Creative Cleverness & Designs

.. Ice Palace ..

2010-03-28T15:36:00.000-07:00

Year 1 - "A Night at the Ritz"

Year 2 - "Venetian Masquerade"

This Year - "Ice Palace"

For the past 2 years I have had a major role with an Eastern Shore College and their largest event of the year - Birthday Ball! After last year's event, I was told by the committee the job was mine from there on out. You can only imagine how happy that made me! So, needless to say, I couldn't wait to get busy planning this years!

As always, the students choose the them. This year's theme was "Ice Palace." This was a total 180 from the previous year's theme. "Venetian Masquerade" incorporated very vibrant and rich colors; orange, red, gold, etc. "Ice Palace" had a very different color palate; blue, silver, and white. I couldn't wait to design a whole different look for this years event.

Just like in previous years, we started with lighting.

Once the lighting was finished, we still had a whole lot of work ahead of us. The stage treatment had to be done. The tables needed to be place. Linens and centerpieces had to go down. The bar to be built and so much more.

For tables this year, we used square tables. It gave the event a whole different look from last year's banquet tables that were put together to make long dining style seating.

Like in previous years, we alternated centerpieces. This year, one centerpiece had a "ice cycle" theme to it and the other was candles.

In the bar area, the table dressing and centerpieces were very simple. We used oversized linens and tied them with bows for an hour glass look. Centerpieces were small vases, filled with floral gel and a snowflake.

The bar centerpiece was one of my favorite pieces! I used small and large vases. They were filled with floral gel and snowflakes. The vases were internally lit. It truly speaks for itself...

Just like in years past, there was a surprise. The chandelier over the dance floor is a must! So, that's the surprise. Every year the chandelier fits the theme and this year was no exception!

As always, I had a blast designing the look for Birthday Ball and I can't wait for next year!

Happy New Year!!

2010-01-01T20:17:00.000-08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

So, welcome to 2010! Can you believe it? I know, I'm still trying to wrap my head around it!

2009 may be over, but I can't help but reminisce about how great of a year it was for me and think about all I have to look forward to in 2010!

I know a lot of people talk about how they are so ready for the year to be over so they can start fresh! But, I hope you were as lucky as me to have a great year and are looking forward to another great one!

From birthday celebrations to vacations and football games to holiday festivities, A LOT have wonderful memories have been made and A LOT more are left to be created!

So, let's not dwell on the not-so-great moments that are now behind us and get ready for what's next to come!

Hope everyone had an awesome New Years and have a great year!

Always,

-Vicki

Cinnamon Fruit-licious!

2009-12-31T13:17:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year's Eve Everyone!

Before I head out shortly to celebrate the night away, I want to share with you a new, tasty recipe I came across and am trying for the first time, tonight!

Annie's Fruit Salsa & Cinnamon Chips

To Serve 10, Here's What You're Gonna Need:

2 Kiwis, peeled and diced

2 Golden Delicious Apples, peeled and diced

8 Oz. Raspberries

1 Lb. Strawberries

2 Tbs. White Sugar

1 Tbs. Brown Sugar

3 Tbs. Fruit Preserves, any flavor

10 (10 inch) Flour Tortillas

Butter Flavored Cooking Spray

2 Cups Cinnamon Sugar

Here's What You Need To Do:

1. In large bowl, thoroughly mix kiwis, apples, raspberries, strawberries, white sugar, brown sugar, and fruit preserves. Cover and chill in the fridge for at least 15 minutes.

P.S. I Love My Pampered Chef Apple Corer!

2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

3. Coat one side of the flour tortilla with butter flavored cooking spray. Cut into wedges and arrange in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Sprinkle wedges with desired amount of cinnamon sugar. Spray again with cooking spray.

4. Bake in preheated oven 8 to 10 minutes. Repeat with remaining tortilla wedges. Allow to cool approximately 15 minutes. Serve with chilled fruit mixture.

So, there you have it! Enjoy!

Hope you have a wonderful and safe New Year's Eve!

Best Wishes for the New Year!

-Vicki

Happy Holidays "Hon!"

2009-12-15T16:30:00.000-08:00

If you're from Baltimore, then chances are at some point in your life you have experienced Christmas on 34th Street in Hamden and are very familiar with the "Hons!"

A client of mine took that very concept and transformed their corporate office into their very own "34th Street" for a festive and fun-filled holiday party!

From the Christmas lights to the pink flamingos and the lawn ornaments to the "Hon" glasses, this event was sure to be a hit!

As guests arrived, they were greeted by a flock of pink flamingos and a life-size Natty Bo can.

A must have for all events is a photo-op. So, what's a better photo-op then a row home decorated the way you would see on 34th Street?

Don't forget your glasses, Hon! Everyone's wearing them!

Everyone loves a little pink flamingo action! What festive centerpieces?

(Compliments of my WONDERFUL designer!!)

As for the rest of the decor, enjoy...

A pink and silver Christmas tree with a pink flamingo topper.

A "craddy" tree. This was inspired by the infamous hubcap Christmas tree of Hamden!

A tree of gifts.

The infamous stringing of Christmas lights.

FYI, in Hamden lights are strung across the street from house to house.

Pink flamingos hang out at the North Pole all the time... Don't they?

The gingerbread house, boy and girl!

Well, there you have it. That's how you throw a 34th Street Christmas, Hamden style!

I'm sure the guests will have a great time and I hope you enjoy all the fun and creativity that went into bringing this event to life!

Happy Holidays "Hon!"

-Vicki

Great (Inexpensive) Holiday Decor Ideas!

2009-12-15T16:20:00.000-08:00

While surfing the web for some decor ideas for the holidays, I came across a site I would like to share with you.

Kathleen Wilson has come up with some great inexpensive ideas for holiday decor!

Hope you find this helpful and inspiring!

Happy Holidays,

-Vicki

Let's Spread A Little Holiday Cheer!

2009-12-14T16:20:00.000-08:00

With the holiday season upon us, we are scrambling to put plans together for the dinners we are preparing and who we are spending the holidays with and where.

Let me lend a hand in some of the preparations!

While flipping through an event magazine a few days ago, I stumbled upon an article about a few seasonal punches from a few of the top mixologists!

"11 Seasonal Punches (and Recipes) From Top Mixologists"

Take a minute and browse these yummy holiday drinks. I hope you find one that tickles your fancy and adds a little cheer to your festivities for the holidays!

Cheers :o)

-Vicki

Alice In Wonderland!!

2009-12-14T15:59:00.000-08:00

Chances are, you don't know that "Alice in Wonderland" is one of my favorite movies. So, you can only imagine how excited I am about the new remake of "Alice In Wonderland" with Johnny Depp playing the Madd Hatter! :o)

Anyways... the point of this post is to share with you an event I read about a few days ago in an event magazine. Needless to say, the theme was "Alice In Wonderland!"

"Alice In Wonderland - Inspired Whimsy Accents Meridian Ball"

Take a look through the pictures!

My favorite part of this event was the buffet. When you take a look at that picture, you will see a teapot suspended in the air and pouring red carnations into a stack of tea cups like at the Madd Hatter's half birthday.

The lighting used to light up the trees guests walked through as they entered the tent was phenomenal!

Hope you enjoy reading about and seeing the pictures of this event as much as I did!

Ciao!

-Vicki

Hello December!

2009-12-01T08:25:00.000-08:00

So, I woke up this morning and realized it's December. REALLY?

Where does the time go? I swear yesterday I was hanging out on the boat with an ice cold beer enjoying the summer!

Don't get me wrong, I am the definition of a summer baby and would give anything for some warmer weather. But, I really do enjoy the holiday's too! I love all the family time during this time of the year. But, the hustle and bustle of this time of year is crazy. There never seems to be any down time, EVER!

Between work and getting ready for Christmas, my life is going to be quite insane for the next few weeks.

I have events for work every weekend this month. In between those events, I'll be fitting in dinner with my friends, shopping, holiday decorating, visiting family, and so much more. But, I'm going to love every minute of it.

I can't wait to share pictures with you from all the holiday parties this month from work and all the fun and festivities with family and friends. There's so much that will be going on!

In the meantime, I hope you have a wonderful holiday season and stay posted to see everything that's going on and what I'm working on!

HAPPY DECEMBER!

-Vicki

FINALLY!

2009-11-30T11:43:00.000-08:00

How was your Turkey Day? Mine was super yummy!

Thanksgiving dinner with my friends Saturday night was a smash! I'm working on getting a post together that will show all the food, fun, and festivities that went down. So, stay tuned!

In the meantime, let's talk about my planner I was working on. IT'S FINISHED!!

As you can see, I haven't finished the front of the book yet. I am still trying to decide how I want to design it. Any thoughts?

But, I am really looking forward to putting it to good use. It will really help me keep things organized for all the projects I have going on right now.

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My Boat Trip Scrapbook is also starting to take shape! I'm thinking tonight will consist of a little Monday Night Football and scrapbooking. What more could a girl ask for?

Take a look at what I have done so far!

Stay tuned to see the book continue to take shape!

Ciao,

-Vicki

Let's Play Catch Up!

2009-11-24T11:24:00.000-08:00

Yes, I know I have been MIA lately! IM SORRY!

It's that time of the year and things are so hectic!

Work has been picking up which means a lot less down time. It's great for my checking account, but not my social life and sanity... LOL!

Here's a little update on the projects I've been working on.

MY PROJECT PLANNER...

...is just about finished! I have just about everything I need to put the planner together. Only thing I'm missing is printer ink. I went to print everything out last night and wouldn't you know the black ink was out. Go Figure! So, I'm going tonight to get a new black and color cartridge and get this sucker printed out and ready to go. Once it's all put together and finished, pictures will soon follow!

STATIONARY...

...is coming along. This project has taken me longer than I had hoped it would. With being busy with work recently, it seems as though I have been working on all the nice days out and been off on the rainy ones. So, as soon as this rainy weather breaks I will get back outside and do some spraying. Pictures will be coming soon for this project too!

BOAT TRIP SCRAPBOOK...

...is a work in progress. This book is coming along nicely. I am so excited for it to be finished. I will be sure to take some pictures of what I have done so far and share them with you!

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So, that's what I've been working on and here's what's coming up!

TURKEY DAY!

Thanksgiving is only TWO days away! YIKES! I'm so not ready. LOL!

My friends and I always get together to celebrate Christmas and New Years, but never Thanksgiving. We have decided to change that this year. On Saturday, I'm getting together with some of my closest friends to have (what we hope to become and annual thing) our first "Friendly Thanksgiving." My friend Amanda and I are hosting the dinner and we expect it to be nothing short of DELISH! We will have all the traditional Thanksgiving foods - turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green been casserole, cranberries, rolls, and more. We will be sure to take tons of pictures and share the fun & festivities with you!

FOOTBALL BABY!

This Sunday is the much anticipated first meeting of the Ravens & Steelers! Guess who's going to the game? That's right - ME! :o) It is sure to be an exciting game for everyone and I am so looking forward to it! Amanda and I are going to the game along with my sister and a few other people. Again, we will be sure to share the good times!

MOVING DAY!

So, BIG NEWS! Amanda & Jeremy (her boyfriend) just bought their first house! How exciting is that! I don't know who's more excited - them or me! Okay, it's probably them! :o)

Anyways, the next few weeks will be getting ready for the big move! From paint to hardwood floors to moving trucks - it's going to be an adventure. Stay tuned to Amanda's blog for all the painting, decorating, and other fun home things yet to come!

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Well, I think that's about all for now. Stay tuned for all the updates to come!

GOBBLE GOBBLE!

-Vicki

Time to Catch Up!

2009-11-03T17:59:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we went over what's coming up. But, I think it's time to let you all know what I've been up to the last few weeks when I've been without my computer!

So, let's get going.

First we are going to start with FOOD! With football season upon us, it seems only fitting to share my Football Snacks with you.

Snack #1: Crab Dip

It's not very often that you find a cold crab dip. Well, I have one that is delish and SOO easy yo make!

Here's what you need:

1 Lb. Back Fin Crab Meat
Miracle Whip
Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Old Bay

After breaking up the crab meat and placing it in a mixing bowl, simply add all the other ingredients to your liking. I like to do every thing by taste and not measuring cups

If you prefer to use mayonnaise, go for it. I prefer Miracle Whip for the sweeter taste. On average, I start with 3 tablespoons of Miracle Whip and add until I have the consistency I like. The same goes for the Old Bay. I love Old Bay and I tend to add A LOT! But, once again, add the Old Bay to your liking.

OH! Don't forget the crackers! I'm a fan of Wheat Thins or Club Crackers.

Snack #2: Strawberry Dip

This one is beyond simple and so yummy!

Here's what you need:

1 Cool Whip Tub
Small Jar of Strawberry Preserves
Strawberries

All you have to do is mix all the Cool Whip with about half of the Strawberry preserves jar. Once mixed, you have a great dip. I really like dipping strawberries in the dip, but I must say I also really like spreading the dip on some pound cake. :o)

Snack #3: Chocolate & Cheese

Chances are, you are going to think I'm crazy for this one! But, don't knock it until you try it. I don't know about you, but when I eat chocolate I crave cheese and vice versa. So, needless to day, I thought chocolate covered cheese would be a phenomenal idea and boy was it! SO YUMMY!

You can use any kind of cheese and any kind of chocolate. I prefer Yellow American and Milk Chocolate. Simply cut the cheese block up into small bite-size pieces. All you have to do is dip and cheese in the chocolate and there you have it: Chocolate Covered Cheese!

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This coming weekend my parents will be hosting a "Tailgate Party" for the Ravens home game. I will be sure to share all the yummy goodies I come across!

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Stay tuned to here what else has been going on!

Cheers,

-Vicki

What's Next to Come?

2009-11-02T15:07:00.000-08:00

Guess who's back? :o)

I finally got my computer back! I installed both of my new programs on my computer and I am working on teaching myself how they work! It's exciting and overwhelming all at once! I've got a lot left to learn!

But, in the mean time, here's a sneak peek at the projects I'm working on.

- My main project I'm working on right now is what I'm calling "My Project Planner." I'm still trying to come up with another, catchy name. Any thoughts? :o) The purpose of this project is so I have some where to keep a running tab of all the projects I'm working on. It will allow me to have one go-to place to keep all my notes, pictures, supply lists, and everything else I need to make sure my projects come out just the way I want.

Does anyone remember the "denim" binders we all had back in the days of middle school? They were a textured fabric and we decorated the fronts and back. Well, I was looking for them all over the place. I thought that binder would be a good choice to keep "My Project Planner" in because I would be able to decorate the front. Well, they don't make them anymore, or I have no idea where to find them. I'm not in love with the idea of using the traditional binder that has the plastic sleeve you can slide a cover in to. But, I was able to find something that will allow me to the same thing the "denim" binders would. And the best part, they are made from recycled materials! So, I am using the Wilson Jones Recycled Binder. I'm really excited about it!

- I'm really looking forward to this next project of mine. It's really quite simple. I'm going to make my own stationary! All you have to do is take plain paper and spray paint a stencil to the paper. I recommend using Floral Spray Paint. It's slightly more expensive then traditional spray paint, but not as harsh. I'm also using card stock instead of plain paper.

I'm going to start by making generic stationary. My goal is to have a set for each season. If I'm feeling energetic and have the time I need, I may even work on making a set for each holiday. I'm going to make my stationary on 8.5 x 5.5 inch paper, but you can make it whatever size you want.

- As an event planner, I take special pride in this project. I am going to make personalized "Wedding Workbooks." I'm using The Knot's and Martha Stewart's as my inspiration. But, what will set my books apart are that mine will be personalized to my friends. The book will include different things that say who the couple is and who makes them who they are (i.e. favorite colors, pictures, etc.) I am really looking forward to this one!

- OH! I finally started working on my Boat Trip 2009 Scrapbook. I took a ton of pictures and I bought all kinds of things home with me to include in the book (i.e. post cards, maps, etc.) I will be sure to share the progress of the book!

I think that's about all of BIG projects that I'm working on right now. I will be sure to keep you updated on the status of each project with tutorials and pictures! I hope you are as excited to read about the projects as I am to work on them!

Be sure to share with me any thoughts or ideas you have about what I'm working on and I would love to hear from you about what you are working on. I am always looking for a little inspiration.

Cheers,

-Vicki :o)

Wait For Me!

2009-10-15T08:38:00.001-07:00

Okay, so something terrible happened to me a few days ago! I had to send my computer away to be fixed! :o(

I bought this really awesome program for my computer that would allow me to do different page layouts for my scrapbooking fetish and many other things as well! I also bought a program that would install about 500 new fonts on my computer! You can only imagine how exicted I was!

I got home from the store, ripped open the packages and popped the first CD in my drive. Apparently, my CD played decided it no longer likes to read CDs. So, needless to say, I took my computer to the store and it's not something they will fix in house.

So, here I am now. I've been without my computer for almost a week and the store claims it could be up to 14 days before it's back to me.

Without my computer and my hundreds and hundreds of pictures, I am put on hold with my blogging. But, please hold tight while I wait to get it back. Because when I do, I will be blogging up a storm!

-Vicki

Hungry Anyone?

2009-10-08T19:32:00.000-07:00

What's it people say? "Call me whatever you want. Just don't call me late for dinner!"

Some would say having a vegetarian to feed can make it difficult to come up with meals for everyone to enjoy. Well, I beg to differ! Although, that's probably because I'm the vegetarian! :o)

In all reality, it's actually very easy. The only difference is that you may have to dirty an extra dish or two. For example, when we have spaghetti for dinner at my house, I take a small pot to heat the sauce. In a larger pan, I brown the meat and add the sauce. The noodles don't get mixed in with the meat and sauce. It's that simple!

Now it is time to share one of my favorite meals with you.

Hickory Honey Smoked Veggies & Chicken

What you will need:

Green Peppers
Onions
Tomatoes
Potatoes
Mushrooms
Chicken Tenderloins
Kraft Hickory Honey Smoked BBQ Sauce
Egg Noodles

As for quantities of each ingredient, I will leave that up to you. I base how many of each ingredient on how many people are eating. But, as a general rule of thumb, 1 of each vegetable is usually more then enough for every 2 people.

Now for the "how to" part and, to be honest, it's very easy...

- Cut up vegetables and place in aluminum tin. (Why an aluminum tin you ask? Two words: easy clean-up)

- Trim fat off chicken and place in separate aluminum pan.

- Add one bottle of Kraft Hickory Honey Smoked BBQ sauce to each tin.

- Once sauce has been added to veggies and chicken, cover (aluminum foil or plastic wrap) and place in refrigerator and allow to marinate over night.

Note: You don't have to marinate the veggies and chicken over night. I like to do it because it allows the veggies and chicken to really soak in the sauce!

- Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

- Cook veggies for a hour and a half. Stir every 20 minutes or so.

- Cook chicken for a hour and fifteen minutes. Flip chicken half way through cook time.

- For the noodles, follow directions on package.

Time to eat! Enjoy!

I know this meal takes some time. But, it is so worth it. Plus, it really is very easy.

I hope you like it as much as I do!

Bon-Appetit!

-Vicki

Surprise!

2009-10-06T13:35:00.000-07:00

Remember when I told you I love that my job allows me to use my creativity in so many ways? Well, I still stand by that 110%! But, every now and then I get a theme to work with that really does test my creativity and imagination to the limits. Thankfully, I have one heck of a team behind me to work with.

So, a few weeks back, we did a surprise party for a man turning 50! His wife gave us a list of his favorite things and told us to incorporate them into the decor elements. Sounds easy enough, right? Well, here's his list of favorite things and why.

Tomatoes - Because he grows them in his vegetable garden
Vegas - Because it's his favorite vacation spot
Marbles - Because he likes to collect all different ones
Crabs - Because he's from Maryland and, well, who from MD doesn't love them!

I must say, trying to come up with a look that incorporates all these ideas and keeping the look classy and appealing took some real creativity. If not done right, it could have been a disaster.

Here, take a look at what we came up with!

The entrance to the backyard : The entrance to the tent

The buffet tables

Cocktail Tables & Centerpieces

The Vegas Bar

The Crab Buffet Table

The Final Product!

Like I said, while this may seem like an odd combination of "favorites" to use as decorative inspiration, I really am happy with the way it all turned out. I sure hope you feel the same way!

Cheers,

-Vicki

OH... I ALMOST FORGOT!

This last picture is too cute not to share.

After we were all done setting up and in the process of getting ready for the party to start, the family dog decided to make himself the center of attention and sat down right in the middle of the red carpet entrance to the tent! It was so adorable!

Don't Forget Your Mask!

2009-09-30T15:27:00.000-07:00

For an Eastern Shore college, what’s a better way to celebrate the school’s anniversary then with a huge blow out for the students, alum, faculty, and staff?

One thing I find to be very cool about this event is that the current students get to pick the theme. For previous themes they have had A Night at the Ritz, NY Club, and more. Last year the theme was Venetian Masquerade.

What I love about this event is that I really get to be creative with the floor plan and décor. The event takes place in the school’s field house. So, I have a very plain pallet to work with.

Because of the size of this event, we start setting up on Thursday. The event isn’t until Saturday! To start, I bring in 650’ of pipe & drape to run around the perimeter of the room. This hides the ugliness of the actually facility. It is an oversized sports complex.

Next, theatrical lighting is installed. There is a large truss structure that is built and flown from the ceiling to light the main event side of the room. For the bar, light trees are constructed to provide a wash of light. While the décor for the event really does bring another element of “WOW” to the night, the lighting is really what does it.

For the décor, let’s start with the bar area.

A 24’ square bar is built using 6’ tables. In the center of the bar, a large decorative display is built. For this theme, we went with a 3’ tall water fountain surrounded by ferns and other greens in gold urns. For an even bigger “POP” the display sat on top of a table to give it more height. The whole display sat about 6’ tall.

Twenty-five cocktail tables are placed sporadically around the bar area. The tables are dressed in linens whose colors compliment the theme. We alternated colors using burgundy and gold linens. For the cocktail tables centerpieces, they are very simple. We used small bubble bowls and square vases. In the vases were colored gems (gold on burgundy linen and burgundy on gold linen) and flowers. To make them sparkle a little more, small submersible LED light were placed in the vases to give them a nice glow.

Off to the main event room!

When I think of a Masquerade Ball, I see long rows of tables for guests to sit at. So, that’s exactly how I designed the floor plan. Again, the table linen alternated in color by row. The colors were burgundy and gold fuchsia. The style of linen that was picked is known as “galaxy.” I LOVE THIS LINEN! The best way to describe the linen is “crushed silk.” The sheen of the silk allows light to bounce off the linen and the crush gives a great texture.

For centerpieces, we had a total of 3 different ones. Centerpiece #1 consisted of varying masquerade masks with decorative ting and accents in an ornamental base. Centerpiece #2 and #3 were two different styles of candelabras.

The 10-piece band played on a 16’ x 32’ stage. The stage was dressed with a 20’ tall by 40’ wide Venetian themed, hand-airbrushed backdrop.

If all that weren’t enough, a 42’ square, black and white checkered dance floor sat right in front of the stage. Talk about WOW!

Each year, a large marquee piece is hung from the lighting truss directly over the center of the dance floor. I saved this for last because it was my favorite part and there are two reasons for that: reason #1 – it was really cool; reason #2 – I am the one the came up with the concept!

What we constructed was a 5’ wide by 7’ tall picture box. On each side of the box was an ornate picture frame with the image of a Venetian mask in it. Hanging below the picture box was a 4’ in diameter chandelier.

The chandelier I was lucky enough to find at a local prop house. As for the picture box, that had to be constructed from scratch. The frames were built in our warehouse. You can imagine my excitement when the first frame was completed. I was actually up on the worktable working of the frame and when the last screw was in place, I actually started dancing on the table to the music we had blaring in the background. It was such an awesome feeling to see my idea come to life!

I sure hope you find this event as awesome as I did! I can’t wait to start planning for next years and share all the details with you. I already have a ton of really cool ideas running through my head!

Cheers, -Vicki

Hold Your Horses!

2009-09-29T07:24:00.000-07:00

I know! I know!

I kind of went MIA here for a little while and I'm sorry!

But, I'm back now.

I'm in the process of working on a new post about one of my favorite events that I have done.

If it's not up today/tonight, it will be up tomorrow!

Stay tuned!

-Vicki

Let's Eat!!

2009-09-21T09:56:00.000-07:00

When it comes to breakfast time in this house, you better get yours quick or you're out of luck!

With my best friend in town from college, I made our favorite breakfast!

French toast stuffed with cream cheese and raisins

Apricot preserves and orange juice syrup

Old Bay and onion hash browns

For the stuffed french toast, what you need is:

Bread
Eggs
Milk
Cream Cheese
Raisins

Defrost the cream cheese to soften it. Mix in the raisins.

Spread the cream cheese and raisins between two slices of bread.

After beating the eggs and mixing in milk, dip both sides of the bread in the milk and eggs.

Be sure to spray the pan with Pam to keep the bread from sticking to the bottom.

Cook until golden brown on both sides.

For the syrup:

Orange Juice
Apricot Preserves

Simply mix Apricot Preserves and Orange Juice in a bowl.

For 1/2 cup of preserves, mix with 1/4 cup of OJ.

For 1 cup of preserves, mix 1/2 cup of OJ.

And so on...

For the hash browns:

Bag of frozen hash browns
Old Bay
Minced Onion

Spray pan with Pam and pour desired amount of hash browns into pan.

As for the minced onion and Old Bay, add to pan while cooking.

It's up to you how much to use. The more onion and Old Bay, the more of a kick it will have.

I'm sorry to say, I don't have any pictures of what the final meal looked like. When you're cooking for 5 people, it's gone before you have a chance.

I'm sure I will be making this for breakfast again very soon! I will do what I can to get a picture next time, but I can't make any promises with the way people scarf food up around this house!

In the meantime,

Bon-Appetit!

-Vicki :o)

Whoops...

2009-09-18T09:23:00.000-07:00

So, I know I have neglected my blog duties the last few days and I'M SO SORRY!

I have been swamped with work the last few days and haven't had much time to do anything other then work and sleep...

But, with all the work means I will have posts coming soon about work that I've done!

In the mean time, I've been going through all the possibilities of crafty projects to get into.

My 2009 & Birthday scrapbooks are just about finished. So, I will get to start on my Boat Trip Vacation book soon!

I have also decided to make a work/craft station bulletin board to help keep me organized with my projects I'm working on.

It will include a monthly calendar, a generic to-do list, a craft to-do list, a notes area, and maybe another spot. But, that spot is still yet to be determined.

Along with that, I was introduced to the blog Effer Dares.

http://www.efferdares.com/

This blog consists of different craft dares to take on. I've been going through them trying to find a few that I want to try. But, I'm having trouble narrowing it down to the few I want to start with. Any suggestions on which ones you like the best that I should try? :o)

I will be sure to post entries on my projects as I am working on them so you can see how they are coming along.

Also, be sure to share with me any projects you are working on. I'm always up for a little inspiration!

Have a fantabulous weekend and we will catch up soon!

-Vicki

Saving the Best For Last...

2009-09-13T17:53:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend. I know I did!

I had a post I wanted to do on Friday, but I was so busy doing other things that I didn't have a chance to do it. So, I know it's a little late. But, here it is...

In keeping with the centerpiece theme, I would like to share with you the different pieces, themes, and props the company I work for showcased in our Open House a few weeks ago.

Again, my designer deserves all the credit for the centerpiece concepts and execution. All the themed décor you will see, are pieces that have been created over time for themes we have worked with!

MOROCCAN/ORIENTAL WEDDING DISPLAY

NIGHT CLUB

ITALIAN WINE BAR

VENETIAN MASQUERADE

TROPICAL/TIKI BAR DISPLAY

PARIS

VARIOUS CENTERPIECES

Thanks for allowing me to share these last few posts with you. I hope you enjoyed seeing what I love doing! It really is a ton of fun and getting to plan parties for a living isn’t bad either.

Next week we will switch topics. To what, I will let that be a surprise.

In the meantime, have a great Sunday night and we will meet again soon! :o)

-Vicki

What's Your Theme?

2009-09-10T08:34:00.000-07:00

Broadway? Vegas? Wizard of OZ? What’s your theme?

Centerpieces and other arrangements don’t have to always be done with flowers. When given a theme to work with, it is so much fun getting to think outside the flower box to come up with arrangement ideas!

I have had the opportunity to work with a number of different themes. Please enjoy these themed pieces and stay tuned to see other pieces I am working on now!

I LOVE NY!

BROADWAY

ITALIAN/ARABIAN NIGHTS

NEW YEARS

MOROCCAN/EAST MEETS WEST

FOOTBALL

I hope you enjoyed these pieces and stay tuned to see what’s next!

-Vicki

Happy Happy Birthday!!

2009-09-09T19:48:00.000-07:00

Here's to an impromptu post!

I just got home from an event I put together today. I was - and still am - so proud of the way it turned out, I had to share it with you right away! The event was for a lady who turned 90! She's still very much involved with the university she is a professor at! Not only that, but this fabulous person loves Hot Air Balloons & Motorcycles!

Knowing that, we had to come up with some pretty ingenious centerpieces in her honor!

And as I have said before, leave it to my designer to come up with something nothing short of amazing!

I hope you enjoy these pictures as much as the guests enjoyed being able to take the arrangements home with them! And lucky me - I was able to snatch one up to bring home too! :o)

This was a two part event.

The first part of the event was a reception for about 250 people. For this part, we went with the Hot Air Balloon aspect! So, needless to say, we used a lot of color and gave everything an "airy" feel.

For cocktail tables, we created topiary style arrangements using small metal buckets and "football" mums.

For the buffet pieces, we used ginger, protea, and baby's breath. To give the bubble bowl on the top of the arrangement more color, alstroemeria leaves were glued directly on the glass. These pieces were great because they brought the theme of Hot Air Balloons to the room without having to use actual hot air balloon replicas. They were great. Kudos to my designer for her ingenuity and creativity!

The second part of the event was a seated dinner for about 60 of the birthday girl's closest family, friends, and colleagues. Since the first event had a lot going on with the colors, we brought things down a little bit. While we chose to go with a simpler centerpiece that were easy on the eyes, they were still WOW!!

My legs may be very tired and as soon as my head hits the pillow I will be out, but it's all worth it! Everything turned out fantastically - and I sure hope you agree. When I saw the smile on the birthday girl's face I knew we nailed this one! Woo-Hoo!

Again, I hope you enjoyed today's spontaneous post and I look forward to having more in the near future! I have quite a busy month of events ahead of me and I can't wait to share them with you!

Enjoy and you will be hearing from me soon!

Night,

-Vicki

What’s a wedding without Flowers?

2009-09-09T05:31:00.000-07:00

What I love about flowers is that they can be fun and flashy or elegant and classy! I also love that they allow people to express who they are and what they love, especially wedding flowers!

Again, my designer never ceases to amaze me with what she puts together! From roses to lilies, alstroemeria to orchids, and so many more; the flower combos are endless!

There’s no point in rambling on about flowers. Pictures say it so much better…

While reception centerpieces brings a wedding home, you can’t have a wedding without the personal flowers! Bouquets, corsages, and boutonnières are a few other ways for brides and grooms to show who they are! Enjoy this small sample of personal flowers!

I sure hope you love these wedding centerpieces and personal flowers as much as I do!

Ciao, Vicki

P.S. Please enjoy these other wedding related pieces!

Flowers, Flowers, and More Flowers!

2009-09-08T16:17:00.000-07:00

Time to switch gears again. The next few posts I have decided to write about what I find to be one of the best parts of an event – centerpieces, flowers, and table scapes!

For this one… Floral Centerpieces!

I love flowers! But, I am such a novice when it comes to keeping them all straight.

Fortunately, the designer I work with is amazing! I like to call her “The Human Flower Encyclopedia.” She really knows her stuff. I can give her any theme or color scheme to work with and she always comes up with something nothing short of spectacular!

I could sit here and go on for hours about how awesome what she comes up with is, but pictures are way better! ENJOY!

These are just a small preview! Keep an eye out for wedding flowers/centerpieces and themed centerpieces, and more!

Cheers, Vicki

A Three Hour Tour!

2009-09-02T09:44:00.000-07:00

When it comes to vacation, a lot of families like to visit the beach or go see Mickey & Minnie in Disney World. My family and I, we like to spice things up a little bit and take our boat away for the week and visit different spots along the Chesapeake Bay.

But, it’s not just us. For this year’s trip there were a total of 5 boats that took part in the adventure – My family and me on boat #1, my aunt & uncle on boat #2, my dad’s friend and family on boat #3, another one of dad’s friends and family on boat #4, and a family friend on boat #5.

The itinerary for this year’s trip was as follows:

Saturday – Monday: Harrington Harbor North
Tuesday – Thursday: Solomon’s Island
Friday – Sunday: Fishing Creek

Other places we have stopped on previous trips include:

Mears (Red Eyes Dock Bar)
Great Oaks (Jellyfish Joel’s)
Rock Hall
Tilghman
St. Michael’s
Cambridge
And many more…

When picking a place to visit we have a few standards that the place must meet:

Pool
Bath Houses
Laundry Facilities
Pet (dog) Friendly

While each place must have these, most places also have tons of other things to get into:

Bike Rentals
Canoe Rentals
Trolley Service
Water Parks
Shopping

There are always a ton of things to keep ourselves occupied with on this trip. It really is a good time. But, it's a lot of work. On travel days, it's waking up early to get things packed up and get the boat and everyone ready for the ride to the next spot! AND it's not always a smooth ride!

I could write a book on all my crazy boating experiences. The most common is the rain storms we get caught up in or the 4 foot swells we are battling. However, nothing will be beat the boat breaking down half way through the ride and having to be towed somewhere to have it fixed. When it comes to boating, every captain and first mate know to be prepared for anything!!

My pictures from our adventure I just had printed and received the other day. So, I will be starting to work on my Vacation Scrapbook very soon. Keep an eye out to see the updates!

Vicki

A Double Feature!

2009-09-01T18:01:00.000-07:00

So, somewhere in my super crazy schedule today, I managed to find time to finish a book I started a few weeks ago.

I really enjoy a good book and this one is no exception.

I only wish I hadn't been so busy lately to actually have finished it in a timely fashion.

It is one of those books that you hate to put down because it's so good.

If you enjoy a good mystery novel, this is a good one!

Sandra Brown - Smoke Screen

A quick synopsis:

A reporter hits the jackpot when a close friend offers her the story of her career. Too bad when she wakes up in the morning to find her friend - who is also a police officer - dead in the bed next to her and no recollection of how she got there. In the midst of being the number one suspect of her friends death, she is kidnapped by a man she once did a story on. Turns out her kidnapper had also experienced a similar incident 5 years ago. Together, they do everything in their power to get the truth out about what happened to the two of them and why!

I don't want to go into any more detail then that. I want you to go get the book and read it for yourself! It's a good one.

If you get the chance to read it, let me know what you think of it!

Cheers, Vicki

P.S. Other good mystery authors are:

Harlen Coben
Sue Grafton
Dean Koontz

Happy Birthday to Me!

2009-09-01T17:37:00.000-07:00

Okay… Okay… So, maybe my birthday was really over 2 months ago! But, that doesn’t mean my Birthday Scrapbook has been done for over two months! :o)

Things have been super hectic and I haven’t had much time to work on it as much as I would like to.

But, anyways, here’s the low down on this book.

In my first post, I mentioned that I spent 4 years living in Pittsburgh because I went to college there. Since my birthday is over the summer, it was always tough for me to get back to the "Burgh" during summer vacation because of working full-time.

But, this year I was finally able to get back and celebrate my birthday with all my best college buddies! My birthday turned into a weeklong celebration and I had a blast during every minute of it!

Here’s how the week went down:

Thursday – Monday: Pittsburgh
Wednesday (My Actual Birthday) – Saw Transformers with, my now, boyfriend
BTW, did I mention Transformers came out on my birthday – AWESOME!
Friday – A big birthday celebration with the best friends Baltimore has to offer

When it was all said and done, what better way to preserve all the fantastic memories then with a scrapbook dedicated to the festivities?

Like I said before, it’s still a work in progress. So, I hope you enjoy what I have done so far and keep a look out for the finished product!

Cheers, Vicki

Let's Get Personal

2009-08-29T08:45:00.000-07:00

We're gonna switch gears here a little bit and I want to share some scrap-booking I've been working on with you.

To start things off, I want to share with you a scrapbook I have been working on and what inspired me to do this project.

A few years ago I got into scrapbooking, but I was making them for other people. For my first scrapbook, I made one for my best friend after her baby shower. After that, I made a few other ones here and there for some other friends.

Back a few months ago, I decided to get back into scrapbooking. While I am working on a few scrapbooks at one time, the one I want to share with you is my “2009” scrapbook. For this scrapbook, I thought it would be a good idea to make it in to a yearbook style scrapbook. So, this book starts at the beginning of the year and includes all major events and some every day events (i.e. holidays, birthdays, girl’s nights, and more). The best part about this scrapbook, in my opinion, is that it’s a work in progress and I get to take my time with it. When it’s all done, it will be nice to sit back and look at the whole year and then get ready to start one for 2010!

I just received newly printed pictures, so I can start working on this book again. In the meantime, keep a look out for updates on this book and postings on other books I'm working on.

Ciao, -Vicki

The inside cover

New Years & A Night Out : A High School Event I Chaired

Saint Patty's Day & A Night W. the Boys : The Circus W. My Cousin's Kids

Camping & A Night Out : My Trip to New Orleans & Baton Rouge

Celebrating My Birthday in Pittsburgh & Celebrating My Birthday in Baltimore

We're Turning Ten!!

2009-08-21T11:35:00.000-07:00

To start things off, I find it only appropriate to share with you the first event I handled as the lead planner! I must say, I was quite excited about the final outcome!

When children's museums turn 10, it's time to throw a party - and it better be a BIG one!

For this particular event, I worked with a NY Club theme. But, since the event took place at the museum we also needed to showcase what the museum was all about. The space truely allowed us to conqour both of our goals! But, it didn't come together without a lot of work. My vendors and staff couldn't have been any better. They were awesome! The event took a total of 18 hours to set-up, 4 hours to take place, and 2 hours to break down!

Just to name a few things I had brought in

25 - Stand-Up Cocktail Tables
25 - Sit-Down Cocktail Tables
20 - Banquet Tables
150 - Black Wood Chairs
80 - Black Chiavari Bar Stools
70 Pieces of Linen (Spandex & Polyester)
6 - Portable Bars
5 - 42" Plasma Screens
1 - 20' Screen (for behind main stage)
Centerpieces
Club Lounge Furniture (Love Seats, Chairs, End Tables, and more)
And much much more...

Enough about what went into making the event. Let's see the final product!

ENJOY!

As for most events, lighting was key! This particular venue was easy to work with when it came to lighting. While we had to bring some outsourced lighting in, the museum was a night club before becoming the museum and the night club left all their fixtures behind. Best part, they still worked! :o) But, to bring in more lighting elements, we had illuminated cocktail tables. As you can see in the last picture, the tables that had white spandex linen on them had an LED light fixture under the table that changed colors. It was a fantastic way of incorporating club style lighting!

Oh, and last but certainly not least... THE CENTERPIECES!

Sadly, the pictures don't do the centerpieces justice. But, you get the idea of what we did!

A purple martini was the signature drink of the event. So, we re-created our own version of the martini. The floral gel in the glass was dyed purple (although the camera flash makes it appear green). The stem of the class was wrapped with purple wire. Ten green marbles with small red felt dots were placed around the base of the glass to symbolize the museum's 10 years. There were also multi-colored foam olives on skewers coming out of the glass.

For my first event as the lead planner, I was ecstatic with the final outcome. It took a lot of energy to bring it all together, but when my client told me they couldn't be happier I knew it was a huge success and I couldn't be happier!

I sure hope you enjoyed my first post and keep a look out for my next what will be coming soon!

Cheers,

-Vicki

Allow Me to Introduce Myelf...

2009-08-21T08:44:00.000-07:00

Before getting all hot & heavy into my postings, I think it's only appropriate to introduce myself in hopes of you saying, "Gee, maybe this chick actually knows what she's talking about!" :o)

I am 24 and have lived in Baltimore my entire life - with the exception of living in Pittsburgh for 4 years for college. I graduated from Carlow Univerity with a degree in Mass Communication and a minor in Busniess Management. I used my degree to break into the event planning world. I have been working full-time as an event planner for 2 years now. I have an absolute blast doing it. Not only do I get to be creative and use my imagination every day, but I throw parties for a living! Whether it be a wedding, gala, mitzvah, festival, or any other event, I love having my creativity tested to the max!

My work is not the only place I get to use my imagination. I love spending my spare time being crafty and imaginative as well. Scrapbooking, cooking, reading, and re-decorating a room are only a few ways I like to spend my extra time.

Stay tuned to see events I have planned and brought to life as well as events I am working on, what crafty projects I'm doing, and anything else I think you will enjoy reading about! I sure you enjoy what I have done as much as I have!

Cheers, Vicki

Creative Cleverness & Designs

*..* Ice Palace *..*

Happy New Year!!

Cinnamon Fruit-licious!

Happy Holidays "Hon!"

Great (Inexpensive) Holiday Decor Ideas!

Let's Spread A Little Holiday Cheer!

Alice In Wonderland!!

Hello December!

FINALLY!

Let's Play Catch Up!

Time to Catch Up!

What's Next to Come?

Wait For Me!

Hungry Anyone?

Surprise!

Don't Forget Your Mask!

Hold Your Horses!

Let's Eat!!

Whoops...

Saving the Best For Last...

What's Your Theme?

Happy Happy Birthday!!

What’s a wedding without Flowers?

Flowers, Flowers, and More Flowers!

A Three Hour Tour!

A Double Feature!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Let's Get Personal

We're Turning Ten!!

Allow Me to Introduce Myelf...

.. Ice Palace ..