Simple but lovely Holiday tabletop

At Good Taste Events, we're all about simple elegance and amazing attention to detail. This festive tabletop caught our eye because it encompasses those things that we love.

No outrageous linens, no ultra expensive florals, and for the most part, you may have many of these items in your home to decorate your table. We love the mis-matched colored plates (notice that some of the chargers are green while others are white?), the simple greenery with a few white flowers tucked in; various vases that hold some simple white candles of different sizes; and the little green dish that could serve as a salt cellar.

This would be beautiful in any colors - and for any occasion. Chris Madden for JCPenney Home collection offers some lovely dinnerware that would be ideal for this look - and for everyday use as well.

With a warm and lovely tabletop, your guests will feel so appreciated - and you'll be the hostest with the mostest!

Cheers!

Yellow? Bring. It. On.

"There are painters who transform the sun to a
yellow spot, but there are others who with the help of their
art and their intelligence, transfer a yellow spot into the sun."
--Pablo Picasso

Yellow has become a very hot color (no sun pun intended), and I am absolutely thrilled with what beautiful things are being produced with yellow as a main color theme! One of our wonderful couples that we are working with in 2009 are using a gray/yellow theme and I can't wait to see their amazing wedding come together. Yellow paired with gray, platinum, black and a pop of green or pink and you've got an amazing palette with unlimited possibilities!

In doing some research for that couple, I came up with some interesting thoughts about the color yellow. Take a peek:

• They say that yellow shines with optimism, enlightenment, and happiness.
• Lemon was the original scent of the yellow colored "Magic Scent Crayons" from Binney & Smith, Inc. introduced in 1994 with mostly food scents. There were numerous reports that children were eating the food-scented crayons, so the food scents were retired and replaced with non-food scents. The scent for the color yellow became "daffodil".
• Lance Armstrong has a deep fondness for yellow. In his words, "Yellow wakes me up in the morning. Yellow gets me on the bike every day. Yellow has taught me the true meaning of sacrifice. Yellow makes me suffer. Yellow is the reason I'm here."

We'll keep you posted on this upcoming event! It's sure to be spectacular.

How charming!

We're seeing charms everywhere these days, but this one really stood out. A lovely little sterling calendar charm with a crystal marker that designates a special date. Celebrate a birthday, wedding or graduation with this clever charm. From GiftGenius.

Simply charming.

Simple and elegant thanks.

We were so fortunate to work with a lovely couple this year at their beautiful wedding at a farm setting in Washington. They were such a perfect couple - you could see it in their every glance - and their family and friends shared their joy. Their day was absolutely beautiful.

Rachel (the bride) is not only gorgeous, but extremely talented as well. She managed to make her own save-the-date cards, invitations, etc. all while finishing up her college degree! Today I received this beautiful note of thanks in the mail from Rachel and Tom - and again she lived up to her reputation as a talented card maker. The group photograph is one of our favorites (from all our weddings). This one is fabulous. Jennifer Guzman at F7 photography did a terrific job capturing the crowd, and Rachel put it into this beautiful, personalized thank you note.

Now, do I send a thank you for a thank you?

Capturing memories on canvas

This is one of our favorite bridal shots of the year. Beautiful work done by April Greer Photography. We decided to take this one step further and put this gorgeous print on canvas. At imagekind.com you can use your own photographs or select one of their lovely selection of stock photos. You choose the size you want and they ship it right to your door.

For a small 'happy' to send to your couple, you can order an approximate 6" x 10" canvas for $16.95! Even Santa would be proud of that buy.

Photographs are always in good taste. Say cheese!

Our South African Adventure in a smilebox

My husband and I recently took a glorious 5-week vacation to South Africa. Take a peek at it here. This is made by a neat little program called Smilebox. Enjoy!

Buh. Bye. Brown bag lunches.

Thank you, Milano. These cute little lunch totes are fantastic! Made of neoprene and available at Target for as little as $15, they make a perfect little Holiday 'happy' for friends in the office. Now you can carry that tuna fish sandwich in style.

Buh. Bye. Brown bags.

Just add bling.

Wow. That beautiful crystal company - Swarovski (swar-of-ski) has taken a basic USB key and made me want to buy it! (Or receive it!) One of my best friends is both a fashion nut and a high tech executive. Her daughter found this perfect combination of both and I couldn't resist sharing it here.

It's so pretty you almost forget that it is a work device.

Save the purses!

If you don't happen to be at an establishment that offers hooks to hang your precious purse - consider carrying one of these beautiful crystal handbag hangers. They're not only beautiful, but will help save that latest Dooney & Bourke. Find these and others at where else? Neiman Marcus.

Go ahead. Make their day.

"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."
- Winston Churchill

Were truer words ever uttered? At this time of year, I am reminded of those wise words more than usual. I have been so Blessed in many ways. I have known more love, heartache, despair, and joy than many. And I am so glad that I have learned that it truly is better to give than receive. Waaaaaay better.

So this Holiday season, consider filling your heart with joy by doing something kind for someone else. Pay it forward. It's amazingly simple and the rewards are immense.

When I recently returned from a magnificent 5-week trip to South Africa, my husband and I were waiting for our luggage at the airport. We saw some soldiers trying to pool their money together to get the $4.00 for a luggage trolley. When I handed them the money for the trolley, you would have thought I had given them a million dollars. They were so grateful it was incredible. Let's see? They have volunteered to risk their lives to keep me and my family safe and to protect our freedom. $4 to help them out? It was one of the highlights of my trip.

Here are some ideas from Steve Vogel (and a few of my own) to consider this Season.

• Tape money to a vending machine
• Pay the electric bill of someone standing in line to pay it at City Hall
• Buy stuffed animals and pass them out to sick kids in pediatrics or cancer wing of a local hospital
• Buy a cup of coffee or breakfast for a family or person
• Pay for someone's lunch in the drive-thru.
• Leave a $20 tip for an $8 dollar meal
• Buy a movie pass for two and give it to friends who could use a night out
• Find articles in the paper about people that are making a difference in your community - and do something nice for them
• Send someone a ticket to a lecture or course that he/she will enjoy
• Send someone a tape or CD of music they will enjoy
• Pay a highway toll for the person behind you
• Send money to someone who is experiencing financial difficulties
• Give a poor single Mom a Toys R Us giftcard
• Rake your elderly neighbor's yard
• Change oil, wash windows, babysit
• Leave some homemade soup on your neighbor's doorstep
• Leave the change you receive from the vending machine
• Call home

Remember, as Helen Keller so profoundly put it: "No one ever became poor by giving."