Thanks to so many of you who helped make Flamingo’s Food Drive for the Second Harvest Food Bank a success. Fun was held by all as we enjoyed a fantastic summer night and raised enough funds and food to help feed about 800 children in Santa Clara County and surrounding areas. Great music was supplied by Ron Grandia, A Different Kind of DJ, and dessert was by by Rachel Myers of Sweet Tooth Confections. I think her Red Velvet pops were devoured before I even knew they were there. Potluck was so much fun as we learned who likes to cook, who doesn’t, and well who was just lazy like me and brought Bucca’s . Bounce house, three legged races, and the sack race were just a few of the things that had people literally laughing on the ground. Meeting everyone’s spouses, kids, and dogs was so enjoyable. Many of us read about them all the time on blogs or facebook but great to meet them in person. I’m so blessed to have such great and FUN friends in the industry who knows how life is supposed to be enjoyed. People are already requesting we do it again next year. What do you think?

Still looking for a venue to your wedding?  Have one but still need some vendors?  Come tonight to The Hotel DeAnza downtown San Jose from 6-8pm to find out more about some wedding vendors and the beautiful hotel for a wedding destination.  Luke Goodman films and I will both be there and we would love to meet with you.  Here is a wedding that I did this past year at the Hotel DeAnza.

There are 120,524 children in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties who are at risk for experiencing hunger during the summer months.  Summer is the season of childhood hunger.   The Share Your Lunch campaign is committed to collecting food and raising funds that will be used to feed children during the summer months when they do not receive free or reduced-price meals at school.  The need is great.  The Summer of 2010 will be one of the most difficult seasons for local families to endure. Second Harvest is partnering with the community to help stave off hunger for thousands of children who don’t know where their next meal will come from.  Statistics along from summer of 2008 to summer of 2009  increased by 30% for the demand on the local food bank.   To meet the increased need, the Share Your Lunch campaign has a fund raising goal of $1 million and collection goal of 100,000 pounds of food. Reaching these goals will provide food to approximately 85,000 children each month this summer.

Flamingo and I will be hosting “Flamingos Family Food Drive and Potluck Mixer” along with some other talented and giving individuals in the wedding community.  The event will be on June 22 at Edith Morley Park in Campbell.  This will be a very laid back and family fun mixer with some of the greatest people in the wedding industry.  A potluck dinner/picnic and a lot of activites for adults and kids.  Yes, I said kids! We encourage you to bring your families and  your dogs as long as they are on their leash.  In fact, dress your dog up for the “hottest dog” contest.  It’s a picnic you have to have HOT DOGs.  They can literally be dressed up as hotdogs or as HOT DOGS your choice.

How can you help with the fundraiser

· Bring a minimum of 10 food items or a minnimum donation of $10. Each $10 feeds abut 20 kids.

· Bring a dish to pass for 6-8 people.(Salads, fried chicken, sandwiches, pastas, veggies, fruit, etc) (preferebly in a disposable tin so we don’t have to worry about them)

· BYOB Bring your own beverages (not allowed to sell anything there)

· Bring a blanket or chairs-some tables are provided.

· Gas grills are allowed but no charcol grills

·Below is a great video where you can learn more about how Second Harvest Food Bank and how they help children and schools.  There is also a link for food request that you can bring to the food drive.  If your not able to make it there a link and directions are so you can donate online to Flamingo’s Food drive.

Here is a link of most requested food items

http://www.shfb.org/ffdmostneededfoods

You can RSVP and let us know your coming a:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=134211689926484

If you can’t make it but would like to make a donation go to the following link.

https://donate.shareyourlunch.net/

Donor type: Family and Friends
Organization: Flamingos Food Drive

Congratulations on the third year for  “Una Bella Sera 2010″.  This event is one of the highlights of  the year and its creators Crystal Lequang from Amaze Special Events and Nicole Ha of Nicole Ha Designs did a beautiful job transforming the Craneway Pavilion.  The Craneway Pavilion is a beautiful open space with natural light pouring in from all directions.  Located in the Marina District of Richmond it has an amazing view of the bay with its water front location.   If your looking for a location for your wedding or reception this place is breathtaking.

I love participating in this event and it is always such a great time with wonderful vendors.  To see everyone that helped create this event please click here. The photos below were taken by friend Tanja Lippert and me.  The dress featured is from Priscilla of Boston in Santana Row and you can see all the wonderful windows at this location.  My favorite room was the colorful, fruit and veggie room.  From the amazing centerpiece with it’s whimsical design to the veggie art on the wall by Thomas John Events (one of my favorite caterers). I really loved the fun and creativity of this room.  I also had the honor of meeting Mr. Shin of Michi Sushi in Campbell, California.  He is quite the character as you can tell from his photo with Flamingo.  He caught the bird stealing some of his display.    But if you love sushi you should try his.  If you don’t like sushi try his.  I’m not a fan of sushi but his could make you change your mind. It was really delicious and you can tell they take the time to create an experience with their food.  Plus, how can you not love his presentation.  The caterpillar was adorable.

Thanks again to Crystal and Nicole for inviting me to participate. I hope that some of their creations inspire you.  If you have an event/wedding  you would like to throw contact these girls or any of the wonderful vendors listed to help make your dream happen.  Even if you don’t know what you want, they can help create a dream you didn’t even know you had.

I’m not a doctor, biologist, or scientist.  I don’t have the knowledge on how to help cure the many facets of the disease called CANCER.  But, I can walk to help raise funds for the many people who do have the knowledge to  find out more on how to beat this disease.  This year my husband and I have made a conscious decision to help our kids learn to think about others.  That they have been blessed with many things and that even at their young age they can help make a difference in the world today.  In the last couple of years Cancer has touched my college roommate, my 2 sister-in-laws, my friend, my client ( a newlywed who is fighting to celebrate her one year anniversary), and my best friends daughter who was born with this disease.  Yes, I said born with it.  Who ever knew?  I’ve watched and my family has watched as each of these loved ones have had to fight their own battle/or are currently fighting with this disease.  It doesn’t just affect the one with cancer but those that love and support them.  The boys and I decided just last night that we wanted to participate in the RELAY FOR LIFE and we wanted to walk for them.  A this point I could spout off all the statistics etc. about cancer  but I know many of you now a lot already the effects of this disease. It may have already touched your life in one way or another.   Our journey is to help fight this by giving just a hour or two of our time by doing the simple act of walking we can help make a difference.  WE do have a very short time to raise our funds of $100 each and we hope you can help us reach our goal.    The Walk is this FRIDAY, APRIL 30-May 1. I know times are tough for everyone right now.  I’m not asking for huge donations, just the cost of your morning cup of coffee or your $5 foot-long at Subway.  In fact, if just everyone on my facebook page alone donated $5 to one of us we could easily raise over $2000.  If you feel moved to donate more we would love to raise as much as we can.   I just really want my children to learn that by a simple act of walking for someone and especially people they love,  they can help make a difference.  Please help us with just not fighting this disease but teaching a new generation to think about others and that by a simple act of kindness and time they help make a change.

Donating is simple and easy.  All you do is have to click here!  You can either type in by team which is Carlton Kids Care and find one of our names. Or type in Jill, Cole, or Aidan Johnson and it should lead you to our team page and show you how you can participate with us on this fight against cancer.  Please look over the site for ways that you may be able to double your donation through your companies match a gift, or sponsor a luminaria.

If you can’t help us financially we would love any prayer support you would be willing to give us as we try to reach our goal in such a short time, and as we walk.  We will be walking Friday night around 6ish.   I would also love it if you could share this blog post with anyone who you might want to help us.

Thank you so much for your support, love, and prayers.  We are excited to be doing this!

I am so pleased to be part of the Una Bella Serra again this year and more excited to invite you.  All past, present, and future couple are invited to participate in a wonderful experience created by Amaze Special Events and Nicole Ha Floral design.  A World of Glamour will definatly knock your socks off as you see what these two talented and  creative professionals can do with their magical skills. This event will be held on Sunday, April 5, 2009 at the infamous and historical Julia Morgan Ballroom at the Merchant Exchange Building in San Francisco.

You will be inspired as you view the latest trends, tabletops, and floral designs for your wedding or event.  Come out for a night of inspiration, fun, entertainment and food.  We know you won’t be disappointed and I personally would love to see you there.  There is a limited amount of spaces available for this event so please register yourself at www.unabellasera.com.  Also, check out the list of other vendors that will be there under The Great List.

Here are a couple of shots from last years event.