Event planning has so many faces it can be confusing to pick a major. It helps to start off thinking about what kind of events you’re interested in.  Behind every event from a birthday party to a trade show there is a coordinator behind it. So that’s really important to think about. You can ask your school advisors, but anyone who’s in college knows that most of the time you can get better answers from a brick wall (ha, ha, ha).

The two main events planning majors are:

·         Business and Hospitality

o   with an emphasis in event coordination (if possible at your school)

·         Recreation & Leisure

 I have heard from pretty much every artsy major you can become a event planner from it. However, I personally think that some of those people underestimate the aspects of event planning. Some random bridging majors that go into event planning are public relations, theater, interior design, and others I am sure. Realistically the only real way to become an event planner though is to start from the bottom. Event planning is something you just get good at from experience; of course a good eye helps ;) aka it’s all about putting in the hours.

One of the best things about events is that no matter the events rhyme or reason they all have some sort of floral assortment.  I am absolutely obsessed with good arrangements. They take a room to a whole new environment; it’s insane what a difference it makes. I was perusing facebook when I noticed you could become a fan, of this great glass blower, Joe Cariati. He is an LA local and a San Francisco State Alumni (woot woot!) His pieces are amazing. Relating back to events, he just posted some great pictures on his blog and facebook of his wedding arrangements. The pieces alone make a beautiful statement and with the cactus/ terrariums mix interior it makes a great fresh look.  Of course the arrangement could be used for any event. They give me a reminiscent feeling of Arizona. Wedding wise I picture these being perfect for a sweet couple who loves hiking and yet at the same time has a sophisticated vibe.

Check out Joe Cariati at:

http://www.joecariati.com/index.html

A table cloth is a main piece to setting the scene. However we all don’t have every color just lying around. So if you’re looking for a good deal try this website I found http://www.tableclothsforless.com . Cheesy as it sounds I was able to get some great pieces for affordable prices. I swear this isn’t an advertisement or anything just a good find I wanted to share. I think they also have napkins and chair cover too.

Its Christmas time and although traditions are running ramped its important to mix it up. As a bakeaholic I take my Christmas excursion through my sweet tooth. Food Network has this great email list called the 12 days of cookies, and it is absolutely fabulous. Every day for the next 12 days (starting on December 1^st) you will get a new cookie recipe via email. Sometimes the cookies aren’t my favorite but for every 12  I seem to find 11 that I like ;) these are great to break out on Christmas Eve where you will impress not only the family, but Santa.  Hope you can have as much fun with this as I do!

http://www.foodnetwork.com/12-days-of-cookies/package/index.html

For the perfect winter wonderland touch add these candy classics to the coffee stable as stirrers or place one on each coffee plate at formal dinner.

>  They can range from 59 cents -77 cents each depending on if you buy them in bulk or have them wrapped or not.

           It’s always summer somewhere and if it’s not where you are then there is always a tanning bed nearby that can help you pretend it is. If you’re low on money though the first thing anyone will try is just your tradition laying out in the sun. This all seems great until you have a client hosting a party or even worse a bride who is crying because she or he is going to be a big ugly tomato at their event.  As their coordinator their problems is your problem because if they should be enjoying the party not worry about their face. I have been on the search for a quick cure to sunburn since as long as I can remember. And luckily for you and me this summer I stumbled along the best solution yet!

Start off by doing this immediately:

Soak a pad in a 50-50 solution of apple cider vinegar and water, and then dab it over the inflamed area. Next, toss wet tea bags in a freezer for ten minutes (I did green tea) and then gently press them on the burn.  Once face is dry apply Aloe Vera vigorously. Also a day after the initial burn before you go to sleep but a little Desitin (yes it is a baby diaper ointment, but I guarantee it takes out redness like nobody’s business) on the redness.

To cover up for the actual event:

Do the above minus the Desitin. Then pat on a green-tinted base (have heard good things about Bourjois Lovely base ($20) and Physicians Formula green stick (available in drug stores) ) with a damp sponge or foundation brush (gentler than your fingers) to counter act the red burn. Then blend on a dab of yellowish foundation (once again physicians formula has some great ones). Use a light hand and “don’t get too bogged down by layers,” says makeup artist sally. “A little pink is a lot more natural-looking than a dense block of color.”

When walking in a crowded city the last thing on your mind is how do people get industrial stuff up into the building. Let me tell ya, working as a cater in a big city you learn fast. In those sky scrapers above are ballrooms and office parties being catered to and they don’t just let the kitchen staff role in through the front doors. On the side walk there are elevators underground. Its something you have probably even stepped on and haven’t thought twice about, but I guarantee they are around. When I first experienced this I was shocked. My first ride definitely included a lot of I’m going to hell or down under sort of punts, ha ha ha. However isn’t it cool to think about all these passages that the everyday person doesn’t even know about. To me this also a really good clue to finding new sky scraper venues that might not be on the map.

In the process of making cotton candy I came across a great Halloween idea. By mixing pink and blue sugar together the cotton candy comes out white, making the close resemblance to a spider web. Add some little cheepy spider rings to the deal and your all set. It will have kids wondering, is what you’re offering a trick or a treat? On the cost side your probably thinking, great idea to bad it will cost like a million dollars for a cotton candy machine, and like I could find one. However this is totally untrue, I found a reasonably priced cotton candy machine for $29.00 from target, which is also offered online. If you have kids this will surely be a good investment for future parties.  But hey, if your sort on cash (who isn’t now a days) I actual found a recipe to make cotton candy without a machine.  I haven’t tried it, but the website is normally pretty reliable. http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/jacques-torres/jacques-homemade-cotton-candy-recipe/index.html

Things needed to make spider web cotton candy:

Cotton Candy Machine(optional)?

Spider rings (144 pieces) $6.19

Sugar Floss (pink) $5.00

Sugar floss (blue) $500

$45.05

As I was scrolling through random youtube videos I noticed a wedding one that caught my eye. I was blown away by this couples originality in their walk down the aisle. It seems to be a huge trend now to bring more attention to the wedding party. I have mostly seen it at the reception after the wedding, but hey this couple has shown me that once again the sky is limit with ways to make your wedding yours. This is also really great way to side step the walk down the aisle with the father if there are complications in that area.

  go check it out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-94JhLEiN0

Love Parade, Lovefest, LovEvolution.. Whatever you want to call it was a hit this year as always. LovEvolution is one of the highlighted festivals in San Francisco to see. It’s a rave in the streets of down town San Francisco. It starts as a parade and then all the floats end up in the main civic center square, each blasting its own house music and theme. If you look around you’ll see neon and skin as far as the eye can see. It’s all about dressing up as crazy as possible and feeling the love. It goes from about 11:00 am to 7/8 ish at night. There is also a after rave, but its $77. In fact, this year was the first year they actually charged for the day time LovEvolution. It went from free to $10 dollars, I heard rumors its because of all the clean up, but in my opinion it’s a bit of high markup. However, that’s about the same I would pay to go to the club and there was no way I was going to miss my favorite festival. Overall it was very fun. Some negatives were the extremely expensive food and drink (Had they priced things appropriately I bet they would have made a lot more money and given themselves a much better image). I mean for goodness sakes this used to be a free event and now there expect $10 for entry and $10 for one kabob.. Ya, I don’t think so.. and In fact everyone I knew left to go get food.. another downer was the always long lines for the bathrooms ( you have to expect that though considering that there was thousands of people there). This definitely a must see if your ever in San Francisco though!