Fun Friday Find: "Pumpkin Pie Shot!"

I'm not a fan of Pumpkin anything but during this Thanksgiving weekend I had an opportunity to get a little taste of pumpkin pie, without having to actually eat any…I got to drink it!

Considering I'm the family bartender I believe this is an excellent Holiday Shot that can be brought out from now until Christmas…or all winter!

Ingredients:
2 Parts – Pinnacle Pumpkin Pie Vodka
1 Part – RumChata

Add ingredients to cocktail shaker, add ice, shake, and strain into shot glasses…how easy is that!

Enjoy!
Sharon Patrice Simply Perfect Peace Events, Inc. and Designs by Shay, the Blog "My Journey, My Way, My LIFESTYLE ~ Celebrating Love, Laughter and Everything in Between..." You or your brand interested in a review? Getting married or having a social event and need assistance? Email Me For All Your Event Planning Needs.

Tasty Tuesday: "Sweet Potato Cheesecake!"

Every year for the holiday I like to find something different to introduce to the family.  Last year we busted out some caramel cheesecake bites and this year we're going to attempt sweet potato ones.  Since I can remember, my family has always had sweet potato's for Thanksgiving in the form of pies and a soufflé.  When my grandmother from Georgia passed away she handed to sweet potato baton to my younger sister who generally cooks very traditional meals. 

These little golden nuggets of fantastic-ness can't be described any other way.  The sweet potato flavor balances the sharp cream cheese flavors nicely and the hint of cinnamon gives a warmth that is perfect for cold weather. After a big holiday meal, it is always good to have something sweet, but I don't want a huge piece after I've already stuffed myself into silliness  on dinner. These bites are great because people can have as much or as little as they want. Also, no slicing. You could make them in normal sized cupcake tins instead of mini muffin tins - just add more time in the oven. Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups ginger snaps
• 1 stick butter, melted
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 medium sweet potatoes
• 2 (8 oz.) packages cream cheese
• 2/3 c. sugar
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• 2 eggs

Directions

• In food processor combine crushed wafers and butter.
• Press 1 tsp. of the mixture firmly into very well greased mini muffin tins and chill for 1 hour.
• Cover each sweet potato with foil and roast in the oven at 350 for an hour, until the inside is very tender.
• Puree cooked sweet potatoes in the food processor until smooth.
• Whip cream cheese, sugar, and cinnamon together until fluffy.
• Beat in eggs just until combined.
• Stir in pureed sweet potatoes and sour cream.
• Scoop smooth, cream cheese mixture into the mini muffin cups. They won't really rise or fall so you can just fill the cups to the top.
•  Bake the cheesecakes in a 350 degree oven for 20-30 minutes until cheesecake is just set.
• Cool in pan on wire rack and allow to cool completely in the fridge (20-30 minutes) until you try to remove them from the muffin pan.

Keep covered in plastic wrap in the fridge until you are ready to serve them!

Sharon Patrice Simply Perfect Peace Events, Inc. and Designs by Shay, the Blog "My Journey, My Way, My LIFESTYLE ~ Celebrating Love, Laughter and Everything in Between..." You or your brand interested in a review? Getting married or having a social event and need assistance? Email Me For All Your Event Planning Needs.

Monday Motivation: 1st 5k!

Challenge accepted and achieved! On Sunday, November 3, 2013, my sister and friend, Sandra Dillard Howse and I conquered our first 5k. Having trained we were confident in our physical ability to make it through but I still struggled mentally. Some words of encouragement from family and prayers eased my mind the night before as well as a good meal.


Husband put together a huge pot of his spaghetti along with a salad and some garlic bread.  I ate like a queen.

Bright and early my alarm went off and I was excited as a puppy getting to go outside! Sandra and I agreed to meet near the starting point and all was a go until I ran into traffic on the Dan Ryan.  Who works on the roads on race day?  CHICAGO does!! 

Anywho, we shall not be defeated.  I kept trying until I finally made my way to the race area and there were a gazillion people down there.  Once we were finally in place and they called out our "wave".. we were actually RUNNING!  As mile 1.5 I felt as if I was really doing something.  I had gotten over the initial mind battle and was ready to finish what I'd started. 

What a rewarding experience running the Hot Chocolate 5k was!  I look forward to many more adventures with my sisters and friends as I journey on this road to 50!


 "Live Life Out Loud, On Purpose and With No Regrets"
Sharon Patrice Simply Perfect Peace Events, Inc. and Designs by Shay, the Blog "My Journey, My Way, My LIFESTYLE ~ Celebrating Love, Laughter and Everything in Between..." You or your brand interested in a review? Getting married or having a social event and need assistance? Email Me For All Your Event Planning Needs.

Monday Motivation: "The Time is Now"

This Sunday (November 3rd) I will be downtown with my sister/friend participating in my very first 5k!  Sandra Dillard Howse (owner of Healthy Howse) and I have been motivating and inspiring each other for over 20 years and I still can't believe it is time to actually run.  My emotions vary from nervous to scared to excited. I even found myself crying during one of my runs this week because I was so burnt out but yet couldn't stop.

The training has been interesting and challenging to say the least. It's funny, because as I moved through training I had to remind myself that, "it's just a 3 mile run and I've done this before."  It's been 14 years since I've ran 3 miles with a purpose.  I'm not necessarily looking at time for the time is NOW, I'm simply looking to finish!

This week I am focusing on lots of fluid intake by attempting to consume 64oz of water. Dehydration is the number one hindrance for athletes and runners.

 Each day I am attempting to consume 64 ounces of water. On race day Turner recommends:

Sharon Patrice Simply Perfect Peace Events, Inc. and Designs by Shay, the Blog "My Journey, My Way, My LIFESTYLE ~ Celebrating Love, Laughter and Everything in Between..." You or your brand interested in a review? Getting married or having a social event and need assistance? Email Me For All Your Event Planning Needs.

Monday Motivation: "No More Excuses"

When I initially took on the quest of training for the 5k I found every excuse NOT to run. 

-Rain! 

-Kianna has cheer, Brittny has work, the dog has a UTI 

-Physically and mentally exhausted from work (Full time supervisory job + duelPRENEUR  + 5K training + blogging + social activities = a lot!) 

 

After a good long weekend and time off due to a slight injury, you would think I was rested and raring to go, but that wasn’t the case. I was still spitting out excuses in my head as to why I couldn’t run until I realized I'd only ran a whopping 4 miles ALL week.... Yep, that’s it, just 4! I was devastated....

 

First priority: Time management! 

 

•Map out all of my assignments and due dates as it pertains to work and family life.

•Attempt to be a morning person!

 

Strategies:

•Do laundry in the evening

•Have running clothes out and essentials by the front door (heart rate monitor/ear phones). 

•DO NOT hit snooze at 5:30am 

•Take my daughter to school and run the track after she is dropped off.

 

I can do this - so can you! 

Sharon Patrice Simply Perfect Peace Events, Inc. and Designs by Shay, the Blog "My Journey, My Way, My LIFESTYLE ~ Celebrating Love, Laughter and Everything in Between..." You or your brand interested in a review? Getting married or having a social event and need assistance? Email Me For All Your Event Planning Needs.

Fun Friday Find: "RumChata Cupcakes"

½	cup butter (1 stick, at room temperature)
1½	cups sugar
2	cups flour
2	tsp baking powder
½	teaspoon salt
1	cup RumChata
1	tsp vanilla extract
1	tsp cinnamon
4	egg whites
	RumChata Cream Cheese Frosting
12	ounces of cream cheese (1½ packages, at room temperature)
½	cup of butter (1 stick, at room temperature)
½	tsp of vanilla
5	tbsp of RumChata
1	package of confectioners’ sugar (2 lb. bag)

 

Cupcake Directions

•Preheat oven to 350*
•Combine sugar & butter and beat until fluffy
•Mix together flour, baking powder, salt & cinnamon, set aside
•Mix the RumChata & vanilla together, set aside
•Alternating, add in the flour mixture and RumChata mixture in to the butter and sugar. Start and end with the flour mixture.
•In a clean mixing bowl, beat egg whites until soft peaks form (this will be easiest in an electric mixer)
•Fold egg whites in to the batter – do not do this in an electric mixer, use a spatula
•Fill cupcake liners
•Bake for 20 minutes

Frosting Directions
•Combine butter and cream cheese until smooth
•Add vanilla •Slowly add confectioners’ sugar
•Mix in RumChata (use more or less based on the thickness of the frosting.)
•Frost the cupcakes

 Yummy!!!!

Sharon Patrice Simply Perfect Peace Events, Inc. and Designs by Shay, the Blog "My Journey, My Way, My LIFESTYLE ~ Celebrating Love, Laughter and Everything in Between..." You or your brand interested in a review? Getting married or having a social event and need assistance? Email Me For All Your Event Planning Needs.

WEDnesday Love: "Getting Trim for the Wedding"



Congratulations on your engagement and upcoming wedding!!! Now that you've shared the good news with your loved ones, it's time to get serious about trimming off those unwanted pounds. As is planning a wedding isn't enough, now you have to focus on your diet.  There is good news, with just a few simple adjustments you can be on your way to a slimmer, healthier bride!

 

Fad diets?! Forget about those ideas that make you drink nasty shakes and deprive you of your favorite foods.  A misconception is that you have to starve to lose when it's quite the contrary.  We must eat in order to lose weight. Our bodies need nutrients from food in order to burn the calories. If you deny your body that energy it slows down your metabolism causing a halt in weight lose. A healthy weight loss is 1-2 lbs. per week. Keep in mind that a pound of fat is equal to ~3500 calories. Therefore, by cutting 500 calories a day through meal and exercise modification, you will shed a pound a week. 

1. Don't put yourself in a calorie deficit! Talk about a bridzilla?! Maybe this is why brides are always crazy, because they are hungry! I know your first instinct when trying to lose weight is to cut, but try focusing on adding nutrient-rich foods. Many formulas exist to estimate calorie needs and some can get overwhelming. If you desire to lose weight remember, subtract 100-500 calories, depending on your goal.
2. Eat a protein rich breakfast! Consistent research has shown that people who eat breakfast tend to weigh less. Protein takes longer to digest in the body keeping you satisfied until your next meal.
3. Eat fresh produce and focus on fiber! Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are packed with fiber. The average American gets around 12 grams per day, while the current recommendations suggest we need 25 to 30 grams of fiber per day. Start reading the nutrition fact labels to make sure your cereals, breads and pastas contain greater then 5 grams of fiber per serving. Warning: if you do not have a diet rich in fiber you need to make sure you are consuming ample amounts of water. 
4. Limit dairy products to help reduce bloating. Certain individuals may experience sensitivity to dairy products because they cannot digest lactose or milk sugar.
5. Avoid excessive sodium (salt). Sodium holds on to fluid in the body increasing bloating and "water weight." Majority of the salt in out diet comes from processed foods the main one being breads.
   Main food items to limit:
1. Prepackaged meals (lean cuisine, smart ones, family dinners, etc.)
2. Deli meats.
3. Salty snacks.
4. Sodas. Even limit your diet sodas!
5. Breads. Do not completely cut out breads. You can get wonderful whole grains with breads, just limit the portion and buy reduced sodium.
6. Keep a food journal. Starting as soon as you begin planning. Write down what you eat, how much you eat, and how you feel both physically and mentally. You may be able to identify foods certain foods that cause gastrointestinal upset (bloating, gas, constipation, and diarrhea). 
7. Set small, achievable goals. See Motivation Monday for more detail on goals! 

Weeks leading up to your wedding make a conscious effort to carry around a water bottle to keep yourself hydrated and energized. I cannot stress enough the importance of hydration. Not only does it help reduce bloating and increase energy but it helps keep your skin glowing.

Sharon Patrice Simply Perfect Peace Events, Inc. and Designs by Shay, the Blog "My Journey, My Way, My LIFESTYLE ~ Celebrating Love, Laughter and Everything in Between..." You or your brand interested in a review? Getting married or having a social event and need assistance? Email Me For All Your Event Planning Needs.

Motivational Monday: My Running List via Pandora

I've been hitting my goal with 20k steps per day but I have to admit that nothing gets me moving more then some awesome sounds! No matter your exercise choice music can hinder your mood or help it. This is my motivation to run longer and to work at getting my pace down.  Do you have any favorite songs that is getting you movin' this week? Happy Monday!

Gospel
Israel & New Breed
Marvin Sapp
Maurette Brown Clark
Phil Tarver
Shekinah Glory Ministries

R&B
Bobby Womack
Beyoncé
Charlie Wilson
Chrisette Michele


Sharon Patrice Simply Perfect Peace Events, Inc. and Designs by Shay, the Blog "My Journey, My Way, My LIFESTYLE ~ Celebrating Love, Laughter and Everything in Between..." You or your brand interested in a review? Getting married or having a social event and need assistance? Email Me For All Your Event Planning Needs.

Fun Friday Find: "Mint ChocoChata Martini"

Planning a party or event and looking for some variety?  A dessert cocktail can be quite tempting if it's made with the right balance.  RumChata, that I wrote about during October is excellent in a variety of cocktails and won the 2013 About.com Readers' Choice Awards for Best Liqueur.

This stunning green cocktail is quite simple, made of RumChata, your favorite chocolate vodka, and green creme de menthe. By using a vodka for the chocolate flavoring it breaks up the creaminess that is often too overbearing in many similar chocolate-mint-cream drinks you will find.

Ingredients

2 parts RumChata Cream Liqueur

1 part chocolate vodka

1/2 part green creme de menthe 

 

Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice.

Shake well.

Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

As simple as 1.2.3..... enjoy!

Sharon Patrice Simply Perfect Peace Events, Inc. and Designs by Shay, the Blog "My Journey, My Way, My LIFESTYLE ~ Celebrating Love, Laughter and Everything in Between..." You or your brand interested in a review? Getting married or having a social event and need assistance? Email Me For All Your Event Planning Needs.

Motivational Monday: Motivating Yourself!

The process that initiates, guides and maintains goal-oriented behaviors is how Motivation is defined.  Motivation can be found in various places and amongst different people and circumstances.  Most recently, my motivation has come from deep within.  Research actually shows that you can influence your own level of motivation. Self motivating is essential to long-term success. Each week I am motivated to keep running because of the progress I have made thus far in my health, fitness and 5k training.  Each week I want to push harder to make new personal records. At the beginning of each week I set new goals to help fuel and motivate me. Without setting small goals our long term goal may suffer.

Goal is defined as the end toward which effort is directed. Goals must be SMART: specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound. Without my goals I have no sense of progress; nothing to hold me accountable to or to be proud of.  

 

S.M.A.R.T goals can help improve chances of achievement. 

 

S- Be specific when you write your goals. This answers the Who, What, Where, When, and Why.

A general goal would be: Be Fit and Run a 5k. A specific goal would be: Complete 100,000 steps a week, buy a pair of running shoes and run a minimum of 3 days a week.

M- Make sure it is measurable. I am measuring my goal of running by logging my training into the My Fitness and Nike App app. It has all of my criteria from each run (mileage, pace, calories, etc.).

A- Is your goal attainable? Once you pin point the specifics ask yourself, can anything get in the way of my progress?

R- Most importantly, is your goal realistic? Are you willing and able to perform the task at hand? An unrealistic goal for me would be to run a 5k next week. This is neither physically nor mentally possible. Do not set yourself up for failure.

T- Lastly, time-frame. You must have a time frame so that you can map out a game plan. When I started training for my 5k I knew how much time I had in weeks and I found a training schedule that met this time line. If you do not have a time frame there is no sense of  progress or completion. Therefore, you are more than likely going to keep putting it off.

 

 

November 3, 2013 I will be completing my very 1st 5k!!!! - Self Motivation Rocks :)

Sharon Patrice Simply Perfect Peace Events, Inc. and Designs by Shay, the Blog "My Journey, My Way, My LIFESTYLE ~ Celebrating Love, Laughter and Everything in Between..." You or your brand interested in a review? Getting married or having a social event and need assistance? Email Me For All Your Event Planning Needs.

"Fun Friday Find: Red Velvet Cheesecake"

 Ingredients

CHEESECAKE:
Two (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, at room temperature
2/3 cup granulated white sugar
pinch of salt
2 large eggs
1/3 cup sour cream
1/3 cup heavy whipping cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

RED VELVET CAKE:
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 cups granulated white sugar
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder (not Dutch process)
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups vegetable or canola oil
1 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup (two 1-ounce bottles) red food coloring
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 teaspoons white vinegar

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted lightly to remove any lumps
Two (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, at room temperature
1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. Prepare the cheesecake layer: Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Place a large roasting pan on the lower third rack of the oven. Place a kettle of water on the stove to boil. Spray a 9-inch spring form pan with nonstick spray and line the bottom with a round of parchment paper. Wrap a double layer of foil around the bottom and up the sides of the pan (you want to seal it so the water from the water bath doesn’t seep into the pan). In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to mix the cream cheese- blend until it is nice and smooth and creamy.


Mix in sugar and salt and blend for 2 minutes, scraping down sides of the bowl as needed. Add eggs, one at a time, blending after each addition. Finally, mix in sour cream, whipping cream and vanilla. Mix until smooth. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Set the pan into the roasting pan in the pre-heated oven. Carefully pour the hot water from your kettle into the roasting pan (it will fill the pan surrounding the cheesecake). Pour enough water so that there is about an inch of water coming up the foil along the sides of the cheesecake pan. Bake the cheesecake for 45 minutes. It should be set to the touch and not jiggly. Remove the cheesecake from the roasting pan and let it cool on a wire rack for at least an hour. When it has cooled, place the pan into the freezer and let the cheesecake freeze completely. This can be done in several hours- or overnight.

2. Prepare the cake layers: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round metal baking pans (or spray with nonstick baking spray with flour). In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt. Add eggs, oil, buttermilk, food coloring, vanilla and vinegar to the flour mixture. Using an electric mixer on medium-low speed, beat for 1 minute, until blended. Scrape sides and bottom of bowl with a rubber spatula. Beat on high speed for 2 minutes. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pans, dividing equally. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs attached. Let cool in pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Run a knife around the edge of the pans, then invert cakes onto a rack to cool completely.

3. Prepare the frosting: In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat powdered sugar, cream cheese, butter and vanilla until it is smooth and creamy (do not overbeat).

4. Assemble the cake: Place one cake layer into the center of a cake plate or platter. Remove the cheesecake from the freezer, take off the sides of the pan, and slide a knife under the parchment to remove the cheesecake from the pan. Peel off the parchment. Measure your cheesecake layer against the cake layers. If the cheesecake layer turns out to be a slightly larger round than your cake, move it to a cutting board and gently shave off some of the exterior of the cheesecake to get it to the same size as your cake layers. Place the cheesecake layer on top of the first cake layer. Place the 2nd cake layer on top of the cheesecake.

5. Frost the cake: Apply a crumb coat layer to the cake- use a long, thin spatula to cover the cake completely with a thin and even layer of frosting. Be sure to wipe off your spatula each time you are about to dip it back into the bowl to get more frosting (this way you won’t be transferring any red crumbs into the bowl of frosting). Don’t worry at this point about the crumbs being visible in the frosting on the cake. When your cake has a thin layer of frosting all over it, place it into the refrigerator for 30 minutes to “set” the frosting. Once the first layer of frosting is set, apply the 2nd layer. Start by adding a large scoop of frosting onto the top of the cake. Use a long, thin spatula to spread the frosting evenly across the top and then spread it down the sides of the cake too. Because you applied a crumb-coat layer, you shouldn’t have any red crumbs floating around in the final frosting layer.
Decorate, as desired. Keep this cake refrigerated.

Sharon Patrice Simply Perfect Peace Events, Inc. and Designs by Shay, the Blog "My Journey, My Way, My LIFESTYLE ~ Celebrating Love, Laughter and Everything in Between..." You or your brand interested in a review? Getting married or having a social event and need assistance? Email Me For All Your Event Planning Needs.

Fun Friday Find: "Salted Carmel Martini"

We're into Fall; who is ready?  After your first sip of RumChata you'll wonder where it's been all of your life. It's that delicious.  A rum-based cream liqueur made with Wisconsin dairy cream and flavored with cinnamon, vanilla, sugar, and other proprietary natural and artificial flavors. Welcome to the World of RumChata!!

THE SALTED CARAMEL MARTINI
2 parts RumChata
1 part caramel vodka...
sea salt/table salt (do not use margarita salt)

Rim Martini glass with salt (use water, NOT lime juice). Shake ingredients with ice and strain into salted martini glass. 

Optional: Drizzle a teaspoon of caramel sauce into bottom of glass. (carmel is yumLICIOUS so not so optional)

(source:  Rumchata)
Enjoy!


Sharon Patrice Simply Perfect Peace Events, Inc. and Designs by Shay, the Blog "My Journey, My Way, My LIFESTYLE ~ Celebrating Love, Laughter and Everything in Between..." You or your brand interested in a review? Getting married or having a social event and need assistance? Email Me For All Your Event Planning Needs.

Dear Bridesmaid: "Get Over Yourself"

I happen to be a fan of Nene and Gregg Leakes and have been enjoying "I Dream of Nene.  Fifteen years of marriage certainly deserves a 15ct ring ...right?!  Last nights episode was one for the record books. From Donald Trump and the pre-nup to the battle of the blended family; I loved it all! 

 

What an honor it is to have your closest friends and most cherished relatives be apart of your wedding party.  When Gregg met with his groomsmen, the fellas kicked back, shared a few stories,  enjoyed good food and showed an enormous amount of support for their boy and his soon to be again bride. 

 

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Nene met with THREE of her NINE bridesmaids and what a mess that was.  For some reason Marlo and long time friend Diane felt the need to try and make it about them.  During what was suppose to be time of support these two BridesmaidZILLA's were going back and forth over who was an opportunist, who was genuine .. blah blah blah.  Finally, Cynthia had to jump in with an attempt to bring the two girls back to what the main purpose of being together was... NENE!

As a professional planner, I see this type of behavior all the time from the bridal party.  While the groomsmen are like "man whatever you need"... the ladies might say that with their mouths but their actions are completely different.

As bridesmaids, they'll throw a shower, plan a bachelorette bash and attend other pre-wedding events, which means spending a good deal of time with them. But as we've seen with Nene and plenty of our friends, weddings have a way of bringing out the best and worst in people.

So what do you do about the attendant who's out to steal your spotlight? Or the one who complains all the time? Today, let's talk about one in particular and going forward through the month of October we'll hit on a few more.

I am a DIVA - hear me roar!
Just like Diane and Marlo, this bridesmaid manages to (or at least tries to) make your wedding all about her. This over-opinionated buddy believes the bridal party has to be made up of people that she thinks are worthy.

Watch out: The Diva is trying to steal your thunder! A bride of mine (which will remain nameless) had a dear friend that insisted on being the center of attention.  She wanted to be overly involved in all of the planning for every key event that was going on.  Towards the end of the planning process she became almost a distraction.  If the bride had a headache, this bridesmaidZILLA had a migraine AND a stomach ache.  She complained about the dress because  it didn't compliment her shape, it was too expensive, the color didn't go well with her skin tone, and the list went on.  Mind you, all of this was after being involved in the selection process and agreeing to the dress.  If all of this wasn't enough, she dropped out of the wedding two weeks prior because "she had problems"...smh

Why Why Why?: There are a few reasons a bridesmaid might try to steal the show.  If she's not married, it's possible that she's jealous, especially if she's older than the bride.  She might simply be an attention seeker and envious of all the attention the bride is getting.  Lastly, and most common... she is losing a friend and doesn't know how to handle that.

What To Do?: Communicate - talk...have a heart-to-heart. This is what I suggested to my bride; if for no other reason than to clear her conscious of thinking she's done something to bring on this behavior. 

If you've agreed to participate - be supportive of your friend.  Wedding planning is stressful enough without having to monitor and counsel you.

"Love Without End"
Sharon Patrice Simply Perfect Peace Events, Inc. and Designs by Shay, the Blog "My Journey, My Way, My LIFESTYLE ~ Celebrating Love, Laughter and Everything in Between..." You or your brand interested in a review? Getting married or having a social event and need assistance? Email Me For All Your Event Planning Needs.

WEDnesday Love: "Event Planning Tips - Part IV"

Strategies, Goals, Budgets, W's, (who, when, where)  Invitations....and everything in between.  What is there left to do?

The Walk Through
Visit the venue the day(s) before your event. Envision a few things.

• How you want attendees to experience the event.
• Which of their senses will be heightened?  I prefer to focus on all of them!
• What signs need to be in place to avoid confusion?
• Where should you station staff?

Basically, you want to understand what your guests will see from the time they walk into the venue from the registration table to the actual event. Touch matters! Sight Matters, Taste Matters. Hearing Matters.  Smell Matters.

The only way to anticipate how your event will feel is to walk through and see and feel what they'll see and feel.

After all of the hard work - be sure to ENJOY!!!

Sharon Patrice Simply Perfect Peace Events, Inc. and Designs by Shay, the Blog "My Journey, My Way, My LIFESTYLE ~ Celebrating Love, Laughter and Everything in Between..." You or your brand interested in a review? Getting married or having a social event and need assistance? Email Me For All Your Event Planning Needs.

Tasty Tuesday: (GUEST POST) - Oriental Salad

This is a guest post by my fabulous foodie friend and co-mom Joyce Cunningham of Pthirty1.  A thirty-something, happily married, entrepreneur, blogger , accountant and working mother of 6 beautiful children (ages 10 months to 21 years). Her passions are faith, family, food, fashion, flying and fun – all with a touch of frugality. As a self-certified foodie, she loves to cook, explore new restaurants, cuisines, cooking styles, cookbooks, recipes, etc.  Additionally, an avid DIYer that loves to sew, craft, build, fix and create at home, for the home, family, friends and anything or anyone in need.

 

When trying to figure out different dishes for family fun or upcoming events its easy to draw a blank.  Be sure to try this one, I guarantee you, your family and friends will enjoy it. *Toodles*

 

~

 

I always promote how much of a foodie I am and that I’ll eat just about anything at least once, but I have a secret to tell you. There are certain foods I just absolutely hate…despise even!  Cole slaw is one of them. I don’t know what happened in my childhood that scarred me from eating cole slaw for life, but I simply won’t touch the stuff. I’ve never attempted to make it myself and I always skip it if it’s offered elsewhere.

 

The problem with my distaste for cole slaw is my love for entertaining. I absolutely loooove having folks over and feeding them something so scrumptious they won’t leave without the recipe. Well, naturally, at any summer BBQ, people expect certain staples with their grilled bites. Cole slaw, my friends, is one of them. You see my dilemma?

 

So this recipe came about as an alternative to that wretched, loathsome, cole slaw I refuse to serve at my home. It is made with a vegetable I love – broccoli – and it’s so flexible as a recipe. You can make it savory as is or sweeten it up or even make it “savorier” (yep, I just made that up) ;).

Every time I serve this, I’m always asked for the recipe. My 12 year old loves it so much, she’s learned to make it herself. She loves to take it to school for lunch.  Substituting the sugar with splenda or stevia makes this a healthier choice, but either way , it doesn’t substitute on taste. This slaw is YUMAZING! Enjoy!

 

You will need:

2 pkgs broccoli slaw
1 pkg broccoli, chopped (or 1 small crown of fresh broccoli)
1 cup roasted sunflower seeds
1 cup sliced almonds (I use Wonderful Almond Accents honey roasted)
½ bunch green onions, chopped
2 pkgs Ramen noodles, uncooked

Optional add-ins
1 cup bacon bits
1 cup dried cranberries

For vinaigrette:
¾ cup oil (I use canola)
½ cup sugar (or sugar substitute)
2 flavor packets from Ramen noodles

Directions:

1.       In a large bowl, mix slaw, broccoli, nuts, and onions. If using, mix in add-ins.

2.       Crush noodles over slaw and mix well.

3.       In a small bowl, mix vinaigrette ingredients well.

4.       About 1 hour before serving, pour vinaigrette over slaw and mix well (I mix this with my hands).

5.       Cover and chill until ready to serve.

6.       Enjoy! ;)

Sharon Patrice Simply Perfect Peace Events, Inc. and Designs by Shay, the Blog "My Journey, My Way, My LIFESTYLE ~ Celebrating Love, Laughter and Everything in Between..." You or your brand interested in a review? Getting married or having a social event and need assistance? Email Me For All Your Event Planning Needs.

WEDnesday Love: "Event Planning Tips - Part III"

By now you should be cooking with oil or working with a wonderful professional planner on knocking things off your checklist out!  We've determined how much we can spend AND figured out who is will be affected, now we'll get to the INVITATION!

How many times have you received an invitation months in advance and forgot?  Even worse, you received it a week before the event and your calendar is already filled.

The invitation to your event is one of the most important aspects of the entire planning process. You don’t want to send out the first invite too early or too late. Three weeks out is a good rule to live by. However, if you want to get on executives’ calendars, you might want to send it out even earlier.

For a more detailed, elaborate invitation for a dinner event is appropriate, but you may want to be more simple and straight to the point if you’re presenting a demo.  Be considerate and include directions that include access to public transportation. In other words, make it easy to be an attendee.

Remember to follow up (especially for business and social events).  Those who have RSVP’d should receive reminders that differ in timing and message than those who haven’t.  Taking a little extra time to do this will show that they are more than a number and you truly appreciate the time they taking from their schedule to attend your fabulous event.

Lastly, we're going to have a WALK THROUGH!!!

Sharon Patrice Simply Perfect Peace Events, Inc. and Designs by Shay, the Blog "My Journey, My Way, My LIFESTYLE ~ Celebrating Love, Laughter and Everything in Between..." You or your brand interested in a review? Getting married or having a social event and need assistance? Email Me For All Your Event Planning Needs.

Motivational Monday: "Celebrating MY Mother"

In 1936 King George V died and was succeeded by his son, Edward VIII, who soon abdicates to marry an American-born divorcée, and is succeeded by brother, George VI.  Spanish civil war began and hundreds of Americans joined the "Lincoln Brigades." War between China and Japan also began  to continue through World War II.

FDR was reelected in a landslide. The Electoral Vote was 523-8.  NY Yankees defeated the NY Giants (4-2) for the World Series and the first successful helicopter flight is made.  Most importantly, DOROTHY LAMAR BRADLEY was born. 

In case you're wondering who that last person is, she is MY mother!  Every year we take her out to dinner or have some type of birthday celebration.  She looks forward to those times and I'm blessed and honored to still be able to share birthday's with her.

Six children, 17+ grandchildren and almost 20 great grands .. she's done well in the area of leaving a mark!  LOL  I often tease and say how much my mother gets on my nerves with her complaining and waking up at noon to find things for people to do now that she's slept BUT she's earned the right to do so. 

I LOVE my mother and I am thankful for all that she has imparted into me.  My family doesn't think I know how to cook because Karen makes amazing Mac and cheese while Parkey jams on the spaghetti.  Yes, I enjoy making pastries and sweets but I've had to cook just like them for as long as I can remember.  Dorothy didn't play that, she made sure that my sisters and I would be able to keep a house. 

We are all extremely organized and thorough; she ran a football organization like it was NOTHING for years and I'm convinced being with her during that time has molded me into Simply Perfect Peace Events business owner I am today.  Early on she set the standard for what clean was; if it's not done do not "dart" out that door.  LOL

Affectionately known as DOT by my dad and Aunt DOT by all of our cousins and her close friends, DOT is still a trooper at 77 years young.  In 1995 (I think) she suffered a stroke that changed her life forever but every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday she makes her way to bingo, attends church on Sundays and is President of her Senior Group.  We tease her because she says everything in 3's.. ok ok ok... I'm done, I'm done, I'm done (and it's never OK, nor is she done)... but it's funny to us that she still does it.

This is a praise report about my mother - every day isn't "good" but it's great because she is still here and she thoroughly enjoys Dillard Family Weekend and it's our pleasure to be able to pull that together for her no matter how we feel about all of the planning and EXTRA stuff she does.

Dorothy Dillard - this blog post is for YOU young lady. Love you and I'm looking forward to celebrating more birthday's with you. 

DISCLAIMER:  I would say her favorite daughter but everyone knows that is my sister Parkey! 


Sharon Patrice Simply Perfect Peace Events, Inc. and Designs by Shay, the Blog "My Journey, My Way, My LIFESTYLE ~ Celebrating Love, Laughter and Everything in Between..." You or your brand interested in a review? Getting married or having a social event and need assistance? Email Me For All Your Event Planning Needs.

WEDnesday Love: "Event Planning Tips - Part II"

Now that you've shaken away some of the nerves associated with being responsible for the fun of hundreds of people let's move on.  In Part I you outlined your goals and have a strategy and also figured out your budget now it's time to discuss who, when, what and where! 

NOTE:  You'll find that although the budgets can be extremely different, planning a Corporate event isn't much different than a family dinner or cocktail reception.  The tips I am offering are very basic and can at least get you started.  At any place in the planning you find that you're still having a tough time, don't hesitate to hire a professional to assist you.


A Time and Place for Every Event

• Who are the stakeholders? You know, those that can affect or be affected by your actions. You would have probably already been introduced to them during the goal setting and strategy planning phase. 
• What's your target audience? Are you hosting executives or managers?
• Is it a presentation or a mixer?

The answer to these questions should determine when and where your event is held.

For instance, if you’re targeting busy executives, you may want to plan a fancy breakfast. A networking event is best served in the evening with cocktails.  A presentation is best held in a hotel or conference room because hosting it in a bar can feel forced.  Be mindful of how your surroundings influence attention spans and the type of message expected to hear.

Next up - One of the most important aspects of your event - INVITATIONS! 

Sharon Patrice Simply Perfect Peace Events, Inc. and Designs by Shay, the Blog "My Journey, My Way, My LIFESTYLE ~ Celebrating Love, Laughter and Everything in Between..." You or your brand interested in a review? Getting married or having a social event and need assistance? Email Me For All Your Event Planning Needs.