'Tis the Season

This time of year flies by way too quickly. In keeping up with work and life's events, I have become VERY behind on blogging - I haven't had the chance to finish our Maine blogs (from our September vacation), plus Halloween (one of my fave holidays!) and now that the Christmas season is beginning, whew, I need to go into blog overload big time!
Thanksgiving this past weekend was celebrated with tons of family. And, although I don't have pictures, the tags I printed for the Thanksgiving baskets filled with festive kitchen towels, Dunkin' Donuts coffee and peppermint soaps for my aunt and uncle and Joe's parents were so cute. I found them on a great website packed with tons of do-it-yourself ideas and printables for any occasion! I even printed some polkadot tags to make sure my gifts for my cousin's baby shower on Saturday were all tagged.

Check out Good Gravy Designs Blog: http://goodgravydesigns.blogspot.com/2010/11/free-printable-gobble-up-diy.html

I'm super excited to start wrapping December birthday and Christmas gifts with the creative websites I've been browsing! And, I've been making great headway on my holiday shopping, which is perfect since I plan on baking a ton and enjoying some of my favorite Philadelphia holiday festivities...more to come!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

As the day winds down and comes to an end, I want to take the opportunity to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and a wonderful, joyous upcoming holiday season! It will be Christmas and we will be ringing in the New Year before we know it, so cherish every moment, have fun, partake in lots of shopping, spend every second possible enjoying yourselves and being with your family and friends who you love most!

Fourth Annual "Looking Out for Kids" Charity Fundraiser

An extensive amount of planning goes into large-scale events. This I know and have learned over the past three years. Helping organize The Eye Institute's "Looking Out for Kids" charity reception each fall is always a feat and yet so much fun. And, I love spreading the word whenever possible.
This year, over 230 people attended the fourth annual November 13th event with scores of people bidding on the extensive amount of silent auction items and purchasing goods from the wonderful vendors all while enjoying music, fine food from Williamson Catering and cocktails.
The "Looking Out for Kids" initiative continues to grow with each passing year and the more people we make aware of what The Eye Institute does for community children, the better! All proceeds from this event help provide vision care services and eyeglasses to under insured and uninsured children in Philadelphia and its surrounding communities. For more information about the "Looking Out for Kids" event, please visit www.TEIvision.com/LOFK.

Below are some event photos all courtesy of John Dolores Photography...these are just a snippet of the decor and a highlight or two from the fabulous evening.

The color coordinated silent auction tables

The balloon and crudites display in the VIP reception.

The Bennett Lounge at Salus University's Hafter Student Center before the attendees arrived.

The general reception room with the silent auction tables in the center.

Dr. Eileen Tyrala, pediatrician at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children; Dr. Susan Oleszewski, Vice President for Patient Care Services at The Eye Institute, Dr. Donald Goldsmith and Lisa Nutter, President of Philadelphia Academies, Inc.

Our signature drink...Grape martini made from product donated by Jacquin's Vodka.

Co-hosts Keenan Clayton and Quintin Mikell from the Philadelphia Eagles during the evening's opening presentation.

Vendor displays included Amy Ragsdale Jewelry, Keith Mountford Fine Art, Kristen Stein Art, Denise Shardlow Designs and PECO Energy Education Team.

The general reception ran from 7-10 p.m.

Quintin Mikell auctioned off game-worn autographed cleats to the highest bidder.

Bidding on the silent auction items before the tables closed.

Dancing at the end of the night.

Here's looking to the fifth annual "Looking Out for Kids" charity reception.

Help us, help the children of the Delaware Valley!



Fixing Dates

So much into this blog, it started to become difficult to keep track not of everyday things or activities but of the trips I took in August and September. That being said, I'm changing all the dates on my blogs, which may take a bit, so they are more accurate! And, hopefully, once The Eye Institute's Fourth Annual "Looking Out for Kids" Charity Fundraiser is over, I can jump right back into blogging.