A sad farewell: the end of the Harry Potter era

In the summer of 1998, one of my clients sent me a book that her daughter had picked up earlier that year on a trip to London. The book had quickly become a family favorite, and she wondered if I would be willing to read the book and then create a party for them. Always up for a challenge, I agreed right away. Little did I know, the book she would send me would begin a 13-year love affair that took in 7 books, 7 audio books, 8 movies, and a whole lot of magazine articles.

As I read Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone for the first time I was simply absorbed. If I remember correctly I read the book in one session: curled up on the couch, ignoring everything from the ringing phone to my slightly miffed husband who kept casually pulling on my sleeve to try to get my attention. (He soon learned that whenever a new book came out he should just extricate himself from my surroundings for a day or two. He’s a good husband.)

Planning a party based on this book became an almost insurmountable job -- there was just so much to draw upon. About this time, the Scholastic version had come out, and so after returning my client’s copy, I purchased my own and went to town with a yellow highlighter. The thing was, like Harry discovering the wizarding world in itself, the book just held so much creative fodder for a party, that my mind was spinning. By the time I’d read through the second time, the book was so marked up, it looked like a college study guide... there was just sooo much good stuff.

I immediately created letters which I rolled, attached to paper bag owls, and hand delivered to people’s doorsteps as the invitation. People came to the party without the slightest idea of what they were getting into -- they had no idea what to expect (Potter fever had not quite spread at this point). When people arrived at the door they were greeted by me in a fat suit holding a picture frame. They had to give the password (“Jodi is 7”) before I would allow them to enter. Upon entry they were given a robe (I had gone thrift store shopping, and cleared out every Goodwill sleep section in a 5 mile radius) and a witch’s hat (thank you Oriental Trading). The guests made magic wands out of tree branches wrapped with fancy wire (which I called magical binding thread), beads, and feathers (after the second book I would add tape to the mix). They made tiny stuffed sock owls, cats, rats, and frogs. We played a game of “Get Past the Goblin” to get their gold from the bank. Then, we went to school.

The children were sorted into houses, attended a potions class, given flying lessons, taught how to play ground Quidditch, and then enjoyed a feast. After the feast they hunted for the Sorcerer’s Stone through a series of clues that ended with them having to hold a note up to a mirror. It was the most amazing party I’ve ever planned... way before all the merchandising and mayhem began... and quite possibly the most fun I’ve ever had planning a party.

This past Sunday morning, I snuck out to see the final movie. I sat in the darkened theatre all by myself and wept and laughed and said goodbye to a fantasy world that has become such an integral part of my soul, I might as well be a Horcrux.

I’m very sad to see this chapter of my life close. But I’m thankful to have lived in a time when I could be a part of this journey. I can only imagine that a similar correlation might be said about those who grew up with the Narnia or Oz series... But I doubt the feeling was quite the same... I think that JK Rowling created something magical and special that probably won’t be repeated for a long time to come. She tapped into something that effected both children and adults -- which is next to impossible to do -- and she did it with grace, humor, and imagination that goes way beyond anything I’ve ever experienced before.

I’ll miss you Harry... I really will.

Pop goes the prize!

Add a little “pop” to your next party or gathering with balloon prizes and treats! There are so many ways to use them, and kids go crazy for balloons with a surprise inside.

For supplies, you’ll need:

1. At least one balloon for each person, but I often make more prize balloons because they are always a hit. NOTE: I like to use 5 inch balloons for my prizes; they are easier to pop, and aren’t quite as loud as 11 inchers. It’s up to you -- but if you do use 11 inch balloons you can stuff them with far more treats...


2. Treats or toys that will fit into a balloon. Starbursts, Hershey Kisses, Hershey Nuggets, hard candies that are wrapped are sweet treats that work well. For toys you could use small balls, little figurines or erasers, Silly Bandz -- just make sure there aren’t any sharp points!

3. A balloon pump (or a really hearty set of lungs!)

4. A container or bag for your blown-up balloons afterward.

How to make a “poppable prize”:

1. Insert two fingers from each hand (I use my middle and pointer fingers) into the mouth of the balloon and stretch open as wide as you can by pulling each hand away from the other.

2. Have someone drop a little treat inside (or, if you’ve got the hang of it by yourself, use your thumbs to pick up the treat and drop it in).


Steps one and two


The treat, now inside the balloon
3. Use a balloon pump to gently inflate the balloon to normal size.

4. Tie balloon end.


Steps 3 and 4
5. Place in a container or bag for later play.

There are tons of games you can play with these prize balloons! Here are some of my favorites...

1. Pair kids up and have them try to pop the balloon between their bellies (make sure they are wearing shirts) or backs or bottoms.

2. Have kids divide into teams and do a relay race. You could have them race with a balloon to a chair and then sit on the balloon until it pops.


Aaand... pop!


3. Have each kid keep the balloon in the air as long as they can. When it hits the ground, have them jump on it. Last kid to drop their balloon gets a special prize.

4. Play indoor soccer with them (unfortunately grass makes the ballons pop!). Whoever has control of the balloon when it pops gets a point, and a prize. To make it fair, anyone who gets more than one treat must give it to a team member. The fun thing with this game though is you can have lots of balloons out at once, not just one!

5. “Hide and Go Pop!” Hide the balloons all around a playing area. As the kids find them, they can pop them anyway they like. This is always fun because all you hear is tons of popping from all different directions!

6. Use the balloons as decor by stringing the balloons up with paper clips and ribbon. At the end of the party, have each kid choose a balloon as their prize.

7. If you are having a county fair or similar event, set up a dart board with the balloons as targets. Use a piece of peg board for the base, and feed the nipple of the balloon through a hole in the board, which makes a perfect balloon holder. Lean the board against the wall, and you are good to go! Have kids stand back and toss darts at the balloons (make sure they are back far enough so the darts are safe - remember, darts can be dangerous). When a balloon pops, they get the prize inside. For a safer alternative (with no flying darts), open up a small paper clip and tape it to the end of a long dowel or broom stick. Have kids stand behind a line and “poke” a balloon instead of throwing a dart.

A few notes on poppable prizes:

1. Never use balloons with small children or animals, as they can choke on the small pieces.

2. Some children are very sensitive to loud noises. These are definitely not games to play with kids who have these issues.

3. To make clean up easier, give the kids a challenge! See who can pick up the most balloon pieces in 30 seconds. Give everyone who participates one extra treat.

Have fun.... and get things popping!

Tuesday links: waste not, want not - craft ideas from recyclables!

If you've been reading this blog, by now you know that one thing I love to do is to find something that might have been just thrown away, and turn it into something useful or beautiful. Well, my sister Freda is on the same wavelength, and she pointed out this really cool Reuters video. (Click the link to view the video.)

In the Phillipines, volunteers are helping people light their dark houses with something really unexpected: plastic soda bottles filled with water and bleach! The bottles are mounted inside the roof, half-in and half-out. The sunlight filters through, and is refracted by the contents of the bottle, throwing light to all corners of the room. It's simple, sustainable, making use of what might have otherwise been trash, and saves people money on the electricity they would have used in the daytime.

So it got me thinking for this week's Tuesday Links... Let's focus on repurposing trash into treasure!

You know those plastic rings that soda six-packs have? The kind that we've heard horror stories about poor birds and fish getting caught in, when these rings are thrown away? Momtastic has a way to make them useful -- useful in having fun! Check it out to see how you can create an amazing bubble wand.

Talk about eggs-trodinary! Babble's Family Style blog has some inspiration for you for some egg carton crafts. While the coffee table creation above might require a few more eggs than your average family would eat (unless you really, really, really like omelets!), it still shows how you can be creative with a simple find from your kitchen.

I just can't stop making things out of TP tubes! The other day I saw a tube-less roll of toilet paper and nearly had a heart attack! I know it'll help reduce waste but... it's a precious crafting resource for me! Martha Stewart's Family Room blog feels the same. Check out their article all about using different-sized cardboard tubes for different crafts!

Table-covering tips! (Video)

Covering your table with some pretty cloth or colored plastic can transform the ordinary into the extraordinary! Today, we're showing you a cute, simple way to cover your table so that the covers don't get blown away (always important if you're celebrating outside!). You'll protect your table and add some color in a snap!

Don't forget to check out our other videos on our YouTube Channel, and like us on Facebook! We've got a new video for you every Monday, so be sure to pay us another visit!

Help found!

As you know, I’ve been on the lookout for a new assistant, and let me just say this: either I’m a total moron, or there are a lot of really amazing people out there that need jobs right now. Every single person who came through my door had some quality that made them a candidate in one way or another. Now, this is a double-edged sword. I’m thrilled because I have a wonderful pool of people to choose from for the position, but I’m saddened because I only have one position to offer and there are about a dozen folks I could easily hire if I had more jobs to fill.

However, if you are on the hunt for a job, and want a few pointers from someone who’s actually going through the hiring process first hand... Here they are!

1. Allow for enough time in order to be early to your interview. If you have to drive a distance, make sure that you give yourself plenty of time. It’s better to show up early to your interview than late, and the Bay Area is notorious for traffic complications, especially if you are crossing a bridge. (However, if you are going to be late anyway, call!)

2. Have all your materials (resume, letters of recommendation, schedules, etc.) handy and organized. You don’t want to cause a paper storm or begin a treasure hunt in the middle of your interview.

3. Come with a few questions for the interviewer that show initiative. Check out the company (many have websites, blogs, etc.) so that you can pose interesting questions that show you are interested in them. In other words, do your homework. But do wait for the interviewer to ask you if you have any questions; don’t go barreling in there with “So I’ve been researching your company and I want to know your stand on global warming” before they’ve even asked you about your past work history and intentions.

4. Don’t wear a ton of perfume or aftershave. Your scent may linger long after you have left the building, and that may not necessarily be a good thing. A little is nice, just don’t overdo it! If you start a coughing fit in the interview room you won’t gain any points.

5. Don’t apply for a full time job if you are going to school full time... That’s what part time jobs are for...

6. Try to make eye contact as much as you can, smile when you can, and if offered to shake hands, do so with a nice solid grip. Limp hands lack confidence. It also makes me feel like the Incredible Hulk and fearful that I’m going to crush your hand or hurt you in some way!

7. Dress appropriately for the job you are interviewing for. Neat and tidy makes a good impression no matter what. And please, make sure you give yourself a little check in the mirror before you come in. Toothpaste on the side of the mouth does not make the best impression.

8. Be yourself. Please don’t try to be what you think I want you to be. You probably have no idea what I’m looking for anyway, and truth be told, maybe I don’t even know myself, but if you are yourself I can get a much better sense of whether or not you will fit into our environment.

9. Answer honestly. If the interviewer asks you where you would like to see yourself in five years, tell them. Don’t say, “Sitting here at this desk filing papers and answering phones” if your answer really is “Running my own business.”

There are so many amazing candidates out in the market today, and I just wish there was a way to utilize each and every one of them. If you are someone who is thinking about hiring right now, I urge you to do it! There are great people needing work!

As for me... I’m confident that I’m going to find the perfect assistant this time ‘round. Otherwise I’m going to hire an HR firm - this process is gut wrenching!

---

Update! After I wrote this, I did in fact find an amazing young woman to come join our team! I'm sure I'll be mentioning her in this blog from time to time, so everyone please give a warm welcome to Kelly!


Freda made this sign to welcome our new team member! We're so excited to have her onboard!

Help wanted!

Unfortunately, I recently found myself without an office assistant. It’s a long story that I won’t go into, but suffice it to say that I NEED a secretary/assistant! I spend so much of my time on the road meeting clients, scoping out locations, shopping for supplies, and running parties that I’m hardly ever in the office. Basically, I need someone to manage and maintain my schedule; someone smart, someone low-key, someone patient...

To handle this, I have turned to Craigslist. I’ve done the “friend of a friend” thing before and been burned, so I realize that as much as I didn’t want to do it, I was going to have to carve out some time to look through resumes, contact folks, and hold interviews. Let me tell you, I’ve been at it for a week now, and I understand why companies have dedicated HR staff! This interviewing process is a full-time job!

The same day we posted our ad we got about 100 resumes. The next day, another 100... By the time I actually started holding the interviews I was up to 300. Now, a good deal of the resumes are from young, inexperienced kids (like recent high school and college grads) that have not much more experience than working in a fast food chain, mall boutique, or babysitting. (We did get one resume from someone who had spent 10 years working for a construction company -- it made me smile when I realized that the company must be her father’s, as she was only 19 years old, judging from her high school graduation date!) Those resumes are cute, and made me think that if I had a larger firm and needed more help, like answering phones or filing, I would certainly call them in and let them get their feet wet -- but that’s not what I need. I need someone who can handle the pressure of being on the phone with a client while signing for a FedEx package and writing down an address for me so that I can get out the door. It can be a very fast-paced environment.

Another portion of our applicants I had to take out of the running because they were just too far away. My sister Freda commutes from Oakland every day, and it’s a real bear. In fact, she comes to work at 6:30 a.m. and leaves at 2:30 p.m. so that she can beat the traffic. Those hours won’t work for an assistant; they need to be 9-to-5 -- putting them in the middle of prime traffic time. I can’t see how anyone with a 1 ½ hour commute each way is going to be happy in their job. That’s just me... but still, the idea of getting stuck in traffic every day for work is not a good one.

The last portion that I eliminated were just overqualified. I’m sorry, but it’s true. I know people hate hearing this, but honestly, I can’t envision a banker with 12 years of experience sitting in the assistant’s chair at Sophie’s Stress-Free Soirées. I know the job market is tough, but unless that person writes to me and says, “I’ve always envisioned myself in the party planning business and would like to learn from the ground up...” I’m not going to call them in.

I was also a bit broken-hearted to see so many teachers out of work. That truly upset me, as I hold teachers in the highest regard. There are also a good many medical workers... I’m not sure what that says for the state of health care, but as an employer who watches her Kaiser rates go up 15% every year, I guess it’s not going into the staffing.

Anyway... from going through all these resumes I’ve learned a few things, and I’d like to pass them on to anyone who is in the job market.

• Get someone to help with your resume -- someone who can spell! I can’t tell you the number of resumes I’ve received with numerous spelling errors. It really doesn’t bode well for you when you tell me you are “detail-oriented” and then spell “expereinced.” Bottom line, get two or more focused people to proofread your resume.
• If you are responding via email, do write a little note in the body of the email. Don’t just send me your resume as an attachment and nothing else. It just looks like what it probably is: a mass e-mailing to any and all individuals who posted a job that day. Take the time to jot down a short note expressing why you think you are worth seeing.
• Include humor if you can, but don’t go overboard. One of the best applications we received sent us a link to a YouTube clip, with the concept that she was like the character in the skit. Now this might backfire in the corporate world, but for us, it made her stand out, and even though the character she alluded to was really intense, it made us giggle. She is a young applicant who lives a bit farther away than I had been allowing in my screening process, but her ingenuity paid off for her and we called her in.
• Don’t pad your resume. That is, don’t use 25 words to describe your ability to answer phones. It’s perfectly fine to write something like, “In charge of scheduling appointments” as opposed to “managed and maintained all aspects of calendar-related duties, including scheduling, verification, researching location, creating maps, finding closest deli for lunch, etc.”
• If you think that there is something that really sets you apart from the others, then by all means point that out -- but make sure you can back it up! Don’t say you are reliable and organized when you can’t seem to find the time to reply to an e-mail inviting you to an interview, then call in a panic because you lost the piece of paper with the address and time!
• If you have a break in your resume -- say you’ve taken a few years off from the workforce to have a child or care for an ailing parent -- please note that. Otherwise I may think you’ve been in prison for those missing years!

I’m looking forward to meeting my next assistant. I’m sure I’ll have another installment to write after I’ve gone through the actual interview process. But I have to say thus far, although it’s been quite a time-consuming affair, it does give me a great overview of the people in our area, and being a people person, I’m excited to meet them all!

Tuesday links: feather hair extensions, make your own flip-flops, "family necklaces," and customize a board game!

Summer means no school, no homework, and for some kids, "nothing to do." Well, that's just not true! For today's edition of Tuesday links, we take a look at some summer trends, crafts, and games that'll be sure to shake any child of their summer boredom.


You've seen 'em on celebs like Steven Tyler and Selena Gomez, and let me tell you, these feather hair extensions are a big hit at tween parties! At birthdays and Bat Mitzvahs, if we have a booth of feather extensions and "hair bling," they're kept busy the whole party through! In fact, these feather hair extensions are so popular that the feather suppliers are running out! Babble's Family Style blog also takes a look at this trend, along with a gallery of famous befeathered hairdos. What do you think? Silly or stylish? Would you let your child get one?

Moving from your head down to your toes, The Mother Huddle has a really cute and easy craft for summer. Using cheap flip-flop sandals and fabric of your own choosing, you can tie up some cute sandals of your very own! If you're doing this craft with your children, I recommend also having a selection of beads, jewels, and other decor that you (or another supervising adult) can hot-glue to the sandals to make them even more special.

Here's another craft that'll help ease your little ones' separation anxiety if they're headed off to summer camp. Moomah (via Parents.com) has an idea for a "family necklace." By taking pictures of loved ones and affixing them to manila tags, children can create and decorate a necklace that reminds them of home wherever they go.

Finally, if you're already hearing "I'm bored" from your on-vacation kids, challenge them to create a board game for the whole family to play! Cool Mom Picks found this cool blank board game set that's ready for your kids to let their imaginations run wild. They can customize the board, the playing pieces, and the spinner as well as make up their own rules. Your kids will have as much fun putting the game together as they will playing it.

Making magic wands (Video)

You can't have a princess, fairy, mermaid, or other magically-themed party without each child getting a magic wand! Today we're showing you how to create your own sparkly, beaded wand so that you can cast all your spells and charms!

Our Sophie's World YouTube Channel has tons more great crafts like these (as well as games and other party-planning tips!), and be sure to like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter!

Camp store

Destination events, or events where your guests are required to pack up their bags and hightail it to a location far enough from home to require an overnight stay, are a total blast. (Especially if you theme the event, as you’ll see!) But the only thing about a destination event is that your guests are out of their element, and often they forget to pack certain items.

If you’ve been following our blog, you know that we recently finished a destination birthday party in La Jolla, California. We had the amazingly fun theme of “summer camp.” To help our our fellow campers who may have forgotten to pack an item or two, we created a camp store.

Now, this was possibly the most fun I’d had in a long time: shopping for our camp store. God bless Target and their entire wall of sample-sized products! (I should mention that I’m one of those people who like things that are out of normal proportion, meaning either extra-small, or extra-large. I practically swoon over the teeny tiny bottles of shampoo!)

The camp store had all those fun items that are easily left behind: toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, hair spray, tampons, nail clippers, nail files... We also had stuff that people might not realize they need until they got there: Band-Aids, sunscreen, sunglasses, aloe gel, sun visors, Neosporin, tweezers...

There was also a First Aid box (which we kept out of reach from our youngest campers), with all versions of pain medication like asprin, Tylenol (ibuprofen), Advil (acetaminophen), a basic cold medicine (Dayquil), and Benadryl (for any minor allergy reactions).

And then we just had some left over items from our goodie boxes, like water bottles, flashlights, snacks, and cookies...

We created a step display out of foam core and fabric; however, the same effect can be achieved by simply placing boxes of varying sizes in a pattern and then draping and bunching fabric over the boxes. You want to place your products at different levels so that they are easy to see and grab.



The best thing was the last day, when we had a “fire sale” at our camp store. Basically, we just let folks take what they wanted! One of the guests was overheard saying, “Oh, I’ve always wanted to try this cream! This is great! It’s like being at Walgreens!”

By the time we were packing up to go, the only thing that was left was one box of half-used Band-Aids (the box was used, not the bandages! Ew!), and a flashlight that was missing its batteries. I’d say our store was a success!

Dangerous toys?

For the past week my husband and I have had a little house guest. He’s three years old, and he and his dad have been visiting with us while they relocate to the Bay Area. Along with our little friend’s funny questions and cute role-playing games comes a big basket of toys. Some of these toys come from his daddy’s own childhood days. And those toys, my friends, would cause an ambulance-chasing lawyer’s eyes pop out of his head!

Our little friend’s daddy has some amazing toys from his tot-hood. Most of them are cars made out of real metal, with real rust spots, and super-cool character! All of us love them. But it did raise a discussion of safety with us adults. Is it right to let a 3-year-old play with old-fashioned toys that clearly do not meet up with the safety standards of today’s toys?

I don’t know. I have to say that I’m torn. On one side, I would never want a child to get injured; the notion of a child in the emergency room is one that causes me great angst, but on the flip side, I see so many parents coddling their children to the point of suffocation. I know that I see it a great deal with the first borns of the family. That child may as well walk around in a onesie made out of bubble wrap. By the time those parents get to their third or fourth kid, the boundaries have usually loosened -- those are the kids you see balancing on the edge of the climbing structure, or walking on the thin railing between the parking lot and the highway. I guess my question is, are the kids we try to overprotect any better off than the kids who push the boundaries? I mean, kids learn by trying, failing, crying, and trying again. If we take that away from them, how do they actually learn that the fire is hot, that the stairs are precarious, and that the safety pin is sharp?

Pain is a hard thing to watch. But I’ve seen kids react to it in two ways. For example, take the kid who runs full force into the table, knocks themselves on their little butt, and sits there shaking their head. It’s not so much that they were injured, just stunned. Now the reaction can go one of two ways: if the adults around the child swoop down and start the verbal bombardment of “Are you okay?!?” usually the child will burst into tears. This inevitably leads to the adult picking up and hugging of the child, followed by more crying, more cuddling, and on and on (i.e., “I cry, I get comfort”). Then there’s the other adult reaction, which is to laughingly check to see if the kid is okay. In turn, the child usually teeters back and forth between tears and getting up and walking away. This usually depends on whether they are actually hurt or not, as opposed to giving the response they think the adults want. These are kids of the adults who usually say things like, “Shake it off... you’re okay.” The pain is acknowledged, evaluated, and then given a reaction.

I’m sure there are countless numbers of studies on this topic, and being that I’m not a trained educator or psychologist, I can only go by what I’ve seen time and time again with my own two eyes.

I do worry though that if we as a society try to keep our children from experiencing the world around them, we may hinder their progress and learning. I’m not advocating putting children in harm’s way -- quite the opposite -- but I do think they need to discover things like pulling the kitty’s tail makes the kitty hiss and possibly bite! It’s that same thing I used to see when I babysat for little ones. They’d sit in their highchair eating lunch, and inevitably the bowl of pasta would end up on the floor. Now, if I bend over, pick up the bowl, and put it back on the highchair tray, it’s going to end up on the floor again. It becomes a game to the child: “I throw the bowl, Sophie picks it up, I throw the bowl, Sophie picks it up”... You get the picture. (And trust me, this is a funny game that kids love, if you have tons of time and want to whittle your waist!) However, if the child throws the bowl and I pick it up and take it to the sink, then the child learns that throwing the bowl means losing it, and having to eat the food that’s left stuck on the tray instead. In other words... actions have consequences.

So that brings us back to the question of these metal toys from the 60s. Do we let our little buddy play with the old-fashioned, amazingly well-made, but possibly dangerous cars? Or do we take that experience of playing with something that belonged to Daddy away from him because there could be the slightest possibility of injury?

Frankly for us, we opted for having a box of Band-Aids nearby. So far, so good.

Tuesday links: kids' party food, watermelon popsicles, cute drinks, and amazing cupcakes!

Putting together the food for a kids' party is easier than it looks. Kids don't expect elaborate meals -- they just want cake and some nibbles! Today's collection of Tuesday Links covers some quick and easy food tips for feeding your party of little ones.


Nibbles!



First, our pals at GigMasters break down kids' party food. Once again, we're right with them on this one! Kids don't need fancy food. As Marta says, "Want to know the biggest mistake parents make with kids’ party food? Assuming that children actually care that much about party food. Yes, kids expect cake. But mostly they’re just excited about letting loose with their friends and jumping in the inflatable bounce house in your backyard or dancing around to silly music." We couldn't agree more! Check out the rest of their post for more tips.

Want a cold treat to beat the heat, but don't want to give your kids a sugary popsicle? Gabrielle at Babble's Family Style blog shares a cool trick she found at Real Simple: freezing watermelon slices and turning those into summer snacks!

Martha Stewart's Crafts Department has a way to dress up your drinks. Whether it's a lemonade, iced tea, Arnold Palmer, or just plain ol' water, sipping from these flower straws will brighten up a summer party.

Finally, I can't get over how cute these cupcakes are! Family Fun has a whole gallery of amazing birthday cupcakes that can give you some great ideas of their own, but it's these Pixar's "Up" inspired cupcakes that made me smile! You don't even have to spend any extra effort decorating the cupcakes -- just frost them with bright, solid colors, and use a house cut-out and some ribbon to complete the look!

Cute and creative business cards

I meet a great many people in my industry, and so it’s not uncommon for me to come back from a weekend’s worth of events with a business card or two in one of my pockets (along with rubber bands, thumb tacks, and tiny toys children gave me to hold).

I like fun business cards. The best ones tell you who the person is and what they do at a glance. Meaning, if you get a card for a balloon twister, the card somehow invokes the feeling of balloon animals -- that way, you can remind yourself of exactly what that person does and why you have their card in the first place. I also try desperately to make my own notes on the back of the cards so I can remember how I met the person, and why I thought it was worthwhile to take their card.

Once I’m back at the office, I like to file the information in our computer address book and then also file the card itself (if it’s enticing) in our hard copy book (a book one of my assistants bought at Staples; it has all these little clear plastic pockets for business cards. It was a great purchase on her part! Way to go Monica!).

We’ve had a couple really busy months of late, so my business card pile had grown into a small mountain. Yesterday I finally had the opportunity to go through them and start cataloguing them. And that’s when I found it... the coolest business card in the world!

Now I must tell you, if you were to see it lying on the table, you wouldn’t really think too much of it. It’s a nice looking card: very simple, letter pressed (which is classy), but straight forward with the name, address, and e-mail, printed on a heavy cardboard stock... Nothing out of the ordinary...

Until you turn it over and discover that it’s been printed on the back of a cereal box! Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, to be precise.



I just thought this was the coolest thing in the world!

Being a person who likes reusing and repurposing items, such as boxes and bottles, I just thought this was awesome! Of course the fact that she used letterpress instead of simple printing or a stick-on label takes it to an elevated, sophisticated level, and says that she is a person with both a sense of whimsy and also a refined taste (hmmm... that certainly goes with the cereal box, doesn’t it).

Because this was in a pile of cards, and I have no notes written on the back of her card, I must now figure out who she is, what she does, and if there is a way I can incorporate her in what I do... I now have a mission to figure out who this person is!

All because of a single business card...



For even more creative business cards, check out this article from Smashing Magazine!

The tale of the donut tree

When I was in Girl Scouts years ago, I remember hearing the rumor of the “donut tree.” Now as an adult party planner, I’ve finally had the opportunity to bring the myth into reality, and let me tell you... it’s really, really fun!

You need to do a little preparation for this one, but trust me: if you’ve got a weekend adventure with kids, this is a great activity and well worth the effort.

You’ll need the following items:

1. A seed packet-type envelope (I used a small manila one that I found at Staples, but you could use an old, clean, seed packet, or regular envelope as well) and a little label (I made mine on the computer) that says “Donut Seeds.” Fill that envelope with Cheerios or very similar “o” shaped cereal as the “seeds.”

2. A good, solid branch with lots of twigs (I used a manzanita branch that I mounted in a plaster bucket to make it stand up straight). Or, if you want to do this with a growing tree outside, find a good tree in your area with lots of low hanging branches on it.

3. A pot to plant your “seeds” (in our case, we let the kids decorate the pot before we planted the seeds), or an area outside under your tree with really good branches.

4. Donut holes either wrapped in Saran wrap or in mini baggies, secured with ribbon.

5. If you will be doing this two days in a row, you can also get mini donuts wrapped in Saran wrap or mini baggies, secured with ribbon.

6. Paper clips (you may or may not need these, depending upon your branches; these serve as your hooks to attach the donuts to the tree branches).

To begin the fun, you’ll need to get creative and weave a tale for the children in your party. It’s fun to mix in a bit of lore from the area that surrounds you. In our case, we were at a beach, so I made the story about a lost fisherman who found himself stranded on a mysterious, misty island, where all the trees were covered in donuts. I told the kids that when the fog cleared the next day, the fisherman found himself adrift in his boat, with no island in sight, but one tiny branch that had broken off in the bottom of his boat. The fisherman took the branch home, and nurtured it, and when it was time to harvest the tree, he collected a few of the seeds to pass on to very special children.

At that point in time, the seeds are revealed, and we very carefully planted them. We placed the pot in a secure location where everyone would be able to see it (in our case, the dining hall), said a few words of magical encouragement, and sent the kids off to bed.


Our packet of “seeds”


Porcelain markers for the kids to use to decorate our pot


Our great big pot, unadorned


Some of the kids’ handiwork

Once I was sure everyone was asleep, I replaced the soil with our plaster based manzanita branch, filled in the rest of the pot with some fake moss, and hung the donut holes from the branches. I used colorful paper clips which I opened up to form an S-hook to hang the “donut buds.”

The next day the kids went crazy as they “harvested” their breakfast. The tree stayed up all day, and kids munched away through dinner time.



Our donut tree, covered in “donut buds!”
If you are so desirous, you can place mini donuts on the tree at night so that it creates the illusion of the fruit “ripening” and growing for the next morning.

You don’t have to use a potted branch for this -- however, if you decide that you want to do this outdoors, just make sure that you don’t hang the donuts until early the next morning, otherwise you might end up with the local animals making a picnic of your tree!

Tuesday links: outdoor activities for summer!

Summertime is a time of running around outdoors, using sunscreen to ward off sunburn and fun activities to prevent "I'm bored!"-itis. For this edition of Tuesday links, we've got a massive roundup of fun stuff for kids to do in the sun!

Babble's got a great list of 15 outdoor activities, including this gorgeous star jar! Perfect for a summer night when fireflies are too hard to catch!

Craftzine has a new spin on sidewalk chalk. Check out their recipe for sprayable chalk paint, and let your kids go to town on your driveway!

If you need a refresher on summer fun activities, Momtastic has a cute take on a lot of the basics, including a new way to play the classic "Hot and Cold."

Finally, the most beloved summer activity has to be any that takes place in the pool! Still, we need to keep our little swimmers safe, and Parents' Magazine's Goody Blog has a must-read post full of resources on pool safety.

Paper flowers (Video)

Happy Fourth of July, everyone! I hope you're enjoying the explosions of fireworks -- and today we're going to show you how to make a different kind of color explosion! These paper flowers can be made out of a variety of materials, and can be used to decorate a room, create a tabletop centerpiece, or dress up a wrapped gift.

Be sure to check out the rest of our videos at our YouTube Channel, and have a "safe and sane" Independence Day!

A midnight visit

Recently, Freda and I worked on a really fun destination birthday party in La Jolla Beach, California. During the weekend, we had a kid’s zone open where kids could drop in and make crafts, play a board game, or just hang out with our staff. The club had graciously given Freda and myself access to the room a day early, so that we could set everything up before the guests began arriving on Friday.

It was late Thursday night as Freda and I were finishing up the last few touches on the kids’ room, when our visitor arrived. I was setting up the game table, and I thought I saw a movement out of the corner of my eye. It was just a shadow, and it had moved really fast, so I just assumed it was a trick of the light or that my tired eyes were playing tricks on me. But when I picked up a box of dominoes, a little furry body streaked past me and behind a pile of cardboard boxes. I jumped back, more startled than scared, and yelped for Freda to join me. Together we stood sort of huddled together, watching the boxes. About thirty seconds later, my suspicions were confirmed as a tiny gray body sprinted across the floor, making a mad dash for the door. Freda and I squealed in delight.

Is that what I think it is?


On the hunt.


Mousie makes a break for it!
I must take a moment to explain us Maletsky sisters. Little furry creatures don’t terrify us -- they tickle us pink! And yes, I know: a mouse is the last thing you want to find in an upscale establishment... but he was sooo darn cute! This was not some bedraggled, nasty, chewed-up sewer mouse. It was actually a sleek, plump, adorable little mouse who seemed to have taken a liking to both Freda and myself. (Yes, I know I’m being delusional -- he was probably more enticed by the remains of our untouched dinner.) Whether it was the food, or us, that same mouse kept appearing, eventually allowing Freda to get close enough to photograph him. Truth be told, it was almost as if he was posing for her!

Mousie knows how to work the camera!
Of course, the party planner in me did eventually overcome my nature, and I did the appropriate thing for the club and my clients: I reported the furry little intruder to housekeeping. But it honestly broke my heart! We didn’t see any signs of our little friend after that, and I was informed that the club cat and hawk had been called into active duty for the weekend, so it was doubtful that I would glimpse those twitching whiskers again. But at least I’ve got the pictures!

I’ll miss my furry friend!