The Scary Guy & Bullying in Schools

Are you tired of tuning in to your favorite radio or TV station to listen to the news and all you hear about is all the violent things happening around us? – in our families, communities and the world as a whole? This is why I believe that we need more people like The SCARY GUY, a motivational speaker and advocate who was back in the DC Metro Area on Tuesday, December 15, 2009. It was my second time meeting him (see my October Events post for more info), and I was happy to get the chance to learn more about his cause.

He is an incredible speaker and truly committed to his cause -- “A New Effort for the Elimination of Anger, Hate, Violence, and Death worldwide, with A Wake-Up Call to Change the mindset of the World.” The SCARY GUY (pictured above with Cathryn Woodhall, Director of Curriculum Development Worldwide) advocates against bullying and violence in schools, and specializes in youth empowerment.

If leaders, teachers, parents, anyone, and everybody could just hear his message and try to incorporate his program, a planned curriculum that focuses on eliminating bullying, in our schools and communities, we will be able to reduce and eventually eliminate all the bullying, hate, anger, violence, and death that are so prevalent in our society today. Check him out!

The Embassy of Kenya/The Omni Shoreham Hotel - Washington, D.C.

On Friday, December 12th, The Embassy of Kenya in Washington, D.C. hosted their Independence Day Celebration, known as Jamhuri Day, at the Omni Shoreham in Washington, D.C. The event kicked off with a message from H.E. Ambassador Peter Ogego followed by a delicious dinner and entertainment by Cold Spring Elementary School Chorus, who sang a number of holiday songs, and a Kenyan Gospel Choir group from Atlanta who sang in Swahili to the beat of African drums. To learn more about Kenya, visit: http://www.kenya.go.ke.

The Omni Shoreham is a beautiful four-diamond hotel and is conveniently located on Calvert Street in NW Washington, DC. It would be an excellent venue for any special event! Here are some pictures from the gorgeous lobby area and the Independence Day Celebration for you to get a feel of what the hotel is like.






From top: two pictures of the hotel lobby area. The in-house interior designer did an amazing job creating a festive holiday feel. Next, a picture of the Cold Spring Elementary School Choir. They were wonderful! Finally, two shots of the Kenyan Gospel Choir from Atlanta. They were dressed in beautiful traditional clothing and had an amazing drummer!

Overall, I had a wonderful time and the event and would recommend the venue for any special occasion!

ISES iDEA Expo

Despite November 29th being a cold, rainy and dreary day, it did not deter people from attending the ISES (International Special Events Society) iDEA 2009 Expo at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center. It was a great success and a lot of fun!

The event kicked off at 4:00pm with a couple of informational presentations: "The Anatomy of an Award-Winning Event" and "West Coast to East Coast trends," followed by the trade show floor opening at 6:00pm. This year’s trade show was slightly different from last years' show -- interspersed among the traditional exhibit booths were four Design Centers, which were complete destinations crafted and outfitted by a team of ISES vendors. The four centers included Cafe Paris, "On the Road" in the USA, Green Road to Cairo, and Havana Nights, and the featured products and displays of creativity made for an excellent exhibit! The Design Centers carried this year’s theme: International iDEAs, Connecting the World One Event at a Time. Here are some shots of the four centers:

It was indeed a night of fun and learning! However, I cannot end this piece without mentioning Fired Up Pizza on the Move! Again, despite Mother Nature, they had freshly baked pizzas going all night! Simply delicious!

The Little Black Dress vs. The Little White Dress

We have all heard about the little black dress (LBD) – and for many years, the LBD has been “a must have” in everyone’s closet! It is the perfect dress for any event. It is a sophisticated, timeless classic, is season-less, always in style, and can be dressed down for work or dressed up for a party with very little effort by simply adding the right accessory. It is said to be “slimming” although not ideal for tropical countries as black is known to absorb heat.

However, as of spring 2009, based on the runway collections, we saw that the little white dress (LWD) was gaining on the LBD. It is considered a cool and refreshing summer choice, gives an aura of angelic innocence and on the contrary to many opinions, it can easily be accessorized. The LWD has always received a bad rap because it can be tricky to pull off for many, as it is somewhat revealing, not considered “slimming” and due to its stain-ability.

There are so many possibilities for the LWD, not only as a fashion statement but as a bridal attire option. Here are a couple from The Platinum Collection by Priscilla of Boston:

PL 276

PL 269

So, is the LWD going to be the new LBD? Will it still be around in 2010? I believe that it is just as versatile however… you be the judge:

• Check out these sleek, new LBD options from Neiman Marcus
• Take a look at Amsale's latest LWD collection

and let me know what you think!

Our New Look!

Don't panic; you didn't click over to the wrong place! We have a new layout for the blog! Hopefully you will find it a bit more user-friendly and enjoy the new design. The new feature we included is the search bar powered by Google that's over on the right sidebar >>>

Now, you can type in any search term and it will deliver the list of posts and links that include the term. I hope this will make it easier for you to find exactly what you're looking for!

So, what do you think? Feel free to drop a comment regarding the new look!

Another Sensational Wedding Gown Collection

Monique Lhuillier's Fall 2010 collection was revealed in October, and it is the best collection yet! You will fall in love with these beautiful, feminine, one-of-a-kind designs. Check out her website to view the new collection, as well as dresses from previous collections that are still available (Spring 2010, Fall 2009, Spring 2009).

Some of my favorites from the new collection include Harmony, Miracle, and Meringue. Feel free to leave a comment and let me know which ones are your favorites!