It's time to GETAWAY!

Whether you live in a warm climate like myself, or in the frozen tundra that has been the east coast, most likely you are feeling the winter blues and are over it.  What better way to get rid of it than to plan a getaway!

I’ve noticed that my blogs are usually coming to me when I’m sitting on a plane somewhere. And as I sat on my flight to Ketchikan, Alaska, I began to really think how thankful I am for the travel opportunities that I’ve had, and how much value I truly see in taking trips.

The number one excuse that people use for not going on a trip is usually money. I can understand that because I’m not some rich businessman rolling in the dough either.  But, I make sure that I do put aside part of my paycheck for fun & traveling.  And if you’re not seeing that little bit of extra money to travel with, consider thinking about cutting some other amenity out to save for a trip.  Take the cash that you are spending on your daily venti-chai lattes (I’m a culprit), and put that money aside into a travel account.

Now is the time to do this.  You don’t know what could happen tomorrow, or the next day, or in a year from now.  Like my uncle always said, “there’s no K-mart in heaven.” I blame and thank my parents for instilling this idea and the itch to travel in my blood with all of the traveling we did as a family growing up. But I’m so thankful for it.  So quit making excuses, and just do it already!

Whether it takes you a few weeks, months, or a year to save up for a trip, it will be worth it.  Half the experience is building the excitement with the planning and looking forward to the trip.

With that—I give you my top 5 reasons why I escape LA, and why you should too!

REASON #1: It’s personal time away. Traveling alone is probably one of the best experiences anyone can do. You do what you want. When you want. Where you want. And you learn about yourself along the way. My most valuable personal thinking time comes up in the air in an aisle seat with a diet coke and a tiny bag of pretzels next to me, and some play-list on my IPOD.  And of course for those of you with significant others—trips can reignite the sparks and fun in your relationship! (Plus you learn a lot about someone when you travel with them)

REASON #2: Exploring new cultures. With every new city that I travel to, my eyes continue to be amazed at how we all live so differently in this huge country and around the world.  I love talking with people in cities, whether it is at a bar, or at the hotel front desk.  Once again—these conversations can teach you about so much and open your mind to things you may not have thought about before.

REASON #3: It gets you away from the worries at home. I’m an anxious person. Sitting at home in the same place and driving on the same roads, gets very stagnate to me. Life can get very flat line when this pattern occurs. When you’re out of town, you quickly forget about the worries you have at home and it switches life up a bit!

REASON #4: Food! This is probably one of my favorite things about traveling.  I love trying the food that the city is known for.  I’ve had some of the best meals on the road in other places!  These dining experiences enhance your food palette and can be inspiring in more ways that one. It gets the creative juices flowing.

REASON #5: R & R.  It’s hard for me to sit still at home.  Therefore, getting away from that makes me actually take time to rest and relax. 

Some of you may be thinking that these reasons aren’t new ideas—and I know that. But I hope that it will at least get you thinking about making that next trip happen. And don’t think it needs to be a very expensive far away place; a new trend is the idea of a hometown stay-cation.  Find those weekend deals at one of the new hotels in town and go there for a night! I promise you—you won’t regret it. You’ll just think…”I need to do this more often.”

And now for my cheesy ending quote that I absolutely loved reading today in an issue of O Magazine just before writing this entry, (I’m not ashamed to admit that one!) 

“The thrill, for sure, is to keep envisioning what can be and then

have the guts to go for it and make it real. Imagine that!” – Oprah

Imagine that next trip and get planning!

-JM

 

 

Hello 2011 - Hello Honeysuckle?

Planning a bash, dinner party, or fundraising event this year? Pantone has released their official color for 2011 - Honeysuckle.

My first reaction is, where did they get this name from? When I think honeysuckle, I think more orange-yellow tones...this one is clearly in the red/pink family. For those that don't know what Pantone is, they are the company that sets the standards in colors for printing, fashion, paints, and such. They have been around for over 45 years providing designers in all areas with the leading trends on color.

Personally, I'm still tied to the previous 'color of the year' which was turquoise with pops of orange here and there. We are still seeing this in trends in this spring's interior designs, so maybe I'm not the only one who is still tied to it?

There is something that is seems very blossoming to Honeysuckle which is why I think its a great accent color. It can be incorporated into your centerpieces, or maybe as your napkins. But I wouldn't go blasting a room with this. It is a VERY vibrant and strong color. So, if you are going to use it in the masses, you will be making a strong impact. This could definitely make a statement on your invitations. Or maybe for your bridesmaid dresses. I think it would be paired well with something in the orange family if you are doing a summer event, or even with silver if you are going for a more girly-chic motif.

I'm not sold yet, but maybe it is because I'm still tied to the blue tones of 2010. ;)

Check it out: http://www.pantone.com/pages/pantone/pantone.aspx?pg=20824&ca=10

Sandra Lee would be proud...

tablescape: a table design for a dinner party that is coordinated in color from the napkins to the centerpiece, and sometimes tied to a theme of the party/event to make a first impression as guests arrive.

If any of you are regular Food Network watchers, and you've seen the good ole' Sandra Lee on Semi-Homemade, you'll understand the title of this blog. If not, I encourage you to at least check out one episode to know what I'm talking about.

Not only is Sandra Lee a chef, but also a designer of 'tablescapes.' These tablescape just so happen to always match the dress she is wearing, to the drapes on the window, to the 'yummy cocktails' she is preparing at the end of the show. If you don't believe me, check it out. All of those items including the drapes, change with each new tablescape she makes on every episode.I love putting together tables. It's probably one of the things I enjoy most about doing events, and I don't get to do it quite often in the Conference World. So of course when I'm at home, and mom is telling me we are hosting Christmas, my first question is--what will the tables look like?

Most families usually resort to the buffet line with things still on the stove, or maybe even placed on one of those cheap plastic Christmas platters you get at the dollar tree, or even worse just on a paper plate. Those are just not my style--and paper/plastic plates & silverware are just a pet-peeve of mine. Most people own a nice set of dishes and silverware--so what are you saving them for? To collect dust in the hutch in your dining room?

I put together some tables this year that I think anyone could do, even if you have no experience in design. They don't have to be extravagant, and don't even have to all be the same. I like switching them up from table to table because its more interesting for your guests. All of them should coordinate with the room you are hosting the party in. The key thing to remember is to use what you already have and build upon them from there. That old ivory candle you have sitting around can be reused with some fresh cut branches from your pine tree out back, and a few leftover ornaments which can all turn quickly into a great centerpiece for the holidays. Incorporating something LIVE like fresh branches or flowers is important as it brings the table to life. And please, don't just by the prepared centerpiece in the plastic pot with the foil around them. Invest in a decent vase and make it fresh and your own.

Here are a few pictures from my tables and a buffet of appetizers I set-up. They are inexpensive and simple, yet elegant. So next time you are hosting a dinner party, I hope you'll take it one step further and enhance your buffet lines and tables...maybe people will really eat that cheese platter after all. Just please don't change your drapes and outfit to match. ;)

Table Concept:

Appetizer Buffet: