Howerton+Wooten Events Blog. The musings of a Maryland Wedding and Event Planner

Product Love: Daily Love Notes

 

 

Looking for a new way to keep that romance flame going long after you say, "I Do?"  Check out Daily Love Notes.

 

 

Daily Love Notes offers members the opportunity to say, “I love you” to the ones who matter most.  As a member, you can choose the frequency (once or multiple times) of your love note delivery.

 

 

To become a member, you simply need to log onto the web site, select a note type (love, kinship, friendship), choose the delivery frequency, and provide the contact info, signature and payment information (packages start at just 22¢).  Once that is complete, Daily Love Notes makes the delivery!

Daily Love Notes will even provide a copy of the note in your Note history area.  (Just in case you cannot remember the last poem you sent lover boy!)

 

 

The recipient receives a beautifully illustrated love note via email or text based on the schedule chosen by you.

 

 

And voila – the romance continues!

 

 

Love & Soul Always, Kay

I Love This Dress! Alvina Valenta Couture

 

Don't you just love this Alvina Valenta wedding gown?  It is so elegant and romantic, and it is definitely better suited on women that are sporting smaller body frames (well, that leaves me out!)

 

Couldn't you just see someone like Nicole Kidman wearing a gown similar to this as she glides down the red carpet -- ever so gracefully.

 

Enjoy!

 

Love & Soul Always, Kay

 

(Photo: Alvina Valenta web site)

Tagged . . . Again

Well, as life would have it, I got tagged again.  This was a nice one to write, but I must admit that I am running out of people to tag (the circle is getting smaller).  My previous tags are here and here and here.

 

 

Okay, I was tagged by my southern sister, Tish at The Diva’s Thoughts, and she was tagged by Stacey Strickler with Affairs to Remember.  It goes on and on . . .

 

So, here are the rules.
1. Link to the person who tagged you and post the rules on your blog.

2. Copy the following list, clear the information following the dots, and insert your answers to complete the sentence.
3. Tag 4 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs
4.  Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog

I AM…extremely blessed.  And, I thank God for that every day.

I WANT…more children.
I HAVE…an addiction to weddings.  I truly love what I do.

I KEEP…a crazy, wicked schedule.
I WISH I COULD… understand the appeal of High School Musical.  If I did, I am sure that I would have much more fun as a chaperone at the next play date. 
I HATE…the word, HATE.

I FEAR…the Lord.  That’s it.  Nothing else.
I HEAR…my 8-year-old son singing in the background.  Oh, how I love that sound.
I DON'T THINK…I'll ever get tired of my husband’s smile.  It works like a charm on me everytime.  And, I swear that my son has the same exact smile.

I REGRET…all of the friendships that I allowed to fall to the wayside because of work.
I LOVE…my life.  I am grateful for it.  (More than anyone will ever know)
I AM NOT…as witty as everyone thinks I am.  I steal some of my best lines from my sister, my  son and my i-WED buddies.

I DANCE…every morning to the tunes on my i-POD.  It’s my “making breakfast and school lunch” ritual
I SING...loud and often.  Even if I don’t know the words.

I NEVER…say NEVER.  If I do, Murphy’s Law is bound to step in.
I RARELY…get through a day without laughing.

I CRY WHEN I WATCH…anything (Weddings, Olympics, Biggest Loser, NBA Finals).  I am the biggest cry baby.
I AM NOT ALWAYS…right.  And let me tell you that a crow is a tough bird to eat.

I HATE THAT…we still live among racists.

I'M CONFUSED ABOUT…the state of our world.  How can we have so much extreme wealth and so much extreme poverty at the same time?
I NEED…an extra 24 hours.  Not for work.  I need it to catch up with family and friends.  (See I REGRET). 
I SHOULD…stop now so that I can get my little guy to school on time.

 

Thank you so much for allowing me to participate in this fun tag Tish.  As I mentioned before, I have run out of folks to tag (everyone has already been tagged), so . . .

 

I am opening up the tag floor for anyone that is interested.  Enjoy a fabulous autumn day!

 

Love & Soul Always, Kay

 

(Illustration: Geninnee's Art Blog)

Product Love: Fragrant Footings

Picture this, you are about to slip into your wedding day attire, when you overhear a bridesmaid ask your mom, "Do you have any air freshener?  There is a weird smell in here"  You start to agree with them -- There IS a little "weirdness" in the air.  Then you realize that the smell is coming from your wedding shoes.

You wore them all day yesterday to break them in, but your feet perspired and left a funny (ok weird) little smell.  What is a girl supposed to do with that little dilemma?!?

Check out Fragrant Footings.  These little insoles bring essential oils to your feet. Each time friction takes place, their step-to-release technology transfers to your feet microscopic bursts of the finest dry, natural aromas.

They also offer thin foam cushioning to ease foot pain in high heel shoes. The top layer has a soft suede-like feel.

Now, that's what I am talking about!!!!  Love & Soul Always, Kay

 

Friday Happy Hour: Milky Way Martini

With Halloween quickly approaching, my mind is constantly on candy, candy, candy!  Ooohh, I got to do something about this.

Instead of adding to my Dentist's 401K, I have decided to get my candy fix in a creamy cocktail.  I found this one on the Fine Living web site. 

Ingredients --

1 1/2 ounces of Starbucks Cream Liqueur
1 ounce of Three Olives Chocolate Vodka
1/2 ounce of Cream

The recipe is quite simple: Shake all of the ingredients together while chilling and pour.

Fun Facts About Milky Way Bars: While you are enjoying your martini, enjoy some of the little fun facts about Milky Ways that I found on the Milky Way web site.

** The MILKY WAY® Bar was first created in 1923, with the idea of putting "A chocolate malted milk in a candy bar".

** The Vanilla MILKY WAY® Bar was introduced in 1926. The name changed in 1936 to FOREVER YOURS® Bar. The MILKY WAY® Bar is called MARS® Bar outside the U.S.

** The center of the bar is called nougat, which is made by whipping egg whites with other ingredients until light and frothy to make a frappe. Flavorings, such as cocoa and malt, are added to the frappe to create the signature flavor nougat.

Enjoy!

Love & Soul Always, Kay

(Photo: MilkyWayBar.com)

So Much Love!

Alicia was such a fun bride to work with -- She had a soulful, genuine quality that made her seem incredibly authentic in her every move.  I love this picture of her during her last dance because it was so obvious how much she loved her man.

 

(Photo: Christine Morden Photography)

Monica was the youngest of two daughters, and it was clear at her wedding rehearsal and on her wedding day that her dad had no interest in giving her away.  I love this picture because it looked like she and her dad were having a private moment in front of a room full of family, friends and colleagues.

(Photo: FootPrint Fotos)

Love & Soul Always, Kay

(Photo of Bride and Groom: James Unrue Photography)

Blog Action Day: Help Build Independence From Poverty

 

After the Senate voted in favor of the $700 billion bailout bill earlier this month, my thoughts didn’t turn to Wall Street executives, financial investors, or even the middle class.  My thoughts immediately turned to the human beings that we will most likely hear the least about – the earth’s extreme poor.

Here's my concern - Paying hundreds of billions of dollars to rescue the financial industry will definitely have damaging effects on the world’s humanitarian efforts to shelter refugees, fight disease, and feed hungry children.  As a result, charitable organizations that support poor women (my biggest concern) may find it increasingly more difficult to secure donations.  That's why they need our support more than ever.

 

As a woman, I try to support foundations that benefit women in poverty-stricken areas.

 

As an owner of a small business, I am particularly drawn to the Foundation for International Community Assistance (also known as FINCA International) because its mission is to provide financial services to the world's lowest-income entrepreneurs so that they can create jobs, build assets, and improve their standard of living.

 

Through FINCA International, you can help empower a woman by supporting the Village Banking Campaign.  With the Village Banking Campaign, your micro-loan can build a woman's independence through financial support.

 

And, there is nothing more liberating than a little assistance (not a hand out) to aid in the creation of independence.

 

For more information regarding micro-financing, check out the FINCA International web site at www.villagebanking.org.  You will be amazed what your loan can do to help fellow entrepreneurs.

 

Love & Soul Always, Kay

 

 

(Photo: FINCA Web Site)

Register to vote! Today may be your last chance!

One of my nieces, Misha, had her 18th birthday last week -- When I asked her what she did on her special day, she informed me that she registered to vote. -- Oh, I love her!  Howerton Girls rock!

So, let's take a cue from Misha and register to vote.

Today is the last opportunity for many of us to register before the Presidential Election next month, and I can assure you that you don't want to miss this opportunity.

If you are unsure of your state's deadline, check out this link, and register to vote.  For so many of us, voting is a right that our forefathers (and definitely foremothers) had to literally fight for -- So, don't throw this away because you are too busy or you don't really care.

In fact, voting is more than a right, it's your responsibility.   So, let's do it! (Misha, I am so incredibly proud of you sweetness!)

Love & Soul Always, Kay

CVS plans to give Sephora a run for its money

 For all of you out there feeling the "economy crunch," check this out!

CVS Pharmacy plans to open upscale beauty emporia that are somewhat similar to the services that you would find in a Sephora or Ulta

According to WWD Beauty, the new stores, called Beauty 360, will feature "previously untouchable department store brands." CVS has yet to release the name of these department store brands, but the first two stores are expected to open at the end of the 2008 calendar.

WWDB also mentions that the first two to open will be located in Washington, DC and Sacramento.  I am going to have to check it out!

The stores are supposed to be located within a CVS Pharmacy (with a separate entrance) or next door to a CVS.  But, I get the feeling that you will not feel like you are in a CVS at all.

Love & Soul Always, Kay

 

(Photo: Rendering of Beauty 360 from WWDB and Courtesy Photo)

Product Love: Batucada Jewelry

I love bling just as much as the next fabulous girl, but I prefer it when my bling is not so "chunky."

 

If you have similar tastes, then you might be interested in my latest discovery, Batucada Jewelry.

 

 

This unique line of jewelry offers a tattoo-like appearance when worn – You can’t get any sleeker than that!

 

 

This waterproof and “sweat proof” jewelry hugs your skin, shaping and moving with you.

 

Batucada is based in Paris, but the company’s designers and engineers were inspired by Brazilian beach culture (“Batucada” is a style of samba).

It’s versatile too – All of the bracelets can be worn as chokers by combining two bracelets. 

 

Enjoy!

 

Love & Soul Always, Kay

 

 

 

 

(Photos: Brooklyn5and10.com)