Happy 2nd Day of May!  I hope your month is off to a great start.  As you know, April Showers bring May Flowers – and lots of fabulous parties!  I recently came across the “10 Rules of Party Crashing” courtesy of Lilly Pulitzer.  (I just LOVE her colorful brand and style!)  Take a peek:

“Life’s a Party, dress like it!”  Note taken!  Do you have any fun outdoor parties coming up soon?  If so, I’d love to hear all about it!  Feel free to share in the comment section below!

XOXO,

Ebony

‘Tis the season for holiday parties!  I’m sure that many of you are preparing for a holiday celebration.  Have you created your food and drink menu yet?  Do you know how much food to serve?  Take a peek at the following guide, courtesy of Chickabug, for party serving tips:

I hope this guide helps!  When is your upcoming holiday party?  I’d love to hear the details!  Feel free to contact Ebony Peoples Events & Design for assistance with your party plans!

XOXO,

Ebony

Happy Thursday!  Have you ever wondered why we wear our wedding ring on the left hand?  The wedding ring goes on the left ring finger because it’s the only finger with a vein that connects directly to the heart!  That’s so romantic!

 Photo Courtesy of explore. dream. discover.

Have a fabulous day!!

XOXO,

Ebony

Congratulations on your engagement!  Being married is an amazing feeling!  My hubby, Jovan, and I will be celebrating our two year anniversary in a few weeks – January 17th to be exact!  This has been the BEST two years of my life!

Records show that most guys pop the question between Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day.  This means that we have almost 6 weeks left in engagement season.  If you’re one of the lucky gals who recently said “YES!”, here are a few things that you should be working on:

 Photo Courtesy of Pinterest

1.  CELEBRATE:

You’re preparing to celebrate one of the most important days of your life!  Enjoy your engagement!  Share the news with all of your friends and family.  Gaze at your beautiful ring.  Throw an engagement party!  You’re about to be a MRS!!

2.  Hire a planner and set a budget.

I’m not just throwing this one in because I’m a wedding planner.  It’s definitely important to start your planning on the right track.  You don’t want to over spend if you don’t have to.  You want someone dedicated in your corner, cheering you on, and leading you in the right direction.

3.  Select a few ideal dates.

Have a discussion with your honey and figure out a time frame of when you’d like to make it official.  Keep in mind that you need to be a little flexible, especially if you have an ideal venue and vendors.  Everyone’s schedule needs to correlate.

4.  Start making your guest list.

This can be one of the toughest aspects of planning.  Creating a guest list will help you set your budget and focus on a location.  (Keep in mind that you probably won’t be able to accommodate 300+ people in a trendy, boutique hotel.)

5.  What’s your inspiration?

This is YOUR wedding.  What do you want it to look like?  What type of ambiance would you like to create?  Are you modern or vintage?  Classic or trendy?  (The Every Last Detail Wedding Guide  will help you determine the difference between each style.)  You want your wedding to be a reflection of your love and your style!

I hope this helps you put the early stages of planning your wedding into perspective!

Have a great weekend!  Call me if you get stuck after the first 5 tips!

XOXO,

Ebony

I’ve been a faithful Essence Magazine reader for as long as I can remember.  I appreciate the insightful articles, beautiful fashion finds, and motivating write-ups.  I recently came across an article that I just had to share with you:  7 Rules to Follow at Your Holiday Office Party.  This is definitely valuable information, especially during this time of year.  Although each office environment is different, I’m sure you’ll be able to relate to most of these tips!

1. Do Attend

You may be tempted to skip out on the festivities, certainly if you have to pay for a ticket or the party is not during work hours. Be a “team player” and show up anyway. Trust, your boss takes note of who attends, and who doesn’t. There’s enough pressure to stay on point at work without losing points for skipping an event.

2. Do Remember It’s a Work Function

Treat your holiday office party as a business event. Far and long ago, I worked for a company that held a talent competition at the office holiday party. One exec-in-the-making decided it was time to showcase her best Beyonce’ dance routine. She began by dutty wining — loosely, bending over and swinging your hair in rhythm to the beat while popping your tush. She ended by giving a lap dance to a guy who looked like “Bob from Accounting.” (That was a Martin reference.) Do not be that woman.

3. Don’t Over-Drink

This appears on every list of holiday party etiquette, and yet someone always forgets (or doesn’t care) that liquor releases your inhibitions. Surely you remember the outrageous antics of the co-worker who overindulged last year (and the years before too.) The stories are fresh like they happened yesterday. You don’t want them to be told about you.

Photo Courtesy of Essence Magazine

4. Don’t Hook Up with Anyone

Every office has a cutie, whether it’s in the C-suite or the mailroom. An office party gives you a chance to see your co-workers in a more relaxed environment, but this is not the time to make your interest known. Wait for a clear (and sober) workday.

5. Do Dress to Impress

Your clothes can be more festive than those you wear to work (think sequins, color, and sparkles), but they shouldn’t be revealing. “There is a difference between sexy and vulgar,” says style guru Tara Luizzi. She also asks that you banish any clothing with the patterns: snowflake, candy cane, Christmas tree or skier.

6. Do Mingle

Every office has cliques. If you are a part of one, break free from the pack. A holiday party is the perfect time to meet colleagues from other divisions or offices, or become better acquainted with coworkers you see often but rarely have time to chat with.

7. Do Avoid “Shop Talk”

Skip the conversations about deadlines, deliverables and the agenda for tomorrow’s meeting. Keep conversations personal, light and upbeat –- avoid politics, religion and office gossip.

Rules Courtesy of Demetria Lucas, Essence Magazine‘s Relationship Editor

Some of these rules may seem like no-brainers for some.  Others are great reminders for those of us who like to “Party Like A Rockstar” regardless of the occasion.

Are you attending any holiday parties this year?  What are the rules for your holiday office party?  I’d love to know!

XOXO,

Ebony

While working in the wedding and event industry, I’ve notice that some people are using the words stationary and stationery interchangeably.  Although these two words sound alike, they have very different meanings.  The A and the E are different for a reason.  Many of you know that I am a former elementary school teacher.  The teacher in me feels like this needs to be addressed ASAP – along with the use of to, too, and two, or there, their, and they’re… but we’ll save that tip for another day.

Definitions:

(Courtesy of Merriam Webster Dictionary)

StationAry – adjective

- Not moving or not intended to be moved

StationEry – noun

- Writing paper, esp. with matching envelopes

For the visual learners, like myself, here are a few pics:

The parked car is stationAry (not moving).

(Photo Courtesy of MotorVista)

This is wedding stationEry (paper products).

(Photo Courtesy of Catie Ronquillo Photography & Stationery Design by Doodle Dog)

As you plan your wedding, keep in mind that your save-the-dates, invitations, programs, and menu cards are wedding stationery.

Well, that’s it for today’s grammar lesson!  (Although I’m no longer in the classroom, I still love teachable moments!)

XOXOXO,

Ebony