Baby Shower given with love; round 1

Although I don't spend too much time planning showers, some have have been given with love for very special people in my life. One of them being my best friend Adrienne.

Adrienne and I met in elementary school. We immediately clicked and were inseparable from the first day of school. We both planned our lives out together. We promised each other that we would be each others maids of honor, our children's god mothers and share every special moment of our lives and fortunately it has worked out in that very same way!! When she first announced she was pregnant together we cried, we laughed and we immediately began to plan the long awaited baby shower. She decided early on that she would not find out the sex of the baby (yes I went off on her a few times, but had to respect her decision) so this made the color choices a bit challenging. Knowing that I would not let her down she gave me some leeway as to the decor and here's what I came up with...

Some of the details not shown here:

• Every guest received a home made cupcake along with a personalized note thanking them for joining in our festivities.
• The packaged cookies were shipped from California (Mothers brand) and assembled the night before the shower.
• The cake was a marble chocolate and vanilla cake covered with fondant, made by both Adrienne and I.
• Each table had a different name to it like, baby cry, baby Gomez, bottle feed, nursery etc.
• We also had a scavenger hunt with disposable cameras in which the guests had to photograph baby related items.

The baby shower was a huge success and the result was a beautiful bouncing baby boy!

Baby shower pictures by Leiani Prieto

Family photo by UDS Photo

Additional foot note: Adrienne is now carrying baby number 2. We have already began to plan a fun filled round 2!!

What to wear?

I find it interesting how some guests are really not aware of what to wear for a wedding. I ask myself, perhaps they have never attended a wedding before, or if they have attended one it was their cousin Jean's wedding back in 1971.

I found this suggestion list on a website and thought it would be nice to share.

Dress up for the ladies:

•Informal Daytime(meaning not Black tie)morning or early lunch event: Short dress or suit (business attire OK for morning weddings)
•Informal Evening (meaning not black tie)late lunch, dinner: Cocktail dress
•Semi-Formal Daytime: Short dress or suit
•Semi-formal Evening: Cocktail dress
•Formal Daytime: Short dress or suit. Hats and gloves optional.
•Formal Evening or Black-Tie: Long or dressy short cocktail (beading, bling accessories, wrap, high heels)
•Ultra-formal or White Tie: Long gown, extra glitz (furs, diamonds, etc.)

Do'and Dont's for the ladies..

•I find it totally ridiculous when a guest wear white or ivory so please, don't wear white because it competes with the bride. There are plenty of other colors available.
•Don't wear black or sequins during the daytime unless the event goes into the evening.
•Don't worry about wearing the same colors as the bridesmaids or mothers. You can't possibly coordinate with everyone in the wedding party.
•Do wear something feminine and appropriate, out of respect for your hosts. Club wear, overtly sexy clothing (strapless, see-through, etc) doesn't belong at a wedding. If you have to ask if it's appropriate, it probably isn't.
•Don't wear opera-length gloves (to top of arm)or any gloves in my opinion, with anything but sleeveless or strapless gowns.
•Do take off gloves to eat or drink (why wear them in the first place??).
•Do use good judgment if the invitation doesn't specify the formality of the event. A pastel suit or soft floral dress for daytime or a little black dress for evening (after 6 p.m.) should be appropriate enough.

Wedding gear for the gents..

•Informal Daytime: Dress shirt and pants, preferably a sports jacket.
•Informal Evening: Suit (not necessarily a tie)
•Semi-Formal Daytime: Suit
•Semi-Formal Evening: Dark suit
•Formal Daytime: Dark suit and tie
•Formal Evening: Tuxedo (if invitation states "black tie") or dark suits if women wear short dresses.
•Ultra-formal Evening or White Tie: White tie, vest and shirt.

Do's and Don'ts for Him

•Don't try to get cute with a tuxedo. A black tux with white shirt and black bow tie is the best way to go. If "Creative Black Tie" or "Texas Formal" or some sort of other vague formal description is used, then going with a tux and black shirt, no tie, might be acceptable. Also, trendier cities like Los Angeles and New York might be more accepting of breaking with tradition.
•Do wear a dark suit, with a tie if the wedding is after 6 PM, and doesn't say "Black Tie."
•Don't wear a tuxedo during the day time, regardless of the formality of the event.
•Do use good judgment if the invitation doesn't specify the formality of the event. A dark suit and conservative tie will make you look elegant and fit right in!

Courtesy of www.about.com

Hottt weekend for weddings!

The media (and Vera Wang) must have been going crazy this past weekend with so many celeb weddings and events going on.

We all know that Chelsea and Marc tied the knot in a high end wedding which can easily be translated into an upscale production in New York. Chelsea wore a beautiful dress by famed designer Vera Wang while Marc, Bill and all groomsmen wore an elegant suit by designer Christopher Bailey. A very stunning and elegant Hillary Clinton wore a beautiful designer gown from Oscar de la Renta. The flowers included shades of lavender and carried the traditional monochromatic design by renowned florist Jeff Leatham. The wedding was said to be of royalty caliber.

We then learned that Alicia Keys and her beau, Kasseem Dean better known as “Swizz Beatz” tied the knot on a private mansion in Corsica, overlooking the mysterious Mediterranean Sea. Alicia also wore a Vera Wang Dress while Swizz Beatz wore a white jacket tuxedo by designer Tom Ford.

Last but not least reports say that rapper T.I. better known as Clifford Harris and long time girlfriend Tiny (real name Tameka Cottle) also tied the knot and in the very beautiful sunny weather of Miami (I agree the weekend was stunning and full of love). Reports say their ceremony was held on a private mansion on Star Island, however, a close insider advised that the actual ceremony took place on a lavish and exclusive mansion in Homestead, Florida (about 45 minutes south of South Beach). Guests lists included Usher, Jermaine Dupree and Rihanna – which held a concert in downtown the same night. The couple and friends then went on to celebrate their after party at Cameo’s on South Beach!

Miami Rescue Mission

On Thursday July 29, I took my kids to the Miami Rescue Mission Women’s and Children Center. The purpose was for them to see what a homeless shelter looked like and learn to appreciate what they have at home which, they so often take for granted.

Prior to my arrival I called to make sure I was allowed to take my children and the donations I had collected. There was a very kind lady by the name of Michelle that explained that due to the privacy I would not be allowed to tour the facility but that I could remain in their lobby and turn my donations in. When we arrived, there was a woman waiting for the door to open. She was thirsty and wanted water. I almost broke down. I then met with Michelle and gave her the clothes and children’s book I had gathered from my house. She went to the back and spoke with a case manager. The case manager met with me in the lobby and introduced herself. She then allowed me to go on a mini tour to see their common areas. While touring, we met a little girl with her mom and my daughter gave her one of her drawings (I had the kids make 6 drawing each for girls and boys, not know they had 20 kids in total!!).

The cafeteria had 6 tables with chairs and their library/tv room was in the same vicinity but had wall dividers. The furniture in the media room was covered in plastic, there was only 1 television set and there were cribs and changing tables for the babies. There was a very nice play set in their backyard which was very well kept and the sleeping rooms which were located upstairs. Michelle mentioned that they currently had a full house and usually had to turn down 3-4 women with children daily. That really broke my heart.

Needless to say the ride home was in complete silence. I could tell in my children’s eyes that they were silently praying and counting their blessings. I made a promise to myself that I would take them back on a regular basis and volunteer our time.

For more information on how to become involved please visit www.miamirescuemission.com

Attire for trendy MOB's and MOG's

Sometimes when we think of the attire our moms are to wear for a special occasions like "YOUR" wedding we immediately think of an outfit that pairs them up with their age! Thankfully fashion has changed and most moms have kept up to speed with it. In research of our latest fashion trends, we found some pretty amazing dresses that scream modern MOB/MOG! What accessories would you pair these up with and is your mom daring enough to wear these? Check these out and let me know your thoughts

Hawaii Wedding - a true paradise!

For some that don't have the beach as your backyard, often dream of having a romantic beach side wedding. The top choice is usually Hawaii, but if your budget doesn't extend towards a lavish soiree on the island then opt to have the island brought to you!

We often think of seashells and sand as a centerpiece for a beach themed wedding but why stick to the norm? By extending your creativity you can come up with your own design and add your touch of island flair to your affair!

Some thoughts may be to include some bamboo and vibrant colors such as orange, hot pinks, yellows and greens. We found this arrangement on Pacific Weddings!

As inspiration we also found these vases/pots that are made from bamboo and would look just absolutely amazing with large banana leaves and some colorful orchids.

Some favor ideas can be these bamboo placecard holders from Kate Aspen and a tropical lemonade mix for your guest to enjoy at home!

We also found this board that carries an island feeling and wont make your wedding look like a home style luau!

A suggestion for the cocktail hour is to use pre-recorded Hawaiian music and have live dancers interacting with your guests as well as serving traditional Hawaiian drinks using fresh fruits. Because the Hawaiian palate blends in several cultures, there is an array of foods that can be incorporated into your menu to make it more traditional. The most commonly seen is the pulled pork. You may find that some guests may not eat pork so you may want to substitute with chicken or beef . Fruits play an important part on the island so you may want to include some chutneys on your proteins to introduce some tropical flavorings. Poi is the traditional island starch (for most of us its either rice or potatoes!!). Its a mixture of taro roots with water to make a mash (similar to mash potatoes), you may wish to add some garlic or parsley for additional flavors. For dessert you may want to serve anything that includes coconut, pineapples, guava or just simply fresh cut fruits!

Our intentions are not to reinvent the wheel but just help you push our creativity to the next level and save you some money along the way!

Affairs Remembered is back in the kitchen!

Our heart has always been in the kitchen, after all, our business started with cakes and desserts (Bakes n Cakes - our sister company) and later developed to what we are today, an elite Wedding and Event Planning firm . We are proud to introduce My Picture Cookie by Affairs Remembered. These delicious vanilla and chocolate cookies can be customized to include any chosen picture, logo or message and cost as low as $.99* each. Considered to be a wonderful party favor, this gourmet cookie can be used for weddings, showers, corporate functions and promotions as well as any other memorable event you may be planning! The icing for vanilla cookies include vanilla and key lime flavors while the chocolate cookies includes vanilla and mint flavors.
Although you have a choice of flavors, the icing is always white. We find it is the best canvas to create vibrant full color images.

The quality of the images that are reproduced are as close to perfection as possible. My Picture Cookie by Affairs Remembered uses an FDA approved state of the art technology that is guaranteed to ensure the best and tasteful quality available.

Ordering is simple and the best part about it is that you design and approve your final product online and receive it within 2-3 days. Freshness is always guaranteed and each package is carefully sealed to ensure freshness and avoid any unnecessary breakage.

Click on the picture below and place your order today!


* must purchase 360 or more to receive this price per cookie

Color of the day... BLUE

BLUE

My ultimate favorite color! Blue reminds me of happy times with an overwhelming feeling of calmness and serenity! In my opinion it is best paired with yellow (hence the very beautiful sunflower being my FAVE flower!!) and white. Check out this inspirational board for ideas and ways to combine the two while making a fashionable statement!

Color of the day...GREEN

GREEN... not just going green but using it!

Who knew that green would turn out to be such a fantastic color to combine with! Check out these boards which use green as both the main color and as an accent element. I'm loving the color combo of green, white and black.
Lots of brides are going green to make a bold statement, however using the color is not a bad idea either! Do you have any funky green color combos you wish to share?

photos courtesy of project wedding

Color of the day.....PURPLE!

Purple...

photo courtesy of project wedding

When I think of the color purple, the thought of lavender scented flower fields comes into mind (I know that sounds super corny but soooo true!!).

Although the color may not suit everyone, pairing it up with the proper accessories can make you look like a million bucks. I find that party guests are being a bit more daring and making a statement by wearing bold colors.

photo courtesy of project wedding

European magazines suggest that different shades of purple (violet, magenta, lilacs) is the latest in party goers fashion!!!

Flower Power

Including local flowers can minimize your expenses when it comes to decor. Check out the local flowers for these locations...

Italy-Cyclamen

France- Fleur de lis (Iris)

Ireland-Shamrock

Japan-Cherry Blossom

Vermont-Red Clover

Colorado-Columbine

Georgia-Cherokee Rose

Florida-Orange Blossom

New Hampshire-Purple Lilac

Nevada-Sagebrush

Hawaii-Hibiscus

New York-Rose

Kansas-Sunflower (MY FAVORITE!!)

Resource: www.50states.com

Coral Gables Restaurant week

Coral Gables celebrates its 3rd annual restaurant week

Fraga - Rizo Wedding

Cindy and Roger currently live and study in North Carolina. Their family is here in South Florida while they are away working on their careers. Their love story began back in high school where Cindy had a silent crush on Roger. It was after they graduated that they reunited at the FIU library and this brings us to this magical day!!

When I first began conversing with Cindy about her wedding vision, she insisted that it had to reflect a "Country style" wedding. For a minute I thought to myself, how in the world am I going to pull this off - in Miami none less.

The hardest task was finding the location, hence budget was a factor, however, Cindy required it to have a barn - country feel to it. So the search began. From the Florida Keys to Central Florida. Endless calls, emails and inspecting various sites until we came across the Comber Hall. It was convenient (adjacent to the church), it was elegant and even better.....affordable.

Due to Cindy not living here, the planning process required a lot of emails and conference calls. Luckily she had her mom here and most of our meetings took place in my office with Cindy on the phone.

Saturday May 29, 2010, was a beautiful morning! The bride woke up in her suite at the Biltmore Hotel and had a scrumptious breakfast. Her niece, Jenny spent the night with her and began working on her hair in the early afternoon. When the Rolls arrived to pick her up to take her to the church, she looked like a porcelain doll. As Cindy walked down the aisle with her brother Ricky by her side, Roger was overwhelmed with joy. The ceremony was absolutely beautiful and heartfelt.

Once the ceremony ended, the guests conveniently walked next door to where the festivities continued. The place card table had miniature metal containers filled with moss which identified the guests place of seating. Adjacent to this table was the sign in which I thought was unique.. It was a tree in which the guest had to use their thumbprint (as leaves) and sign their names on it. This was a bit messy but very creative! When the guests entered the ballroom, they were magically transformed to a barn-like venue filled with an abudance of candles inside mason jars, hanging curly willow resembling dried out trees and garden containers filled with colorful Gerber daisies and green hydrangeas. The theme was carried throughout the wedding with the favors. The favors alternated with strawberry jam filled mason jars and small burlap pouches filled with the couples favorite chocolates. The tables were named rather than numbered and each name represented a location in which the couple had visited throughout their courtship.

Cindy and Roger's wedding was a night filled with love, admiration and passion. Everyone in attendance was overjoyed for the couple and expressed their feelings accordingly. The couple will be honeymooning in Italy for 2 weeks and will then go back to live in North Carolina until they both complete their studies!

Professional pictures by Manolo Doreste coming soon....

Cynthia and Roger from Alan Button on Vimeo.

YOUR picture on edibles????

This product is so adorable, I just had to share! They can print almost anything you want on sweets! I received samples last week and cannot get over how perfect the pictures look and not to mention that it is all edible!!!!! Custom Candy can print just about anything you want. Some of the samples I received included a vintage photo of a couple celebrating their 50th Anniversary, my logo and pictures taken from this very BLOG! I was very very satisfied with the product and would highly recommend it. Click here to go to their website and tell them Alice sent you!

Eros Ramazzotti

If you have absolutely no idea who this man is then you are missing out! Eros Ramazzotti is an amazing and talented Italian singer that has had a successful career for over 20 years. His voice is definitely unique but his lyrics will make you fall in love. He recently visited Miami and held his concert at the James L. Knight Center. I am pretty familiar with all his songs and even sang along with the ones he sang in Italian (Lord knows what in the world I was actually saying...), however, when I heard the lyrics of this song,I immediately made a note of it and said to myself this is a PERFECT song for a first dance (oddly enough my mom turned to me and said the EXACT same thing!!). The song is called I Belong to you .

For a list of his upcoming city tours (including Altos de Chavon in the Dominican Republic on May 22), log onto to his website.

Enjoy and Happy Planning!

A day in beautiful Key West

I am lucky to consider the Florida Keys part of my backyard. Over the weekend, my family and I took a drive to Key West. I have planned a lot of weddings in Key West and very familiar with the island. I created a photo album with the "must see/do" locations and the very popular wedding locations.

In order to view my photos and read my comments, you must log onto to my FACEBOOK Fan page (Groups - Affairs Remembered). Please feel free to leave comments and any any locations you also feel are a must in the keys!!

Enjoy!

Sees Candies Favor Boxes

I first heard about Sees Candies through my husband. He grew up in LA and woulld constantly tell me about his adventures to this store. During our trip to California in 2005, I couldnt help but stop at See's Candies and see what the buzz was all about. After buying 4 boxes of assorted chocolates and stopping twice before boarding the plane back to MIA, I was hooked. I introduced my kids to these yummy chocolates as well and although we do not have any local stores out here, i have continued the tradition of buying the decorated easter eggs for my husband (dont tell him I just told you that!!!)

This month I received their catalog and I saw these adorable favor boxes. They make a great wedding favor, after all who doesnt enjoy a deliciously rich piece of chocolate?

You too can start a tradition in your family by going on their website at http://www.seescandies.com/ or if you happen to be on the West coast stop by one of their quaint stores -make an experience out of it- decorated in all white and often has a checkerboard floor.

Photo by Michael Rosanes

Happy Planning!

Pantone Wedding Colors

Choosing a color theme for your wedding can sometimes be nerve wrecking not to mention very stressfull. The Dessy Group has come out with their 2010 Pantone Wedding guide which include 194 color swatches! You can order your color guide on The Dessy Group website for just $35 + shipping and handling. My order is already in... dont stay behind and order your today!

Happy Planning!

I DO Originals!

I DO Originals is a whimsical and unique company known to sell personalized creations. In the beginning stages of my business, I came across this company as they were known for selling customized aisle runners with the couples monograms. They have now expanded their product lines to include candles, beautiful parasols, table runners and much more. You can order online and have your item at your doorstep in just a few days! Check them out and tell them Affairs Remembered sent you!

Happy Customizing!!

Calling ALL Brides to be!!!!!!!

Add a little funk and uniqueness to your event by renting a photobooth! Color Me Photo Booth has just announced their first contest to win a FREE photobooth rental for your wedding! The rules are super simple...

1. You must register to become a fan on their FACEBOOK page

2. Your wedding must take place before 12/31/10 and in Miami Dade County

3. HOUND ALL of your friends to vote for you - but remember they can only vote 1 time, multiple votes may disqualify their entry!

Get ready...... set..... REGISTER!!!! Good Luck

New Beverage Trends

What's a party without drinks??? Still a PARTY!!!

The cost of having a premium full bar - meaning all types of name brand liquors- can be quite costly! Although having a signature or welcome drink is not a new trend, it continues to maintain its popularity! Signature drinks are a great way to diminish crowds at the cocktail bar and is a fun way of introducing your favorite spirits to your guests.

If your significant other happens to love beer and you cannot live without a daily glass of wine yourself, then this is a perfect excuse to serve just that... Beer and Wine! You may want to make it a bit more upscale by exclusively serving bottles from your favorite vineyard or your favorite brewery! If your budget allows, consider hiring a Sommelier. He or she can go around answering any questions your guests may have on a particular grape or region. This will allow interaction within your guests and they may learn a thing or two! On a more casual note, you can have a wine/beer tasting session where your guests can enjoy products from different countries.

Serving beer and wine doesn't always mean you are trying to cut cost, most of the time it comes down to preference. So the next time you are planning an event,consider some of the fun suggestions above and remember to have fun trying to come up with a name for your chosen drink!

New Catering Trends

So.. the first thing that is most commonly heard lately is I want an elegant, stylish dinner menu for 300 guests under 10k!! Although its almost impossible to guarantee you can certainly work your way around it!

One of the things to think about is going green. You can be so creative and unique by going green. Disposables are a great option and I am not just referring to foam plates and cups. There are trendy disposables which are biodegradable and can be found at Sweet Flavor. Looking online is a great option and sometimes more economical however, always consult with your caterer prior to purchasing in order to make sure it goes well with your selected menus.

Another up and coming trend is to have a chef bar*. This simply means you come up to a bar (that has 4 or 5 attending chefs) and order your small plate from a list of menu options. It's almost like ordering a la carte! This is a wonderful option for a rehearsal dinner or casual reception. Your guest will get a kick out of watching their meal being prepared before their own eyes!

*Note: if this serving style is an option for your event, please make sure you have enough bars around for all the guests to enjoy their meal in a timely manner. I would really be annoyed if I had to wait 30 minutes in line for a small plate that only takes 30 seconds to devour!!

Another idea to having attended chef bars is to create a unique theme with it! For example, if you travel around the world and wish to incorporate your destinations into your event you may want to label your event Stops around the world. This would mean having 3 or 4 stations with different traditional plates from each country. Another label can be Continents. Having meals from each continent (think about the adventure and time you would be putting into creating this event! How fun, exciting and memorable this will be for yours guests!!)

Sushi Bars - I have to admit I love sushi and get excited whenever a client decides to include this in their menu, however, it can be a bit overrated. Sushi bars have been a hit for a while in the event scene but as a guest it can get pretty annoying having to wait for the chef to make the rolls, cut the rolls and adorn the rolls! A clever alternative to having a live sushi bar is to having small plates with assorted sushi rolls and perhaps even some nigiri preset for the guests to pick up, eat and place down.

One of my favorite details to include at my events is a "to go" container. This can be anything from mini donuts, churros (a Hispanic tradition often accompanied by hot chocolate) to your favorite cookies, even an extra piece of cake. If you welcome your guests with a drink, why not send them off with a treat? Besides, they can always use it to soothe their stomach after having that last drink.

My final thought for this post is to try and put more emphasis on your venue and or caterer to support your local grower. Many times the condiments and vegetables they use to prepare the meal you are serving can be purchased locally. This in turn, may eliminate unnecessary shipping costs and any fees incurred at customs. You may come across some caterers that stern in their ways and may not be willing to alter their recipes this way but at least its worth giving it a try!

Biz Bash Expo 2010

Celebrating their 10th year in the business, Biz Bash is the leading trade media for the event industry. They cover events in the hippest and chic cities in the world. Among these are
Miami, New York and Los Angeles to name a few!

Last week they held their first Expo in South Florida. I was among the fortunate to be invited to participate in such a lavish trade show.

The day started off with 2 educational sessions. The first one was focused on top female executives and how they got to be where they are at now. Among the panelists was Kelly Murphy, president of Panache, A Classic Party Rental. A prestigious and recognizable rental company which carries "out of the box" rentals. Maria Elena Rubio, general manager of the Mondrian Hotel , a Morgan's Group hotel, located on the West side of South Beach. It is the first hotel on South Beach that has an all female executive team. These professional females shared their experiences and how difficult it was to run a successful business in the corporate rat race.

The second session was geared towards catering and covered the current trends. Among the panelists were Warren Dietel, president of Puff n' Stuff catering company from Central Florida and Bonnie Fimiano president of Cafe a la Cart .

Mr. Dietel was kind enough to share some of his recent creations such ad the Deli Station. This may sound a bit odd at first but once I saw the pictures I immediately captured the concept. This type of approach goes well during a cocktail hour, casual rehearsal dinner and a bar/bat mitzvah. Different deli meats along with imported cheeses were presented in a refrigerated display case. Behind it was a chef serving the food as if you were at a NYC deli! There were condiments and sweet bread rolls so that each guest can create their sandwich to their liking. This is a very clever idea and economical at the same time.

Ms. Fimiano stated that it is much more cost effective for both the venue and the client to outsource their coffee. In the recent months, the price of coffee has increased tremendously. This in turn, has reduced the amount of coffee served nationwide. I have personally noticed that many venues are not setting a cup and saucer as part of the tablescapes unless specifically requested. Coffee is now being served upon request. I also learned that the corporate planners are paying up to $110 for a gallon of coffee for their meetings! For an average of $600 you can rent a gourmet coffee station that will serve approximately 100 guests -not bad huh!

After our morning sessions, we moved to the Biz Bash hall of fame ceremony and to hear the renowned planner, Colin Cowie. The stage, designed by Everlast Productions . It was absolutely amazing! It looked like a runway show! It had LED screens everywhere whcih projected sceneries and they were playing fantastic music (yes- I was dancing in my seat).

The ceremony began with an opening act which included a dancing tree (Designs by Sean) and absolutely amazing flute player and a dazzling singer which delighted us with the tune of Somewhere Over the Rainbow. They then moved on to introducing the award recipients. Adrienne Arsht Philanthropist and Business leader, Mona Meretsky from Comcor Events and Lee Schrager from Southern Wine and Spirits and founder of South Beach Wine and Food Festival. After much anticipation, Mr. Richard Aaron, president of Biz Bash Media introduced Mr. Colin Cowie.

Mr. Cowie owned the stage! His words of wisdom included his take on how the economy has affected the industry. He also shared 3 of his outstanding events and went into detail as to how he constructs every event and never duplicates one!

Our lunch session covered the topic of branding and how important it is to identify your product. This was conducted by Dr. Joanne Leoni and Dr. Maureen Lloyd James both from Johnson and Wales University. It's amazing how far a jingle or a logo can take you!

I then moved on to the trade floor. I must admit, it felt great to reconnect with colleagues I had not seen in a while! The Donut Divas were rocking their donuts and candy apples while the ladies at Passion for Pastry had the most unique display EVER! They decorated an antique iron tricycle in which they had buckets of mouth watering mini cupcakes (red velvet, chocolate, vanilla and carrot cake), bowls of delicious frostings- buttercream, fudge and cream cheese and hanging pots of assorted toppings, needless to say I hung out with them for a while!

The decorations around the room were superb! Petal Productions did a fantastic job throughout the floor with the florals . From amazing bar decorations to outstanding decor at the VIP luncheon!

Nuage Designs displayed their unique and lavish furniture throughout the registration and education lounge, while Room Service /AFR adorned the main display on the trade floor. Amazing lights, custom gobos and even rain was recreated by Uplyte (I'm very excited about using this at one of my upcoming events!!). There were several recognizable linen companies that displayed their latest trends and new local and upcoming venues that are sure to be the "hot spots" in the months to come.

I had an amazing day reconnecting with well known and respected individuals from the industry. Sometimes when you have business for a long time, like myself, you find that you need a bit of motivation to re-stimulate your creativity and this is exactly what I needed. At the end of the day, I was truly exhausted and had a splitting headache but it was so well worth it, after all it gave me another story for my BLOG right!

Thanks for allowing me to share and I hope you have an opportunity to visit the fabulous businesses I have listed above!

A special thanks to my friend and colleague, Irene Coroalles, for the pictures.. as usual I forgot to pack my camera!