Throwing an at home New Years Eve Party? Then view this fabulous post on how to do it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMToVuBY0GU

Nice to be quoted in Houston Chronicle for story on the state of event planning and the economy http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/biz/6740912.html

Proud to announce that Elias Events has been nominated for a very prestigious Gala Award, the Academy Award of the Special Events industry BEST EVENT PRODUCED FOR A CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION: OVERALL BUDGET UNDER $100,000 Elias Events, Houston, Texas "Fashionably Social" http://specialevents.com/news/gala-award-nominees-2009-announced-by-Special-Events-Magazine-11-2009/

Always love to be a part of articles in Weddings in Houston. This article is about cultural traditions. http://www.weddingsinhouston.com/article.asp?article_id=195

Attended the grand opening of Ricks Bridal Couture. Fabulous new bridal salon with designs by Shawn Kingsley - up and coming designer. He is going places and I can't wait to send brides there. www.onedueykingsley.com

Excited to be teaching two classes at Special Event in New Orleans. Who's afraid of the big, bad economy? Forming alliances between non-profits and their vendors. Co-Presenter is Mia Monroe. Thursday, January 14 at 3:30pm. Brand Conscious or Unconscious? Effective solutions to waking the sleeping giant. Co-Presenter is Jennifer Schaefer. Tuesday, January 12 at 8:00am

Got a great opportunity to work with Eileen with Instore Magazine to give some ideas fun party ideas for Jewelry stores. Some included draping models with nothing but fantastic jewelry and body paint for a great effect and using jewelry in centerpieces and napkin holders http://www.instoremag.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2943&Itemid=152

Was very proud to co-chair the 2009 Crystal Icon Awards. A fun evening honoring the best of houston's special event industry. Congratulations to Danny Ward and Nancy Ames for being awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award. Thank you to all the contributors to the event including Aztec Party and Tents for the Clear and Gold Chivari Chairs and Gold Chargers Linen House for Gorgeous Dinner Table Linens Darryl and Co for Beautiful Centerpieces Elegant Linens for Award Cocktail Table Linens Stage Directions for the Sound, Lighting and Video Production Fashionable Events for Pipe and Drape, Innovative Staging and Kabuki Drop Hilton Americas-Houston for Venue and Delicious Moroccan Menu J and D Entertainment for Award Entertainment including unique Ball dance ShowBiz Entertainment for Belly Dancer and Stunning Whirling Dervish Prop Rock for Clean White Furniture and Fabulous Moroccan Style Furniture Catch the Moment for Fun Green Screen Photography Genesis Photographers for Just as Fun Photo Booth FHP Entertainment for Great DJ Music Simply Jubilee for Co-Chairing All of the ISES Board and event committe members Follow the link for picture of the event! http://genesisphotographers.smugmug.com/ISES/2009-Crystal-Icon-Awar/9394328_pcpKq#629220741_4XgcR

This couple sure knew how to celebrate their wedding. i bet the reception was just as fun. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-94JhLEiN0

Excited to be speaking on two topics near and dear to my heart at The Special Event in New Orleans Jan 2010: Non Profit Events and Marketing. Hope to see everyone there.

The Party Girl Segment on Wild About Houston hosted by yours truly and the lovely Lara Bell is now online. Please follow the link for fun picnic ideas for a July 4th picnic. Thanks to Makers Mark for great product and a refreshing drink called Kentucy Lemonade. http://www.houstons55.com/wild-about-houston/

Getting very excited about the Crystal Icon Awards presented by ISES Houston. I am co-chairing the event with Heather Hamilton-Sim from Simply Jubilee Events. With a Modern Moraccan theme, the event this year will be at the Hilton Americas on Sunday, August 23rd. Call for entries are due on July 17th, please visit www.crystaliconawards.com to download the file. This year we are going green, so entries will be due online. This is your chance to strut your stuff, and set yourself and your company apart. There are categories in all the event disciplines, including a new one on Green Initataive.s

I really love the article in this months Event Solutions magazine about keeping america meeting. It echos what i have been saying for a while. We definitely need to band together and petition both houses to support this $50 Billion dollar industry http://www.event-solutions.com/breaking_news/keep_america_meeting_challenge_leverage_social_media_to_prove_events_value

So last night i needed to let my hair down after a rough week and just have some fun. And have fun i did. I went to Sammi's on Main Street to see the Spazmatics perform. They are an 80's tribute band and so much more. With their nerdy 80's inspired outfits and their choreographed dances, they really put on am amazing show. I know they will be great for private events such as weddings but I also think some of my corporate clients would love them as well. Kudos, guys are a really great idea for a band and thanks for a great time. See you guys next week. http://www.thespazmatics.net/

Sunday morning, i was watching the CBS Morning show and one of my favorite commentators Ben Stein was on talking about the topic of getting back to having meetings, a followup to this article http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/22/business/22every.html. If the Obamas can take an unnecessary trip to NY for "date night" and spend hundreds of thousands of our dollars to do so, i think he should say to the american public it is okay to have meetings again. Let's get back to the business of business.

Thank you to Jan Cancila from the Linen House and editor of Examiner.com's bridal section for this great article on me and my company. Please take a look http://www.examiner.com/x-11875-Houston-Bridal-Scene-Examiner

Our final day of touring the island started with St. James Parish Church, a truly idyllic location for a ceremony and also part of the National Trust Heritage sites. Then off to a tour of the lovely Fisherpond Great House. The unique location is nestled amoungst the sugarcane fields and is truly magnificent sitting in the thick of the tall blades. It is a special place and Rain Chandler who lives there with her husband John Chandler - the Preston Bailey of Barbados, has taken great care of the property. She told delightful stories of guest, which have included both Prince Harry and William and Helen Mirren. We didn't stay for lunch but i hope in future travels i will get to partake in her famed Sunday brunch. The grounds here are so lush and filled with every tropical flower you can think of. I think my most favorite location and last stop on the trip was to the Synagogue, which sits dead center in the heart of downtown and is probably the most unexpected gem of a site. It dates back to the 17th century and is one of the oldest synagogues in the Western Hemisphere. Lunch again was delightful and scenic as we overlooked the ocean at Champers. Here is where i couldn't resist a piece of Bajan art as i purchased a small colorful painting from a local artist named Vinca. This was a wonderful tour and i have to say it is an ideal location for an island wedding with so much culture, famed restaurants and unique venues. i look forward to opportunities to bring clients here. i know they will love it too!!!

Very much enjoyed attending the American Marketing Association Crystal awards celebrating the best in Houston's Marketing Industry. Congrats to J and D Entertainment for doing such a great job on the Entertainment. Loved the display boards and will have to use the same concept for ISES' Crystal Icon awards on August 23rd at the Hilton Americas. Call for entries are out. www.iseshouston.org

Day two on our trip to Barbados started with a drive the the atlantic side of the island. We meet with several planners and officials from the goverment at the Crane Resport to talk about the inn and outs of ceremonies in Barbados. The briefing was very informative. If we were wondering whether or not we could get a selection of linens and decor, all our concerns were laid to rest when in the room we found a sample setup for a reception. it was beautiful and very appreciated. The Tour of the Crane was very inspiring and breathtaking. The color of the ocean here was like nothing i have ever seen. there are a number of perfect locations for a wedding ceremony on the property. they also have a brand new ballroom that is perfect for an indoor reception. The drive to Huntes Gardens took us by Harrismith Beach and an abandoned house that sits on a cliff. the entrepreneur in me is thinking about getting investors together to buy it and turn it into a spectacular venue. Lunch at Huntes Gardens was a special treat. The place is relatively new but looks like it has been there for years. Mr. Hunt, who is quite a character has taken special care in putting togehter the gardens, which were lush and beautiful. A rehearsal dinner for 12 would be ideal in this little piece of heaven on earth. And finally we toured the St. Nicholas Abbey, which is another fabulous location for a wedding or rehearsal dinner. The distillery is rather unique and you can have custom rum bottles made. the rum pepper, which is a spice was so good, i had to buy a bottle. Larry the new owner and architect has restored it very well. he said it isn't haunted but other members of my group think otherwise. But the mysterious chiming of the clock, not on the hour or half hour, let us to think otherwise. The day ended with another delightful dinner at the Tides Restaraunt and Gallery. I have the say the food the whole time has been extremely good. And the gallery helped fuel my new love of Bajan artists. I knew that before the trip is over i would be buying a piece -stayed tuned to the next blog to learn more.

Congratulations to Shawn Kingsley on the launch of his new clothing line One Duey Kingsley. At a first story loft style space on Louisisana on Friday night, Shawn showed of his new line. It is a very sexy, vibrant line. My favorite piece was the fabulous wedding gown - very Jackie O!!

On the first day of the FAM trip after our lovely breakfast and tour at Sandy Lane, we visited Cobblers Cove another great spot for weddings and the two private suites were beatiful with their private pools. Then onto The Great House, which was still abuzz from the wedding a member of the boy band Westlife (i have no idea who they are but apparently the papparazi and OK magazine were all there). This house was really fab and where I discovered the term - Chattelhouse - which means house that can be moved. After that visited several vacation homes all in the Altman Villas collection, each one more amazing than the next. Then onto lunch with at Lonestar with Corrie Scott a native Bajan (not Baban or Barbadian and no one can tell me why Bajan) who really was quite a delight. She knew so much about the island and the artlife, which is quite abundant. Then off to several Elegant Hotel properties including Tamarand Cove. Cocktails this evening was hosted by The Cliff Restaurant, which i have to say is probably one of the most breathtaking places i have ever been to. Many kudos to the owner who clearly has poured his heart and soul into the restaurant and alot of imagination. The fire torches coming off the side of the cliff were stunning and the effect produced a glow well into the ocean. look at the video. Before dinner at Daphnes, we toured with Andrew the general manager, the House, which is another special space for weddings on the beach and then had a scrumptous meal. Favorite part of this dinner was the Watermelon Martinis and socializing with local wedding planners and decorators.

Had a great tour of Crave Cupcakes with Brad. They are building a great market for weddings and events. Your guests will love them YUMMY. http://www.cravecupcakes.com/contact.html

Thank you to the Barbados Tourism Authority for hosting the VIP Wedding Planner Trip. Over the next couple days I will be blogging quite a bit about the locations, restaurants and people that I visited with. The first picture is from the front of the Only 5 Star Diamond Resort on the Island called Sandy Lane, which was also where Tiger Woods got married. This is an unbelievable piece of heaven on earth. Cecily who is the Catering Manager hosted the loveliest and scrumptous opening buffet breakfast for the group. Still dreaming about the fish and the smoothies.

Debbie Elias of Elias Events is set to appear on The Oprah Show tomorrow via SKYPE technology. Although not directly related to Wedding Planning, it will be fun to be on the show. More on when it airs.