Searching for creative ways for guests to remember your celebration?  Then you’ll love the site we recently discovered…

This website is bursting with products that can be customized easily for Welcome Gifts, Bridal and Baby Showers, Weddings, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, Quinces, Sweet 16 parties and other special events! Here’s a few of our favorite finds along with some inspirational ways to  use them…

Recently I attended a Kitchen Shower for a friend getting married in a few weeks. When I received the invitation to the shower, a recipe card was included.  Guests were instructed to write their favorite recipe on the card and bring it the day of the shower. At the celebration, the host collected everyone’s cards and placed them in a decorative box.  During lunch, the bride-to-be was presented the box filled with dozens of culinary delights.

When I saw these cute binders on ThePaperWorker.com, I immediately had flashbacks of my friend’s Kitchen Shower. These binders are a lovely way to organize recipes provided by family and friends for a bride or mother-to-be! For a bride-to-be, your design might include the couple’s wedding colors, their monogram, a photo of the couple,  their wedding date, etc. The arrival of a baby doesn’t mean a new Mommy’s stove should end up covered in cobwebs. Bring dinner to celebrate a new arrival along with a custom binder filled with recipes requiring only a few ingredients or ones that take less than thirty minutes to prepare. It’s a gift I’m sure will fill their tummies and hearts with joy! Don’t know anyone getting married  or having a baby? How about hosting a “Cookies & Cocktails” holiday party? As guests arrive, provide each with a beautiful binder dreamed up by one divalicious host…that’s you! Your family and friends will love using your stylish gift to collect the many delicious cookie and cocktail recipes everyone has brought to the soiree.

Over the years I’ve seen clients spend small fortunes on wedding favors. Some their guests would utilize  and others  I knew they’d toss as soon as they arrived home. My advice to anyone purchasing party favors for their upcoming celebration? Try not to search for things at the last minute. Giving yourself enough time to shop, significantly increases your chances of finding  the perfect party favor for your affair.

 A CD of meaningful songs placed in a custom CD sleeve like the ones above make wonderful mementos. On the cover of the CD sleeve, add a photo, picture or logo, a date…set your imagination free. Inside the CD sleeve, add a personal note of thanks to guests for sharing in your special day. Don’t forget to provide the personal meanings behind the songs included on the CD. I realize everyone’s taste in music differs, but with a keepsake filled with as much meaning as this…chances are pretty good they’ll hold onto this one. In fact, they might even listen to it over and over!

Why not add a bottle of bubbly in a decorative box to your out-of-town guests Welcome Bags? Welcome Bags continue to build excitement leading up to the main event. They’re fun to fashion by yourself or with help from family and friends. Best of all these special tokens won’t break your budget, but guests might think they did! Don’t worry…your secret is safe with me! ThePaperWorker.com has oodles of affordable items and a friendly team eager to help bring visions to life! For more information on the products included in today’s article, visit ThePaperWorker.com.

XOXO,

Photo Courtesy of Fairy Cakes Bakery

It’s January 13th. Do you know what today is? Yes, you’re right, it’s Friday the 13th…but it’s also my birthday! This morning I started my day a little differently than normal. Instead of reading through the morning’s emails,  I excitedly logged onto Facebook to see all the birthday wishes that were already beginning to flood my Facebook page. Since then, I feel as if I’m glowing! Today, I feel confident, beautiful, loved and ready to take on the world. It’s all because others took a few minutes out of their busy schedules to wish me a “Happy Birthday!”

So it got me to thinking…why can’t everyday feeling like today? Not just for me, for everyone. How hard would it be for each of us to take a few minutes each day to make someone smile? Send a text to a friend you haven’t spoken to in years, just to say you are thinking of them. Compliment the person ahead of you in the checkout line. Smile at someone who looks like they need some happiness sent their way from across the room. Leave a note on your child’s bed just to tell them you love them. My list could go on and on, but if it did… I’d never get to explaining my birthday challenge!

What’s my Birthday Challenge? I’m glad you’re interested! Today, I’m challenging each and every one of you to make at least one person feel special. Then come back and share your story here on the blog or with us on Twitter by using #BirthdayChallenge in your tweet. I want everyone to glow with me today and I thank you all in advance for helping me do so!

XOXO,

Everyone deserves to look and feel divalicious when attending holiday celebrations. To help you get ready for your next holiday party, we invited Holly Nazario of Collective Creations in Tampa, Florida to share holiday makeup tips for transforming daytime looks into nighttime glam!  Have you ever gotten a pimple the day of an event? Do you know the right way to match  foundation to your complexion? Holly has the answers to these dilemmas and more!

Diva with a Fork – Holiday Makeup from Tampa Wonderworks Films on Vimeo.

    Happy Holidays,

Photo Courtsey of The Bradford Exchange Online 

Fall is my favorite time of year. Who cares it’s still close to ninety degrees in Tampa, Florida. Relax with a mug of apple cider. Invite your friends for a spirited soiree. Decorate the house with the help of your little goblins. Stores are stocking their shelves with Halloween candy and decor and we’ve  found some bewitching items to make your Halloween spooktacular!

 MAD SCIENCE

Martha Stewart Halloween Chemistry Drinkware

 Have your guests mosey up to the bar for a goulish concoction.

I WANT MY MUMMY!

Glitter Mummy from Pier 1 Imports

 We fell in love with this guy last week, when running into Pier 1 Imports to pick up a hostess gift.

COCKTAILS WITH AN ATTITUDE

  Drink Up Witches Beverage Napkin from Plates and Napkins

Perfect for a spirited “Girl’s Night In!”

GHOSTESS WITH THE MOSTESS

Lover Dovers Retro Halloween Apron

Look devilishly delightful while hosting a Halloween soiree. We love this apron paired with your favorite little black dress!

DARK AS NIGHT

Pottery Barn Dried Black Sola Flower Vase Filler

 An inexpensive way to add a dramatic touch to your holiday decor.

EIGHT-LEGGED CUPCAKES

Crate & Barrel Spider Cupcake Holder

We’re terrified of spiders, but this one looks harmlessly delicious!

HAUNTED BASH

Monkey Mind Design Ghost and Goblin Halloween Invitation

 An invitation sets the tone for a creepy good time!

WELCOME TO OUR HUMBLE ABODE

 Personalized Haunted Parlor Wall Canvas from Layla Grayce

A personalized work of art you’ll hang on your moonlight wall each year for Halloween.

GHASTLY GLOW

Pottery Barn News Text Pillar Candles

These candles are perfect for casting an eerie glow over a mantle, dining table or a Halloween party buffet.

WITCHES BREW

Laralee Lewis Halloween Bash Collection on Etsy

Send your guests home with a ghostly party favor!

Wishing Everyone A Happy & Safe Halloween,

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It’s time to face reality…your little girl’s growing up. Her body’s changing, she’s moody at times and her sense of style isn’t in tune with yours. It’s not always easy coping with a preteen/teen’s drive for independence. After years of frustrated shopping experiences with their own daughters for party attire, Diane Slakter and Rande Weissman decided to take matters into their own hands.

February 2011, the entrepreneurial friends opened GirlTrends, a boutique catering to the in vogue cravings of girls (size 10 – 14/16) and juniors (XS – L).  The store is filled with high quality, fashion-forward, sophisticated, yet age-appropriate casual and special occasion clothing. Whether a girl’s style is feminine, sporty or edgy, she’ll have a slew of collections to choose from. 

The Dress Lounge, is quickly becoming a hit with girls of all ages! What’s The Dress Lounge? It’s a comfortable contemporary boutique inside GirlTrends, showcasing special occasion dresses ranging in price from $100.00 to $400.00.

Girls will feel like stars, while on their quest for the perfect party dress.

Ever show up to a party in an amazing frock and find someone else wearing it too? It’s embarrassing at any age. When purchasing tween/teen dresses from GirlTrends though, there’s no need to worry. Their staff keeps an event log, which details every customer’s special occasion dress purchase and the date they plan to dazzle in it. Don’t you wish more stores kept a log of this nature? I know I would!

We asked Rande and Diane for some helpful advice to making your next shopping experience with your preteen/teen drama free. If you’ve been finding yourself at odds with your daughter after stepping foot in a clothing store…you’ll want to keep a copy of their advice, in the glove compartment of your car. When taken to heart, their tips will change the way you approach shopping with your tween/teen forever!

What suggestions can you give adults when clothes shopping with girls?

* Talk to your daughter about your expectations and have a plan before leaving the house. If you are under the gun to shop for an upcoming special event, let her know that today the two of you will only be looking for something fabulous to wear to that event.  You realize she might want to look for other things, but you’ll take her shopping at another time for other items.

* Never take your daughter shopping when she’s hungry or tired. Someone is bound to become grouchy, which in turn will make the time together less productive. 

* Unless you absolutely have to, don’t shop with your tween/teen after a rigorous sports practice. She may feel sweaty and unattractive. Not the right frame of mind to try on clothes…especially dressy attire.  

What do you feel most parents do not consider when shopping with their preteen/teen?

Parents have a difficult time considering their daughter’s own style and sense of fashion. This is probably the greatest source of conflict we observe among our customers. The Mom dresses in Tory Burch and the daughter in Alice + Oliva meets Urban Outfitters.  Parents are excited to treat their daughters to an item of clothing, but pick what they think would look nice on them. The preteen/teen sometimes sees this as a rejection of their own style.

Hollywood starlets highly influence what preteens/teens want to wear. These celebrities often cross the line in terms of what is and isn’t considered acceptable for girls between the ages of 11 – 16. How can adults find a “happy medium” between what their child wants to wear and what’s appropriate for their age?

Sometimes what’s not age appropriate isn’t a look in its entirety, but rather an individual element. For example, if a parent and daughter are at odds over the hem lenghth of a party dress, the “happy medium” might be to green light the dresss as long as its worn with a flat shoe or sandal. Your preteen/teen has their eye on a dress with a low-ish neckline, the compromise could be a similar style…but with a longer skirt length. If a dress is more sophisticated due to a color like the color black, but it’s not revealing in any way…a parent might want to take a step back and think if a battle over color is a fight worth having?

What advice can you give adults when shopping for girls they consider “hard to fit?”

Many girls aren’t actually “hard to fit” at all! Lots of stores in the malls cut the clothing they carry the same way (i.e. long and narrow). It makes a girl believe she’s difficult to fit just because she can’t wear the clothing at a particular store. Finding shops that carry various brands with a variety of cuts, increase the likelihood your preteen/teen will find something to fit. It’s important for parents to do a little investigating before taking their girls to a store. Their pre-shopping will make for a more pleasant and productive experience. Another important thing to keep in mind is alterations. Sometimes a minor change can make a big difference.

 GirlTrends is located at 1732 South Dale Mabry Hwy in Tampa, Florida. To view store hours, clothing brands and upcoming events, visit http://www.girltrends.com or call (813) 251-4475.

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If I hadn’t seen my birth certificate, I’d swear I had been born in a mall! Why? Well, let’s put it this way…it wasn’t until my teens I realized the world didn’t schlep to the mall with their Mom every Saturday to shop til they dropped. Don’t get me wrong though. My excursions were far from painful. In fact, the truth is I loved our mother/daughter time together and cherish those memories. So, in honor of my Mom…the woman who molded me to become the shopping passionista I now am, here’s Diva With A Fork’s top picks for  Mother’s Day gifts that will delight.

 Purse & Baby Bag Diva

Sunglasses, lipstick, wallet, keys…a woman needs something to carry her things when on the go, right? 

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Did you know there’s an art to gift giving? Registries have made it easy to purchase presents for others with little to no thought. The best gifts though, are ones that require reflection. Ones that ignite emotion…that come from your heart. It’s true searching for a gift of sentiment takes time and energy, but fear not! Diva With A Fork has suggestions for presents that will delight, while bringing back the true spirit of gift giving. 

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Welcome bags a/k/a hospitality bags are a lovely way to embrace family and friends who have traveled from afar, to attend your celebration. They set the tone for the fabulous festivities you have planned for your guests. So, it’s important to put some creativity into the design. 

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Creating a festive atmosphere with attention to detail, is a gift you give to your party’s guests everytime you invite people into your home. I love entertaining friends and family at my home. It gives me great joy to create a warm inviting atmosphere for everyone to enjoy. Even when not planning a party, I’m always on the lookout for decorative platters, servers, plates, candle holders, etc. Home Goods is a store I frequent at least once a week. It’s an event planner’s paradise! My creative juices begin to flow the moment I step through the glass doors. Home Goods however, might not be located in your city.  Therefore, as promised when I started this blog…here are a few of my hot picks from websites I frequent, to help you enhance any social gathering at home.

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