It's been a while...

Where has time gone? It's May in North Carolina and for the first time in months, I am back to blogging. In the months to come there are new and exciting things going on that will share with you, but first, I am excited to share that Naomi is working on her own as an Event Planner! If you know Naomi you know very well that she will quit teaching in a few years and start up her own business! THANK YOU Mayo for all you did for KIT while I moved to NC. I am excited for new beginnings for her, and I am ecstatic to say that she will continue helping me as my OFFICIAL WEDDING PLANNER! Yes ladies and gents, I am getting married!

Which brings me to today....Luis and I have been engaged for 4 1/2 months, and for those 4 1/2 months I have spent hours searching for information online. We are excited to be getting married in Santiago, Chile, but I'm quickly realizing that this amazing event is not going to be so easy to set up sitting in NC. Luckily, I have amazing family members who are contacting people and places in Santiago, and I have come across various vendors living in Santiago who are willing to help me on this journey.

In the next year I will keep you updated with the who's and what's of the L&M wedding event!

Let me catch you up....
- 7.9.11...that's the official date, a week of events prior to the wedding day will be organized for our out of town guests and family in Chile
- I'll be in Chile in June for 2 weeks to check out sites and meet with vendors
- Save the dates are being created and will be sent out in the next few months; my new friends in NC have offered to help with my DIY projects
- I've created an extensive google doc with every possible topic/vendor needed...I'll happily share it if you need it!

I do want to thank a few people who, thus far, have provided some great resources/help..

- Karen from http://casamenteiras.com.br and Cha das Panelas.
I met Karen through the school of business Luis is at, and she has WOW'ed me with her attention to detail and love for event planning. Karen has an amazing blog in Brazil, and posts information on topics such as event planning to babies!

- Kyle Hepp from Kyle Hepp Photography http://www.kylehepp.com/blog/
I emailed Kyle last Fall in hopes that one day I would be planning a wedding in Chile...she immediately sent me resources and contacts. Kyle is a 25 year old American living in Chile with her husband Seba, Chileno.

Since my engagement friends have suggested I blog about my wedding planning process...here I am!

I hope to be a resource for future brides who are in the US and are planning a wedding in Santiago, Chile.

Titi and Rhavi are officially Mr. and Mrs.!

Friday after Thanksgiving was a busy day for Keep it Together! The afternoon started off with an early arrival at Rusty Pelican in Key Biscayne for Titi and Rhavi's wedding. As a wedding gift for the couple, I helped them gather their ideas and set up the final details on their big day! It was great seeing it all come together, and even more fun celebrating with them later that evening.



The view from the ceremony site...downtown Miami!



The gorgeous bride and her grand entrance...



Titi and her father Arturo...



Finally married as the sun set over the Miami Skyline....



Firepits kept guests warm on this chilly night (I was playing around with my camera options)



AA Musicians entertained us throughout the cocktail...



Just like them, their portrait showed how cool and casual Titi and Rhavi are..



Guests wrote special messages on notecards for the new couple...



Tulips adorned the tables..simple yet elegant


Luis and I with the bride and groom...


The reception was perfect...family and friends danced the night away! The love that was felt in that room for Titi and Rhavi was contagious. It was an honor to be a part of the planning and take part in their special day! We wish you the best in this next chapter of your lives...


Stay tuned for more about what Naomi was doing at Jungle Island that same night!

We're getting married on Tuesday!

That's what our new friends Martha and Julio said to us in an email late September. Married? That means they need to celebrate...and that we did! In less than 48 hours I had set up a wedding reception for them at Piazza Italia, an Italian restaurant in Durham, NC.

The newlyweds were greeted with beach themed decor...their love for scuba diving and the ocean inspired me to go with the sand and seashells theme...tiffany blue was the accent color for the decor. Champagne bubbles drifted into the night sky as friends enjoyed the favors.



A gift basket filled with wine glasses, sea scented incense, and a personalized photo album was our gift to them, plus a frame filled with beautiful messages from our friends from around the world. The cake? A design on behalf of the local bakery...a cupcake on top of an 8 inch cake..delicious and perfect!



Sangria and wine to celebrate..don't forget the champagne!





The picture below captures Martha and Julio's love for each other. To the newlyweds...Although you couldn't share that night with your family, your new friends were so happy to be there with you. We look forward to many more celebrations together!

All because two people fell in love...

On Saturday, October 17th, Michelle Ramos and Emilio Baca began their new life as Mr. and Mrs. Baca. After months of planning and decision making, their wedding was a beautiful event they shared with their closest friends and family.



Below are some pictures of their ceremony at the Coral Gables Congregational Church in Coral Gables, FL., and their reception at the 94th Aero Squadron in Miami, FL.


The bride and groom table combined the plum and greens, and had some special items which were all about them



Centerpieces included a cylinder with a green orchid, floating candle, and LCD light by Terra Flowers. Leyani Party Supplies provided the satin plum tablecloths, and natural bamboo chivari chairs.




Table names were places the couple had been to, and each guest received a shot glass to celebrate with!


Cakes by Edda designed this delicious 4 tier cake with purple ribbon and a touch of fabulousness...mini crystals around the edge!



Makeup by Marz made sure that Michelle looked gorgeous all night



Music and Entertainment were provided by DJ Connection...Mike and Nestor


Jennifer and Diego from Alina M. Photography & Design were in charge of photography
* Pictures shown above were taken with my camera..professional shots coming soon!

Guillermo from Free Mind Studios was the videographer...check out the trailers below of the event!

Michelle and Emilio Wedding Trailer from Free Mind Studios on Vimeo.

Working with Michelle and Emilio was an honor. Emilio and I met in high school, and Michelle and I in college. It was wonderful being able to share in this day with them..Michelle and Emilio..may you live happily ever after!

Beginning of fall...

It's getting cooler, the leaves are changing color..what does this mean?

That it's the perfect time to get organized!!!

Fall season is a great time to tackle that garage that you keep avoiding, or to redo your closet. Since it's getting colder, this time of year is a great time to do some "spring cleaning". Coming from Miami, I kept my winter boxes under the bed, and rarely had to pull them out for long periods. Now that I am in North Carolina, I am trying to figure out how to make it all fit into my closet. Should I put away the shorts and tank tops? Does all of my winter clothes have to come out of hiding?

If you are debating these same topics, and need someone to help you tackle a project in a manner of hours, why not call a professional! Keep it Together wants to help you get it together. Not sure if you need an organizer but know someone who does? Make sure you send them our way to make sure they are ready for the holiday season.

Getting ready for the first days of school...tips for teachers!

Since I won't have a classroom to prepare for the 2009-2010 school year, I thought it would be helpful to share some tips to my fellow colleagues as the new school year kicks off!

Yes, some of you have experienced many "first days", but you all know that every year is different than the last, and you always have something you want to change.

Below are a few things to consider as you prepare your classroom, office, or work space to kick off the 2009-2010 school year!

Classroom Layout...

- think about the previous year...was there something you didn't like about your the classroom layout? why? draw out your classroom before you get there. Make sure to allow for traffic flow, even in small spaces
- your desk is an important place. Set it up so that you have access to all your things near your desk...you should be able to "roll" around and get to what you need. Have a laptop? leave a space for it on your desk also! bring an extension cord just in case
- create a place for students to put their things when they walk in...remember cubbies in PreK? giving students "cubbies" helps them stay organized
- although it's your classroom, you want to make the students feel at home too. Make sure to give them a place to store their materials. Did you have trouble managing the pencil sharpener and "I need paper!" mid day? set up a rule...bell rings, 9am...whatever suits your schedule...after that, no more materials!
- label it...even older students need to learn what the spaces are and where the things are. put labels everywhere "textbooks" teachers things" paper" ..the more they know the faster the routine will flow..and you don't have to keep telling them where to get things, they can read it!

Paperwork
- Just like at home, you need to figure out how to keep, store, and organize all your papers! create folders for the various topics - grade level, testing, county, technology. Color code them!
- Create files on your computer. MDCPS employees have an H: drive...create a folder for every subject, store lesson plans and other things in the appropriate folders. Clean out those folders mid and end of year

Parent Communication
- if you like technology, store it all on your electronic gradebook! remember you can keep things private or allow parents to see it. either way it's a click away from printing when needed! before the school year starts set up each student's tab with a "note" for parent communication

Last tip....it will get done! I know you all want to have your classroom up and perfect for day 1...but leave some things stored away for day 6! Students will enjoy walking in on the 2nd week of school and seeing some new things up on the walls, or hearing about some new things you expect from them!!!

Whatever you are planning for this new year, remember...only you know that it didn't work last year! Don't give up on a new strategy or method because it failed the previous year. A new group of students brings new possibilities...set the tone from the first day you meet them, and carry it on each day!

A Fernandez Family Affair!

On Saturday, July 18, 2009 we celebrated the wedding ceremony of Michelle Fernandez and Eric Fernandez. As the sun’s rays shined through the beautiful stained-glass windows of St. Hugh Catholic Church, Michelle and Eric exchanged wedding vows in front of family and friends. Bringing a unique, personal touch to the ceremony, La Coral Cubana sang and before being whisked off to the reception, the Bride and Groom toasted with champagne! Congrats to The Newlyweds! We hope you’re enjoying the honeymoon!

Mr. & Mrs. Fernandez with Naomi Valle

Cheers!