Mother's Day Guest Blog - Libby from The Dressing Up Chest

Hello my friends!

As you know we're celebrating Mothers this month with some 'mums in business'. If you're looking for something a bit different this Mother's Day then don't forget about our wonderful colour-in-able Mother's Day Bags. Perfect for something totally unique for mum! To buy just click on the Buy Now tab above! Easy peasy!

Today it is the turn of Libby from The Dressing Up Chest to have a chat about running her business. Have a read and check out the pictures of Libby's fab work!

 

  

"Hi everyone.  I am Libby and my business is called the Dressing Up Chest.  For the past 3 ½ years I have been making costumes for children for dressing up, fancy dress and for stage and dance schools.

 

My own children are grown up now - although they still ask me to make costumes for music festivals and fancy dress parties.  When they were younger I enjoyed nothing more than making costumes for them to play in and for all the school plays and dance shows they took part in.  I thought that the perfect solution once I had more time was to create costumes for other people’s children where parents often don’t have the time and for those who just prefer not to make.

 

It seems that children love nothing more than dressing up and I have seen a huge increase in the number of themed parties from pirates and princesses to superheroes and book characters.  Pirates remain a firm favourite with boys and girls.  I have also noticed more girls defying stereotype and asking for knight’s tabards and tailcoats rather than the more traditional fairy princess costume.

 

 

I am often asked to make costumes of characters which simply aren’t available in high street fancy dress shops. I love a challenge and haven’t been beaten yet! I have made a giant star, a hedgehog, Lola’s Alligator (Charlie and Lola books), Captain Adorable (CBBC) and I am currently making Meg the Witch (Meg and Mog).  When children are given a leading role in the school play parents are also delighted to be able to have a good quality costume made for the star of the show to shine in. This Christmas I was particularly busy making sheep and shepherds.

 

I have always love dance and one of my favourite jobs is making costumes for excited little girls and boys about to showcase their talents on stage for their proud parents.  Schools too seem to be encouraging children to dress up to bring their History lessons to life and I have made endless numbers of Victorian maid’s mob caps and aprons, Tudor dresses and costumes for Boudicca!

 

Children can often be seen dressed up in character in the supermarket.  My costumes are perfect for this as they are made from good quality fabrics and trimmings and are all washable. I like to think of them as themed clothing rather than fancy dress as they are made in exactly the same way as regular clothing but just with a style of their own.

You can take a look at my costumes at www.dressingupchest.co.uk but if you would like something completely different please contact me at info@dressingupchest.co.uk and I will happily design something unique just for your boy or girl."

 
www.dressingupchest.co.uk

info@dressingupchest.co.uk

https://twitter.com/dressingupchest

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Dressing-Up-Chest/125132044172995

http://pinterest.com/dressingupchest/

 

Thanks Libby for your words! Fab costumes!

Speak to you soon my friends!

Maxine
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What's wrong with straightforward?

I have had a busy week packing and despatching boxes with the most popular ones being the children's party boxes and the baby showers. I always ask for feedback on all of the products that I send out and this week somebody commented that the party boxes were "fabulously straightforward". When I read this I was slightly disappointed. I thought; my party boxes are amazing, they're out of this world, they are the best things since sliced bread!

However I then sat down and thought about it and I realised that there's absolutely nothing wrong with straightforward is there? In fact isn't that the whole point of my party boxes - they're designed to make people's lives straightforward otherwise what's the point in somebody buying an entire party in a box.

As a no nonsense Yorkshire lass I love my life being straightforward and quite honestly I don't think there's anything wrong with that is there? Are you a straightforward kind of person too??

My business lends itself to all those people out there that are like me. They want to have a great party but they don't have the time/money/inclination to trawl the shops and the internet looking for party supplies.

So let's all embrace straightforward - it's amazing, it's out of this world, it's the best thing since sliced bread!

Maxine
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Oooooh ps) If you want a Pirate Party Box for 10 guests I have a special offer on these at the moment. I have any entire party box for only £20 (plus £4.95 p&p). You will get tableware, banners, balloons, party bags and more! Perfect if you need a last minute party for a 'do' at home! Click here to email me to buy! See if couldn't be more straightforward ;) Hurry though as I only have very limited stock and once they're gone they're!

pps) The lady who made the "fabulously straightforward" comment knows I've written this blog and she has read it too! So thank you to her for inspiring me to continue being both fabulous and straightforward!

The Queen's Jubilee

So will you be celebrating the Queen's Jubilee?

The national treasure that is Gary Barlow has been all over the news promoting the concert that will be screened on 4th June and will include acts such as Dame Shirley Bassey, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Ed Sheeran, JLS, Alfie Boe, Jools Holland, Jessie J, Tom Jones, Lang Lang, Annie Lennox, Madness and Cliff Richard.

So do you think it's a good idea to celebrate the Jubilee or are you bored witless of it already? I would genuinely love to hear your views.

Personally I think it's fab for the nation to actually have something good to celebrate. I don't know about you but I am totally sick of all the doom and gloom that is purveyed all over the media. Let's enjoy ourselves and show the rest of the world just what us Brits do best.

But then again I'm bound to say that aren't I?? Celebrations are what I do! As soon as this blog is posted my job for today is to get my Jubilee party boxes completely and utterly organised.

I'm actually really excited about these boxes. They will have everything included that is needed to enjoy a jolly good knees up! From tableware to decorations, face painting kits to flags I am certain that you will love the idea! There's even going to be a games pack brimming with games ideas for both the kids and the grown ups to play.

These party boxes are going to have limited supply and I have already had loads of enquiries about them. So if you do like the sound of having a Jubilee party either in your street, in your local village hall or in your garden then email me on maxine@lifesacelebration.co.uk and I'll let you know all about these wonderful party boxes.


However there is just one thing that could scupper everybody's plans for a good old fashioned street party and that is......................well of course the good old British weather!

Keep smiling

Max
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Friday Fun - Brew a batch of ginger ale

As you may or may not be aware I am currently reading a Secret Seven book to my daughter so this Friday Fun blog is in homage to the great Enid Blyton - "How to Brew a Batch of Ginger Ale".

It's a great activity to do with the kids and fizzy ginger ale is a great addition to any party especially if it's homemade!

The ingredients are:
1 cup of sugar
1/4 tsp of granular, active bakers yeast
Fresh ginger root, peeled
1 lemon

You'll also need a dry 2 litre plastic bottle, a grater and a funnel.

Funnel the sugar into the bottle, then add the yeast. Don't get the amount of yeast wrong (quarter of a teaspoon) because your ginger ale might explode. This is why you never brew ginger ale in a glass bottle.
Finely grate the ginger - you'll need about 1.5 tablespoons
Squeeze the juice from the lemon into the ginger and stir.
Funnel the mixture into the bottle then add cold water, leaving an inch or so of space at the top of the bottle.
Screw the lid on tight and give it a shake.
Leave the bottle in a dark cupboard for 20 to 30 hours, checking on it after 18 hours, then at regular intervals.
You can tell when it's ready by squeezing it; once the bottle feels hard and your thumb diesn't leave a dent, pop it in the fridge and chill for 24 hours/
Open the bottle carefully to release the pressure slowly, strain the ginger pieces out.
Finally enjoy a glass of cloudy, fresh brewed ginger ale.

Hope you've enjoyed this - I want to know how yours turns out.
This would be a great addition to our fab children's party boxes. Let your child impress all their friends at their party with home made ginger ale!
If you have a childs party coming up and you want to make it as enjoyable but as stress free as possible then get in touch and we'll chat about how I can help you. maxine@lifesacelebration.co.uk

It's A Year Since It's All Began

Well today my gorgeous daughter turns 7 years old. She is the reason why I've become the "Party Lady".

Last year when she turned 6 and I asked her what she wanted for a party all she would say was "A musical statues party" and I thought "I can do that". It was then that I realised that organising a kids party can sometime be a bit of a headache and that was nobody out there offering a complete party in a box to help save busy parents time and money!
So I set about putting together some kids party boxes to see what people (especially children) thought. These prototype boxes were so well received that I set about setting up the business. I was so surprised at the reaction that the party boxes had and the range has expanded quite dramatically since the business was launched.

We now have all kinds of parties from children's birthdays to young people's sleepovers to milestone birthdays to baby showers to pre wedding party boxes. All of my party boxes follow the same simple concept. Everything you need to celebrate is in the party box; tableware, decorations, games, prizes, party bags (for our kids & milestone party boxes), music and loads loads more. All you need to do is tell me how many guests you have coming and I do the rest. When the box arrives, just open it up and enjoy the party!

If you also have something specific then get in touch! I love creating new parties and have lots of ideas. Coming soon our Jubilee Party Boxes and Olympic Party Boxes!

I am absolutely amazed and if I'm honest really proud of how far I've managed to take the business in less than a year. From what began as a germ of an idea a year ago is now a full e-commerce business with regular customers, a full product range and a marketing strategy!

There's no denying that it's not always been plain sailing but I've met some great people along the way; some of whom I would consider to be friends for life!

So I have my daughter to thank for all of the amazing things that have happened in my life over the last year! (and making me the happiest lady ever!) If you ever want to chat about my party boxes please get in touch! maxine@lifesacelebration.co.uk

Keep smiling my friends.

Max
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