Daily Party Dish

Gee, thanks! We’re blushing…

We love hearing from our customers about their parties…especially when it includes good news about how much they loved our personalized party supplies!
 
A client in California just sent us this e-mail and included some pictures that we thought were too fun not to share! 

“Not only were these life-sized cut-outs and the personalized water-bottle labels a huge hit at our party, but Party411 really made sure we got everything we needed to give our event that special touch.  Not only will I use Party411 again, but several of my friends and family will for their events." 

A. Hubbard, California

 

Gee, thanks!  We’re blushing…

Jungle Theme Birthday Party - Part 2 ... The Cake

The planning of Jack's 3rd Birthday Party continues...

See  Planning a Jungle Theme Birthday Party - Part 1 ... The Invitation, and subscribe to our feed to stay up to date on Julie's progress in planning Jack's 3rd birthday party!

I decided that I did not want the typical sheet cake for this party.  I figured that since I really didn’t have a “party” for Jack last year, I would go all out for this one, which means splurging a bit on the cake.

While I wanted it amazing, I didn’t want to pay $15 per slice. I didn’t mind a cake for $200, but $500 was out of the question.  I know, even $200 seems ridiculous for a kid party, but it happens to be my birthday too, so I am doing it for the both of us. :)

I happen to watch the show Ace of Cakes so I am comparing what I see to some of the cakes that they make……bad move because now my expectations were really high.

I decided to go with AbouttheCake.com. Becky was friendly, nice, prompt in responding, reasonable priced and best of all…super talented! Here is a photo of the cake that we will have at the party. I hope it tastes half as good as it looks!

 

Cute, right? Next I will be working some more on the favors, so stay tuned!

- Julie

See more posts from the Jungle Theme Birthday Party:

• Planning a Jungle Theme Birthday Party - Part 1 ... The Invitation
• Jungle Theme Birthday Party - Part 3 ... Centerpieces and Favors
• Pictures from the Jungle Theme Birthday Party

 

Planning a Jungle Theme Birthday Party

I want to introduce you all to the newest contributor to the Daily Party Dish. Everyone, meet Julie. Julie, everyone.

Julie plans all of the local parties for Party411.com (she is great too, just look at this College Football theme party she just did). Right now she is working on a party of a more personal nature, a birthday party for her son. She agreed to share some of her ideas and thoughts, so look forward to several posts as she plans it all out (subscribe to our feed so you don't miss any!).

So without further ado... Julie.

Well, here goes… my very first blog post.  I am planning a 3^rd birthday party for my son Jack.  I feel compelled to make it great since I am a party planner and feel like I will be judged.  (You know…SHE  plans parties and this is all she did).

That being said, I had to think of a theme. I decided to go with the “jungle”.  I hired Jungle Terry to come to entertain the kids. He raises many different animals and brings 15 or so animals and reptiles for the kids to see and touch.

I didn’t want all the animals at my house, so I went to Jacks’ preschool and rented the motor room for the party.  This is both convenient and functional because after Jungle Terry, the kids can play on the equipment. Since Jack’s birthday is in December, we will never be able to do it at an outdoor playground.  This is the next best thing!

Then I needed to find a perfect invitation.  I decided to go with a semi-custom caricature invite to tie in the theme. Here is a pic of it.

Now is the fun part…..SHOPPING!  I have to get the perfect decorations and favors so that the party can all tie in together. I ordered pith hats for part of the centerpiece.  I don’t quite know what I am doing with that yet.  I ordered jungle plates but will use black cups and napkins.  I have very cute jungle slap bracelets that I will use as napkin rings.

For the kids, I ordered little stuffed animals, jungle sipper cups, stickers, jungle animal pens (very cute!)  hats that are jungle animals and animal crackers.  I will put them in bags and I made jungle theme labels that say “Thanks for coming” for each child.

I don't have a copy of the label handy, but I will include it with one of my next posts so you can see it. I am also deciding on a cake, so more pictures on the way!

- Julie

See more posts from the Jungle Theme Birthday Party:

• Jungle Theme Birthday Party - Part 2 ... The Cake
• Jungle Theme Birthday Party - Part 3 ... Centerpieces and Favors
• Pictures from the Jungle Theme Birthday Party
  

 

A Benefit for Flashes of Hope

So I went to this fabulous benefit last Thursday night, and I was so impressed with what little they spent on such a fantastic event.  In this day and age of little money and cutbacks on donations, it was refreshing to see most of the funds raised going to the organization and not the vendors (one of which could be Party411). 

There were few tables, mostly hightops, and the centerpieces were colored ping pong balls (or something similar) in a glass cylinder with LED lights thrown in.  A circle shape on a dowel rod was inserted and the name of the event was on this signage.  No expensive florals or linens.  The menu consisted of anywhere from fancy to fun heavy hors d’oeuvres and some delectable desserts on a help yourself buffet (less labor you know!).  And the bars included a self-serve table covered with sugar-rimmed martinis (I think, I didn’t have one) with an LED ice cube in cool blue.  I don’t know if they tasted good but it was a fabulous display for little cost.

In case you are wondering, Flashes of Hope is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating powerful, uplifting portraits of children fighting cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. The portraits, taken by award-winning photographers, help children feel better about their changing appearance by celebrating it. For families of terminally ill children, it's especially important to have a portrait that preserves forever the beauty, grace and dignity of their child.

 

Check it out.

- The Party Girl