Do you have an assumption of what a Cafe is like in Mexico?  I was stunned at how chic, modern and hip the Cafe de Artistes in Punta Mita is. This restaurant is located inside the Hotel des Artistes del Mar.  It offers three different areas for seating, inside by the open kitchen, or on the covered patio deck or directly on the sandy beach.  ”The gourmet bistro restaurant offers diners the opportunity to sample the artistry of Chef Thierry Blouet, recognized for his touch of genius in the kitchen. His cuisine consider avant garde category is a result of his love of culinary pleasures and classic experience in some of the most prestigious restaurants in the world.  An immense energy and enthusiasm for excellence is reflected in his cuisine, which highlights both his own intuitive ability to prepare mouth-watering dishes and a uniquely personal gift: an intense sense of art and beauty.”

The food was also beautiful but don’t want to give too much away,…you’ll have to wait for the wedding in March to see what was picked, but one hint,  Tuna sushi tower with seaweed salad, garnished wasabi foam and fried seaweed.  

These are from the St. Regis site!

I recently visited Punta Mita with Christopher Aldama from Fiori Fresco Special Events. We were there to scope out venues, restaurants, bakeries, for a wedding there in March. On this trip, we were able to visit the brand new St. Regis, first one in Latin America and it was GORGEOUS!

“Situated at Bahía de Banderas in the state of Nayarit, The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort promises a truly unique experience. It’s only 50 minutes from Puerto Vallarta International Airport. The resort is composed of several buildings over an area of more than 22 acres. Exceptionally elegant and impeccably tasteful.” www.starwoodhotels.com or www.stregis.com

It has it’s own private beach so it can service food and even alcohol. You can also have your wedding right on the sandy beach at sunset. i love that the showers are outside (due to warm weather) how refreshing is that! The Remede Spa has a comprehensive list of services but the fun part would sipping a margarita while getting a manicure and pedicure outside in one of the cabanas. There is even an Organic restuarant on site for all those that need to eat healthy. The ultra chic restaurant Carolina, opens only for dinner, but it will blow your mind away and erase all the things that you thought food would be like in Mexico. With 3 pools and 3 restaurants, a full service spa and adjacent golf course, you don’t need to leave St. Regis once you arrive.

I have known the Brutocao family for years as Juliana’s dad was a board member and part owner of a hotel that I used to work for.  So when Juliana called us, I was so honored to be a part of her wedding plans. Juliana and Aizaz were married at the Mission in San Juan Capistrano earlier in the day and then guests headed to the lawn at The Island Resort in Newport Beach, for a Muslim Blessing.  With Brooke on board, we designed a modern reception of not your typical ballroom tables and chairs. We filled the Palm courtyard with black lounge chairs, couches, ottomans, and peppered in several cocktail tables here and there.  A black dance floor centered the tented area and amazing lighting with custom damask pattern gobos shined through out…resulting in great color for photos.  Brutocao wines were poured all night alongside some fabulous food stations of sushi, pasta (representing the Italian family members) and Indian food.  Ryan did such an amazing job of capturing the day and Juliana’s beauty, boy is she photogenic!  I went through the entire CD of hundreds of images and I don’t think there is one bad photo.

Photos Courtesy of: Ryan Phillips Photography

Jessica and Jesse, Montage Resort & Spa

Match made in heaven! It was God that brought them to each other and blessed their marriage.  A romantic ceremony and love story…. story to be told in an upcoming issue of Inside Weddings Magazine.  The talented Ms. Nisie of Nisie’s Enchanted Florist, matched the colors to gorgeous orange ties!  Vibrant shades of deep oranges along with white, sage and chocolate brown.  In some weddings, you wonder, where is the cake..not this one.  The cake table or should I say cake area was over the top, not an ordinary focal piece but one that was highlighted well with the crystals, leis and canopy.  I got to work closely with Mrs. Edwards; she was delightful, gracious and a classy lady.

Photos Courtesy of: Triple Cord Photography  

We have had the pleasure working with Annette and her team this past summer!  You will see 3 weddings with Triplecord back to back= Triplecord Mania!

Gail and Nemo, Hyatt Huntington Beach Resort and Spa
I had such a great time planning this wedding with Gail and Nemo, my couple from NYC.  This wedding was truly a Fusion of cultures as Nemo is Sri Lankan.  We had present Buddist Priests and of course a Details Details Petite Sweets Table but Buddha Style! Gail has the biggest sweet tooth…they imported homemade ice cream from their favorite restaurant in NYC.  White Lilac did an amazing job, as usual pulling the whole look together from the smoked plexi chandeliers, lilac prune weave draping, fun lounge furniture and floral in beautiful hues of pinks, lavender and purples.

Photos Courtesy of: Triple Cord Photography

Jenny & Jake Engagement
Check out Jenny & Jake’s fun engagement session, captured by Joel Maus from Studio EMP.  Can’t wait for their wedding next June at the St. Regis Monarch Beach! 

Photos courtesy of: Studio EMP

It is estimated that the average person gains about 1 pound every holiday season. That doesn’t sound like much, but most never actually lose that extra pound. That means that after 10 holiday seasons, the average person will have packed on an extra 10 pounds of holiday weight!
Avoid the holiday weight gain with some of the following strategies:
1. Don’t attend holiday parties hungry. Eat a small, low-fat snack beforehand to avoid being overly hungry at the party. Feeling hungry can sabotage even the strongest willpower.   

2. Be selective. Choose only the foods you really want to eat and keep the portions small.
3. Move conversations away from the buffet table to avoid excessive nibbling.
4. Be weary of appetizers. Go easy on fried appetizers, salted nuts, and cheese cubes. Instead, opt for raw veggies with a small amount of dip, shrimp cocktail, or fruit/veggie skewers.
5. Forget the all-or-nothing mindset.  Remember that all foods can fit and that moderation is key. Deprivation and guilt are not part of the holiday spirit! Choose a balance between high-calorie favorites and low-calorie options.
 
6. Eat mindfully to prevent overeating. Eating slowly allows your stomach time to tell your brain that you are full (this takes 15-20 minutes!). Slow down, enjoy each bite and savor the flavor!
 
7. Spend time talking with old and new friends. In addition to helping you catch up and swap stories, talking helps you digest your food and pace your rate of eating.
8. Limit alcoholic beverages. One 9 ounce glass of egg nog has almost 350 calories! Stick to wine or beer and try to keep it under 2 drinks for the night.

9. If you know the holiday party you’ll be attending will be full of high calorie dishes, offer to bring something. You can find plenty of lighter holiday recipes on www.cookinglight.com <http://www.cookinglight.com/> .
 
10. Start a new holiday tradition–go for a family walk after the meal. Happy and Healthy Holiday Wishes!
Janice Holm, MPH, RD, CHES
Registered Dietitian & Certified Health Education Specialist
Owner/Founder of SoCal Nutrition & Wellness
Contact: Janice@socalnw.com or 310-270-8985

Of course, after posting a engagement session at USC, I have to post one at UCLA!  Amy was a bridesmaid at a wedding I coordinated a few years ago. I am so excited for her…super cute gal. Shawn, if she wasn’t madly in love with you, I would have set her up with my brother. Thanks Jimmy for the pictures.

Jimmy writes: I photographed Amy and Shawn’s engagement session at a place familiar to me, UCLA. It was the first time I’ve been back since I’ve started photographing professionally and it was amazing how I see it so differently now. There were plenty of great locations to shoot at, and how fun it was to follow Amy and Shawn around the school. Amy has an infectious smile and is just friendly you can’t help but smile when you talk to her, and Shawn is such a gentleman he compliments her perfectly. They also brought their adorable dog along for a few shots. I think by now everyone knows how much I love to photograph dogs.

Here are some of my favorites from the fun shoot. I can’t wait to shoot their wedding at the Langham in 2009.

Photos Courtesy of: Jimmy Cheng Photography