2012... Right Around the Corner

The end of the year is approaching fast... where did 2011 go!! If you are like me... you are just planning for that big night. So I have been scouring the net for some inspiration pics and here are some that I really enjoyed!! 

Loving this blue New Year's Eve theme!! Anything that sparkles is on my must have list!

This gold them is better suited for my house this season as I have most of my Christmas decorations in gold. This is a good way to cut entertaining cost down by reusing products in new ways. Did you know that you can flip over your martini glass and use it as a candle holder?!!

Don't those cookies look good!!

Sparklers for guest to lit at 12 would be a nice touch to any party!!


Also be sure to check out the Hostess with the Mostess site for free printables you can use for your party! It will save you a ton of time on not having to design your own and save you a ton of money!!

How to Thank Your Bridesmaids

Bridesmaids are those ladies selected by you who will stand beside you on one of the most important days of your life!! They will be there to straighten your gown, hold your flowers, and ensure your makeup is flawless after you finish crying tears of joy. They were host bridal showers and throw bachelorette parties!! These special women assist in any way to make your day special and as stress free as possible – because they know, it is what you would do for them!  After all the time and money these girls have spent to make your wedding memorable, it’s only natural to want to do something special for them.

There are many routes to go when deciding on what to give your bridal party. Each gift can be personalized and unique, or they can all match one another. Maybe even a little bit of both. Some brides do a little DIY project to show their gratitude, and some go all out. Either way – it’s up to you.

Here are some tips and ideas on how to gift/pamper your bridesmaids:

• Budget! Remember that you are still the one holding the wedding. Make sure your bridesmaids’ gifts don’t affect your wedding budget. It’s still your day, so don’t sacrifice one to make another one happy. There are ways for everybody to win! If you are really tight on budget, go the DIY route. Or scour the internet for deals and sales to maximize your savings!

• If you want to get your bridal party matching gifts, ensure that your Maid of Honor gets a little something extra. After all the extra work she’s put in, she deserves it. 

• If none of your bridesmaids are alike, get them something different. Let’s take it back and use Spice Girls for example! For Posh, a make-up kit from Sephora or a set of brushes from Mac would be great. For Sporty Spice, perhaps a duffel bag filled with LuluLemon bras and exercising gear? You get the idea, right? 

• Would you rather treat your girls with a night out on the town? Treating them all out to dinner can be nice (and a bit expensive), but they can’t take anything away from it, unless you count next morning’s hangover. Make sure if you do a dinner, add in a trinket as a keepsake.

• Spa days are always appreciated. Instead of having your ladies pay for their wedding primping, take care of it yourself! They have to get their nails’ done for the wedding anyway! Plan a spa day one or two days prior to the wedding. This way, all you have to do is relax. Start off with a soak in a hot tub – chat it up with your girls while warming your muscles. Next, get rid of all yours and their tension with a nice long massage. Finally, get your mani-pedis so that they will still be in perfect condition for the day ahead! You and your girls will thank your wallet. It definitely will be money well spent! 

• A Bridesmaid luncheon is a fantastic way to thank your beautiful attendants, for having your back and keeping you grounded. It can really be as simple or elaborate as you - and your budget – want it to be. Whatever you decide to do – I assure you – your bridesmaids will feel special and appreciated. As an added touch, it would be very meaningful to present each bridesmaid with an elegant gift that they can use on your wedding day. A beautifully engraved compact, a clutch, or piece of jewelry all make great gifts. 

• Honor Your Bridesmaids at the Rehearsal Dinner.  During the rehearsal dinner (or even your bridal shower), it’s a great time to introduce your bridesmaids to your family and friends, who may not know them. It’s also a wonderful opportunity to thank each one for their friendship, for supporting you during this special time, and to present a special gift of thanks.

Remember, although your wedding day is certainly about you, the groom-to-be, and the exciting new chapter in your lives – you do need to be gracious and appreciative of the work others provide to make your wedding day special, beautiful, and memorable.

Do you have something fantastic planned for your bridesmaids?

Have a BLISSFUL Day!

I'm Back

It has definitely been a few weeks since I have posted anything on here. Between dance rehearsals and Vegas... I have constantly been on the move!! And still not too much down time until after the New Year! But I have promised myself to do better about this. I have two parties coming up soon and will be posting picks from the Vegas trip soon of one of the projects I worked on for that party!!

Hope everyone has a blessed day and a new post will be up by the end of the day!!

Jevettra

Thanksgiving/Black Friday

Hoping that everyone had a GREAT Thanksgiving and a pleasant Black Friday! Hope you were able to buy everything that was on your list! Next year I am saving gas and shopping online!!

What Will Be On Your Table Next Thursday (Thanksgiving)?

With the holiday’s right around the corner… I went searching for Thanksgiving décor that I could use as inspiration in creating my own designs for Turkey Day!! Just a few tips to think about when setting your table and creating table centerpiece:

• Keep centerpieces compact, so that it does not interfere with the passing of the plates!
• This holiday expand your entertaining space and move part of the party out of the dining room.
• Rethink your surfaces. Clear a side table or desktop in another room to create a cocktail bar or dessert station. Vary the height and size of your serving pieces. Incorporate footed compotes, trifle bowls, cake stands, and stacks of dessert plates to add dimension and visual interest to your entertaining surface.
• Easy Tablescape: Gather together a variety of pewter or silver pieces. Their deep metallic tones offer rich contrast to bright plates in autumn hues. Mix candlesticks with open vessels to vary height and shape. 

Here are some photos of Thanksgiving place settings that I came across in my search. Hope you find some inspiration from these pics!

GREAT NEWS

As you know, I have a passion for weddings and parties, but those are not the only things I love. In general, I just LOVE being creative and seeing how you can turn the simplest thing into something wonderful. And this idea can be seen not only in how I design and coordinate weddings and parties, but in interior decorating as well. For anyone who has been to my house, you know that I don't mind picking up a paint brush or getting my hands dirty!


The great news I have to share is... you have to start somewhere when you are trying to build a business and I really need to make some connections and build a portfolio; therefore, I am looking for a few (maybe 3) clients in the Columbia area to work with for FREE! If you or anyone you know is having a wedding, birthday party, bridal/baby shower or needs there home decorated, I would LOVE to assist you. Email me at uniquebydesignweddings@gmail.com.


Thanks in advance for all of your support!

Thanksgiving Cocktail Recipes

November is here and so that means Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Family, friends, and food... cocktails always seem to get everyone into the holiday spirit! Why not serve up a few of these drinks for your guests.

Pumpkin Pie: features Kahlua, Malibu Rum, Milk, Cinnamon, and Pumpkin Pie Filling {recipe via cocktailtimes.com}.

Ingredients:

- 1 oz. Malibu Rum

- 3/4 oz. canned pumpkin pie filling

- 1/2 oz. Kahlua

- 2 oz. cold milk

- Garnish: sprinkle of cinnamon

   

Mix ingredients in blender with ice. Pour into graham cracker-rimmed highball glass and   garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Gingersnap cocktail: features spiced run ginger brandy, eggnog, and a gingersnap cookie {recipe via thebar.com}!

Ingredients:

- .75 oz. Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum

- .5 oz. ginger brandy

- 4 oz. eggnog

- 1 gingersnap (optional)

Add Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum, ginger brandy, and eggnog in blender. Blend to desired consistency and pour into glass. Garnish with gingersnap for dunking if desired.

Pumpkin Divine martini: features Grey Goose La Poire flavored vodka, pumpkin butter, Triple Sec, clove, and nutmeg {recipe via cocktailtimes.com}

Ingredients:

- 1 part Grey Goose La Poire flavored vodka

- 1 part pumpkin butter

- 1/2 part triple sec

- 1/2 part simple syrup

- Pinch of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and ginger

- Grated nutmeg and apple chip for garnish

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice add all ingredients. Shake vigorously until the outside of the shaker is frosted and beaded with sweat. Strain into a martini glass. Garnish with nutmeg and apple chip.

ENJOY!!

Picking the Perfect Ring

This post is for the those who are ready to pop the question, but not sure what ring to get. Hopefully when you finish reading this (promise to keep it relatively short) you will have a better idea on what you look for when purchasing a ring.

As most people know the 4 things to look for when getting a ring is Carat, Cut, Clarity, and Color!

Carat weight: For most women, this means the bigger the better! Gems are measured in carats and carat weights are given points, with one carat = 100points. So the more points the better!

Cut: A diamond’s sparkle is determined by the angles and proportions to which it is cut. The cut should not be confused with its shape (round, oval, marquise, etc.). Cuts have 5 grades: Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, and Poor. You will get your BEST bargains in the Good grade of cut. Some sparkle is forfeited for size in this category.

Clarity: The number of inclusions (flaws that are categorized as marks, cracks, chips, etc.) establishes a diamond’s classification: Flawless (F), Very Very Slightly Included (VVS1,2), Very Slightly Included (VS1,2), Slightly Included (SI1,2) and Included (I1,2,3). Stones classified SI1 and better are considered “eye clean”, meaning no flaws are visible to the naked eye. Best deals are in the SI classification.

Color: The GIA’s color-coding chart starts with D-F, the “colorless” ideal; G-J, almost colorless; K-M, a hint of yellow; N-R, very light yellow; and S-Z, light yellow.

Once a diamond reaches a carat level, its price climbs, so go with a weight slightly under the carat mark you are targeting. For example, it you want a two-carat ring, shop for those at 1.9 – the difference in size will be hard to notice, and you will save!

The round brilliant-cut shape is the most expensive; choose one of the “fancy” shapes – marquis, princess, oval, emerald – which are less expensive.

Hopefully this gives you a start as you search for the perfect ring! Happy hunting!! 

I LOVE THESE RINGS!!

Pictures from Tacori

Halloween 2011

So my Halloween is done and over with for 2011. No party for me tonight, but I had a great time this weekend at various gatherings and loved some of the outfits!! Below are some of the creative ideas that people had. Enjoy!!

Bag of Jelly Beans

Young Child Riding a Horse

Young Child

Goddess

Fairy

Garcia and Lattimore

Back of the Ghostbuster's Pack

Ghostbusters

Mummy

Rachel Zoe

Terrance Riding His Horse

Thriller

Happy Halloween

More pics to come soon!!

Cream Cheese Filled Strawberries

Ok let me start by saying that I am by NO means a chef. Everyone expects that since I was raised in the South, I should know how to "throw down" in the kitchen! WRONG! I can do enough to survive. I challenged myself this year to cook at least 3 times a week.  I was actually doing really well for about 3 months and then I just fell off hard. So I am on my quest again to become a better cook and prove some people wrong! 


Well I found a recipe online for Cream Cheese Filled Strawberries and LOVED it! You cut the tops and bottoms off of the strawberries and pipe in the filling. So not only is it really good, but presents very pretty too! And last but not least, it was SIMPLE!

Ingredients:
8 ounce package cream cheese
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract (my favorite is Mexican Vanilla)

Using a mixer on medium speed, combine all of your ingredients together until fluffy.

Set aside.

Cut the tips off of the strawberries.

Cut the tops off of the strawberries.

Place the strawberries on their bottoms.

Take a small melon baller to scoop out the tops.

Fill a pastry bag with the cream cheese mixture.

Take a star tip and pipe filling into berries until the cream cheese mixture brims over the tops.

Voila!  Simple and delicious!

I Have A Thing For Paper

I LOVE paper products, especially invitations and have found that etsy.com has some of the most creative invitations out there at really good prices. I am a DIYer, so I like to view the invitations and see if I can recreate them. Here are some invitations that I came across on the net that Ithink are creative and really cute!

Planning a party for Vegas!

This is BEST kiddie invitation!!

These invitations could be used for a number of different occasions!

Maybe you are thinking about a destination wedding! I have a boarding pass template if anyone wants to create their own just email me uniquebydesignweddings@gmail.com.

This is VERY cute for a baby shower!

I love this invitation because of the colors. They are very rich and bold. And love the print on the inside of the envelope!

Halloween Costume?

So for the past week I have been pondering over what to be for Halloween. Isn't everyone? For me Halloween is taking something you would never think about and turning it into a costume! So my genius idea for this year is " Rock Paper Scissors", which I think is GREAT! However, I can't find any willing participants to complete this trio! Bummer. Sooooooo, my next idea was to be a test tube! My mother wants to know why I am always thinking about costumes in which I have to set inside some kind of container. She said can't you think of anything simpler. Soooo back to the drawing board AGAIN!! Ok so my next idea was being a box of crayons... but that still means me setting inside of a box. (So now I begin to question is my mother correct?) But the joy of this costume is I don't have to reshape the box, I just have to cover it with some paper and set inside of it. Unfortunately, I don't think this idea will have a chance to pan out. With the rest of my hectic week, I really don't have the time to "construct" a costume. Working full-time and then doing close to 4 hours of dance rehearsal at night doesn't leave much time for eating sleeping and CONSTRUCTING!! Gladly, I do have my fall back costume that I can pull out the drawer and just look super cute... a BLACK CAT!! So we will see what happens! I will be sure to post a pic next week of what the outcome is. 

This Should of Been My First Post

This should have been the first post, but clearly I am SLOW so here we go now. Hey everyone I am now a blogger! Who would of thought… definitely not me! Not going to bore you with my life story, but just a few facts you may want to know about me.  I LOVE unique things and always looking for ways to be creative. I also find that I want to jump from one thing to the next, but finally starting to hone in on one area that I am really passionate about… WEDDING/EVENT PLANNING!!  Not sure how consistent I will be with my post, but will try to be fairly consistent. Above all else I said I am a dance artist through and through! Dance started me in the world of creativity… I LOVE IT!! Well I hope that everyone enjoys this blog and invites friends to read!

Also I do have a wedding/event planning business, so for anyone looking for a coordinator feel free to check out my website dreambigweddings.com!

The New Type of Baby Shower - "Sip and See"

So ever since Phaedra from the Atlanta Housewives had her “Sip and See” I have been scouring the web looking for other such parties. I wanted to know did everyone where rose head dresses and have non-technical ballet dancers at their function.  Furthermore, my fascination came as this was the first time I had EVER heard of such a party.  

A Sip and See is basically a casual type of baby shower that’s held AFTER the baby arrives, typically 4-6 weeks after. (Preferably 6 weeks, as it gives your baby time to build up his/her immune system.) Friends and family are invited to drop by “open house style” within a certain time frame to meet the baby (see) and enjoy light food & drinks (sip).  This type of party is very efficient because you invite everyone over all at once to see the baby, so your home doesn't feel like a revolving door of visitors during those already stressful just-home-from-the-hospital weeks.

So strolling through the internet, I have found Sip and See’s that are on two totally different ends of the scale. 

The “adult” Sip and See.  This photo comes from the Hostess with the Mostess Blog. The host wanted to give the traditional party a little twist, so they planned a “Sparkling Sip and See”! They had a Sparkling Drinks & DIY Champagne Bar where they set out a variety of bubbly drinks-from Martinelli's Cider and Lorina's Sparkling Lemonade to bottles of sparkling water and Champagne. They offered a few different mixers for the Champagne such as Chambord, O.J., pomegranate juice, and pineapple juice, so that guests could stir up their own favorite Champagne-based cocktail. 

The yellow chosen for the party was is a great choice as it is gender neutral! But if you wanted to be more specific for a boy or girl you could definitely switch out the colors.  

Now for the modern Sip and See.  Hostess with the Mostess has some of the best party ideas on it. I LOVE THIS VERISON of Sip and See – Got Milk!

 

The color palette was black and white with a splash of color. And of course you have to have some cow print in there. The party favors are so cute! They are Starbucks-style milk bottles. 

Some helpful hints for any style of Sip and See is:

• Set up a hand washing station with anti-bacterial hand soap and plenty of guest towels. 
• Have a digital camera on hand to take a picture of each guest with the baby, and flat notecards available for them to write a little message to mom. These will come in handy for a scrapbook or memory album later!" 
• Time your party in the middle of the afternoon, so that you don't have to worry about serving a full meal. A few simple finger foods like veggie platters and artichoke dip are all that you'll need (and store-bought versions are fine!).

Keep the decorations stress-free without sacrificing style!