Friday 7 December 2012

Children's party checklist


Children's Party Checklist 


Ok so your child's birthday is coming up and you're running around frantically trying to organise a party. Sound familiar?? Well don't panic here's our Children's Party Checklist to help things run as smoothly as possible!

1) Pick a date and time.
 
 Make sure you have the date booked in plenty of time and hand the invitations out at least 3 weeks prior to the party. Don't expect that everybody will respond to your invitations because they won't! Keep on top of the list, cross out all the people that can't make it but expect that a good portion, if not all, of the people that don't respond will turn up. Irritating but true!



 
2) Alongside picking the date and time get the venue booked.
Do this in plenty of time because the popular venues can get booked up very quickly.

 
3) Get the entertainer booked.
As with the venue do this early! Have a chat with your child. It's more than likely that they will know what kind of party they would like and who they would like to be the entertainer. Are you daring enough to do this yourself?? If you are have a look at our previous blog 'Entertain The Children Yourself At Their Next Party'. Don't get too elaborate with the prizes either. You'll find that the children are not actually that bothered about what they win. It's usually best to have a big bag of sweets and hand them out to all the winners and non-winners (I don't think we're allowed to say losers are we??) of the games. If you're in the North East of England then I'm always happy to come out and entertain at your child's party. I bring everything with me from the tableware to the balloons to the games to the party bags to the entertainment - absolutely everything. All you need to do is organise the venue and the food and leave the rest to me! I am happy to give you a pre-party consultation too so we can discuss everything! Drop me a line or give me a ring on 07852955800 and we'll have a chat.

 
4) Pick a theme (if your child wants a theme).
This should all be worked into the invitations so that parents know in plenty of time what kind of party it is and whether or not they need to organise some fancy dress. Personally I wouldn't be too elaborate with the theme. Kids enjoy a party regardless of the theme so it might be boring but you can't really go far wrong with a princess and pirate theme.

 
5) Have a think about the party supplies you'll need.
Make a list of things. You'll need plates, cups, napkins, tablecloths, banners, balloons as a minimum. You may also want extras for the table like cupcake stands and table decorations. If you're working to a budget then these are not essential. If you want to have a chat about party supplies then drop me a line. I'm always happy to chat to you about your party and can provide you with all the party supplies you need. Have you seen our Birthday Party Boxes too - everything you need all boxed up and sent to you! Our Princess Party Boxes (pictured below) are ideal for the little princesses in your life.

6) Organise the party bags.
This can be a bit of a hassle and can be quite expensive. If you want affordable filled party bags then drop me a line and we'll have a chat about party bags just for you and then that's another thing ticked off the list! If you are going to do the party bags yourself then don't put names on the bags! When the kids are ready to leave the party it's normally chaos and names on the bags are just one extra complication you don't need - just have the bags ready for your child to hand out.

 
7) Think about your food and cake.  
There are loads of businesses out there that can provide party food and cakes. Have a look around your local area and speak to friends to get recommendations. Or have a go at the food and cake yourself. Sometimes it can also be easier to buy the food boxes and get the food boxed up before the party. Then when food time arrives at the party you can just hand out boxes. In terms of food you can't go wrong with sandwiches, sausage rolls, crisps, cherry tomatoes, cheese blocks, fairy cakes and biscuits. Don't be surprised either if the eating of food at the party doesn't take as long as you expected either. The older the children are the less time it takes them to eat the party food.
 
 


8) On the day of the party just relax and enjoy it!
If you have booked a village hall as a venue then my advice would be to go and set everything up without your child being there. If you can get a grandparent to bring them along about 15 minutes before the party starts so they're ready to greet all the guests as they arrive but not be there to 'help' whilst you're setting up!


I think I've covered the main points of organising your child's party. If I've forgotten anything or you have any useful hints and tips to share then please leave a comment.

If you want to discuss any aspect of a child's party then please get in touch. Always happy to help!

Maxine
x

Tuesday 30 October 2012

Happy Birthday to Life's A Celebration


Yes that's right folks on 1st November 2012 Life's A Celebration will be one years old!

I can't believe it so please bear with me in this blog post - it's going to be a bit self indulgent!

I have made so many friends over the last year and I thank absolutely everybody from the bottom of my heart for all the support and encouragement over the last year.

So when I was thinking about writing this post I started to think about all the things I have done over the last year and I am absolutely amazed in all the things I've managed to achieve (told you this was going to be self indulgent!)

Over the last year we've launched new products including our Princess Party Boxes (very popular!), our Happy Birthday Party Boxes and loads more.

Princess Party Boxes from only £4 per head

We've run some brilliant 'one-off' party boxes for example our Jubilee Party Boxes which were so popular that I had to pull them early as I was worried that I would run out of stock! We've also worked closely with customers to come up with parties just for them. These included our Gothic Party Boxes (which still get comments so I'm thinking about making them a permanent fixture on the website), Make and Bake Parties, Firework Parties, 80s parties and loads more.


Some of the items in our Gothic Party Boxes - great for teenagers by the way!


I am increasingly getting customers popping into the office to request that I go and entertain at their child's party. The lovely people that I share the building with know very well just how much I love doing this and they love (and I use the word very loosely) my singing and dancing - yes Sara I'm talking about you here!

The move into dedicated premises is probably the biggest achievement of the year. It was a massive decision to take the leap of faith and at the moment it is paying off. Me and my daughter got our home back and I now have somewhere that I can meet customers and just generally have a really fun work space.

So there are loads of people I would like to thank for helping me throughout this year. All these people have been there to help me celebrate all the good things about running your own business and also pick me up when things aren't necessarily going to plan.

Major apologies in advance if I've forgotten anybody but if your name is not on the list then you can rest assured that you are in my heart and I thank you too!

So here we go....................

Gem, Mark, Mum, Keith, Dad, Phyl, Carrie, Juliet, Carole, Sarah Loveland, Sarah Sutcliffe, Malcolm, Charlie, Maria, Paul, Sam, Pat, Martin, Tony, Liz, Janette, Dan, Sara, Michelle, Simone, Anne, Gillian, Abi, Poppy, Pauline, John, Michael, Fran, Simon, Dave, Joe, Sue and all the ITC people, Mandy, all the mums and dads at school, Helen, Theo Paphitis (obviously!), Yvonne, all my guest bloggers, all my twitter and facebook pals and obviously a hugely massive thank you to all my customers - without you this job would be no fun at all and I had loved each and every minute of helping you with your parties over the last year.
And of course last but definitely not least, my gorgeous daughter, who started all this. She's my reason for getting up in the morning (literally and usually very early!).

Party on my friends and don't forget - Life really is a celebration!

Max
x

Tuesday 16 October 2012

All our Halloween Hints & Tips


We thought you might like to see a copy of our latest newsletter. Loads of Halloween hints and tips!

We have Halloween Party Food Ideas, Halloween Party Music and a downloadable FREE template of a Make Your Own Halloween Cards.

Check out our newsletter now and you'll get all the ideas you need for a fangtastic Halloween spooktacular!

Maxine

x





Music for your Halloween Party!

Here at Life's A Celebration we love Halloween - we love to have fangtastic, spooktacular fun! Our Halloween party boxes are proving very popular at the moment with parents up and down the country so today we welcome Martin Deltrice one of the best DJs around (and I have first had experience of this - he made my 80s birthday party an absolute sensation!). Martin's going to tell us about his Halloween Top 10 songs!


 




 
Over to you Martin!

Hi there everybody. If you're having a Halloween party this year, I've picked my Top 10 spooky hits. These can be enjoyed by young and old alike and are guaranteed to get everybody in the party spirit (no pun intended!)

Number 10
People Are Strange - The Doors or Echo and the Bunnymen
Definitely a great song to get the party started!

Number 9
Cry Wolf - Aha

Number 8
(You're the) Devil in Disguise - Elvis Presley

Number 7
Amityville (The House on the Hill) - Lovebug Starski

Number 6
The Time Warp - Damian

Number 5
Somebody's Watching Me - Rockwell

Number 4
Werewolves of London -  Warren Zeron

Number 3
Monster Mash - Bobby 'Boris' Pickett and the Crypt Kicker

Number 2
Ghostbusters - Ray Parker Jr.


And of course Number 1 has to go to
Number 1
Thriller - Michael Jackson

So these are my top 10 Halloween favourites. What are yours? Have I missed anything? Let me and Maxine know by posting a comment below!

Don't forget that music can make or break your party! So if you want to get in touch I'm always happy to chat about your next party. Or visit the website!


Thanks Martin for sharing you Halloween top 10! If you're having a Halloween party and you need stress free party supplies then all you need are Life's A Celebration's Halloween Party Boxes.




















Maxine
x

Friday 12 October 2012

How to make a Halloween Card

Todays Halloween guest blog is courtesy of my great friend and all round lovely lady Carrie from Press from Design.

Today she's sharing with us a great Halloween craft activity for your children.' How to make your own Halloween Card'.

Give it a try and let us know how the children get on! We'd love to see your pictures too! If you send me the pictures of your completed cards the winner will receive a FREE Halloween party bag! Just email them across to me!

Over to you Carrie


Hi everyone!

I’m Carrie from Press for Design, and for Maxine’s spooktacular Hallowe’en blogs, I’ve designed a fun, customisable Hallowe’en card for you to make with your kids.

It’s simple to make – first of all download and print out the pdf I’ve put together for you (click on the link below) – if you have some lightweight card to print onto that would be fantastic, otherwise just plain copier paper will do.

Make your own Halloween card template

You’ll see that you get two sheets – one is the base of your card, and the other is a colouring in sheet.


Let your kids colour in the details on the colouring in sheet as they like.



When they’ve finished, cut out the pieces for them.  With trickier pieces, just cut around the outer edge of the design a little, as I did with the spider, and then colour in the white paper.

Fold the “Happy Hallowe’en” sheet in half to make the card base, then let your kids loose with the pieces and a glue stick!  They can put their card design together how they wish.

Here’s how I made mine – please send in your photos of how your kids made theirs – we’d love to see them!

Have a spooktacular Hallowe’en!
Carrie


Thanks Carrie! If your children are excited about Halloween and you're considering hosting a Halloween party for them then don't forget about Life's A Celebration's Halloween Party Boxes.

See you soon my ghoulish friends!

Maxine

Tuesday 9 October 2012

Halloween Party Food Ideas

This month we're celebrating all things ghostly with our Halloween party boxes.
 
Todays Halloween guest blog comes from Mad Hatter Party Food  If you need some great ideas for Halloween party food then you've come to the right place!

So read on for some great Halloween party food ideas from Mad Hatter Party Food.
 
 
 
Halloween is one time of year where you can really have some fun with the food. At Mad Hatter Party Food we do themed menus to fit with any party, and so seasonal parties are just up our street! I have pulled together a few of my favourites, which are very impressive, but easy to do so you can have maximum impact without spending hours in the kitchen – plus they are great fun for the kids to help you make.

 
Sausage Mummies

Simply cut some hot dog sausages in half and wrap the top and bottom with a thin ‘bandage’ of puff pastry, make a couple of holes for eyes and add a small ball of the pastry, and make a smiley face then bake for 10-15 mins. You can vary these by adding a very thin layer of Dijon mustard and grated cheese to the inside of the ‘bandage’.

 

 

Finger Buffet Sandwiches

These are great – take some bread and make finger shapes. Add lines along the fingers for the creases and then use a little cucumber skin to make the finger nail. If you want to make them gory you could add strawberry jam or tomato ketchup to the base of the fingers to make them look like they have been cut off.

 

 
 
Halloween shapes

When I was a little girl I used to love making marzipan fruit, so I had an idea for something a little retro – marzipan Halloween shapes! You can buy the marzipan from most supermarkets and colour it with a little food colouring (paste colours are less messy), then shape them into anything you’d like. If you don’t fancy doing this with marzipan, they would work just as well with fondant icing, which you can also buy ready made at supermarkets – you can even get it ready coloured to save some time. These can also be used as very impressive cupcake toppers – just make a simple cupcake and stick a shape on the top. These can be made in advance so saves any last minute panics.

 

 

 
Halloween biscuits

These are very simple to make, but can be so impressive. You can pick up Halloween cutters quite cheaply in most supermarkets at this time of year. Make a simple vanilla biscuit recipe and cut the biscuits into your Halloween shapes. When they are cooled cut out shapes with the same cutters in fondant icing, stick these to the top of the biscuits using edible glue or a sugar and water solution, and then finish off with as many additional shapes or details as you would  like.

 

 

Jellies and worms

You can get some nice jelly worm sweets which you can add into green jellies to make them look scary and fun – really easy, just let the jelly start to set for about 2 hours before you put them in so they are suspended in the jelly - what child wouldn’t want to tuck in!

 

 

Ghostly Meringues

These couldn’t be easier – simply buy some mini meringue shells and then add eyes – either with an edible pen, or with some fondant or piped icing – and you have instant ghouls!

 

 
 

For more fun party food, cakes and cupcakes visit www.madhatterpartyfood.co.uk
 
 
Massive thanks to Sarah from Mad Hatter Party Food Some brilliant ideas and, as always, we want to know how you get on with making them!
 
You can connect with Sarah on twitter @madhatparty and on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/madhatterpartyfood 
 
Don't forget if you are having a Halloween spooktacular you can get all the party supplies you need in our fangtastic Halloween party boxes!
 
Speak to you soon my friends.
 
Maxine
 

 

Sunday 7 October 2012

Halloween party boxes!

Hi there everybody,

Really quick blog post today just to let you know that we have our Halloween party boxes all ready for you!

 




 
 

These party boxes are ideal if you're looking to have a Halloween party but you don't have the time or the resources to trawl the internet and shops for ideas and supplies.

They come in sizes of 10 guests, 20 guests and 30 guests. Each box contains plates, cups, napkins, tablecloths, spider web decorations, spooky hanging string decorations, snack trays, party bags for everybody to take home, cupcake kits, a pack brimming with ideas of ghoulish games to play and some Halloween party food ideas!



Prices start at just £50 and you can buy on the Halloween page on our website!

Or if you just want Halloween party bags then ours come with spooky pop ups, horror heads candy, halloween bubbles and a scary eyeball. All this for just £2.25 each. Again just visit the Halloween page to purchase.

Please, please watch our video too (and no before you ask that's not me doing a witches cackle!!!).



We have some more Halloween related guest bloggers on there way this month. Including Mad Hatter Party Food sharing their Halloween party food ideas, radio DJ Martin Deltrice sharing his Halloween Hit Parade Top 10 and Carrie Dennison from Press for Design sharing some Halloween craft ideas for the kids. So keep watching!

We're here to make your Halloween spooktacular fangtastic. You'd be batty to miss out! If you would like me to send you some Halloween games ideas then all you need to do is email me and I'll happily send you a games pack!

Maxine
x


Friday 28 September 2012

Memories

We're continuing to celebrate 'Baby Month' here at Life's A Celebration and todays guest blogger is Joanna from Inspirations. Take a look at what she has to say and there's even a discount at the bottom of the blog! Love it!


My name is Joanna and I’m the owner of Inspirations, a family owned and run online gift and card shop.   

 


 
With all the technology available today, it’s easy to take photos and videos and have a record of you and your baby that way.  My dad is constantly taking photos of my two girls; he said to me he wishes he had taken more photos of us as kids.  It’s also a good idea too to record when and where the photos were taken.  Photos and videos are hugely important, but what about other ways of remembering important times?  Memory boxes are a great way to keep special things like scan photos and particularly in the first few months quite handy too, when you’re up to your eyes in nappies, tired from lack of sleep and in the full throws of baby brain they are great for keeping everything safe in one place.


 

I am a convert, I love memory boxes.  I have one which I use to keep my special mementoes in.  I have my ticket to see Swan Lake ballet, my entry ticket to see the Pyramids and all sorts of other things – each with a little story.  I don’t keep everything, just little reminders!

Both my Daughters have a treasured memories box.  They have their first shoes, first drawings, a shell from their first visit to the beach.  My eldest Daughter is 3½ and she’s started bringing things home from nursery, my favourite so far is the Olympic medals they’ve made in clay!  You see I have a ’romantic’  vision of the future, sitting with the kids snuggled by a warm fire, with a lovely mug of hot chocolate, box of chocolates (chocolate always features!) going through their boxes, telling the tales of when they were little, showing them their ‘treasures’.  The reality may be a little different, but I hope they’ll appreciate it when they’re older.

 
 
 I love gorgeous gifts and creating special handmade products, I love it when people put thought in to the gifts and cards they send, especially when they are for a special occasion.   Births, christening / naming day, first birthday and first Christmas are all special milestones.   It’s with this in mind that we aim to create a gorgeous range of handmade memory boxes, birth and christening cards which can be personalised with names and dates.  All are made to order in house and dispatched within a few days.  To complement our range of handmade products, we also stock a range of gifts including money boxes, photo frames and ornaments.

 


 
To celebrate Baby Month we’re giving everyone 10% off their order, enter the code BABYMONTH at the checkout to receive your discount.   I hope you have fun filling your box and creating memories to share together in the years to come!



Thanks Joanna - another brilliant guest blog! Don't forget that if you have got a Baby Shower coming up Life's A Celebration currently has a competition running to win a party box for 7 people. Just visit our website to enter. Good luck!

See you soon.

Maxine

Thursday 27 September 2012

Relaxation during pregnancy and after

 
To continue our 'Baby Month' todays guest blog comes from my very good friend Simone Larraine a Holistic Therapist. She's got some great hints and tip on how to relax during and after pregnancy. Simone can also offer pamper parties which would be ideal for a baby shower. Simone is a very good friend of mine (and I can totally recommend her therapies; pregnant or not!) so if you would like to organise a stress free baby shower then get in touch and between the two of us we'll provide all the pampering you need and all the baby shower supplies too!
 
 
 
Here's what Simone has to say;
 
 
Relaxation during pregnancy and after
 
Reflexology:  All foot massage is beneficial, but reflexology provides a specific method of working on the feet to balance health and well being.
Reflexology is an excellent therapy for pregnancy, it can help your body to cope more effectively with the changes taking place, maintaining its natural balance and supporting you through pregnancy.   I would recommend to wait till the 2nd trimester before booking a reflexology therapy. Reflexology can help with deep relaxation and calm your mind during what can be an emotional time.  Continued treatment after the birth will encourage recovery from the birth and most importantly, some much needed time out for mums! 
Some of the benefits you may feel during or after a reflexology session: Deep relaxation and well being, stress and anxiety relief, stimulation of the body’s own healing mechanisms and improves circulation.
 
Reiki:  ‘Reiki’, A Japanese word pronounced ray - key, can be translated to mean universal life force or universally guided energy. It is a very simple system of healing, carried out by placing hands on or over a person on a massage table or a chair (who is always clothed), with the intent to channel Reiki.
Reiki is perfect for all stages of pregnancy regardless of any pre-existing conditions. Reiki will balance your energy leaving you feeling a deep sense of calm and peacefulness. Energy balance during pregnancy is constantly under pressure, which can manifest itself as emotional and physical symptoms.  During pregnancy Reiki may help to relieve any stress and illness which the mother may be feeling. It works not only on the mother but also on the baby.
 
Indian Head Massage:  IHM has been practised in India for over 1000 years and is a simple but effective treatment that helps promote hair growth as well as providing relief from aches and pains, especially stress. IHM is carried out seated and incorporates the upper back, shoulders, neck, head and face
Indian head massage is considered to be a safe treatment when you are pregnant. As with any form of massage, you should always tell your therapist in advance if you are, or think you might be pregnant, as this may affect the kind of massage, oil and treatment you receive.  At Simone Larraine Holistic Therapy I only treat clients after the second trimester. I may adapt the treatment slightly to avoid certain pressure points that may be over-stimulating for a client who is pregnant. This therapy is good for relaxation, relieving muscular tension in the neck, shoulders and back and reduces the effects of stress.  Continued treatment after the birth will encourage recovery, relaxation and a sense of well being.   If you are experiencing aches and pains in the shoulders and neck, get your partner to get the palm of their hand  and rub your shoulders and neck , nice slow and gentle movements this is enough to help the aches and pains. If done regular you may prevent the aches and pains from getting worse.



Always consult your GP or midwife before booking any therapy

My own personal experience of ill health brought into the field of complementary therapy Illness in some cases can bring about change, seen as an awakening of the spirit, and a connection to understanding the workings of the inner self.
Working with, and studying therapies has helped me to gain some understanding of the complex functioning of the human body, and its many cries for nurturing and healing on all levels.
My recovery and learning of holistic therapies began many years ago whilst attending Reflexology and regular acupuncture treatments for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (M.E) back and joint pain.  I became interested in the way complementary therapies treat the ‘Whole person’ and not just the symptoms that ill health presents.
Two years ago I started my own business Simone Larraine Holistic Therapy, so I could spend a little more time with my clients  and  offer individual help and advice regards to health and wellbeing
I think it is very important to take time out for yourself, even just ten or twenty minutes a day can help calm the mind and gather your thoughts. I find meditation good for relaxation, helping to calm the mind and body.
Simone Larraine Holistic Therapy
 Mobile: 07708 005 266
Email:

 
 
 
Many thanks to Simone for a fantastic blog post! Hope these hints and tips inspire you to relax whether or not you're pregnant.
 
Don't forget if you have a baby shower to organise here at Life's A Celebration we have fantastic baby shower party boxes.
 
Maxine

Tuesday 25 September 2012

Baby Naming Days

Todays guest blogger is Diana Saxby from Grace The Day. She's talking today about Baby Naming Days. Have a look at what she has to say.
 
"I trained in 2010 to be an Independent Family Celebrant and my training included writing and conducting wedding ceremonies, renewal of vows ceremonies, civil partnership ceremonies, and also Naming Day ceremonies. Since then I've established a reputation for my achingly romantic and sincere ceremonies.


The Naming Days or Welcoming Ceremonies are top of my favourite list as I love working with small children and welcome a chance to get to know a baby better and of course to have a cuddle!  Although all 3 of my offspring are old enough to make me a granny, none of them has yet found it necessary to present me with a grandchild!  So I welcome the opportunity to have a cuddle with someone else's and to chat about different parenting techniques.

 




When taking a booking, I like to meet at some point with both parents and of course the baby or child whose Naming Ceremony I am designing.  It's a good opportunity to bond and pick up on the positive qualities within the family and translate these into my script.


Some of the families I've worked with have had double naming ceremonies for twins, others for siblings of different ages, and others for their first or only child.  Each time I've encouraged both parents to have significant input and I love the different dimension a father provides.


Every naming day is different, every one is special and every child is unique and a joy to work with.  I've conducted Naming Day ceremonies in the the same beautiful Cotswold stone manor in which the parents had the wedding a few years previously,  in the grounds of private schools, in family homes, and more recently a marquee on the beach in Bournemouth, usually used for weddings, when the ceremony was followed by sandcastle building with the little children!  Decorated with colourful bunting, sea shells and little buckets of flowers hanging at the end of each row of chairs, buckets and spades provided by the venue, a sweet cart displaying tuck shop style sweets and candies,  this venue lent itself perfectly to a family celebration such as a Naming Day.
http://www.beachweddingsbournemouth.co.uk 
This particular ceremony was uploaded onto YouTube with the parents permission.
http://www.youtube.com/user/DianaSaxby and is also on my own website www.gracetheday.com

Every ceremony I conduct is personally written and designed by me.  No two ceremonies will be the same as all scripts are bespoke and written personally for the family and the child, after several meetings with the parents and myself.  Unlike other celebrants, I refuse to use formatted scripts or to contract my work out.  While I employ a PA to manage my booking diary and reply to client enquiries in my absence, all client meetings and ceremonies are conducted personally by me.  This way, beautiful relationships are formed with my clients, and I'm finding parents are coming back to me with requests for new naming ceremonies as their families grow and new offspring arrive!


A very great compliment recently came from a well known wedding planner in the Cotswolds who has booked me to design a Naming Ceremony for her first child, a baby daughter. This ceremony is booked for October this year and will be held in private grounds belonging to a relative of the couple.  To become the celebrant who a wedding planner books for their own private occasion is a huge honour and I'm looking forward to seeing the blogging and professional photographs which the parents have organised to celebrate this particular event.

I'm always mindful that to create a memorable day for the children involved, the parents need to be open with me and recall facts and events which are very personal to them.  We build on these to design a ceremony which is totally personal to the parents and their child or children, which welcomes the child into the family, and recognises the important role family and friends have in supporting both parents and child in their development through each stage of infancy and childhood until adulthood is reached.


Naming and Welcoming Ceremonies do not prevent a child from seeking their own truth during their lifetime, but they are considered alternatives to traditional christenings and baptisms for parents who perhaps want to express their own thoughts and sentiments within the ceremonies and who want the freedom to hold ceremonies in places which are special to them.  They can be followed by a drinks reception or party afterwards, or simply be the ceremony only.

Naming Ceremonies can include music, readings, poetry, and pledges to the child from parents and guardians.  I am often asked to conclude with a butterfly or balloon release which is a lovely way to close a ceremony, and there are some beautiful readings to accompany these significant actions, and the releases make lovely photo opportunities too. There are certain considerations for the environment which I  observe and am always happy to share advice during the planning of these extra inclusions.


Naming and Welcoming Ceremonies can be held in public venues, outdoor spaces, in your own home or garden, on the beach, in a nursery school or village or church hall, or any place the family choose.

For authentic testimonials from clients, please take a look at some of the lovely comments on my Guest Book

 

Diana"



Thanks Diana for such a great blog! If you're looking for something special as a gift for a baby's naming day or you want something to keep the kids occupied on the day then have you seen our Activity Bags for Children. These were designed with weddings in mind but are perfect for any occasion were you would like to make sure the kids are occupied too!


Speak to you soon folks.

Maxine
x


 

Monday 24 September 2012

It's All About The Wrapper!

We're continuing with 'Baby Month' here at Life's A Celebration and todays guest bloggers is Vicki Moore from It's All About The Wrapper. Whilst organising this blog post and being at opposite ends of the country, Vicki and I have enjoyed skype chats and I can confirm that she is a lovely, approachable lady!

Here's what she has to say about her business.

How many people do you know who love chocolate? Assuming it’s everyone, we have the perfect personalised party idea for you. Personalised chocolate bars!! With the theme of ‘baby month’ top of mind, your chocolate bars can be personalised for your baby shower, your baby’s birth announcement, baby’s christening, baby’s first birthday and every birthday party after that!
Here are some ideas for you ….. a personalised chocolate bar for each guest at your friend’s baby shower, to announce the details of your baby’s arrival, a special give-away at their christening and an idea for party bags for the next 18 years!




Once you have your idea in mind, you can choose from one of the pre-designed wrappers on our website www.itsallaboutthewrapper.co.uk, or you can send your favourite photo or image to add to a blank wrapper.




Our wrapper range includes designs in blue and pink, and more neutral ones too. And then fun ones for birthday parties – from trains, racing cars, pirates, balloons and football to horses, dinosaurs, dogs, cats, disco divas and ballerinas. You can put a message on the front and the back of the wrapper, and also have individual names on each one too.




The majority of our pre-designed wrappers are for the larger 35g bar, but we also do a smaller 10g bar which is perfect to pop a photo on.




The chocolate is delicious. It’s a Belgian recipe and is sourced within the UK. It
contains 20% milk solids and 30% cocoa solids, and is suitable for vegetarians but may contain traces of nuts.
The printing, cutting and wrapping is all done in house, so your wrapper can be as personalised as you like. At It’s All About The Wrapper we give each order the attention it deserves. Having a baby is the most precious thing in the world, and we would love to join you on your adventure.
Please take a look at our website or give us a call. We can take one of the stresses away from you, so put your feet up & have a cuppa!




If you place an order by 30th September and tell us how fabulous Life’s a Celebration is, you will get a 10% discount off your chocolates!
With love & yummy chocolate wishes
Vicki x
T: @AboutTheWrapper
P: 01483 208585
 
 
Thanks for the blog post Vicki and thanks for the 10% discount too! Don't forget that if you have a baby shower coming up that you need to organise we have a baby shower competition running until 30th September 2012. All you need to do is visit our website and join our mailing list. Good luck.
 
See you soon folks
 
Maxine
 

Hello

Welcome to Life's A Celebration's Blog. We box up all kinds of parties for all kinds of celebrations. Pop across and see us at www.lifesacelebration.co.uk