Happy Thanksgiving

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. ~John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Wedding Dress I Want

I have been looking at wedding dresses since the engagement (1 month now) in magazines and online and have loved anything I have seen. Although I have not yet been dress shopping; I am looking for a dress just like the one pictured above. I love the simplicity of the dress for a beach wedding. I am contemplating have a custom dress made but am looking forward to dress shopping at boutiques with my mom.

Celebrity Waiters Luncheon

The Marilyn's - Heather Stajgr, Jordan Snyder, Jennifer Robbins

Each guest received a glitter candle (we made) tied with a pink diamond ring and a custom fortune cookie (provided by Sweets, Treats & Designs) that said "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend".

I framed images from the movie Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and placed them around the table

Celebrity Waiters Luncheon & Auction benefitting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society took place on November 7th at Hotel Murano. From my last post about Celebrity Waiters I said pictures would follow and here they are. This is the one event that I pour all my energy & time into and I always feel so overwhelmed with amazement when I see all the waiters hard work the day of the event.

Great Words

A friend from high school posted an excerpt from this and I did a search for the entire poem and wanted to share.

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,

and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible without surrender

be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly;

and listen to others,

even the dull and the ignorant;

they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

- Max Ehrmann, Desiderata, 1952

Martini Club

I am really excited about this month's Martini Club! It is going to feature holiday drinks and appetizer pairings! Below is the menu I have come up with for next Thursday's party.

Holiday Cocktails

Tuaca Hot Apple Pie

Cuervo 1800 Agave Nectar Scratch Margaritas

Bacardi Hot Buttered Rum

Three Olives Cherry vodka and Limeade

Holiday Appetizers

Cherry Coated Ribs

Tiramisu

Mini Apple Crisp

Pumpkin Ravioli

Gentleman Prefer Blondes & Glitter Candles for Celebrity Waiters

Tonight Jennifer (fellow waiter) and I are making glitter tea-light candles as guest favors for the guests at our table for Celebrity Waiters Luncheon & Auction this Friday. They will not look like the ones above (I will post actual product later) but this is a great inspiration. It is the Silver Anniversary for the Celebrity Waiters Luncheon and Auction, so the overall theme for the event is Silver Screen. All waiters selected a movie and they range from Animal House to Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. My co-waiters (Heather, Jennifer and I) chose Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. We thought this would be especially fun since we are all brunettes! This is my 5th year as a waiter and 2nd year as Co-Chair of the event. I love this event and hope that all the volunteer efforts help to someday find a cure for blood cancers. I will post many detail pics of our table decor (which I am loving) after the event.

Wedding Accommodations!

My parents are spending the month in Mexico and just confirmed that we now have rooms at the Grand Luxe - I am so excited this is an absolutely beautiful new property in Nuevo Vallarta. I wanted to share a couple pictures.