Have you heard the buzz about Focus on Females?  It's a women's healthcare symposium in its fifth year that is free and open to the public.  That's right, on Saturday, March 27th at the Tampa Convention Center, there will be 22 different seminars about a wide range of women's health topics all presented by local, area physicians who speak in plain English, provide practical, relevant and ready-to-use health information and even give you a chance to ask your questions.  There are also health screenings, fitness class demonstrations and chair massages - all FREE! This event has proven to have immediate impact, save lives and protect families.  You can register on-line at www.focusonfemales.com.

Oh, and I heard the event planner is AWESOME!  Guess who?  Come by and say hi!

So I'll ask for forgiveness upfront on the corny blog post today, but I couldn't let this milestone occasion go by without some acknowledgement!  I have posted on my four-legged sweeties before and yesterday Kenya turned 16!  Here she is posing for her driver's license picture... watch out Tampa, here comes Kenya!

One of the biggest impressions that you can make at an event is the way you set up your guest tables.  I mean after all this is where your guests spend a good portion of their time whether it be eating, drinking, taking a break from all of that dancing or talking with other guests.  They look at the linen, the centerpiece, the little votive candles - all of those special touches, but sometimes, especially when it is a buffet or action stations for dinner, the table can look incomplete without a full place setting.

There is a great alternative that dresses up a table wonderfully - charger plates.  Generally seen in gold or silver (but you can also find them in other colors), charger plates do wonders to make your table appear more elegant and complete.  And they are totally affordable to rent!

Divine Creations is pleased to announce that we now rent charger plates in gold and silver.  The cost is only $1.50 each (plus local sales tax) and if you mention that you learned about it by reading this blog, we'll give you a 10% discount! 

I know I seem absent as of late, but 2010 has been hopping (and I'm NOT complaining!).  With 4 events in January, the month totally flew by!  And February and March are just as jammed packed!  I want to thank all of my past and current clients for helping me to have the best start of a year ever, and I promise that I will be posting pictures of recent events very soon so check back often!

Happy New Year!  I'm excited for 2010 and all it has to offer.  I think it's going to be a fantastic year! 

About this time of year you hear the word "resolutions" a lot.  I used to attempt to make resolutions... actually I could make them just fine, it was keeping them I wasn't so good at!  I hadn't done it in a few years and then last year I decided that I'd give it a go again.  Realizing as we all do as we grow older, I wanted to try to live a healthier lifestyle so one of the resolutions I made was to eat more fruits and vegetables.  Well... does it still count if they are smothered in chocolate or french onion dip?  So, let's just say I didn't do too good with that one.  Another one was to do yoga or go walking 3 times a week.  Okay... maybe I should have been more realistic and said 3 times a month!  I did okay with that one (the 3 times a month that is... I must have been feeling super ambitious that day to say 3 times a week!) up until going to Ireland this summer.  Somehow when I returned that whole exercise thing was like a foreign concept! 

So, hence the reason that this year I am going back to not making new year resolutions again - with one exception.  It is my year round resolution to provide excellent service to each one of my clients.  That is one resolution that will never change!

Best wishes for a happy, healthy and prosperous 2010!

Does your inner artist long for something unique to display your favorite wedding photo?  Well, check out www.photopopart.com where you can get a customized canvas for under $200.  It's incredibly simple: select a style (many to choose from), select a layout (anywhere from one to six panels per canvas), pick your preferred size (anywhere from 16x20 for $199 all the way up to 40x40 for $455), add a floating frame if you want, upload a photo and pay - all on-line and all very user friendly!  And it's super fast... within 3 days your creation will be on its way!  Sorry to those of you who just thought this would be a great gift for December 25th... they are no longer taking orders that will be delivered before then!

Just a reminder that the toy drive, "Polar Express", to benefit Sulpher Springs Elementary School is tomorrow night at The Rack from 6-8 p.m.  Bring a new, unwrapped toy for a boy or girl in grades K-5 and enjoy some networking, a cocktail and maybe even a game of pool!  Looking forward to seeing lots of people there!

'Tis the season, right?!  Well, this is a special Polar Express... one that is designed to help children who have never experienced the joys that holidays can bring because their parents simply cannot afford to buy them presents because they are struggling just to put food on the table or keep the lights on at home.  Eighteen89 is a group of young (yes, I'm hanging on to the term young for as long as I can...) professionals who support programs of the YMCA that most people do not know or hear about.  At our last meeting we heard about this program that helps families in one of the most poverty stricken area of our very own community - Sulpher Springs.

At Sulpher Springs Elementary, the YMCA created a Community Learning Center.  In seven months since its inception, the enrollment has exploded to over 200 children.  The average annual household income for a family of four is $14,000.  Most of the children have never seen, none the less decorate, a Christmas tree or gotten a visit from Santa.  So the Polar Express program was created to change all of that. 

We are currently collecting new, unwrapped toys for children in grades K-5.  There are 550 kids at Sulpher Springs Elementary and the goal is to give each child one toy to unwrap and enjoy this holiday season.  As you shop for your families and friends this Black Friday, please throw in a toy that can make a child's holiday much brighter.  Suggestions of items for girls include: barbie dolls, jewelry making kits, hair accessories, board games, makeup kits, coloring books, tea sets, purses, movies, music CDs.  For boys: Transformers, Matchbox cars, books, puzzles, super heroes, sports equipment, playing cards, legos, trucks and Bakugan.

On December 2nd, Eighteen89 is hosting a networking happy hour at The Rack in South Tampa from 6 - 8 p.m.  This is an excellent opportunity to stop by, meet some people and drop off any toys you would like to donate.  If you cannot make it to the event, just call me to set up a time to swing them by my office between now and December 9th.  Volunteers will wrap and tag all of the gifts for distribution by Santa on December 16th!  Thanks in advance for your support in helping to make a child's holiday brighter!

I am pleased to announce that Divine Creations Event Planning Specialists will be sponsoring an unpaid internship for one college student this spring (January - April/ May 2010).  We are affiliated with Florida State University and St. Leo's University and have had students as interns in the past from those universities.  We are also open to working with other colleges and will follow their required guidelines if provided.  To qualify you must be a student enrolled at an accredited college, majoring in recreation and leisure (concentration in special events), marketing or public relations.  You must also be covered under the school's insurance plan (usually the case if you are obtaining school credit).  This internship can qualify for school credit.  The internship will begin on January 4th and you must be able to work weekends and evenings for events.  Day hours are flexible around class schedules.

If interested, please e-mail a resume and cover letter through the website or to info@tampaeventplanner.com. 

Divine Creations is having a super sale on personalized cards just in time for the holidays!  Perfect for showing off your annual family picture, your wedding or engagement photo or for companies who want to stay in touch with their clients and express their thanks for helping them through an economically challenging year.  Now through November 30th all personalized holiday cards are 25% off the retail value!  Simply call 813-839-5824 to set up your private appointment or stop by our studio at 3309 South Westshore Boulevard in South Tampa.