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

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!

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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Dressing up and growing up!

I don’t know about you but I seem to spend my life racing around trying to accommodate what’s going on at my daughter’s school. There doesn’t seem to be a week goes by when then there’s not a “Theme Day” were we need to dress up in some wild and wacky costume or there’s a school trip that needs a volunteer or I get called in as my capacity as Governor or we need to put together some exciting piece of artwork.

Do you sometimes feel like life is far too busy to organise all the things that are going on in your child’s school life? I know I do. As a busy working parent most days do not have enough hours and I end up running around late at night trying to get organised for the next day at school. On Wednesday this week it was Circus Day at school and, despite having all of half term to organise, as I was working all half term this inevitably got left till the last minute and I ended up cobbling together a Ring Masters outfit. Actually I felt quite good with what I managed to come up with! Using a black hat that I use for a party game, a Little Red Riding Hood cloak (from a previous World Book Day dress up day at school), black leggings, a white shirt and some eye liner for the obligatory twirly moustache a Ringmaster was born!

Anyway Circus Day got my thinking. This is my daughter’s last half term at Infants School and although she is totally ready to go to the Junior School down the road I have been warned by friends that already have children at the Junior School that all Theme Days stop once they get there and it’s time for them all to get their heads down and start preparing for the wider world.
When I found this out I felt a momentary sense of relief that I would no longer have to spend evenings coming up with ingenious ideas for costumes or art work then it struck me……..my daughter is growing up at a rate of knots and I’m not sure that I like it!

The last 7 years have passed so quickly and I have to accept that there will soon come a day when she doesn’t want to spend all her time with me and her mates offer her better (!) advice than I do. So I have made a pact with myself that whilst she wants to spend time with me and whilst there are still Theme Days to dress up for and art work to construct I shall dive in with enthusiasm and gusto because it’s finally dawned on me that very soon it will all be over.

So the moral of the day is embrace the moment and enjoy every minute of it because it's over far too quickly!

Keep smiling
Max
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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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The Tooth Fairy is frightened of our dog

Do you ever have one of those days were you question your abilities as a mother? Well I had one the other day. Let me explain!

I have a gorgeous 7 year old daughter who obviously I love more than words can say! Well on Wednesday her second tooth fell out. She had been starting to question the existence of the Tooth Fairy after she had found her first tooth in her dad's wallet. Anyway I managed to get around that one and she wrote a lovely letter to the Tooth Fairy stating "please can I keep the tooth for memories but can I still have the money?" Kids eh? You gotta love 'em!!

Anyway she dutifully put the tooth in the box with her little letter and popped it under her pillow and fell asleep.

I went about my evening tasks and took myself off to bed.

Yes you know where this is going don't you??

In the morning she wandered into my bedroom with the box still complete with the previous nights contents. THE TOOTH FAIRY HADN'T BEEN!!

In my half asleep state I managed to explain that our dog Daisy had been in her bedroom during the night and she must have frightened the Tooth Fairy. I said I would make sure Daisy stayed out of her bedroom the next night and I'm sure she would come.

So the next morning my daughter found a lovely note from the Tooth Fairy explaining that our dog had frightened her but she had popped some extra money in the box so that she could buy herself something special.

So if you have a dog and one night the Tooth Fairy forgets to come to your house I'll give you this story for free!!!

Enough to frighten any Tooth Fairy

A wonderful photoshoot

Life is pretty hectic here at Life's A Celebration at the moment and I just haven't had the chance to write and tell you about what we did a couple of weeks ago.

We went across to Manchester for a photoshoot with Chantel from The Cupcake Box. What a fantastic day!

We had baby shower shots, kids party shots, Jubilee shots and Olympic shots.

Here's a selection of the shots that were taken. I am really pleased with them and wanted to quickly show some of them to you before I start planning my exciting plans for Princess Party Boxes, Olympic Party Boxes and many others.

Anyway here's some Princess shots.

We will be launching our Princess Party Boxes very soon and I hope these shots give you an idea of what they will contain and how fab they are, especially for those parties at home!

We had some shots taken for lots of different parties and I will make sure you all of  see these in time. But in the meantime these are some baby shower party box shots too to whet your appetite!

Hope you like the shots so far. More will follow!

Major thanks to the following businesses for their help!

 Cupcakes (which were very tasty!) TheCupcake Box, Manchester 

Chair Covers - AllWrapped Up Events, Irlam

Balloons - All BlownUp, Irlam 

Wooden "Love" Sign - Jazzle Designs, Aylesbury 

Handpainted Princess Wine Glasses - Jazzle Designs 

Wine Glass Charms - Charms by Joanna, Aylesbury 

Party Invites - Kate Lewis Design, Macclesfield

Fabric Bunting - Tree House Crafts, Manchester

Floral Corsages - Creations 4 Occasions Stockport

Keep smiling everyone! More exciting news about Life's A Celebration will follow very soon.

Maxine

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A Guest on Monday - Fiona Sharp

Today's guest blogger is Fiona Sharp an Independent Phoenix Trader. Have a read about what she had to say about  

Oh no! Another last minute party invite found in the school bag!

Does that sound familiar to you?

That is exactly why I became an independent phoenix trader......does that sound like a drastic step to take?

All the products are fantastic quality and when I tried to pick one for this blog it was agony but after much debate I picked the poster tubes!


The colouring in posters are stunning, suitable for boys and girls across a wide age group.  They make a fantastic birthday present, a gift to a sick child stuck in the house, or just a rainy day solution! Great quality and only £6 per tube!

 

The colouring in posters come in three different packs. You get four A3 posters in each pack. These keep the kids busy for days!

Champion sports pack as the following four designs included:

Athletics

Swimming – our personal favourite

Outdoors

Indoors.

This pack is suitable for both boys and girls, so really versatile! Also very popular in Olympic year!

There is also a boys packs which contains the following designs:

Space

Airport

Dinosaurs

Under the sea.

Finally, the girls pack contains:

Mermaids – another personal favourite in our house

Theatre

Girls Baking

Ponies’ Fair.

At first I thought I would just buy for my own benefit a few times a year to keep on top of the constant demand for cards, wrap and gifts. That was short lived as I was constantly talking about the products to friends and they were admiring them when they received the cards and gifts so before I knew it I had a steady stream of orders each month.  It might sound corny but these products sell themselves.

The benefit was that I now had in the house a steady supply of great quality cards, gift wrap and one of my personal favourites the tubes of the colouring posters. So did all my friends, we were a super organised bunch!

Now my children could produce a party invite on the Friday night after school and there was no last minute dash to the shops – RESULT!

Phoenix is low cost to join £30 and you make a very good commission from day one no matter how much you buy and sell. No targets, no pressure – just do it at your own pace whenever you want.

I really enjoy dealing with phoenix and selling their fantastic products to all my lovely friends, why not give it a go?

For more information please contact me via my website:

 http://www.phoenix-trading.eu/web/fionasharp




Pop across and visit Fiona's site and take a look at her fantastic products or if you would like to know more about selling these products.

Don't forget about Life's A Celebration too for all your party supplies!

Keep smiling

Max
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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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