{Cormac's POP Art Party!} & Learning to Work With My Strengths!

As most of you know- we were moving cities 6 weeks before this party happened, so the planning of it was as all over the place. I feel thankful that my amazing photographer was able to capture so many great images because my brain was spinning trying to get ideas together in time to make this party a reality. Literally crawling around our basement unpacking boxes the night before, not the usual way I set up for a party!

 

I already blogged about how the theme for this party came about {Art Party + Balloon Dog = POP Art Party}... and how I tried avoiding putting the family through Party Week here, if you haven't read it yet- you should. It makes me seem like a stress-free party planner... HA!

 

Although my husband might disagree- for me (and every other party planner), this party was done on a small budget. As with any move, finances were tight (paying a rent and a mortgage!) so I somehow managed to do this entire party for under $350.00- including food thankyouverymuch. (Hot dogs, chips and a soda bar). If you think that's a lot (husbands out there!) then you really don't know how much can go in to a professionally planned party. This is why it's a hard business to figure out profit on... Because things add up- quickly! With the amount of people we invite to our parties- they never end up being cheap, just like they never end up being less than 50 people. Ever. This party was kind of a house warming/birthday so I really wanted it to be fun and welcoming... but I had to keep reminding myself to tap in to things I already owned to save on spending. Having done a Rainbow Party for my daughter's 1st birthday this actually worked out quite nicely. I already had my table cloth and backdrop (Cormac's old bedroom curtains) as well as the lanterns from my birthday this Summer, colorful stacking boxes and a bunch of other smaller décor. The entire party is pretty much just a mix of every other party I've done- if you've been following me a while- you know this! I call it Party Recycling...

 

One of the pluses of being a party planner is that friends offer you random things they were planning to donate or get rid of... My advice is that if you have the space- take it! You seriously never know when or where it will come in handy. I was given 12 clear frames a year ago (which I inserted coloring pages in to) and 19 mini wood crates (kid's decorated and took home as "art crates"). These added great detail- all for free 50 free!

 

I had to learn to let go of some things with this party- because financially I was lucky to be throwing it. It actually helped me learn a few bigger things about myself as a party planner, or as I like to call myself: Party Stylist. Things that are really helping me define myself as a business woman and party planner. Here are a few...

 

I learned to let go of the idea of the ever popular fondant cake. Are they gorgeous? Yes. Does every party planner these days seem to have an amazing fondant cake at the center of their work? For the most part, yes. Currently however, I do not have the money/connections to use a fondant artist in my work... So I'm not! A while back I thought this would be the party for me to make that happen, but it wasn't... So instead of stress out about it- I went with the poor woman's version of a fondant topper and used a custom graphic topper. I realized I am not known for having fancy cakes anyway. Usually Hannah whips something up and we decorate it cute and simple. My goal is to make the entire dessert table look great, truthfully- the cake is almost a second thought. I am embracing that concept now!

 

I learned to work with my strengths/resources. As I mentioned before- my strengths lie in design. The extras I bring to the table as a party planner are sewing, color coordination and an eye for styling a table. I am not an excellent baker. I am not a prop-builder. I've learned to use the talents I do have to add the biggest bang to my parties. For this party I decided it would be sewing and using fabric I already had to make each kid an apron as their favor. The only thing I spent money on for the aprons were the ribbon ties I used, even I was impressed!

 

I learned to not pick apart everything that I wasn't able to finish in time. There were a few things I just didn't get to. One was putting my son's actual art desk out as a "prop". I'd normally still be dwelling on this oversight but in an effort to make myself realize I am literally on 3 hours of sleep while delegating, cleaning my house and getting ready myself- all while setting up a party- I'm learning to not be so hard on myself for letting a couple of things falls between the cracks. Now if this had been I stylized shoot- I'd still be really pissed.

 

I learned to let go of the idea that we will get the perfect photo of all the kids looking at the camera with their favors... Am I always going to try for this shot? Ya, of course I am. But I'm also coming to grips with the fact that I'm running an actual party that I don't want to zap all of the fun out of. So we try for "the shot" for a couple of minutes and then we learn to let it go and hope there's something we can use... and bank of the candid "everyone be crazy!" shot.

 

Aside from learning things- the party was really adorable. I feel so lucky to have found Sandy Ford Designs who did all of the amazing hand illustrated graphics of Cormac as well as all of the printables for the party. This is one talented lady!

 

Cormac had an awesome time playing with his friends and crafting/painting/creating- his fave past times. My husband twisted balloons in every color, shape and size and the Dessert Table and Soda Bar were a hit. All in all I am very happy with the way it turned out, whew!

 

I hope you enjoy the photos (and that they've had enough time to load!)

 

xo Party or Die xo

kenna

 

 

Vendors:

Party Stylist- Miss Party Mom

www.facebook.com/misspartymom

 

Photographer- Moments Captured Photography

www.momentsoflifecaptured.com

 

Printables- Sandy Ford Design

https://www.etsy.com/shop/SandyFordDesign

 

Dipped Fortune Cookies- Pixie's Sweet Treats

https://www.etsy.com/shop/PixiesSweetTreats

 

Cake- Hannah's Cookies and Treats

https://www.facebook.com/hannahscookiesandtreats 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Art of Attending an Event Planner's Party {Part Two}

If you are here by chance and didn't read PART ONE of this post, please hault your reading. I have a big ol' intro over in the opening post that is a must read. You shouldn't have even read that last line-you should be over at Part One by now!

Okay, good- you're back.

Shall we continue? Maybe you should grab a glass of wine...
It's 10am? A shot will do.

Custom Wine Glasses by Vinyl Eloquence

Let me set the stage... You're arriving at the party- on time because you now know how important this is. As a fellow party planner/friend so keenly brought to my attention- "Lateness is not some 'quirk', drinking wine with a straw is a 'quirk'... Lateness is just rude."

You put your bags and gift down and head over to where the party is happening. You're impressed. You can't imagine why on earth anyone would want to put this much effort in to a single day. At this point, we might be wondering that very same thing.

You notice someone. She's probably dressed in black and seems to be taking her job very seriously. It's...

 

THE PHOTOGRAPHER.

 

Guests either love or hate seeing a professional photographer at a party. If you love it- great! Go photobomb some pics (except the close ups on my dessert table, I'll kill you). If you hate it- please remind yourself that the hostess is also a party planner who has worked endless hours getting the party to look a certain way. There's a chance she didn't sleep the night before, or if she did- that she woke up at 6am to set up. In a nut shell, this is months of hard work coming to fruition. We NEED great photos, without them- our work is nothing.

San Diego photographer Maria Healy capturing Tania Fischer Designs dessert table.

So if you have to wait a minute before biting in to that shimmery chocolate covered Oreo- wait two minutes. If you have to be a stealth ninja about getting that handmade felt flower in to your daughter's hair so that a pic can be taken of all of the girls wearing their adorable party favors... BE THAT NINJA. And please don't complain about it.

Look on the bright side- you're probably going to see some pretty adorable photos of your kid with their close friends floating around social media in a few weeks- high res and everything! (You're welcome.)

Photo by my girl Christina at Moments Captured Photography located on the Central Coast of CA

DESTROYING THE DESSERT TABLE.

Help me out here... When does one eat dessert? Is it before a meal, or after- I'm forgetting? NO, I'M NOT.

Do not show up to a party that happens to have a dessert bar and start raiding it upon entrance. Usually, if there's a table specifically for desserts, you can safely assume there's some food being served as well. Look for it. Stuff a hot dog in your face- have a soda. Wait until the hostess announces that the dessert table is open- which isn't usually very long in to the party. If you have a toddler and they're losing it at the sight of cake pops, (I have this child) ask the hostess if there are any extra hidden ones he/she can sneak in to the bathroom or something.

While I don't want guests to feel like they have to watch their child the entire party, please make sure they are not doing things like hiding under the dessert table playing hide and seek. Because if that cake falls over, I will stand behind the old adage, "It's my party, and I'll cry if I want to."

Part of the fun for a party planner is showing off the beauty of her work. In an ideal world for us- every guest would get to admire and Instagram (with a proper hashtag) the custom cookies you had made or the Jello cups you so carefully layered. All we ask for is about 30 minutes (give or take a few) for those inevitable late arrivers to get in a peak at the dessert table. It takes months to design and just under 2 minutes to devour. Just give us our half hour.

"O.M.G.- THAT IS SO PINTEREST!"

Really? Because that is so annoying. Do party planners love and get inspired by Pinterest? Of course we do! And sometimes (gasp!) we even use an idea or two- I do for sure! However- that doesn't mean that every cute idea at a party planner's party is a "Pinterest idea". We're creative ladies- promise! We have ideas too! I for one was EVEN creative before Pinterest (I even wrote a post on it)!

Unless totally sincere and interested in how "Pinterest idea" was made- we really don't wan't to hear the ever popular, "I SO saw that idea on Pinterest!" yelled from across the party. Please remember, the idea still took time and effort to make- and if you've ever seen a Pinterest Fail- probably a small amount of talent.

Other sayings like, "I WISH I had spare time in my hectic life to throw my kid a party like this!" are equally annoying... and with the right tone... I don't know, condescending? We don't just have 3 extra hours a day to hang out and craft. We're moms as well- which is kind of a full time job! We stay up late and wake up early to do something we love. So please avoid being passive aggressive because I can read between the lines. I don't walk in to your Book Club and say, "I really wish I had time to sit around and read books all day!" DO I?

DON'T SHOW UP WITH AN ENTOURAGE.

Unless you are Lady Gaga and trying to see if you want to hire me to throw your 30th Birthday Extravaganza- do not show up with groupies.

If your 9 year old child's name was the only one on the invite- do not send your 4 year with him. Do not bring your neighbor's kid who, "really wanted to come too"... Or some random cousins. Chances are the party is limited on space, favors, food and desserts.

If you feel like it was an oversight your other child wasn't invited: it wasn't. But if you insist it was, then kindly ask the hostess and be prepared to hear, "Sorry- we're only having 10 children for this party". Do not just drop off extra kids.

There is a loop hole here- because to be honest, I am actually ok with an extra child coming in the event of something necessary/helpful/you have out-of-town visitors. When I was on bed rest with my daughter, my son went to random birthday parties with other moms who's kids happened to be invited and I have no doubt my friends asked first, explaining the situation. All we ask is that you ask the hostess in advance if, "little Jonny can come because I've already committed to watching him this day." While we may not be able to bust out a custom made favor- we'd love to be given the opportunity to scrounge up something!


"MY KID DIDN'T GET A FAVOR!"

On the super off chance that we've done some majorly terrible calculating (I can't even imagine- seriously) please don't make a huge deal about it. As in, kindly ask the hostess in private if there might be any other favors because your child didn't get one. Don't start yelling, "Where's _________'s favor?! I don't see it with the rest!" Just....... don't.

And if you must be angry about that missing favor, have your kid go snatch it out of that uninvited cousin's hand.

Also ask yourself, "Did I RSVP?"

In conclusion... We really do enjoy throwing parties. Maybe too much you're thinking! May-be. But we caaaan't stop... And we woooon't stop. We love to entertain guests and show off our skill just like a runner loves to run in a marathon. We've spent a lot of time getting ready for the party in hopes of sharing a great day of celebration with you- because we love what we do and hope you will enjoy it too.

xo Party or Die xo

kenna