Happy Easter!  I love holidays! In addition to the usual reasons people enjoy holidays (family, friends and all that jazz), I treasure them because they give us designers another reason to be creative.  I get asked by my friends and clients all the time for ways to decorate for the holidays that are not super expensive but still look great.

So I decided to share a personal event that myself and fellow DVLW team member, Cece Counts, worked on this past weekend that were more in the ‘DIY’ category than our traditional DVLW projects.  As you probably can guess, it was for an Easter brunch.  The centerpieces were very affordable and mainly required time and muscle.  If you’re willing to put in the time, then you can do the same.  Because, yes, there is a catch to great centerpieces for less…they take a little TLC.

Here are a few of my tips for creating your own great centerpiece:

1.  Have Fun.  If you are not having a good time, you’re wasting energy and it will show in the final product.

2.  Pick a Theme.  Your theme doesn’t have to be over the top – it just needs to get you started in the right direction and give you a guideline to stick to so you don’t get overwhelmed.

3.  Keep it simple.  Don’t over think it.  Use items that are easily accessible and that you already have around the house and appropriate to the theme.

4.  Stick to your budget.  If you spend a lot more money than you anticipated you’ll be upset with yourself and think it wasn’t worth it.

Check out our finished product below…

Use what’s available. It’s Easter, so to start with dyeing eggs seemed to make sense!

We used the dyes above as a base, some we left plain others we embellished with paint pens or fabric. Mostly we just had fun.

Next stop – flowers from the LA Flower Mart. Since we went bright with the eggs, we wanted to tone it down a bit and stick with white, yellow and green for the flowers.

*Flower tip – choose flowers that are full and will take up space to keep your cost down.  You will use less that way.

We filled up as many vases as we could with the amount of flowers we purchased, keeping in mind the power of odds.  When you use an odd number of something it always creates a more interesting design than keeping it even.

…add the eggs for color!

Toss in a few more accessories and your done!

We had extra elements, so we played with the layout a little bit and created a few different versions!

You too can create fun, beautiful centerpieces with a little time, attention to detail and using items that are easily available for an excellent price.

So what did you think of our Easter fun?  Join the Diann Valentine family and share it with us all!

Dream with me,

Tiffany Pompey

Join the Diann Valentine family and share your holiday plans!

It all starts with a blueprint!

Models and French Poodles were hired to graze the lawn and greet guests upon arrival!

My daughter Riann worked with my stylist to design each model’s outfit as well as the accents on our French poodles!

A new entrance from the night before greeted guests upon arrival!

The mercury glass dance floor doubled as a platform to frame the Parisian Lounge!

Guests had a chance to get ‘up and close and personal’ with the oversized pearls!

The lounge featured an eclectic mix of neutral furnishings!

What a great shot!

I had to add at least one literal French accessory!

These gold side tables added a warm accent to the environment!

I’m so in love with this ‘Around The World” candle holder!

Vintage buttons were affixed to the containers for the new floral centerpieces and added a couture touch!

I always leave behind my signature and a little expression of my love for the job, my clients and gratitude for the opportunity!

While in Paris, I discovered why the French cherish dessert so much!

It took a while but Tiffany Pompey finally found an authentic French Patisserie in Dallas!

Nothing says Parisian more than mini Faberge Eggs filled with strawberry shortcake of course!

Ok so I added two literal French accents with this Macaroon Eiffel Tower!

I could have stopped at French pastries but why? Everybody loves candy!

Plexiglas slats were etched and used as custom menus; starting with Chocolate Truffles!

Finding only neutral colored candy proved to be a bit challenging!

It may have been 100+ degrees outside but everyone still enjoyed the Ice Cream Parlour!

The Coffee Forum was a huge hit…especially the Frappuccino!

A birthday celebration is not complete without a birthday cake!

A local modeling agency provided the cutest models/waitresses while I designed the custom aprons!

Diann Valentine – the designer and TV Host are always one in the same!

One of my favorite looks of the summer from JSkyStyle and Leo Eley. I love my boys!

The best part of the week was being able to work with my beautiful daughter Riann. We were both exhausted but we were exhausted together!

…you already know that I travel with my LOVE as much as possible. This was a tough production and I’m so thankful I had him with me…strengthening me, believing in me, loving me!

Paris meets Dallas!

…and here it is!

Great parties and great celebrations don’t just happen.  The DVLW team commits to hundreds of hours of design time, production meetings, 18-hour work days, blood, sweat and tears to help our clients celebrate some of the most important moments in their lives and we would not have it any other way!

Keep spreading the love,

Talk to me…what do you think?

Photo Credit: MoHa Photography 

A custom sub-floored and carpeted entrance was built around an existing magnolia tree with a dozen suspended chandeliers to greet guests upon arrival.

The sturdy branches of the magnolia tree were perfect to also suspend the guest place cards that were affixed to double-sided gold leaf mirrors!

A custom entrance flanked both the interior and exterior of the tent to create a polished transition that left guests questioning if they were really in a tent at all!

An intimate table for Bishop and Mrs. Jakes gave them a birds-eye view!

The custom tray ceiling of mirrored panels and chandeliers!

A direct view up into the chandeliers while the mirrored panels reflected back the mercury glass dance floor below. I just love when a photographer sees and captures a shot like this!

Custom place cards and napkin holders adorned each place setting!

The mac & cheese soufflé was to die for!

A mango sorbet transitioned the evening from 3rd course to main course!

Strawberry Shortcake – YUMMY!

The Custom Bar!

A dapper all male wait staff gave the evening a chic cotton club vibe!

A faux mink stage backdrop framed the evening’s entertainment perfectly!

The intricate detailing of the dinner custom tablecloths and table caps!

Shades of ivory, gold and taupe gave the room beautiful color dimension!

The opulent couture tablecloths were modernized with clear ghost chairs!

Complementing tables featured sleek tablecloths with couture chair covers!

By the end of the evening my feet were on fire – even with two pairs of socks on, this custom stage façade was the only thing holding me up!

After such an amazing tribute, we were thrilled to signal to our maître d to ring the bell – dinner is served!

Keep spreading the love,

Photo Credit: MoHa Photography

The star studded evening kicked off with an amazing tribute to Bishop Jakes at the AT&T Performing Arts Center in the heart of Downtown Dallas.  The magical exploration of his triumphant journey was hosted by Tyler Perry and Soledad O’Brien and included appearances by Mary Mary, Chaka Khan, Kem, Angela Bassett and Courtney Vance, Kimberly Elise, Derek Luke, Jordin Sparks, Meagan Good, Mike Epps and many more including a surprise appearance by media icon Oprah Winfrey.  The DVLW Team shut down the streets of Downtown Dallas to produce an Arrivals Experience fitting for a man that has helped so many.

An aerial view of the magnitude of our installation!

An air-conditioned tent awaited VIP guests before hitting the red carpet!

A cool spritzer helped VIP guests bare the 100 degree heat on the red carpet!

Media Placecards!

The press pen filled up with over 200 media outlets on hand!

Talk To Me!

The ‘Fashion Cam’ caught the evening’s best dressed!

Earth Harp serenaded guests as they proceeded down the red carpet under the harp strings that ran up to 200 feet overhead!

Angela Bassett & Courtney Vance

Jordin Sparks

Soledad O’Brien

Derek Luke and his beautiful wife Sophia Luke!

Mary Mary

Mike Epps and his beautiful wife Mechelle Epps!

Mrs. Serita A. Jakes

The First Family!

My L-O-V-E flew in from Shanghi to support me for this weekend…I just can’t take my eyes off him!

The final approach into the Winspear Opera House featured a custom red carpet with an inlayed Jakes crest and signature quotes from Bishop T.D. Jakes!

How many of you know this famous quote from Bishop Jakes? Still one of my favorites!

A rare moment for a few of the hard-working DVLW team assigned to the AT&T installation to pause for a photo before guest arrivals! Erin Earls, Phyllis CaddellM, Queenie Donaldson, Sheri Riley, Robert Hansen, Hadi Jubrail and Andre “Drego” Moore

DV and Jason Sky of JSkyStyle…you already know that I do not go anywhere without my boys to keep me together!

Such a magical evening!  Such a magical experience!  Whatever your life journey entails, wherever your journey takes you just remember – life is meant to be celebrated!

So do tell, how are you celebrating your life’s victories?  Join the Diann Valentine family and share it with us all!

 Keep spreading the love,

All amazing photos by Moha Photography

 Being the extremist that I am, I immediately went into prep mode for November 2^nd.  Booked my glam squad – Jason Sky and Leo Eley, upped my training to 5 days a week with my trainer Jordan P. Vappie (the P is for phenomenal), commenced another crash diet but more importantly I decided to live in this moment.  The highlight reel of my career plays on fast-forward in my mind.  Always hustling, continuously educating myself, looking for ways to inspire the next generation, setting bigger goals, dreaming bigger dreams and praying my journey would move faster that I’ve rarely enjoyed my many victories.  So on this night, I prayed for those suffering from Hurricane Sandy, took long deep breathes, glided with small steps and thanked God that He chose to use Ebony to confirm to me that yes – I AM ENOUGH!

DV in Zac Posen Skirt and Custom JSkyStyle Leather Top

No night is ever complete without my LOVE!

Keep hustling, keep dreaming, keep showing up, keep spreading the love – the streets are watching!

I am running a simple writing contest between now and Friday evening to anyone that wants to come to ISSE but may not be able to make the full financial commitment.  With my help you can join us and learn from some of the most talented professionals in our industry for 50% off the registration cost.  In addition, I am offering you a one-on-one 30-minute session with me while at ISSE of uninterrupted time for me to sow into you and your business.  All I am asking is that you send me your perspective on diversity and how you are embracing it in your business to offer your clients amazing experiences that reflect the diverse world that we live in.  Don’t worry!  Your writing does not need to equal the quality of a Harvard scholar, just something from the heart.  You can send your deepest thoughts to me personally at talktome@diannvalentine.com.  I will review all submissions over the weekend and choose two winners by Monday morning.

DV Teaching at ISSE 2011!

Sharpen those pencils and get to writing.  I can’t wait to hear from you.

Keep spreading the love,

Now I find myself looking at old and new interpretations of art as I search for inspiration that will help me redefine the next expression of my creative perspective.

This gorgeous stained glass ceiling lives inside the Thanksgiving Chapel in Dallas and spirals upward to 58 feet.  It’s called the Glory Window and was designed by Gabriel Loire of Chartres, France.

This all-glass house from Carlo Santambrogio and Ennio Arosio of Santambrogio Milano Architecture seems to be the future of home design.   It features three floors connected by an all glass staircase and decked out with minimal luxury furnishings including a glass-framed bed!

 I have not figured out yet where I see the evolution of lighting instruments but I know that a change is coming and I’m looking to great artisans past and present to guide me because I know that their talents and vision make them brilliant in the use of their imaginations!

Who is inspiring you?  Join the Diann Valentine family and share it with us all!

Keep spreading the love,

I started this year in pre-production on I Do Over and proved that I was ready and able o host my own show.  As the Host, Designer and Executive Producer it was far more work than I ever imagined but what a great feeling it was waking up every morning knowing that I was living my dreams!

My husband and I officially formed our production company, Underwood Entertainment and proudly watched the credits roll after each episode of I Do Over knowing that this would be a new chapter in my career!

I have never produced very many weddings each year because it always felt impossible to do it with my limited amount of available time.  Well with the help of our wedding team, we were able to design and produce six weddings all with a mere five days of design and planning.  It is amazing how much we can do, when life does not provide a way of escape!

After we wrapped I Do Over, I hosted a premiere and advance screening in Atlanta with the help of my friend Stacie Francombe and an amazing group of wedding professionals.  The best part was celebrating with my wedding team of Cece Counts, Leo Eley, Riann Valentine, D. Micah Lindsey, Tiffany Pompey and Stephanie Scribner!

WEtv participates in the Essence Music Festival every year but this year I was able to design the space, appear as talent to promote I Do Over and Host a segment called Men of Love where I talked with African American R&B singers and actors about our favorite topic ladies – LOVE!

I carved out some time in my schedule to attend Bridal Market in NYC.  It was great getting an advance look of designer interpretations of love and to give my new bride Evelyn Lozada a sneak peek of the newest bridal styles as she started thinking about her wedding day look!

Following a last minute invitation from a friend, I jetted off to Paris for Fashion Week and returned with a fresh perspective and more inspiration than I have been able to find here in the US in the last few years!

I completed over a dozen speaking engagements and proved that I have a voice and given the opportunity I will inspire, uplift and encourage people to step outside of tradition and playing it safe…and live their dreams!

I was re-acquainted with several media outlets that have supported me over the years and thanks to I Do Over, I was introduced to a plethora of new outlets.  I also learned just how much power some blogs have in entertainment!

Most importantly, I was able to spend so much time with my family.  My husband and daughter Riann (even though she is all grown up) are my strength and place of refuge and the ones that make ‘the struggle’ make sense.  Along the way, we adopted Leo Eley and Tiffany Pompey into both my business and our families!

So once again looking back gives me great hope for tomorrow.  Hosting a positive reality show that offered hope and second chances was not easy in a climate where viewers vote for “Controversial TV’ with their remotes.  This experience showed me that I am even stronger than I knew.  The future is bright because I know that if I am willing to put my dreams in the hands of the dream maker then I know He (God) will only continue to do exceedingly and abundantly above all that I can hope or think.

Join the Diann Valentine family and share some of your accomplishments of 2011!

Until next year,

I've prepared so long for this moment!

The invitations were created using my signature collection from Wedding Paper Divas.  I altered the design and the colors to create a custom version of the Artistic Waves suite to coincide with the design of the party.  Mike Colon gave us great images from the show to offer guests a sneak peak of some of the design perspective they can expect when I Do Over premieres.

Artistic Waves Suite from the Diann Valentine Wedding Stationery Collection!

There was no chance of a great party without my I Do Over team and entourage with me to celebrate.  My stylist Jason Sky could not attend but he made sure I represented for the night in this gorgeous Angela Dean gown! Tiffany Pompey was our Design Coordinator and carefully executed my vision for the design of each wedding.  Cece Counts was our Entertainment Coordinator and worked tirelessly to book all sorts of talent including R&B crooner/Actor Chaz Shepherd. D. Micah Lindsey was our Family Coordinator and attended to all of the needs of the families of our brides.  Stephanie Scribner was our Logistics Coordinator and worked hand in hand with our Wedding Producer Paula Bond to ensure that every detail was planned to perfection.  Leo Eley was my one man glam squad who worked tirelessly on my hair and make-up and created the best wedding night looks I’ve ever had.  And my baby-girl Riann Valentine was our Guest Coordinator and worked closely with our Supervising Producer to ensure our brides guests made it to each wedding especially since they were only given 5 days notice.

The 'I Do Over' Entourage

Cece Counts, Leo Eley, DV, Riann Valentine, D. Micah Lindsey, Tiffany Pompey, Stephanie Scribner

Our Executive Producer from WEtv Suzanne Murch attended as well bringing a pleasant surprise in hand – the full premiere episode!

WEtv's Suzanne Murch

I have produced several high-profile celebrity weddings in Atlanta so I thought it would be a good market for me to introduce I Do Over in an intimate setting.  However, I had no idea that the event community would embrace us with such a phenomenal show of support.  What started out as a simple conversation with my friend Stacie Francombe of Inspire Smart Success turned into a wonderful experience with all sorts of blossoming friendships.

Stacie Francombe and DV

Tony Conway, DV, Brian Green, Steve Welsh

Stacie introduced me to Brian Green of F&G Weddings who quickly got things underway and reunited me with Tony Conway of A Legendary Event.  I have not worked with Tony since he provided the catering for Toni Braxton’s wedding but he welcomed me with open arms.  The Dream Team was complete and Brian was leading the charge.

My friend celebrity fashion stylist Patrick T Cooper came on board as our host of the evening and ensured that Atlanta’s Who’s Who were all present.

Lisa Alexander - Occasions Magazine and Patrick T Cooper

Stacie Francombe, Brian Green, Tony Conway

The Biltmore Ballrooms was the perfect setting for a memorable and well attended evening.  I love the eclectic mix of modern furnishings that were infused in this stunning historical ballroom that showed the best of Atlanta’s rich architectural history.

The First Look!

Tony Conway took my love for pink and my design of the WEtv activation at the Essence Music Festival this year as his inspiration to create an environment that was so representative of the Diann Valentine brand with every detail finished to perfection.

The Pink Carpet Arrival!

The Bar Centerpiece!

...a few words says it all!

Pink Peonies and Phaelenopsis Orchids - My Favorite!

Love these vintage birdcages!

A Legendary Event framed our step and repeat...perfection!

Active Production & Design provided us with great lighting and an A/V package that framed our stage for the sneak peek of I Do Over!

Who is Diann Valentine?

The ladies from Pink Stiletto Valet greeted guests upon arrival and I was so impressed with their ability to do it all in fabulous and fun shoes!

A Fabulous Arrival Experience!

My friend Mark Lottie of Classic Cheesecakes & Cakes supplemented the delicious food and chocolate treats from A Legendary Event with mini cheesecake cupcakes and lollipops!

Yummy!

Yummy!

AFR Event Furnishings provided this shabby chic lounge grouping which shows my desire to mix different genres and time periods of furnishings to create an unpredictable setting.

Some of my closest friends and a few new ones came out to support me while I reminisced on my journey over the years!

Sheri Riley of Glue, Inc. and DV

Heather Vreeland - Occasions Magazine and DV

Mia Butler of TBS's Movie and A Makeover and DV

I love how the martini made the shot...good times!

Friend and Client Tameka Raymond and DV

Shawna Herring captured all of these great images so that I can relive this night again and again while DJ Tron kept the partying going in full speed!  And the party did not end early because me and a select few headed over to rooftop of The Renaissance Hotel Atlanta for some champagne and desserts!  Anna and Spencer Photography composed this short film of the best memories.  I hope you enjoy it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPFxqlkR37g

My journey to this point has been long, exciting, tumultuous, terrifying and exhilarating.  I have had great successes and great failures but I have always believed that if I could only put my dreams in the hands of the dream maker, then He (God) would take care of the rest!  I hope you all will join me on Sunday, November 13^th at 10pm on WEtv when I Do Over premieres.  Now, I have to ask…do you REALLY believe in second chances?

Keep spreading the love,

Join the Diann Valentine family and share your biggest dreams!

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