Got Milk? Sip & See...

So one of the latest crazes these days in the world of baby showers is a "sip & see". Here are a few photos of another one for inspirtation. This one recently featured on Hostess with the Mostess adds a little twist, worthy of recognition. Kudos to Carrie Sellman of Half Baked for all of the chewy and chunky details!

A "Sip & See" is an opportunity to shower a couple who has recently welcomed a new bundle of joy to their family...guests can come by and witness the miracle in person and spend a little amount of time with the happy parents. In this case, this lovely gathering was held for a couple adoptive parents. What another great application of the concept!
Carrie delivered in more ways than one from creation of the theme, favors, and invite to the festive games, and decor! Slam DUNK! Seriously.



One of my favorite touches was the fact that the guests were encouraged to write humorous thoughts onto diapers to provide the mommy and daddy with a little chuckle. The Diaper Thoughts station gave the men an avenue to showcase their best and most clever diaper humor! A Well Wishes station encouraged guests to write something sentimental on keepsake cards which were then placed into a glass bubble bowl. Of course, the main activity was oohing and awing over the guest of honor, Baby Colin!

How's this for modern, sleek, fun, and creative fete fun for all who attend?

Wanna see more scrumptious details? See for yourself on the Hostess Blog.

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!

Speak the Word!

Life can get a little hazy sometimes....just enough to get you a little off kilter. That's ok, we have an app for that. :)
We believe in sowing...words of encouragement, positive thoughts, and plastering positive images high and low.
Here are just a couple of our latest offerings to remind you how He has it all still in control. Hump day is here, which means the week is half over and even if you haven't accomplished everything you'd wanted to by this point in life, there's no mistaking it, you're still destined to be great and you're still covered by His grace. Keep chuggin' because you'll always be the apple of His eye!

April showers bring...

....true love 'til the end of time!
Some say that thunderstorms on a wedding day are a definite omen. We'd like to think just the opposite, that they're just an indicator that just as you've survived one stormy day in your relationship, you'll survive anything that comes your way!

In spite of the terrible NC tornadoes that surrounded us on all sides on 4.16.2011...one just stopping within feet of the hotel where the bride and her attendants dressed, Chris @ The Picture Guy Photography was able to get a great collection of shots to capture their day!
Sure, there were a few sketchy things that happened...like an almost blown away veil, flickering lights throughout the ceremony, whippoorwill wind-raising petticoats!!...but none of that rained on their parade! The groom's handy footwork, prayers, and a handy photographer's trigger finger, managed to keep things moving. Who said that a "cake and punch" wedding on a thunderous day could be anything less than perfect? Not THIS bride and groom!
Nope, not at all!



Aarik & Tiease, here's to many years of love and happiness to you...till the end of time!
...and a very special thanks to all the vendors who offered their gifts for their special day!
Oh-so-scrumptious Cake and Cupcakes: Cake4's Kimberly Ramage Ware:Owner/Baker
Photography: The Picture Guy Photography
Absolutely Divine Event Jewelry: Divine Designs by Randi
Event stationery: Heaven Sown Event Planning
Flowers and Decor: Heaven Sown Event Planning

New Site: Unveiled!

It's always a great feeling to work with great people and get great results! Sometimes, that dynamic doesn't easily manifest itself. Well, this time, we'd like to think we were graced with just that (a workable dynamic), and wanted to share great news with you!

We've admired this photographer's work for some time...so much so, that you've seen her work featured on our blog. Bernadette Uzcategui of BU Photography is the the bestest MainLine Philly photographer EVER!!! When it comes to service, quality, and a superb final product, you Philly-anites have no need to search any further!!

We approached her with a proposition to photograph her {coos} and {giggles} as she calls them on her site featuring some of our products, and she did NOT disappoint! Thanks to her handy footwork, quick thinking, and adorable models we're now able to unveil our new and improved...drumroll please, Blessed Beginnings Baby Boutique website. Stop the presses!

We truly can't say thanks enough to her for allowing her gift to be used to be such a blessing beyond our dreams! Thanks to her willing models (and most importantly, to the mommies and daddies of her willing models) we are able to share a little more of what's near and dear to us!

Yes, miracles DO happen...



So, a special thank you to little Mrs. Bernadette (and thanks Adrian, to you too...because without you, our paths never would've crossed), and without further adieu, we re-introduce you to our baby.... Blessed Beginnings Baby Boutique.

Oh, and for those of you who love our baskets, correspondence cards, blankies, and such...we'll get pics of those up soon...and yes, they're all still available...but for now, fall in love again with our bibs & burpies!

As long as I'm living, my baby you'll be!

This baby shower brunch is to die for, especially if you love Robert Munsch and Sheila McGraw's, "Love You Forever" kiddie book. I think, as a matter of fact,I know, I loved this book the moment I heard it.

When was that, you may ask? ...when my oldest son's kindergarten teacher honored the moms for Mother's Day with the children reciting the key phrases in this heartwarming book.

Talk about being moved to tears? :)

Eh hem, fast forward to this week when this oh-so-charming brunch graced me with its presence.
From the adorable brunch menu including tiny syrup-filled glasses topped with french toast triangles, maple glazed bacon skewers and assorted mini quiches to “milk bottles” filled with milk & oj, this party left no detail overlooked!

Want more glorious details, see for yourself...there are more adorable ideas to tickle your fancy!



...and know any mommies or mommies-to-be?...this book would be a great addition to their library!



...and a big thanks to Hostess with the Mostess for sharing yet another charming event!