Haute Moms & Couture Kids (tm)

Baile Baio celebrates her 1st in classic style

2008-11-14T08:05:00.000-08:00

Poodle skirts, pink Cadillacs and hula hoops were all part of the festivities at Bailey DeLuca Baio's 50's Sock Hop themed first birthday party held at the Braemar Country Club in Tarzana, Calif., and delighted the guests with an ice cream float bar and hula hoop activities.

Guests were greeted with a pink and black balloon entrance and 50's themed photo stand ups.

Mom helps Bailey with her party hat. Her outfit was custom-designed by Servane Barrau. The satin shirt and skirt set included a scarf and tulle underskirt, and was adorned with 50's icons: poodle, guitar, dice and record appliques. The dice were finished off with teal-colored buttons.

The pink Cadillac cake was designed by Jill Phillips of Jill's Cake Creations in Santa Clarita, Calif was handcrafted with fondant and included real working tail lights.

The art of the two-fer

2008-11-10T20:15:00.000-08:00

....the science between combining birthdays.

Often, as a children's event planner and especially during these tough economic times, I am asked by clients, friends and family about how to combine a birthday for siblings, often the children are of differing sexes and usually under the age of 5. So what are some cost effective suggestions to get you started in the right direction? I am glad you asked.

First, look for commonalities. Maybe your adorable offspring both like a common television show, color or activity. That commonality could become your central theme. Some gender neutral themes are Sesame Street, Mickey and Minnie (the yellow, blue, red and polka dots could be too fun!), safari (think pink and blue safari helmets... too cute right?). Don’t forget the ever favorite pirate and princess or knights. Even favorite books and colors can be springboards for fantastic party themes.

If you have a girly girl and a tough boy remember that you can play with colors within a more masculine theme to suit the girls. I know my girls would love a Barbie convertible to play with at their brother's monster truck themed party! My youngest daughter would opt out of the pink entirely and go for the lifted one with some knobby tires!

Lastly, remember the ages of each group and plan activities accordingly- younger children are less independent and prefer to play individually and close to parents. A ball pit or playdough make for great open-ended fun. Older children, ages 4 and up are more independent and capable of cooperative play. (Think treasure hunts, kiddie obstacle courses and other exciting games)

Most importantly, remember kids are simple and birthdays are about celebrating time with one another. The best party is one where friends and family can smile, laugh and make memories together.

Here's wishing you a million wishes and endless happily ever afters!

The not so TERRIBLE TWOS

2008-11-08T17:59:00.000-08:00

You've made it another year. You have survived the midnight feedings, the crawlng, the walking and now your precious little one is about to adventure gleefully into her second year of life. The only question is, "How on earth do I throw a birthday party for a two year old?" Here are a few tips:

1.Pick a two year old friendly theme. By now you have giggled to countless hours of play, music and television. Pick a theme that your toddler easily recognizes to create the unifying theme for the celebration. Your theme could come from things as simple as your child's favorite color, book, toy, song or video. Themes like Little Einsteins, Mickey Mouse Club, Pink Cupcake and Mod Monkey all have fantastic colors and activities that easily lend themselves to many creative and fun decorations and games.

2. Keep your guest list manageable. Two year olds are often overwhelmed by the excitement of a big day. It may be difficult to resist the urge to invite the entire preschool class or playgroup but limiting the number of guests you invite to an intimate few will help reign in the budget and stave off the birthday meltdown experienced by an overstimulated toddler.

3. Pick toddler friendly, open ended activities. Two year olds are not capable of cooperative group play yet and sharing is a concept that is yet to be mastered. Instead of group activities opt for individual activities that can be played side by side such as play dough, coloring, sand box and bubbles. Be sure to have enough play items for each guest and encourage the parents to remain close to their child at each play station (and peaceful playtime) by providing adequate seating around the area of play. Dont forget small tables to free parent's hands for more hands-on play.

Click on this link to our favorite treasure trove of party supplies:

Haute Mom: Gwen Stefani welcomes Zuma Nesta Rock Rossdale!

2008-10-30T08:49:00.000-07:00

Two months after giving birth, Gwen Stefani is showing off her newest bundle of joy: Zuma Nesta Rock Rossdale. The singer, who was spotted with the newborn at a Beverly Hills library on Wednesday, posed with son Zuma in a photo taken by her father, Dennis, and posted on No Doubt's Web site.

Haute mom: Kelly Rutherford celebrates son Hermes 2nd birthday

2008-10-24T09:35:00.000-07:00

Hermés Gustaf Daniel Giersch celebrated his second birthday in style on October 19th with a Gymboree Play-and-Music-themed party. Mom Kelly Rutherford and fellow Melrose Place alum Marcia Cross tried their hands at hula-hooping, while Hermés joined in on the fun. "He's curious about everything," explained Gossip Girl star Kelly.
Hermés may be getting a sibling in the future -- Kelly, 39, recently revealed that she is planning another child with husband Daniel Giersch.
Source: Life & Style

Haute Mom: Dayna Devon of EXTRA celebrates her daughter's 3rd.

2008-10-08T09:45:00.000-07:00

Photos Courtesy of Dayna Devon

EXTRA correspondent Dayna Devon loves hosting parties, and daughter Emmi Reese's third birthday was an occasion to throw one! Pink princess Barbie was the main theme for the September bash -- complete with a fuchsia carpet -- as Emmi's friends arrived in their frilliest dresses.
Guests dined on pink lemonade, heart-shaped sandwiches, and a towering Barbie Castle cake, then gathered in a cozy movie tent for a screening of Barbie and the Diamond Castle with Barbie herself!

Haute Mom's Tip: Invite your guests to come dressed up as princesses to cut costs and take the guess work out of providing dress up costumes. Provide a table of fun and frilly dress up accessories like rings and neclaces to take the fun over the top!

Haute Mom Britney Spears throws a Monster Jam for Jaden and Preston.

2008-09-13T08:56:00.000-07:00

Photo credit: Jayden and Preston Federline Photo by: Starzlife; INF (inset)

Britney Spears revved up the celebration for sons Preston and Jayden on Saturday, throwing her sons a joint car and truck-themed birthday bash in Los Angeles. And the party was truly a family affair. Spears celebrated her boys' special days – Preston turns 3 on Sept. 14, and Jayden turned 2 on Sept. 12 – with sister Jamie Lynn Spears, her newborn niece Maddie Briann, dad Jamie and mom Lynne. Held at close friend Adrienne Maloof-Nassif's Beverly Park house, the outdoor party drew some famous guests, including Jenny McCarthy with her son Evan, and Gwen Stefani's son Kingston, 2, who came to the bash from an equally starry affair: He celebrated Heidi Klum's son Henry's 3rd birthday at the model's Beverly Hills house along with all three of Victoria Beckham's sons.But the guests of honor seemed to be having the best time. Preston and Jayden drove around the party in mini motorized cars, which were customized Ed Hardy by Christian Audigier. The cars featured tattoo-inspired decals, Ed Hardy air fresheners and personalized license plates. To keep with the party's theme, the cake was in shape of a yellow truck. "

Haute Mom's Tips: You too can throw a great monster truck themed party like Britney. Think of match box car party favors, make personalized licence plates for bikes as a craft and fun games of red light green light. CLICK HERE to sign up for the FREE Monster Jam Birthday Club! Receive a birthday card in the mail from the superstars of Monster Jam along with special offers during your birthday month!

Haute Mom: Bachelorette Trista Sutter celebrates son Max's 1st.

2008-08-13T09:55:00.000-07:00

Trysta and Ryan celebrate their son Maxwell Alston Sutter's 1st birthday with a sweet canydland themed celebration. Max Sutter who celebrated his first bithday on July 25th enjoyed a celebration featuring a menu of hamburger sliders, snow cone french fries and candy buffet complete with lollipop center pieces and chocolate cupcakes. As you can see the birthday boy, along with mom and dad had a smashing time.

Haute Mom's Tip: Cupcakes are a great idea for a first birthday party. Make the most of your theme by using a cupcake tower decorated with themed cupcake toppers.

An Over the Top Adventure: Kayaking in Laguna Beach

2008-08-12T09:03:00.000-07:00

Family Friendly Escapes

2008-06-18T08:05:00.000-07:00

I love going on outings with my family but there are days where my creative river runs dry- that's when a company like Cal Active comes in handy. Consider them your go to guide for all things active and fun in Southern California!

Check back later as we visit some of the activities and experience them first hand from a children's party perspective! Let us know if there are any activities you have always wanted to try but are unsure just how well it would work out for the whole family. We'd love to check it out for you.

Stay tuned.... we will be going on a grand kayaking adventure in Laguna Beach. Sea Lions, Dolphins and waves... Oh my.

The Buzz of a new arrival

2008-05-20T08:33:00.000-07:00

New additions to the family always set the family abuzz with excitement. Why not celebrate the arrival of your newest one with a buzz-worthy bee themed event?
I am absolutely in love with bees and everything yellow this season, so I couldn't think of a more exciting theme for a dear client's baby shower. I can just imagine the cute chocolate devil's food cake beehive atop an adorable hive like cupcake tower! Napoleon bee de lys table cloths and fantyastic bee soap favors and thank yous are sure to send the guest buzzing about your big day for weeks to come.

Check out these yummy bee recipes:
Williams-Sonoma Beehive cake

Recipe for adorable Bee Cupcakes

Invites From Louella Press Honeycomb edition would set the tone for a fantastic day- not just for weddings anymore RSVP cards can take the hassle out of planning your big celebration.

>>> SOURCING:
Handcrafted Pewter Bee Hive Bank: Engrave able Silver Impressions $60.50, Wallace silver smiths: Napoleon Bee 45 pc. Flatware set- Horchow $174.90, Honey House Bee Bar Gift St Coldwater Creek $10.99, Slane and Slane Pave Bee Ring, Nieman Marcus $2050.00; Sur Le Table Bee Glassware Dessert Dishes Set of 6 47.50.

Capturing Memories

2008-05-16T08:15:00.000-07:00

Isn't it amazing how scent can trancend time and space and take you back to the beginning of a memory? Remeber the smell of cookies baking in grandma's kitchen or the musky cologne of your first love? Fragrance is the score, the melodic undertone to our memory and I have found a fantastic candle line that combines the powerful relationship of scent and memory with an elegant 100% natural, long burning, soy based candle. With each of it's 12 luxurious scents Gem Bebe's candles will bring you over 60 hours of memories from the cotton scented bath time to the violet, amber, & oak moss of sweet memories. Each scent will leave you captivated- just as they have captivated some of Hollywood's most famous.

haute mom tip: Give these fantastic candles as nursery room gifts. I have used the travel tins as luxe baby shower favors.

>>>sourcing:
You can buy Gem bebe online at: Gem Bebe.com
Boutiques:
Bella Carta In Rancho Santa Margarita, Ca
Out of the Bleu in Foothill Ranch, Ca

Crustless Creativity

2008-05-14T08:00:00.000-07:00

If your house is filled with picky eaters like mine, you'll love the crust cutter- a cute and inventive way to make a crustless sandwich while minimizing waste. Encourage healthy eating with adorable dinosaur grilled chesse or heart peanut buter and jelly sandwiches with the press of cookie-cutter like device. Each cutter has a repeat emblem in reverse, to cut two perfect and entertaining sandwich bread sized halves.

Haute mom's tip: For cute, kid-friendly appetisers & entertaining you could also take this tool beyond your average sandwich cutting borders and bring new life into cheese slices as well.... Oh, the endless possibilities!

>>>sourcing:

1. Hearthsong $6.95 each

2. Leaps and Bounds $4.95

3. Hearthsong $6.95

4. Amazon $14.95 for 4

Couture Kids Find: Musical Skirts

2008-05-13T08:04:00.000-07:00

Check out this catchy, active, and incredibly fun, musical skirt from Hearthsong- a childrens playtoy company dedicated to preserving the fleeting essence of childhood. It's a perfect way to get kids moving, dancing, and giggling. Interactive and incredibly fun -the music starts the minute your little one begins to boogy. Go-go Gadget-like in nature, the sound eminates from a superior-sound-quality, motion-activated sound chip hidden inside the flounces of the polka-dotted, double-crinolined skirt. Simply donning one of the enchanting ballerina costumes is enough to turn children into graceful, expressive dancers, at least in their imaginations- accompanied by a full symphony orchestra playing Tchaikovsky. The Pink Dress plays Swan Lake and goes a long way toward bringing out the inner prima ballerina. The skirt comes in pink, polka dot and red and fits most children ages 3-6.

>>>sourcing: You can order the musical costume online at Hearthsong. Prices range from $26.99 to $32.98

5 Star No Jar Baby Food

2008-05-12T08:05:00.000-07:00

Your little bundle of joy will go gaga over this company that makes and serves organic gourmet baby food: Pomme Bebe in Newport Beach, Ca.

Pomme Bébé produces small batches of fresh organic baby food. The vibrantly colored and tasty food is simmered slowly to retain the maximum amount of wholesome nutrients that your baby needs and is tastier and far more healthful than your average grocery store find. The menu changes every season at Pomme Bébé relying on the freshness of seasonal produces.
You can buy Pomme Bébé food at their Newport Beach West Cliff Plaza store, online or by phone. The food can be opted for next day delivery at your door or if your wee one is fast asleep in her carseat, call ahead for an easy curbside pick-up.
Bébé Bar and Bébé Lounge: In their chic kid-friendly store you can sit your baby in an egg shaped high chair and try out fresh food samples at Pomme Bébé bar. I love the Bébé lounge where parents can meet in a hip and inviting atmosphere to enjoy a wholesome treat or fresh-squeezed juice.
Haute Mom's tip: A Bebe party. No need to clean your house for your next playdate. Simply host a playgroup at Pomme Bébé. Your kids will be able to sample their organic ready to serve baby food, you will receive nutritional information and the babies can play with toys in the nicely designed Baby Lounge.
Pomme Bébé 2043 Westcliff Drive, Suite 106, Newport Beach, CA 92660 949.200.7430

HOURS: Monday-Friday 9:30am-5:30pm, Saturday 10:00am-2:00pm
>>> Sourcing:

Buy online: Pomme Bébé online store – price: $3.25 - $4.50 per 4 oz container

Happy Mother's Day!

2008-05-11T08:15:00.000-07:00

Happy Mother's day to all of our Haute Moms!

Today we take the time to thank you for all your shuttling, loving, scheduling, caring and cleaning that you do for us! I hope you have a lovely breakfast in bed or- as I did, take the fam' for coffee, breakfast and a leisurely stroll around the lake. Isn't it convenient to have a Starbucks and your favorite bakery right next door to each other? The kids munched their way through an organic milk and a muffin while I sipped my venti soy skinny cinnamon dulce leche and nibbled an egg, feta & spinach wrap. Then, hand and hand with handsome-hubby-dearest, we walked around the lake. As a special bonus treat, my handsome co-parent was on keeping-kids-out-of-the-lake-patrol. He did a brilliant job. Not a single soggy child when the adventure was through.

My family gave me wonderful gifts- a lovely self-potted sunflower from my kindergardner, home made bracelets from my school agers and a beautifully scribbled self portrait from my preschooler- and an adorable designer apron from the hubby made by Heavenly Hostess... Side note to save hubby's hide: I requested this gift. ***Note of warning to other fabulous husbands out there: NEVER buy your haute mama an apron (no matter how sexy) unless she asks for it by name.*** But isn't it adorable?- Eva Longoria wore this exact print on Desperate housewives. Note the figure flattering a line shape, designer (and reversible fabrics), cute contrasting pockets and beautifully ruched bust. I can just imagine the entertaining I will do with this! Heavenly Hostess even makes petite versions to suit mom and daughter cooking. FABULOUS! You can stop by and check out the Heavenly Hostess boutique, located in old town Orange at the Orange Circle, yourself. Let Cynthia, the owner, know Over the Top Productions sent you! Happy Mother's day gals. Enjoy!

Celebration Inspiration: Ceremony Magazine

2008-05-06T07:03:00.000-07:00

Ever struggled with creating the perfect "look" for your celebration? Want to stay in-the-know about trends, color schemes and upscale decor styles for events? Ceremony Magazine- an industry resource aimed for brides to be, is eye candy for anyone who loves to entertain. Inside their annual publication you'll find hundreds of images of real weddings taken by the industries best photographers. With the turn of each page you'll be dazzled by stunning decor, breath taking floral arrangements, the hottest tablescapes and reception design... perfect tinder for a brainstorming blaze! (And at $7.00 an issue- you might as well buy all 3) You can find ceremony magazine at your local bookstore- we bought ours at Borders- in the magazine rack or buy direct and pay only $4.00 shipping & handling)
haute mom's tip: Every look can be adapted to suit your own personal celebration. Look for the little touches- hanging crystals, textured cloth, vibrant color pallate, that make each celebration unique. Check out some of our tablescapes at http://www.overthetopproductions.com/ .

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

2008-05-05T08:00:00.000-07:00

The fifth of May, a regional holiday in Mexico, is a fun way to celebrate diversity and culture in an entertaining and creative way. Here at Over the Top Productions, we love any reason to celebrate and the fact that this celebration has tacos, enchiladas and chips makes it even better. (My family loves the make your own taco bar and festive paper flowers.) I have assembled some links for crafts, recipes, activities and more to make your cinco de mayo "muy bueno" (very good). So, kick off your shoes, & salsa in the living room with your wee ones!

crafts, history, easy dinner, how to salsa (dance), rockin santana play list (exercise caution- youtube may have content not suited for young listeners),

Haute Mom Says: 6 Days until Mother's day. Make sure your cards get in the mail.

Cupcakes Take the Cake

2008-05-02T08:09:00.000-07:00

Our final installment on cupcake week:

The number one cupcake blog in the world, world, world (cheesy echo effect).

Cupcake takes the cake blogs about everything cupcake- from the best cupcakeries (if we may be so bold as to coin a new word) to recipes to cupcake socials to the latest in cupcake news. Their blog, one of PC Magazine's 100 Best Blogs of 2007 is a great place to get your fill of everything cupcake. (We love it to stay atop of the latest in cupcake trends so we can bring them to you!)

Cupcakes: How about some Sprinkles?

2008-05-01T20:07:00.000-07:00

Cupcake week Continues:
Sprinkles Bakery

Possibly the most famous of the cupcake world, with features on Oprah (one of her favorite things), Live with Regis and Kelly and numerous magazines- Sprinkles bakery, with California locations in Beverly Hills and Newport Beach, serves a delectable variety of cupcakes with panache. From classics like red velvet (my personal favorite), dark chocolate and vanilla to trendy twists such as chai latte, lemon coconut and ginger lemon there are 20 flavors to suit any pallate. Stop by their quaint store and indulge in the modern design and ease of ordering. I even love their little cupcake knives and forks!

Haute Mom's tip: For select locations, they deliver.

Adventures at Wonderland

2008-04-30T20:05:00.000-07:00

Cupcake week continues:

Wonderland Bakery, Newport Beach, Ca

Nestled in the heart of Newport Beach, Ca is Wonderland, a decadent little bakery filled with glitter, smiles and delicious goodies baked by the mother daughter team of Sondra and Allyson Ames. If you have the will power to pass up the delectable chocolates and other confections in their charming glitter infused bakery- you will no doubt be amazed by the whimsical (and tasty) wonder blooming cupcake.
Wonder Blooming Cupcakes are adorable from their tower of fluffy frosting to the dainty wrappers. They create each tasty work of art to suit your over the top celebration. Select your cake flavor from one of their 21 Enchanting Flavors and your celebration will be heavenly.

Haute Mom's tips: A cupcake's individual portions take the mess out of cutting and serving cake. Words of experience: Avoid using "cupcake cakes", the one "unifying" frosting layer tends to make a messy serving nightmare.

Art you can eat? Yes, Please.

2008-04-29T08:15:00.000-07:00

Cupcake week continues: Tuesday- Edible Art
Dainty flowers rest atop a fluffy butter cream frosting. Delectable delicacies almost to cute to eat. So charming and dainty, they could easily be confused for porcelain - it's sugar. Gum paste or royal icing to be exact and they are not just for wedding cakes any longer.

Gum paste flowers are an adorable way to bring whimsy and style to your events and they are popping up at all the trendiest kids events. Alone they are stunning, but arranged delicately in a beautiful tiered display and "voila," a confection fit for a princess ... or fairy.

You can find these confections at most any specialty bakery near you.

Cupcake Crazy: Over the Top Cupcakes

2008-04-28T09:02:00.000-07:00

Cupcake Week comes to Over the Top Productions

Cupcakes are adorable. Their size, whimsical design, and serving ease all make these mini treats a perfect candidate for children's events. Yet, all cupcakes are not created equal. There is a great Cupcake World out there and I am ready to get my fill and then some. Featured below are aspects of the cupcake world that we know will make for some awe inspiring eye candy at our future couture kids celebrations. Look forward to blog features of notable cupcake businesses, cupcake trends, healthy living cupcake alternatives and more in the days to come.

Monday: Its a wrap- whimsical and adorable ways to wrap your petite treats

Laser cut cupcake wrappers are a fantastic way to add a sense of style and visual interest to an already delectable treat. These laser cut paper wrappers can be found in a variety of themes and colors; from beautiful lace-like butterflies and filigree patterns to whimsical trains, trees and daisies. There are so many uses for such a cute container that doesn't have to end at cupcakes. At OTP, we have used them for tiny favor baskets and place card holders, to name a few.

Cupcake wrappers get festive

The ingenious and crafty folks at Martha Stewart have done it again, bringing us delightful little cupcake baking cups in an array of sweet paper patterns. From ballet pink to rich mocha, I am sure they will adorn the tables of baby shower and birthday party celebrations everywhere.

Check back tomorrow for our next installment of cupcake mania....

Happy Earthday 2008

2008-04-22T08:05:00.000-07:00

Happy Earth day 2008...

Intended to inspire awareness of and appreciation for the Earth's environment, Earth day reminds us all there is a lot we can do to care for and preserve our precious planet - celebrations included.

In honor of Earth day, we feature Danny Seo- an environmental lifestyle expert & author who calls his eco-friendly way of living Simply Green. Through his bestselling books, television programs, magazine columns, and his how-to lifestyle lectures, Danny Seo continues to share his creative ideas that has made him America's leading lifestyle authority on modern, eco-friendly living.

His brand new books Simply Green Parties and Simply Green Giving showcases Danny's unique take and approach to stylish green living. Both books feature lush, colorful photography and clear, step-by-step instructions along with Danny's secret tips and how-to information on living the Simply Green way.

His "Fresh Thinking" column in Country Living magazine features clever and easy ideas to recycle anything into gorgeously chic home accessories with quick and easy tips that prove green living can be gorgeous living, too.

Haute Mom tip: Encourage your kids to help you transform old story books into chic birdhouses for your next fete.

In the Press: Our Article on CNN.com

2008-04-18T08:18:00.000-07:00

We have been fortunate enough to recieve a mention in an article on CNN.com. It has been pretty popular and controversial. Let your opinion be heard. See for yourself. Check it out here.

Party Tips for the busy mom: Save time with the .com party

2008-03-17T08:18:00.000-07:00

I have discovered the one unifying factor for all moms, the one thing that we all share. It doesn’t matter if you are a young mom or “old” (moms never get old by the way, they just get better) Wheather you have one child or eight. There is one simple truth that we can all agree on:

All Moms are BUSY Moms.

Knowing that here’s a list of my favorite party hot spots to save time while shopping for party supplies and planning my parties. (Surfing is much cheaper than driving these days and you don’t have to shuffle kids in and out of car seats.) Believe me, you’ll want to save this page to your favorites!

Plum Party- Chic party favors and other party items, all organized in a simple and convenient manner. This site is a great way to stay trendy and get inspired.

http://www.plumparty.com/

Oriental Trading Company- Fabulous themed accessories and party supplies. Buy your craft items here! I’d be lost without them. Refer a friend first and receive an email for 5 bucks off your order (Promotion, limited time only) Use the search bar and then look at all their suggested items. >>>The most fabulous goody bags start here! By the way, they also have scrap booking items, for all your post party pictures.
http://www.orientaltrading.com/

Birthday in a Box- A very well organized party supply shop. They always have what I am looking for and a great wealth of ideas for my party planning themes.
http://www.birthdayinabox.com/

Shindigz.com- They’re a great place for over the top party decorations. Want a HUGE Eiffel tower for your pink Poodle party? How about a glittering castle for your princess party? Shindigz has it all !
http://www.shindigz.com/

Celebrate Express- This site has the most exceptional selection of themes I’ve seen yet. They are also unique and seem to offer what most other sites don’t, with professionalism and quality.
http://www.celebrateexpress.com/

>>>Coming soon: Great sites for party planning; Themes

5 simple steps to a memorable kids party.

2008-02-06T08:15:00.000-08:00

Birthday parties don’t have to be a source of anxiety.

I remember it like it was yesterday. My oldest daughter Hope was turning 7. We had just moved to a new state and she wanted to have a birthday party for her entire class. As I thought of the 30 plus kids in her class, I panicked as images raced through my mind: hoards of unruly kids tearing through my house, amped on sugar, leaving a wake of destruction behind them with their frosting smeared faces and hands. I, huddled in a crumpled heap of frustration and exhaustion in the corner.

As I awoke from my nightmarish visualization I realized: kids parties don’t have to be an exhausting, overwhelming chore. With a bit of organization and some creativity, Hope and I could not just plan a 7th birthday but we could make memories together that last a life time.
Looking back, I can see the 5 simple steps that made her day amazing. You don’t have to panic at the thought of a party either. I’ll share my gems of wisdom with you. Read on.

1. Remember the audience.
Kids are simple. Think back to Christmas; you fretted over buying THE perfect toy and they were more excited to play with “the cool box.” Talk with your child and see what they are interested in. A clue might be plastered to their bedroom wall. Hope loved the beach. Her room was decorated to the nines with Hawaiian print, sandy beach images, and bobbly-wobbly dancing hula girls. It wasn’t too hard to decide that a beach theme was what would make her soon to be 7 year old heart sing.

2. Think outside the Box
Once you two decide on the theme, think of creative (and cost effective) ways to decorate. To stretch your party planning dollars further, use items you already have in an inventive way. We used Hope’s room decor to give her party a Waikiki pizzazz: Hula dolls as center pieces. Bold colored Beach towels as table runners and dollar store flip flops and sand pails full of piñata candy as party favors.

3. Entertainment is child’s play
Once we established the theme and had fun dreaming up the décor- we moved on to decide entertainment. I am not one for chasing kids and lots of structure (or huge messes at my house) so Hope and I settled on a venue elsewhere. You could use a club house, a park, a restaurant, a pool (make sure all your guests are water proof…) even a relative’s house that is better suited for entertainment. For Hope, we had the party at the river (only a few minutes drive from where we lived). Each guest received their own floaty noodle- you know those long, brightly colored Styrofoam things you use to float in the pool with? (Walmart is a God send!) and a sand pail labeled with the guest’s name. I’d like to say I did it for the personal touch but really, I knew the names would make it easier to keep track of what belonged to whom. An easy up made for a great escape from the sun and was decorated with Hawaiian themed items from oriental trading company (http://www.orientaltradingcompany.com/) .

4. Invite the parents
Once we established the locale, Hope and I made out the invites. (You can make them with clip art and your computer, but them at your local party store or send e-vites online) We used a hula girl invite and added some grass to her skirt for a 3-D and personal touch. I knew I didn’t want to chase kids by myself all day or take on the responsibility of making sure every kid made it through the day above water, so Hope and I decided to invite the parents. We scheduled the party at 2:00 pm. This made it easier on me. At 2-ish, snacks are appropriate and you are clear from having to provide dinner as well. We also let the parents know that snacks would be served for them and their teeny whainis also.

5. Keep the food simple
Lastly, we decided on the food. As party favors, the parents all got their own tiki glasses for punch and had some other snacks more suited to an adult pallet like turkey wraps (use mayo in packets that don’t need to be refrigerated to avoid sending your guests to the emergency room with food poisoning) and a fruit tray kept on ice. Since coolers fit into the beach theme we decorated them and used them as part of our snack buffet. Brightly colored bowls of chips and crackers and party mixes adorned the table. Party tip: pre package snacks such as chips in pretzels in their own bags to keep the sand on the beach and out of your snacks.

So you see, with a bit of planning and a whole lot of quality time Hope had an amazing 7th birthday that her friends still talk about to this day. I know you child will too! You’ll see, with a bit of planning and a lot of fun your child can have the party dreams are made of.

A Family Friendly New Year's Party

2007-12-28T08:21:00.000-08:00

I have to admit something and it may seem strange to you: I love New Years.

Don’t get me wrong- the fall warmth of Thanksgiving and the warm fuzzies of Christmas are fabulous and they seem to get ample attention at my house- but I love New Years. The idea of a fresh start and the anticipation of the year to come gets me as giggly as a kid with a new batch of play-dough.
Every year I have a celebration with my closest friends and family and I’d love to share some of my traditions with you. Here is what our family will be doing to ring in the New Year and some tips I have found to keep it memorable for all the right reasons:

Celebration gluttony: New Years around the world

To get the most out of our party, every year we celebrate New Years around the world. (Why only celebrate one very late celebration when you can have many celebrations all night long?) Above the buffet of family friendly snacks- chex mix, taquitos and other fun finger foods- hangs a giant clock (A great goodwill find a few years back) You can find one like it by searching for over-sized wall clock at http://www.target.com/. Beside it I hang 4 clocks, set at the appropriate times (see below), each with its own label for the location it represents. Through out the evenings festivities we can watch the wall clock and celebrate each city’s new year as it approaches.
Avoiding the mid-night meltdown:
My kids are young (all four under the age of 11) and the idea of keeping them awake until midnight seems like quite an undertaking. (A little research on my part has shown that most kids aren’t really ready to see the ball drop at midnight until about the ages of 10 or 11, anyways.) In order to avoid the “up waaay past bedtime meltdown,” we will celebrate New Years around the world.
Check out http://www.timeanddate.com/ for a nifty little new years calculator. I used a world map and stuck flag pins in the places we will “travel” to celebrate. Use this site for flag images: http://www.flags.net/indexa.htm

We will celebrate these cities (Since we are in California PST, United States)
London, England :4 pm
Buenos Aires, Argentina :6 pm
Santiago, Chile :7 pm
New York, New York: 9pm

At each given hour we will do the count down and run outside with our home made noise makers (decorated painted plastic soda bottles filled with beans and decorated with ribbon and stickers) Each kid gets to open up a goody bag for each time zone with activities to entertain for the next hour- a coloring page and crayons, some play dough and a cookie cutter, stickers and a frame- whatever makes your wee ones excited. Set the bags out for display on the buffet and decorate them with a clock for each hour you celebrate.
Our own New Year’s ball drop
I love the ball drop at times square so this year we will have our own version: Our New Years Pinata Party ball. Using paper mache and some foil paper squares- make your own pinata (or buy one at the store) Hang it from the highest point of the house and lower it each hour until the long awaited ball drop (We will do ours with New York, USA.) where you can give it a whack at “midnight.”

Reflection: Looking back at the past year
I love to scrapbook. Each year I grab a few pictures of each child during a memorable event and make a scrapbook station where they can scrapbook the past year and make a page for the next year’s resolutions. Each kid makes their own page and adds it to their album. I help the young one’s with their journal entries. It’s fun to watch how their pages morph from messy toddler pages to coherent school age creations as time goes by.

No matter how you choose to celebrate the New Year with your family, you too can create traditions that they will cherish for a lifetime. I hope you enjoyed taking a peak at our New Year's traditions. We sure enjoy participating in them.

The Nasty P word: Getting ready for the big day.

2007-05-07T08:33:00.000-07:00

Getting ready for the big day doesn't have to be a stressful mess.

Party planning is like a marathon. It’s good for you & it can be fun but if you don’t do it right you can get seriously injured. (Alright. So I’ve never seen someone actually collapse from exhaustion from planning a 3 year old’s Chucky Cheese Birthday but at the end of the day, with cake smeared pants and confetti coming from only God knows where, I've felt like it .) Yet, there is a light at the end of the sugar- hyped tunnel. There is a key to unlock the magic door of Party bliss (or avoiding total party meltdown). Ready? …. Preparation. I know, its an ugly word my mother overused- the one word that brings visions of pencil scribbled planners, post its and bulletin boards. Preparation…. . It takes work & I don’t like it, so let’s get to the point:

Great parties don’t happen by accident, it takes planning.

Realizing that I have a lot more birthday parties to throw in my future, I sat at the feet of a few people who do it well. Here’s what I learned.

Bad news: Parties take planning and planning means lists.

Good news: I hate lists, so I’ll keep it as short as possible.

Here's a countdown of "to do" items that will make your big day a stunning success (and life until then a bit easier).

Party Countdown- The Plan:

8 weeks before
Finalize guest list
Estimate your party budget

Book your entertainer:
Check out http://www.overthetopproductions.com/, they do a fantastic job and they do it all.
Set party date and time
Find Location
Select a theme

7 Weeks before: The Guests
If you’re going to, Hire a caterer
Create and send RSVP’s
Decide activities & goody bags, then purchase necessary items.
There are amazing Online party resources, use them well & save time & $$$

http://www.orientaltrading.com/

http://www.shindigz.com/
http://www.celebrateexpress.com/

6 weeks before: Take Stock
Plan your party menu
Take inventory of table wear, place settings and décor. Acquire what you lack.
Order any party rental equipment.
The Home stretch: Five days before
Call to confirm your caterer and entertainment
Buy Piñata and Fillers
Order cake or make and freeze one.
Three days before
Hit the grocery store for snacks, mini juice boxes, food and drinks for adults and paper goods. Don’t forget: ice, birthday candles, extra garbage bags and paper towels.
Two days before
Wrap presents
Pack up the goody bags
Take care of camera and video equipment : batteries, memory, film.

Mentally run through itinerary, make sure you have more than enough to fill the time.

1 day before: details and prep
Restock 1st aide kit
Assemble cake or cupcakes
Put up décor and set a place for gifts
Set up craft supplies and games
HINT: If you’re serving ice cream, pre-scoop it into cupcake liners and freeze until cake time

Get a good night's rest

The Big Day!
Tie balloons to mailbox or front door
Pick up cake
Place cake accessories are in a handy spot
Chill drinks in cooler
Relax, smile and have a good time.

Party Favors: A mystery unwrapped

2007-05-01T08:45:00.000-07:00

You too can create fabulous party baubles and memorable keepsakes.

If party favors have always been a mystery to you, a source of anxiety you can't seem to conquer: Rest easy. If you find yourself resorting to pre-packaged goodies that seem … so ordinary. You're in good company. I marvel at the party hostess that has it all together with her dainty packages. I find myself asking: What was her inspiration? Where did she find these neat baubles? How did she do it?

At the last party I was at, I stood before rows and rows of pink cellophane bags with marabou trim and vowed, “Today is the day I debunk the goody bag mystery once and for all!” So, my fellow baffled beauties, I set out on my trek to find the answers to my party holy grail, determined to find the 5 simple steps to spectacular goody bags and sisters, here they are!

Don’t break the bank
In my research, you can make a great goody bag without spending over $4-6 a piece. Set your spending limit and stick to it. By sticking to your budget guns, you’ll use your ingenuity and avoid the “goody bag meltdown” of having too many items that just don’t make sense.

Think of you audience
Remember, although the adults may seem impressed, it is the kids you are buying for and they don’t need a Tiffany’s bracelet to make them go “ooh” and “ahh.” Find items that are age appropriate and fit the party theme. (Party Holy grail hint: Sticking to a theme could be as easy as using a single overall color like ballet pink or royal blue) Here’s an age breakdown I found on Parenting.com:

For guests that are:
Ages 2 -3 :
Buy 2 nice “B” things such as bubbles, bath toys, balls and books (The thick kind that tiny fingers can’t tear or toddler teeth can’t gnaw through).
4-8 years
Guests this age value quantity over quality, so pick 4 to 5 little items that are sure to thrill them. Use Items such as, stickers, clay, mini puzzles, sidewalk chalk, whistles, water squirters, bracelets and rings (both sexes equally enjoy these, by the way).
Older kids
They’re back to liking a few bigger and nicer items. They really like things they can use to express themselves. A small diary and a pen, markers and a stuffed animal or a neat craft that they have made at the party and can take home. Let your child help pick items for their friends, they’ll love it.

Use all your resources
There are so many avenues to explore what’s available for your party, here are a few:
The Internet: give yourself enough time for shipping (usually 7-10 days) and places like http://www.orientaltradingcompany,com/ and http://www.birthdayexpress.com/ could be your best friends. Just type your theme in the search box and see what comes up. Also check out http://www.buycostumes.com/, they have some pretty nifty pre-assembled bags as well. You could add your personal touch to the faboulous-ness that have already put together.

The dollar store: I have found the Atlantis of goody bags! There are rows and rows of neat little treats, specialty candy, stickers and toys- all under a dollar. Also, don’t forget the neat dollar bins at places like Target and Wal-Mart. If you plan ahead, a few trips here could yield many items and a few bucks to spare so you can splurge on the container and trim.

As for the container: Think Function and form
A pretty cellophane bag will work but use something more durable and your guests will have yet another goody to remember the event by. On my quest, I have found things like sand pails, tiny purses, little Knapp sacks all work well and far outlive the party. Use the websites above to explore your options. You can also visit http://www.containerstore.com/ and http://www.plumparty.com/ for other creative options.

Wrap it up with style
Packages are always more fun when they are done up with a bit more pomp and circumstance. Use pretty trims, like marabou or rick rack. You can find this in any novelty section of a craft store or in my favorites like Wal-mart or the dollar store. For name tags you can use place cards, name badges, or even stuffed animals with names written on them in permanent marker or puff paint. Your creativity is the limit.

Looking back on my explorations I see that the Goody bag treat is all about expressing your child’s unique personality and personifying it in a way your guests can enjoy. I feel empowered, with these simple rules, using simplicity and creativity, an amazing goody bag can be made by all! Happy hunting!

In the Press: OC Register

2007-03-17T08:15:00.000-07:00

Today the Orange County Register published our first business article. We couldn't be more excited. It's a feature talking about how we got started, life motto and more. Click here to check it out.

Tea for two- sexes that is.

2007-02-17T08:30:00.000-08:00

You can have a tea party for both boys and girls without loosing the interest of the y chromesome.

The key is finding a theme that is diverse enough to entertain both. Try a mad hatter tea party, that way your young gentlemen can find a crazy hat and enjoy the day’s festivities. OR divide your paty into 2 parts of one theme… like a Farytale party that can entertain both young knights and princesses or maybe pirates and princesses (You never know- They may even try a scone!)