As I sit here watching the Bucs pound on Carolina, I'm thinking wouldn't it be cool if the Buccaneers made it to the Super Bowl in February right here at our very own RayJay Stadium.  It's possible... look at what the Rays are doing by going from last to first - and a strong contender for the World Series - in a year!  But whether or not that happens, Tampa will be jumping come the last week of January and I can't wait to be part of the excitement.  Be sure to check out the newest page on my website!!

Last year, I joined the board of directors for Eighteen89, a social, mission-driven organization that benefits the YMCA.  I was always raised to give back to your community, and it is something that I strive to do regularly whether by volunteering my time, donating funds or in this case, donating my expertise.  Eighteen89 was in need of a philanthropic/ social chair and when a friend called me to ask for my help and after learning more about the organization and those who they serve, I excitedly joined the team.  In 2008, I was elected President of the Board.

So, one thing to know about me is that I like reality shows... the ones like Survivor and the Amazing Race.  I find them amusing and my husband and I always say we're going to apply to go on the Amazing Race.  Great way to see the world on someone else's dime, right?!  Yes, this is relevant, I didn't just go off on a tangent.  So last year I developed a "scavenger hunt" along Howard Avenue for Eighteen89.  It's based on the Amazing Race concept where we split people into teams and have them race from one place to another by figuring out clues that will lead them to their next "pit stop".

This past Saturday,over 50 people came out to MacDintons in South Tampa to race up and down Howard Avenue figuring out their clues and trying to get to the finish line first.  We named all of the teams after YMCA programs like Camp Cristina, which is a 66-acre facility in Riverview, that Eighteen89 supports during the holidays by passing out gifts and food to migrant families and foster families who wouldn't otherwise have much to celebrate during the holidays.  I guess you can say the scavenger hunt was a little bit of education and a whole lot of fun!

To find out more about Eighteen89 and its upcoming events, check out our group page on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=23629324266

We are proud to announce that Divine Creations Event Planning Specialists has become an official vendor for the Super Bowl!  It was a fairly lengthy process between obtaining our MBE (women and minority owned business) certification through the State of Florida and also being approved by the Super Bowl Host Committee.  But it was well worth it! 

Check back to our website soon, as we will be adding a new page specifically for the Super Bowl!

As I drove over the Gandy Bridge the Sunday of Labor Day weekend, I looked out to the white caps in the Gulf and thought "uh oh".  Today is the day that Jenny and Dan have been planning for so long and who would have known that Gustav, although thankfully not threatening Florida directly, was still giving us wind gusts that made me drive with two hands on the wheel at all times.  All I could think about was what if one of those gusts comes along and knocks down their chuppah in the middle of their outside ceremony.

As I pulled up to the Vinoy for set-up my cell phone rang.  It was Jenny.  As I prepared to give her my recommendation of pulling the ceremony inside, she said "my parents and I think we should change the ceremony to our back-up location".  Whew.  I never want to be the bearer of bad news, but I also don't want a downpour to occur while 200 guests are watching the bride make her entrance or witness her mom's wedding veil tear off the top of the chuppah in the wind.  That is why I always, always have a Plan B.

I understand the attraction of wanting an outdoor wedding, especially in Florida.  But as we know, Mother Nature can have a mind of her own.  Make sure that if planning any portion of your event outside, the venue is holding back-up space during that exact same time inside AND that it is written in your contract.  Fortunately Jenny and Dan understood that moving their wedding inside, while not what they pictured, was far better than wind blown hair, wet guests and a soggy mood for their reception!  

Let's face it, we live in paradise here in Florida, but along with the reward comes some risk.  We Floridians know that as hurricane season.  TS Fay decided to visit us recently... three times.  And now Gustav is heading up the Gulf and Hanna is hanging out in the Caribbean waiting to make her move.  So does that mean you shouldn't have a special event planned anytime from June to November?  Not necessarily, but event insurance is something you should definitely consider.

Event insurance comes in many different levels of coverage.  There is event cancellation or postponement that covers deposits and payments made if the event cannot take place or if you must postpone and the vendors you selected are booked on the date you rescheduled it for already.  There is also general liability insurance which some venues require you to have if you hold your event in their facility.  Art museums are a good example that require insurance.

Some individuals are able to get event insurance through their homeowners insurance company so that's a great first place to start.  There are also other companies who specialize in this type of coverage like www.firemansfund.com; www.onedayevent.com; www.eventinsure.com; www.privateeventinsurance.com; and www.wedsafe.com.

So I bet some of you thought my blogging was short lived... not the case!  My husband, Joe, and I took some much deserved R & R and slipped away on a 3 week vacation.  Summer is typically a slower time of year for the event industry, but each year is different so you better make plans in advance or you won't be able to get away... which was my mistake last year!  But I have to say we made up for it in 2008.

We ventured up to Seattle for a few days and then on to Vancouver for a few more.  And then we boarded a seven day Holland America cruise from Vancouver to Alaska.  And then the fun really began... another whole week in the Alaskan wilderness.  Okay, truth be told, we didn't rough it like in the movie "Into the Wild", but those of you who saw the movie and knows what happened in the end, well we opted for B & Bs and hotels instead!  On the cruise we stopped in Ketchikan, Juneau (my favorite port by far) and Skagway, as well as cruised the Glacier Bay.  The scenery is amazing and the wildlife is incredible.  We took a float plane ride of death... I say that because it was raining and windy and I did a lot of serious praying...  We hiked Mendenhall Glacier which was breathtaking.  We also took a jet boat tour in Haines where our driver got us stuck in a sandbar, but the two bald eagles right above us (and probably laughing at us) and the black bear sighting made it well worth it.

Once we got off the ship in Seward the true adventure began.  We stayed in Seward for a couple of days where we got to feed the puffins at the Alaska SeaLife Center.  That was so cool (and really smelly).  We walked along the water's edge to watch the sea otters playing and eating.  But probably the best part of the trip in my opinion was the catamaran ride to Kenai Fjords.  Talk about jaw dropping memories.  We saw killer whales playing with porpoises, a breaching humpback whale, seals, sea lions, mountain goats, lavender and orange starfish, and our boat got about 150 feet from a caving glacier.  Some moments I would just stand there with my jaw hanging open and totally forgot that I should be taking pictures!  It was wildlife at its fineness. 

Then we rented a car and took off for Denali National Park and Preserve.  The tour in the old, rickety school bus through Denali rivaled the boat to Kenai Fjords.  We were nearing the end of our vacation and I had yet to see a grizzly bear.  Every time we heard about a sighting we were off and running towards it.  I know, most people would do the opposite, but it was number one on my list of things to see.  We always seemed to be just a little too late.  Well, this time, SCORE!  Not one, not two, but six grizzlies... including two cubs!  And we saw a grizzly chasing a wolf pup (I know, I was cringing too!), then all of a sudden the grizzly stopped dead in its tracks and started running the other way... Mama wolf came to save the day!!  She was hot on that grizzly's tail!  It was truly a National Geographic moment.  We also saw moose (and baby calves), dall sheep, caribou, and lots of other critters that I can't remember their official names.  Totally worth sitting in a school bus for 8 hours!

So now, back to reality and real life.  It's always fun to get away, but it's also nice to come back home.  Now I am totally energized and rested and ready to tackle the work at hand... planning perfect events!! 

I am proud to announce that Divine Creations Event Planning Specialists has moved into a new storefront location in the heart of South Tampa.  Conveniently located to I-275, the Veterans Expressway and the Crosstown Expressway, we opened our doors officially on May 1st at 3309 S. Westshore Boulevard.  The "Champagne and Chocolate" open house was a huge success with over 70 people coming to tour the new studio.

The studio has a warm and inviting reception area complete with great items available for sale including cute tote bags, picture frames, guest books and those fun items that make great gifts for any bride.  There is also a conference room in which you can view pictures of our work and kick back on a comfortable sofa to look through invitation albums.

Many planners, particularly wedding planners, work out of their homes, and I'm not criticizing that by any means.  I myself, started in 2002, working out of my own home then moved into an office building before settling into our current location.  However, it does make it difficult for the client to see their wedding planner's personal surroundings, and feel like they really know the person they are about  to spend a lot of time with planning such a personal milestone.  Having an office outside of the home also provides the peace of mind that when the planner is working nothing else will distract them from the goal - planning the perfect event for you.

I've been told for some time that I needed to start blogging so I figured launching it along with my new website was as good a time as any.  My goal is to help you, as readers, to learn a little more about me, Divine Creations and tips on creating memorable, successful events.

Event planning is truly my passion.  I have been in the industry for 13 years now.  I actually started in the non-profit field as a development director... a fancy title for planning and coordinating fundraising events.  It's a challenging job; every charity is trying to fight for the same dollars and continuously attempting to outdo everyone else.  But now as I look back, I realize it was great training - having to "beg" for everything, get creative by thinking out of the box and have it turn out to be a grand success with the guests and media raving about it and raise lots of money for a great cause.  I figured if I can do that, imagine how amazing it could be if I actually had a budget!  Hence Divine Creations Event Planning Specialists was incorporated in 2002.

At Divine Creations, we strive to help save our clients time, stress and money while providing peace of mind that no detail will be overlooked.  In my opinion, the difference between a good event and a great one is in the details.  Whether it is a wedding, bar/ bat mitzvah or even a corporate event, the event itself needs to incorporate the style and personality of the host(s).  As an event planner it is our job to assist clients with implementing their vision.  And the planning process should be FUN!  No one wants to look back and remember stress and chaos.  Having a professional by your side to offer guidance, support and recommendations will help you breathe easier and sleep better.

Well, I think I missed the mark on the first rule of thumb for blogging... keep it short!  I'm excited to share my thoughts and ideas with you and I hope that you will enjoy coming back to read more!