Hanging with STARS, no seriously...

      [LtoR  Jamie Benn #14, Moi, Jeff Woywitka #44, and Steve Ott #29]

                                                                                                                          ....Dallas STARS, that is!
One of the many rewarding aspects of the event business is the opportunity to work with others, in your community, to support great charities! Several Dallas STARS players were on hand to suppoprt an event to raise awareness and funds for Cancer Support Communities of North Texas at La Duni, NorthPark Center, for a star studded night of Fab Friends, Sassy Sips, Tasty Tid-bits, and fund-raising.  The picture perfect "center park", glorious autumn weather, and a vibrant group of philanthropist and supporters made the evening one to remember!


All of the services provided by Cancer Support Communities of North Texas are provided free of charge... formerly Gilda's Club - named in honor of Gilda Radner, the organization is now expanding it's scope of service in the North Texas area.  We are proud to be a sponsor, and give back through such a wonderful organization!

Luxe Press!

LINK to DALLAS MODERN LUXURY

Boots & Bowties Blowout!

I have to say this is one of my favorite fund raising Galas we do each year.  Boots & Bowties is just the right combination of Historic Venue, Opry Show, Live Auction, Gourmet BBQ, and "Heads or Tails!"  Each year I work to create and interesting mix of music styles to entertain everyone during dinner. It's really Grand Ole' Opry meets Dinner Theater, as Modern Fundraiser.

You know how much I love a Signature Cocktail? We had two!  360 Vodka, once again supported the cause, and provided us with their Sorrento Lemon and Cola Vodkas. The Lemon Drop Martini and Cherry Coke Martini were not only era appropriate, they were delicious and very popular, indeed!

The plated dinner, featuring smoked meats from Elmers BBQ, was created by Chef de Cuisine Kenny Wagoner, the executive Chef of Cancer Treatment Centers of America.

Guests seem to enjoy the laid back atmosphere created by this event.  I am always humbled and amazed at the amount of talent we get, and everyone is so generous in giving of their time...  This year we started the night with Risin' Creek, a fabulous bluegrass group from Miami, OK.  Rob Bishline, who makes fine banjos, followed with a trio of his talented friends pickin' and grinin'!  Rick Boyett and Crosswired took the stage, with their own mix of country classics and southern rock - they backed up Blake Henderson [of America's Got Talent Fame] from Tuttle OK.  Blake wowed the crowd with  his numbers, and had the crowd dancing!  I'm sure Damaris Pierce, Miss Edmond Liberty Fest, will be the next Miss Oklahoma - she has a beautiful voice, and is one poised young woman.  Local Arts Legend, Lisa Stefanic, brought her witty "Maxi Pearl" to the stage, and had the crowd in stitches with her song.

After a live auction, the show concluded with everyone coming out to sing "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" ...a nod to the Opry heritage and a tribute to all Cancer Survivors!

MOD&LUXE 50th BIRTHDAY

It was a wonderful challenge... create a modern environment for a "Rat Pack" fan to share his 50th Birthday Dinner with family and close friends.  Our client gave us only a few directives, the event needed to be elegant, guests needed to dine at one long table, and the event needed to feel modern.

The event would start with a cocktail reception inside the home, and then move to the tent [pictured above] for the seven course dinner in honor of the Birthday Boy.  The tent provided several challenges, it would be built on top of the pool, it was summer time in Dallas TX - that means ample AC, and it needed to feel masculine and sophisticated.  It would come down to a complex combination of platinum, silver and black... minimal lighting, and mirror top table to create the depth and glam worthy of the modern Rat Pack Birthday Fete!

The addition of a floor to ceiling mirror at the end of the table, exaggerated the already dramatically long dining table.  We set every piece of silver, each charger, votive, wine glass on a very precisely measured grid to add to the visual feast on the tabletop!

Our clients were thrilled with an evening that exceeded their very high expectations, and we were thrilled too, as we heard the audible gasps of guests as they entered the space for dinner!

Happy Birthday to You!

UPSIDEDOWN with 3 Olives, please

James Bond has not seen a martini shaken, not stirred made with this much fun!  I love to add an element of surprise... If you need to add some "wow" to your event, give me a call!

Cool Tool: Cucumber Cool

Why would I be going on and on about how cool the cucumber is?

I have always loved the refreshing qualities and satisfying crunch of the trusty cucumber, but a recent New York Times article opened my eyes to an even more wonderful fruit!


1. Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day, just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.

2. Feeling tired in the afternoon, put down the caffeinated soda and pick up a cucumber. Cucumbers are a good source of B Vitamins and Carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up that can last for hours.

3. Tired of your bathroom mirror fogging up after a shower? Try rubbing a cucumber slice along the mirror, it will eliminate the fog and provide a soothing, spa-like fragrance.

4. Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds? Place a few slices in a small pie tin and your garden will be free of pests all season long. The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminum to give off a scent undetectable to humans but drive garden pests crazy and make them flee the area.

5. Looking for a fast and easy way to remove cellulite before going out or to the pool? Try rubbing a slice or two of cucumbers along your problem area for a few minutes, the photo-chemicals in the cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten, firming up the outer layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite. Works great on wrinkles too!!!

6. Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache? Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache free. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in equilibrium, avoiding both a hangover and headache!!

7. Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge? Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often used by European trappers, traders and explores for quick meals to thwart off starvation.

8. Have an important meeting or job interview and you realize that you don't have enough time to polish your shoes? Rub a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe, its chemicals will provide a quick and durable shine that not only looks great but also repels water.

9. Out of WD 40 and need to fix a squeaky hinge? Take a cucumber slice and rub it along the problematic hinge, and voila, the squeak is gone!

10. Stressed out and don't have time for massage, facial or visit to the spa? Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water, the chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber with react with the boiling water and be released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown to reduce stress in new mothers and college students during final exams.

11. Just finish a business lunch and realize you don't have gum or mints? Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds to eliminate bad breath, the phytochemcials will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath.

12. Looking for a 'green' way to clean your faucets, sinks or stainless steel? Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the surface you want to clean, not only will it remove years of tarnish and bring back the shine, but it won't leave streaks and won't harm you fingers or fingernails while you clean.

13. Using a pen and made a mistake? Take the outside of the cucumber and slowly use it to erase the pen writing, also works great on crayons and markers that the kids have used to decorate the walls!!

April Showers then Wedding Flowers...

I just love the springtime! I love all the new green on the trees, dogwoods, and all the happy couples chatting with me about future weddings!

Here is a color scheme, and some amazing items to consider if you are heading for an aisle in the near future!

Orange&Pink by mariaelena1 on Polyvore.com

Items in this set:
Real Weddings: Orange: Amy & Jeremy in Santa Monica, CA from The Knot
'Yopi' Patent Pumps, 210 GBP
martini, drink, cocktail, food
Mexican Graphics, Mexican Images and 2.0 Mexican MySpace Layouts
Real Weddings - Kara & David: An Orange and Red Wedding in Washington,...