Samantha Smith Productions

RED Decor

2012-02-10T16:33:00.000-08:00

I know this post is way after the holiday season, but I really wanted to write about the beautiful holiday party we did for one of our clients.

Although it was a "holiday" party, you can use the ideas from this party for Valentine's Day! Whether you are wrapping a present or throwing a party, get inspired by our decor below.

See my Pinterest page for our inspiration for this party.

Table decor

Menus that doubled as an escort card (on the flip side)

are attached to grapevine napkin rings.

Crafty inexpensive wrapping.

(The gift was a Himalayan Salt Block)

Logo candy bar

Beautifully decorated tables in Laurent Studios

face an oversized succulent wall of art.

The mini-dessert bar was a big hit

using the color theme of the party - red and brown

-Danielle

Yum

2012-02-06T08:55:00.000-08:00

This weekend we went exploring to see what was happening inCole Valley.

I love to see what Urban Mercantile has to offer. I ended upbuying my husband’s Valentine’s Day card there. I also checked out the newcheeses at Say Cheese.

Then my boys wanted to see the new Ice Cream Bar, whichopened in an old grocery store. It was beautiful and besides ice cream it has afull-fledged soda fountain where you can get an egg cream, malted drinks, andalmost any other soda concoction you can dream of.

The boys liked it best because the employees are called “jerks,”as in soda jerks. Where else can a 10- and 12-year-old call someone a jerk andget away with it?!

They ended up sharing a banana split and the banana wascaramelized right in front of their eyes. Wow.

May your week be sweet.

Samantha

soda choices

more choices

for egg creams

yum

final product

Lights

2012-02-03T13:53:00.000-08:00

I always smile when I go by this store. I love the lightsthey have in their windows. The other day it was rainy and dreary out so Idrove by COUP. I loved the design made by the lights in the window.

One day a few years ago I saw this light in the window,

I wish I bought it, but knowing that I can still seepictures of it online makes me happy. I have pinned it on Pinterest for myenjoyment.

Today they put this in their window…lovely.

Samantha

Fonts

2011-12-11T17:17:00.001-08:00

Fontsinspire me.

I sawthis sign while going through the San Francisco airport a few weeks ago.

I am surewe will be using a similar font on an invitation or sign soon.

Check outa few pictures of the airport's Television exhibit.

So nexttime you are looking around your world, snap a photo when you see somethinginteresting.

Samantha

The New Grand Hyatt SF

2011-12-05T22:36:00.001-08:00

The New Grand Hyatt San Francisco

We got a fun invitation a fewweeks ago to the re-opening of the Grand Hyatt San Francisco. They did a greatremodel. The rooms were hip, yet approachable for our customers.

They even have TVs in the bathroommirrors, very slick.

Did I mention the views?!

Check them out:

http://grandsanfrancisco.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/index.jsp?null

Samantha

Halloween Soiree - The Final Product!

2011-11-29T15:32:00.001-08:00

I recently blogged about my inspiration for the Halloween Party we created last month.

Well here they are... a few pictures of the final product. Special thanks to all who were involved in putting it together, it was my favorite party to date!

Photos by the wonderful photographer husband and wife team The Why We Love.

Thanks to our vendors that made this possible:
Town & Country Rentals
Martha Stewart - candy bar inspiration
La Tavola Linens
I Love Lucite
Jimmy Dillon Band
Natalie Sanflippo - designer
La Costa Resort & Spa

- Danielle

When We Last Saw Merideth

2011-11-28T22:08:00.001-08:00

When we last saw Merideth she was ready to pop!

Please welcome Mickey James Ranahan,

the newest member of Samantha Smith Productions.

Born on 11/22/11

Weighing 7lbs 5oz and 19 1/2 inches long

Merideth and Kevin are enjoying their time as new parents.

Congratulations and we love you all.

How cute is he?

Samantha

Moroccan Party Planning

2011-11-17T18:04:00.001-08:00

We were recently lucky enough to put on an event for one of our clients at La Costa Resort and Spa in San Diego, California. The first night of the event we created a Moroccan-inspired party by the pool. We were so happy to have hired The Why We Love photography team to capture the party as it unfolded. They did a fantastic job (and they were so great to work with!).

See a sampling below of the results of our hard work and their wonderful shots.

-Danielle

Halloween Inspiration

2011-11-03T12:38:00.000-07:00

We recently threw a wonderful Halloween party for one of our clients. I thought it would be fun to show you my inspirations first, followed by pictures of the outcome!

Linens - To begin, I picked out these black dotted linens with orange napkins from La Tavola Linens.

Seating - I have been in love with seating like this - so we laid out the party in a similar design for 200 people.

Decor - We liked the looks of using a lot of glass and real carved pumpkins.

Candy bar - I wanted to do something different - not your average candy bar with glass jars. I saw this candy bar on Martha Stewart Weddings and contacted I Love Lucite to create my own design!

Once I had all my ideas together, I created a board on Pinterest to show my client exactly what I was thinking.

Stay tuned for the results...

An SSP Baby Shower!

2011-10-10T14:19:00.000-07:00

What else would an office of event planners do other than throw a BEAUTIFUL luncheon to celebrate one of their own?! There will be a new member of the SSP family joining us in less than 2 month's time!

A table set with single blooms and beautiful china.....

Fresh-pressed blueberry mint lemonade, Prosciutto and tomatoes straight from the garden, Padron peppers, and figs to start.

Salads to refresh and grilled cheese made to order with whatever fixings you chose. Yum! And to top off the afternoon, Kara's Cupcakes for dessert with a selection of loose-leaf teas brewed by the cup. An absolutely LOVELY afternoon, with a group of absolutely LOVELY ladies.

THANK YOU SSP for a perfect day (and yes..the 80 degrees and sunshine added to the perfection of the afternoon). I couldn't be more excited to introduce you all to our baby boy once he arrives!

~ Merideth

Guaycura

2011-09-28T19:45:00.000-07:00

This summer we went to Todos Santos and I had time to visit a new hotel, Guaycura. It was so pretty I had to take a few pictures to show everyone.

Outside

Inside

love the details

This is the second hotel in the Todos Santos area that has inspired me. Check out the other hotel I love in the Baja by clicking here.

To learn more about Guaycura, click here

Samantha

Missoni Madness

2011-09-15T14:59:00.000-07:00

Missoni just launched their new collection in collaboration with Target!

I wish I could have made it there before it all sold out. Hopefully they will reissue the collection soon! Here are a few of my favorite picks from the collaboration.

Cute picture frame

Adorable romper!

Soft knit nightgown

Snazzy sweater coat

Take a peek for yourself over at the Target site.

Happy shopping!

-Elizabeth

Gradient Colors

2011-09-12T13:11:00.000-07:00

In June, Elizabeth talked about Pinterest and our love of pinning our ideas to Pinterest to create a shared vision for our events. As you can see from the pictures below, Elizabeth turned our pins into a beautiful event.

The gradient color theme was carried out through the décor and food choices. We used corn for yellow, crab cakes for pink, strawberries for red, as well as other delicious colorful choices. It was great to be part of such a lovely event, even if I was working.

To see Elizabeth's original post click here.

Have a great week. Samantha

Beach House Party on Newport Beach

2011-08-26T13:44:00.001-07:00

Last week we had our annual party for one of our clients. This year's location was a Tuscan-style beach house on Newport Beach...so our theme was a Tuscan Beach Dinner.

Below are some photos of the evening...enjoy!

Flip flops to "take a walk on the beach."

The beautiful backyard setting on the beach for cocktail hour.

Temecula Olive Oil Company treated our guests to an olive oil tasting.
The crowd favorite was the Basil Olive Oil.
Guests also had olive oil tastings at dinner to enhance their dining experience.

We used wooden utensils in place of seating cards for a fun touch.

Each place setting had its very own bread to dip in the olive oil.
Seating was designated by the name tied to the bread with baker's twine.
To add to the rustic feel, we glued the menus to wood planks as a keepsake for the night.

-Danielle

Office Revamp Sneak Preview

2011-08-18T11:38:00.000-07:00

Our office is getting a complete organizational makeover this week!

We have been sorting through boxes, tossing out old items, and really re-working our space. It has been SO much fun... no, really we like to organize.

While it is still a work in progress, I thought I would share a sneak-peek photo of our office supply stash.

In honor of office organization, I though I would share a few of my favorite items that would work well in any office or home.

1. File folders from the Container Store.

Who says that organization has to be ugly?

2. Sunburst Clock from Target.

This snazzy clock will keep you on time.
3. A custom Lucite tray from Iomoi.

This is a fantastic splurge purchase that can be used for years to come!

Happy organizing!

-Elizabeth

Welcome to the 4th Floor!

2011-08-12T13:52:00.000-07:00

Our good friends at Hands on Gourmet have moved in next door to us on the 4th floor! Just a hop up one flight from their old space on the 3rd floor, HoG has definitely moved up in the world. A much bigger space and a spectacular view of the bay, not to mention a beautiful new kitchen and custom-made dining tables have brought some sparkle to their beautiful new digs! An amazing company that produces Private cooking parties and exciting Team Building events, we are always happy to sing their praises...and to welcome them as our new neighbors!

Colors, Colors, Colors

2011-08-03T09:28:00.000-07:00

I love the colors of Mexico. In fact I am here now, in Mexico, taking a ton of pictures of colors and color combinations so when I need a little inspiration back at the office I can look at my photos.

Lighting and color are important components of our events. I am always so moved by how light and color can transform any space.

Below is a collage of some photos I took while in Mexico this week.

For more color inspiration, I also keep a section called “color combos” on Pinterest so I can keep track of all the colors/color combinations that I find inspiring. These will be the future colors for events we are creating.

Check my Pinterest link below.

http://pinterest.com/samanthasmiths/color-combos/

Hope your day is filled with beautiful color!

Samantha

Peaches & Tango at the Farm

2011-07-29T14:56:00.000-07:00

This past weekend our event was Peaches & Tango. The event was hosted by Frog Hollow Farm in Brentwood, California with celebrity chef Richard Blais designing and cooking the entire meal.

The proceeds for the night went to the Chez Panisse Foundation.

You can read more about it here and here.

Below are some wonderful pictures of the event by photographer Richard Cash.

A bird's eye view of dinner in the orchard.

Table Setting
Linens and napkins by La Tavola.
Menus printed on paper and affixed to wood for a
real rustic farm feel.
(Guests had Chef Blais autograph the menu as a great
memory of the night!)
Decor - Fruit and branches from the farm.
Candles for ambiance in mini mason jars.

Chef Richard Blais

Chef Blais in action with his liquid nitrogen.

Guests were able to taste peaches right off the trees!

Farmer Al giving a tour of the farm to the VIPs.

Farm owners Al and Becky enjoying Chef Blais's
ice cream during dessert.

Carolyn Jung was our emee for the night.

Trio Garufu entertained the guests during dinner and
Tango dancers showed us how to dance during dessert.

-Danielle

Menus with a twist

2011-07-22T16:40:00.000-07:00

We are always looking for ways to make every element of an event special. When working on an event that is taking place this weekend we wanted the menus to feel like a keepsake from the event.

Our fabulous intern Sarah created these menus which are mounted on wood panels. They definitely bring the event's nature theme to life! More photos from this event to come soon.

-Elizabeth

Getting ready for the Farm!

2011-07-15T17:08:00.000-07:00

One week from today our team will be out at Frog Hollow Farm setting up for Peaches & Tango - a fundraising event that is benefiting the Chez Panisse Foundation and Alice Water's Edible Schoolyard.

As we like to be creative in our approach to decor, our office tends to become a craft center, staging area, and delivery location in the weeks before an event as we purchase, create, and receive the various elements that will make our event come to life!

Nothing like 90 lanterns, packages of mason jars, cut plywood, and mini clipboards to get us in the spirit of this farm-themed event! As we roll into the event week, all these elements will come together and we look forward to posting pics of the finished product from the event next weekend!

Think of us like a year-round Santa's Workshop, making our ideas come to life!!

Summer Party

2011-07-10T11:09:00.000-07:00

We love summer parties here at SSP. Our client wanted a simple Greek celebration at his home with friends and family. It was a lovely sunny day and all the guests had fun. Thanks for inviting us into your home.

The incredible food was prepared by Living Room Events (LRE) – thank you Douglas and team.

The dessert was prepared by Mr. and Mrs. Miscellaneous. Yummy! Check them out here.

Have a great week.

-Samantha

Band of Wives Event

2011-07-03T09:50:00.000-07:00

Last week was our event for A Band of Wives. A Band of Wives is a sisterhood of women we do events for, run by Christine Bronstein. We love working with Christine and her husband Phil Bronstein since they are supporters of many important issues that effect women.

This particular event was supporting Sharmin Bock who is running for District Attorney in San Francisco and it was also a birthday party for Christine and her friend Teresa. To see pictures of the event go here.

It has been great to work with the wonderful vendors that Christine has pulled together. Sweet Relish catering, Salvador Santana and Jared Meeker, The Jimmy Dillon Band, Funny Frank, Bay Side Entertainment, and Drew Altizer Photography to name a few...

The best part of the night (for me) was getting to meet Stephan Jenkins from Third Eye Blind! I have been a huge fan of the band for years. Stephan played a few songs at the event.
Not only did I get to meet him, as the event planner I got to chat with him about the planning of the event...tough job but someone had to do it!

-Danielle

Do you Pin?

2011-06-16T15:40:00.000-07:00

Here at SSP we are a tiny bit obsessed with a little site called Pinterest.
You may have heard of it, it is amazing!

Currently in beta testing this site is an amazing way to collect all of your visual inspiration and keep it in one place. You virtually "pin" a photo you find from a website onto a "board" you create online. Pinterest allows you to curate boards and create your own topics. It even allows you to save the link to the photo you choose so you never need to worry about remembering where you saw that great item online.

I have one called "Color" for an event I am working on with a gradient color theme.

Here is a sneak peak at what my board on Pinterest looks like in the big picture and what the individual "pins" look like...

You can follow also friends and other "taste makers" by industry or theme to see what they are "pinning."

They are still working out some kinks but overall this is a great site.
Request an invite from Pinterest to join here!

-Elizabeth

Great Packaging, Even Better Wine

2011-05-30T10:11:00.000-07:00

We all know that here at Samantha Smith Productions, the packaging of a gift can be more important than the gift itself. We are always inspired by people who think differently about how to package something we see every day.

Enter the wine case from entre nous! Wow what a wine case it is. Check it out.

I love that it is not the typical material, I also love that the box takes into consideration how wine should be stored.

Then there is the non-foil topper for the wine, lovely again.

The bottle is so crisp and clean; you know the wine is going to match it.

Now to the wine. Paul and I shared a glass of this other day when it was warm out (ok that might have been a month ago!). It was truly amazing. Check out the website for more information.

http://www.kristineashevineyards.com/#home

Full disclosure - I have met Kristine on several occasions over the last few years once at a mutual friend's birthday party and then at one of our fundraisers. In fact I bought this wine for the box and then later found out that it was Kristine's wine.

Great job on your wine Kristine, I hope to run into you soon. Samantha

Unconventional Event Space

2011-05-27T12:00:00.000-07:00

Tree houses, they are not just for kids!

What adult would not want to lounge in this amazing tree house?

Curl up in a cozy loft space to read a book, enjoy drinks with friends on the patio, or to have a chat while looking out into the tree tops. No matter what you do it would be wonderful.

My first thought when I saw this was how awesome it would be to have a small dinner party inside the tree house!

What is your favorite spot in the tree house?

To hear more about the story behind this tree house check out the article over at Chicago Home and Garden.

Hope you all have a great Memorial Day weekend, maybe you will build your own tree house.

Come on, lets go make the kids jealous...

-Elizabeth

Something to Write About

2011-05-13T11:15:00.001-07:00

CurrentlyI am on the hunt for a great gift item for an upcoming event. With my love ofwriting letters, cards and pretty much anything stationary related, I could nothelp but share my latest find!

I absolutely love these great graphic pencils and erasable pens from Iomoi.
So cute! These would make a great gift, or just add a little color to your homeoffice.

To check out thesegreat items in more patterns and see all the other amazing items visit Iomoi. A set of 14 pencils is $15and a set of 14 pens ranges from $20-$25 making these little gems veryaffordable

I feel like thesefunky pens and pencils will make me more excited to write my grocery list!

-Elizabeth

Leaf Pattern Kelly Green, pencils

Parrot Kay French Blue Pattern, pencils
Zig-Zag Pattern Pink and Gold, pencils
Set of 14 pens- French Blue Parrot Cay, White Swirl and Navy Parrot Cay Goody Pack

Set of 14 pens- Orange Pink and White Bamboo Goody Pack

A Little Birdie Told Me...

2011-05-08T21:35:00.000-07:00

This week we are putting the finishing touches on an event that will be held at Canary Hotel in Santa Barbara. We packaged up a fun welcome gift inside these cute little envelopes for our attendees. We can't tell you what it is just yet, but a little birdie told me it will get them around town and make their taste buds happy. Come back soon to see picks of our entire event.

-Danielle

Abbot Kinney

2011-05-01T15:16:00.000-07:00

Several weeks ago Danielle and I took a trip to Orange County to look at a hotel. On our way back to LAX we usually stop by Fred Segal to see what is happening in fashion, but this time Danielle suggested we check out the shopping on Abbot Kinney in Venice.

We had a great time exploring the stores and we also had time for a wonderful lunch with our good friend Dan at Gielina’s.

One of my favorite stores on this trip was Bountiful. Check out the cake stands in the pictures. I wanted one in every color. Not a store you want to be in during an earthquake, but I think you will see an event inspired by the abundance of cake plates.

We also saw lots of succulents, a trend that continues this spring.

If you have time next time you are in Southern California, stop by Abbott Kinney for the afternoon.

Samantha

Resources:

http://www.gjelina.com/

http://www.bountifulhome.com/

http://www.fredsegal.com/v2/FredSegal.html

Relax...

2011-04-22T17:17:00.000-07:00

The girls at SSP are going to take some time this weekend to relax like "Toots" is in this picture. Sometimes it is so hard for us to relax and not think about all the details surrounding the events we are planning...but we have to. Next week kicks off seven weeks of back-to-back events for us.

We hope you get to relax this weekend and enjoy Easter (if you celebrate). I am going to relax...right next to Toots.

Happy Weekend!

-Danielle

Event Space Vignettes

2011-04-15T12:38:00.000-07:00

SSP is always on the lookout for the up-and-coming ideas in event space.

A new trend in the industry is to create mini-themed environments or vignettes within a larger event space, giving guests a place to kick back and relax and creating interest with nontraditional furniture and seating options.

We recently toured Blueprint Studios warehouse to check out the latest and greatest in event decor and this new themed-environment trend.

Natural with a pop of fresh and funky flowers and plant paintings

Sky-high red velvet wall panels and mirrored furniture ='s Pure Glamour

Mod space

Enter through the key hole, Alice in Wonderland

Wall panels and an oversized dining chair add an interesting appeal.
As you can see Danielle loved the chair.

Faux grass and a natural linen chair feels like an outdoor summer garden party

We shall see what crazy and fun environments we come up with for our next events....

-Elizabeth

Giving My Two Cents

2011-04-12T14:07:00.000-07:00

I'm never afraid to tell someone how I feel. So when editor Harvey Chipkin asked me about the event planning RFP process I just had to give him my two cents' worth. Read about it here.

-Danielle

Afternoon Adventure

2011-04-01T16:13:00.001-07:00

A beautiful day like today is no time to stay inside!

To celebrate the amazing weather, Merideth and I went for a walk around the neighborhood.
A few of our favorite things from our walk:

Persnickety Painters - "We care a little too much." What an adorable van and what a great slogan. This is our kind of company!!!!

A little tasty treat from Mr. and Mrs. Miscellan eous. The best ice cream ever! Merideth got Grape Sherbert and Orange Peel...

I got Chocolate and Orange Peel. So good! The owner describes the orange peel almost tasting like a Flinstones Push Pop, he was right on the money with that one!

7x7 did a feature on them, check it out here.

Want to know more about the Dogpatch neighborhood? Check your newsstands for the most recent issue of 7x7 Magazine; there is a whole feature on the Dogpatch neighborhood. You can see all the great spots we get to enjoy everyday!

Happy Friday everyone! Now get out and enjoy the beautiful weather!

-Elizabeth

Inside The World of the Aerium

2011-03-21T15:52:00.000-07:00

A few months ago we used these great vases for an event. We found them in our travels at the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel and just had to have them.

Then we stumbled upon this different use for the vases - an Aerium - created by Flora Grubb. We loved it and wondered how did they get everything sitting so pretty through the tiny little hole?

Well, for my birthday from Samantha I got this Aerium and she found out - someone with a lot of patience put everything through the little hole with tweezers. Thank you for my birthday gift and thank you for creative peeps with patience.

Here are some pics from Flora's website on creative ways to use the them for your events!

Community Footprint Event

2011-03-20T15:41:00.000-07:00

Last week we got to participate in an event that we did not plan, which is always a treat for the team at Samantha Smith Productions. The Ritz Carlton of San Francisco and some of their international properties let us join them to decorate Tom shoes that will then be donated to a local SF charity. It was a blast and we were giving back at the same time.

Take a look at what we created:

The shoes before we started

Elizabeth's shoes

Danielle's shoes

Merideth's shoes

Samantha's shoes

Ritz Carlton Team painting

Thanks Ritz Carlton, you rock!

Red Burgundy and Pinot Noir....Same or Different?

2011-03-11T11:18:00.001-08:00

Who doesn't enjoy a little wine tasting to finish the day?! We certainly don't mind, and courtesy of our in-house Food & Beverage director, we were treated to our first monthly SSP Wine Tasting yesterday afternoon.

To launch this monthly office event, our wine aficionado brought in three different Pinot Noirs...actually, make that one Red Burgundy and two Pinot Noirs. Made from the same type of grape you would assume the wines would be called by the same name, however the first difference is that a Red Burgundy can only be produced in the Burgundy region of France. All other wines produced from the Pinot Noir grape go by the name Pinot Noir. As the tasting commenced, we found that the name is not the only difference.

Red Burgundy wines tend to be lighter in color, and have more acidity whereas a Pinot Noir from California or New Zealand (regions our tastings derived from) are darker in color, fruitier in taste, and have a higher alcohol content. The level of acidity in the wine depends on how long the grape was ripened before being harvested to create the wine.

I am sure I can speak for us all in saying that we will enjoy this new addition to our office activities! It was a great lesson on wine and I know we will be able to apply our knowledge to selecting wines for our next event!

Out and About in Pacific Heights

2011-03-02T17:12:00.000-08:00

If SSP gals are one thing it is adventurous!

We are always looking to try something new and this week was no exception. We celebrated Danielle's birthday by indulging in a fabulous lunch at Citizen Cake. It was delicious! We ended the lunch with a tasty array of desserts including this cupcake, sooo good.

After our stomachs were satisfied we hopped over to the Jonathan Adler store for some visual inspiration. I think we all were in love with the bright, happy colors that were on display. Not a trace of beige in this store. Even though the colors were super bright, the mixing and matching of patterns and colors looked great. Two of our favorite snap shots from the store.

"Happiness is Chic"
These candles smelled amazing, I loved the grapefruit.

Hope you all are enjoying your week!
Elizabeth

Hotels that Inspire

2011-02-28T09:00:00.000-08:00

We see many hotels each year and some leave us wanting more and some make us incredibly inspired. Rancho Pescadero near Todos Santos, Mexico makes me say "Wow, this is what a great small hotel can be."

Each room has great furniture that is modern and rustic all at the same time. Every room has an outdoor/indoor feel as the bedroom leads out to a deck with either a mountain or ocean view. You could stay inside all day if you wanted to, but who could resist the pool or a great fire pit at night?

While this hotel is wonderful, it might not be for everyone. It is not a 5-star luxury hotel, but in my opinion it is even better. Rancho Pescadero is a beautiful and stylish boutique hotel with great food and drinks in Mexico! It would make a fun place to take a quick trip to from California. So grab a few friends and get going! Hope to see you there.

- Samantha

Over The Big Top

2011-02-25T09:28:00.000-08:00

In my world I see a lot of weddings and events, whether it is planning one, attending one, or seeing one on all the blogs I follow. I recently was on a 6-hour flight and the best part was the Internet, my ipad, and Flipboard. I caught up on all of my favorite blogs for hours and this wedding was my new favorite from 100 Layer Cake.

I have seen a circus theme done before. but Erin + Brent really went over the "Big" Top. I know I see a good wedding when my response is "how did they do that?," "that took a lot of time, patience, and errand running," and "how did they get a vendor to do that?".

See below some of my favorite pics, but please enjoy the entire write-up here.

I love that they made these benches - great touch! They hung curtains as a backdrop throughout the wedding, what a great way to frame the whole theme.

Details, details, details - the idea of putting peanuts in the drawers is so creative ... and how they covered the ketchup and mustard - I just love that someone thinks the way I would!
(sometimes I think I am the only crazy detail diva)

My favorite! Who did you get to hang these umbrellas?
A wonderful vendor with lots of patience! I LOVE it!!
-Danielle

Happy Valentine's Day!

2011-02-14T12:01:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone!

Over the weekend I tried out an amazing recipe from Design Sponge to make my very own chocolate peanut butter cups. They turned out to be really easy to make and quite delicious!

Check out that chocolate, peanut butter goodness.

Packaged up for delivery to friends.

The recipe makes a dozen of these tasty treats.
Click here for the full recipe to make your own!

Happy love day.
-Elizabeth

V is for Vision

2011-02-04T16:39:00.000-08:00

vi·sion
noun
- the act or power of anticipating that which will or may come to be: the vision of an entrepreneur.

- a vivid, imaginative conception or anticipation: visions of wealth and glory- the act or power of anticipat

At the beginning of each new year SSP takes a morning together for us all to work on our vision boards. We create one board that represents the goals and aspirations for SSP and then we each create our own boards filled with images and text that represent what we hope the next year will bring for us both personally and professionally. Our vision boards are at each of our desks where we see them as a daily reminder of what it is we aspire to achieve.

The SSP company vision board for 2011

I would have to say that this year we all drastically changed our boards from the previous year! It is a great exercise in clarifying your goals, aspirations and what you truly want. Looking at them each day helps us to check in with our goals and serves as a positive, inspirational reminder to take steps to move towards them.

Below are our own personal vision boards for you to take a peek.

What's your vision for 2011?

-Elizabeth

A "sweet" way to start the party

2011-01-27T16:57:00.000-08:00

SSP wrapped an event last weekend that was quite a smash, darling!

The theme of the event was "Swingin' Saturday Night" in honor of the supper club era and the chosen retro chic venue - the historic Fox Theatre in Oakland, California. With an amazing band, an abundance of delicious food, and a few more tricks up our sleeve, this event was a huge success!

In typical SSP fashion, we always try to find a way to get guests excited about a party way before they walk through the doors!

In partnership with Apropos Promotions, we created custom martini glasses with the "Swingin' Saturday Night" logo and filled each glass with sweet treats. A week before the event, a glass was left on every desk at our client's two Bay Area offices to get them jazzed for their upcoming shindig - the clever and cute little tag gave the recipients a fun reminder of the details of the event.

Stay tuned for more on this fabulous party...

-Elizabeth

Swingin' Saturday

2011-01-21T13:35:00.001-08:00

Happy Friday!

SSP is preparing for an amazing private event happening this Saturday night. We can't wait to share all the details with you from our Golden Era-themed event....but you will have to wait to take a peek next week to see more!

-Elizabeth

Wrap It Up!

2011-01-14T13:55:00.000-08:00

We wanted to share with you this yummy festive gift that we packaged for one of our clients for their holiday party. Four jars of the wonderful Frog Hollow conserves with a porcelain serving spoon...all wrapped up in sparkly silver wrap.

Hope you enjoyed your holidays - Happy New Year!

Congrats Danielle!

2010-09-14T15:54:00.000-07:00

Our very own Danielle Spinetta has been published! Danielle's letterpress greeting card company Tallu-lah is featured on page 131 of "Little Book of Letter Press," a darling hard-cover book that is on stands now!

Check out her collection and shop Tallu-lah today at http://www.tallu-lah.com/

Ici Ice Cream

2010-08-30T17:20:00.000-07:00

We took a quick trip over the bridge into Berkeley for an afternoon ice cream. Our destination:
Ici. We had heard good reviews and that the "line is always out the door," and today was no different - 3 o'clock on a Monday afternoon and the line was out the door!

Flavors of the day! All made on site with fresh, local, and organic ingredients.

If you're in the area, we suggest stopping by for a scoop. And they cater too!

Check them out at http://www.ici-icecream.com/index.html

It's 101 Degrees in San Francisco!

2010-08-24T15:13:00.000-07:00

Summer has finally arrived in San Francisco and it is hot! We took a mid-day break today and walked down the block to Mr. and Mrs. Miscellaneous to grab a frozen treat. The flavors are all unique and there is unlimited sampling. We all decided on Orange Blossom...just like a creamsicle only better! We left cone in hand, doing what we could to keep our work-day cool.

Stop by and try some of their delicious ice cream flavors
and other tasty homemade treats! http://www.facebook.com/pages/San-Francisco-CA/Mr-and-Mrs-Miscellaneous/126193770733086

Some Old-fashioned Fun in the Sun!

2010-08-20T12:51:00.000-07:00

The sun came out and so did the smiles for a “Country Fair and Picnic” we put on for one of our clients last week. The fair was set to take place in the East Bay at Ardenwood Historic Farm http://www.ebparks.org/parks/ardenwood. The farm's picnic area, Deer Park, was transformed and ready for guests to arrive, complete with picnic tables topped with sunflowers and arrangements of corn on the cob and lemons, red and white striped tents filled with classic carnival games, and a photo station with props of anything and everything “country fair.”

As fair-goers entered the park, they were met by staff adorned in cowboy hats greeting them with a "howdy." Bandanas were supplied so attendees could dress the part for a day at the Fair. Here’s a shot of our team ready to welcome guests to the fair!

We're showing off some of the many props that were a part of the photo station provided by Associated Entertainment (http://www.associatedentertainment.com/aec/). They also provided the bluegrass band that played tunes throughout the fair. Event photos were taken by Doorstep Photography (http://doorstepdigital.com/).

First stop: Picnic Loot. A canvas tote bag was provided for every employee in attendance.

There were so many activities to choose from and plenty for all to keep busy the entire afternoon. Fair-goers filled up their plates with delicious country-style bbq and grabbed a cold beverage from the watering hole.

Then it was off to explore the happenings on the farm…
"Step right up"...Fair-goers spent the afternoon playing tic tac toe, ring toss, and milk can. These great carnival games were provided by Plan-It Interactive http://www.interactivegame.com/

Roars of laughter and screams attracted most of the fair-goers to the dunk tank to watch their bosses get soaked. A fun time was had by all...even those who got soaked!

A pie bake-off was held, and those who entered went all out!
All of the pies entered were beautifully crafted and just as tasty as they looked.

The farm was filled with laughter, smiles, and screams of excitement the entire afternoon.
True signs of a successful event!

Birthdays

2010-08-16T21:17:00.000-07:00

Birthdays!

Happy Birthday Merideth!

Last week we celebrated Merideth's Birthday in English style at Crown and Crumpet in Ghirardelli square.

We enjoyed tea and eggs in a great space created by Amy Dean and her husband. We loved Amy because she was so passionate about her business, it was contagious.

Happy Birthday Merideth!

Stop by and say hello to Amy at Crown and Crumpet...you will not regret it.

http://www.crownandcrumpet.com

Happy Birthday Lynne!

Funny we celebrated Merideth’s birthday on Lynne’s actual birthday. But since Lynne works out of our Mexico location she could not join us. So cheers to you Lynne, you look younger every year.

Step Right Up and Join the Fun!

2010-08-09T10:43:00.000-07:00

We’re gearing up for a big Country Fair and Picnic for one of our clients. It’s set to take place at Ardenwood Historic Farm, a fully functioning farm and a great spot for an afternoon full of old-fashioned fun. Here’s a sneak peak of what we have planned:

Bandanas for fair-goers to add to their outfits.

"Howdy" flags and chicken cards will be sittin' on the picnic tables

amidst buckets of lemons, farm fresh corn, and bright yellow sunflowers.

Fair-goers will be in for an afternoon of water balloon toss and sack races, carnival games and a pie bake-off, vying for trophies and 1st place blue ribbons, all while enjoying some country-style grub.

We can't wait to spend the day at the farm!

Rainy Day Fun

2010-03-18T10:06:00.000-07:00

Although we are now enjoying a beautiful week full of sunshine and wonderful breezes in the city, it was not the case last Friday! But a little rain has never stopped us from having an adventure. We decided to take a trip to Anthony's Cookies to try out a few of their tasty treats and satisfy our sweets craving.

The simple set-up inside was really cute, loved the milk bottles as decor underneath the counter.

Check out these amazing flavors. I ate a delicious chocolate chip cookie that I would highly recommend. I also bought an assorted dozen of cookies and cream, white chocolate chip, toffee chip, german chocolate, double chocolate chip, and peanut butter as a gift and they were a big hit!

Old-school milk in a bottle from a local dairy farm to wash down our cookies.

The famous Anthony even took some time out of his busy day to take a photo with the SSP girls. He had been up since 3am working in the bakery and yet he is still all smiles.

You can tell that Anthony has a great relationship with his customers. He knew many of them by name and their usual picks even before they reached the register. His friendly and positive attitude is easy to see and I will be back soon to try out more of the flavors!

You should definitely stop by to taste these cookies for yourself.
Anthony's Cookies
1417 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA
94110
415 655-9834
Hours
Mon - Sat 11 - 8 pm
Sun 11 - 5 pm

I hope this satisfies your sweet tooth.
-Elizabeth

Happy Birthday Danielle

2010-03-10T12:56:00.000-08:00

The title says it all, but I will say it again - Happy Birthday Danielle!!
To celebrate Danielle's birthday we went to a new restaurant in San Francisco, Marlowe.
We had a wonderful time and really enjoyed the space and the food.

The space was small, but very warm. We love their tables and all the little details throughout - take a look.

All the food we tried was fresh and wonderful, including:

Brussels sprouts with Meyer lemon zest - amazing!

Little gem lettuce salad with avocado - yummy.

The best hamburger I have had in years.

Warm deviled egg sandwich with jalapenos - a warm treat.

No meal with us is complete with out dessert.

TCHO Chocolate Pudding with whipped cream - TCHO chocolate rocks!
Meyer Lemon Curd Cake with whipped cream - delightful.

We highly recommend that you check Marlowe out before it gets reviewed and the lines start forming.

http://marlowesf.com

330 Townsend Street, Suite 101

San Francisco, Ca 94107

Telephone 415 974 5599

Bon Appetit. Samantha

Have You Ever Seen a City Built in One Day?

2010-03-02T11:49:00.000-08:00

We have! The end of 2009 brought us a client request to plan their Winter party to celebrate the past year and to welcome in 2010. We already had a venue in mind, Crushpad Custom Wines, and with a blank slate to work with, the creativity started to flow! After consulting with some partner vendors, the ideas started to really come to life on paper. Our challenge was to turn that into reality.

With wine barrels and cement columns to navigate around, we decided to create different
vignettes that would fit in between each "section" of the venue space.

After two months of planning, the event day had finally arrived. Our partners from Blueprint Studios and Taste Catering started the big job of loading in the City that was to be built in a day!

Props like the Transamerica Building, furniture, lampposts and street signs, Mission bells, and much more were placed throughout the venue.

A photo station manned by Orange Photography (who took event photos as well), was tested out by our fabulous SSP team before the guests arrived.

A stroll across the Golden Gate Bridge (built especially for this event!) welcomed party goers to their "Saturday in the City." Highlighting some of San Francisco's most famous neighborhoods, guests could enjoy food and drinks that were representative of each neighborhood.

To help add to the interactive nature of the City theme, we added in some fun elements like a classic video arcade. A wine tasting station was manned by the folks from Crushpad and highlighted some of the fabulous wines produced at the urban winery. Word bubbles were available at the photo stations to add some fun to the pictures with chalk and a blank slate...some folks really used their imaginations with this!

DJ music, a live band, raffle drawings, a fortune teller, and caricaturist were some more fun elements of the big bash that kept guests entertained throughout the event.

The food stations that Taste Catering provided offered everything from Chinese chicken salad in a take-out box, raw oysters being shucked to order, and classic tamales to vegan fare and homemade ice cream on mini cones. Kung Fu Tacos and Kara's Cupcakes Karavan took their turn pulling up to the loading dock with their specialty fare, bringing yet another element of this great City to our mini version of S.F. that was brought to life right here in the Dogpatch!

Happy Valentine's Day

2010-02-10T15:34:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day card from Tallu-lah for Tiny Prints.
Chocolate tart from Miette.

Mustaches and Mayhem

2010-01-14T11:33:00.000-08:00

Currently our team is hard at work for an upcoming event, pulling all those final details together and you know....making mustaches.

No, really! Inspired by wedding blogs that have highlighted the photo booth trend, SSP decided to create our very own mustaches for a photo booth we will have at our next event.

Left to right (top row to bottom) we have my own personal creation I call "The Surprise," "The Walrus," and "Supreme Stache."
Next "The Chopper" and "Classic Handlebar."
Last "The Record-Breaker." Which style suits you?

Suddenly have the urge to create your own mustaches? Grab some felt, a few sticks, and have a go at it! Click here for some cutouts you can use to create your own classy stache.

Feel free to pass them out to your friends just to see what they will say.

Enjoy!
-Elizabeth

Cupkates!

2010-01-13T16:37:00.000-08:00

The latest and greatest of mobile eateries in the Bay Area is rolling around Berkeley these days in a big white truck, covered in multi-colored polka dots, and stocked with the most delicious treats!

"Chief Cupcake Officer" Kate is the mastermind behind her appropriately coined "mobile cupcakery", using simple, quality ingredients to deliver scrumptious treats into the hands of her followers each weekday and sometimes on the weekends. Follow her on Facebook or Twitter to find out where you can find these amazing treats!!!

Berries & Leaves & Wreaths, Oh My!

2009-11-24T16:39:00.000-08:00

Today SSP hit the flower mart in search of the perfect holiday table decor. We fell in love with the many winter-inspired foliages that were available from the local vendors.

Eucalyptus

Gorgeous orange and red berries

White berries are a little unexpected but fun!

Danielle caught one of the craftsmen in action, look at that beautiful wreath!

Danielle ended up with a fantastic wreath created just for her. Love the bright burst of color from the pomegranates. I know this will look great on her door!

Happy Holidays!
The SSP Team

Looking On The Bright Side

2009-11-19T12:05:00.000-08:00

Sometimes we all need to be reminded to look on the bright side of things. This is where The Bright Side Project, a website devoted to reminding us that "there is still goodness in the world" comes in.

The Bright Side Project features a daily giveaway of items such as gift certificates to Lisa Leonard Designs and a grab bag from E.L.F Cosmetics. If ever there was a positive "catch" to a giveaway, this is it. In order to enter to win you must answer the question of the day which relates to the gift of the day while also reminding you of the positive things in your life.

Recently the founder of San Francisco's Aphro Chic, Jeanine Hayes (who attended our ON 3RD event) was featured. In order to win one of her amazing pillows you needed to answer the question "When is the last time you laughed so hard you cried and what induced it?" Some of the answers were hilarious and honestly reading them immediately cheered me up and made me think of my own funny moments. If you would like to see the full post click here.

I encourage you to check out The Bright Side Project and enter some of the amazing giveaways they offer as well as to remind yourself of the many wonderful things in life by answering the question of the day. Below is their motto which can be downloaded and printed from their website here to send as a postcard.

What a great idea! I hope you enjoy looking on the bright side.
-Elizabeth

ON 3RD Lives!

2009-10-30T15:15:00.000-07:00

After much suspense and bated breath, our event, ON 3RD finally came to life this past Tuesday. It was a great success! We had delicious focaccia bites and little gems to nibble on (Piccino Cafe), organic wine (Yield Wine Bar) in fun reusable and recyclable plastic non-stemware (Govino), amazing hand-made chocolates (Poco Dolce), fabulous music (Gaucho and Frisky Frolics), refreshing flavored water (metromint), a great photographer (Corey Lesh Studio), and to top it all off, beautiful lighting (got light?)! Who could ask for more?

There were even a couple of celebrity chefs there (Jen Biesty and Laurine Wickett from Top Chef)! All of the sponsors were so amazing and great to work with, and helped us pull together a fantastic event.

Thanks to everyone who came and participated in the interactive decor -- we haven't taken down the photos in the tape art frame yet because we love it so much! Hope you enjoyed yourselves and if you missed it, who knows, maybe we'll do it again next year...

Check out the event photos by Corey Lesh below:

Tape art

Great lighting and great bartenders

Incredible Poco Dolce chocolate

Frisky Frolics

Celebrity chef

Packed!

Hope everyone has a happy and safe Halloween!

--SSP

Getting Ready For ON 3RD!

2009-10-22T19:10:00.001-07:00

We are in full swing on the details of our ON 3RD event happening on Tuesday, October 27.
The above photo shows the inside of the invite - letterpress printed by Dependable Letterpress.

Our event design is true to who we are - ON 3RD. We are artsy small businesses in a warehouse building in an industrial part of town - the Dogpatch. The event is not fussy and frilly. It has an industrial feel, with old-school elements.

Come by, meet the folks, be entertained, and support our businesses.

Shopping at the hardware store for decor? Who knew?

We have many wonderful sponsors for the event!

Supplies for our entertainment/decor - we won't tell......

And a sneak peak at the delicious candy flavors to sample from Poco Dolce.
If you would like to join us - drop me an email - danielle@samanthasmithproductions.com

Happy Friday!

2009-10-16T15:07:00.001-07:00

Succulent garden on the outdoor penthouse terrace of the SPUR building. A little patch of love.

ON 3RD

2009-10-13T17:37:00.000-07:00

We are really excited about the private event we are throwing on Tuesday, October 27 with our partners-in-crime Poco Dolce. The event is called ON 3RD.

The event showcases local talent in the Dogpatch area of San Francisco (food, wine, entertainment, photography, etc.) to prospective clients who produce events.

If you are in the industry and would like to receive an invite (designed by Tom Scott Design and letterpress printed by Dependable Letterpress) just drop me an email at: danielle@samanthasmithproductions.com

Church Street Flowers

2009-10-09T15:14:00.001-07:00

Looking for a great local florist ? End your search and stop by Church Street Flowers.

Located at the intersection of Church Street and Market Street, this wonderful little shop consistently delivers amazing service and beautiful bouquets. I have made this my go-to flower shop for all SSP birthday flowers and have never been disappointed.

Owners and floral designers Brianna Foehr, Rachel Shinfeld, and Stephanie Foster work with your budget while adding their own personal touch to each arrangement, making it unique.

I am constantly amazed at their talent and ability to create pieces that embody the personality of the recipient when they have never met them.

Recently I bought flowers for Sara's birthday and Brianna created a stunning earthy arrangement that Sara loved. (Sadly I do not have a photo of the wonderful bouquet.) Brianna was also kind enough to wrap a flower for the birthday girl to wear in her hair. Little touches like this are what truly sets Church Street Flowers apart from other florists.

Here are a few photos from the shop that I took on my last trip. What beautiful colors.

Check out this gorgeous summer bouquet Church Street Flowers created for Merideth's birthday in July - full of orchids, pink and yellow dahlias, and blue hydrangeas. My favorite is the orange pin cushion flower in the upper left corner.

Curious to see what else these ladies have created ? Click here to see more of their amazing work. Church Street Flowers is also available for weddings and special events.

With the help of these talented ladies, I guarantee you will brighten someone's day.

But you don't have to just take my word for it.... stop by the shop and see for yourself!

Church Street Flowers
212 Church Street
San Francisco, CA 94114
415-553-7762

Hours: Monday- Friday 9am-7pm
Saturday 10am-7pm
Sunday - Closed

Delivery service offered.

- Elizabeth

Yes, Please...Blogs About SSP!

2009-09-29T09:19:00.000-07:00

We recently did an event for one of our clients at Seven Degrees in Laguna Niguel. When coming up with a vision for our event, I found Kelly's wedding and loved it so much that I wanted her to recreate it for our client. So we hired Succulent Love (Kelly's new business) for our event.

Read all about the results on Kelly's blog - yes, please.

It was wonderful working with Kelly - she has a great business sense and creates great results!

-Danielle

Little Skillet

2009-09-28T21:36:00.000-07:00

Yummy tastes on Ritch Street

This week my mom is in town, so I took some time off to explore the City with her. We had a wonderful lunch at Little Skillet. They offer great down-home food and seating in a nice alley way, perfect for enjoying the City's vibe. I had the fried chicken - which was great! Mom had the fried chicken cobb salad...with the best bacon ever! The fruit salad was so fresh I could have eaten it all day. The star of the show, however, was the brown sugar and pepper biscuits. Right next door is a Blue Bottle coffee stand, so after your meal you can grab some caffeine.

Hits: brown sugar and pepper biscuits, fried chicken, lunch with mom

Misses: Cash only

Info:
Little Skillet
360 Ritch St
San Francisco, CA 94107-1746
(415) 777-2777www.littleskilletsf.com

Some cool art on the alley:

Samantha

Street Food Extravaganza !

2009-09-22T15:20:00.000-07:00

In honor of Sara's 30th birthday we decided to celebrate and treat SSP's foodie to lunch at the Ferry Building.

Thursdays from 10am to 2pm local street food and produce vendors take to the sidewalk outside the Ferry Building and set up booths giving you a chance to taste the best of the Bay Area. This was the perfect opportunity to satisfy our taste buds with a variety of cuisine choices.

The Ferry Building has plenty of communal tables set up outside... but Heather and I decided to bring our own decor complete with an adorable yellow checked table cloth, smart candles, and a few sunflowers for Sara's special day!

First stop, Tacolicious where Merideth, Danielle, and I enjoyed some wonderful "shot and a beer braised" chicken tacos, house-made chips, and a roasted tomato and mint salsa...yum ! Tacolicious also has a selection of three fresh sauces for you to choose from. My personal favorite was the "Green Goodness." Next to them are the pluot hibiscus and melon drinks which were super refreshing on a hot day.

We also tried out Pizza Politana which serves amazing wood-fired pizzas. Samantha tried the Margherita with tomato sauce, fresh basil, and mozzarella.

Check out the line at RoliRoti ! This vendor offers sustainably - farmed meats and organic produce. Heather's favorite was the pork sandwich but we will have to make another trip to try the roasted chicken and other specialty meats.

Sara made us all a little jealous when she made her way back to the table after stopping by 4505 Meats. She definitely enjoyed her birthday meal with the main course being one of their famous Golden Dogs.

Dessert time! Danielle stopped in at Miette and snagged us some amazing treats. For the birthday girl, a tasty little carrot cake followed by chocolate and vanilla cupcakes, a banana tart, and a slice of chocolate cake with vanilla creme frosting. Happy Birthday Sara !

Can't make it to the Ferry Building on Thursday? That's ok! Serious Eats has created a list of street food vendors in the Bay Area and beyond who are using Twitter to let customers know exactly when they will be in your area so you can get your street food fix.

Happy eating !

-Elizabeth

New People Mall

2009-09-18T10:27:00.000-07:00

This week I had a client meeting near Japantown so I took a detour and spent some time checking out the recently opened New People Mall.

1st Floor

The 1st floor has a great little cafe that sells Blue Bottle Coffee (now I know where to go in that neighborhood for great coffee) and organic Bento Boxes, among other things. This is the only part of the mall that opens at 10:30am...everything else opens at noon. It is a light and airy space that would be a nice place to grab a coffee and catch up with a friend. A whimsical wall with great sayings leads you to the 2nd floor.

M Floor

The "M" floor shop has great product displays with bright end caps. Merchandise is highly edited and has a clear point of view and the space is highlighted with a beautiful lighting fixture. This would be a great place to find unusual kids gifts, or something for yourself that you most likely do not need. I bought a matchbook that instead of matches has birthday candles. Now we all know I do not need these candles, but they were too hard to resist!

2nd Floor

The 2nd floor has a lot of sneakers and black clothing that had a retro Madonna feel to it – think 1984, crosses and black hose, but with a 2009 flair. Again the items were highly edited and have a strong point of view, which in this case I appreciated visually, but was not tempted to buy. The also had SOU sneakers - if you are not familiar, here is what their website says about the sneakers, “Sou is a unique footwear brand from Kyoto that infuses Japanese classic 'Tabi' work shoes with vibrant graphic patterns. SOU SOU’s combination of form-fitting soles and striking modern looks has created a huge following, from dancers to sneaker-obsessed. While new and fun, each shoe is crafted by hand, preserving the best of tradition.”

3rd Floor

The Art Gallery is on the 3rd floor of the mall. The colors of the art are amazing and inspired me to think differently about the holiday tables we'll create this year. I am not sure how I will capture the saturated colors with flecks of light but I am already looking at new linen choices.

Great Connections

They thought about the stairwell in the store, which I applaud. Instead of a dreary staircase, there are great, fun drawings that guide you to the various levels. It made me want to take the stairs to see what was next.

We Should Not Forget the Bathrooms

The designers used their imagination with the bathrooms. The 2nd floor restroom is bathed in red light and has some unusual drawings of girls and ants/bugs....an interesting space to say the least.

Movie Theater

Last but not least, they have a movie theater. I didn't have the opportunity to check it out this time around, but will be sure to go back.

Wish - It opened before noon.

Overall - This mall is refreshing and I left inspired – which I can't say about many malls these days!

-Samantha

Air Repair Hits Fred Segal

2009-09-17T15:33:00.000-07:00

In our line of work we are in airports and on airplanes a lot. Finally, there is a beauty product that really helps us when we travel - The Air Repair Kit. To top it off, it was created by a great woman, Denise Spanek, who happens to have a studio called Visage Studio, right across the hall from us. (Great for ease of shopping!)

Denise recently got her Air Repair Kit into Fred Segal, which is one of my favorite stores. So, if I am ever traveling in LA, I can buy it there too.

Way to go Denise! May your product soar to new heights.

-Samantha

The French Laundry ... Priceless

2009-08-28T16:44:00.000-07:00

Last week Heather and I were lucky enough to have gotten a last minute reservation at The French Laundry - thanks to the wonderful concierge at Bardessono! Thank you!!

Pictures from the kitchen...

Below are a few pics of the wonderfully prepared tasting meal we enjoyed.

(above) A special treat from the kitchen to start off our meal.

(above) Salad of Compressed Cucumber - Yellow Watermelon, Red Chili, Cilantro & Cream Yogurt

(above) Salad of Hawaiian Hearts of Palm - Plum, Red Radish, Mizuna, and Kanzuri

(above) Vacherin Fribourgeois - Fig Tart, Marcona Almonds, Arugula, and Summer Truffle Coulis

(above) Fourme D'Ambert - Alpine Strawberries, Beets, and Red Ribbon Sorrel

(above) Migardises (Mignardises are the tiny, bite-sized desserts that follow a meal at high-end restaurants).

(above) Three of our desserts!

Opera Cake - Praline "Namelaka," Milk Granite, and Coffee Ice Cream
Mascarpone "Crostata" - Rosemary-Olive Oil Sable, Farm Peaches, and Blackberry Sorbet
Gateau Saint Nizier Au Manjari - Mango-Chili Relish, Mast Brothers Cocoa Nibs, Lime Foam, and Coconut Milk Sorbet

Being a paper girl - I loved how they designed their bill - so creative! I know you are probably wondering how much it was - my answer: priceless....

-Danielle

Wine Country - Day 3 - Solage

2009-08-28T16:43:00.001-07:00

Calistoga greeted us with 100-degree weather which would have been much more tolerable if the AC hadn't broken in the car. Just a day in the life of an event planner! So you can imagine our excitement when we drove up to Solage, the beautiful 22 acre property rated the #11 resort in the "World's Best Awards 2009."

We were escorted to our private bungalow where we were thrilled to find these delicious miniature cupcakes and a personal note welcoming us to Solage.

The beds at Solage are an event coordinator's dream (no pun intended)! In all of my travels, I have never slept on a more comfortable bed.

Each room has an outdoor seating area, which is the perfect place to enjoy a cup of coffee and the morning newspaper.

Explore the property or the city of Calistoga with these one-size-fits-all beach cruisers. For your convenience, two bikes are parked outside your room throughout your entire stay. Such a creative take on a complimentary room amenity. Second to the beds, it was my favorite "special touch" at Solage.

Bocce ball anyone? Built-in activities are always helpful when planning welcome receptions!

Solage offers beautiful indoor and outdoor event space. This is a photo of the outdoor patio that is connected to their "ballroom," which is a modern room with vaulted ceiling, cement floors, and floor-to-ceiling windows. Danielle and I were immediately brainstorming ways to use the enchanting space.

The full-service 20,000 square-foot spa features 14 treatment rooms. Spa Solage has put an interesting twist on the typical mud bath, with individual pails that allow you to customize your treatment. Upon arrival to the Mud Bar, you will be asked to choose from one of the four aromatherapy scents added to your personal pail of mud.

As a part-time fitness instructor, I am always appreciative when a resort has a well equipped fitness center. I was very impressed by the workout facility at Solage. If you prefer burning calories in a group setting, Solage also offers complimentary classes such as yoga, 6-pack abs, spinning, and even a pilates reformer class.

Our favorites: the oh-so-comfortable beds, beach cruisers, workout facilities, spacious rooms, and efforts to be a green resort.

We wished: that the resort was more conveniently situated in or closer to a city that offered airport access.

-Heather

Wine Country - Day 1 - Bardessono

2009-08-28T12:42:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Bardessono {bardi-sono} the newest luxury hotel in Napa Valley which opened its doors to an excited crowd in early February of this year.

Danielle couldn't wait to get her photo snapped in front of this famous wall which started her love affair with vertical gardens. I like to call it "environmental graffiti".

Speaking of the environment, Bardessono has been rated the second highest environmentally friendly resort in the nation! Impressive. From concrete floors, to motion sensor lights, and reusable bath products, Bardessono is really in line with the SSP take on the importance of going green.

Our yummy welcome gift. All locally grown products, all fresh, all good!

Here is a shot of the on-site dining option at the resort. Don't worry about trying to remember a complicated restaurant name, Bardessono Restaurant will do the trick. Please note the beautiful handmade tree table.

After our site inspection we were able to hang out at the roof top pool deck in a private cabana. Bardessono is one of the few resorts that offers these beautiful cabanas at no additional charge.

This same pool deck transforms on Wednesday nights into the hot spot for all locals and visitors alike. From 6-9 pm, the resort hosts "Dive Bar" - a pool party with a full bar and often times a DJ. It's like Vegas in Yountville!

Welcome to the future...of toilets that is. Bardessono has a handful of Japanese toilets that have caused almost every visitor to do exactly this, take a picture in a restroom! I am not going to get into the mechanics of how this toilet works, but rumor has it YouTube has videos if your interest is sparked.

Off to dinner we went. With so many wonderful restaurants in downtown Yountville it was hard to choose. We decided on REDD and we were not disappointed. Chef Richard Reddington does a great job at creating an inviting place that serves unique food. Danielle and I enjoyed caramelized diver scallops, little gem salad, and sauteed skate with summer beans and potato puree. Excellent.

And with a book of wine options, sometimes it's just easier to go with a cocktail.

Day 2 - Bardessono

After a night of delicious food, it seemed only right to get in an early morning workout.

I know this picture looks like we had a successful morning workout, but the reality was that we didn't even make it off property. Danielle couldn't quite conquer her uncertainty of things with wheels. So instead, we found ourselves at Bouchon Bakery.

I know what you are thinking.... but how could we resist the sweet smells permeating from Thomas Keller's take on breakfast.

To make up for our guilt-ridden breakfast we decided to keep our feet on the ground and go for a walk. That's when we discovered Thomas Keller's personal garden...okay not really, but we came to the garden for The French Laundry. Little did we know that our discovery was foresight for the evening's dining plans...

Our favorites: the prime location in downtown Yountville, their hip take on going green, outdoor showers, the lavender sleep patches at turn down, the AMAZING concierge, and the yummy room amenity.

We wished: the pool would have been a bit tidier and better kept come the end of the day, more bikes ready for use, and an on-site gym.

-Heather

Wine Country Travels - Day 1 - Westin Verasa

2009-08-28T12:22:00.000-07:00

Heather and I planned a trip this week to the wine country to check out a few new hotels for our 2010 events. Our first stop was new Westin Versa in Napa.

Behind the front desk was a creative wall of wine bottles adorned with the Westin logo.

The floral arrangements at the hotel were potted in white birch tree bands and wooden boxes. A nice touch - and one of my favorite looks.

For lunch, we ate at the hotel's Bank Cafe - our favorites were the Burratta Mozzarella with roasted heirloom tomatoes and the Petaluma chicken.

The hotel consists almost entirely of suites with kitchens (except for 20 rooms). All the rooms have king beds. The room prices for the location are reasonable too.

They have outdoor and indoor event space, as well as a built-in bocce ball court.

The meeting rooms are well designed with attractive carpeting, lighting and chairs. I love their outdoor buffet tables - I want one for my backyard!

The hotel is located in downtown Napa around many restaurants and wine tasting rooms - and the famous Oxbow Public Market.

Our favorites: The large sleeping rooms, great decor in the hotel and event space, and delicious food.

We wished: They had a spa and as well as roll-away beds for the sleeping rooms (or at least double double options).

Next up - the new luxury 'green' Bardessono and our favorite meal ever...stay tuned!

-Danielle

The French Laundry

2009-08-27T08:03:00.000-07:00

Last night Heather and I (so romantic) ate at The French Laundry. Post dinner we hung in the kitchen with the chefs and our waiter...stay tuned for the full story.

-Danielle

I Love Oilcloth!

2009-08-24T13:47:00.000-07:00

We recently did a fun event in Laguna Niguel. The theme was a "high-end bar-b-que" so we wanted a polished, but casual feel. We decided to cover the tables with oilcloth and the result gave us a look that was both classy and bright.

Adirondacks around a toasty fire-pit were just the thing after dinner....

...and the ending was picture-perfect.

--Sara

Field Trip!

2009-08-19T17:06:00.000-07:00

We decided to spend a few hours out of the office today and visit some places in town we have been talking about. Our first stop was Flora Grubb - a jewel of a nursery tucked away off 3rd and Jerrold. The ideas were flying through my head...what a place for a party!

Next up.....Hotel Vertigo - one of a handful of Personality Hotel Collection properties in the City. Washed in white and vivid orange, the boutique property offers up the "hip and cool" factor, and is located just a short cab ride away from great tourist hot-spots.

Our last stop of the afternoon took us to the newly renovated San Francisco Marriott Union Square. Designed to cater to the business traveler, rooms offer amenities that let you set up your "office away from the office." But with views of the City and the Bay, I am not sure how much work you would get done!

~ Merideth

SSP Goes to Washington DC

2009-08-10T20:40:00.000-07:00

Last week Danielle and I had a great opportunity to go to Washington DC and present to a potential new client. We took an extra day to explore the city, look for inspiration, and enjoy true summer weather, which is something we never really have in San Francisco. We loved DC and probably walked three or four miles a day just looking around.

Here are just a few things that inspired us:

Taylor's Gourmet Deli - we read about this place in Dwell on the plane ride to DC. It was a great space with killer sandwiches. The guys who opened it live above it and have a great sense of style. We wish them lots of luck.

check them out in Dwell: http://www.dwell.com/articles/hoagies-heroes.html

We also loved cakelove. We did not get cupcakes because it was 10 a.m, but I did buy the cookbook so I can make the mojito cake!

The trip was not all about food; we also saw great architecture, including this 7 Eleven!

We hope to go back to DC soon.

Samantha

The Breakfast of Champions

2009-08-07T10:31:00.000-07:00

This morning I decided to bring in breakfast for the team. I stopped by Dynamo to get some of their much talked-about donuts. I couldn't find the exact location, but then noticed a line of people waiting outside the door....and figured that was the place!

The day's flavors are pictured in the photo below....I got one of each - except for the sticky bun (nothing against it - just not my favorite).

My favorite flavor was the maple glazed apple bacon - it tasted like pancakes and bacon with some maple syrup. If you are going for a more "traditional" flavor, the coconut or chocolate will do the trick.

-Danielle

ARIGATO. GRAZIE. GRACIAS. MERCI.

2009-08-05T15:24:00.000-07:00

Polite. part of speech (adjective). Defined as showing good manners towards others.

Everyone likes to be acknowledged when they go over and above to make one feel special. A verbal "thank you" is always pleasant and well received; however, a handwritten thank you note is even better!

I clearly work in an office with the Queens of Etiquette, as thank you notes are on continuous circulation around the office. It is always a treat to come into the office to find a sweet note at your work station.

-Heather

...We All Scream for Ice Cream!

2009-07-30T12:34:00.000-07:00

Our team is back in the office after traveling for several events. We went on a team outing to Humphry Slocombe to find out what all the talk is about...

I ordered the Rosemary's Baby & the Vietnamese Coffee flavors with chocolate sauce. (But took a few tastes ahead of time to make my selection!) There was a burst of great flavors in every bite.

Here's me and Jake (I begged for this pic with him since he is now a local celebrity).

He told me it was their seven-month anniversary of being open - Congratulations on such a great business venture!

-Danielle

Big Island Yummy

2009-07-27T17:41:00.000-07:00

As any event planner will tell, eating a lot of hotel food gets a bit tiring. So after 10 days on the Big Island we found our way to GJ's Huli Chicken and Ribs...yummy. They also sell banana egg rolls that were to die for. Right next to their stand is a little farmers market that makes fruit smoothies.

Next time you are on the Big Island and you need some great food - check them out. They are located near the Kawaihae Harbor in Kamuela.

-Samantha

Not Planned

2009-07-22T19:27:00.000-07:00

So, recently at an event, we had a team dinner after our guests had settled into their evening. As everyone showed up, we realized we were all wearing black....so we took this shot.

From left to right: Heather, Merideth, Kim, Samantha, Danielle, Sara, and Kim.

Happy Birthday Paul

2009-07-22T18:49:00.000-07:00

Our food and beverage director, Paul, turned 40 in June. I know I am late in posting this, but Happy Birthday Paul!

We threw his party in Mexico. The theme: tie-dye and pork. We all made our own T-shirts (to celebrate his love for the Grateful Dead) and roasted a whole pig, yummy!

It was a great weekend filled with family and friends.

Samantha

July 4th Celebration

2009-07-07T14:02:00.000-07:00

Here are some pics of my decor from my 4th of July party. To read more about it go here.

-Danielle

Tiki Time!

2009-07-01T17:32:00.000-07:00

SSP was working an event last week and one of the evenings was Island-themed. Since it was at nighttime, the neon was a cool touch. We did some sleuthing and found out they were from a company called "Heaven or Las Vegas", a national neon rental company. You never know when a little neon will come in handy!

The neon against the dark walls looked very cool, and made us want to plan a Tiki party! (By the way, these stood about eight feet tall - yowza!)

Check out their website here.

Oh, and don't forget the very retro hula girl...

--Sara

Eco Friendly Tableware

2009-06-26T12:49:00.000-07:00

Who says disposable plates can't be beautiful and environmentally friendly?

Japan-based company Wasara has created sophisticated green tableware designed specifically for one-time use. No more dish duty for the SSP ladies!

Designed to naturally fit in ones hand, this line of plates, cups, and serving platters enhances the beauty of the dishes you are serving while also making them a breeze for guests to carry. Wasara's fusion of elegance and function perfectly embodies the Japanese "spirit of hospitality and courtesy."

By using non-wood materials that grow abundant in nature such as reed pulp, bamboo, and sugarcane waste, these plates naturally reduce the impact on the environment. After use, feel free to continue the green effort and recycle the tableware !

Check out the rest of their amazing line here.

- Elizabeth

That's Entertainment!

2009-06-16T08:51:00.000-07:00

I recently visited Bella Winery for their "Circus" theme party and was entertained by Circus Bella (this was my second time seeing them perform - first time was at Bella's holiday party).

Circus Bella is a one ring circus, featuring contemporary acts performing to an original score with live musicians. See more about them here.

They are clever and quirky - so fun to hire for a party!