Budget Friendly Events in Richmond, VA

It feels like our lives have been put on hold with the economy and all of the recent life transitions. Well, to this I say, Good Riddance! It is more than overdue that we get back living, laughing, and loving, albeit a little more frugal this time.

We believe that a group dancing lesson with friends can be therapeutic and understanding more about your coworkers while learning to cook healthy meals can increase productivity. We believe that breaking bread at a VIP table in one of the areas hippest restaurants generates laughter and coworkers that spend an afternoon playing laser tag better understand that teamwork makes the dream work. We believe that is still possible to have events while still being fiscally responsible.

On December 26, 2009, we launched a new product (well, service really) with the primary intention of getting people back to living, laughing, and loving on a budget. We call them Semi-Custom Events, which are budget friendly pre-packaged events, parties, and experiences. Some would call it a Monthly Special on Steroids.

In addition, we divided these extremely discounted events into categories called Live. Laugh. Love.

To kick off this our new program, we've put together a short clip to explain more. Please take a look.

To view the current discount, which is a healthy cooking class at Mise En Place and Q&A with a personal trainer for only $99, go to: allaboutpresentation.com/specials

Winter Snow Storm Advice for Southerners, especially Virginians

After growing up in Michigan, I've learned a thing or two about snowstorms and thunder snowstorms. If you have to be out in a snow storm, here are just a few things to keep in mind:

1. SUV DOES NOT mean Slideproof Utility Vehicle
I come from the motor city so I know a thing or two about cars. Remember, most SUV's are top heavy which changes their center of gravity. Therefore, even though SUV's are heavier that most passenger cars, they are more likely to roll-over and it doesn't take much for them to do so. ALSO, for you sports car people ESPECIALLY MUSTANG owners, please take it easy around curves and corners. I can't even count how many Mustangs I've seen fish-tail while taking a turn at an intersection.

2. Practice in an empty parking lot.
Every year, usually in October or November it would start to snow. And, one thing I learned is that driving in snow is much like muscle memory. You have to get re-acquantied with the feeling of stopping and/or sliding. Once you practice a few times in the parking lot doing donuts (which is spinning the car in a controlled environment), you begin to get comfortable with the feeling. So, if you start sliding in traffic, you will have built up a resistance to panic. Also, you'll learn your car's breaking distance in the snow (which is how much distance you need to start breaking before you come to a complete stop). OH, BIG NOTE -- when you do stop at a traffic light leave a car length between you and the car stopped in front of you. Why, you ask? Because if the driver behind you has trouble stopping, the accident only involves two cars.

3. NO SLAMMING ON THE BREAKS, period. I know that it might freak you out that you may not have enough time to stop, but slamming on the breaks ALWAYS makes the situation worse.

4. HAVE plenty of groceries
One year a snow storm caught us all by surprise. What we believed would be a 3-4 inch covering of snow turned into 16 inches (apparently the storm stalled over the area). Anyway, because the area wasn't prepared, it took almost 3 days to get the roads clear and we didn't have any groceries in the house. Well, we did have rice and beans. But, long story short, it was miserable. Just make your life easier and stock-up.

I would be remiss if I didn't give you at least one really fun thing to do with all the new snow. While you're stocking up on groceries by some flavored syrups. That way you can make real snow cones with your family.

5. Be patient and resist the urge to hurry. We are all in this together. It's not just snowing over your house or car. So, be patient with the snow plowing crews and understand that your street may not be a priority and the person in front of you may be scared to death of driving in the snow.

Well, here's my top 5. If I've missed any good ones, feel fee to leave a comment. Perhaps we can create a comprehensive list of tips and advice.

In the Press

Every so often we get caught by surprise. We did an interview about 5 months ago and didn't know if it would be picked-up as content for articles, publications, etc. Lo, and behold, while doing a google search on ourselves (which we recommend everyone do from time to time) we found the article by Margaret Littman. Although the article has been published in media outlets from Washington state to the Chicago Herald, here is an excerpt from the article available online in Philadelphia at Philly.com:

You better not pout.

By Margaret Littman

Don't sweat the small stuff
If you've been laid-off you may be concerned about the costs that come with holiday merriment, but you should not stay home just because you can't afford an expensive hostess gift. A hand-written (and heartfelt) thank-you note the next day will go just as far as a bottle of wine brought to the party. Don't fret about not having a new outfit to wear, as long as what you have is clean, pressed and in good shape. Having polished shoes and a good hair cut go further than a new dress, says Lyons. If your holiday parties are pinching your budget too much, pick and choose the few that will be most useful in your job search.

Click here to read the full article

Guess who we met?

This weekend we had an opportunity to hang out with the governor of Virginia and the first lady. Since we noticed that there wasn't any press at the event, we'll say very little about the event and what happened. However, we'll just note that the governor is so awesome and so gracious and we are honored to have been invited to such a rockin' event hosted by the Kaine's!

What you get for the money - 100 gifts for $600 with little or no shopping required

Cost Effective Options for giving great Christmas Gifts - Our challenge 100 gifts with a budget of $600.

What a fun challenge?! One of our clients called and asked us to help them give 100 gifts with only $600 to spend. Well, it wasn't long before we realized it seemed like an almost impossible task to give 100 people a gift that they will actually want AND use. The additional requirement is that each gift had to be very little effort (which automatically excludes crafty types of gifts or home-baked goods). So we put on our thinking caps and suggested a few ideas to our client. We thought we would pass this inspiration on to you.

Idea 1: Amazon Gift Certificate via email

Why not give a gift certificate to the world's largest retailer with a value of $5.00?

There are tons of designs to choose from and, check this out, you can order up to 400 gift cards at one time!!! So, you only go through the ordering process once and you don't have to manually individualize each gift certificate.

This is a great addition for those who send electronic holiday cards. It adds just a little something different and special.

Why we love this idea -- Recipients will get a really fun looking email that can be used immediately online. In addition, you can delay delivery so that e-mail gift cards can be scheduled up to a year in advance.

Check out Amazon Gift Cards online

Idea 2: Holiday Themed Favors When we say favors, most people think of weddings. However, useful favors are wonderful for any type of event or occasion. There are themed favors available, such as the ones shown here. This idea is best left for gift giving where the major concentration of recipients is in one local area. Otherwise, shipping costs will increase the cost per favor. Why we love this idea -- By nature, favors are manufactured to be personalized with a low cost per person. For example the petit fours which are $60.00 are for 30 sets with 3 petit fours per set. Check out more holiday themed favors	Holiday Tea Sachets $3.50	Mini Holiday Brownie Pops $3.75	Personalized Chocolate Bars $2.75
	Hand Painted Holiday Blown Glass Pens $6.00	Holiday Petit Fours $60 per set of 30	Holiday Photo Oreo $2.50
	Personalized Holiday Notebooks $1.30	Personalized Holiday Cookies $4.25	Holiday Travel Candle Tins $4.50

Idea 3: Movie Theater Experience

Recently, we shared an experience in which we planned an event in a movie theater. Well, it got us thinking, why not treat you and 99 of your closest friends to the movies? Pick a date and you can either rent out the theater or get a large group discount. We suggest seeing a movie that is family friendly. We also suggest sending the invitation now but choosing a movie date in January. Here are two family friendly movies coming out in January that may have universal appeal.

The Spy Next Door with Jackie Chan, Billy Ray, and George Lopez

Jackie Chan is set to star in "The Spy Next Door," an action-comedy which centers on a man (Chan) who is called to baby-sit his neighbor's children and winds up having to fight off secret agents after one of the kids inadvertently downloads a secret code.

The Tooth Fairy with Dwayne Johnson Julie Andrews Stephen Merchant

Dwayne Johnson is "The Tooth Fairy," also known as Derek Thompson, a hard-charging minor league hockey player whose nickname comes from his habit of separating opposing players from their bicuspids. When Derek discourages a youngster's hopes, he's sentenced to one week's hard labor as a real tooth fairy, complete with the requisite tutu, wings and magic wand. At first, Derek "can't handle the tooth" -- bumbling and stumbling as he tries to furtively wing his way through strangers' homes…doing what tooth fairies do. But as Derek slowly adapts to his new position, he begins to rediscover his own forgotten dreams.

Why we love this idea -- It is a community experience. There is no better gift than sharing a happy experience with other people. This type of event gives people the warm-fuzzies.

Wedding Planners: Saving Brides Time, Money and Frustration

A few weeks a we received a call from Michelle Burchett at the Progress -Index to give an interview on how to save brides time, money, and stress. Here is an excerpt from the article.

Wedding Planners: Saving Brides Time, Money and Frustration

By Michelle Burchett

PROGRESS-INDEX CORRESPONDENT

The perfect wedding is every woman’s dream. Don’t let the details turn it into a nightmare. If you’re struggling to plan your own wedding, just don’t have the time to do it all or you’re frustrated with the entire process, perhaps it’s time to consider consulting with a wedding planner. Most will provide the initial consultation free and will inform you of the various services they offer within your budget. “I don’t think it’s for the rich, but for the busy or for those who don’t have the knack for it,” said Andrea Lyons, President of All About Presentation event planning in Richmond . Planning a wedding can take a novice up to seven 40-hour workweeks, explained Lyons . “Working women have no time to plan,” she said, suggesting that brides seriously consider how much time they have to devote to planning and seek assistance from professionals. Click here to read the full article

Guess who we met? -- Eddie Ross

Last week, R-Home

(Richmond Home Magazine) hosted a holiday event showcasing area retailers and an amazing speaker, Eddie Ross.

Eddie Ross, who has an amazing list of credits and now owns his own lifestyle company, gave us such great advice like how to make your own wrapping paper, creating a holiday wreath from baby's breath, and creating an amazing arrangement with Poinsetta's. One of the key's to Eddie's success is that he is constantly innovating and refining. In his words "when designing, you can't be afraid to make mistakes, it happens to everyone". Check out Eddie online at www.eddieross.com

VERY REAL ideas to help ease the stress of hosting Thanksgiving

Whether you are a seasoned Thanksgiving host or newbie Thanksgiving traveler (or anywhere in between) here are three ideas taken directly from our event planning checklist to help you ease your stress this Thanksgiving.

Day Before and Day After Cleaning Service
One of the items on our checklist for parties that we plan in our client's homes is to suggest a house cleaning service to come in the day before and then the day after the event. Not only will a cleaning service get your house together (vacuuming, cleaning bathrooms, sweeping, mopping and dusting), it will give you more time to do all the other things that are required when hosting people. For the day after service, we suggest adding the following chores to the cleaning list: taking out the trash, cleaning off all table tops and counter tops, and loading the dishwasher. Often, cleaning services will give you a FANTASTIC discount on the dual service.

Rent What You Don't Have or Don't Want to Clean

One of the things that we often do in the event business is rent flatware, dinnerware, tables, chairs, and linens. What happens when you have 20 guests and only 12 dining chairs? The usual result is a mix-n-match sort of thing. A few folding chairs, perhaps an Adirondack chair from the patio, or the chair from your home-office. Why not swap out your chairs and get 20 matching chiavari chairs from your local rental company.

The same goes for dinnerware and flatware. Also, rental companies provide some extraordinary linens that would cost you double the price if you purchase them yourself. If you're in the Richmond, VA area, we suggest renting from Classic Party Rental or Party Perfect.

Don't Check It - Ship It!

Alas! The busiest travel weekend of the year is here. Here's a little tip we've learned. Most major airlines charge $20 for the first checked bag and $30 for the second. If, at all possible, try not to check a bag. But, if you know that you will have to pack enough that will require checking a bag, consider shipping your items via USPS or UPS ahead of time. It may sound a little abnormal, but we just shipped a box of goods from Richmond to Detroit that weighed 25 lbs and it only costs $17.40. Not only will it be at the residence before us, but we won't have to wait in baggage claim or worry about it going through security.

We hope these three ideas help you take the stress out of your upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.

Give Thanks Without Giving Away Your Wallet

Give Thanks Without Giving Away Your Wallet With Halloween behind us, it's time to plan for the next BIG event -- Thanksgiving. So, over the next few days we'll be providing you tips and advice that we use right here at All About Presentation to help us plan our events more efficiently and save our clients money. To kick-off the tips, this week, we're giving you tips on how you can "Give Thanks Without Giving Away Your Wallet".

Tip 1 -- Reduce: Okay, so, let’s just get it all out in the open. We are officially giving you permission to be extremely selective on your feeding and gift giving this season. We have yet to plan an event where the food did not amount to the largest percentage of the overall budget. As much as we all love to host and entertain clients, friends, and guests, there is no doubt that it can become very expensive, very quickly. So, do yourself a favor and take a note from Santa. Make a list and check twice. It’s okay to say ‘no’ or ‘maybe next year’ for guests that you’re on the fence about. Tip 2 -- Reuse: To decorate for Thanksgiving in your home (or office), spray paint your uncut pumpkins that are leftover from Halloween an antique gold, copper, or silver color. Place a few votive candles around your masterpiece and Voila!, an instant centerpiece! Tip 3 -- Recycle: This is a beautiful time to go for a short hike or, for the less adventurous, a stroll into the backyard and pick up fallen leaves, branches, acorns, pinecones, berries, and pine needles. Arrange them in a clear vase or bowl to create a seasonal feel in your home or office. Tip 4 – Re-gift: Let’s face it, we all receive items from companies (or friends) asking us to try their products that we will never use or aren’t really a good fit for us. Well, we receive a lot of free samples from our events and stockpile them. For example, one company sent us several hundred samples of their lotions. There is no way we could ever use that many so we give them away as gifts. Another example (speaking to the ladies here) is when you get a “gift with purchase” at the make-up counter. If the shades aren’t really your cup of tea, consider giving the gift to one of your clients, friends, or relatives.

Buy Enough without Buying Too Much

Did you know that there are hundreds of websites and recipe books dedicated to Thanksgiving leftovers? All of us have a tendency to overbuy just make sure that we have enough. One of the challenges for many people, besides buying too much food, is that we buy too many disposables. Can you relate?

One of the most common questions we get is how many plates, cups, napkins, and utensils should we buy. Well, just imagine how accurate you need to be when your dinnerware isn't disposable. At AAP, the majority of our events require china so we have to be really accurate on how much we need to buy to optimize our clients' budget.

So, we have a formula that we use that can help save you some money for your Thanksgiving gathering. Shout out to my girl Marley at The Party Goddess for helping us with this. Here's the standard formula to help determine how much dinnerware (disposable or china) you should have on-hand to be prepared for the Thanksgiving feast!

All you have to do is multiply the number of people attending and the item below. For example, if you want to know how many plates you need to buy, multiply the following:

If there are 18 people attending X 1.5 Entree Plates = 27 plates to purchase.

Now remember, nicer disposable plates are packaged in either 8 or 10 so even though we only need 27 plates, we may need to purchase 30 or 32 based on packaging.

Hors d’oeuvres Napkins: 2.5/person

Cocktail Napkins: 2.5/person

Entrée Plates: 1.5/person

Entrée Forks: 1.5/person

Entrée Knives: 1.5/person

Dessert Plates: 1.25/person

Dessert Forks: 1.25/person

Coffee Cups/Saucers/Mugs: 1/person

Coffee Spoons: 1/person

Napkins: 1.25/person

Now, these numbers aren't bullet proof but it is a fairly good place to start and we hope to save you a few pennies while you're shopping.

First Citizens Grand Opening - Midlothian, VA

Don't you just love the fall?

There is a crispness in the air, all of the best fruits and veggies are in season, and the colors in nature are so bold and vibrant.

So, when First Citizens Bank called and asked All About Presentation to plan its Fall themed grand opening event, we jumped at the chance. Currently the bank has a branch in Richmond, VA near Short Pump. But the opening of this bank in Midlothian is part of their expansion into the area.

Their only request was to make sure the event was family focused. With that in mind All About Presentation included bouncers, carnival games, a football toss, great food, a DJ, a live guitarist, and pumpkin painting!

Take a look at this short clip to see event highlights.

First Citizens Bank is located at 13101 Midlothian Turnpike, Midlothian, VA

When it's all about events, then it's All About Presentation!

Part IV and V - Live! from Palm Springs California - Beni... October 2009

Part 4 & 5

Here it is! The final video installation of Live! from Palm Springs. As you can imagine, we're pretty tired by this point so this posting will be brief. This video reflects the official birthday celebration. We enjoyed an incredibly relaxing day at Revive! spa and had an amazing evening in "downtown". This was an amazing, relaxing, and thoroughly enjoyable experience. I truly hope you enjoyed watching this series and I would highly encourage you to take some time and create some memorable experiences for you and your friends and family. If you need help figuring out how, contact All About Presentation and we'll create an amazing experience for you.

Live! from Palm Springs California Part III - Benita's 30th Birthday Celebration

Thanks so much for the overwhelming response to Part 1 & 2 of Live! from Palm Springs.

If you missed it, check it out here.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

We’ll just open Part 3 in the words of Wilma Flintstone and Betty Rubble as they entered the Flintmobile, 'CHARGE IT!

This day was absolutely grueling. After we settled in and rested, the first action item on the agenda was to learn a little more about the towns-people and their customs. Here’s what we discovered (Sacagawea style):

• there are an extraordinarily large number of hybrid cars
• the real estate market here is exceptional if you’re in the market for condo at a TREMENDOUS discount.
• the area is a little too close to the San Andreas fault, at least for my taste…unless you like a little rockin’ every now and then.
• ceviche is a requirement for any menu (and so is granola?!)
• it’s HOT! When people say “it’s a dry heat”, that’s true, but it’s still hot.

But most importantly during our discovery, we found the BEST Marshall’s (retail store) in America….bar none. The clothes were extremely fashionable at amazing prices. Lesson for next time: “Don’t pack a thing, just buy it when you get there”. By the way, the airline people really should be more lenient when it comes to the 50 lbs rule because, truly, 50lbs isn’t very much (nickel and dime-ing hard working Americans like us – I’m offended). Admittedly, I’m speaking selfishly here.

Anyway, the Marshall’s experience got us thinking “what other little shopping treasures can we uncover while we’re here”. Well, it didn’t take us long to find Cabazon Outlets in Cabazon, CA.

Okay, before I continue, we have to pause here for a moment and I have to take a deep breath because I really don’t want to oversell this place……

……..how can I say……

IT IS THE MOST AMAZING OUTLET MALL I’VE EVER BEEN TO IN MY LIFE!!

I didn’t even know Ferragamo had a “company store”. What the?! Are you kidding? And the Coach outlet….ACES! So after a few hours at the mall (which is HUGE), we decided that it was time to relax :)

Back at the hotel, while the sun was still high in the sky, we caught some rays by the pool. You might be thinking, but aren’t you naturally tan? The answer, of course, is yes; however, part of the fun in getting a tan is so that when you come back, everyone else knows you went somewhere warm with lots of sun.

Now, because one member of the trip is currently eating for two, we thought it best that we have a nice, well-balanced meal. It was at one of our meals, that the birthday girl gave us a cutesy decorated martini glass, you know, for our water.

Stay tuned for Part 4 to learn more about where all of these glasses were used. It’s a good thing that glasses can’t talk.

For more info about All About Presentation or other great party ideas check us out on the web. Also, be sure to follow us on Twitter

Live! from Palm Springs California - Benita's 30th Birthday Celebration

Part 1 & 2 -To get parts 3, 4, and 5 delivered to your inbox, sign-up here!

A little background about this video:

Okay, so, my friend Benita decided that she wanted to celebrate her 30th birthday in a rock star fab way. She didn't just want to party somewhere in Richmond, VA. She wanted a complete experience. How forward-thinking is she?

Anyway, I committed to going along with whatever she decided she wanted to do. So, this fabulous chic decided on having a party, but not in Richmond. She wanted her friends to party in Palm Springs, California. Awesome, right?! Well, maybe not as cool for you folks that already live on the west coast, but for us mid-atlantic people, this is a spectacular idea!

Once the hotel was decided and the tickets were purchased, it was only a matter of counting down the days until the trip. Oh, by-the-way, Benita has friends scattered all over the country, so those going on the trip would fly from a different airport. It was minor logistics nightmare, however, it all worked out because all of our plane's got in at roughly the same time.

...Speaking of American Airlines, can I just say that I was so impressed. It's no secret that Jet Blue is my fav airline, but AA did alright. At least my luggage arrived when I did...this is important to know because on the return flight, we made it to the check-in counter with only 23 sec. to spare before the gate attendants closed the gate for boarding...it's that whole "being there at least 30 min. before the flight - post Sept. 11" deal. Nevertheless, I expected the worst from AA, but I was pleasantly surprised.

Enough about that. So, why the video montage of the trip?! Well, first because I just bought a flip and wanted to play with it. Two, because I thought you might want to see what a fun 30th birthday party looks like and might need some help planning your next milestone birthday (or any in between).

Due to some 'production delays', we had to put Part 1 and 2 together in this 5-part series. But be sure to check back tomorrow for part 3 and you certainly don't want to miss part 4 because it involves the night life. To get parts 3, 4, and 5 delivered to your inbox, sign-up here!

For more info about All About Presentation or other great party ideas check us out on the web. Also, be sure to follow us on Twitter

The All About Presentation Sample

Just wanted to share some of our early work with the audience!

Putting my foot down...finally!

I am sick and tired of bad news being the only news that you hear, aren't you?

If I hear another word about the record number of unemployed or if another news anchor says "these are the worst times since the great depression", I am going to scream!

I think by now, we understand what is going on, but we can't change anything by just complaining about it so I've joined the Good News movement and I hope that you will too.

My friend and business partner, Phil Daniel created a radio show dedicated to those of us who believe in positive thinking, motivation, and uplifting spirits through inspirational words, thoughts, and music.

How can you participate?

Tune in this, and every, Sunday from 12:00pm - 3:00pm on EZ 100.5 FM or online at ezfmradio.com.

The best part is that if you can't make it to the radio on Sunday, the show is available anytime online at ezfmradio.com

IF you own a business and are looking to advertise to like minded people...people who know the importance of positive thinking and who want to buy from businesses that believe in the same, we encourage you to contact Phil using the info above. OR, if you want to donate to the movement, contact Phil.

Join us this Sunday on the radio 100.5FM at 12:00pm to tune in to "Cool Jazz and Romance. Think and Grow Rich."

Help us combat negativity with positive thinking and motivation.

March Means Green

March 2009 - Green With Envy Leprechauns. Shamrocks. Green Beer. St. Patrick's Day... Wind?! Green is the color most widely associated with Ireland, with Irish people, and with St. Patrick's Day in modern times. Since we celebrate this feast day in March, most would associate the color green to the month of March. In keeping with the spirit of green while taking a twist on the topic, this months newsletter will focus on one of the hot button issues of our country "Going Green" and provide tips on how little changes can make a big difference. So much of the green movement can be confusing. But instead of focusing on the macro side of energy efficiency and creating sustainable environments, this newsletter will give you some helpful hints that you can start doing today to reduce waste, save yourself some money, and help the environment. Admittedly, events do not necessarily lend themselves to being part of a tree-hugging industry. In fact, the nature of events are meant to be temporary. However, if each of us does our part, little by little, we can reduce our trashy footprint. Happy reading and all the best to you this month! Do Five and Keep Earth Alive Here's the challenge. For the next 30 days pick one of the following five activities (taken from greenissexy.org) and commit to making it your effort at going green. Or, if you're feeling especially overzealous, trying doing all five. skip it and shake it. Just entered a public bathroom that doesn't have a door? You know, those oddly placed circular entrances you can typically find when the bathroom capacity is over 20 or 30, like a theater, concert hall, football stadium, or airport? Well, if there's no door to close on the way out, there's nothing to touch once you're hands are freshly rinsed. And knowing this, you can kick your jazz hands into effect, skip the paper towel, and shake your hands dry! For extra emphasis, try the "it's raining!" trick to a friend. It never goes down well, but you can mention that you saved a paper towel and they'll probably remember. energy-less date. Hot date coming up? Show how sexy you are when you put less energy into your date - and get more out, if uknowhaddaimean. 1) Cook a meal without cooking: forget that ol' stove and oven and, heck, even your unplugged microwave. Go light, go raw, go fresh salad! Get your bean taco on! Show sandwiches who is stylin'. 2) Candlelight dinner: It's romantic, it's sincere, it's been a long time since you had one last, hey? 3) Play a game: Yes, RockBand is super fun to play on a date - but what about that power and creativity that lies in charades? Or Apples-to-Apples? Or even just some good ol' fashioned competitive WAR? You'll be skipping those extra watts to power your projector and getting back to the basics: getting to know someone. Go spend your energy where it counts, you sexy thing! dial it back. Here's a quick and easy way to reduce waste in your life: give condiment packages and napkins back to the restaurant that gives them to you. Try asking fast food chains and takeout joints to leave out the extras from your next lazy dinner, but if they still throw in a handful of ketchups or a months worth of napkins, consider giving them back to the person who doled them out. By actually returning these wasteful extras, you'll be reducing your own impact while reminding the restaurant that no means no. Who knows? Maybe they'll think twice before overdoing it on the soy sauce for the next customer. natural food dyes. Want a truly green beer for St. Paddy's Day this year? You've probably already found yourself a nice organic pint, but the green food coloring you buy from the grocery store's baking aisle just really isn't all that green when you look at its ingredients. Instead opt for natural food colorings to truly green that beer for St. Paddy's Day this year! Try mixing chlorella (derived from algae) or liquid chlorophyll in your organic pint for an intense green- they are both available at your local health supplement store. Or for a pint to make Popeye proud, add some juiced spinach strained though a piece of cheesecloth. Hmm, does this make beer healthy? nice stems. 122lbs a month. This is how much food a family of four throws away every month, estimated through a survey that appeared in the New York Times last year. There are a lot of things we can do to drop the pounds on this surprising stat, like eat your leftovers and planning your meals so that you don't end up buying too much. But today's simple tip includes using a piece of food you might not consider to be edible: the broccoli stem. Packed with vitamins, the stem can be boiled or pan fried, adding a crunchy water-chestnut like texture to your stir fry. For more tips check out: http://www.greenissexy.org It Ain't Easy Being Green It ain't easy being green when an event is meant to be temporary, but with these tips, being green is a breeze. Whether you are hosting an event for 10 or 10,000, here are some easy ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Reduce by: 1. Using electronic registration or invitations (such as eventbrite.com or evite.com) and putting the program, speakers' materials and handouts online or send ahead via email. 2. Limiting or eliminating styrofoam (polystyrene) cups and containers. 3. Encouraging the use of mass-transit, carpooling and other environmentally preferable transportation choices. 4. Serving food that does not require plates or utensils such as heavy hor d'oeuvres on skewers, toothpicks, or finger foods Reuse by: 5. Producing signs and banners from durable, recovered materials. 6. Handing out gifts such as reusable mugs or sports bottles that can be used at the event, take home and use again. Recycle by: 7. Creating displays or giveaways from recovered materials that can also be recycled. 8. Setting up a system for recycling extra materials left behind by speakers, exhibitors and other attendees. Off The Shelf - Gorgeously Green This month's book off the shelf is, "Gorgeously Green. 8 Simple Steps to an Earth-Friendly Life". Are you confused by all the advice you hear and see daily on how to "go green"? Do you want to incorporate earth-friendly practices into your life, but you don't know where to start? Don't stress! Green guru Sophie Uliano has sorted through all the eco-info out there and put everything you need to know about living a green lifestyle right at your fingertips. In Gorgeously Green, Sophie offers a simple eight-step program that is an easy and fun way to begin living an earth-friendly life. Each chapter covers topics from beauty to fitness, shopping to your kitchen, even your transportation. Whether it's finding the right lipstick, making dinner, buying gifts, or picking out a hot new outfit, finally, there is a book that tackles your daily eco-challenges with a take-charge plan. Just consider Sophie your go-to girl with all the eco-solutions. Find out how to: Green your entire beauty regime Detoxify your home Indulge in guilt-free shopping Adopt a home fitness routine Prepare eco-licious treats Give your kitchen a green makeover Become more aware of your impact on the earth The book's dozens and dozens of eco-friendly tips, products, and practices combine to form a treasure trove of practical advice for every possible way to become stylishly green. Your questions about dressing, makeup, eating, shopping, cleaning, travel, and more are all answered right here. Adopting a green lifestyle is among the most positive, forward-thinking, and personally fulfilling choices that anyone can make--and Gorgeously Green shows that it doesn't have to be tedious, time-consuming, or glamourless! Purchase Gorgeously Green Seared Scallop Martini Salad SERVES 4 Ingredients Salad: 3/4 cups mixed greens 12 sea scallops, patted dry 4 T black & white sesame seeds 1 T extra-virgin olive oil 8 dilly beans (pickled green beans) Dressing: 2 T lemon juice 1 t dry vermouth 2 T good quality vodka 1 t caper juice 2 T extra-virgin olive oil 8-10 jalapeno-garlic green olives, coarsely chopped salt and pepper to taste Coat both sides of each scallop with sesame seeds while heating a cast-iron frying pan over medium-high heat. Sear scallops in olive oil, turning once. Mix all ingredients for dressing immediately before serving (use a martini shaker if you wish!) and loosely pile lettuces into martini glasses. Place scallops on top of greens and garnish with dilly beans. Click here to view the original recipe Green Tips for your Vehicle Motorists can do their part to help the environment by practicing a few 'earth-friendly' car care habits. 1. Get pumped. Keep the tires properly inflated and aligned. Under-inflated tires waste fuel by forcing the vehicle's engine to work harder. Moreover, properly maintained tires last longer, saving you money and lessening the burden at landfills. 2. Slow down. Speeding and hard accelerations waste gasoline. 3. Lighten up. Remove unnecessary items from the vehicle to reduce weight. This information was brought to you by Express Auto Center - "we don't exhaust your funds". All About Presentation is an event management company located in Richmond, VA. with event planners focused on your success. For questions or comments on Presentation newsletter contact the editor via email: benita@allaboutpresentation.com All About Presentation : Social Event Planning : Business Event Planning : Shop : Contact Us :

Dream the Impossible - Honda Short Film

Honda: The Power of Dreams - "The mere thought can paralyze even the most heroic thinkers and keep great ideas off the drawing board."

It often happens that we, as humans, are drawn to people, ideas, thoughts, concepts, and experiences that most resemble us or our current situation. As the owner of All About Presentation, I am no different. I've recently found that all of my most recent book purchases, the television shows that I gravitate towards, and the podcasts that I download are of (or related to) doing what you love, finding your passion, and encouraging other people.

Yesterday, I came across a new series of short films that I am really excited about created by Honda...that's right, the people that make the cars that last forever. As an aside, I do not currently own a Honda (or Toyota for that matter) but if there were ever a race on which engine would last longer, I would put a large amount of money on the fact that Honda and Toyota would be number 1 or 2.

Nevertheless, Honda has created a series of short films that highlight the power of dreams called "Dream The Impossible". After all, Honda is a company created by a dreamer - someone that had a passion for motorcycles and could build the engine like nothing America had ever seen.

The first short "Failure-the Secret to Success" features Danica Patrick, Honda employees and management. Although, my favorite short thus far is "Kick Out The Ladder", I've included the first short released for your viewing pleasure. I would encourage you to see all of the shorts and subscribe to alerts when more Honda short films will be available.

Failure the Secret to Success




To view the other two films that have been released by Honda:

Mobility 2008

Kick Out the Ladder