Creative Advent Calendars

It's about that time to start breaking out your advent calendars! Advent calendars were one of our favorite things to have in college because who doesn't love a piece of chocolate at the end of every day? Haha! So the inspiration for today's second blog (since I didn't post one on Monday) comes from these super creative advent calendars from Pinterest. Here are five of my favorites!

First up, this cute stack of Chinese takeout boxes. If you want it to feel more festive, use holiday colors or prints!

 

http://www.netvibes.com/en

Simple and cheap, this advent calendar can be made with things around the house. Paper bags, clothespins, and string, put together giving a rustic holiday feel. I love this one!

 

http://mostlovelythings.blogspot.com/2011/12/advent-calendar-decorating-with-old.html

I wish I knew about this one in college. Not only is it a really easy calendar to make but by putting it in the shape of a Christmas Tree you're able to create extra wall decorations. Simply amazing.

 

http://www.marthastewart.com/857740/handmade-advent-calendars/@center/307034/christmas-workshop

This is a great recyclable calendar. You can use empty toilet paper rolls to create this cabin-esque decoration. It would be very fun to rip through these numbers and find out what's on the other side!

 

http://www.bostonmamas.com/blog/2013/11/20/10-clever-advent-calendars.html

Last but not least, for the people in your life who enjoy cooking, this converted cupcake tray makes the perfect advent calendar. Fill each cutout and cover with different colored and patterned paper for a festive feel. Super easy and a fun holiday kitchen adornment!

 

http://mindful-shopper.com/mindful-lifestyle/fun-diy-projects/holiday-diy/

These details can easily be devoured so show me what you got! Get to creating some awesome calendars!

Event Planner Feature: Every Little Moment

This week I want to give a special shout out to Every Little Moment Lifestyle & Event Design, event planning services. Their desire is to ensure that “every little moment” of your celebration encompasses your dreams and makes them a reality for you to treasure. Wedding planning, proposal planning, nonprofit planning, corporate production and private events, ELM handles it all. Erin McEvoy and Mallory Quinn founders of ELM have brought their extensive backgrounds together to provide clients with knowledge and guidance when planning their special day.

Erin has a true passion for creative design, events and fundraising for a cause. Completing her higher education in North Carolina, she has developed a sense of "southern hospitality" and compassion that she uses when planning events. Her background in event planning for non-profits, professional sports team events, and weddings, has given Erin the ability to use creativity with all couples, venues and corporate groups to showcase a client’s personality to not only make your event memorable but unique to who or what the event represents. She was recently awarded the title of “2011 Readers’ Choice BizBash Association/Nonprofit Planner of the Year" and spends most of her time volunteering and serving on the Leadership Committee of the Friends Council for the Boys and Girls Club.

Mallory takes great pride in perfectly executing events for her clients. Also an Endicott College alumnae, she gained valuable experience there that allows her to bring creativity to ELM weddings, social events, and nonprofit functions. Her rich background is filled with experience from formally running the fundraising events program for a major academic Medical Center in Boston, producing for a national firm specializing in luxury events, as well as executing client service events in a professional sports setting.

They've put together some beautiful events and are an inspiration to me. Be sure to check out their Facebook page and website so you can be ELMspired as well.

 

 

Keep on devouring the details ELM!

Kristin Banta Events

I remember watching Kristin Banta's show on Bravo a few years ago and thinking what I would give to move out to LA and work for her. The episode I vividly remember was how she ordered what seemed like a million origami swans for a wedding that were hung from the ceiling but were pulled back and then released once the ceremony was over. A truly unique feature to an unforgettable wedding. Kristin has such an extensive background in what she does because of her additional experience with catering, interior design, fashion, and entertainment. It is no wonder she is one of the most sought after event producers around.

Kristin creates truly memorable celebrations while bringing a fresh perspective to the mix. Known within her community as a long-standing advocate for marriage equality, she is passionate about helping her clients find their own voice for their wedding day. It is about exceeding her client's expectations and making their wildest visions come to life for a day that will go down in history as being absolutely perfect.

Kristin was nominated for the National BizBash Event Style Awards in 2013 and was featured as one of Los Angeles’ top event designers in the book “The Art of Celebration” (November 2010) along with the recently released “Southern California Weddings". In addition to that, she's been featured in countless publications including InStyle Weddings, Modele Magazine, California Wedding Day, Frontiers Magazine, Los Angeles Weddings Magazine, The Knot, Modern Bride Southern California, Southern Living, Your Wedding Day Magazine, LA Times, Real Simple Weddings, Inside Weddings, Life & Style, Style Me Pretty, Junebug, Green Wedding Shoes, Bride Finds, AOL and Punk Rock Confidential. I draw many style and design ideas from her work in these publications. She is definitely an inspiration for what I want to produce with events.

Be sure to follow her on twitter for constant updates on her wonderful events and advice on the latest industry trends @KristinBanta and check out her website KristinBanta.com.

Devour on Kristin!