This past week I did a Twitter series on my favorite things for Spring ‘09 and you can also find my favorite things for Winter ‘09 too!  So I decided to write about my current most favorite things.

My Favorite Things - February 2009 Edition

Top Left: Moleskine Daily Diary - It has become my safety blanket along with the Journalists Notetaker.  I don’t quite know how I made it through my life prior to these lovelies!

Bottom Left: Citrine Ring - I sport a ring similar to this on a daily basis.  It was a present from myself to myself and sparkles like the sun shining on the water!

Top Right: Smashbox Cream Eyeliner - I am defunct when it comes to makeup and eyeliner is where my failings show the most….that is until coming upon these bad boys!

Middle Right: Lancel Handbag - Only found in France (and select duty free shops on the East coast), Lancel is like a dream.  My love of leather met its mate in this beautifully crafted bag.

Bottom Right (left): Guinness - I’m really not a fan of beer, but just came across a tasty concotion called a Black Velvet, the main ingredient of which is…you guessed it!

Bottom Right (right): Sofia Minis - Genius marketing at work!  A tasty sparkling wine produced by Francis Ford Coppola’s vineyard packaged in fushcia cans with a straw…genius concept!

Reduce - Reuse - Recycle - Reclaim the Earth!

Its THE latest trend throughout our culture.  But what it actually means and how it applies to events and weddings can be often times be confusing.  In the broadest sense, being “Green” means partaking in practices that are environmentally sustainable.  And sustainability is being able “[to meet] the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
So how do we apply that to large scale events and weddings?  Well, we have to be conscious about how the decisions we make impact the environment…and it is in each decision you make.  But there are varying degrees of “green” so you may elect to be “light green” rather than “dark green”….but at the end of the day you are still making conscious decisions about your event and the environment!
So what “Green” options are available to you then?  Well here are some ideas to get your started!

• Venue - Is the landscaping comprised of native plants?  Especially in California (which is in a drought!), landscaping that is native and requires little watering is a big plus!
• Food - Locally Grown, Organic, Free Range & Wild!  Those are the buzz words you should be looking for when creating your menu.  There are seasons for fruits, vegetables and even fish!  So look up what items are in their prime at the time of your event.
• Rentals - Don’t go custom!  Use stock linens and ask your rental company what their green policies are.
• Dishes & Glasses - Its best if you use the real thing…but if you must go disposable then use corn or potato based products (amazing what you can find these days!)
• Wine - Organic Wines are tricky….but you get credit for using wines made from Organic Grapes!
• All else fails….PLANT A TREE!  Here’s a great website that will measure your event’s carbon footprint and estimate the number of trees to plant to make your event carbon neutral.  You can even go so far as to make the trees the “favors” for your guests!

Check back for more details and ideas on Greening your event!

Audrey Hepburn and Roman Holiday

I adore Audrey Hepburn.  She’s an icon who was also a class act and great humanitarian.  She’s inspired designers for decades and made the little black dress iconic, but her many other films demonstrate a variety of styles that are just as classic.

She was also recently deemed the greatest Hollywood beauty (read article here) topping the list above Angelina Jolie (2nd place) and Grace Kelly (3rd place).  So its only fitting that she be an inspiration for wedding style!  This is the first installment of Audrey inspired Inspiration Boards!

Background Image: AudreyHepburn.com

Top Image: TCM.com

Middle Image: AudreyHepburn.com
Photo by: Antony Beauchamp

Bottom Image: Roman Holiday Still

_________________________________________________

Audrey’s Roman Holiday

This board is of course inspired by Audrey Hepburn’s film Roman Holiday.  The wedding dress by Maggie Sottero was chosen because of its similarity in style in Princess Ann’s dress (top image above).  Jewelry and hairstyle are all reminiscent of Audrey’s Princess Anne. The bridesmaids dress evokes the outfit worn by Audrey (bottom image above) and is also very modern & chic!  We cannot forget the Vespa which you can use for sweetheart photos, as a prop for guestbook photos, and your getaway “car” at the end of the night!  To really go full circle, take your reception outdoors and go with an old Italy theme with everything from the decor to the food.

Audrey's Roman Holiday

Corner Images:
Top Left Image: Maggie Sottero Dress (Mary) Found on Brides.com
Top Right Image: BBJ Linens
Bottom Left Image: Japanese Friendship Garden, Balboa Park San Diego, Ca
Bottom Right Image: Watters & Watters Bridesmaid Dress found on Brides.com

Center Images from Top to Bottom
One: Swarovski Crystal Necklace
Two: Giselle Tiara by Disney Bridal
Three: Hairstyle found on Brides.com
Four: Vespa!

Last Tuesday I attended a NACE Meeting at the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay.  The topic of the evening was proper dining etiquette and Constance Hoffman of Social and Business Graces, Inc. lead us down the treacherous road of dos and don’ts.  I was very excited about the evening and came away with several fantastic tidbits of information that I would like to share!

• When attending a networking function be sure to wear a blazer with pockets so that YOUR business cards are at the ready in one pocket and the other pocket is available to for cards you receive
• If you have a drink in one hand and a plate in the other, chances are you are not prepared to shake anyone’s hand.  Try placing the plate on top of your drink…this may take some practice, but will instantly free up your hand for a proper handshake and introduction.
• The dining table is meant to be a place of cleanliness.  That means anything carrying germs should not be set upon the dining table.  This includes but is not limited to: cellphones, wallets, handbags, and keys
• When you are dining with a client, match their courses.  If they order soup, salad and entree then you order soup, salad and entree.  This does not mean you have to consume everything in its entirety, but the act helps set a comfortable playing field for you and your client.
• If a soup bowl has one or two handles on it, then feel free to drink from it like you would any other hot beverage!
• The bread basket is always past around the table clockwise, and the one that begins the passing is the last to take from the basket.

Constance did a fantastic job, especially with a social crowd such as ours.  If you are looking for a lesson on proper etiquette, I highly recommend her!

Because a Sense of Humor is Imperative!

Courtesy of SomeECards.com