Through the Looking Glass

It is December 31^st – before we look ahead to 2012, let us reflect and say thank you to our clients who have made Splash so successful.  To you we say, thank you for being part of the Splash family, and we look forward to serving you again. 

Stephanie and Dale; Kelly and Rich; Melanie and Justin; Dawn and Ron; Caryl and Matthew; Brandi and Justin; Amanda and Patrick; Maggie; Jenny and Joel; Mindi and Philip; JoAnn; Brooke and Travis; Katie and Derek; Tracy and Brian; Kimberly and Dale; Nicki and Evan; Denise; Kendra and Brent; Kacey and Eric; Christian and Chris; Whitney and Dennis; Marjorie and Chris; Lauren and Steve; Page and Daniel; St. Matthew’s University; Kelly and Kyle …

May the new year bring all your dreams and wishes –

The Splash Team

Victoria, Martha, Julie, Lynn, Nikki, Marisa, Casey and Katie

Holiday Entertaining Tips

Welcome to the holidays!  Many of us turn our thoughts to entertaining during the holidays, while others shrug at the notion ~ I used to strive to be the Martha Stewart hostess to the point of exhaustion, but as the years have passed, I've learned that I would much rather be with my guests and enjoy their company than be a slave to cookie trays.

So, that being said, I encourage all of you to open your doors to others and invite them in, even for a cup of tea or a glass of wine.  We live in such a fast paced society. the gift of time is the best gift you can give anyone.

Tip #1 is to remember to breathe ~ yes, don't let yourself get in a panic over someone coming to your home.  You enjoy going to their home, don't you?  No one is there to notice the dust balls!

Tip #2 is to remember that these are your friends ~ they care about you, and it would be nice to share with them.

Tip #3 is to know the fastest route to the closest grocery store.  Don't think that everything has to be homemade.  Anymore I think that the grocers do almost as good a job as I would anyway ... so enjoy the freedom.

Tip #4 is to find one or two things that you really enjoy serving and try to keep them on hand or in the freezer to pull out at the opportune time that the doorbell is about to ring.  Bottles of wine keep well, as do ice cream balls rolled in pecans ~ put one in a fancy bowl or glass and pour chocolate sauce over it and voila!

Tip #5 is to remember that the holidays are about giving ~ slow down the pace and enjoy the journey!

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah,

We value the day and the event, but we treasure the lifelong relationship with our clients.

'Tis the Season to Be-Jeweled

Ah, the holidays ~ what a magical time to be engaged to the one you love. Are you in the market for the perfect ring that says, "I love you" a thousand different ways? Here are some tips while shopping for the perfect diamond.

Always remember the four "C"'s ~

1. Carat ~ 100 points = 1 carat, or 1/5 of a gram. It's rare for a stone to weigh more than one carat.
2 Color ~ Diamonds are typically white, although a completely white diamond is very rare. Colors go all the way to a yellowish stone, and colored diamonds are also becoming very popular. Other colors include blue, yellow, red, green and even brown or champagne.
3. Clarity ~ Clarity refers to the stone's natural imperfections. The fewer the flaws, the more expensive the stone. As most imperfections can only been seen under a magnifying glass, this is a good place to save money if you wish to purchase a larger stone.
4. Cut ~ All finished diamonds have 58 facets, which are small planes that reflect light. The better the cuts, the better the reflection. Common cuts are emerald, princess, oval, pear, marquis and heart, but the most common and usually the most reasonably priced is the round cut.

Don't feel limited to diamonds as your gemstone ~ many brides prefer sapphires, rubies, emeralds, or amethyst. Another possibility is a family heirloom.

Once you've found the perfect gemstone and setting, make sure you insure your investment ~ you'll be glad you did!

Congratulations and Best Wishes,

Victoria