Mother's Day Guest Blog - Vikki King from MiniMe Baby

With the launch of our Mother's Day bags Life's A Celebration is celebrating Mums in business this month.

 

Today's Mum in Business is Vikki King from MiniMe Baby. Have a read what Vikki has to say!

 

Who is MiniMe Baby?

I am Vikki, a Mum to two wonderful children and wife to a very understanding and patient husband. My son is 16 and scarily just about to complete his moped test (scared as I am for his safety I can’t not let him get one as I too had a moped at 16, with dreams of owning a motorbike one day. That bit never happened though) and my daughter, Libby was born last year in the very early hours of Halloween, so we nicknamed her pumpkin as she suits orange really well.

We setup MiniMe Baby back in July 2012, when I was 6 months pregnant. It was our vision to bring parents affordable clothing for 0-8 years and gifts that were also either organic, ethical or UK manufactured. So determined was I to start trading before our daughter was born, that from the moment we finally decided to go for our dreams it only took me 7 weeks to launch our website and visit our first trade show. In fact the website went live the night before our first visit to the trade show and our business cards were still hot off the press.

 

 Our business has since evolved slightly and I am now obsessed with everything UK Handmade and with fabric. 2013 see’s MiniMe Baby searching out small crafters to bring you unique and lovingly created clothes and gifts. I have found a passion and I love working with other small businesses.

Bebby Girls and Bebby Boys wall art is a great example of this. They are created by a very talented mum and school teacher, Rebecca McKay. Who found me on Twitter.

New stock sourced, but still to be added to the website so far this year includes; C.E certified sock monkeys, sock bunnies, sock tigers, up cycled bags, felt keyring/ bag charms, hair accessories and nursery decorations.

On our search for new stock of british products and brands we are proud to have found  Zippy Suits:  Zippy Suits are luxuriously soft sleep suits with no poppers (genius idea I think) Zippy Suits have a single zip to fasten the sleep suit instead of many pairs of poppers. Helpful when changing any little wriggler! Also helpful for night time changing in dim light and for parents with arthritis. They have an envelope neckline to ensure a snug fit for baby whilst being easy for dressing. Available in Sizes: 3-6m, 6-9m, 9-12m & 12-18m and currently available in 4 fab colours (2 blue, 2 pink).
Matching dribble bibs are also available  

Please feel free to browse our pages, we are especially proud of our Reviews tab; which links to independent blogs and videos of products we stock. The Info tab; has also been setup to give helpful impartial information for parents covering topics such as; Breastfeeding, Real Nappies; Reading; Sleeping; Family days out. These areas are constantly being updated so please let me know if there is a topic that you would like adding and I will research it for you.

Working around a baby is difficult and tiring but if you believe in yourself and your business I think that it is worth persevering to reach your dreams, and that is exactly what MiniMe Baby is doing….never give up on your own dreams.

Website: www.minime-baby.co.uk    
Twitter: @minimebabyuk
Facebook: MiniMe-Baby
Pininterest: http://pinterest.com/minimebabyuk/

Thanks for your words Vikki. Don't forget about our Mother's Day bags. These gorgeous bags come with a pack of fabric pens so the kids can colour them in and make a totally unique gift for mum. At only £9.99 they are an affordable present that mum will love! If you want to buy all you need to do is drop me a line - it's that simple! Plus (I'm leaving the best till last) - all those that buy a Mother's Day bag will be entered into our giveaway to win an Easter bag too!

Speak to you soon.

Maxine
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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

Children's parties - Myth Busting

Once people find out what I do for a living their first reaction is to say "Oooooh that's a good idea" then "Oooooh I wish I'd known about you when little Jimmy turned 4 a couple of weeks ago" and then "Aren't children's parties a headache?"
This got me thinking about children's parties and the urban myths that surround them. So I decided to write this post to bust some of these myths and generally make parents' lives easier.

Myth Number 1
Children's parties are stressful

Yes children's parties are stressful but they're only as stressful as you want to make them. Don't feel like you have to "keep up with the Joneses". You will always find that there are some parents out there that will go all out with some all-singing all-dancing extranvangza! You don't need to do this. Children are actually quite simple creatures and the traditional games and activities always remain timeless and popular.  Stick with the good fashioned favourites like pass the parcel, musical bumps and musical statues. There's a reason they've been around a long time and that's because they never go out of style.
If you're doing a party at home or you're even attempting to entertain them yourself in your local village hall the things you need to remember are
1) Don't panic
2) Don't over complicate things
3) Have a structure that can be flexible. For example if the children don't seem to be enjoying a particular game or activity then move onto the next. It's no big deal.

Coming very soon will be a blog post on ideas, hints and tips on how to entertain the children yourself at your local village hall.


Myth Number 2
Children's Parties Are Expensive.

This is simply not true. As with myth number 1, in lots of ways, the party only need to be as expensive as you need to make it. Last time you had a party did you tot up exactly how much it cost you? It was a lot wasn't it?

If money is tight at the moment then keep things simple. Have a party at home. I am increasingly getting orders for parents that are doing just that. This is one of the main reasons why I have introduced the new Princess Party Boxes and Happy Birthday Party Boxes. The smaller boxes are absolutely idea for parties at home and are a fraction of the cost of going out and buying everything yourself. If you want I'll also send you a FREE games pack if you let me know when you order that you want one. 

Click here - if you want some hints and tips on Kids Parties at home.


Kids love craft activities so why not just buy a load of craft materials and pop them on the table and let them cut, stick and colour to their hearts contents. If you want some craft materials just let me know and I'll be happy to add some craft kits to your party order.

Why not let them decorate their own party bags? Or get them involved in the food preparation by decorating their own pizza with their favourite toppings?

If your child is adamant that they want to invite the entire school and you have to hire a local village hall then why not entertain the children yourself? Coming soon will be a blog on hints/tips and ideas on how to do this!


Myth Number 3
Children are difficult to entertain

They're not! Just think back to when you were a child and the things that used to amuse you. Children today are no different. Yes they may have all the latest gadgets, yes they may seem more sophicated but they still like the same things that you and I liked when we were that age.


Myth Number 4
Parties are just for birthdays

You don't have to make birthdays the only thing that you celebrate; after all "Life's a Celebration".
For example next week my daughter and a gang of her mates are having a recording studio party at The Music Pod just to celebrate leaving the Infants School and moving up to the Junior School. I'm a firm believer that life is for celebrating so any excuse to have a bit of a 'do' and you should.

Don't forget that Life's A Celebration is here to help you with your next party, be it a kids party, a sleepover party or a milestone party. We're a friendly bunch here and are always on hand to help you with any party helps you have.
If you want to talk to me directly (I'm very friendly!) give me a call on 01207 588958 or skype me through the website. Or just drop me a line and I'll get back to you to have a chat!

Party on my friends,
Maxine

Our Olympic Torch Party

So the Olympic torch went through our village at the weekend! What an absolutely brilliant day we had!

The torch passing by!

A friend of mine's house was right on the route and the torch was going to pass right by her door so a few weeks ago we all pitched in and started to organise a bit of a party to mark the occasion.

Obviously, being in the party industry, I was charged with making sure the 'do' had all the party supplies necessary. So I organised bunting, tableware, decorations, cupcake stands, place mats, waving flags in fact everything you need to have a superb event.

Me in my hat!

The torch was due to pass the door at 4:04 (very precise!) and so we all gathered at my friends house at about 2 o clock and went to line the streets at about 3 o clock. The procession began about 20 minues before the torch actually passed and the atmosphere was absolutely incredible. If the torch hasn't passed your door yet then I can totally recommend that you go out and see it.

Anyway, this has got me thinking about what a wonderful year it is to be British. We've had the Jubilee, the football team have made it to the quarter finals in Euro 2012 (I think - I don't watch it!) and we have the Olympics to celebrate too. If you want an Olympics Party Box organising then get in touch. These are due to be put on the website very soon but if you need something in the interim get in touch. You know how friendly I am and I'll always be happy to help. Any other parties you've got coming up too - just get in touch and we'll get you an incredible party box sent out.

I've also decided to hold a big "Best of British" party in October this year in order to wrap up all the Great British things that are happening in our land this year. Guests will need to wear either red, white or blue or come dressed as their favourite British Icon. I think I might go as Cilla Black! Oh I've told you now - it's not going to be a Surprise Surprise!!

Ooooh also my business has been nominated in the Best In Britain Independent Business in Great British Exhibition Awards. If you could vote for me, I'd be really grateful. Thanks!
Maxine
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Friday Fun - 90s pop quiz

Let's have some fun on this dank and dreary Friday. Have a go at our 90s pop quiz. These come as part of our 30th birthday party boxes. Let me know what your answers are and I'll send you a discount code for 10% off your next purchase at Life's A Celebration. Lots of party boxes for lots of occasions.

1. What was the title of Cher's first 90's UK No. 1 single?
a. The Shoop Shoop Song
b. Believe
c. I Got You Babe

2. Sinead O'Connor had a hit in 1990 with Nothing Compares 2 U, but who wrote it?
a. Tom Jones
b. Prince
c. Michael Stipe

3. Which group had the first "new" UK No. 1 of the 1990's? (on 13th Jan 1990, knocking the 1989 Xmas No. 1 off top spot)
a. Bros
b. East 17
c. New Kids on the Block

4. Which Bachelors hit was a 90's No. 1 for Robson and Jerome?
a. Unchained Melody
b. I Believe
c. Saturday Night at the Movies

5. Which 90's chart hit for Louise was also the title of her debut solo album?
a. Stuck in the Middle with you
b. Eternal
c. Naked

6. Whose debut solo album, in 1992, was entitled Diva?
a. Alanis Morrisette
b. Leanne Rimes
c. Annie Lennox

7. Who was the biggest selling Country artist, worldwide, of the 1990's?
a. Garth Brooks
b. Billy Ray Cyrus
c. Dolly Parton

8. Which 1998 hit for 911 was a cover of a 70's hit by Tavares?
a. She’s Gone
b. Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel
c. More Than a Woman

9. Whose 1997 hit Mmmbop topped the singles charts on both sides of the Atlantic?
a. NSnyc
b. Hanson
c. Backstreet Boys

10. Who had a 1996 hit with the Simon and Garfunkel song Cecilia? 
a. Suggs
b. REM
c. Genesis

Go on, click here and let me know your answers (they don't have to be right!) and I'll send you 10% off your next party box.

Cheer yourself up on this rainy day and take yourselves back to the 90s.

Maxine

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My 80s birthday party

Well my friends, after months of preparation my birthday party has come and gone. I can safely say it was the bext party ever! For anybody that was in attendance feel free to leave a comment to confirm this!!


The day of the party started with me frantically baking vol-au-vents. I had organised for a Pie and Peas man to arrive for the party instead of the usual buffet but I also wanted a table of really naff 80s food. So on this table there was things like vol-au-vents (or volly vonts as the man in the supermarket kept calling them!), wagon wheels, choc dips, love hearts, refreshers, monster munch, sausages on sticks and cheese and pineapple on sticks (in the obligatory foiled covered potato!).

Party food

Party food

In the afternoon me and my friend Carrie put up posters on the walls, blew up balloons and arranged the prizes and party bags on the tables. Then we waited for the DJ to arrive and then the guests to arrive. The party started at 7 o clock so I did the usual pacing up and down last minute panic fearing that nobody was going to turn up. Anyway at about 7:20 the first of the guests started to arrive and the evening began.

Posters for the walls!

Everybody turned up in 80s fancy dress costume and I was absolutely blown away by the effort that everybody had made. I really do have an incredible set of friends.

It's Bananarama

Cyndi Lauper and Carrie wearing original 80s clothing

It's Indiana Jones at the bar!

Crimped hair and Madonna

Yes that is Obi Wan Kenobi dancing!!

There was even an awards ceremony. The prizes were highly coveted and you'll see why if you look at the pictures below.

There were cassette tapes, VHS videos, a cup from 1988 to celebrate the arrival of the first child of the Duke and Duchess of York, a Jackie annual from 1983, a slinky and a book all about the TV programme Bread (and loads more!). I'm sure you will agree there really were some fabulous prizes on offer!

Me with Tom Cruise in Top Gun

After the awards followed an evening of intense dancing. The DJ (Martin Deltrice) was absolutely amazing - he kept brilliant 80s music playing all night and really kept everybody in the party spirit.


We also had cake - well the most enormous rubiks cube cake! This was courtesy of Briary Sugarcraft Supplies and was totally fab!

No party is complete either without the party bags. Why should party bags be reserved for children only?? So everybody left my party with a party bag complete with sweets and a yo yo.

All in all it was a fantastic party. Here are just some of the many comments that people made about it:

"This has been the best party ever"

"Had a really good night, haven't danced so much in ages."

"Thanks for a fab night. We had a great time"

"Just wanted to say great party fab night everyone looked brill. We all really enjoyed it"

So if you want a great party and you don't know where to start then all you need to do is drop me a line, pick up the phone or give me a skype call and together I know we can come up with something brilliant for you!

Life's A Celebration is here to help you with your next party so pop across and have a look at the website. If you can't find what you're looking for then just get in touch with me directly and I will discuss your requirements with you personally.

So you'd think I'd be despondent now knowing that it's all over for another year - but think again as I'm busy organising the next party for October time entitled "Now That's What I Call A Party". Let me know if you want an invite!!



Planning my own birthday party (Part 4)

Hi there everyone,

Well it's nearly here. All the planning for the birthday party is coming together nicely and I can't believe it's actually going to be the party on Friday.

As you probably know the theme is 1980s so I've put together a wonderful outfit. I have a MASSIVE perm wig which unfortunately is more Brian May then Cher. This is teamed with an outfit of a black bat wing off-the-shoulder jumper, shorts with neon square all over them, neon pink patent leather stilletos with the obligatory neon orange leg warmers. Needless to say I look gorgeous and I will make sure some photos are posted on here after the big event.

There's going to be prizes for Best Dressed Woman, Best Dressed Man, Best Dressed Couple, Best Hairstyle, Best 80s Dancing and lots more. I have sourced some of the best prizes including a Jackie annual from 1983, a T'Pau cassette and a Jane Fonda VHS video. There are lots more prizes but this gives you an idea of how naff I am taking this.

I am half way through putting the party bags together. This is a job I absolutely love doing and I am making sure that Life's A Celebration is getting plenty of mentions in them. Obviously might as well get some advertising out of this!!

I have organised for the Pie and Peas man to turn up at 8:30 (I've opted for something that's not a buffet to feed my guests) however I have also organised for the tables to be covered in lots of cheese and pineapple on sticks, sausages on sticks, vol-au-vents (of course!) Ferrero Rocher (because I'm spoiling you!), Choc Dips and lots of other retro goodies.

I've also got some posters for my Wall of Dreams. Here are some of the images that I have turned into posters.

What do you think?

The DJ is primed and ready to go with classics such as this.

All in all I think I'm nearly there.

Next time we speak the party will be over and I will be able to share with you all the photos. If you need any inspiration for your next 'do' just get in touch - always happy to help.

Keep smiling my friends.

Max

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A Guest on Monday - Ann Williams - Maughan

Today's guest blogger is Ann Williams - Maughan from Education Takeaway. Education Takeaway provides a range of educational games, books, puzzles, magnets and charts to promote essential literacy and numeracy skills for primary school children and their parents.

Here's what Ann had to say;

"Jolly Phonics is a thorough foundation for reading and writing. It uses the synthetic phonics method of teaching the letter sounds in a way that is fun and multi-sensory. Children learn how to use the letter sounds to read and write words.

In Jolly Phonics the 42 main sounds of English are taught, not just the alphabet. The sounds are in seven groups. Some sounds are written with two letters, such as ee and or. These are called digraphs. oo and th can each make two different sounds, as in book and moon, that and three. To distinguish between these two sounds, the digraph is represented in two forms. 

Each sound has an action which helps children remember the letter(s) that represent it. As a child progresses you can point to the letters and see how quickly that can do the action and say the sound. One letter sound can be taught each day. As a child becomes more confident, the actions are no longer necessary.  Children should learn each letter by its sound, not its name. For example, the letter a should be called a (as in ant) not ai (as in aim). Similarly, the letter n should be nn (as in net), not en. This will help in blending. The names of each letter can follow later.

Parental support is important to all children as they benefit from plenty of praise and encouragement whilst learning. You should be guided by the pace at which your child wants to go. If interest is being lost, leave the teaching for a while and then come back to it later. Not all children find it easy to learn and blend sounds. Extra practice will lead to fluency in reading and help your child manage at school."

If you want to know more about the Jolly Phonics range and all the other products in Education Takeaway's range click here to see Ann's website.

Hope you've enjoyed today's guest blogger. Please feel free to leave a comment for me or Ann. We would be happy to hear from you.

If you want to chat with me directly about any parties you have coming up then just drop me a line!

Look forward to chatting with you all soon.

Max

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