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Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Couture Chairs For Home Or Office
Looking for new and creative way to spice of your home or office for Spring and Summer without completely redoing a space? Consider a home-fashion-forward couture chair with style and pizazz. A couture chair can be bold, soft, curvy, classic, contemporary, or better yet, why not all of these? A new trend in home and office space design are couture chairs. Yes that's right, we said couture. Doesn't that word just roll of the tongue so nicely?
Afraid to step in with both feet? Here are some amazing pieces from Chair Couture that will show you just how easy it is to add some flair to your space without going overboard. Their entire concept is to "re-dress" vintage French and Italian pieces in bold, modern fabrics (and sometimes paints) making every bergere, fauteuil, settee and boudoir bench a striking one-of-a-kind art piece. They are designed to bring the outdoors indoors and become a focal point for contemporary environments. Don't look for any style numbers, with one of a kind there just are not any!
Since they are original French and Italian styling we decided to pair them with an upbeat contemporary version of Italian glass chandeliers from a beautiful designer in Milano Italy, Viaggio. The lighting pieces range anywhere in price from $795 to $6500.
The unemployment rate in the country seems to increase every week which means thousands of business professionals are finding themselves on the job hunting search once again. With so many out of work, how can you set yourself apart from the pack?
A rising new business trend for professionals is to create a video resume. A Seattle based company, 4th Avenue Media, is aiding professionals in the creation of video resumes. The team at 4th Avenue Media believes the only thing that sets you apart is your story. By integrating new media tools like web videos, websites, blogs and other social networking tools like Facebook, Linked In, Plaxo and others, you send a message to the employer that your technical and social skills will be an asset to their company.
The key to utilizing new media tools most effectively is to make certain that all content available online, including personal sites you may have on social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter & MySpace, are professional and non-incriminating. Screen all your online personal content including friends sites that may have anything questionable about you and remove all content and images that may translate a message you wouldn't want a potential employer to receive.
Once you've verified that all your social memberships are professionally representing you, create your video resume and place it on all social networking sites. You never know how a contact may lead to a potential job. Also, email your video resume in advance of your interview to your potential employer along with a paper copy of your resume. Your video resume will certainly set you apart from all the generic resumes in the employers inbox.
Clocklink is a website that is provides one simple or complex product, depending upon what you want - it is all about clocks for your website. These clocks are free and can be easily embedded in your web page or in your blog. All you need to do is simply paste the tag on your web page. You can choose a time zone for your clock so it will show the correct time, or choose our unique count down or count up clocks. So what time is it right now anyway?
The Netherlands based company, Royal Boon Edam Group Holding, has created the world's first energy generating revolving door that is currently installed at the Driebergen-Zeist railway station in Holland. The door stores power generated in a capicitor bank and illuminates LED lights in its ceiling, while a large scale display outside the building shows pedestrians how much overall power has been generated by the door. This commercialized door is not to be confused with the "Revolution Door" project which still remains a prototype.
We recently read about this innovative branding company from one of our favorite blogs, Mix Mingle & Glow, and we just had to share the idea with you. If you are looking for a new and innovative way to brand your company logo, name, icon or image then consider a Flogo. What is a flogo, you ask? SnowMasters research and development facility in northern Alabama became the home of what is now known as Flogos, or "logos that fly." A flogo is a cloudlike, balloonlike object created out of proprietary surfactant (soap) based foam formulations and lighter-than-air gases such as helium. Flogos are designed to last for as long as their visual impact is needed. Specific formulations are available to provide a life expectancy of a few minutes to an hour or so. The visual impact also greatly depends on atmospheric conditions such as wind and relative humidity. On average, Flogos last for 30 to 40 minutes. Flogos are Green and 100% environmentally safe.
The holidays are officially over and that means you probably have a whole new collection of digital family photos to weed through. And if you are anything like us, you take close to a thousand shots and later realize only a handful actually turn out. There are always those dozens of photos that must be deleted because Uncle Jim was making a funny face or Aunt Grace was looking away from the camera. If this sounds like you, then you are going to love the new technology available on the Sony Cyber-shot camera. The Sony Cyber-shot camera is equipped with a feature called Smile Shutter. All you have to do as the camera user is select the Smile Shutter mode and press the shutter button. When aimed at your subject, your camer will actually detect a smile and automatically snap a picture when a grin appears.
How great is this for doting parents and grandparents who take endless shots of a newborn baby in hopes to capture that first smile?
The economy is calling for all of us to "think creative" - More and more people are riding the scooter scene which is loaded with character from the classic original "Vespa" to the hot new entries in the market. Don't stop there - why not show YOUR style if you ride or are thinking of riding. It's just not "vanilla" anymore. The local Vespa store website is: http://www.vespaseattle.com/
Since you can easily customize your scooter - why not the helmet?
The helmet company, Ruby, designed by Honet, has painted a schizophrenic character he named: Pale Rider vs Surfin' Zombie." These are the tree helmet views at the bottom of the photo. The price tag on this pure style component is running anywhere from $500 to $1100. These are exclusive designs of the famous helmet designer in Paris. If you haven't checked these out - feast your eyes on their website: http://www.ateliersruby.com/. One of the closest dealers on the West Coast is VESPA OF CALIFORNIA. Enjoy the ride!
All of us at banquetevent.com have a hidden sweet tooth, so this ingenious idea we are about to share with you is right up our alley. eCreamery allows you to create custom flavored gelato and have it shipped right to your door, still frozen and ready to eat.
eCreamery’s ice cream & gelato artists can be found churning classic flavors and your own imaginative masterpieces in a small boutique ice cream parlor in the heart of the Midwest in Omaha, Nebraska. Their natural flair for exceptionally delicious & creative flavors has brought them recognition throughout the region!
The gelato is most definitely a spurge as the costs are pretty steep, but this unique idea does make a great gift for thoses with an affinity toward ice cream.
With all those holiday parties you'll be attending this year, here is a great idea for a hostess gift to accompany a great bottle of wine. Check out these completely eco-friendly wine bags from Grassroots Gallery. These stunning wine bags make a statement. Carefully crafted of sumptuous, eco-friendly handmade papers, the bags feature exquisite floral embossing, velvet flocking, hand silk-screened prints and real rose petals. The finishing touch are beautiful velvet or soft cotton handles, a mark of true distinction.
On The Plane, On the Train, In A Boat, While You Float
When it comes to event planners, we are often on the go, go, go, so reading the next great novel isn't always an easy task. Until now. It's already been endorsed by Oprah as her new favorite thing, and we must admit, the new Amazon Kindle is worth all the buzz.
Utilizing a new high-resolution display technology called electronic paper, Kindle provides a crisp black-and-white screen that resembles the appearance and readability of printed paper. The screen works using ink, just like books and newspapers, but displays the ink particles electronically. It reflects light like ordinary paper and uses no backlighting, eliminating the glare associated with other electronic displays. As a result, Kindle can be read as easily in bright sunlight as in your living room.The screen never gets hot so you can comfortably read as long as you like.
HP is introducing a whole new option for PC lovers. And even we Mac users have to admit, it's pretty darn cool. Meet the HP Touchsmart IQ804 and IQ816 All-in-One Desktop PC that works similarly to your iPhone or iPod touch, only it also has all the conveniences of features of a regular desktop computer.
What The Retailers Are Saying: Redesigned with a next-generation, touch-enabled 25.5-inch high-definition LCD screen, the HP TouchSmart IQ804 all-in-one desktop PC is designed to fit wherever life happens: in the kitchen, family room, or living room. With one touch you can check the weather, download your e-mail, or watch your favorite TV show. It's also designed to maximize energy, with a power-saving Intel Core 2 Duo processor and advanced power management technology, as well as material efficiency--right down to the packaging. It has a sleek piano black design with elegant espresso side-panel highlights, and the HP Ambient Light lets you set a mood--or see your keyboard in the dark.
The touch-enabled 25.5-inch widescreen BrightView LCD offers height/tilt adjustment for optimal viewing. It offers a native resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels. Video is powered by the Nvidia GeForce 9300M GS HD graphics/video card, which provides 256 MB of dedicated video RAM and offers up to 2047 MB of total available graphics memory as allocated by Windows Vista. Enabled by PureVideo HD, movies come to life with outstanding picture clarity, ultra-smooth video and vivid color. The lifelike images have up to six times the detail of standard DVD movies. Delivering state-of-the-art graphics performance, GeForce 9300M GS graphics card is sure to give you the power and performance you crave to play the hottest DirectX 9 and DirectX 10 titles. Its 16x full-screen antialiasing technology delivers superior quality along with astounding performance and since it's optimized for Windows Vista. The integrated audio card is configurable to 6-speaker surround sound, and it can provide two-channel audio via its integrated speakers.
Watch the ad below:
The Touchsmart is not available yet, but you can pre-order yours at Amazon.com.
There is just no denying it. The staff at banquetevent.com loves animals. And in honor of Halloween, which is just around the corner, we wanted to share some photos with you of an adorable dachshund named Honey. We dare you not to fall in love.
View more pictures of Honey and her furry friends, check out Honey's flickr site.
Are you planning on dressing up your pooch for Halloween? Send us your pictures and we'll post them on our blog! Email us.
We think you'll love this local website that helps you connect with local teachers so you can learn just about anything. Meet teachstreet.com where you can search for teachers of a certain craft in the Seattle and Portland area. So if you want to learn to sail, cook, sew, dance, play the piano or just about any other craft you can think of, Teach Street helps you find the skilled professionals in the area that can turn you into a pro yourself.
Once you have found a teacher you can then go onto teachstreet.com and write a review that will help others find a teacher that is right for them. We also like how the site recognizes what craft you want to learn and offers books about the similar trade that are available for you at Amazon.com.
Check out Teach Street and let us know what you think.
Rich beauty, sumptuous restaurants, monumental views, rich history and culture, a variety of accommodations, stunning outdoor recreation… Washington’s Capital Cities invite you to discover their abundance.
Since 1989, Espresso Elegance has provided Seattle and Portland with the finest espresso catering. Add a touch of class to any occasion by reserving today!
We strive to create professional, fun, energy filled, unforgettable events by infusing each celebration with the perfect mixture of the talent, creativity, expertise, interaction, and FUNERGY!
Where art and nature meet. Explore the possibilities of a place where urban sophistication meets outdoor adventure, where cutting edge art meets spectacular mountains and open waters.
Whether it's a business meeting, wedding or any other type of social gathering, your event demands the right ingredients like the right environment, a touch of something special and, of course, spectacular food.
A jewel in the heart of Tacoma’s Dome District, The Best Western Tacoma Dome Hotel offers Banquet and Meeting Space which can accommodate 10 to 150 guests.
Located in downtown Bellevue, Lincoln Square Cinemas is the Northwest’s premier cinema experience, offering first-run films with first-rate presentation and service for your own private screening or group event.
Troupe Hipnotica Tribal Belly Dance can transform any event into a festive and mysterious jouney with their unique fusion of entrancing dances set to global music.
You didn't think that was it did you? Check back later this week for more newbies at banquetevent.com!
At banquetevent.com we are continually adding new businesses and services to our site to assure that it is the most comprehensive event planning tool around. Here are just a few of the new businesses we've just added. Just click on the business name to learn more.
Colorific Kids Face Painting, Airbrush Tattoos, Hawaiian Shaved Ice, and make your own Sandy Candy Wands. Get one or all for your next event! See us at brecky.com.
Warrlight Engraving We specialize in custom etched, hand painted wine bottles for anniversaries, birthdays, corporate events and awards, weddings or any other special occasion you would like to remember.
Bottom Line Duo Take a break from hi-tech, pummel your senses modernity by giving your event a world class, organic, and old meets new world atmosphere.
Vince Van Vandervander The improvisational comedy stylings of Vince Van Vandervander come to life as audience members attempt to win prizes, glory, and fame.
Stella Color For years Stella Color in Seattle has been printing and producing large format digital projects for a variety of clients.
Sneak Peek: Attend the 2008 Northwest Event Show Tomorrow And Receive the 2009 Event Resource Guide - FREE!
That's right, just by attending the 2008 Northwest Event Show tomorrow at the Washington State Convention & Trade Center, you'll receive the 2009 Event Resource Guide as our complimentary gift ($14.95 value). The Event Resource Guide is jam-packed with tools and resources for the event planner in the Pacific Northwest. From caterers to venues to entertainers and speakers, the Event Resource Guide has it all.
B&E has published the Event Resource Guide for over a decade, but the 2009 edition is our first to be printed in full color. And we don't mean to brag or anything, but it's our best guide EVER!
Those that don't attend the Northwest Event Guide will have to wait for their copy, so come to the show and get yours hot of the press.
2008 Northwest Event Show Sponsor Highlight: Hollywood Lighting Inc. & PNTA
Don't you just love options? One of the greatest parts about the 2008 Northwest Event Show is that it presents you with so many qualified businesses and services that will meet your needs. Two of our sponsors, Hollywood Lighting Inc. and PNTA, for example, can take your event to new levels with regards to event production, lighting, sound, staging, and design. Just come to the Northwest Event Show, this upcoming Tuesday, for just a taste of what these two incredible companies can do.
A little more about them:
Hollywood Lighting has been a staple of the Northwest Event Show for many years, and each year they continue to amaze with their creativity and knowledgeable staff. Talk to anyone in the business and you'll learn that Hollywood Lighting will exceed your expectations. In 1994, they opened a Seattle office to service rentals and sales for the area. Today, they have a 9200 square foot showroom and warehouse between Safeco Field and Boeing Field. The showroom will make more supplies, expendables and equipment available for rental and sales to the theater, church and event community of Puget Sound. In 2002 they opened a Production Lighting Department in Seattle and now provide those services to the theater and corporate world.
PNTA may be new to the Northwest Event Show this year, but they are certainly not new to the world of event production. From their humble beginning in 1975 as the local, Seattle-area supplier of theatrical equipment and consumables, PNTA has expanded our staff and capabilities over the years to provide a wealth of services for customers across the country. While they still sell supplies and equipment for the theatrical and entertainment industries, now they do it both online and at their spacious new warehouse location at 615 S. Alaska Street. They also rent and repair equipment. PNTA's technical service people are experts at integrating and retrofitting system components to keep lighting control, sound and special effects equipment up and running. They also provide theatrical drapes and soft goods. Corporate, non-profit and private clients alike choose PNTA’s Event Services to help them host memorable events with a flair for the dramatic and a watchful eye to the details.
Come see these two incredible companies at the Northwest Event Show, September 23 at the Washington State Convention & Trade Center. Register NOW!
2008 Northwest Event Show Sponsor Highlight: Stella Color
We'd like to introduce you to another newbie at the Northwest Event Show this year, Stella Color. At Stella Color, it's all about making big ideas come to life, and doing it with eco-friendly techniques.
Stella Color has been a leader in the digital large format print industry since 1988, and is now helping to lead the way in exploring eco-friendly green printing processes in the large format digital printing world.
They offer a broad variety of digitally printed products and services. They print and produce convention and trade show displays, exhibit displays, indoor and outdoor signage, custom wall coverings for business and home, poster printing, advertising graphics, custom window displays, retail wall displays, vinyl vehicle graphics, and much more!
All of the signage at the 2008 Northwest Event Show will be printed by Stella Color, so we urge you to pay special attention to their quality and start thinking about the ways you can utilize Stella's services for own events or business needs.
2008 Northwest Event Show Sponsor Highlight: WestCoast Drape
We are pleased to welcome WestCoast Drape as an exhibitor in the Northwest Event Show for the first time. Drape and fabric has the ability to turn an ordinary room into an extraordinary display of creativity and design. With WestCoast Drape your options are truly limitless.
On New Year’s Day 2006 Wes Walterman, opened WestCoast Drape with an idea of creating a premier drape company. Walterman joined forces with Scott Galloway as VP of Operations and Sales to develop and honor standards of product value, business integrity, and customer service designed to eclipse the competition. From their home base in Portland, Oregon, they began working to set a new standard in pipe and drape rental. Today, WestCoast Drape has seven satellite offices throughout the western United States including Seattle, Phoenix, Portland, Los Angeles, Palm Springs, San Diego, and San Francisco.
WestCost Drape is the official drape provider for the 2008 Northwest Event Show. They will also be on hand to answer your questions and showcase their impressive portfolio and stock fabrics.
There are few things we hate more than a tangled weave of computer wires laying on our neat and tidy desks or tripping us up on the floor. That is why we are in love with the new Epson Workforce 40 Wi Fi printer. It never made sense to us why we would have a wireless labtop but have to move into our office every time we wanted to print.
The Epson Workforce 40 is engineered for the small business and home office. Get laser quality output at laser fast speeds for prints that make you look your best.
Better for your business, and your bottom line, the Epson WorkForce 40 printer blazes through critical documents at speeds about two times faster than those of competitive printers.1 Delivering laser quality text and brilliant color photos, it’s the perfect addition to your business team. In fact, with Wi-Fi® and Ethernet networking built in, you can easily share the WorkForce 40 with anyone in your office. And, with its small, compact design, it fits in even the smallest of spaces. Best of all, this budget-conscious performer offers an Extra High-capacity Black ink cartridge for high-volume printing at a price that’s sure to please.
Only three weeks now until the 2008 Northwest Event Show takes place at the Washington State Convention & Trade Center on September 23. Have you registered yet? If not, here are just a few of the reasons why you should...
It's 100% free to attend. That's right, the Northwest Event Show is free for all qualified meeting and event planners. Heck, even if you only plan one event a year, or have never planned an event before but have a major one coming up, this show is for you!
Not only is it free, but we'll also give you free stuff! Just for attending the show you'll receive the 2009 B&E Event Resource Guide as our complimentary gift. The guide retails for $14.95 in bookstores, and truly is the most comprehensive planning tool around. The best part is, the 2009 edition will be in FULL COLOR for the first time ever. And you'll be receiving it hot of the press!
The Northwest Event Show is occurring in conjunction with the 2008 SUMMIT INDUSTRY Meeting, also a first. If you are planning on attending the SUMMIT you'll get two great shows on one day.
You'll learn the latest Green Event Planning Tips. This year's event is going green and we have the best ideas and inspirations in town so you can plan greener events too.
Chances to win three weekend getaways to Skamania Lodge, Suncadia Resort, and Sunriver Resort complete with the royal treatment.
The exhibitors are top-notch! With over 250 booths you'll never get another chance like this to meet with the area's top event planning professionals, in one place, on one day. They are the best of the best in design, catering, entertainment, team building and more!
All the food your belly can take, and then a little more. You'll get to sample the best food Northwest caterers have to offer. It's definitely not a day to wear tight pants!
Have we convinced you yet? If so, head on over to nweventshow.com and register for the 2008 Northwest Event Show! You cannot afford to miss this spectacular event!
Have you heard about Pandora? It's the best new way to listen to music while you work. All you do is go to www.pandora.com, enter your favorite artist and a playlist will begin starting with a song from the artist of your choice. Then the next songs that play will be customized to predict the kind of music you like to listen to. Once a song begins to play, you can give it the "thumbs up" or the "thumbs down" and the more you rate music, the more Pandora knows what you like. Think of Pandora as a TiVo for music.
Pandora came from the Music Genome Project. Since they started back in 2000, they have been hard at work on the Music Genome Project. It's the most comprehensive analysis of music ever undertaken. Together their team of fifty musician-analysts have been listening to music, one song at a time, studying and collecting literally hundreds of musical details on every song. It takes 20-30 minutes per song to capture all of the little details that give each recording its magical sound - melody, harmony, instrumentation, rhythm, vocals, lyrics ... and more - close to 400 attributes! Pandora continues this work every day to keep up with the incredible flow of great new music coming from studios, stadiums and garages around the country.
The best part about Pandora, is its all free and you can make as many playlists as you'd like.
You can also download Pandora to select phones available through AT&T and Sprint including the apple iPhone.
Football season is just around the corner and you know what that means...Tailgating! If you are the king (or queen) of tailgating, we have just the thing for you. Tailgating Innovations was born of necessity. People are tired of spending their time preparing and cleaning up at sporting events rather than enjoying themselves with friends and family. Tailgating Innovations went to work researching just what makes a great tailgating experience... the ultimate tailgating experience - now you can have that too!
Tailgating Innovations trailers are decked to the nines with a tongue mounted grill with a pivot arm, satellite dish, rear and side doors for easy internal access, rubberized coin flooring, cabinets for storage, electrical outlets, internal e-tracks for secure hauling, internal lighting, smooth aluminum exterior and wheels. The trailer also comes with a 1080p (FHDTV) flatscreen and a high-tech sound system to wow the socks right off your friends.
Prices start at $12,500 as everything is fully customizable.
There are some things that we come across that just crack us up and this is definitely one of them. Meet zeralights, the creators of fiber optic fashion accessories. That's right, just like their website says, zeralights brings sparkle to fashion accessories.
Zeralights is the creative inspiration of Barbara Sears Nelson, a Colorado native who currently lives in Denver. After multitude attempts, the day finally dawned allowing her to market her own creations combining sparkle design with products made from Luminex fiber optic fabric.
Now, while the actual fashion accessories are a bit "out there" we do however like the options zeralights offers for events. Check out the below table and chair linens and wine glass accessory.
College is a great time for any young (and sometimes, not so young) person. But, with all the rising costs, college and all the expenses that come along with it can make you feel pressed for cash. So, whenever a student can pinch a few extra dollars and save them for a rainy day, they are more than willing do what it takes to save.
If you know someone about to enter college this Fall or know someone who is already in the thralls of learning, we have a completely fantastic online tool you NEED to share with them.
Meet Flat World Knowledge. Flat World Knowledge preserves the best of the old textbooks by leading experts that are rigorously reviewed and developed to the highest standards. Then they flip it all on its head. All of their textbooks are free online. They offer convenient, low-cost choices for students – print, audio, by-the-chapter, and more. The textbooks are open for instructors to mix, mash, and make their own. The other part this is great about Flat World Knowledge is that an online social learning network is automatically created every time you open a chapter to read, because you can also see who is reading the same chapter (even if they are across the globe) and ask them questions if you need help understanding what you are reading. How cool is that?
To learn more about Flat World Knowledge, watch the video below.
Got a theme for your next event? Here is one you may not have thought about. Lately we've been noticing some furry friends hopping, crawling, swimming, and flying into event theme decor. That's right, event table decor is taking it to the animals.
We found just a few examples at one of our favorite independent art websites, Elsewares. Check out these letterpressed coasters below from Sesame Letterpress. Sesame Letterpress is a letterpress studio in Brooklyn, NY (right under the Brooklyn Bridge, actually!). It's there that husband and wife Matt Heindl and Breck Hostetter make all their letterpress goodness.
We also loved these studio salad plates from Working Glass Studio. A fresh new concept in the art of dining. These sturdy, colorful, square salad plates are made of lightweight melamine. They're a perfect choice for outdoor dining or to combine with other tableware for an eclectic mix. Sold individually so you can build your own set! Working Class Studio is the product development arm of the Savannah College of Art and Design, giving students real world experience designing and marketing home accessories and lifestyle products.
Lastly, check out these totally chic and incredibly unique serving trays from IBride (below). These trays combine magical imagery with intricate lattice work, and are perfect for serving the special friends in your life, or hanging on your wall as a stunning accent. Each tray is constructed to last using a century old technique which applies high pressure laminate to an environmentally friendly, recycled wood core. They are sturdy and gorgeous, and when we heard how they were made, we had to have them.
Ibride is an innovative French design team led by three members of the same family. The century old technique used to create their gorgeous and intricate trays uses recycled wood and gives it new life as a functional tray or home accent.
Hey all you iPhone users....Did you know your iPhone can actually help you save gas by tracking your mileage. In this day and age, we are all penny-pinchers. Wherever we can save a few extra dollars we try to take advantage of it. There are three applications available for your iPhone that can actually help put money back in your pocket. Here are our favorites...
AccuFuel Fuel Efficiency Tracker - Monitor fuel use by tracking how your driving habits affect your fuel efficiency. You can even track more than one car.
Price $0.99
CarStat - CarStat is a replacement for that little white book that all of our dads used to keep track of the car's mileage. Anytime you fillup your car or take it in for service, record what was done. You can then have CarStat compute a number of different stats on the data.
Price: $1.99
FuelGauge - FuelGauge is a simple little app that does about what you would expect, it helps you keep track of the milage you are getting out of your vehicle. The Miles Per Gallon.
We think you'll love the DIY website creator, Wetpaint. Wetpaint lets you build a rich, online community around whatever-it-is that you’re really into. Utilizing the best features of wikis, blogs, forums and social networks, Wetpaint mixes everything you need so you can create, collect, and organize content on your own social website. The best part is you can create a completely advanced and sophisticated website and it's all FREE. What better way to chronicle your upcoming event than to build a community around your efforts and allow other event planners to pitch in?
If you don't feel like building your own website, you can also join a pre-existing site that is already created by another person with your same interests. Just use the search box up in the top right-hand corner and see who’s already started a page around any particular topic you would like to get involved in. Wetpaint is a great way to connect with other event planners and share ideas and experiences.
Click the video below to learn more about Wetpaint...
Living green is really about taking advantage of alternative methods of doing everyday activities. Whenever we hear about a new and improved way of doing ordinary things, we just have to share them with you. We recently heard about a company based out of Orange County California that is changing the way families and business pack and move to new locations. Meet EarthFriendlyMoving, the do-it-yourself pack and move solution that allows you to rent packing eco-friendly packing supplies. EarthFriendlyMoving recycles all of those hard-to-recycle colorful plastic bottles from under your kitchen sink, laundry room and garage shelves- like bleach bottles, household cleaning products, dishwashing and laundry detergent to make the famous: RecoPack™
The word RecoPack™ is short for "Recycled Ecological Packing Solution." Made in five consumer friendly sizes, these lightweight, stackable containers are rented to relocating households for a buck a box per week.
Following the move, the Recopacks are picked-up at customers’ new home by a fleet of vegetable oil powered trucks, cleaned, sanitized and then rented out to another customer.
EarthFriendlyMoving is currently operating in Orange County and Long Beach, and will expand throughout Southern California and then nation wide over the next three years. To learn more about EarthFriendlyMoving, click here.
Since Seattle and other Northwest cities like Bremerton and Everett rest along the shores of the Puget Sound, we have the opportunity to watch cargo ships enter and leave our ports, attributing to our area's economy. Our offices are located in West Seattle, so each day we drive parallel to Elliott Bay where hundreds of goods are transported each day. With as much action as our waters undergo, one has to wonder what effect each ship has on our environment. Recently we came across something quite unique that could change the way cargo ships travel from port to port. Meet SkySails. That's right, just like a sailboat moves through the waters by the force of wind against its sails, now the same energy source is being used to move large vessels.
It's a simple fact: wind is cheaper than oil and the most cost-effective offshore energy source. Yet, despite its attractive saving potential, it is not presently being used by cargo ships - for a simple reason: so far no sailing system has met the requirements of commercial shipping.
SkySails is now offering a wind propulsion system based on large towing kites, which, for the first time, meets the requirements of shipping companies. By using the SkySails-System, a ship‘s fuel costs can be reduced by 10- 35% on annual average, depending on wind conditions. Under optimal wind conditions, fuel consumption can temporarily be reduced by up to 50%.
So the next time you drive past a water port, be on the lookout for a "sailing" ship. You never know what the wind might bring.
If you've ever seen the CBS show Survivor you've probably seen the contestants travel to a water source and boil the water they collect before they can drink it in order to decontaminate and filtrate the water from bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungi and all other microbiological waterborne pathogens. You may have even gone camping before and had to do this yourself. Now, for the first time ever, comes a water bottle that produces filtered sterile drinking water quickly and easily. The LIFESAVER bottle is the first ultra filtration water bottle that incorporates LIFESAVER systems’ unique failsafe technology (another world first) which shuts off the bottle’s cartridge upon expiry, preventing contaminated water from being drunk. With LIFESAVER bottle there is no need for tablets, boiling, chemicals, tubes, shaking, scrubbing, waiting or effort. LIFESAVER bottle produces clean, sterile drinking water with no foul taste - fast!
The LIFESAVER bottle was developed as a response to the tragedy that unfolded due to lack of safe drinking water after the tsunami in December 2004 and the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. The LIFESAVER bottle has been designed to help save lives supplying people with clean pathogen-free drinking water.
The LIFESAVER bottle retails for $229, which may sound expensive, but as important as clean water is to your health, isn't it worth a few extra dollars?
We recently got a tip from one of our readers about a great new party ice-breaker called Mikon Mixers. Mikon Mixers are iconic stickers that event attendees and party-goers stick on their nametags that describe their personality traits and skills. They make great conversation ice-breakers. The website has a simple drag-and-drop application and thousands of images to choose from. (See below).
There are two ways to use MikonMixers at your event... (1) Free Form: At large events like Conferences, they are used a personal identifiers and people can freely meet other attendees. (2) Mixers - Meet and Greet: At smaller networking or social events you can use a more structured technique to encourage guests to meet. Click here to get the instructions. Generally, the attendees are asked to select the stickers that match them and the organizer instructs the group to find another person, and pick a mikon sticker and talk about it. The organizer should limit each conversation to 7 to 10 minutes then have the guests rotate to another person.
Today we have a completely non-business and non-event planning story for you all -- just for fun. We at banquetevent.com love animals (as most people living in the Northwest do) so when it comes to one our own pets, we basically consider them family members. This week, one of our staff members, Alexis, went through quite an ordeal with her cat, Gus, also known as "The Fat One." Gus was staying at a friend's house for the week, because Alexis is selling her house and she was worried he might sneak out during an open house. This is where our story begins.
Alexis' friend, a city dweller, lives in a 4-story condo unit on a very busy street. She also lives on the top floor. (See picture below). When she returned home she saw that her window, which she had left about a foot open, was missing its screen. That wasn't the only thing missing. Gus was gone too.
In a panic, she called Alexis and her husband and asked them to hurry over to start looking for Gus. When they arrived, and to make matters worse, Alexis' car broke down and at 10 o'clock in the evening they had to get it towed across town. After a few hours, and to no avail, Alexis and and her husband returned home, Gus-less.
For the next four days, "missing" posters were placed around nearby blocks, the shelters were notified, and the veterinarian offices were contacted, but still no Gus. By the end of the week, they were pretty much certain Gus was gone.
That afternoon, however, Alexis' friend got a call from a neighbor in her building saying they had found a black and white cat nearby and had placed him in the building's large recycle bin so he wouldn't escape. Alexis' husband hurried over and sure enough, sitting in a pile of filth, was Gus, the flying wonder cat.
Now, anyone who knows Gus, knows he's a tad (okay, alot) overweight, sweet but not active, and would much prefer lounging the days away sitting in the sunshine, rather than jumping out of 4-story buildings and cruising around the city for a week. It's most likely that he fell or slipped and suddenly found himself on the outside looking in. We're all just amazed that a cat could fall that far and survive, but animals are amazing creatures.
After taking him home and giving him a bath, Gus seems to be very happy to be in the safe compounds of his own domain, and we're pretty sure, he's been sharing his adventure, in cat language of course, to the other household pets. It all goes to show you the animals we consider to be our little angels must have angels of their own.
We're not here to debate whether cats or dogs are better than the other, because quite frankly, they are both delightful in their own way, but here is a little perspective on the difference between how cats and dogs see the world. This Diary was sent to us a while back and we hope you get a kick out of it as much as we did.
Dog Diary & Cat Diary
DOG DIARY
8:00 am - Dog food! My favorite thing! 9:30 am - A car ride! My favorite thing! 9:40 am - A walk in the park! My favorite thing! 10:30 am - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing! 12:00 PM - Lunch! My favorite thing! 1:00 PM - Played in the yard! My favorite thing! 3:00 PM - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing! 5:00 PM - Milk bones! My favorite thing! 7:00 PM - Got to play ball! My favorite thing! 8:00 PM - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing! 11:00 PM - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!
CAT DIARY
Day 983 of my captivity.
My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects.
They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength. The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet.
Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of, however, they merely made condescending comments about what a "good little hunter" I am. Jerks!
There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of "allergies." I must learn what this means and how to use it to my advantage.
Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow -- but at the top of the stairs.
I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released - and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded.
Introducing The New and Improved Washington State Convention & Trade Center
As you may have heard us mention, once or twice, the 2008 Northwest Event Show is going green! In honor of our Emerald City, the Northwest Event Show will showcase green event planning methods, decor, tips and trends to make your own green event planning ever the more simple and easy-to-do. To start off, the 2008 Northwest Event Show will be held in one of the greenest event venues in the city, the Washington State Convention & Trade Center. Located in the center of one of the most environmentally progressive cities in the nation, the Washington State Convention & Trade Center (Center) has long been an industry leader in energy conservation and recycling.
Here is the short list on how the WSCTC stays green...
1. They continue to invest our resources into renovation projects to make the facility even more efficient
2. The Center’s lighting systems to replace older equipment with more efficient fixtures, resulting in savings of over 3,000,000 kWh per year
3. New touchless faucets and self-flushing toilets are being installed throughout the facility to reduce water consumption
4. Tons of food scraps, food soiled paper and disposable service items are separated from
trash and recyclable materials and sent for composting instead of to local landfills
5. The new meeting facility at 800 Pike will achieve LEED Silver Certification following completion of renovations in 2010
The Washington State Convention & Trade Center is doing their part to preserve the city and world we live in. To read even more about what the WSCTC is doing, click below for their "GREEN NEWSLETTER."
Sometimes in this new green-friendly world, it is easy to wonder what part you can make as an individual. But the truth of the matter is that the best way to make your contributions to sustaining the earth is to make small commitments and changes to your every day lives. Here is one way to start.
Let's face it, Seattleites love their morning cup of java. Whether you get your cup at Starbucks or Seattle's Best or Tully's or even the local stand in your office, each time you order a piping hot cup of joe, your barista most likely also includes a cardboard sleeve to protect your hands from being burned. Just think how many of these paper products are used and thrown away each day.
Now comes a reusable alternative to the cardboard sleeves. CupKozy, available through Etsy, creates new cup sleeves made of felt, chosen for its superior insulating properties. They will fit most 12, 16 and 20 oz. disposable coffee cups, and the best part is they are reusable day after day.
And we think they are pretty darn stylish too. See what you think below.
Whenever we hear about a company that is conducting green business practices, we like to toot their horn a little for them. The FritoLay Company, known for salty snacks and chips, has made huge changes in their everyday business methods to conduct greener practices. Since 1999, FritoLay has reduced their use of water by 39%, natural gas by 30%, and electricity by 22% for each bag of snacks they make. They have also dedicated Green Teams at all of their manufacturing facilities who are focused on finding ways to optimize operations and reduce consumption of resources. By making changes to their overall facilities and fleet, they are able to prevent over 96 million pounds of CO2 emissions from reaching the atmosphere each year.
And if you are still thinking that FritoLay's tasty snacks are still really bad for you, think again. You may have noticed the introduction of FritoLay's natural line including the American classic, Cheetos. That's right, Frito-Lay now makes “natural” Cheetos with organic corn meal, and no preservatives or artificial colors. Sure, a carrot would still be a better choice, but if you ever get the craving for a cheesy bag of goodness, at least you don't need to feel as guilty.
In June, the City of Seattle launched a new program called Bike Smart Seattle, a campaign designed to encourage more Seattleites to ditch their cars for their two-wheeled rider. This summer Bike Smart Seattle will bring neighborhoods an exciting program of group rides, repair clinics, and special bike-oriented events to help Seattle residents overcome hesitations about cycling and promote it as a transportation option.
At its onset, Bike Smart will start in the northwest and central east sections of Seattle, but will eventually be implemented citywide. If you live in these areas, you may have already received a postcard that can be returned for a free bicycle kit containing a calendar of events, citywide bike map, safety information and other helpful materials.
“With the high price of gas and climate change concerns, bicycling should be a transportation option for local trips,” said Grace Crunican, director of SDOT. “Bike Smart Seattle will help create excitement about using bicycles to get around - whether going to the library, meeting a friend for coffee, or picking up groceries at a farmer’s market. As regular riders already understand, bicycling is a fun and healthy way to experience your neighborhood.”
For more information about Bike Smart Seattle, contact Serena Lehman at 206-957-4439.
All of us at banquetevent.com love technology. So whenever something new and improved, hit the market, we're all over it. This new television design from SONY is one of our newest favorites.
Sony's OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) TV, the XEL-1, is truly the next big thing in television technology. It boasts a 3 millimeter thin panel and offers unparalleled picture quality with amazing contrast, outstanding brightness, exceptional color reproduction, and a rapid response time. OLED creates unmatched color expression and detail and enables rapid response times for smooth and natural reproduction of fast moving images like those found in sports and action movies. The XEL-1 features the latest connectivity options including two HDMI™ inputs, a digital tuner, and a Memory Stick® media slot for viewing high-resolution photos.
Why is the OLED so thin? OLED TV’s are incredibly slim because organic material directly emits light so OLED display panels do not require a thick backlight or complex construction like other flat panel technologies.
What is so great about OLED? What’s so great about OLED– Lots! Blazing fast response times, wide viewing angles, exceptional color reproduction, outstanding contrast levels, and high brightness. The nature of its technology lends itself to extremely thin and lightweight designs along with the ability to use it in a variety of different applications. OLED is the holy grail of TV display technologies!
How much does it cost? Quite frankly, too much (for now). The 11" OLED costs roughly $2500.
This Friday the newly priced and improved Apple iPhone 3G will be released featuring two size options, one 16 GB ($299) and one 8 GB ($199). With fast 3G wireless technology, maps with GPS, support for enterprise features like Microsoft® Exchange, and the new App Store, iPhone 3G puts even more amazing features in your hands. iPhone 3G also has a sleek new design and is available in black or white. And just like the original iPhone, it combines three products in one—a revolutionary phone, a widescreen iPod®, and a breakthrough Internet device with rich HTML email and full web browsing. According to Apple, this mobile device is the ideal phone for conducting business.
We're curious, of those who have already purchased the Apple iPhone, what are the features you like the most? Is it really as revolutionary as the ads say?
Weigh in below.
Click here to find out what you need to do before purchasing the Apple iPhone 3G.
Do you remember how the elderly gentlemen in many classic films wore tailored suits and checked the time with an elegant pocket watch? Or perhaps even your own grandfather used one. We love to see a fusion of traditional pieces with modern updates and this concept pocket watch from designer Adam Huffman gives us a glance into the future of the modern gentleman's pocket watch.
Featuring a round OLED touchscreen, the Colbalt not only serves to convey the time and date but it also features voicemail, email and texting capabilities thanks to integrated Bluetooth connectivity. It also comes complete with voice recognition software allowing for voice commands and voice messaging.
The Cobalt is only in concept form, meaning the product has not been created for sale yet, but we assume this modern take on a timeless piece (no pun intended) will see the light of day soon enough. And we certainly hope it does.
Condo living is becoming more and more popular in big cities. As a result, individuals are finding themselves in beautiful high rises with incredible views, but small square footage. As the norm, city dwellers also tend to be focused on fitness and health. This is one of the reasons they like living in the city because it gives them the opportunity and excuse to walk more rather than take a car or other form of motorized transportation. But if a city dweller, who is also devoted to fitness, wants to workout, and prefers the privacy of their home for additional exercise, how are they supposed to comfortably fit a home gym in such tight quarters? This is a question Life Fitness had when they went to Gabriel Prero asking for a new design for urban spaces. Gabriel Prero is an industrial designer, who turns incredible concepts into realities. With the task at hand, Prero came up with the below sleek and stylish Otto-Bench, which also doubles as an inconspicuous long modern ottoman. We're impressed. See what you think.
How often have you played a round of golf, and by the third hole you begin to get anxious for the food and beverage cart to make a visit? It happens all the time. There is something about golf (perhaps it's all the yelling at the ball to stay in the fairway and not the bunker) that makes you parched after just a short while. If this sounds familiar, let us introduce you to the Designated Driver. The Designated Driver is a nifty golf club drink dispenser. The head of the Designated Driver Kooler Klub looks just like a real club! The shaft of the club champ fits easily into your golf bag and holds 48 ounces of cold or hot beverages (enough to satisfy a thirsty foursome). A keg-like pump mechanism on the cooler club dispenses the juice from the insulated drink caddy out the top.
Candles add an extremely elegant touch to your evening event. In low light, the gentle flicker of candles sets the stage for a blissful evening. But, unfortunately, due to safety concerns, many event facilities do not allow candles to be used on site. So what are you to do if you had your heart set on a hundred flickering lights?
Meet Ashley Danae Designs. Ashley Danae Designs creates flameless candles that are made of wax and have a deliciously light vanilla scent. The candle’s "flame" flickers like a real candle, but instead of burning down to the wick, you need only a fresh pair of batteries to recharge their light. Unless you walk right up to the candle and pick it up, you have no idea the candle is not real and the best part is you'll never have to replace it.
Ashley Danae's candles also come in a wide variety of colors, patterns and styles. Just check out some of the samples below.
We love searching the web for the best event planning blogs out there. Inspiration comes from many sources and we'd like to share some of our recent favorites with you to check out also.
We love DIY (Do-It-Yourself) projects. Whenever we find a way to let our creativity flow we love to share it with you. As event planners, innovation is key and any outlet that allows us to showcase our creative spirit is a huge bonus. If you are an artist at heart, you'll love this fabulous service that allows you to showcase your artwork like the pros. Zazzle custom canvas prints are printed using the latest and most advanced technologies to give you the most vibrant colors and highest detail possible. Design your own museum masterpieces from your paintings, digital art and photography that can be enjoyed for generations to come.
You can choose from matte or gloss canvas. Both options are fade resistant and available in 5 different sizes. All you have to do is download zazzle's design-and-drop tool to prepare your file. You can add text, adjust colors and finalize your artwork until it's literally picture perfect! Plus it ships in 24 hours so you can upload today and receive your artwork by tomorrow.
Just think how great it would be to have a family portrait printed on canvas and placed on the mantel above your fireplace. Or how about a painting of your favorite destination spot so you can dream about a vacation even in the drawls of a Northwest rainstorm. Whatever you do, be creative and choose a piece that reflects your personality or something you hold dear to your heart. These make a great gift to.
If the canvas prints are a little out of your budget or you'd like to give it a try in a smaller format, try zazzle's DIY posters too. See below.
Planet Green is the first and only 24-hour eco-lifestyle television network with a robust online presence and community. This new all green network launched yesterday and on-air content will reach 50 million homes with more than 250 hours of original green lifestyle programming. Both online and on-air, Planet Green's content is entertaining, relevant, and accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds. By representing a broad range of ideas and perspectives, Planet Green is taking an active role in generating conversation and motivating individuals to take action when it comes to improving the environmental status of our planet.
Click here to find the channel in your area where Planet Green will air.
At banquetevent.com our goal is to scoop out hot new items that solve everyday problems. Here are a few of our latest finds.
If you are like us and often pack your lunch to work everyday, you just may need to invest in this cool (and we literally mean, cool) mini-fridge. Just sit it on your desk and it keeps your soda cool all day long. A must for the office, dorm room, or car (it plugs into your cigarette lighter!), these small fridges are sized to hold about 6 soda cans perfectly. This mini-fridge is available at Wishing Fish and retails for $130.
With the warm summer months just around the corner, who doesn't like to cool off with a delicious bowl of ice cream. With the Ice Cream Ball you can kick around a ball outside and in 20 minutes, enjoy a bowl of home made ice cream. The act of kicking the ball churns the ice cream and in just minutes, you can enjoy an ice cold creamy blend of your favorite flavor. Retails for $29.99 and available at Target.
Why spend hundreds on clunky vacuum-seal appliances? The Keepeez LIDS turn your existing dishes - or even jars and cans - into vacuum-sealing containers. Available in many sizes, all you have to do is place a lid on top of your bowl, dish or jar, lightly press the center with your finger, and the lid instantly attaches to the rim of any surface. Travel to potlucks and parties without leaks and spills. Say goodbye to plastic wrap and messy leaks and spills. Retails for $3.49 to $12.99 and available through Keepeez.
We think you'll love this innovative and sheik wine decanter, the Nuance Wine Finer. anish designers combine an aerator, filter, non-spill pourer, and stopper into one do-it-all instrument the size of a fountain pen. Just insert the Nuance Wine Finer into your bottle and pour. Wine flows through 32 aeration vents while an inner stainless steel screen filters out sediments and cork. Stand your bottle upright and the pourer catches any drips. Top your Wine Finer with the stopper to enjoy a glass later. Four functions, one amazing invention. Body made of solid silicon; pourer and stopper tip made of stainless steel. Dishwasher Safe. Retails for $39.95 and available at Wine Enthusiast.
You may have noticed recent advertisements for the Starbucks Coffee Company's latest addition, cocoa! Together, Starbucks Coffee Company and The Hershey Company have created chocolates that are crafted with high-quality, flavorful cacao from around the world and then blended with premium natural ingredients, authentic Starbucks® coffee, Tazo tea and other authentic coffeehouse flavors.
Starbucks and The Hersey Company are working to make a positive difference in the world’s cacao-growing regions. As part of this commitment and shared values, The Hershey Company has begun to pilot and implement Cocoa Practices, in addition to the company’s current responsible sourcing initiatives. Cocoa Practices is Starbucks sustainable cocoa purchasing guidelines for Starbucks branded products, including Starbucks Chocolate. The effort encourages best practices in cocoa production among farmers, processors and exporters. The two companies are evaluating, identifying and supporting producers of quality, sustainably grown cacao.
We'd like to introduce you to First Blush juice, the 100% natural fruit juice in three varietal grape flavors including Cabernet, Merlot and Chardonnay. First Blush juices are sugar free with no preservatives and also contain antioxidants. The juices are also gluten, caffeine and alcohol free and are good sources of potassium and manganese.
Here is a little more information about each flavor:
Cabernet:: The juice from Cabernet grapes is delicious and nutritious. The flavors and aromas of blackberry, black cherry and black currant emerge as each bottle is opened. However, there’s more than great taste inside the bottle: The Cabernet has the most antioxidant power of any juice in th Blush line. The darker the grape, the higher the ORAC score.
Merlot:: Merlot grapes produce an easy drinking juice. There are subtle currant, cherry, plum and vanilla aromas and flavors in each and every bottle. Our Merlot juice tastes great and nourishes your body with its potent antioxidants and high ORAC score.
Chardonnay:: Chardonnay grapes produce a distinct but delicate juice. The refreshingly crisp, clean flavors and aromas of peach, apricot and apples are in every bottle. It is good for you and easy on your digestion.
First impressions are what counts in business. So often customers make a snap judgment on your ability to provide the service they need based on what may seem to you to be trivial matters. But, how trivial are they if they keep you from landing an important account? One of the best first impressions you can make is with your business card. Yes it's true, a 3.5" x 2" piece of paper can make or break it for your future customer relations. Your business card can either speak volumes about your style, creativity, personality and know-how or it can make you look out-of-date, cheap, or even stupid. So pull out your business card and take a good hard look at it. Does it need a makeover? If so, read some tips and tricks from Entrepreneur.com on how you can revamp your business card.
1. Incorporate foil accents. These elegant accents can add an artistic flair and make your words "pop" off the cardstock. 2. Add some color. Full-color backings are popular right now. Also, depending on your industry, unique, colorful illustrations or images can leave a lasting impression. 3. Use both sides. The back of the card, which was previously uncharted territory, can be used for more than just contact details. Include a special offer, highlight your website, insert a calendar or insert an appointment slot. 4. Try hi-tech. Worried you forgot to mention important details in your last meeting with a potential client? Then leave them with a CD. Another up-and-coming way to market your business is the USB business card. Print your contact information on a USB thumb drive and share as many files and images as you want. 5. Go vertical. If you're looking for a way to stand out, try giving your layout a 90-degree turn. Crowe says she's seen more clients choosing to print vertically instead of the traditional horizontal layout. 6. Stick with a traditional size. Though our experts recommend experimenting with the layout, they say you should stick with the traditional 3.5-by-2-inch business card dimensions. That way, they fit easily into your client's Rolodex or wallets. 7. Give your card texture.Hawthorne Leather Goods LLC, which manufactures leather goods under the brand Rawlings Sports Accessories, makes business cards out of authentic Rawlings baseball glove leather. The company says recipients of the cards have an emotional response thanks to the scent and feel of the baseball leather. 8. Get social. High-school age teens venture into Staples to create social networking cards that include information like Facebook and MySpace links. If your business uses social networking as a marketing tool, consider displaying that information on your cards.
We'd like to introduce you to some everyday home decor items with a twist. Below we'll post some images of these items. See if you can guess what they are made of. Find the answers below the image.
Item #1: The Placemat
You may not believe it, but this intricately woven placemat is made of recycled candy wrappers. That's right, if you look closely you'll see the familiar logos of the tasty treats you've been eating for years. This placemat is fun, playful, totally recycled, and calorie-free, to boot! Pick yours up for $26 at VivaTerra.com.
Item#2: Decorative Bowls
You'll never guess what these handcrafted decorative bowls are formed from. Inventive natural sculptor Margaret Dorfman brilliantly transforms edibles into luminescent vessels. Building her bowls slice by slice from fresh produce, Dorfman presses each one into durable parchment, which she hand-shapes to resemble large, bright undulating flowers with vivid repeating patterns. Invisibly coated to maintain their vibrant translucent colors, the bowls comfortably hold a votive candle in a cup. The bowls above are made from Zucchini, Papaya and Beets. Retails for $42 and available at VivaTerra.com
Item #3: Lamps
This is one of our favorite works of “nature."
Founded in 1995 by Frank Lefebvre, Bleu Nature is a craft-based business located near Lille, in Northern France. Their principal material is driftwood, but they also use pebbles, lacquered wood, lacquered metal, leather, skins and petrified wood to create incredible home decor items. These pieces may be made in France, but they fit perfectly into the Northwest style.
We'd like to introduce you to the OBELISK - A unique form of stacked furniture perfect for your garden, patio, office, or lounge area.
The OBELISK is a sculpture that turns any space into an artistic gallery, as a whole or in five unique pieces. Designed by Dutch designer, Frank Ligthart, the Obelisk is manufactured by Dedon, known for their unique and conceptual furniture pieces. This particular design is our favorite because of the unique way it opens and becomes an unbelievable sitting area for any space. See how it works below.
A recent article in New York Magazine caught our attention, and it had nothing to do with the actual article. Adam Sternbergh wrote an article about the negative affects shoes are having on our feet. The theory held by many doctors is that walking around barefoot all the time would be much better for our foot health. As interesting as the article is, we couldn't get over the images throughout the article. Check out the the photos below. Notice anything out of the ordinary?
As great as these shoes are, you can't buy them, because they are merely airbrushed paintings applied by tattoo and airbrush artists, Temptu. Pretty amazing, no?
Two new crepe restaurants have opened in Seattle you need to give a try.
The first crepe company is called Unicorn Crepes, named after the shape of the crepe cone. This Japanese craze comes by cooking the crepes on a French griddle and then filling the center with flavors and fillings you would never expect. Sure, everyone loves a sweet crepe filled with whipped cream, fruit or syrup, but how about a chili cheese dog crepe, or perhaps a pizza crepe? Sound interesting? We think so. Among the flavors mentioned you can also order teriyaki, tuna salad, or dessert crepes filled with cornflakes. Be daring, you never know what you might discover in your own neighborhood.
Visit Unicorn Crepes421 Sixth Ave SouthSeattle, WA 206-652-0637
The second crepe restaurant you need to visit is called La Cote Creperie. Paris native, Laurent Gabrel has brought a piece of his French culture straight to Seattle. We suggest the buckwheat crepe filled with Yukon potatoes and proscuitto. Other fillings to indulge in include shrimp, homemade sauces, french cheeses and unique spreads like chestnut or lemon.
Visit La Cote Creperie and you'll instantly be transported (at least in your mind) from the Seattle streets straight to Paris.
Visit La Cote Creperie today at 2811 East Madison Street, Seattle206-323-9800
If you love to cook and often use recipe books to create your fabulous feasts, we've got a whole new kind of recipe book to share with you. It comes from Taste Book, a Do It Yourself company that allows you to select the recipes you want to include in your customized book from a collection of pre-written recipes, add recipes you've created on your own, and select and modify the title, cover, images and more. Each recipe book is a hardcover masterpiece filled with the recipes you love. How often do you a buy a recipe book and only actually cook a handful. Now you can select the recipes in your cookbook so its only filled with dishes you love to cook and eat.
As you know, we publish the Event and Wedding Resource Guides for the Puget Sound, so when we see a great idea in publishing, we must share. This would make an excellent gift for someone who loves to cook or as a special treat just for yourself. It's beautiful presented with organized tabs and allows you to add on more recipes at any time. Be sure to watch the special video presentations on their site to find out more.
This Cinco de Mayo, trade in your margaritas for a delicious new soda made in Seattle. You may have seen this new soda company popping up in places you've visited as of late. We had the pleasure of tasting samples offered at a local Nordstrom, and were pleasantly surprised at just how delicious and refreshing these flavored sodas were. We think they would make an excellent addition to your spring event. The sodas come from DRY Soda Co. a Seattle based bottling company. According to DRY Soda Co., they "offer today’s consumer a modern alternative in refreshment — a line of all-natural, lightly sweet sodas, flavored with fruit or herb extracts, and sweetened with a small amount of pure cane sugar."
And you won't believe the flavors they come in: kumquat, lavender, lemongrass and rhubarb. Our favorite is the lavendar, but they are all delicious with just the right amount of flavor and sweetness. Order some for your next event. They are great alone or as part of a mixer.
Visit their tasting room and see for yourself. The Company Store and Tasting Room is located in DRY Soda’s headquarters at 410 1st Ave South in Seattle’s historic Pioneer Square neighborhood. Much like a winery tasting room, the DRY Tasting Room offers samples of DRY’s four cuisine-inspired flavors and the opportunity for customers to purchase in single 12-ounce bottles, four-pack carriers, 12-pack mixed and single flavor shipping boxes, as well as DRY Goods such as t-shirts, onesies and gift baskets.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a celebrity and have your picture taken constantly the moment you step outside? A new company based in New York City called MethodIzaz, is betting on the fact that you have and are even willing to pay for the experience. MethodIzaz offers its photography services to those wishing to be photographed in their normal setting, but without ever knowing the cameras are on them. Subjects are photographed without their knowledge to create what the company calls "moments of an authentic lifestyle." The client provides a photograph of themselves and specifies a location where they can be found on a given day and time. Then the photographer hired from MethodIzaz camps out at that location and photographs the subject without being seen. The results are candid lifestyle shots of the subject going about their everyday business. Is this something you would be interested in, or are you turned off by the idea?
For anyone who has been to Europe in the last few years and fell in love with the Smart Car, we have good news for you. The eco-chic Smart Car has finally come to America in 2008 and even in your own neighborhood. Smart Car Dealerships, known as Smart Centers, offer reservations for their Smart ForTwo cars for a fee of $99. This reservation program is specifically designated for smart enthusiasts, so brokers and dealers are excluded from participating in the $99 Reservation Program. You can reserve the Smart ForTwo pure coupe ($11,590), the Smart ForTwo passion coupe ($13,590) or the Smart ForTwo passion cabriolet ($16,590). All you need is a valid license and $99 and you can start picking your model and interior and exterior colors.
What's a party without a perfectly blended cocktail? But in this socially conscious day of age, how can one follow the unspoken rules of green living and enjoy an occasional mixed beverage? That answer is simple. From Mod Mix comes fully organic cocktail blends in several delicious flavors: Citrus Margarita, French Martini, Lavender Lemon Drop, Mojito and Pomegranate Cosmopolitan. Made of only organic fruits and herbs and without artificial substances or chemicals from pesticides, Mod Mix offers the best tasting and most conscience-appealing product for your next get-together. With these natural ingredients, could your next margarita actually be, dare we say it, good for you?
Have you tasted a Mod Mix blended or mixed drink? Tell us what you think in the comments section.
Many people want to do their part to reduce pollution by carpooling, but it can be difficult to find other commuters near you that also want to carpool. A new service called RideSearch.com offers commuters a way to connect with other people traveling to the same or similar location and interested in carpooling. RideSearch began operation in January of 2008 and is quickly gaining buzz about its unique service. There are many benefits of carpooling. The average commuter knows gas prices are steadily climbing and are predicted to go even higher. Carpooling empowers you the commuter not to be at the mercy of the gas pump and helps your pocketbook at the same time.
Here is how RideSearch works... 1) Create your personal RideSearch profile. 2) Sign up for a membership. 3) Search listings using the "Find a Ride" button. 4) Reply to other listings by checking the message center for new messages from other carpoolers.
Help RideShare spread the word about their service by doing one or more of the following.
1) Post these flyers on office bulletin boards & at apartment complexes.
2) Send emails to coworkers about carpooling with RideSearch.
3) Create blue and white street signs that say: "Carpool. RideSearch.com" & ask your city council where you can put them up.
4) Blog about the benefits of carpooling with RideSearch.com.
When is the last time you had a wine tasting without letting a drop of actual wine ever touch your lips? No, its not a magic trick. Let us introduce you to a new type of wine tasting event using nothing but Jelly Beans. Jelly Bean Wine Bar offers jelly bean kits organized by type of wine. These wine-flavored candies come in corked containers and are a fun activity your guests will enjoy sampling.
Choose from the following kit flavors: Champagne/Sparkling Wine, White Wines, Red Wines, All Wines or Shooters. Kit prices vary according to weight and range from $17 to $520. Kits can be assembled to fit your needs by contacting the company. Click here for full options and prices.
We'd like to introduce you to our latest hire at banquetevent.com, Payden! Payden comes to us with weeks of training and is a pro when it comes to color selection. But for some reason she really prefers black.
Take a look at the computer or monitor you are using right now. Do you know what it is made of? Possibly plastic or some other man-made material. But we'd like to ask why can't computers be made of a natural product like wood or bamboo? After all, these materials are quite beautiful and can be naturally harvested. Others have already begun the process of created electronics housed in natural material casings, although most of them do not come from America. Remarkable and beautiful designs made of sustainable materials include keyboards, monitor, cases, mice, LCD panels, sound systyems and even the mouse pad. The Swedish company, Swedx, works to ensure that the wood they use is harvested sustainably. They offer rather bulky mice and have a smaller selection of woods to chose from compared to a similar company out of Russia, but also much more affordable. See below for some of their products. What really catches our eye, however, are the electronics made of bamboo as seen below. Bamboo is a grass rather than wood, but it is harder than oak. The fibers are even stronger than wood and steel. The Bamboo used in these LCD TVs is made from the Gramineae monocotyledonous plant. This type of plant is hard and panda friendly and as pandas only feed on soft bamboo there is no harm to wildlife. The unique bamboo color offers natural beauty and style which provides many advantages for consumers. It is one of a kind, ideal for homes, offices and of course an alternative to plastic surround. The other positive to using bamboo is the rate at which it grows. If you've ever had a bamboo plant in your yard, you know how strong of a plant it is and how quickly it matures.
We are completely enthralled by these designs and can't wait to see what designers come up with next.
Looking for a creative way to showcase photographs from your last event or possibly in search of a new way to showcase your business? Check out Blurb.com where you can create your very own store-quality books in soft or hard cover. Book templates are available for 20-440 page counts and are priced per book and range from $12.95 to $64.95 depending on the book size and page count. Present your company and projects in a bookstore-quality hardcover or softcover book featuring 4-color commercial-quality printing and binding. You'll receive a discount when you order 10 or more books.
Just download the Blurb BookSmart Software, add photos, artwork and text and then order your very own customized book. You have complete creative control of your design and you'll receive your book in the mail in approximately 7 to 10 business days. Why we love it? Since the books are printed on 80-pound paper with commercial printers, you'll bet a bestseller look with construction paper prices!
Come celebrate the grand opening of Waterways Cruises Kirkland location at Carillon Point. Waterways Kirkland now offers regularly scheduled dining and sightseeing cruises as well as private events departing from Carillon Point. Waterways brings its expertise and service to the Eastside.
When: Wednesday, April 30 Time: 5-8 p.m. Where: Pier-side at Carillon Point RSVP HERE
New Banquet Facility! Piatti Ristorante & Bar 2695 NE Village Lane Seattle WA 98105 Contact: Joe Bongiorno Phone: (206) 524-9088 Website: www.piatti.com
It’s no secret that needless waste and heaps of scraps are part of the equation in today’s textile and garment manufacturing process. Granted there are some amazing results in terms of cutting edge fashion and eye-catching furniture designs, but this often comes at a huge cost in terms of the throw-away elements. The Cabbage Chair by Japanese designers, Nendo, defies this trend by taking waste paper from the pleated fabric industry and turning it into an organic marvel. The Cabbage Chair appears naturally as you peel away a roll of pleated fabric layer by layer. Naturally, due to the softness of the fabric, the chair is extremely comfortable and cozy. This recycled textile waste chair was designed for the XXIst Century Man exhibition curated by Issey Miyake. Nendo calls the chair a "primitive design [that] responds gently to fabrication and distribution costs and environmental concerns, the kinds of issues that face our 21st century selves."
So what do you think? Could you see having this chair in your living room or office?
Hey all you party planners, we have a new on-the-go-planner for you to help you jot down important notes during all your busy meetings. Let us introduce you to the eco-friendly day planner from Nahui Ollin. Nahui Ollin is a collection of unique and fashionable accessories made from recycled materials. All merchandise is entirely hand-made by specially folding and weaving individual candy wrappers, gum wrappers and soda bottle labels--together to create the various beautiful shapes and sizes. That's right, these planners are made of recycled candy wrappers.
The wrappers are collected from manufacturers. The specific wrappers used are considered rejects by the manufacturer often because they have a small defect. What a creative way to practice recycling in an innovative and fresh way.
We hope this inspires you to be just as creative in the design of your next event.
Have you used someone's trash to create a treasure? Share it with us.
Cake toppers are not just for weddings anymore. We think you'll love this charming cake toppers by Toppers With Glitz. Toppers With Glitz offers traditional monogrammed cake toppers but also has the ability to customize designs according to your event theme. Even your company logo can be turned into a charming and sparkle-studded cake topper.
Each cake topper comes with a consultation with a designer, removable cake pegs, choice of font, up to 4-crystal colors, partial or full crystal coverage and 1/8" platinum colored aluminum letters. Customized designs are also available so if you have something unique in mind for a themed wedding just ask the designers.
Ordering is simple with their online form and various shipping options are also available according to your timeline.
Prices range from $50 for a cupcake topper to $225 for a 3-piece set. Additional costs for upgrades apply.
We found this very interesting company called FlattenMe, where images of your child (or even yourself) are uploaded to their website and then superimposed into a personalized children's storybook. We think these incredible and affordable books would be wonderful gifts, especially for anyone with children who you don't know what to get. These books are only $35!
The book shown to the left is called "Here There Be Pirates." Several other story options are also available.
A new fad spreading (or should we say "rising") across Europe, Africa and Asia is called Dinner In The Sky. Dinner In The Sky is a unique event meant for anyone who wishes to transform an ordinary meal or meeting into a magical moment that will leave a lasting impression on their guests! Dinner in the Sky takes place at a table suspended at a height of 50 meters by a team of professionals.
Dinner in the Sky is available for a session of 8 hours.
Dinner in the Sky seats 22 people around the table at every session and three in the middle (chef, waiter, entertainer…). Just to give you an example: This means that, at a rate of 3 sessions per hour, more than 500 people could have access to this exceptional platform, or only 22 if you want an exclusive VIP event.
Don't take our word for it? Check out some of these photos from their recent events...
We'd like to introduce you to a fun company specializing in "infinite one-of-a-kindness." Meet Zazzle, an online retail company selling one-of-a-kind products. We found these incredible custom postage stamps and we know you'll love them. They are completely authorized by the United State Postal Service, so they are totally legit and ready for mailing. Next time you mail an invitation to your next event, remember that even the packaging is important in making a first impression. These unique stamps might be just the touch you need to the set the tone for your event.
