Rená Puebla, Event & Production Designer to Celebrities & Multi-Million Dollar Companies Offers 5 Simple Tips on How to Make Your Thanksgiving Both Memorable & Affordable

Los Angeles, CA, October 15, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Rená Puebla has worked with a variety of high profile clients. From Oprah Winfrey to American Idol finalist LaKisha Jones (she was her wedding planner) as well as top companies such as Coca Cola and 4-Star Hotel openings, she doesn't have much down time, especially around the holidays. Despite this busy schedule, she still manages to entertain her family and friends with memorable holiday get togethers. Below she has provided some simple tips that you can use in order to make your next holiday get together a memorable and affordable one:

1. Food
Buffet style is the way to go. Have everything set out on your counter or on a small table (if you have one readily available). That way it gives everyone room at table and it is a lot cheaper to set things up this way.

There are so many wonderful ideas that you can do, below are just a couple of my favorites on food suggestions:

Option 1:
Stuffed Cornish Hens (this only takes about an hour to cook so you save a lot more time than cooking a traditional turkey) with Rosemary, Lavender and Spices (wonderful aroma for the home) and garnished with grapes and orange slices around the platter to add color and a gourmet touch
Cream Corn
Garlic Truffle mashed potatoes
Stove Top Stuffing
Grilled veggie salad (you want to have the salad in all kinds of colors: beets, potatoes etc saturate them with a basil olive oil and top with sea salt and let it cool down at room temperature and top with feta cheese)
Bunt cake (6 of them cut in half and drizzled with caramel and sprinkled with powdered sugar. Then garnish with fresh fruit slices)

Option 2:
Turkey stew (this still gives you all the flavors of a Thanksgiving dinner at a fraction of the cost)
Green salad with sliced almonds (check for nut allergies amongst guests first)
Basket of assorted breads (in a variety of flavors such as potato bread, sundried tomato, sourdough etc)
Jello mold or assorted homemade cookie platter
Set up an ice cream Sunday bar with 5 toppings (Optional)

2. Table Setting
Everything does not need to match and actually looks even better when you have a variety of colors and styles on the table. Use what you have. This is one unnecessary cost that you can avoid.

3. Center Piece/Decoration Ideas
There are a few options for this.

You can buy a bunch of small pumpkins and seasonal fruit of different shapes and colors, whole nuts in the shell (again check for allergies) and then going out to your backyard for some branches and even some fall leaves and putting them all together in a basket (you can also ask a neighbor for these items if you do not have a yard to pull from). The pumpkins are really inexpensive and add a wonderful fall look to the table setting.

As place settings, you can put name labels on leaves that you find outside and place them on each plate.

Your local 99 cent store also sells artificial leaves and event baskets if you don't already have one lying around the house.

You could always use candles to decorate the center of the table as well, but it is important Not to use scented candles, you will already have a wonderful natural aroma from the food being cooked in the home and scented candles are overwhelming on a dinner table.

4. Lighting
Dim lighting is always a must when you are having an evening meal. It sets the mood and helps put everyone in a nice relaxed state.

5. Guests:
When you invite guests into your home for special occasions, they usually ask what they can bring. You should take people up on their offer. It is an excellent way to save some time and money.
Some things you can ask them to bring: appetizers, ice cream, a platter of Homemade Cookies, Assorted Desserts and Pies

In addition to some of these suggestions, she also suggests asking everyone to bring a can of food and/or a new toy that you can donate to a local shelter. It is a great opportunity for you to give back to the community. People are always wanting to donate around the holidays but never really know where to go or never get around to doing it, this way you are offering to help your guests by bringing it down to the local shelter yourself.

Rená Puebla founded Coast Concierge Service in 1986. Since then, she has established herself as a leader in every aspect of Event Production. Being a trendsetter in the exhilarating business of event planning has helped Rená carve a niche as the “go-to” woman for every type of event. Rená’s outgoing personality and sharp eye for detail has helped her create spectacular events for every individual client. From Memorable Weddings, Corporate events, elegant Fund-Raisers, and Hollywood Premieres, Rená is the woman for all occasions. Her events are always on the cutting edge: fresh, fun, and above all, unique. For additional information on Rená Puebla, event and production designer, visit her website at: www.coastconcierge.com.

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