My birthday is tomorrow and if you are really in the mood to still buy me something…these are the things I am diggin’! Of course, you don’t need to buy me anything, but I know if you knew these products were available you might want to buy them for your bridesmaids, your groomsmen or yourself.  I normally would reserve these products for my editor’s picks – but it’s my bday and I am feelin’ sassy!

Everyone knows I love my iPad  -and this case is so adorable and eco-friendly. The case I have for my ipad right now is what they were selling at the Apple store as I had to travel the very next day…but this is way too cute and it comes in black, white and orange as well!

I am on a pretty strict gluten and lactose free diet.  I can’t stand that I can’t eat caramels anymore – so I love giving DAS Caramelini caramels as gifts!  They have a faint twist of lavender and they are just mouthwatering!  Jelly Belly and Vermints are both made in the USA and are all-natural and gluten-free yumminess!  Click on the candy above to learn how to buy these products!

My two favorite places to grab cupcakes from are Cakelove and Hello Cupcake since they always have something gluten-free available!

And o my..this upcycled genius chica makes handbags and headbands to swoon over…I want them both! Find out about Etsy Designer Sparky Jones by clicking on the two photos above.

Tell me what you buy!!!

Cheers!

As many of you know, I went to Haiti earlier this year and not long after my friend (and amazing photographer) Nicole Wolf went to Haiti as well.   Like many others who have gone – she fell in love with the Haitians and her heart has led her to a lifelong campaign of helping.

In the next year – she wants to build three new homes for three families.  She has been traveling to Haiti almost every 2-3 months and she is going back in December.

Next week – I would love for you to come and help at a “tweet-up” at Hello Cupcake in DC from 11am-12pm!  The 1st 50 people that come with anything from a toothbrush to a used or new laptop will get a free cupcake on me!  Yep – I am footing the bill so you can help!

Don’t think for a second that a bottle of Advil or a pair of your old shoes won’t make a difference.  It will!  I am just asking you to come down to DC – hang out – eat a cupcake and bring something small that can fit in a suitcase.  If you have an old used laptop – bring that for sure…but anything toiletry-wise will help!

Nicole is going in December and is fundraising, but always needs to take as much as she can so she can make a difference when she goes.  Little things like toothpaste, baby wipes, band-aids, flashlights, small games all make a difference in their lives!

Comment below to let me know you are coming and encourage Nicole as it takes so little to help!

See you Thursday from 11-12 at Hello Cupcake!

Here is the address:

1361 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20036

Stay tuned for more stories about the families as I plan on doing some follow-up posts about the families she is working with and other ways you might be able to help in the future!

Hugs,

Cupcakes were handed out from Hello Cupcake and it was smooth sailing. This particular couple (Jim & Joseph) have waited 17 years to be married.  Truly a bittersweet day for couples.

Since our own Tara was in the DC Agenda and we have been running Legally Wed DC – we have gotten a lot of calls from people in the LGBT community about the excitement that is rising in DC!

We have elopement packages ready to go for couples that are wanting to fly in for the day to get married!  We hae spoken to the courthouse about how to make it as easy as possible.  We will be adding a new page to our  main website as we know several couples will want to fly in from around the United States to make it legal in Washington, DC and we are excited to be a part of it!

Congrats DC – This is YOUR day!

~Cheers!

Katie Martin

They just opened this year right off Dupont Circle and I have to say, I salivate every time I drive by!  The owner (Penny) has dreamed up some fantastic recipes for her cupcakes and loves to do weddings.  Their space is in a LEED certified building!!!

Check out their website today and see when they are making specific flavors to go in try – OMG 24 Carrot RAWKS!!!!

Yummmmm! – Katie Martin

We were able to eat yummy cupcakes and check out the garters all at the same time!  I loved meeting Penny, the owner of Hello Cupcake, and eating a yummy carrot cake cupcake!  Aren’t Penny and Julianne cuties!  Cupcakes and garters – how could you go wrong????

Ivy Robinson came up from Charlotte for the event.  Ivy is our Charlotte Couture Wedding Consortium Director and she has been featured several times on Whose Wedding is it Anyway? and on the new series Hitched or Ditched!  

I want to also send a quick thanks to Shannon from Sevan Photography for taking the photos and sending them to us so quickly!  We were truly excited to be invited to the event and one of our brides go to be among the exclusive “10 brides only” list to check out the garters and meet wedding professionals from around the area!  

Julianne’s motto:  Embrace the Garter Tradition, With Style.

She is able to custom coordinate your colors with your garter!  Check out her website today!

****Katie Martin