook. No matter how you cut the wedding cake, every bride-to-be wants their wedding to be considered happy, special, and sometimes "the best there ever will be." However, the reality is ...dreams do not always translate into reality.

As Upstate New York wedding DJ, Kenny Casanova, I have acted not only as a music provider or song selector, I have often been utilized as a wedding planner, or tip giver. It is very rewarding to walk into the reception hall and see that many of my ideas have been put to good use. Even though I am from Albany, NY, I have found that no matter where the wedding is, the bride and groom are always looking for clues.

Now, whenever I sit down with the bride and groom, I offer whatever I can to help the reception be a success, beyond just song selections. I try to identify what the bride can do to help her happy visions actually come to life. Also having experience in school teaching, I realized that a wedding reception is like a research paper. To make for a great one, research has to be done. But before you do any research, you need to focus on asking the right questions, before you can try to find answers. First off, the bride and groom should identify "The Big Question and then decide on a thesis (an answer) they are both comfortable with.

The only real way to be happy with your reception is if all the people around you are happy. The big question, therefore, then should not be "What do I want?" but rather, "What do I want for my guests?"
By formulating this question every time you plan an aspect of your party, you are planning from the guests' perspective. Planning using the "Big Question" instead of something more selfish and meaningful to only you, will spawn a number of sub-questions that go along with it like, "what do I want my guests to say when they sit down?" and also, "what do I want my guests to say when they walk out the door?"
Demographics is everything. Thinking about who is going to be there before you actually plan, will make your reception "the best wedding of all time."

The music that the DJ is asked to play is only one example. Different people like different things and you have to have a happy medium of what they will like and what you will like too.

Realizing that you are trying to accommodate all of your guests' wishes from a great wedding reception is only the first step. Next, you have to do your research. Your homework is to find what really makes you happy, and also makes every guest attending happy as well. Because wedding receptions happen everywhere every day, it is safe to say thousands of reception options have been created and your answers are out there. You just have to find them.

Using this planning philosophy can work in every area including food, entertainment, music and even the overall look & layout of the decor.

Let's apply this unselfish planning thinking from the guests' perspective to one particular aspect of the reception: The Cake. While you may absolutely love the idea of a classy cream cheese carrot cake, Uncle Charlie may absolutely HATE IT. That doesn't mean you have to be unselfish and not have carrot cake, it only means you have to think outside of the box. What would my guests like to see in a cake? How can I make everyone happy?

In this case, why not try WEDDING CUPCAKES. Have you heard of this? You tier up a wedding cake display with many different types of cup cakes, in displayed in the shape of a traditional wedding cake. Everyone, including you and Uncle Charlie is now happy.

As a Wedding DJ, I tell my clients that if you really want to have your guests look back at attending "the best wedding ever," keep them in mind as much as yourself. Happiness breeds happiness. Playing your favorite songs is important and fine, but remember to always involve some of your guests' favorite songs as well-even when they might not involve the same types of musical tastes. Find the happy medium, it is out there.

- DJ Kenny Casanova



Kenny Casanova - is a professional wedding reception mobile dj and professional wrestling ring announcer from Wynantskill, who frequents the Albany, NY and Troy, NY area.


Our site... www.TheDJservice.com

Entertaining Tips

New Rule!


Keep it Simple, Stupid...


We recently thew a small party at our house after our son was baptised. And I wanted to just have cake and coffee. Anyone that knows me, would probably interject right now and say, "Melissa, would never throw a party and just have cake and coffee" well they would be right...but... let's get back to task.


Keep it simple, if you are going to serve cake and coffee... premake your coffee and keep it hot, leave it on the oven or carafe your coffee, assume 3 glasses of coffee per person, have a self serve creamer (offer options of flavored non-dairy creamers), several sweeteners, disposable coffee cups, and make hot water for tea, and have 3 tea bag options. This way you don't have slave over it all day. (Simple!)


We actually bought 3 of the boxes of coffee from a local coffee shop, so I didn't have to even make all of the coffee. (Simple!)


And then well, cake! And since you are only serving cake... make sure it's delicious!


(for the official record, I had M&M's, Goldfish Crakers, Garbage Bread and Toasted Nuts in addition to cake...)


Wanna see the cake???


(Gabriel, Me and The Hubs)


Cake was made by KB Kakes... it was more amazing than this photograph portrays....


Tuesday, April 27, 2010

All Disney Cartoons

All Disney CartoonsAll Disney Cartoons "Princess"


All Disney CartoonsAll Disney Cartoons "Mini"


All Disney CartoonsAll Disney Cartoons " Beauty And The Beast"


All Disney CartoonsAll Disney Cartoons "Mickey Mouse"


All Disney CartoonsAll Disney Cartoons "Lion Family"

Online Poster WINNER!!!

AND THE WINNER IS..... ADRIENNE TRENT!!!!

Making time for family is really important and what better way to remember those times then with a 18x24 High Gloss Rolled Poster

Online Poster Printing sponsored a Rolled Poster Giveaway and Adrienne will now be able to showcase her favorite photo as a reminder of why she works as hard as she does.  Congratulations Adrienne!

Getting Married and need assistance?Email Me for current specials
For All Your Event Planning Needs
Simply Perfect Peace Events, Inc.
Sharon Patrice, Owner
Simple Perfect Peace Events

 

etsy find: concentric

Oh me, oh my... I found these gorgeous pieces today while I was browsing online. Aren't they just gorgeous? Concentric's store is just devine. Make sure you check it out!



Place Setting- Where does the Napkin Go?

So, the napkin can go in several locations at the table at your wedding. In these images, they had a buffet meal, so the napkin was pre-set at the table, folded nicely on the table. You could even emblish the napkin with a small floral, fold a menu into the napkin, a ribbon tied around the napkin.


But really, it looks lovely just placed oh so perfectly on the table.










Photo's by: Dawn McKinstry Photography



In accordance with FTC regulations, we officially notify you that no one was compensated for this endorsement.

Monday, April 26, 2010

Characters Of

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To Come...

News update about the BEST birthday ever is coming... I just have to get caught up on my homework but just thought you should all be waiting anxiously to hear how AMAZING my boyfriend, family, and friends are! They are incredible! Thank you all for making this day fabulous!

Magical Monday - Simply Golden

Monday's are always magical for me.  Why you ask? Usually because my weekends are filled with so much joy by spending time with my family and then church on Sunday's that on Monday morning I'm on overflow! This particular weekend Coco went on her doggy vaca (woot woot) so we cleaned early and relaxed all day before I headed out to sing with the greatest choir in the world GO UNITY!!.

Sunday! Sunday! Sunday!~ I was able to attend a wonderful bridal show by Bridal Expo Chicago at Georgios of Orland Park.  The Bridal Show Chicago hosted 66 vendors, 311 brides and well over 800 total guests.  It was great to see some of my very own trusted vendor professionals and also make new connections.  The FASHION SHOW was beyond amazing and included a total of seven (7) scenes.  As a spectator, I was able to view gowns and bridal party attire from some of the top designers in this industry ~ James Clifford, Lezu Atelier, Rina di Montella, Stephen Yearick and YSA Makino just to name a few.  From the top trends in Bridal Silhouettes to the Worlds Best Designers Showcase, every bride I had the pleasure of speaking with (not all 311..lol) was very pleased with the Top 2010 Collection provided by ten local bridal salons; not to mention the splendid eye candy sporting classic tuxedos by Black Tie Formal wear and JP Tuxedo Warehouse.  Overall, it was AWESOME!! Special Thanks to the Bridal Expo Chicago staff (Carol, Bill and Paula) for their hard work, excellent customer service.  To read my pre-event article on Examiner.com regarding this fabulous traveling Bridal Expo - click here.

All that being said - today is SIMPLY GOLDEN!

Let's talk color....so many colors, so little time! Simply Perfect Peace Events & Designs by Shay knows that even after attending a bridal show not every bride has a color palette in mind for her wedding ... if you are a bride who would rather spend time choosing the perfect photographer, florist, or invitations than trying to figure out what colors to use, we have a great answer for you! How about a classy, yet downplayed canvas of ivory and gold?

You're probably asking yourself~what's great about this combo? Well for starters, it isn't hard to find the items on your wedding related list that come in these colors ... which will save you a ton of time running all over town with a color swatch in your hand! Chiavari chairs look amazing in gold and most come complete with an ivory chair cushion that you can choose to cover if you prefer.  Now, if later down the road, you decide that you love lavender roses or something else, you can add them to the ivory and gold backdrop and nothing is lost!

Also, consider renting beautiful table top pieces with gold details and really make your guests feel like they are dining with royalty! You can even rent gold flatware to match. Either way, ivory and gold is a great place to start if the idea of coming up with a color scheme is too overwhelming after saying "yes" to the man of your dreams and months worth of wedding planning.


~Peaceful Planning

Getting Married and need assistance? Email Me for current specials
For All Your Event Planning Needs
Simply Perfect Peace Events, Inc.
Sharon Patrice, Owner Simple Perfect Peace Events
Designs by Shay
Chicago Wedding Planning Examiner


etsy find: a kingdom by the sea



Once upon a time I met a lovely Etsian by the name of Kelsey Fry (aka AKingdomByTheSea). Kelsey was in fact one of my earliest customers and over the past year we have stayed in touch and have become friends from afar.

I have just put my order in for the gorgeous print above. It's adorable and oh so sweet! I adore the sheer simplicity and pretty undertones of this piece and I'm eagerly awaiting it's arrival.

A Kingdom By The Sea is temporarily closed but I hope it reopens soon so the rest of the world can view Kelsey's brilliance.



Check out her blog: http://www.akingdombythesea.com/