The Diamond Encrusted cupcake makes an appearance again!

If you are familiar with my friends Mervis Diamond Importers and my blog than you already know about the birth of the first ever diamond encrusted cupcake in April 2009. Well back my popular demand they brought it back in May for the Martin Flyer Ring Trunk Show May 1-2, 2009!

I was able to check it out on May 2nd. Not only that but I got to indulge myself with one of the tasty cupcake treats. Yep! That absolutely delicious cupcake with the red flower was all mine! Can you tell I have a soft spot for sweets?

While enjoying the tasty treats I was able to check out some of the Martin Flyer FlyerFit collection and Martin Flyer Classic collection. I took some pictures of some of my favorites to share with you!

This first one I would like to share you caught my eye right away. It is of a total weight of .60 ct and its item number is 917309.

The one on the right is .45 ct (item 913309). The ring on the right is .55 ct (item # 910109).

Last but not least this beautiful, glimmering ring is .35 ct (item #

96509).

To see more of the Martin Flyer collections check them out at Mervis Diamond Importers. They are one of their select jewelry designers.

What's could possibly be yummier than diamonds and cupcakes?

Shine in your moment!

Exclusive Bridal Event & Fashion Show!

I wanted to share with my bridal readers an exclusive event coming up next weekend from my friends at Westin Arlington Gateway. You are not going to want to miss this!

There will be complimentary hors d'oeuvres, a champagne tasting, a fashion show, and more! See the invitation below for all the details.

Shine in your moment!

Etiquette for the Internet Generation

For those of you who have children preparing for your bar mitzvah, bat mitzvah, or to go back to school, you should check out Back to Basics ™ program on Sunday, July 26, 2009. I'm honored to share with you details on this manners workshop for kids hosted by Deborah Joy Block of The Wedding Dance Specialists, friend of Cristina Maria Special Events. It can help prepare them to be well behaved at formal functions so they can put their best foot forward!

It’s purpose it to help the Internet Generation rediscover the simple pleasures of human interactions such as courtesy, tolerance, consideration and the human touch, despite the growing impersonal nature of our environment. Today's youth live in a fast-paced digital world where interpersonal contact is often conducted via cell phones, text messaging, TV and computer screens.

Good manners and proper personal presentation is not a luxury but rather a necessity in today's increasingly competitive society. Proper etiquette is a mandatory social reality.

• Life Skills
• Table Manners
• Daily Etiquette
• Character and Leadership Education
• Telephone and Conversation Skills
• Thank you notes
• Introductions
• Phone skills
• Dining Skills
• Setting a Formal Table

Deborah Joy Block, the Protocol Instructor for Back to Basics has taught social dance etiquette and special event protocol to thousands of students for 12 years and publishes a popular monthly newsletter providing guidance on social event etiquette for the past 7 years that has been distributed to a total of 35,000 households. Mrs. Block graduated from the prestigious American School of Protocol an elite etiquette school which has been profiled by every major TV channel - ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, FOX and the BBC. There she was certified to teach Manners and Etiquette and Life Skills to k-12.

Details of Back to Basics

Date: Sunday, July 26, 2009

Covering: Proper Introductions, Hand shakes, Eye Contact, Good conversation skills, Thank you Notes, Respect and Courtesy, Social Dancing, Dance Floor Etiquette and more!

Workshop 1: 1st – 5th grades at 9am -12 noon

Workshop 2: 6th-9th grades at 12:30 – 3:30

Location: Star Lounge and Ballroom, 7203 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, VA 22003

Registration Form: find the form at www.backtobasicsmanners.com

Payment: with credit card over the phone or online at http://mannersworkshop.eventbrite.com

Fall Workshops will include: Cell/Telephone Manners, setting a formal table, dining etiquette which includes a 4 course meal, good posture and presentation, social dancing and dance floor etiquette.

A portion of revenues will be donated to the Shriners Hospital for Children.

Check out the websites of Back to Basics and School Steps for featured articles and more information on the event, programs, and Deborah Joy Block.

Feel free to contact Deborah Joy Block, Back to Basics Director at 703.732.4846 or info@backtobasicsmanners.com.

Providing our children the tools that give them confidence goes a long way.

So they can shine in their moment!

Save-the-Date! September 12th, 2009

The save-the-date for the 3rd Annual Turning the Page Gala event I mentioned yesterday went out this morning! Here's your very own copy of the invitation! I hope you can join us!

Don't miss THE gala of the fall 2009 season & help a child in OUR area in need

For those of you who are regular readers of my blog, you know that I always like to share everything fun going on with events whether it is tips for your own event or details on fun, local events going on. After all this is the "Everything Events" blog.

Well I have another fun event to share with you. This September is the Third Annual Turning the Page Gala. If you haven't already heard of the absolutely wonderful non-profit organization, I feel privileged to share a little bit of Turning the Page's story, their mission, and their gala with you.

History of Organization and Gala
Turning the Page (TTP) was founded in 1998 in response to the challenges facing the DC public school system. Since that time, TTP has partnered with public elementary and middle schools in Northeast and Southeast DC, working to increase parental involvement in the schools and provide teachers with resources to support their classroom lessons. They have distributed more than 60,000 new books to children, held more than 700 events for families, and worked with more than 300 teachers and their 3,000+ students to introduce arts and science-based educational activities into their classrooms.

2009 marks their 11th year in service to the public school community and our 3rd annual fundraising gala. This year’s event will be held at the Carnegie Institution of Washington and will be an evening for 200 supporters in the DC business and philanthropic community to celebrate the accomplishments of the 2008-2009 school year and also raise funds to support TTP’s programs in 2009-2010. Their fundraising goal for the event this year is $45,000 which will allow them to maintain their programs at current levels despite a difficult funding environment. Their goal is to raise $10,000 from their impressive selection of silent auction items. One hundred percent of the proceeds of the gala and silent auction will support TTP’s programs in their seven partner schools.

Turning the Page 2008-2009: By the Numbers

• 7 School Partners in Wards 5-8
• 56 Community Nights which included parent workshops, book giveaways, child mentoring and family dinners;
• 14 Author visits as part of Community Nights where parents shared an evening talking with local and nationally known children’s authors;
• 590 parents and their approximately 1,000 children participated in Community Nights;
• 5,000+ new, high-quality children’s books distributed to families during workshops and through child mentoring;
• 40 university students devoted more than 1,800 hours reading with and leading educational activities for students during Community Nights;
• 26 teachers and their more than 440 students participated in a ten week photography and writing program, visiting the Anacostia Community Museum or National Building Museum;
• 9 teachers and their more than 180 students participated in a 24 week photography and writing program; each student visited 4 museums, took 4 rolls of film and will exhibit their work in the Phillips Collection this summer;
• 50+ teachers participated in professional development sessions aimed at increasing parental involvement in their schools.

Details of the Gala:

When: Saturday, September 12, 2009 from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Where: Carnegie Institution of Washington

Attire: Black-Tie & Elegant Attire Requested

Featuring: Professional photography by Sara Duke Biscoe Photography, live music by Keith Matthis & Exclusive Report, an open bar with wine and specialty martinis, a silent auction, passed h'or d'oeuvres, and catered sit-down dinner.

Tickets: Please contact me at info@cristinamariaevents.com for ticket information. I will be able to offer you a limited time ticket price at a discounted rate.

Information: To find out more information on the 3rd Annual TTP Gala and the Turning the Page organization please click on the linkable text.

Your Help:

Whether you can attend the gala or not there are others way you can lend a helping hand. TTP always appreciates the support whether you volunteer your time or your money. Every contribution big and small makes a HUGE difference. If you would like to donate today please click here if you are interested in volunteer opportunities and here if you would like to make a financial contribution. Times are tough these days for us all but times area always tough for these children. On behalf of Cristina Maria Special Events and Turning the Page thank you for your help and support!

I'm honored that Cristina Maria Special Events can be a part of such a wonderful event for an organization that really makes a difference right here in our own city. I hope you will be able to be a part of the event too.

Dinner & Magic EVERY SUNDAY!

Life is always filled with endless To Do lists and days that never seem to be long enough. Don't forget to take a break from your busy and time consuming event planning and your To Do lists to enjoy some fun with your loved ones. I always hear from married couples who didn't use a wedding planner, that they didn't feel like they had time to enjoy the engagement because they were busy with work and wedding planning. Take part of one day a week at least to enjoy some fun and laughter whether you are planning an event or not. Don't let time pass you by to enjoy life, laughter, and your loved ones. Remember you are not alone. Balance is something we all work on throughout our lives.

Want to enjoy something different with your fiance/fiancee, family and friends? Looking for something fun and different to do on a Sunday evening? In search of fun, interactive entertainment for your bar/bat mitzvah?

Well I have just the ticket! Any Sunday evening enjoy dinner and magic at Kemble Park Tavern in the Palisades located at 5125 Macarthur Blvd NW, Washington, DC 20016 from 6-8pm. Josh Norris of Interactive Magic will be there performing tableside magic. Make reservations at Kemble Park Tavern today!

Feel free to check out Josh Norris' entertainment schedule for a list of his public appearances.

Have fun!

Happy planning!

WIN His & Hers Hand-Engraved Platinum Wedding Bands!

I would love to help you get your platinum wedding bands for FREE so I have to share with you a contest going on courtesy of OneWed.com and Platinum Guild International.

OneWed will be awarding one lucky couple his & hers hand-engraved platinum wedding bands designed by Kirk Kara valued at over $4,500 in their "POP your Platinum Proposal" contest as a nod to the movie “The Proposal” that dropped last weekend. In “The Proposal” Sandra Bullock's character (Margaret Tate) "proposes" (if you have seen the movie or previews you understand why it is in quotes) to Ryan Reynolds' character (Andrew Paxton).

With Margaret's proposal to Andrew in mind, OneWed thought it’d be fun to ask brides how they would have popped (or did pop) the question to their hubbies-to-be (had they been in their fiance’s shoes). If you are anything like me and most ladies out there, you have given some thought to how you would like to be proposed to or how you would have liked to be proposed to. Here's your chance to use those ideas to win wedding bands!!!!!

To enter, you brides-to-be must tell OneWed in 200 in words or less how you did or would "POP your Platinum Proposal" (in other words how you did or will propose to the love of their life). They are accepting platinum proposal stories from both brides and grooms. Just send in your entry (including your OneWed username) to savvyscoop@onewed.com before midnight on July 15th, and you'll be entered to win these Kirk Kara platinum wedding bands!

Don't forget, you must register on OneWed.com first, and provide your OneWed username along with your Platinum Proposal story! For full contest details, rules, and guidelines, click HERE!

For those of you who are interested in looking at various rings to get an idea of styles and settings check out OneWed's wedding and engagement ring gallery. You can also purchase rings from the site.

Winning this contest... what a way to save! Good luck!

Shine in your moment!