{Party Recap} Ooh La La Spa

It has been quite a while since this event occurred, but I wanted to finally share photos of the Ooh La La Spa party I hosted at Cannonsburg Elementary School this past Spring. 

A friend of mine from high school was an extraordinary 3rd grade teacher at the Rockford, MI elementary school.  I am sure that she is just as extraordinary at her new school in Wyoming :) .  Each year, the teachers at Cannonsburg go the extra mile and create "teacher experiences" to put up for auction for parents to bid on, with the money going towards the school.  Such experiences include: Principal for the Day, Lunch with a Teacher, etc.  I teamed up with Ms. Koster to auction off one of my spa parties.  The winning child got to invite a group of her friends for an after school event held in the Teacher's Lounge.

The girls were treated to manicures and facials by Ms. Koster and myself.  The girls relaxed on the couches and read tween magazines and enjoyed cupcakes and kiddie cocktails (sprite with maraschino cherries).  For a craft, the girls created their own shimmer lotions, choosing the color, scent, and shimmer.  In addition to the lotion, the girls took home goody bags filled with manicure kits and sleep masks. 

Thanks to Ms. Koster (or Erika, as I know her) for letting me be a part of this fun event to raise money for their school.  I had a great time getting to know all the girls!

Get Creative and Save $$ with DIY Pinatas!

photo via www.birthdayexpress.com

Piñatas have always been a children’s birthday party staple. Children squeal in delight while holding their goodie bags, waiting for that one big whack of the bat to burst open the piñata and shower them with candy and prizes.

Party stores typically sell empty piñatas for around $18-20. Candy and prizes can cost about $10-12, turning a 10 minute activity into a $30 game. If you want to save some money and are up for a craft project, you can create your own piñata for a LOT less.

photo via www.birthdayexpress.com

Pull-string piñatas are becoming more and more popular because they are easier for young children and can be used indoors. I like them better because no one accidentally gets whacked with a bat!

Each child takes turns pulling on a string. One string is attached to a trap door of sorts that opens and spills the goodies. All the other strings just pull out. Because the structure of the piñata does not break with the pull-string variety, you can just use standard cardboard boxes of different sizes to create a unique piñata base. No messy paper paste and newspaper strips needed! Anything from postal boxes, cereal boxes, oatmeal canisters and more can be used. Easy ideas that come to mind are: castles (a rectangle box to fill with candy and circular oatmeal or formula cans to create turrets), Sponge bob (a big rectangle), etc.

Paper mache boxes in different shapes and sizes can be found at craft stores (like Hobby Lobby) and decorated with tissue papers and other odds n’ ends to make a custom piñata for your little one.

Is your child having a licensed character-themed shindig? Decorate a circular piñata with color-coordinating crepe paper, then glue on a circular character paper plate to both sides for a character piñata at a fraction of the price!

photo via www.birthdaydirect.com

I found a lot of instructions online on how to make your own piñatas, some good, some not so good. Take a look at some of them and consider doing it for your child’s next party:

http://www.ehow.com/how_2215951_decorate-tissue-paper-pinata.html

http://blog.giddygiddy.com/giddygiddy/2010/10/diy-pinata.html

http://www.thesweetestoccasion.com/2011/06/how-to-make-a-pinata/

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/890519/how_to_make_a_cereal_box_pinata.html?cat=25

http://party.tipjunkie.com/diy-minnie-mouse-pinata-mickey-mouse-clubhouse/

Jarrod's Train Party

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of hosting a Thomas the Train inspired birthday party for a little boy turning 4.  It was a beautiful summer day in Michigan, so we set up a canopy in the backyard and held the party outside. 

Each child received a train "ticket" to color and put their name on.  Once we chose goody bags towards the end of the party, those tickets went inside so that each child would know whose bag is whose.  They also colored Thomas the Train coloring pages.  I read the classic children's story The Little Engine that Could. 

We played "Pin the 1 on Thomas," Red Light, Green Light, and had a pinata.  Each child received a goody bag with a Thomas pocket watch, train whistle and a lollipop. 

When Life Hands You Lemons, Make Lemonade!

Anytime I see a a group of kids manning a lemonade stand, I have to go over and buy a cup.  Not because the lemonade is good, though.  I know that it is going to be pretty bad most of the time.  It is because it reminds me of my childhood.  My sister Brooke and friends Sunny, Cora and I were always up to something growing up on Jekyll Island, GA.  One of our most fun (and profitable!) adventures was selling lemonade near the beach.  We would load up our bikes with all our gear and set up at a popular intersection.  It was pretty amazing how many tourists would stop to buy a cup from the adorable little girls.  LOL 

My daughters have been asking to hold their own lemonade stand this summer, so I have been looking on the internet for some inspiration.  Take a look at these beautiful setups!

This simple but elegant setup from One Charming Party uses wooden crates ziptied together instead of a table.  Check out the other photos and tips to recreating this HERE

This beautiful lemonade stand play date is created by Paper & Cake and featured on Hostess with the Mostess.  Printables really add flair to the homemade baked goods.  Paper Pinwheels and paper chain garland decorate the simple black table.  Check out all the great photos HERE

Rapunzel Meets Kendall!

Last weekend I had the pleasure of accompanying Rapunzel as she appeared at Kendall's 3rd birthday party.  I took plenty of photographs of Rapunzel with all the children: reading stories, whacking a pinata, and singing Happy Birthday and eating cake and ice cream.

The party was set outside with a Princess theme.  The client rented an inflatable movie screen and after we left, they planned on showing the movie Tangled.  A popcorn machine was set up to provide snacks, and all the kids had small camp chairs to sit in.  I love this idea, even for me!

Though some of the older kids were skeptical, I was happy to hear one boy say to Rapunzel at the end of her stay "I believe in Maximus [the horse in the movie].  I think you are real too!" 

Ka-Chow! Cars Workshop at Giggles and Gumdrops

This past Wednesday, I hosted a small workshop at Lowell's area children's store, Giggles and Gumdrops.  This mini-party was set up in the back of the store before it opens.  It is great for the parents, because they get to shop before the store opens to the general public while we entertain their children!  I ended up getting a Groovy Girls case full of goodies for my daughter's birthday, two chapter books and a Disney Store denim princess dress.  And it was a pleasant surprise to find that everything in the store that day was 20% off!

When the children got to the workshop, we went straight to the craft.  The children donned aprons to cover their clothes, and got to pick out a ceramic bank to paint.  Most chose cars, of course :)  Each child got their own set of acrylic paints and went to town decorating.  Some were very detail-oriented, while others went for a colorful tie-dye technique.  I love doing craft activities that give the kids something to take home and keep to remember the party. 

  

 After the craft, the kids got their faces painted.  Those that were waiting got to play Mater Golf, a putting game that has the tow truck Mater as the hole.  I think the kids got a big kick out of how the ball pops out the back of the truck and goes back to you. 

 It was then time to sit down and eat cupcakes and drink from Lightning McQueen and Mater juice boxes.  I read two "Cars" themed stories to the kids while they inhaled their treats.  Once the party wrapped up, the kids took home brown Cars lunch bags filled with Cars popping candy (like Pop Rocks) and a small Cars metal box to fill with trinkets and treasures.  Ka-Chow!

 

The Cars theme is now available as a DIY Decor package or an All-Inclusive party.  Check out all the photos from the workshop at my website HERE.  Interested in booking any of our theme parties?  Click on the Contact Us link on our website.

It's a Cars Celebration!

Do you have a little boy or girl that loves Cars the movie?  Are they anxiously anticipating the premiere of Cars 2?  We certainly are!  

Princess Prettys and Parties is hosting a "Cars Celebration" at local children's store Giggles and Gumdrops in Lowell, MI on Wednesday, June 22nd from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m.  We have lots of fun in store for your race fan - games, crafts and cupcakes!

Melissa of Giggles and Gumdrops and I are each giving away a FREE spot to this workshop.  Here is how you can enter to win one of the spots for your child:
1. Like Princess Prettys and Parties on Facebook HERE and come back and comment to let us know (or comment that you are already a fan)
2. Like Giggles and Gumdrops on Facebook HERE and come back and comment to let us know (or comment that you are already a fan)
3. Share this post on your FB wall (and comment on this blog post to let us know you have done so)
4. Suggest Princess Prettys and Parties to two or more friends (and comment on this blog post to let us know you have done so)
5. Suggest Giggles and Gumdrops to two or more friends (and comment on this blog post to let us know you have done so)

Each time you do on the things above you receive an entry, so you have up to 5 times to win!  The winner will be drawn this Saturday, so hurry and get your entries in.

If you would like to register for the Cars Celebration workshop, you can do so by using the RSVP to a Workshop link on http://www.princessprettys.com/ or by signing up in-store at Giggles and Gumdrops.  The cost for the workshop is $15 and grkids.com PERKS card members receive $5 off each workshop.  If you have any questions, contact Corey at 616-901-1625.