Thankful Thursdays...Have you entertained an angel?

It's funny how we can get so caught up in life's hustle and bustle that we miss things. We miss how important things are to us....and before long, those things begin to take the place of people's importance to us.
We allow the moon and sun to come and go,
forgetting to make a difference,
forgetting to smile a little bigger,
forgetting to hug a little tighter,
or even listen just a little longer.

On Saturday, February 11th, the world lost a spirit with a remarkable voice, of which I'm grateful has been captured on vinyl. Her voice was angelic...truly not of this world. I'm saddened to know that I won't hear new revelations of it, but I'm comforted in knowing a few things:
the Giver of the voice, is able to give even greater gifts to be enjoyed by us all
her voice will continue to be heard and remind me of God's grace an mind-blowing power to exceed our expectations
the heavens must truly be magnanimous...imagine if we could hear angelic voices like her's all the time?

So, today, I'm so thankful that despite the fact that the world was unable to answer her call for help, we still have an opportunity to entertain other angels everyday.
We have the opportunity to pour into them as they've poured into us.
We have the opportunity to listen a little longer,
hug a little tighter,
smile a little bigger,
all the while, making a difference in the life of someone else,
Verse Source: Hebrews 13:2

Thankful Thursdays: Truth

How often do we go through our days telling ourselves lies or believing lies that others have told us?
Ever realized that everytime you negate Truth with negativity, you belittle your worth?
Today, I'm thankful for Truth and the value it brings...even if I don't hear it all the time from others, I'm grateful that it's there and that I'm worthy of hearing it.
So, today, here's permission...
Permission to be yourself...
Permission to go for "it"...
Permission to be beautiful...
Permission to laugh a little louder...
Permission to not worry about what others think...
Permission to not worry about what others say...
Permission to be the Truth that God created you to be ...and that, my love, is worth a pretty, pretty penny.

Thankful Thursdays....What If...

You know, I’m sure I’m not unlike any of the rest of you out there trying to make things happen...believing that God is just waiting to open the door, right? I toil away most days trying to be optimistic while resting on a promise that I believe God has made for our household.
Well, yesterday, I found myself being surrounded by a series of “what if’s” that had me really questioning...
”what’s next?”
Well after a series of negative outcomes, I began to really get beside myself, wondering...
"ok, God what else would you have for me to do? I feel like I’ve tried every possible approach in this area…and I simply don’t know what more to do!"
My thoughts were so loud that all I could hear in my head were thoughts like:
"What if the promise I think He made isn’t really what I thought?"
"Maybe the Word we’ve received from various sources has not been all accurate."
"What if I will have to do what I’m doing now for +10 more years before I am graced with the opportunity to do what I love?"
"What if a crisis happens tomorrow to negate the efforts we’ve made?"
"What if we never get out of debt?" which is a huge deal because I feel like I can’t leave what I do now for what I love until we do so...
"What if the gift I think that I have isn’t really all that wonderful?"
"What if the area that I thought God was really going to bless us in, really isn’t where He’s trying to bless us?"
"What if the dream I have ever comes to fruition… will there be someone to carry it on?"

Yeah, you name it, I really thought it.
I just really began to second guess everything with what’s-whats and why’s and why can’ts and how comes.
Have you ever been there?
I began to think:

"it's 2012 and I have decreed and declared how great this year will be for me, my husband, our marriage, our household, and our business."

And then I was reminded of two things..this poem that I’ve heard several times over the years:

and a snippet of my book selection from my 12 for ’12 list, As a Man Thinketh.
There are so many nuggets in this book to make you think, its almost crazy!

"His wishes and prayers are only gratified and answered when they harmonize with his thoughts and actions."

and this

"A man only begins to be a man when he ceases to whine and revile, and commences to search for the hidden justice which regulates his life. And as he adapts his mind to that regulating factor, he ceases to accuse others as the cause of his condition, and builds himself up in strong and noble thoughts; ceases to kick against circumstances, but begins to use them as aids to his more rapid progress, and as a means of discovering the hidden powers and possibilities within himself."

but anyway, here's one of the poems from the book:

So You will be what you will to be;
Let failure find its false content
In that poor word, 'environment,'
But spirit scorns it, and is free.
It masters time, it conquers space;
It cowes that boastful trickster, Chance,
And bids the tyrant Circumstance Uncrown,
and fill a servant's place.
The human Will, that force unseen,
The offspring of a deathless Soul,
Can hew a way to any goal,
Though walls of granite intervene.
Be not impatient in delays
but wait as one who understands;
When spirit rises and commands
The gods are ready to obey."

Allen, James (2009-10-04). As a Man Thinketh (p. 36). Public Domain Books. Kindle Edition.
So, today, I'm thankful for the If...this wonderful If is the key to positive / negative thoughts that can make all the difference in the world. I, until now, used to be incredibly scared of the "if" and the potential for failure. I'm slowly figuring out that the whats won't matter, if my response is right. So, here's to that revelation...of course, everyday is a work in progress. I hope somewhere, somehow in all of these characters in this post that you've found encouragement for yourself...and if you what ifs begin to overwhelm you, remember to align your wishes and prayers with your thoughts and actions...and in your quiet time, read this:
Here's the text from If:

If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you; If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too: If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies, Or being hated don’t give way to hating, And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise; If you can dream—and not make dreams your master; If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim, If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two impostors just the same: If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools; If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings And never breathe a word about your loss: If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’ If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch, If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you, If all men count with you, but none too much: If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run, Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it, And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!

Thankful Thursdays: Cyberspace Love and Grace

Ya know, I am a firm believer in learning from others. For one main reason:


I truly believe people cross my path so that I may learn something without having to actually go THRU a process.

Granted, some lessons I'll have to learn after a few iterations, let's be real...BUT, there are several others, I'd rather not have to learn the hard way.
Agreed?
...which brings me to today's Thankful Thursdays post. Call me a worrywart of a wife, a pessimistic planner, or a controlling quibbler, but there are a few blogs that I've followed quite fondly who've been there to share insight on helpful topics such as marriage, finances, entrepreneurship, and motherhood. Today, I am grateful for them.
I'm grateful for other women out there who share tips for how they keep everything together while busting at the seams.
Sure, we all know that there's no map that tells us exactly how to live our lives...but I sure do appreciate any awe-inspring tips I can get along the way!
One undertone that I like in all of these words of wisdom?

In their own little way they manage to share their insight on the love and grace of God and how just a smidgen of both make a difference in their everyday life. How that inspires me, I can't even quantitatively express, but I'm grateful that someone stops long enough to share His grace that I may stop long enough to realize I'm getting the same measure on a daily basis!!
Allow me to share a few of these inspirers with you:
MoneySavingMom : an upbeat and encouraging blog dedicated to helping you find great deals, stretch your hard-earned dollars, and live on less than you make so you can save more and give more.

HomeSpunThreads: Here you'll meet a wife to her high school sweet heart and the man of her dreams. She is Momma to 3 boys (9,5,3) who are the light of my life. She is a warrior for Christ and she LOVES Him above all else. She is also a long time crafter with a sewing niche, organizer, nester, couponer, baker, reader, teacher, student, thrift store shopper and lover of giving old things a new purpose.
I ❤ Organizing: Jen, another mom of 3 boys battles the everyday crazies while organizing her space and inadvertently, mine. :)


Photo Credit: HomeSpun Threads

Thankful Thursdays: To-ma-to, To-mah-to Part II

Here we go again...One might think, what on Earth could a tomato have to do with Heaven Sown Event Planning? Allow me enlighten you.

A while back we shared a testimony about our amazement after finding a volunteer Roma Tomato plant in our flower bed. Well, last night, we decided to go straight Southern with our salmon croquettes, buttered white rice, and fried green tomaters. :)

As I sat there frying my lucious tomatoes while my 3 little angels drooled in the kitchen, I remember thinking...I'm actually enjoying the fruit of minimal labor in our now, garden mound. I reflected on my excitement over finding our jewels in the garden...and thought...Ok, God, yes, I see how you're making provision even in small things.

I was reminded that yes, He knows exactly what we need when we need it...even if we might not agree at that very moment....and in due time when the timing is just right, when we least expect it, a seed that was planted will bring forth fruit..and in our case, our tomato plant has almost taken over our mound!

And with that, I was contented...with knowing that:
our God orders our footsteps when we allow Him to
He shows us where to plant....or in our case, plants for us
He nurtures the seeds that are planted.
He makes things bloom in the perfect timing....
and when we're ready, we can partake in His blessings


So, today, I'm incredibly grateful to God for:
the seeds He's giving us...
the direction He's giving us...
and prayerfully, our ability to follow His direction in due time and due season.

If our small business never becomes one able to solely provide for our household, I'm slowly growing ok with that. Allow me to be transparant when I say that I so want "this" that I truly enjoy...from the baby bibs and toddler books to our floral designs and my hubby's cheesecakes ....to be a full-time opportunity to show how God can honor giftings that I think we've been given. Especially when I see how my oldest son gravitates to the creativity we express with everything that leaves our virtual office. I want to be an example that following your dreams actually gets you somewhere....but for now, I'll just keep listening, sowing, and praying, while we enjoy our fried green tomatoes.

I thought it might be fitting to share the recipe with you....oh and by the way, these tomoatoes are scrupmtious with a good bottle of remoulade....maybe its the Cajun in me. Enjoy!



My Mooched Fried Green Tomato Recipe taken from my favorite recipe site: Allrecipes Thanks Diana Swenson-Siegel for sharing this awesome southern dish!! Ingredients:
4 large green tomatoes
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup bread crumbs (I sub with Townhouse crackers)
2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 quart vegetable oil for frying


Instructions:
1.Slice tomatoes 1/2 inch thick. Discard the ends.
2.Whisk eggs and milk together in a medium-size bowl. Scoop flour onto a plate. Mix cornmeal, bread crumbs and salt and pepper on another plate. Dip tomatoes into flour to coat. Then dip the tomatoes into milk and egg mixture. Dredge in breadcrumbs to completely coat.
3.In a large skillet, pour vegetable oil (enough so that there is 1/2 inch of oil in the pan) and heat over a medium heat. Place tomatoes into the frying pan in batches of 4 or 5, depending on the size of your skillet. Do not crowd the tomatoes, they should not touch each other. When the tomatoes are browned, flip and fry them on the other side. Drain them on paper towels.


Note: Use only egg whites to ensure they came out super crispy and crunchy. Egg yolks can make fried foods a little greasy and sometimes soggy.

Interested in reviewing our Part I testimony? Click here.

Invites by Love vs. Design...

Here at Heaven Sown, we LOVE DIY...especially when it offers an opportunity to showcase our own creativity. For those of you who feel the same way, we recently ran across a site that offers printable invitations with a custom and personalized feel. Not so cookie-cutter, if you will. One on-time feature is that they offer the option for your own DIY printing or they'll print for you as well! What's not to like about getting a custom look for less?



Their mantra is simply Pick it.Personalize it. Print it.





Yup, it's just that simple!

1. Pick it:
From quirky to elegant, they have a design that fits your style. Browse their gallery to find a design you like, then you can begin your customization.

2. Personalize it:
Enter the wording for your design, such as name, event date and location. You also have the option to add your own personal touch. For an additional fee, you can customize the color, font, and size for any design you choose. Use their WORDING AND SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FIELD to enter your personalized content and details. Their design team will customize your order and send over a PDF proof within 3 days.

3. Print it:
Once you receive your ready-to-print PDF proof, there are several printing options available: Digital, Letterpress and Printing from home (please note that not all designs are available for letterpress).

See!? Told ya...just THAT simple!

They even have Photo Save the Date cards as well!







In addition to there offerings on their website, Love vs. Design offered a FREE printable party invitation on HGTV's website here. Not only can you download their design for FREE, but there are 16 additional creations that are sure to suit your fancy!



We thought a few of their designs might just come in handy as a few of you anticipate holiday proposals :) This will give you an opportunity to peruse...yeah, just browse, what's out there for the immediate future.

Enjoy!

Thankful Thursdays: The Apostrophe

Some of us feel as though we have to dot every "i" and cross every "t" to make it in life. NEWSFLASH: God can fill any gap with an apostrophe....He can complete you and no one will ever know the difference.

You can go from:

segmented to whole....literally, do not becomes don't!

solo to plural....symbols or abbreviations go from M.D. to become M.D.'s, and

having no ties to being His.....God's grace personified...

Remember, God can fill ANY gap with an apostrophe. He can complete you and no one will ever know the difference!
Image Credit: Cafe Press

Thankful Thursdays: You are what you THINK!

Today's Thankful Thursdays post will be short, simple and sweet...and techincally, it's Friday...but anyway, we just had to share a few goodies before the weekend. Every once in a while someone strolls across our virtual storefront/website to applaud us for the messages we try to leave our clients and followers with.
We love that and thanks SOOOO much!
We love that you love what we share.
We love that you get the point...
and with that, we just thought it would be fitting to share some works of other entrepreneurs that delight us. These little delights encourage us...so much that you may find them on our screensaver, on my design wall in the sewing "closet", thumbtacked, or in the form of wall art on one of our many walls....OR at a minimum on notecards placed in the car, my planner, or change purse.
Either in word or in look, we love these little nuggets and think that you may too!
To our followers, we hope that they encourage you to push through and accomplish whatever goals you set for your week. To our fellow entrepreneurs, thank you for going after your dreams...
BE ENCOURAGED! SOMEone notices!
Original Art by Valentina


LeShas Art Shop


It's Written On the Wall's Shop


Isadora's Etsy's shop

Mike Boldtman Art

My Bearded Pigeon

Rachel Vanatten Jewelry on Etsy

Inspired Letters

Loraee Designs

Amme and Neb's Etsy Shop

In His Grace's Etsy Shop

My right-hand man...

A very important weekend is approaching, and it is oh-so-worthy of a blog post. Drumroll please... Daddy Day! There are four gentleman in my life these days, three of which encourage me, exhaust me, tickle me, inspire me and love on me. The fourth, however is even more facetted than the younger crew and he manages to do more than all three of them combined!



My dear husband not only sees about so many of my needs. He's a great provider, confidant, consoler, dreamer, encourager, tickler, doer, inspirer, and genuine lover. He's more than I ever thought when he first crossed my path...kind of like a good piece of chocolate that once you bite there's a nice goodie on the inside like a maraschino cherry, or rich caramel, ya know, something good and unexpected.

My love knows just when to put everything down and whisk me around on my tippy-toes in the kitchen in front of our boys....or when to spend a little extra time talking with our almost-ten-year-old, who doesn't quite understand why we're so passionate about getting him to make the right decisions everyday....or to which corner of our home to fly our little men when it's time for the sun to rest his eyes.

He can cook a mad pot of greens and grill up a nice helping of ribs...with his KC Gate's BBQ sauce hidden under lock and key and can re-iron anything I've already attempted, and make it look 100x better. Ok, so that's not my #1 skill, but that's ok, right? Marriage is about taking the best from two to make one, right?

We may not get along aaaaalll the time, but, when I'm angry, he knows just what to say to break the silence. Hmph. He always wins.

The fact of the matter is, that I think the true measure of a good man is one who treats the mother of his children with respect, showing them how to treat the women in their lives later. A good man spends time encouraging the gifts in his household and speaks words that inspire. A good man is a man of his word and His Word...and leads so well, that those close to him WANT to follow.

Anyway, I love this man o' mine and I'm so grateful for him that I just wanted to share with you why he's one of the best dads and husbands out there. Happy Daddy Day Babe! xoxo

Thankful Thursdays: To-ma-to, To-mah-to! Testimony Part 1

One might think, what on Earth could a tomato have to do with Heaven Sown Event Planning? Allow me enlighten you.

So when Spring came in subtly this year, I found myself doing the usual...looking for my tulip bulbs to start sprouting and discovering what made it through our NC winter. I remember thinking that I'd discovered a new weed in our flower bed, but wasn't quite sure, so I decided to let it cohabitate a while longer. Fast forward a couple months to June...when I'd grown pretty certain that my potential "sprout" was a definite 18-inch tall weed with annoying yellow buds all over. I reached down to snatch it up from its "ruuuuts"...as my home town family would've called the culprit, only to find...


"What's that?", might you ask?
A TOMATO!!!
Let me back up by saying, it's a tomato that we never planted! "Huh", I said to myself....reflecting over a conversation that I'd had with my mom just a few days ago, which resulted in my saying, maybe we should start a garden next year...and whatdaya know, unbeknownst to us, we already had!

Call me deep, but lately, some of the simplest concepts have fostered the deepest revelations for me...I'll take them. I'd rather be deep than shallow. Anyway, stay with me...

So we never planted a tomato (and none of our immediate neighbors either), but the conditions must have been ok to produce a plant from a tiny seed, bearing fruit, right?

The one (profound, to me, at least) revelation I had from this is this: Favor is sooo amazing that sometimes, you won't sow a thing physically, but the conditions around you can be soooo ideal, that random seeds produce just because they found their way to your fertile ground. Correction: OUR fertile ground. :)

So, today, that's what I'm thankful for: the revelation that if we can just keep our ground fertile, prosperous seeds that we might not even think to plant, will pop up to be blessings...they might not even look that promising initially, but OH when they start producing, we'd better be ready to receive them! The other thing is that I honestly don't think the plant would've ever survived if we hadn't planted other flowers around it in the bed, where it would receive fertilizer and watering like its neighboring buds. SO, the other parallel is that our terrific tomato plant was nurtured because it was amongst other seeds that we'd already planted! So, in essence, our job is to keep sowing and keep the ground just right, so that amongst the seeds you plant, others can flourish even more!

So yes, tomatoes have a whole lot to do with Heaven SOWN Event Planning...and I can't wait to share with you all of the abundance that's getting ready to come! Stay tuned...we'll revisit this in Thankful Thursdays: To-ma-to, To-mah-to Testimony Part 2.

Go ahead, you can mooch that testimony too, but remember, don't forget to sow a seed in someone's life today...you never know WHAT it may yield!

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood…

What a magical day it is going to be for one special princess in the UK.
Honestly, I find myself just a little anxious over the spectacle that will take place in just a matter of hours for one anticipated event…
to say anticipated event is actually an understatement, but you know what I mean.

You’d have to be living under a rock to not be mildly familiar with Miss Catherine “Kate” Middleton, who, as stories tell it, came from nothing, only to be whisked away by her Prince Charming, William of Wales, to live happily ever after.
So much pomp and circumstance is underway…simply because they are the royal family.
Imagine if you were just as royal?
Actually, you are! I am! We are!

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)

Now, imagine, yourself being entitled to all of the offerings that will be displayed on April 29th, 2011…. I have to remind myself, that little Miss Kate Middleton, never sought out to be a princess, worthy of obtaining such wealth…neither did Princess Diana. It's quite "funny" how things like that happen to those who least expect it. So, to you who I’m sure hardly expects His royal grace to favor and rest upon you, I thought I’d send a reminder. Imagine this...all of the glory, gold, and diamonds seen on all of the replays on the day of the Royal Wedding cannot compare to glory that awaits us one day!!! I believe that He wants us to find those golden nuggets in our everyday lives and continue to strive for the greatness achievable in each and every one of us!

You’re just as entitled to royalty, to blessings, to joy, and abundance…happily ever after...no matter where you come from, how today feels, or what you think tomorrow's fate holds. The true question is …do you believe?

Say it with me...I.AM.CHOSEN!

Thankful Thursdays! A is for Abby!

We're so happy today...for two great reasons. One, we've been featured as one of Abby's faves on Etsy! Check us out here: Abby's favorite orange bibs and two, because this notification was just a subtle reminder of why we should be grateful and thankful for what we have on this thankful Thursday. Here's our listing up close and personal: Blessed Beginnings Baby Wonderfully Made Boutique Bib & Burpie Set
This bib set is a reminder of how we are all "fearfully and wonderfully made"

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.Psalm 139:14

Bonnie Blair in Indepence, MO is the owner of the Etsy shop, AidforAbby, where she showcases the inspired artwork of her daughter who lives with Autism, in an effort to pay for the extensive expenses of care for her beautiful daughter. I can only imagine the daily challenges she must face to raise four children, particularly a rather fortunate angel who gets to sit a little closer to God every day. I'd like to believe that Bonnie gets a little more grace bestowed on her to overcome, inspite of.

In the case that you didn't know, April is Autism Awareness month...and what a wonderful opportunity would it be, to be a blessing to Bonnie, Abby, and her family who strives everyday to be as "normal" as possible. Abby's beautiful artwork (over 200 paintings and 100 collages) is available for your purchase at anytime, and I'm sure she would love to hear how much it has blessed your home, classroom, cubicle, or office space.
Let's celebrate the wonder and beauty He has placed in all of us!!!

Thankful Thursdays: Our Deepest Fear....

...yet another Thursday that we've been so fortunate to be graced with! We simply couldn't let this "Thankful Thursday" go by without saying thanks for your "encouragement". Needless to say, it can be.....challenging trying to be an entrepreneur.

It is easy to often succomb to daily thoughts of:

1. This economy is so jacked up, I'll keep my day job. :)
2. Benefits....its sure is nice to have 'em!
3. Failure. What will our kids think? What will our colleagues think?
4. Can it all really work?

People are always telling us thanks for encouraging them, but we just had to stop and say thanks to YOU for encouraging us. You see, we love what we do! Even though its on the side, we love it. Even though it keeps us up 'til the wee hours of the morning. We. Love. It. Even though we don't see profits E-VER-Y day, we still love it!!!! ....inspite of all of the challenges....so much that we continue do it all, the 9 to 5, the runny noses, the cubscouts, choir, praise team, the laundry, and then, the invitations, the programs, the flowers, the cheesecakes, the bibs and burpies, and of course, consultations. It's GOTTA be love, right?! :) Well, its also the encouragement! There are several of you out there. Our nameless angels, that keep asking us things like:

1. Hey, when can I order another Strawberry Overload Cheesecake?
2. Will you do the flowers for OUR wedding?
3. Do you have any gift baskets ready for me...yeah, I know its last minute.
4. How's business going?
5. So I need something for my dear wife...you got me covered?

You may not know it, but those things ENCOURAGE the entrepreneur, working towards their big break. Actually, they encourage us!! Those words, keep our minds turning. They keep us still believing in our dreams...because simply YOU believe in us. So we must simply say thanks for helping keep our biggest fears away...and hopefully they'll stay away long enough to push us where we'd like to be. Until then, we wanted to leave you with this poem (I'm feeling might poetic lately?) in hopes that it encourages you to do the same. xo,

Thankful Thursdays...Whew!!!

We have been can-you-say overwhelmed by all of the orders from our faithful fans, clients, and supporters this holiday season! We can't say thanks enough for keeping us on your wish list for 2010 and we're looking forward to exceeding your expectations in 2011!!!

As we end this prosperous year, we just wanted to send a quick thank you for continuing to multiply our visions and dreams! Now we can dream about gumdrops and sugarplums....

See you next year!

Nat & Ebony

G8tr Enterprises

Thankful Thursdays: Giving the Goods!

We love to offer great tips on how to show YOU how to do things yourself! Over the next few weeks, we understand that several of you who are planning weddings may try to catch up on some DIY projects in your time off from work...and the rest of you may start dilly-dallying with ideas for your very own house parties.
Well, we thought we'd offer some of our favorite DIY tips and pics to inspire you for your holiday entertaining. Remember, the point here is not to overwhelm you but to give you a little eye candy so that even if you AREN'T getting married right now, or planning the NYE party of the year, you can take from these and embellish to make your event that much greater whenever you do decide to have one!

1. Our favorite DIY Do-able, DESSERT BARS!


This Darling PINK Nutcracker Suite Ballet Party has SO many nuggets to tickle any girls' fancy!
Complimenting colors,an inspiration photo, and a great use of texture made this backdrop a HIT!

and this Glam SnowGirls Holiday Dessert Party reminded us that 'girls just wanna have fun'!
Really simple touches with coconut, snowflakes (hole-punch! hint, hint), and edible confetti, make this get-up as fun for the hostess as the recipients.

and here's a glorious spread on a healthy kick! Take a peak at her blog: She has great tips, from start to finish on how to recreate this same tantalizing display!
It's simply amazing the difference a nice backdrop can make!


2. A close 2nd DIY Do-able, PERSONALIZED NAPKINS!

Anything personalized always resonates with us. This tip from Twig and Thistle, reminded us how easy it is to offer a little pizazz with the tiniest detail.

Custom Napkins provided by Amy Atlas' DIY
Materials Needed:
The PicnicNapkin_DIY_Template!
Paper Napkins
1.5″ Circle Punch
Iron-on Transfers
Iron
Ink Jet Printer

Instructions:
1. Download table number’s PDF and print onto Iron-on transfer paper as directed. Depending on what transfer paper you use you made need to revers the template before you print so take special note. Trim each circle out using a 1.5″ circle punch taking extra care to line up the edges. If you don’t have a 1.5″ circle punch than a craft knife can be used instead.
2. Determine where you’d like the design to appear on your napkin and place carefully on your napkin. Follow the instructions that come with the transfer paper to adhere the art work.
3. Ta-da! Unique and custom napkins without the cost!

3. Yet another DIY Do-able, RADICAL ROSETTES & RUFFLES, oh my!


Rachel, over at Heart of Light, came up with a simply splended way to add flair to go from simple to simply sophisticated This ruffle accent can be used to adorn a cardigan, make a headband, wrist corsage. YOU NAME IT!
Supplies:
Quality ribbon - as wide as you’d like your belt to be. We used 1.5 inch grosgrain for our project, but you could certainly use a pretty double satin or something else entirely. Just make sure it will lay nicely on your waist.
Fabric - We used four different types/tones for this project. Rachel chose a few different silks and a tulle. Different textures and weights make for nice variation when they’re all mixed together. The remnants bin of your local fabric store is a great place to start if you’re looking for inspiration.
Needle
Thread
How to:
1. Find the center point of your belt/ribbon and start there. We’d recommend cutting your belt longer than you think so you can accommodate for an off center finished product and/or for a big bow in the back.
2. For the complete tutorial, we’re going to point you towards Rachel’s detailed explanation of a similar headband on her blog. But the gist is this…

4. Lastly, our final DIY Do-able for the week, to catch all of the frolic on film, a DIY photo booth!


My Bride Story is filled to the brim with great DIY ideas, not to mention this DIY photo booth and how to pull it off on a budget.
With a little preplanning and forethought, this accent might just end up being the highlight of your evening! It's great at keeping everyone entertained in the 'in-betweenst' times.
Must-have items: You can wish to invest in a photo printer OR you can buy poloroid films (hurry! they're gonna stop making poloroid film soon) to recreate the photo booth experience. Printers be purchased on the low-low on ebay, craigslist, or staples for under $150 dollars and the photo paper & the ink cartridege for about $30 dollars.
Now, all that's left is:
1) a fabric backdrop (you can purchase it at IKEA or Joann's and attach to PVC pipes or you can try hanging it somehow :) ***Make sure to iron the fabric or else it will be very distracting in the background if you don't. Use a simple print or solid color print.
2)props! - think feather boa, crazy hats, maybe some stick-on mustaches, wigs
3) a faithful shift of friends to be in charge of the camera and a digital photo printer. Please provide a tripod!!
Renting a booth, can be pretty pricey, depending on which ones you rent and your location. So, if it isn't in the budget, this could definitely serve as a nice plan B!
Happy DIY-ing!!