'Off The Hook' Wine Pairing 9/29/10

Memorable Milestones collaborated with Dawn Greene from A Red Carpet Event, Steve Hagen from the restaurant " Off The Hook" in Bethany Beach, and Ted and Kami Banks from Banks Wine & Spirits for a fantastically fun wine and food pairing.  About fifty people came out for this successful event and had a great time!

For each of the three courses, Steve developed three delicious food choices to be paired with three different wines chosen by Banks Wine & Spirits. All three courses were amazing. Mini Rosemary Crab Cakes were paired with a Chardonnay, Grilled Prawns with a Riesling, and Braised Pork Shoulder with a Merlot. We had so much fun collaborating with the other vendors and hope to do so again in the future!

Wine and food pairings can be a fun, educational event. Throughout the night Steve would describe exactly what ingredients he used for each dish and why they were paired with each particular wine. Ted and Kami also talked about why they chose each particular wine to feature for the night. It was a great night to make new friends as well as discover how to pair your favorite foods with different types of wine. Memorable Milestones had a great time and hopesto work with everyone again! 

Making the Most of Mother's Day

To be sure that Mother's Day goes beyond the flowers and the gift cards, I think we need to be sure that we let our moms know how much she means to us all year long. Some of us are better at Hallmark sentiments than others. Maybe we prefer to write it rather than say it. Or maybe it's easier to show it than say it so we help mom out with something. No matter what--the point is that she knows it.

So when the flower emails stop sending their reminders, let's remember on our own that we need to let mom know she is the best and that she did her best. As any of us that are moms well know--it's the hardest job we'll ever do. I keep reminding my kids that the day will come when, "You'll think I'm a goddess!" I remember when that happened for me with my mom--in fact, saint would be a better word when in retrospect I realized what I had put her through.

So here's to you Mom--though I know you won't read this blog post--and to all the other moms out there. Let's remember to sing our moms' praises today and everyday and look forward to the day when our own kids will do that for us!

Happy Mother's Day!

DIY doesn't have to mean GIA

No matter if you're getting married or throwing a party, you probably have what it takes do much of the pre-planning by yourself. With so many great tools on the internet, unless you really don't enjoy preparing for an event--which you certainly can outsource--there are tools, tips and templates to streamline your event from start to finish.

But what about the day of your event? Do you still want to be dealing with the details as the guests are walking through the door? Do you want to be busy paying out vendors, serving all day, and then cleaning it all up in the end? Wouldn't you rather feel like a guest at your own party?

The way to keep things affordable but be sure that they're still memorable and stress-free is to call in help on the day of your event. You can still do-it-yourself but you won't have to go-it-alone.

Enjoy Your Day!

In times like these, cutting costs is so important. There are so many ways to widdle down the bottom line of your wedding budget. More brides are taking a DIY approach on the front end of their celebration and then letting a wedding planner take care of the details for day of coordination.

You may have the ability to do all of your pre-wedding planning on your own or with help of family and friends, but on the day of your wedding handing the reins over to a planner can ensure that you and your family enjoy your wedding day.

So be sure to recruit your wedding planning team, stay organized, and then call in your wedding coordinator so that the only thing your focusing on that day is your milestone celebration of getting married.

Enjoying the Wedding Planning Journey not just the Wedding Day Destination

As I talk to brides during the process of wedding planning,I try to remind them to truly enjoy the journey of the planning not just the destination of the event.

There are so many details to tend to and it's easy to get caught up in the check lists and to do lists. But this is all part of this wonderful chapter of your life. Photos, dream boards, journal entries and blog posts can be wonderful ways to chronicle the journey as you head toward your amazing day!

So whether you have a year or a month to work on planning and coordinating your wedding, let it be a time that you embrace and enjoy as yet-to-be marrieds. This will bring a chapter of your life to a close and a whole new one will begin. Enter in to this beautiful rite of passage with reflection and celebration in this present moment as well deep appreciation for one another and the adventure you are about to embark on together.

Wishing you the best every step of the way,

Donna

No Hassle Holidays and Making the Most of Your Creativity

Last minute shopping and entertaining can be bring about stress and the joy of the season can get lost in the shuffle. This year's economic difficluties have put a strain on many families and people are cutting corners to make ends meet.

Does that mean we can't celebrate and embrace the joy of the season? Not at all. Instead, it's a way for us to become even more creative and resourceful. Necessity is the mother of invention so we can draw from the vast wealth of imagination and ingenuity that is within and make the holiday just as special as ever!

Here are a few ideas that might spark some clever gift-giving genius within:

1. From the kitchen of... Do you love to cook or bake? Do you have a favorite, family recipe? Then making your own culinary creations may be a warm and welcome gift for your friends and loved ones this year?

2. Scrapbooking saavy--Do you love to scrapbook? Then perhaps a framed scrapbook page or memory frame would be bring back memories and become a treasured keepsake.

3. Books. A trip to a local bookstore or website can find great books to bundle up with cocoa and a mug to be enjoyed on the cold, wintery days ahead.

4. Theme baskets. This is a trip to the dollar store to make up a spa basket, gardener's basket, pet lover's basket or chocolate lover's basket.

5. Creative coupons. You can make or print out coupons that entitle the owner to anything from a month off from laundry, free babysitting to be redeemed anytime, dinner and a movie or anything you can think up to let those you love know you care.

Wishing you and yours warm wishes this holiday season!

Donna and Pat

Holiday Events, Making Memories and Staying Sane

A few things to keep in mind when planning this year's holiday get together:

1. Since you are not being featured in this month's Living magazine, relax and enjoy your guests. Sure, tidy up the place, but don't, I repeat, DO NOT stress. People are more interested in mixing and mingling than rating your housekeeping skills.

2. Remember the reason for the season. Slow down and enjoy the moment. This time with family and friends is more important than any gifts that are given or received.

3. I think I'm going to call this tip--the Alisa factor. My sister, Alisa, is the queen of pre-planning for an event. She decides on the menu and pulls her recipes, buys her ingredients and then paces herself; prepping as she goes. I just had Thanksgiving at her house and even the gravy was made in advance. What a restful day we had!

It's already the beginning of December so before you know it Christmas will be here. Let's make a pact with ourselves to truly enjoy this holiday season and leave the hustle and bustle of last minute shopping and holiday perfection to the masses. Keep your sanity this season and take it easy. Let it be the gift you give yourself.