DIY: Japanese Kusadama Balls

It's all in the details. This is one of the most important, if not the most important, thing to remember when planning any event. It is those same details that can add up, and fast too. Japanese kusadama balls are an affordable way to decorate a wedding ceremony, baby shower, birthday party event a cocktail party without breaking the bank. The Japanese kusudama is a paper ball made out of multiple identical origami shapes glued together. They were traditionally used as a ball for incense or potpourri but now we see them more for decoration or as a gift. There are many different patterns to make a kusudama ball. Folding Trees has a great tutorial kusudama balls. Click here for part one on how to learn to make the traditional Japanese shape and here for part two.

Newport Beachside Hotel & Resort

Attention to all you bride's and groom's looking for a beachside wedding venue, Newport Beachside Hotel & Resort may be the perfect spot for your wedding.  Breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean, personalized service and an award-winning Miami restaurant Kitchen 305 has made Newport Beachside Hotel & Resort the quintessential destination for Miami beachfront weddings and social events. From an intimate gathering to a celebration for 500, a formal affair in a grand ballroom to a casual beachside occasion, Newport Beachside Hotel & Resort offers creative and comprehensive solutions for all budgets and styles.

Vera Wang Fall 2009 Trunk Show

Attention South Florida! Vera Wang Fall 2009 Bridal Couture will be in South Florida this weekend only, February 26-28, 2009 at EVER AFTER. See the fabulous gowns featuring unique colorings and Swarovski embroideries.

Dee Santoli from Vera Wang Corporate will be at the store helping brides select the perfect look for their day. Each bride will work with her own EVER AFTER stylist and enjoy champagne while trying on fabulous gowns.  By appointment only. Please call (305) 444-7300 to reserve your spot today or register online.

SPECIAL OFFER: 10% off! Each bride will receive a 10% discount on her bridal gown, as well as special discounts on accessories and veils! 

Current Music: K'NAAN

Dick Clark said it and I couldn't agree more: music is the soundtrack to our lives. I am always listening for new and interesting music. My music library is literally filled with every single genre of music known to man. It certainly is a crucial element for all special events. Currently, my music radar has zoomed in on K'NANN. Born in Mogadishu, Somalia, critics have said K'naan has "a sound that fuses Bob Marley, conscious American hip hop, and brilliant protest poetry." His voice and style have been compared to Eminem, but his subject matter is very different; according to K'naan, he makes "urgent music with a message", talking about the situation in his homeland of Somalia and calling for an end to violence and bloodshed. Check out Wavin' Flag and If Rap Get Jealous!

Photo Courtesy of Myspace

Article Courtesy of Wikipedia

Real Events: Academy Award Parties

Special Events posted a recap of the Academy Awards parties in Los Angeles, which hit this week. I would love to receive an invite to either of these events. Event pros behind the Oscar bashes are reporting a healthy year. The longtime team of Sequoia Productions and Wolfgang Puck Catering, both based in Los Angeles, treated guests to a Zen mood and a rich array of food at the annual Governors Ball, which followed the Oscar ceremony at the Kodak Theatre. The menu included tray-passed hors d'oeuvre, sushi and seafood stations, and a served dinner of Asian salad with lobster, short ribs and pumpkin coconut soup with shrimp.

Another Oscar stalwart--Sir Elton John's Oscar-viewing party/AIDS fundraiser--held sway at West Hollywood's Pacific Design Center. In a dramatic tented environment developed by New York designer Antony Todd, West Hollywood-based Crumble Catering offered a menu of risotto flavored with Marsala, sauteed beef filet with spinach, pine nuts and potatoes with truffle sauce, pan-roasted sea bass, and warm chocolate tartlets with raspberries, bitter orange and Grand Mariner sauce.

Photos & Article Courtesy of Special Events