Baseball Fever

In recent years I have become a baseball fan. I once thought baseball was a painfully slow game. I could never understand how people could watch it on television. I understood even less how people, like my father, could listen to it on the radio. (I still can’t do that!) When I first moved to Chicago, I lived on the north side and worked among “yuppies”—most of whom lived on the north side or in the northern suburbs. In order words, I became a Cubs fan. I grew in the Philadelphia area, so I also maintain an allegiance to the Phillies. And, a couple of years ago when the Tigers got hot and made it to the World Series after being pathetic for so long, I developed a soft spot for the Tigers. So, basically I am a baseball fan.

This year Chicago is crazy with baseball fever. For the past several weeks, both the Cubs and the White Sox are in first place in their divisions. And the cubs were first place in the league for a few weeks. Talk of an all-Chicago World Series is running rampant. Baseball fever!!!

What a great time for a baseball-themed birthday party!

School Uniform Stationery

I have a wonderful client whose daughter attends a school that requires uniforms. She asked that I design products featuring girls in school uniforms. The uniforms are green jumpers and white blouses. I was very excited about this project because I went to a school, the Shipley School, which required similar green uniforms. We called them the green jumpers “tunics” and we also wore white shirts with them. Memories…..

My client also asked that I customize the girls to look like her daughter and her daughter’s classmates. For months I had been planning on offering clients options of selecting different looks for the kids when ordering certain products. Every now and then customers have asked for different skin tones, different hairstyles, etc. My school uniform client’s request provided the perfect opportunity for me to stop procrastinating and develop custom options.

For my client I made placemats and note cards featuring the School Uniform Girls. My client was very happy with the result--- and so was I! In fact, I was so happy that I decided to offer an array of school uniform options. My sister attended The Agnes Irwin School where they wore blue jumpers with white shirts. So that was the next option I created. I also offer jumpers in beige, blue and white plaid, and blue and green plaid. Currently, School Uniform Girls are available on note cards, placemats, luggage tags and stationery sets.

I will soon add options for uniforms with skirts, pants and uniforms for boys.

The Benefits of Using a Professional Party Planner

Your child’s birthday is coming up and you need to plan that special party. But you also have to get the kids to soccer and swimming classes, plus meet a big deadline at work. When are you going to find time to plan the perfect birthday party with everything else going on in your life?

This is when a children’s party planner can help bring some peace of mind to your hectic life. A children’s party planner works like a wedding planner, providing everything you need to make your child’s party magical! The party planner can do everything from printing and sending your party invitations, catering the party food and birthday cakes, to providing all the party games and activities so your guests stay busy from the time they walk in the door to the time they leave with their goody bags in hand. This way you can relax and enjoy the party as much as your guests will. And the best part is the party planners clean up everything afterwards so you don’t have to lift a finger. What could be easier?

How do you know if using a party planner is right for your child's next party? Ask yourself the following questions:

1. Do you have the budget for a party planner?

The prices vary depending on your area, the services and party packages offered, and so on. Do your homework to find a local planner that fits your budget and makes you feel comfortable and confident in their services.

2. Do you have enough time to plan a party yourself? Or are you too busy to sweat the details?

If you're like most parents, you're getting pulled in a million directions. If your time is limited, a party planner could pull together a magical birthday party much faster and more creatively than most parents have the time or energy to do.

3. Do you want the party at your home or 'off-site'?

Most party planners come to your home for the party. They do everything from setup, to hosting the party, to cleaning up afterwards. Some party planners even provide refreshment areas for the parents as well as the pint-sized guests, for an additional fee. The only limit is your imagination! But if you want to have the party somewhere other than your home, then a party planner may not fit your needs.

4. Can you 'relinquish control' of the party planning?

Some party planners allow parents to have as much (or as little) involvement in the party planning as parents desire. Other planners expect little or no parental involvement - other than attending the party and paying for their services afterwards. Discuss these options with your party planner up front to determine the level of involvement that's right for you. But remember, you're paying the planner to work for you. So sit back, relax, and most of all - enjoy the party!

[Special thanks to children's party planner, Kent Jackson, of Pint-Size Parties in Atlanta for offering these tips on using a professional party planner for children's birthday parties. If you live in the metro Atlanta area and need a party planner, contact Kent! Check out her website for contact information and details about her party packages: www.pintsizedparties.com.