I rarely if ever post on the weekend as I like to save my blogging for the work week and the weekends are spent focusing on my family. Plus, this way, when you arrive on the weekend, you can get caught up on the posts from the week you might have missed :)

Today is a special day, not only because it's my birthday, but because I along with several others in the twitter world, in particular Jacin of Lovely Little Details, are Sharing Our Birthday. Jacin introduced me to The Birthday Party Project and I knew right away I wanted to help. Paige started this organization and she partners with homeless shelters so all resident children from ages 1 to 18 will be provided with a birthday party and gifts. Hearing about amazing people like Paige makes me happy, and even happier when I can help out. There are many ways you can help out with The Birthday Party Project including money donations, volunteering and sending items to fulfill the birthday wish list. I headed to our local Target the other day and picked up a bunch of goodies {candles, gift bags, birthday badges, napkins, and items for the goody bags}. I'll be getting them ready to ship this week and love knowing that I will be able to put a smile on a child's face.

Should you choose to either donate or put together a package of goodies - you can share it online using the hashtags #shareyourbirthday #givingisgood

Can't believe the week of April Wedding Vendor Challenges has come to an end. But, not before I share with you one last lovely photo shoot with a great DIY wedding favor {there's even one made just for me, love that}. I have enjoyed this week so much and being able to share with you all of the amazing bridal shower photo shoots with inspiring tablescapes and dessert displays. Today's talented team created a fun bridal shower based on "April Showers Bring May Flowers" with this month's color palette of bubble gum pink, mint green and robin's egg blue. The photo shoot took place in California with Jacin of Lovely Little Details and Gladys of Gladys Jem Photography. Jacin is so clever - wait until you see all of the fun little goodies she incorporated into this tablescape.

Wellies with baby's breath and hydrangeas as a "vase" to represent the rainy weather and a peat moss pot with malted milk balls and green pixy stix to represent grass

Pink carnations for a simple floral design using bud vases and an antique watering can

Mini pink takeout boxes for guests to take their sweets home

Jacin made a mobile with taffeta that hung over the table to represent the "rain"

Loving these "potted" cupcakes with custom embossed flowers created by Jacin herself

DIY GOODIE: Jacin created a simple "favor/placecard" for bridal showers which includes a seed packet for each of your guests to take home.

Wedding Vendors:
Coordination, Florals and Paper Goods: Jacin of Lovely Little Details
{Jacin custom embossed all of the paper and designed the stationery. She also
baked the "potted" cupcakes and macaroons and did all the designing/flowers, etc.}
Photographs: Gladys of Gladys Jem Photography

I am excited to continue the Wedding Vendor Challenge Photo Shoot today with a beautiful romantic picnic with the Golden Gate Bridge as a backdrop. This shoot took place at the Crissy Field Picnic Area in San Francisco. As I mentioned in yesterday's challenge post, I asked vendors across the US and Canada to team up and create an intimate Valentine's Day dinner tablescape for two with a dessert display. I supplied a color palette for all vendors to work with and for this shoot it was red, honeysuckle pink {the Pantone color of the year} and grey. I also asked each team to provide at least one DIY design.

Team Two features the talent of Jacin of Lovely Little Details who not only co-planned the shoot, but she provided the on-site styling and design as well as the cupcakes, cookies, doily wrapped sandwiches and all props. And, even more talent included Tara of Cut the Cake Designs who created all the paper goods, Miriam of Glam Candies who also co-planned and provided concept collaboration and of course, Gladys of Gladys Jem Photography for providing the gorgeous photography.

Jacin was so clever to use a quilt as a tablecloth - it softens the setting and makes the romantic picnic more cozy and inviting.

This is just the cutest packaging - a wrapped PB&J sandwich in wax paper with a paper wrapper and tied with twine. When upwrapped, you end up with the sandwich wrapped in a large doily and sealed with a heart sticker. Super sweet!

And, aren't the following paper placemats the sweetest? One reads "You and Me Forever" and the other reads "Will You Marry Me?" Simply set the table and hide the wording with the plate and then after dinner, when the plate is lifted, the question is revealed.

How about all those food tags? You're in for another treat today as Tara has created them as a download for you. Simply print out Tara's food tag pdf after downloading via this link from Scribd, trim and attach to your edibles and you're all set. {the download link is directly underneath the item title in the right column}

A huge thank you to Team 2 for continuing the week with amazing inspiration and another lovely tablescape and wonderful paper goods. Be sure to stay tuned all week as I have lots more wonderful designs coming your way.

Wedding Vendors:
Co-planner, concept collaboration, on-site styling/design: Jacin of Lovely Little Details
{as well as cupcakes, cookies, doily sandwich wrappers, all props}
All paper design and concept collaboration: Tara of Cut the Cake Designs {blog}
Co-planner, concept collaboration, and inspiration photo provision: Miriam of Glam Candies {blog}
Photographer: Gladys Jem Photography {blog}

PS: See the Wedding Vendor Challenge from Team 1 here.