Let's Shop

OMG Girls,

How I enjoy shopping. Not for me personally for my clients. Yesterday, I went shopping to see if there was colors where trending. There are seasons, when colors trend and everyone is doing the same thing. The department stores all sell simular items. I means simular colors.

That has stop now. Which means people are breaking away and doing their own thing. That is how it should be.

Much success to you all. I'm now existed again about meeting and event planning. My clients will be back at creating their own vision vs what's trending. They (we) are able to create their events from a photograph, an item that they purchased on travel and what to recreate the vision for their friends to enjoy. The home decor is back to doing your own thing. However, I do recommend hiring and interior decorator.

What's your favorite color? Let's plan what your favorite event event. You can also listen to Maria Kamon on Anchor http://anchor.fm/Maria-Kamon-MKPDE

CHURCH OF CHOICE?

What is your church of choice?  It is funny, but not really that a wedding, event, fashion, diamond oriented blog would ask this question.  I have to say I am not perfect but planning weddings is one of those things you begin to think about whom you are serving and what you will help them with.

Religion plays a part but so do lifestyle, income, and beliefs.  What I believe does not mean my client believes and therefore it is important to respect their belief without fall into their ways.  I had a strong Christian upbringing, but when my mom remarried she married someone who didn’t grow up with the same believes as I had.  What could I do?  Nothing, that is why it is important to let your yeses be YES and your no’s be NO.

Weddings are a little like that the venue you choose becomes your “Church of Choice”.  Make sure your beliefs fit in.  Make sure you have the right Minister, Revered, Preacher, Teacher, Dr., Pastor, Clergy, Justice of the Peace.  One of the things event planners do, wedding planners do, is we help people find not only the right venue but the right person to marry them.  Some people want to be counsel others do not.  My favorite (only because it makes my job easier) is those that bring their person from their church.  It helps to know what they are trying to convey to their family, friends, and guest.

When I had to interview different people to conduct weddings, I was blessed to learn some of the different believes of different religions.  This doesn’t mean I changed my beliefs.  One of the biggest believes I have is that before you go before everyone and confess your love for one another; make sure you have talked with someone to make sure you are equally yoked.  Individuals have different beliefs and this can create both blessings and curses in a family.  The goal is to make sure you both think enough alike to stay married during your lifetime, a difficult thing even for Christians.  I know I have experience both.  We "I" choose to get married in a church, that didn't have a cross, or a dove, or steeple, I (we) choose to get married in a  Christian church that had a large statue of Jesus.  Our friends, my high school counselor's  wife was our wedding coordinator.  It was simplistic, humble and perfect for two people starting out with nothing.  I wouldn' t have change a thing. 
"Just give me Jesus,"  as Ann Graham-Lotz would say, one can never get enough of our wonderful counselor. 
 That was our profession of faith as individuals and as a couple.  What is yours?

Restaurant Critic I Am...

  Maria Garcia-Kamon

                                                                                              MK Pure Diamond Events  www.mkpurediamondevents.com

Restaurant Critic I Am...

It is a funny thing about being a meeting and event planner/wedding planner.  Part of our job description is to go on tastings.  Food tastings that.  Restaurants and chefs know that it a meeting and events planners’ best interest for our client to find the right type of food to be served at our client’s event.  For some people it is simplistic flavors, for others it is all about the mixology (mixing of different drinks to become a new flavor) and fusion (mixing of different food flavors or cultural food flavors).  Organic, non organic all of this plays a role when it comes to food.  You have to enjoy food, the character of the food making process and understand what it brings to the event or takes away.

Many of us attend events where we do not know anyone other than the guest of honor.  Focusing on the food gives us conversation starters.  If it is a dish prepared with care and an understanding of flavors, it allows the person people to feel comfortable and can be the subject for conversation.  Once that begins then it is a matter of time before friendships are formed.  Friendship or business acquaintances lead to many possibilities.  In a world where we are always on the texting, Internet, and into our own selves (and I am guilty of this as much as anyone one else) food has always been a bridge to bring people together, creating relationships, business deals, families and all that is good.  If our tummies are full, then our bodies can create.

 View from Vigilucci Restaurant, Carlsbad CA

Often I get asked what my favorite restaurant is. I don’t just have one.  Every once in a while I like to go out to eat all by myself and enjoy the quite time.  One of my favorite restaurants is Vigilucci’s Restaurant.    They have several restaurants in North County, San Diego.  Why this restaurant, one might wonder.  Honestly, because it doesn’t matter which one of their restaurants I visit, from Carlsbad to La Jolla, I am treated with respect. 

The food is always delicious.  Today, I treated myself to a lovely salmon lunch.  The salmon had a pink (Vodka/Pomegranate) sauce I had never tasted before. Wow, what great flavor, although I had plenty to eat and left full, it left me longing for more.  The side dish of spaghetti and vegetables were also amazingly flavorful nothing else needed to be added.  Normally we add salt, pepper or cheese, but I am telling you the chef did an amazing job.  Perfection!  Unfortunately, today I had another appointment so I didn’t get to eat dessert. I did see others enjoying themselves, and when you see others enjoying themselves then you know it must be as amazing as the meal I just ate.  I do have to say, I was so enjoying my time and my meal I requested something they don’t normally do, coffee to go.  The waiter was so respectful he. I didn’t want to be too relaxed for my next appointment.  That is one thing the environment a Vigilucci’s Restaurant did create.  The Carlsbad’s Vigilucci’s Restaurant creates a sense of relaxation while you are ordering, eating and just time to enjoy their lovely environment and your meal.

As I watched others hassle in getting things ready for the Carlsbad Beach fest I was grateful I could enjoy the sunshine, ocean view and the summer breeze from their protected patio area.  Had I been dressed a little more fashionable I would have enjoyed myself just as much in their indoor seating area.  I am very thankful for the clients I have, knowing what it is like to be hungry makes going out to lunch so much more special.

Prayerful Events

I just read this blog by Prayfit; he has been tweeting on my Twitter site for some time.  Honestly I thought he was Tyler Perry, they both have a unique way of using scripture that takes a conservative women like myself and makes me look at things a little different.  Today’s Tweet caught my attention.  “Someone from tomorrow is praying for you, today. Wait, what? “(Read and you'll see)… http://www.prayfit.com/2012/01/go-ahead-follow/  reminded me of all the events I have planned for others and all the prayers said.  The blessings and joys I had shared with others.  What a great gift this has been. 

At a time, when I am feeling sorrow over the loss of my mother in law and my uncle it was comforting that someone is praying for my family.  I know we have all suffered and continue to suffer in the race of life.  We all have tried to fight the good fight.  It is comforting knowing others are there for me as well. Although we suffer today, joy will be here in the morning.  Each teardrop shed has had it’s purpose.

I can honestly say there is not one wedding, anniversary, event, meeting, fundraiser that I have not prayed for.  They are always such special times in another person’s life.  I always pray that my agenda and the agenda of others would not interfere God’s will in the lives of those that the event is for.  I pray that my clients and I become like minded for that reason and purpose.  Pray His grace would be abounding.

Event planners have difficult jobs in a way.  They have to listen to all the worries of the client, help them stay focus on what the goal is, help monitor their budget and help them feel good about what, why, and how they are accomplishing their goals.  Sometimes it means having enough integrity to say No.   The sad part, but the reality of life is we sometimes are judged for these things.  The wonderful part is a man’s personal judgment is for a moment here on earth God’s is eternal.  And as long as I am doing my best it all he asks of us.

Prayfits article reminded me of how many prayers I have said for others.  The missionaries at my church, the children I have taught in Sunday school (whom I prayed for by name), my friends, my family, the family members who live in another part of the world.  It never occurred to me what time the prayer would be said, if it was the day before or the day after.  I just knew I was always grateful for it.  I enjoy praying the event I am planning meets God’s requirement for them which was planned at the day of their birth.  “According to His Grace and Purpose.”  No one can ask for anything else.