BEAUTIFUL BABIES

BEAUTIFUL BABIES BORN THIS WEEK

CONGRATULATIONS TO THESE LUCKY BABIES

Beautiful, blissful new mother and baby

Princess Kate gave birth to a little Prince on the same same day Penelope Cruz gave birth to her little Princess!

The Beautiful Couple Celebrate  Baby #2

Penelope Cruz

....and less than 24 hours later...SURPRISE

Winnie Rose Fallon

Regardless as to how you announced the arrival of your little Prince or Princess, 

via A ROYAL SCROLL, TWITTER, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM or A PHONE CALL...

The sentiment is the same, the joy equally overwhelming

WE SEND YOU OUR WARMEST CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST WISHES FOR A LONG LIFE OF JOY with your sweet baby!!! ( and a good night's sleep)

HOW DID YOU ANNOUNCE THE ARRIVAL OF YOUR SWEET BABY??  

WILL YOU SEND OUT FORMAL ANNOUNCEMENTS?

wedding favors, bridal shower favors, baby shower favors and more...

ENJOY A WONDERFUL WEEKEND

Second Marriages (Weddings)

Are you getting married for the 2nd time ( or 3rd)?   Are there do's & don'ts? NO, NOT REALLY!!

Following in the footsteps of   HALLE BERRY,  A small, intimate and elegant ceremony among family and close friends may be just what makes this day extra special.

1st Wedding Pic  HALLE BERRY

Consider these ideas as you plan your 

second wedding:

A Destination Wedding!  A small, intimate wedding where you have always dreamed of visiting or the place you first met.  It could be your most favorite place or your home.  
      

CHATEAU des CONDE, FRANCE

A Surprise Wedding!  Don't tell anyone of your plans.  Send out invitations to a party under the guise of a birthday celebration, holiday get together or housewarming of your new home.  If you don't want gifts, or you just want a very personal affair without all of the outside advice and "help", this is the perfect event for you! Imagine the fun of "pulling off" a surprise on everyone.
You must read this great story... MY BIG, FAT SURPRISE WEDDING

A Non-traditional Wedding Ceremony!  Include your children in the event.  They can walk you down the aisle, be a member of your wedding party and in some states, become a temporary wedding officiant!  Check with your state or county government if you're considering the idea of your children or a close family member performing the actual wedding ceremony. 

 Incorporate the actual ceremony into the reception venue.  You and your groom can walk into the center of the reception , from opposite sides and meet in the middle, under a gazebo or trellis, where the officiant is waiting for you.  AH, the romantic notion of...locking eyes across a crowded room..

Then there are the DETAILS...

*YES! you can wear white! Wear whatever you desire.  Never had the big white dress? Then go for it.
*NO! You don't have to wear a traditional "wedding dress"!  Wear a swimsuit and have a Beach Wedding!
*Don't need or want the traditional wedding gifts?  Register for what you DO want...The big box hardware store!  The surf shop!  The gourmet food store!
*Make it about your MARRIAGE & NEW FAMILY.  Include your children with UNITY CANDLES, a special ring ceremony and include them in your program or invitation.
*Spend your money on your favorite things! Host a fabulous catered gourmet meal in your home, or if flowers are your thing, enjoy the most over the top floral displays at your backyard BBQ wedding.  Combine the extravagant with the simplistic for a very personal wedding day, surrounded by everything and everyone important in your life.

Enjoy planning your second wedding.  You've been through planning a wedding before, whether it was a simple civil ceremony or a lavish over-the-top wedding reception.. DON'T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF. 

Are you planning your second wedding?  What are you doing that makes it special and unique to who you are today?

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Wedding Favors, Baby Shower Favors, Party Favors and so much more...

WEDDING GIFT ETIQUETTE

It's Summer and weddings are in full swing.  

You probably have accepted several invitations and anticipate many more.  

Perhaps you are the Bride and have been asked 

" WHAT DO YOU NEED?  WHERE ARE YOU REGISTERED? 

"WHAT CAN I GET FOR YOU, AS A WEDDING GIFT?" 

  Each situation presents a dilemma.  As the guest, you want to put some thought into the gift, to let the lucky couple know that you really care about them and chose something special just for them. 

 As the Bride, you probably have just about everything you need and all you want is MONEY!!

WHAT TO DO?  WHAT TO DO?

Gifts should never feel like an obligation.  It is a lovely gesture and should be what you are comfortable giving, financially.  Check with other people attending the wedding,especially if the bride and groom are not very close to you, for ideas or look up their registries for ideas.  

Of course, giving a lovely card with cash will be appreciated by any couple.  

WELL, EXCEPT FOR  THIS!! COUPLE

And just ONE MORE THING to remember,

 if you are the guest. 

 Don't be too creative with your gift or you may receive  THIS!! instead of a Thank you card!!

To all of the Brides-to-be...

If you really prefer cash, please DON'T ASK, either in person and definitely NOT in your invitation!  BUT, you can generally talk about how you really have everything you need...you've been living on your own for quite a while...you're combining two households and just have so much... so the two of you are saving for...a honeymoon, a home renovation...and word will get around that you could really use money.  Don't forget gift cards may be a good option.  Just let people know your favorite stores!!

20 CREATIVE WAYS TO SAY THANK YOU

REMEMBER..be Gracious...be Grateful

What is the "most unexpected" gift you ever received??

ENJOY A BEAUTIFUL SUMMER WEEKEND!

Wedding Favors, Bridal Shower Favors, Baby Shower Favors and more

EDIBLE WEDDING & BABY FAVORS

CHECK OUT OUR NEW LINE OF EDIBLE FAVORS 

LADY FORTUNES!!

CHOCOLATE COVERED OREOS, FORTUNE COOKIES AND YUMMY CAKE CONFECTIONS

CELEBRATION BASKET OF FORTUNE COOKIES

Lady Fortunes unique edible favors are so special they have been featured on 

THE ELLEN SHOW and THE TODAY SHOW!!

Edible favors have been around for a long time.  They were actually started in Victorian England when the very wealthy gave beautiful bags of sugar and sweet confections to their wedding guests.  The gift of SWEET TREATS is still one of the most popular favors for every social occasion!

FOR YOUR WEDDING, 

CHOCOLATE COVERED OREO WEDDING FAVOR

BRIDAL SHOWER

BRIDE & GROOM CAKE STIX

BABY SHOWER 

BABY BOY TAKE OUT PAIL WITH FORTUNE COOKIE

These delicious edible party favors can be personalized and many come in various flavors of Belgian Chocolate, Truffle and so much more! 

Wedding Favors, Bridal Shower Favors. Baby Shower Favors..

Have you considered edible favors for you wedding or shower?  What's the best favor you ever received?

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY

CELEBRATE OUR FREEDOM

4TH OF JULY WATERMELON CHEESE FLAG

This a GREAT and FESTIVE idea for a cheese platter!  

cube your watermelon and alternate with cubes of FETA CHEESE

Add a bowl of blueberries for the added color and tartness

**to add a fresh dressing to this platter

mix olive oil, lemon juice, salt & pepper to taste and add chopped fresh mint or basil to the oil/lemon and drizzle over the watermelon and cheese.  The flavor combination will amaze you and you will never eat watermelon without it ever again!

THE EASIEST FRUIT DESSERT EVER!

Use a STAR COOKIE CUTTER  to make the stars. 

 Combine in a bowl with Blueberries and top with whipped cream! 

 EASY RED, WHITE AND BLUE dessert/

FIRECRACKER CAKE (from Betty Crocker)

INGREDIENTS

1

box Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® white cake mix

Water, vegetable oil and egg whites called for on cake mix box

Red food color

Blue food color

1

container (12 oz) Betty Crocker® Whipped fluffy white frosting

• Heat oven to 325°F. Generously grease 12-cup fluted tube cake pan. Make cake batter as directed on box, using water, oil and egg whites. Pour 1 cup of the batter into small bowl; stir in red food color until well mixed. Pour another cup of the batter into separate bowl; stir in blue food color until well mixed.
• Pour red cake batter into bottom of pan. Carefully pour remaining white batter over red batter in pan. Carefully pour blue batter over white batter. (Blue batter does not need to cover white batter completely; it looks better if it just forms a ring in the center of the white batter.)
• Bake as directed on box or until toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool cake 5 minutes. Meanwhile, place cooling rack over cookie sheet. Turn pan upside down onto cooling rack. Cool cake completely, about 30 minutes.
• When cake is cool, divide frosting evenly into 3 microwavable bowls. Microwave 1 bowl of frosting uncovered on High a few seconds until smooth enough to drizzle over cake. With spoon, drizzle all of white frosting back and forth around cake in a striping pattern. Repeat microwaving second bowl of frosting until smooth. Stir in a few drops blue food color until well blended. Drizzle over cake, scattering frosting back and forth. Repeat with remaining bowl of frosting and red food color, making sure red, white and blue frostings can be seen on cake. Let cake stand at room temperature until frosting is set before serving.

EXPERT TIPS

When you add the batter to the pan, do not mix with a spoon. Just pour it in so the colors don’t mix but rather, just rest on top of each other in the pan.

Store loosely covered at room temperature.

Cake can be made a day or two in advance.

EASY 4TH OF JULY COCKTAILS

. Pour-and-Serve Cocktails + Patriotic Fruit: – Instead of spending a lot of time mixing & muddling at the party, keep things easy with a clear pour-and-serve cocktail like BACARDI Classic Cocktails Light (pictured above, available in Pina Colada and Mojito), then garnish with red, white and blue fruit such as strawberries, pears, blueberries, etc. Use a star-shaped cutter to cut watermelon, apples, or pears into star shapes.

Everyone knows hot dogs, hamburgers and ribs are classic BBQ foods for the holiday!
 I thought you would enjoy a few easy but delicious sweets to complete your celebration!

HOW DO YOU CELEBRATE THIS FABULOUS SUMMER HOLIDAY??
PLEASE SHARE YOUR RECIPES, GAMES AND EASY CRAFT IDEAS!!

Wedding Favors, Baby Shower Favors, Party favors