Mama Marv-tastic

July 17, 2011 The Mad Hightower Tea Party


This year's Hightower Tea Party was held in Kernersville, NC at the Kernersville Wesleyan Church Family Life Center. This annual event, held by hostesses Diance C Hightower and R. Caresse Hightower, is held the third Sunday in July and acts as a fund raiser for various orgnaizations that make a difference in the lives of women and children in our area. This year's event was a fundraiser for Women of Wisdom and the House of Refuge. There is always an auction and raffle with entertainment and refreshments at the close of this elegant soiree.


This year was an even more special event as they honored their own local celebrity, Mrs. Annie Hamlin Johnson, known as Mama Marv-tastic and to unsher int he 2011 National Black Theatre Festival which will be in Winston-Salem from August 1st-6th. The tea party is always an elegant soiree with hats and gloves and the finest fashions.

A speaker on behalf of Next Step Ministries, INC. was on hand to talk about their safe haven as a place of safety and hope for victims of domestic violence. To learn more about their work or to find out how to help you can visit their website at www.nextstepdv.org.

Belated congratulations to Jennifer and Isaac

I'm so happy to finally have pictures of one of my May weddings!  It was such a pleasure from beginning to end to work with Jennifer and Isaac.   Unfortunately, one thing I am known to do is forget my camera when setting up a cake.  I am much more focused on making sure I have the cake and all that goes with it and any repair kits I may need to bring to so that the set up is successful.  Because of this it is not unusual for me to arrive and realize that, once again, the camera is NOT in my back pocket.    It's is a horrible thing to have to wait for pictures but knowing that the images are so much better when taken by a professional it is hard to complain.

I do not know who the photographer is to give proper credit to but the wait is finally over.  You can also visit my web page www.southerngoldleafcakes.com for images of the groom's cake.

Check and double check

It's always good advice.  When dealing with a delivery I always double check the venue, directions, phone numbers and time.  I double check as many items as is within my power.  Unfortunately, when there's a third party who is involved in something as crucial as the venue and the time, it takes away a bit of the that control that, quite frankly, I need in order to feel comfortable about the delivery.

My case in point happened just today and it was no fault of the lady whom ordered the cake, the venue it was being delivered to or myself.  In fact, having spoken to the paying client and the venue still did nothing to fix the issue - wait for it - the venue had no record of delivery today.  It was communication between a third party and everyone else that broke down.  Alas, this sent me to two different places in town, multiple phone calls, self-doubt, much frustration and ultimately back to the original delivery point.

The delivery was a success simply because it made it to the right place in one piece.  But when I can, as often as I can, I do repeat...check and double check and then more forward cautiously.

June 23rd - Simple and Elegant

Not every wedding cake needs to be towering stacks of cake with dozens of flowers and beading.  When a bride calls and say that they have a small budget but still want a cake - no problem.  When she says I don't need a lot of cake but I'd like a pretty cake - no problem.  When she asks if she can still have flowers and the colors she likes - no problem.

Lotus blossoms and Cala lillies

Simple and elegant, flowers of choice, beading and bands.  It also gave me the chance to learn a new flowers and play with brilliant colors.  At the end of the day, a happy bride.

And, yes, it was last minute but that is a perk to being the boss.  I get to make the hard decisions and sometimes they make you feel good!