Wedster

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday - I did!  We are glad to be back at work meeting newly engaged couples and 2008 brides!  There are a lot of exciting things happening at Isha Foss Events! 

Here are the highlights:

January 6: Uniquely Yours by Pearl Bridal Showcase (formerly Karen Eagle), Waterside Marriott, Norfolk -  Our booth will be located on the 3rd floor.  We will present floral and tabletop design among other wedding ideas.  Our portfolio will be available for viewing.  Meet other vendors as well.  The show offers lots of prizes and a fashion show.  Brides free.

January 15 - 18: The Special Event 2008, Atlanta, GA -  This educational conference and expo for special event professionals features classes and products from industry leaders and household names.  It allows us to bring you cutting edge design and fresh ideas.  I will try to post to this blog while I'm there!

January 15 - 16: AmericasMart Atlanta, GA - This permanent wholesale marketplace (open to the trade) is the premier place to find unique gift and decor items.  We will be loading up the truck with items just for our Hampton Roads clients!

January 31: We're Moving...Again! - It took us a while to figure out just what we needed - less waiting area, more warehouse.  Our new office is an office/warehouse located in the Greenbrier area of Chesapeake.  We will have more room for all the props, vases, and decor pieces that we are buying as well as a floral work room - YAAY!!!  We will post the new address once we are prepared to start receiving mail and visitors there.

Whew!  That's all for now.  Hope to see you at the bridal show! - Isha

Isha Foss Events  - Beautiful events, perfectly planned....

Posted by Isha at 09:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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I have always been drawn to the kitchen and have always loved to try new things. New recipes, gadgets, you name it! Lately, I have started to develop some of my own recipes. My husband Joe is always willing to be taste tester and he always offers me his honest opinion.

When I began baking the Christmas cookies this year I came up with an idea for a new cookie. I could use some help giving this delicious cookie a name. Here is the recipe. Send us a comment with some suggestions for a name.  If we use the name you send, we'll send you 2 passes to The Hermitage Foundation, as well as lunch for 2 at Gourmet Gang!

Ingredients:

1 cup softened butter

1 cup powdered sugar

1 tbsp. milk

1 tsp. vanilla

2 ½ cups all purpose flour

1 package Andes mints baking chips

Beat butter for approximately 30 seconds. Add ½ cup powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla. Beat until combined. Gradually beat in flour.

Shape dough into 1 ½ inch balls. Press your thumb into the center of each ball. Fill center with Andes chocolate mints. Reshape into a ball. Place balls 1 inch apart on a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper.

Bake for 15 minutes. Finely crush up about ½ cup of Andes chocolate mints. Combine the crushed chocolate mint bits with the remaining powdered sugar. Roll warm cookies in mixture then place on wire rack to cool.

Don't forget send us a name for this cookie and win 2 tickets to the Funny Bone Comedy Club!  Please include your e-mail address or phone number for contact. - Stephanie

Isha Foss Events - Beautiful Events, perfectly planned....

Posted by steph at 09:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Aside from the beautiful holiday decorations, my favorite part of the season is baking. My Grandmother has passed along her love of baking, as well as some fabulous recipes to me. So it begins, another month of baking. I figure that this year, when all the baking has been done, I will have made about 800 cookies! I love to share with others, so rest assured I will not be eating all of them!

Here are some recipes for you to share or try yourselves.

Stay Up All Night Cookies (Meringue cookies)

Grandma named this one because you leave the cookies in the oven overnight and when you wake up in the morning, they are done! This is truly the EASIEST cookie to make.

This would also make a beautiful cookie to be served at a wedding reception.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Yields about 30 cookies

Ingredients:

2 egg whites at room temperature

2/3 cup granulated sugar

Pinch of salt

½ tsp. vanilla or peppermint extract

6 oz. mini chocolate chips

1. Beat 2 egg whites until stiff, but not dry. The egg whites should form peaks when you lift the beater out.

2. Beat in 2/3 cup granulated sugar gradually until stiff and they will have a satiny look to them.

3. Add a pinch of salt and ½ tsp vanilla or peppermint extract.

4. Fold in 6 oz mini chocolate chips.

5. Lay parchment paper on your cookie sheet. Use a teaspoon to drop the mixture in circles onto your cookie sheet. Place cookie sheet into preheated oven and then turn off the heat.

6. Leave in oven overnight or for at least six hours.

Chocolate Chip Shortbread

This is a new cookie that I started making this year and it has proved to be a favorite among many.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Yields as many as 36 cookies, depending on how large you cut them.

Ingredients:

2 cups all purpose flour

Pinch of salt

½ pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter at room temperature

1/3 cup packed light brown sugar

1/3 cup granulated sugar

¾ tsp. vanilla extract

2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

1. Whisk together flour and salt in a medium bowl

2. Beat butter, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, and vanilla until they are a smooth mixture. Begin to add in your flour mixture until well blended.

3. Stir in 1 ½ cup chocolate chips.

4. Press dough evenly and firmly in the bottom of an ungreased 9X13 inch baking pan.

5. Bake for approximately 45 minutes, or until golden brown.

6. Let pan cool on a wire rack for about 10 minutes, and then cut shortbread into rectangles. Let cool completely before you remove from pan.

7. Melt your remaining chocolate chips. Dip one end of your cooled cookies into melted chocolate, then transfer to waxed paper and let stand until your chocolate has set.

If you have any favorite recipes of your own, send us a comment. I am always looking for new recipes to try.

On the topic of cookies, why not have a cookie station at your wedding reception. There are such beautiful display pieces and so many unique and beautiful cookies that can even be tied into your wedding theme.  Here are some creative ways to display your cookies from Martha Stewart

Posted by steph at 04:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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I love the bride and groom's first dance.  So much tenderness, emotion, ...and entertainment?!  Most couples are having their dance as soon as they enter the reception, after they are announced.  It's perfect because all eyes are already on them.  Recently many of our clients have opted to have that dance choreographed.  I hear that the lessons are a great date night and a welcome change from the other aspects of planning together. 

It seems that the latest trend in first dances is the 'fake-out' - start with once dance and then switch to something unexpected. 

With over 3 million hits on YouTube and a TODAY show appearance, I am sure that many of you have seen the Brubakers' dance to "Baby Got Back" by Sir Mix-a-Lot.

Baby Got Back First Dance

There are dozens to be found on YouTube, here are a couple that I enjoyed!

First Dance to Michael Jackson

Of course, now that so many are doing the 'fakeout' it may lose some of its charm but everyone loves to be entertained!

Isha Foss Events is a wedding & event design company.  We can assist you with finding dance lessons or other needs.  To review our services please vist us on the web at www.ishafossevents.com

Posted by Isha at 09:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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This client relationship started different than most.  We were actually contracted by the bride's best friend and Maid of Honor to manage the wedding day - as a gift.  I thought then that Twana must be special.  Then I met Darnell and knew that it was true.  Twana is a wonderful person and she is loved.  

Twana is a Chief in the US Navy and was out to sea for most of the planning.  We stepped in to help wherever we could.  Twana and Darnell attended our open house and asked if we would design their reception based on a tabletop on display and an inspiration centerpiece.  Here is what we came up with:

 Keith Cephus Photography

Both ceremony and reception were held at the Harrison Opera House, a chic urban venue with a city view out of floor-to-ceiling windows and 'killer' chandeliers. 

Isha Foss Events provides event & floral design services.  For more information, visit our website - www.ishafossevents.com

 

Posted by Isha at 09:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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