National Boss’s Day

Here is a holiday that workers love to celebrate; National Boss’s Day!  This day is reserved on Oct. 16 of every year to show appreciation to a boss, manager or supervisor.  Most people do not realize the challenges a boss faces on a day-to-day bases.  Sure boss’s can be pushy, dominating, controlling, anal and so on, but a boss can also be inspirational and encouraging.  

The VIBE agency would like to express our gratitude and appreciation to our amazing boss, Valerie Bihet.  Bihet can only be described as a blast of energy with the brightest ideas and amazing talent.  Always on the go and an agenda full of commitments, she always manages to smile and get the job done graciously.  We admire her pledge to her clients, family and co-workers.

This is a great day to treat your boss to a special lunch, a gift basket, flowers, or just give them a note of thanks.  If you really want to show your boss how much you appreciate them, be sure to pay attention to what they enjoy and incorporate it into your gift.  The staff can also take the boss out to lunch or have an office luncheon.  This day allows for team building and enhancement of the boss and staff.

To all great boss’s out there, we hope you enjoy your day!

How to Throw a Chocolate Themed Party

For your next gathering why not plan a theme around chocolate?  To get started you will need to decide what type of invitation you will use.  Depending on your budget, you can opt for personalized chocolate wrapper invites or you can pick an invitation with a color scheme including brown.  Spray your invitations lightly with a chocolate scented perfume such as Demeter’s Brownie. If you enjoy arts and crafts, why not create your own invitation using chocolate themed stickers,stamps, or pictures?  Or you can bake some goodies to be delivered and attach a note including all details of the gathering and some fun facts about chocolate. 

Some interesting facts about chocolate include:

• Chocolate melts just below your body temperature, so it melts in your mouth.
• When eaten in moderation, chocolate promotes healthy cardio functions, blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
• Chocolate provides skin benefits and is a natural sexual stimulant!

Decorate with chocolate scented candles to create an arousing atmosphere.  Use napkins, plates, and cups with color schemes such as chocolate with pink, aqua, green or pale blue; or any color of the rainbow. 

There are so many recipes available for this chocolate occasion.  I recommend looking online for different ideas.  Some favorites include brownies, chocolate mousse, chocolate pudding, chocolate cake or cupcakes, chocolate cheesecake, chocolate fondue with fresh fruit, chocolate covered strawberries, and chocolate sorbet with fresh berries.

 

As always, I recommend a signature drink for the occasion.  There are tons of great chocolate martinis but my favorite is the Lady Godiva Chocolate Martini, you can find the recipe at martiniart.com.

Rent a chocolate fountain for an elegant touch, (not recommended if children will be present.) 

Important note:  If you spill chocolate on clothing, simply use rubbing alcohol to remove the spot.

Activities can include a chocolate fondue tasting with fruits, bread, candy, and marshmallows.  Be sure to try milk chocolate, dark chocolate and white choclate during you’re your fondue session.  Also, you can fill a jar with chocolate candies (i.e. m & m’s, Hersey’s kisses) and allow the guests to guess how many there are.   If there is time, you can include one of these top chocolate cinemas:

• Lezioni Di Cioccolato (Chocolate Lessons, 2007, Luca Argentero. Hassani Shapi)
• Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971 original with Gene Wilder)
• Como Agua Para Chocolate (Like Water for Chocolate, 1992, Marco Leonardi, Lumi Cavazos)
• Chocolat (2000 version, Juliette Binoche, Alfred Molina, Judy Dench, Johnny Depp)
• Milton Hershey: The Chocolate King (2004 A&E documentary)
• Merci Pour le Chocolat (Thanks for the Chocolate, 2000, Isabelle Huppert)
• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005 remake with Johnny Depp)
• Or my personal favorite : “Chocolate Factory” episode of “I Love Lucy”. It’s available on the season 2 DVD with the official title of “Job Switching”.

Do not forget party favors!  My favorites are:

• Sweet Beauty Organic Chocolate Spa Treatment by Lisa Françoise

• Chocolate Cookbook
• Hot Cocoa Gift Bag .

ATTENTION CHOCOLATE LOVERS!

As a European woman, I understand the tantalizing effects that take over your mind, body and soul at the mention of the word “Chocolate.”  Each bite and each taste is equal to a sensual seduction.  The temptation is so deep, that refusing is absolutely impossible!  Chocolate, a divine creation, is considered the food of the Gods.  It’s no wonder it is such a perfected and heavenly experience.

In honor of this exquisite aphrodisiac, a 3-day event is dedicated to entice our taste buds and palate.  Paris presents Salon Du Chocolat, an event so successful it now also takes place in New York, Japan, China, and Russia with two new cities added to the list; Cairo (Egypt) and Madrid (Spain).  Salon Du Chocolate unites fashion and chocolate while also contributing to “The Voice of the Children”.  This year the show celebrates its 15^th Paris Consumer Chocolate show and the event will take place from October 14 – 18.  The trade show has attracted over 2 million loyal chocolate lovers and allows chocolate professionals a communication platform.

 What to expect from the Salon Du Chocolat trade show:

-         A fashion show with designs made from, yes you guessed it, chocolate!

-         Music including opera, operetta and musical comedy

-         Demonstrations by top chefs

-         Tasting sessions for new products and novelties

-         Exhibitors from all over the world including Germany, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Great Britain, Japan, Italy, Russia, Syria, Switzerland, Sweden, Bolivia, Gabon, Mexico, São Tomé & Principe and Venezuela.

Check out a video from last year’s fashion show: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4n7bnOyWOFM

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For our local readers, we invite you to the Chocolate Festival at the Aventura Mall, Sunday, October 18, from 12:00 – 4:00 p.m.  The event was inspired by Chef Rick in effort to raise funds for the Children’s Craniofacial Association. For more information contact: 305-935-1110 

What to expect from the Chocolate Festival:

-         Chocolate inspired fashion show produced by Miami Art Institute

-         Chocolate Super Bowl trophy silent auction

-         17 vendors to sell chocolate, cupcakes, cookies, etc

-         Raffles

-         Kids Corner

-         Carving of a 35 lb. chocolate

Stay in tune with us for tomorrow’s blog on how to create your own Chocolate Theme party!