Party for a Diva

The themes for the month so far have been “last minute parties” and “over the top celebrations.”  One event encompassed both.

We got a call on a Wednesday about a party to happen on the upcoming Sunday.

This call was from “the people” of a well known entertainer who could definitely be called a Diva, (a well deserved title, given her talent, fame, and high expectations for service).  Needless to say, a call like this is very exciting for us!  The opportunity to work for such a celebrity is what Celebrity Party Planner is all about.

It was this particular celebrity’s birthday and her staff, friends, and family wanted to create an amazing event for her.  With only (3) days, and adrenaline running high we went to work!

Lynn, an event coordinator with over 20 years experience under her belt, was able to plan and orchestrate a successful event that everyone thoroughly enjoyed!

This party had everything from:

• Glamorous “Hollywood Starlet” Theme Decor
• Professional Outdoor Lighting
• Personalized Floral Arrangements
• A (24) Flavored Ice Cream Sundae Bar
• Old Fashion Popcorn and Cotton Candy Carts
• Backyard Table Tennis
• Giant Slip & Slide
• Henna and Glitter Tattoos, and Face Painting
• Dramatic Confetti Blast
• Full Bar Set-up, and more…

Lynn & her team put it all together in “record time,” receiving rave-reviews from everyone at the party!

Let Celebrity Party Planner coordinate your next celebration.  Where “no party is too large or too small,” and their planning approach is as if “everyone is a celebrity” in their own right, because after all you’re worth it!

Easter is hopping your way!

Easter 2011 is coming up on April 24. This is a great holiday to spend with kids and enjoying spring weather – it’s usually pretty nice here in the San Fernando Valley at Easter time.

There are as many ways to celebrate Easter as there are people in this world. Happy Parties can help you create a fun celebration for children. We have adorable Easter baskets and fun surprises to fill them with. The Easter bunny will be a hit with this selection. If your church or organization wants to have an Easter egg hunt we can help you plan the whole thing – plastic Easter eggs, baskets to collect them in, an appearance by the Easter bunny himself, face painting, balloon animals, spring decorations, a bounce house for entertainment before or after the hunt, an Easter or spring themed puppet show, and much much more.

Call us (818-980-0032 or 310-282-0818 or 714-671-1230) or contact us online to let us help you create an amazing Easter celebration.

Fancy Nancy Birthday Party Ideas

Celebrity Party Planner can help you book this "Fancy" entertainer for your party!

Does your birthday girl want a “posh soiree” (that’s fancy for fancy party) for her birthday party? Does it seem like she owns every Fancy Nancy book there is? Then here are some ideas for the swankiest shin dig around!

Fancy Nancy Birthday Invitations:

Oh-la-la! Invite everyone to don their fanciest ensembles and dress up for this extravagant fete. Greet guests with an enthusiastic “Bonjour!” and say “Enchente” to everyone you meet for the first time.

Fancy Nancy Birthday Decor

For a Fancy Nancy bash, there is no end to the amount of decorations you can put up. Make a large, ornate welcome sign saying “Bienvenue à la Partie” which is “Welcome to the Party” in French, the fanciest of all languages.

Have plenty of decorations in pink and fuchsia (a fancy word for purple, Nancy’s favorite color). Tie tulle to all chairs, wrap around poles, use as bunting in doorways, etc. Put out bouquets of pink and purple helium balloons and table cloths (Celebrity Party Planner can blow up the balloons for you). Drape bunches of mardi gras style beaded necklaces every where and pile on table surfaces. Kids can put them on as dress up during the party and collected as party favors as well.

Fancy Nancy Birthday Games and Activities

An important and fun activity is, of course, dress up! Anything is fancy with a pile of accessories – tiaras, boas, over the top hats, scarves, beaded and other costume jewelry, hair clips and bows, lip gloss, and more.

Guests can also make their own fancy necklaces and bracelets with shiny and blinged-out beads and string from the craft store.

Fabulous games can include “pin the bow on Frenchy the Poodle.” Find and print out a large picture of Fancy Nancy’s poodle Frenchy, get a glamorous bow to pin into her head.

Play “What’s The Fancy Word For…” You can have a list of not-so-fancy words and the guests can come up with as many fancy words as they can. The winner is the one who created the most words. For younger parties, you can reverse the game – have a list fancy words and the guests can guess the non-fancy word.

Celebrity Party Planner can help you hire a “Fancy” party entertainer character who can help glam up the guests with face painting and more.

Fancy Nancy Birthday Food

For the meal, serve “brunch” or “supper” instead of plain lunch or dinner. Even though kids don’t always like fancy food, you can fancy up even kid food. Make simple sandwiches and use heart and flower shaped cookie cutters to make them look exquisite (a fancy word for beautiful). Put a fancy cocktail toothpick in each because as Nancy says, sandwiches DO taste better with a frilly toothpick.

For dessert, serve “parfaits” (that’s a fancy word for ice cream sundaes) and/or cupcakes with PLENTY of sprinkles and candy on top – to make them fancy of course. You can even have the children do their own sprinkling as a fun (and messy!) activity.

Below are some links to Fancy Nancy printables, invitations, games and more.

Contact Happy Parties online to book a Fancy character in Studio City, Encino, Sherman Oaks, Valley Village, North Hollywood, Woodland Hills, Tarzana, Chatsworth, Calabasas, Northridge, or anywhere in LA, get directions to our store, or call us at  818-980-0032 or 310-282-0818 or 714-671-1230 to help plan your most extravagant affair!

Fancy Nancy Printables

Fancy Nancy Party Kit including printable invitations

Fancy Nancy Printable Paper Dolls

Fancy Nancy Printable Stickers

Fancy Nancy Printable Coloring Pages

Valentine’s Day Flowers From Celebrity Party Planner in Studio City

This year, Celebrity Party Planner has beautiful Flower Arrangements for “your valentine!”  As well as all of the other “specialty” party items, balloon bouquets, singing telegrams, & gifts!

Celebrity Party Planner is on Ventura just West of Laurel Canyon in Studio City in the San Fernando Valley and close to Sherman Oaks, Valley Village, North Hollywood, Encino, Tarzana, Reseda, Van Nuys, Burbank and Glendale. So it’s convenient and easy to stop by, pick Valentine’s flowers, balloons and a Valentine’s Day gift and not come home empty handed!

What Do You Do When Uninvited Siblings/Guests Come To Your Kids Birthday Party?

Every parent knows it happens. Bobby’s younger sister came to the party, even though she wasn’t invited and barely knows the birthday child. Lisa’s cousin is in town so her mom brought her along because she thought she’d have fun.  So how do you deal with parents wanting to bring siblings or other uninvited guests to a birthday party?

Every party planning parent dreads the uninvited guests. But the smart party planner anticipates it.

The best way to deal with this is to head it off with a few easy steps:

1. Address the party invitation directly to the invited guest (not the parents or the family). On a physical, snail-mail invitation, put the child’s name on the envelope as well as the actual invitation itself. For online invitations (such as evite.com) your address book and the online invitation services do let you associate each email address with a first and last name. Make this name the child’s name rather than the parent’s name, even if it is a parent’s email address.
2. Add a line to the RSVP request that says “Please RSVP by xx/xx/xx as we need an exact head-count” or “Please RSVP by xx/xx/xx as we have space limitations.”
3. Be direct. Add a line at the bottom that says “Please, no siblings.” Most parents will understand that each guest costs money and a simple, polite request is reasonable.
4. Call or email guests a few days before to confirm their attendance. Say “just making sure that we will see Johnny tomorrow at Ethan’s birthday party. We’re looking forward to having him there!” This is a direct way of communicating your expectation that only one kid will be there (and gives them the opportunity to let you know in advance if they plan on bringing a sibling).
5. Discuss the activities planned for the party and emphasize their age appropriateness. Parents may be reluctant to drag an older sibling to a party geared toward much younger kids or vice versa.
6. If a parent asks you if a sibling can attend, tell the parent that the party is for the birthday child and his/her friends only and you’d prefer not to have extra guests to supervise. Or say that you’ve budgeted for X number of guests and you’re sorry but you can’t extend the size of the party. If there are extenuating circumstances, and you want to make the accommodation, request that the parent stay to help supervise.
7. Create a buffer and be prepared for extra guests. Despite all these efforts, some parents will not heed your requests or hints. Buy a few extra favors, have some extra food, balloons, chairs, etc. If they go unused, the birthday child will have a little something extra to make him or her feel even more special.

Sometimes extra guests have to attend because there is no other childcare for the sibling, or something comes up last minute. Considerate parents will call in advance, apologize and offer to pay for the extra child. But uninvited guests come to almost every party so be prepared. Just as frequently, a child that has RSVP’d “yes” gets sick at the last minute and can’t attend anyway, so your overall number of guests may not even change.

So, do your best to politely head off the problem, but be open-minded so that if (when) extra people come, you’re prepared and it doesn’t interfere with celebrating  your child’s special day.

For more birthday party etiquette advice, birthday party ideas, party theme ideas and much, much more, contact our event planning experts at Celebrity Party Planner!

Kids Birthday Party Checklist

Planning a children’s birthday party can be a lot of work. There are a lot of things to do, book and hire and get ready, even for the simplest get together. Celebrity Party Planner can help make your job easier by doing most of the party planning work for you so all you have to do is show up and have fun. But here is a handy check list to help make you make sure you have set up and arranged everything you need to pull off a great birthday party for that important kid in your life. Here is the list and there is a link to a printable birthday party checklist at the end.

• Location (your house or backyard, a park, an indoor playground, a restaurant, bowling alley, mini-golf, amusement park, roller rink, ice skating rink, movie theater, baseball game, bakery, ice cream parlor, etc.)
• Invitations – be sure to include:
  • All the details of address, date, time (include an end time to give parents an expectation of how long the party will be)
  • RSVP info. Most people like having the option of phone AND email even if you’re doing an online invitation
  • Any special instructions or info
    • If at a park or other large public area, details as to where your party will be
    • Decide if they will say “No siblings please”
    • Gift registry or request for no gifts or donations
• Decorations
  • Kids Birthday Party Decoration Ideas: Balloons, Streamers, Confetti, Photographs of the birthday girl or birthday boy, Wall decorations, Table cloths
• Pick a theme
  • Kids Birthday Party Theme Ideas: Princess (Rapunzel, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Belle, Snow White, Tiana, etc.), Super Hero (Spiderman, Batman, Transformers, Iron Man, etc.), Magic, Tea Party, Construction, Cars & Trucks (Disney’s Cars), Trains (Thomas the Tank Engine), Farm or zoo, Favorite TV Show or Movie (Dora the Explorer, Star Wars, Yo Gabba Gabba, Toy Story, Sponge Bob, Sesame Street, Bob the Builder, Harry Potter, Glee, etc.) Science party, 50’s party, 60’s hippy party, 70’s Disco party, 80’s party, Hawaiian luau
• Games and activities
  • Kids Birthday Party Games and Activities Ideas: Pinatas, Carnival games, Contests, Face painting, Balloon animals, Karaoke machine, Bubble machine, Arts & Crafts, Music, Pony rides, Petting zoo, Puppet show
• Bounce houses/jumpers/moonbounce
• Costumed character or entertainer
  • Princess, clown, magicians, puppet show, super hero, TV or movie character
• Party food for kids and adults
• Beverages for kids and adults
• Plates, napkins, cutlery, and cups in colors that match the decorations and/or theme
• Set up tables and chairs. Rent additional if needed
• Guest book
• Cake and/or cupcakes
• Gift bags and party favors

You can download and print out this kids birthday party checklist and get started on creating a well organized and super fun birthday party for that special kid!

Tangled or Rapunzel Birthday Party Ideas

We’ve been getting a LOT of requests for princess Rapunzel entertainers ever since Disney’s hit movie “Tangled” came out. She’s the newest princess craze and we have a number of terrific entertainers who do an amazing job portraying Rapunzel while making the birthday guests and guest of honor very happy by singing songs, playing games, doing face painting, balloon animals and more.

Here are some other ideas of what to do for a Tangled theme or Rapunzel theme birthday party:

Décor

• Towers made from cardboard boxes, painted to look like bricks
• Lots of yellow yarn unraveled and flowing to look like Rapunzels hair. Drape this on any surface (such as tall pieces of furniture) or make it hang out of a window cut out from the cardboard towers.

Activities

• Decorate paper crowns and/or wands with stickers
• Make Rapunzel wigs with yellow yarn
• If you have a play set in the back yard or are having the party at a park, you can play  “rescue Rapunzel from the tower.” Put a Rapunzel (or any doll) at the top of the slide ladder (or rock wall if there is one) and time the players as then climb to the top. The fastest climber gets a prize (which could be the Rapunzel doll!).
• Play “Pin the Hair on Rapunzel”

Celebrity Party Planner can help you get Tangled/Rapunzel invitations, cupcake toppers, plates/napkins/cups, party favors and more.

To help book a Rapunzel character and plan your party, contact us online to get directions to our store, or call Celebrity Party Planner at  818-980-0032 or 310-282-0818 or 714-671-1230!

Still Time to Plan a Holiday or New Year’s Party!

It’s the holiday season once again and that means Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year’s parties. There is still time to plan a great event for a few friends or for a huge crowd, especially if you use the services of a professional party planner.

A great party needs a great atmosphere, the right kind of drinks, the right kind of food and the right kind of entertainment. If you are seeking to throw an elegant party Celebrity Party Planner can put together catering, table set up, banquet tables, table cloths, table skirting, chairs, china, silverware, glassware, balloons, floral arrangements, bar tenders and more.

For New Year’s Eve parties, Happy Parties can create a casino night with professional tables and dealers. For a different atmosphere, Happy Parties can create a carnival with midway games and even rides. We can arrange for DJs, live bands of any type, singers and more.

For a Christmas party for kids or even for adults, we can arrange for appearances by Santa Claus, North Pole elves and more. Leave the décor arranging to Happy Parties to create a winter wonderland, or keep it simple.

Importantly, you have to enjoy your party. We can help plan it all, or handle just certain elements, such as invitations, flowers, catering, or décor. With Celebrity Party Planner it’s easy and fun to have a great event for friends, colleagues and family.

What Makes a Classic Toy? A gift guide

Kids of all ages want and ask for the latest and greatest, newest and flashiest toys. But generation after generation, the most beloved toys are the classics and the most meaningful.  When shopping for a gift for Christmas or Hanukkah this season, keep in mind that toys given with love for a purpose more than satisfying a current craze or fleeting desire are the best gifts for any age. Look for toys that you loved, or your kids loved and that you know your grandkids will also love.

Classic toys can be literally classic – “Generational toys” that were introduced to the public decades ago and are still in production. Or classic toys can be “classic” because they possess the qualities of those toys – they are of high quality, engaging, long-lasting and just plain fun.

Examples of generational toys include Tinkertoys, Lincoln Logs, Jacks-in-the –Box, life-like dolls, army men, Barrel of Monkeys, tin toys, dominos, board games such as Candyland and more. More modern generational toys include Legos, Mr. Potato Head, Twister, etc. It’s easy to spot these toys because you (or if you are grandparent, your kids) played with them and the toy companies are still manufacturing new versions.

If you played with a toy as a kid, and it’s still around, there is an excellent chance the child you’re shopping for will love this toy too.

Examples of contemporary toys that posses classic qualities are the eco-friendly, American made wood toys from Plan Toys, Green Toys, realistic toy kitchens, Lite Brite, Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends, or just about anything featured in a Toy Story movie.

The most important decision to make is to buy a toy you will want to enjoy with your child, grandkid, niece, nephew, godson, etc. There is no greater gift than the gift of your time and attention. A classic toy is a great way to give you an excuse to interact with a child, create a relationship and infuse that gift with special memories and positivity. That’s what makes a toy truly classic.

Halloween Trick or Treat Safety Tips

Every child is eager to hit the pavement running to visit as many houses as possible in their quest to collect the most treats. Before you embark on your journey, be mindful that your little one might be unaware or too distracted to follow the necessary safety precautions. Be sure that a responsible adult is always present to regulate the situation and to ensure a safe and fun night.

Here are some important safety tips to remember as you make your neighborhood rounds:

Be Visible: Even if you plan to keep your little one in hand on Halloween night, reflector tape is a good idea if you’ll be out after dark. Decorating or trimming costumes with strips of tape could prevent tripping, and a flashlight will come in handy for negotiating long walkways or dimly lit doorways.

Remain on Well-lit Streets: And, do not assume motorists can see you. It is difficult to see little ones scurrying across the street… and just because one car stops, it doesn’t mean others will. Be sure to follow all traffic and pedestrian regulations. Only go to homes with a porch light on, and never enter a stranger’s home for a treat.

Go with a Group of Friends: It’s more fun and safer too! Have your kids go with a group, keep an eye on each other and have 2-3 parents as back-up. Depending on the size of the group, the old buddy-system works like a charm. Pair up Batman and the Joker, Snow White and Cinderella, Foofa and Brobee or mix it up.

Careful with the Candy: The CPSC recommends that parents scrutinize treats for evidence of tampering before letting children eat them. Carefully examine each wrapper to make sure there’s no sign of its having been opened. Accept homemade treats only from neighbors you know, and cut up fruit before serving it. Keep in mind, too, that many treats are not appropriate for babies or toddlers.

Host a Chaperoned Party: Keeping your kids and their friends indoors under supervision is a fun and safe way to enjoy the holiday. Have a costume party with Halloween games, sweet treats, spooky music and more. Celebrity Party Planner can help you make it the Halloween party of the year with scary Halloween characters such as Beetle Juice, Casper, Dracula, Frankenstein, Freddy Krueger, Witches, Vampires and more. Or keep it more lighthearted with action heroes, princesses or cartoon character/entertainers. Our entertainers and costumed characters can do face-painting, magic, storytelling, balloon animals and more.

Now that you know the essentials for Trick or Treating safety… make your child’s evening extra special with the perfect costume. Celebrity Party Planner in Studio City has exquisite Halloween costumes that are a step above the typical generic party store outfit. Whether your child wants to be Snow White, Tinkerbell or a Fairy Princess or an Astronaut, Fireman, or Pilot you are sure to find what you are looking for from our unique dress-up selection.

Contact us online to get directions to our store, or call Celebrity Party Planner at  818-980-0032 or 310-282-0818 or 714-671-1230.