Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Halloween Banner

How gorgeous is this? I found it on Etsy from Funkyshique.
I bought one that says Halloween but I would love one to say "Boutique" for a Fall boutique I'm hosting in a few weeks. It just screams "Fall" don't you think!
Easy to make with some burlap, stencils and twine that is, of course, if you have TIME to make it :)

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Party Animal

I am in charge of the decor for a fundraiser on Saturday night. They will be showing a backyard movie on a 100' screen for 250 people. They will have food carts, crafts for the kids, face painters, balloon artists and of course, the movie Madagascar. When the guests arrive they will be welcomed by a set of stacked crates on the front lawn. They are for Alex, Marty, Melman and Gloria- the stars of the movie.
I had to go to 5 different places that sell appliances in my neighborhood to find 1 box! I'm going back for 3 more at Best Buy tonight. I'm still looking for 2 refridgerator boxes. I got wood-like paper from Shindigz and wrapped up the box to look like a crate. The Caution tape is from Michael's crafts in the Halloween section. This is for the lion's crate since he is considered dangerous. Only 3 more to make!

Monday, September 28, 2009

Zoo Party Update

Last week, I received these adorable invitations for Sheridan's zoo birthday party in November. Jess at Polkadots and Pirates did an amazing job on them! I love the giraffe print that matches the banner I got. Sheridan just flipped when she saw them. I made labels for the chocolate envelopes to mimic the font and pink dots on the invite. I'll try to take a picture later :)
Another fun thing I got in the mail last week was this candle holder that I won from Parties by Hardie. Her pink is perfect for Sheridan's birthday at the zoo. Thank you so much!
On Saturdaay night, I made my annual pilgrimage to the Sound of Music Sing-a-long at the Hollywood Bowl. Before the movie starts there is a costume parade of audience members. It is hosted by Melissa Peterman of the "Reba" show and Charmaine Carr whom played Liesl in the movie. This is my 8th year attending and I LOVE it! I will try and share more later in the week.
On Sunday morning, I was in Santa Monica at the Jonathan Beach Club setting up a Tinkerbell party for a 1 year old. When I say "beach", I mean right on the sand! It was set for 27 kids and everyone had a great time. Unfortunately, my camera battery died, so this is all you get :(
I have a completely INSANE weekend planned. Friday afternoon, I am hosting a Mary Poppins party for a 5 year old. Bright and early Saturday morning, I will be setting up for a fundraiser in Pacific Palisades. They will be showing a backyard movie on a 100' screen for 250 people. It is a "Madagascar" theme and I am doing all of the decor. I am building crates for the front lawn to look like the animals were shipped from NY. The check in tables will be tiki huts and paper animal print lanterns will hang from the trees.
After I'm done setting up there, I am headed to a wedding of a family friend and setting up her reception. Wish me luck! Any pointers about keeping up energy levels? Looking fresh and beautiful after working and smelling like a pig? Sometimes party planning is just not that pretty people...sorry to burst your bubble!

Monday, September 21, 2009

BIG News!

 


I'm so excited! Our favorite tea room, The Tea Gardens, is expanding AND the owner, Elda, has asked me to host children's tea parties in her new tea room! To preview my fab party throwing skills, I am hosting a children's Halloween Tea on Oct. 24 & 31. The guests will come dressed in costume, as will I, and we will play BINGO, spider toss and have a Monster Mash freeze dance before and after having tea.

Starting in November, I will be hosting Princess, Fairy, Mad Hatter and Mary Poppins tea parties at the Tea Gardens.

I'm so excited to finally have a "space" to host my parties at since I am often asked if I have a facility. I'm am hoping that I will get a lot of exposure at The Tea Gardens and then someday expand into my own retail space.
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Thursday, September 17, 2009

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Bocce Ball in the Park


I belong to a tea group called the Table for 8. We have all become very close over the years and we love to plan different events for each other. Our goal is always to get together at least once a month; either for tea or an event. On Wednesday, Suzanne planned a lovely day in the park for us. She made us all a box lunch with all sorts of yummies inside.

There were 3 mini turkey sandwiches, pasta salad, fruit salad, potato chips and sweet pickles. She even made some deviled eggs. (well, she is from North Carolina. It just isn't a picnic without deviled eggs!) She also served Arnold Palmers-ice tea and lemonade. For dessert, she made these decadent chocolate chip brownies with a layer of marshmallow and chocolate frosting.
Most of us had never played Bocce ball before and had a great time learning it together. Whatever color ribbon your lunch box was tied up with, that was your team color.

The winners were The Red Team and they won a watermelon!

It was just a beautiful day in the park with friends.




Thank you so much, Suzanne, for a lovely afternoon!
What do you do with your girlfriends for a fun time?

Monday, September 14, 2009

Halloween Swaps-Look what we got!

I signed Chasen and Sheridan up for a Kiddie Halloween Swap hosted by Denise at Polka Dot Moon. Last week, the packages were officially swapped and look what they got! Chasen is 11 and his swap partner was Vivianna from NY and they are the same age. Her grandmother signed her up for the swap and I believe she made this great trick or treat bag. Chasen said he could get a lot of candy in there! He also loved the big bag of candy that came with it (there was more...some was eaten before pictures could be snapped!) The bugs and skeletons were also cool.
Sheridan's partner was Jackson, Denise's son who is 7 (Sheridan is 8). Sheridan played with these pop-up Frankenstein and Mummy all day! They were a big hit!

Also included was some lovely handmade items from Denise. She made the halloween tag and this cut flower pony holder. So cute!
The Tink snacks were eaten by her brother (that's a picture of empty bags) and Sheridan said since she is going to be a cat for Halloween, the pumpkin bell necklace will be perfect for her ensemble!
Thank you SO MUCH Vivianna and Jackson! We really love our swaps!

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Halloween Kiddie Swap

Denise over at Polka Dot Moon organized a Halloween Kiddie Swap. Packages were to go out today but I ran out of packing tape so it will be delayed 1 day. I thought I would share what I packed up for the recipients. The budget was $10 and let's just say I had A LOT of fun at the many dollar stores around here!
Everything is packed into a witches cauldron and it includes Halloween headband, glow sticks, skeleton straw, pencils and erasers, pumpkin note pad, light up ring, pumpkin bubbles, glow-in-the-dark ball, wooden ghost craft, witches cauldron sour candy, tootsie rolls and tootsie pops, glitter drinking cup, spider rings, bobble head gum dispenser and a Halloween idea booklet from Joann's.
Here is a bobble head bubble gum dispenser. Look at the detail on her face...so cute! I mean, SCARY!
This is a fun drinking cup I found at Target. I wrapped everything up in tulle and polka dotted ribbon. I hope the kids like everything! My kids are big Halloween fans and can't wait for their packages!

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Tinkerbell Party


I hosted a Tinkerbell party on Saturday for a client in Brentwood. The birthday girl was 3 and she had 15 guests to help her celebrate. I set up the table under a trellis so it was nice and shady. The tablesettings consisted of petalled placemats, pink 10' plates, doily, and then a Tinkerbell 6" plate. I made the butterfly napkin rings and each child had a ceramic tea cup and shared a tea pot filled with lemonade.
I bought fairies from the Disney store from the Tinkerbell movie and scattered giant roses and fairy dust across the table. The favors consisted of rock candy on a stick, butterfly hairclip and butterfly bubbles with Swarovski crystal and ribbon.

I provided flower filled tutus, pixie wings and headpieces.

The party was located in a different part of this gigantic property, so I decorated shepard hooks to guide the guests back to the party site.

Tinkerbell came to the party to entertain the kids with magic, games and a wand making craft.


The kids loved the tea party and had such wonderful manners!

Before the party started and the guests arrived, one of the grandmas said the table was beautiful and she was going to take a picture with her "terrible camera". I told her that I had camera problems last week when I went to a signing with Julie Andrews. She then went on to tell me that Julie Andrews lives across the street from the party site! I about fell over.

Too bad she wasn't invited to the party! But the birthday girl's older sister and I were singing Jolly Holiday after that. :)

It was such a lovely party.