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!!