Our 9th Annual Breakfast with Santa Toy Drive

The ninth annual Breakfast with Santa Toy Drive was held on Sunday, December 6, 2009, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Renaissance, Grant City.

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Added by Staten Island Advance on December 7, 2009 at 10:32 AM

Children yesterday gave holiday gifts at the ninth-annual Breakfast With Santa Toy Drive at the Renaissance, Grant City. The event was sponsored by the reception hall and the South Shore Kiwanis Club. STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE PHOTO/DEREK ALVEZ

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This event, also sponsored by the Renaissance and the South Shore Kiwanis Club, featured a breakfast brunch coupled with members of the South Shore Kiwanis who wore costumes such as Frosty The Snowman, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Sponge Bob Square Pants. The biggest visitor of the day was Santa, who gave coloring books and crayons to children who attended the event.

“Every year, the toys collected at this event are distributed by the South Shore Kiwanis to Staten Island’s nonprofit organizations,” said Joseph Batiste, a Kiwanis member.

Proceeds from this event go to the Crossroads Foundation, Toys for Tots, Kids Against Cancer and the Seamen’s Society for Children and Families.

Those attending are requested to bring a donation of an unwrapped toy.

Last year, the South Shore Kiwanis delivered more than 100 meals to Meals on Wheels recipients throughout the Island. Last month, the club collected 19 boxes of food during its annual food drive.

Our ninth annual Breakfast with Santa Toy Drive was featured in The Staten Island Advance.  Click here to view the article, http://tinyurl.com/9thbkfastwithsanta.

Join us in 2010 at our 10th Annual Breakfast with Santa !

DIY – Preston Bailey’s Giant Rose Centerpiece

I’m super excited to have found this YouTube video of Preston Bailey sharing a budget friendly, DIY tip on creating a giant flower centerpiece. You can create one per person or one to two per table. Get creative by giving thought to your container / vase for this project.

If you choose this DIY project for your wedding, let me know how this one turns out for you. I’m going to try this one for my next dinner party.

Eco-Friendly Wednesday – Reusable Bags for Kids as Goody Bags

Are you making up goody bags for the kiddies that will be attending your wedding? Why not use an Envirosax as the actual bag to hold all their goodies? You’ll be educating the next generation in the responsible re-use of bags. Envirosax Kids™ will help tomorrow’s future move in the right direction. There is no quick fix to the problem of global warming, but a lot of small steps in the right direction will add up to one big step.

Kids are always lugging their favorite items to their friend’s house, on shopping trips with mom and basically everywhere they go. The kids’ Envirosax will make it easier for them to travel with their favorite stuff.

Envirosax reusable shopping bags. They’re lightweight, portable, waterproof and surprisingly roomy holds about double what you can fit in a standard plastic grocery bag. Plus, they look fantastic! What better way to spread the message of environmental sustainability than with a beautiful, eco-friendly product that you’ll love using?

Envirosax Kid’s Series – Baa Maa & Paa – $7.95

Envirosax Kid’s Series – Piggy in the Middle – $7.95

Envirosax Kid’s Series – Rusty – $7.95

Have you considered using a reusable bag as a favor bag for the kids attending your wedding? What eco-friendly ideas will you implement into your wedding day? Let me know by posting a comment.

Colin Cowie Wedding Chic!

When you imagine your wedding, what do you see?

Maybe you dream of exchanging vows before an intimate gathering of family and friends at sunset, followed by a chic and elegant dinner under the stars in balmy weather. You can practically see yourself at the altar, taste the cuisine, smell the gardenias, and feel the music playing when you join your guests to party at the reception.

But before your wedding comes together with all the romance and glamour you’ve imagined, you’ll need to make decisions about the details. Is your color scheme bold and rich or soft and ethereal? Will you be married in your mother’s garden at the end of a serpentine path or on an exotic beach with the ocean crashing in the background? Do you desire an elegant sit-down dinner or a fabulous cocktail party with a great DJ who keeps the party going late into the night?

With so many choices, it can be hard to decide where to begin. Now there’s no reason to get overwhelmed, because wedding designer extraordinaire Colin Cowie is by your side every step of the way. In Colin Cowie Wedding Chic, he shows how to weave a thread of style throughout your celebration, from determining the overall feeling and mood to the smallest and most personal details of the event.

Following inspirational introductions from Colin about every part of your celebration, each detail is captured with magnificent photographs: bouquets; ceremony décor; centerpieces; reception décor; food and drink; cakes; invitations, favors, and gifts; appearance for the bride, groom, and attendants; ritual and ceremony; and music and after-party.

Brimming with the kind of style that has made Colin the number one wedding planner in the world for celebrities, heads of state, and even royals, Wedding Chic finally gathers all of the options in one dazzling, easy-to-reference place. With photographs of more than 1,001 gorgeous details, it is simply the most comprehensive, varied, and beautiful resource a bride-to-be could ever wish for—one that is certain to make the wedding a celebration to remember forever.

Lifestyle expert COLIN COWIE is known around the world for creating gorgeous, unique, and personal events that radiate glamour and elegance. He appears regularly on national television shows, including The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and The Early Show. He is a frequent contributor to InStyle and O, the Oprah Magazine. Born in Zambia and raised in South Africa, Colin now resides in New York.
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Colin’s literary publicist was nice enough to send me copy for review and I feel it is a valuable inspirational reference guide for any bride or event professional. The book is loaded with beautiful images, discriptions and explanations. Colin, himself. is an inspiration and his book delivers that and more.

Have you read this book? What do you think? Post a comment and let me know.

DIY – Chopsticks & Fortune Cookies as Favors

This DIY gift package would make a nice favor or parting gift and includes a set of bamboo chopsticks and a paper fortune cookie. A simple, inexpensive and unique gift!

This project is super easy. Here are the details so you can make one yourself…

Materials:
Origami, Scrapbook, or Colored Paper for fortune cookie and tab top
White Paper for fortune saying – 3/4″W x 4″L
Chopsticks (I got mine at Daiso… 12 sets for a $1.50… or try the dollar store)
Faux Floral sprigs
Ribbon
Glue Dots
Green floral tape
Biodegradable Clear Bag – approx size 4.25″W x 9.75″H

Instructions:
1) Make paper fortune cookie. Great instructions here. You can use a CD spindle to trace a circle, and glue dots to keep the cookie closed. Insert fortune saying.

2) Assemble chopsticks.Take a floral sprig and center it over the pair of chopsticks. Wrap floral tape snuggly around both. Finish with a nice ribbon bow.

3) Insert into clear bag. Slide in the fortune cookie first. Use chopsticks to push into place. Slide in the chopsticks at an angle. Cut a folded rectangle to fit over the bag opening like a clamshell. Staple to seal bag. You can write “Thank You” or a Name/Note on the tab.

4) Give to someone special!

Post courtesy of LotusHaus.

If you give this DIY project a try, let me know how it turns out.

Eco-Friendly Wednesday – Reusable Shopping Bags

Okay, at first you might say to yourself, “Shopping Bags?” Stop right there because you simply my see these lovely and price friendly, reusable shopping bags. A perfect gift for the green bride’s bridesmaids or for anyone (even yourself) for that matter.

These bags are by Reisenthel. Reisenthel products have been awarded numerous design awards, including the prestigious international “red dot design” & Design Plus awards. The 30+ year old German company makes fashionable, durable products in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors.

This style is called the CityShopper XL and costs $22.99.

Have you ever received a reusable bag as a wedding gift? What was your first thought when you first saw it? Would you consider giving a reusable bag as a wedding gift? Let me know your thoughts and post a comment.

Inspiration – White & Silver

My very first inspiration board created from scratch.

White & Silver – by Simply Dazzling Events on Polyvore.com

How did  do? Let me know your thoughts on this board. Have you got an inspiration board you’d like to share. Let me know. Post a comment.

Courtesy of Simply Dazzling Events.

Candy Friday – Bella Umbrella – Bridal Bouquet Alternative

As a soon to be bride and floral designer, Jodell wanted to do something distinctive instead of renting a traditional white tent for her outdoor wedding ceremony. She procured 75 vintage umbrellas for her guests in the event there were showers on her wedding day. Each guest would be offered a beautiful umbrella from the 1920′ s-1940. Later the umbrellas would create a brilliant backdrop to the happy day. It was the beginning of a beautiful marriage in more ways than one.

Continuing to collect umbrellas, Jodell launched the Bella Umbrella website in 2001. Her personal collection of 100 vintage umbrellas was now available for rent to brides all over the world. Since then Jodell has designed and developed two unique umbrella collections; Vintage Bella and Signature Bella as well as inventing and patenting the Bixi; an adaptor that quickly converts a Signature Bella umbrella handle into a stunning bouquet holder.

Bella Umbrella vintage umbrellas can be rented for $10 to $30 each depending on the umbrellas selected. This is a budget friendly alternative to the traditional bridal bouquet and looks wonderful in pictures.

Have you considered using a vintage umbrella or other item in lieu of a floral bouquet for your wedding? What do you think of this as a budget friendly alternative? Post a comment with your thoughts on this.

Eco Friendly Wednesday – Eco Chameleon Wedding Gown

The Chameleon Wedding Gown, by Isadora Clothing, in organic cotton/bamboo jersey or organic cotton/soy jersey is the perfect dress for today’s eco-conscious Bride. Based on the Isadora Clothing design of the Chameleon II dress, this versatile piece can be worn in multiple different ways depending on how you wrap twist and tie it!

The variations include short sleeved, halter, twisted strap ( Grecian Goddess) and strapless. Constructed from Organic Cotton, Bamboo and spandex jersey in a beautiful soft off white. Fully lined skirt and self lined bodice. The gown comes with a complimentary tube top in the same color to allow for more coverage of the back, if desired, and more style variations.

The versatility of the Chameleon Design means that you can enjoy your dress long after your Wedding Day. Have your dress hemmed and professionally dyed to the color of your choice and you have converted your dress into the Chameleon II- a perfect addition your every day wardrobe.

by Isadora Clothing

Price: $360

Sizes:

Small- fits dress sizes 0-6 US

Med- fits dress sizes 8-12 US

Lrg- fits dress sizes 14-16 US

Length is customized to your needs.

I love this versatile gown. So many options and for the right price. What do you think of this gown? If you’re in the market for a wedding gown, would you consider this one? If you’re married, would you have considered this option when you were shopping for your wedding dress? Let us know your thoughts on this gown by posting a comment.

Inspiration – Green White Black Wedding

Lime – White – Black – by Cotton Tail on Polyvore.com.

Have you created a beautiful inspiration that is certain to inspire? Email it to us as we’d love to post our reader’s lovely creations. Also, let us know what you think about this inspiration board.