Last weekend, Eclatante was honored to play a role in planning one of the sweetest proposals we have ever heard of.

The story goes like this:   We were contacted by Tamar, the sister of Tali, the unsuspecting bride-to-be to help pull off an incredibly romantic surprise proposal.   Yoni, the ever-so-handsome young man doing the proposing was far away, in Israel, where he had been for quite some time.   Yani, the beautiful bride-to-be, didn’t expect to see him until next month.

But Yoni had gone to great lengths to surprise the love of his life.   Unbeknownst to Tali, Yoni created a wonderful photo montage to be shown on the Piazza’s 30′ screen. sent it here, then boarded a plane to Philadelphia.

Yoni arrived from Israel just in time to build a wonderful snowman on the Piazza stage then make himself scarce for the big reveal.   Under a great pretext, Tamar brought her sister to the Piazza where Tali saw the montage and believed that her amazingly romantic boyfriend had arranged for the best Valentine’s Day gift ever – the display of that montage.    Here it is:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJFXvo8L6iA

Man!  Tali was stunned beyond words when her Yoni stepped before her and got down on one knee   Honestly, I don’t think there has ever been anyone so surprised in the history of proposals!   Of course, she said YES!

We arranged to have the wonderful Heather Fowler on board to shoot the scene as it unfolded.   It really doesn’t get any more romantic than this!

The Philadelphia Inquirer picked right up on this story, as did 6ABC.

I can’t wait to see this wedding happen!

Eclatante Boutique and some of the other very cool shops here on Liberties Walk have joined up to give you a Valentine’s Day shopping experience like none other. Every day from February 8th through Valentine’s Day (which is Sunday, February 14th), each of our friends is offering you something a little different.

This postcard and poster will give you the details about what we’re all doing!

For our part, Eclatante Boutique will be offering free, beautiful Valentine’s Day cards and wrapping paper with every $15 purchase made every day during the Romancing The Walk event.  Plus, we’ll be offering fun chocolate stuff and yummy bubbly all along the way.

And a really great part of this is that every participating shop will offering you the opportunity to enter a great raffle to benefit the American Heart Association’s GO RED FOR WOMEN CAMPAIGN.  (it is HEART month y, know!)

Your raffle ticket only costs $5 (which you can get that back when you shop at Eclatante Boutique or at any of our friend’s shops).   You will not only be contributing to the American Heart Association – a great organization that has done so much to educate women about taking care of themselves and protecting their hearts – you will have a chance to win a grand prize which includes some pretty incredible gifts from our friends’ shops AND a romantic night’s stay at the very very chic new boutique hotel,  the Hotel Palomar in Philadelphia. All for $5 which you can get back!   How amazing is that?

If you haven’t made it down to Liberties Walk yet, this is the perfect reason to come down.   Talk about falling in love!!!!

Even a nor’easter can’t quiet the spirits of a great party, when Eclatante and Beautiful Blooms put their hearts and minds to creating the first holiday party of the season.

Holday Party photo Collage by Mike Kehr Photography

Donna and I decided long ago to create a “fire & ice” themed holiday party — and use red & white as our colors.  And it totally worked.    Take a look at these amazing photos from the the cream of Philadelphia photographers who came with their cameras to help us celebrate — Marie Labbancz and Mike Kehr.   We love them both very much  – they are incredibly talented people who always make us look our very best.

Even though the weather forecasters were predicting heavy rains and 35 mph winds, our friends, families and colleagues were not deterred.  Over 200 people came to our little piece of the planet on Liberties Walk and celebrated the kickoff of the 2009 Holiday Season. And, as if on cue, just before the party started, the winds died down and the rain, for the most part, went away.

My favorite  comment came from a friend the next day:  “It rained at your party?  Wow, I didn’t notice!”

We were prepared, though — We had patio heaters and fireplaces and, at the last minute, installed large market umbrellas into the center of our round banquettes that we had placed outside.  And we had to put a couple of the bars and food stations inside that were originally going outside.   That’s it — by 6:00 pm, we were ready to great our guests.

See the little fleece blankets on the banquets.   They were so cozy — kept everyone warm.   After the party, we donated them to a homeless shelter.

Leila came up with the absolutely brilliant idea of having a “hot santa” as part of the photobooth and it tuned out great.

There’s Sandy — from Creative Juice Group — painting the shirt and suspenders on our Santa

Santa and the ladies from Eclatante (from L to R): Taylor, Kendall, Leila, Lorraine, Alyssa and Sarah

The food was to die for. Truly. Feast Your Eyes Catering totally brought their A Game with a hot, Brazilian spread in our office and a phenomenal cold raw bar, expertly displayed on a gorgeous ice creation in our Boutique.

Plus, a scruptious hot chocolate bar, red velvet cupcakes and WONDERFUL s’mores we toasted over patio fireplaces on the Walk.

Our guests ADORED the bars.

Especially the one with the “adult” milkshakes – they were laced with yummy liquors that warmed us from the inside out.

Since we have  six individual spaces (including Tu Belleza Studio) and we couldn’t have a sound system outside (because of the weather) Elan Artists brought us two of amazing bands that kept everyone delighted.  People were dancing and enjoying those great musicians all evening long.  They were incredible!

Last, but NOT LEAST, Claudia Seyler of Claudia Seyler Hair and Makeup and Tu Belleza Studio created a fun “fashion show” down the Walk featuring her  fabulous new makeup line called “Tu” (which we absolutely LOVE, by the way!)

So, we had a little bit of everything for everyone.

And we have so many people to thank

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!!

We need to make room for our incredible holiday stuff in our little boutique.  So, we’re giving everyone a great discount on our amazing items that are now gracing our shelves.   This is a great opportunity that you shouldn’t miss to get some beautiful items for your home and dinner parties at an extraordinarily low price!

For our first Halloween on the Walk, we thought it would fun to do it up right.  As it turns out, other shops on the Walk are doing the same thing.   You should come down.   The treats will be crawling out of the woodwork.