HAWAII WEDDINGS AND EVENTS.....a year in review

Like many people, as I ponder my goals for 2009, I also reflect upon the past year and remember all of the clients I graciously was given the opportunity to be of service to and the awesome vendors and I had the privilege of working with.

So 365 days later...............

47 weddings

1 Japanese wedding class that I teach annually at the University of Hawaii

2 renewal of vows

The First Annual Kalo Awards at the Governor's "Washington Place"

My son's baseball theme graduation party with a special baseball cake made by one my brides

3 events for the Hawaii Event Group including 2800 guests at the Honolulu Zoo and two familiarization tours for the Hawaii Convention Center for Association and Corporate Advisory boards

The start of candy buffet business with my daughter

"Jayne & Kahele's Wedding of a Lifetime" for Hawaii Bride and Groom magazine

"Naruto" theme birthday party (I've done their son's party 3 years now)

My last event of the year a "Platinum style" Peacock Theme wedding for almost 500 guests at the Hilton Hawaiian Village

Finding balance in life is always important, so in 2008 I actually did take quite a bit of time off to for traveling and spending time with my family.

In February, I went to Las Vegas for the National Association of Catering Executives Leadership Summit. March led us to Maui for my son's baseball tournament (first time I ever got to go!), another week off in June for my son's high school graduation from Iolani while my mom visited from California.

San Jose for my son's college orientation at Santa Clara University in July, "Rocky Balboa-land" Philadelphia in August for the National Association of Catering Executives Trends Conference, back to San Jose in September for "move in" at Santa Clara, meetings with my Northern California brides and picked up ceremony programs for one of my clients from my dear friend and colleague Diane from DK Designs who now lives there as well.

Whew........no wonder I'm tired! Just kidding, I've been truly blessed with an amazing year of great events and many fond memories and new friends.

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Tis the season to give......

Christmas has always been my favorite holiday of the year, this year is no exception.

I love the smell of the Christmas tree, and especially love hanging the ornaments as I reflect on my kids growing up.

Every year I add a new ornament to my Christmas collection. I have a baby shoe ornament from when my daughter was born, very heavy clay pieces that both of my kids made in their kindergarten class that have a special place on the strongest branches of the tree and the topper is a Hawaiian angel my son made.

Our tree may not be the most glamorous, but it is a tree full of memories and I wouldn't have it any other way. This picture is from a couple of years ago, as I am waiting for my son to return home from college to put up this year's tree as that is when my holiday season will officially start.

Another favorite part of the Christmas season is taking the time to give back to those less fortunate. Needless to say, the Salvation Army bell ringers always get a contribution and through the Honolulu Chapter of the National Association of Catering Executives (NACE) we've adopted a family through the Lokahi Giving Project for the past four years. At our NACE holiday party on Tuesday evening, we also collected canned goods to be given to Aloha Harvest and I personally donate a holiday dinner to a family in need.