Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!!!

As you may know, our preferred sponsor Le Petit Party is currently sponsoring a gift certificate valued at $50.00 for their online shop! Click HERE to enter.

I thought I would point out my favorite items I think are perfect for a party....


Are you planning a Circus Party?

I love the red and white striped theme, keeping it along the lines of "Under The Big Top"! Here is one of the absolute CUTEST circus invites I have ever seen...

It doubles as an invitation and treat--I love classic wooden toys for favors and this clown is as cute as the rest of the bunch...take a look at all the options!

Newly added: A red and white striped fabric tablecloth! I love fabric tablecloths, as they add a level of sophistication, still keeping it fun AND this would would be perfect for Christmas or the 4th of July, too!

For those of you who prefer disposable party products, check out this adorable striped paper table runner, available by the meter so it can be custom cut to fit YOUR TABLE!

As you know, I like to create an experience for children at my events, and I believe giving them these clown noses would help them feel silly and special {perfect for a DIY photo booth}!

On top of that, I love good old fashioned party hats!

The circus sippers would be a hit with the kids, no doubt!

A fond memory of going to the circus as a child are those classic popcorn boxes. Le Petit Party actually offers you the boxes, AND POPCORN! So simple, brilliant idea!

For more edible treats, check out the swirly old fashioned lollipops Le Petit offers--perfect for your dessert table or as a centerpiece in a large bucket for the kids to grab on their way home!

That striped ribbon around the lollipops? Yes, they have that too, and my personal favorite is the red ribbon with a white saddle stitch--ADORABLE!

Presentation can take something simple and turn it into something divine. I am swooning over these darling favor boxes (tags and ribbon available too, of course!)



Then of course, comes CLASSIC paper party products, that allow you to use other elements to get your theme across. I love the red and white striped paper cups, and the red napkins with white stripes. And the paper plates? PERFECT!!!

Add simple cupcakes with towers of white frosting, wrap these baking cups around and you have a perfect presentation!

Need balloons? They have those too!

It has been very hard to find an online party shop that offers you all the products you need to create a stylish party for your child.

It seems to me Le Petit Party  has done a great job of trying to break that cycle and offer you complete party theme items, but giving you more sophisticated options mixed in to cater and appeal to those of you who don't want something from your neighborhood party shop!

Are you hosting a ladybug party? A safari party? How about a ballerina, butterfly, or farm themed event? They have treats for all of these, and more!

The giveaway {open internationally} ends Monday at 11:59pm EST, so I HIGHLY RECOMMEND you take the time to enter soon. 

You can click here to the giveaway post, entry rules are at the bottom.

{Tuesday Giveaway} and Preferred Sponsor Spotlight: Sweet Little Birdy

I am so excited to introduce you to the charming Tara of Sweet Little Birdy, one of the lovely preferred sponsors of Kate Landers Events, LLC!  Keep reading for a great interview and FABULOUS GIVEAWAY!!

I hope you enjoy peeks at some of her fabulous product offerings throughout the post (oh, and you might enjoy her blog, too!) {images courtesy of the fabulous NFE Design}





I have already picked out about 10 things I want to order straight away!!!

I am so thrilled to have the opportunity to not only host a giveaway sponsored by Tara, but also help you learn a bit more about the fabulous woman behind the business!!!

Tara has an online shop called Sweet Little Birdy, offering darling party products.

One of the best parts? International shipping is available!

So be sure to take a peek at the unique array of items she offers.

                                                        {photo from Sambellina}
I asked Tara (isn't she lovely?)a few questions to help everyone get to know her better.

She has some really fun and thoughtful answers, I thoroughly enjoyed reading through them and hope you will too!!!

{Question} How did you come up with the name, Sweet Little Birdy?

{Answer} We had no idea of the name and jotted a few down that we thought were suitable. ‘A little birdy’ was on the list, as the saying ‘A little birdy told me’ had become a bit of a running joke in our house so we put ‘a little birdy’ on the list as a bit of fun, and thought we could use it nicely in marketing and it kind of stuck and we decided to use it. When we went to register the business the name was taken. A few of the other names on the list started with ‘sweet’ so we combined sweet with little birdy and we loved it!

{Question} What was your inspiration for starting Sweet Little Birdy? How and when did it come about, and how long did it take for you to get it off the ground?

{Answer} Sweet Little Birdy is a combination of what I am passionate about. It combines my love of party styling, the colour pink, my decorating styles, my attention to detail, gorgeous home decor, my love of photography, online shopping, social networking and the internet. It all started to come together when I started to compile a ‘scrapbook’ (of sorts) whenever I came across pictures and articles of things I loved – I didn’t really have any sort of goal in mind at the time but often wondered what I could do to combine all these fantastic things that I loved so much, and over time Sweet Little Birdy really just evolved and in June this year I made the decision to just go for it and did just that.

{Question} What are your future goals for Sweet Little Birdy?

{Answer} I have so many ideas for Sweet Little Birdy ~ we plan to continually add to our collection, introduce new ideas, inspire people with how to use our products and to also help other people achieve their dream by sourcing products from the many talented and crafty people out there. We have some wonderful photo shoots coming up next year, and some fantastic party styling events will be taking place.

{Question}  Do you have any secrets on how to manage family and work? What are your priorities (in what order) and how do you help stick to them?

{Answer} I believe that a work, family, home and life balance does not mean it has to be an equal balance ~ I think the key is knowing which one needs the most attention at the time. Family will always be first, and I am more than happy to stop what I am working on and give my gorgeous family the attention needed. Setting realistic goals and boundaries are also important, and not being hard on yourself or expecting too much is a definite rule.

{Question} What birthday party are you planning next? {party details welcome!}

{Answer} Nothing at the moment ~ we are busy planning our Christmas soiree, as well as some photo shoots and baby shower for next year. Lots of ideas for the future though!

                                                               {Image from Style Me Gorgeous}
{Question}  If you had to select 3 favorite products in your shop, what would they be and why?

{Answer} Too hard!!! Lol. Because I personally select every item to fit in with the ‘feel’ of Sweet Little Birdy I do love everything… but to pick they would probably be our oversized dotty cups ~ these are just so perfect for some many things (and I also have a head over heels weak at the knees love of pink polka dots), the birdy bloomers set from our ‘cowboys and cupcakes’ label of clothing ~ handmade and just gorgeous, and lastly our set of 3 metal cake stands ~ they look amazing tiered or individually, the sizes are perfect, and they are ‘child-friendly’ (no risk of broken glass at parties).

{Question} What are your favorite websites and blogs to check on a daily basis?

{Answer}  Definitely Kate Landers Events LLC… also Eat Drink Chic, The busy budgeting mama, bakerella … Some gorgeous Australian blogs like The Ivory Social, Chic Mother and Baby, My life – my loves (Sharnel Dollar) and Mon Tresor… These are just a few – there are many many more I LOVE ~ thank goodness for RSS feeds!

{Question} Any tips for party planning and how to incorporate your product for a children's party?

{Answer} Think outside the square ~ all too often we look at a product and only see one use. A perfect example of this is our craft turntables – these make amazing lolly/treat holders and the novelty of the turntable just adds to the party atmosphere. Don’t be afraid to try new things and different ideas.

A HUGE thank you to Tara for the wonderful interview!!!!
Now... here is your chance to win some DARLING treats from Sweet Little Birdy for this week's {Tuesday Giveaway}!!!
 

 
Tara is generously offering one lucky winner *ALL* of the following:

 A turntable with your choice of pink (think a girl party, baby shower, even Easter!)...

 Or red (a boy OR girl birthday, baby shower, andChristmas is just around the corner...with Valentine's Day not far behind!) buckets.

AND a set of paper straws in your choice of available colors!



AND.....a $50.00 (fifty dollars) Gift Certificate to her sweetest online shop, Sweet Little Birdy (shipping complimentary).

Are you excited yet? Here's how to enter:

1. Visit Tara's shop here, and come back and leave a comment on this blog post sharing with us TWO of your favorite items!!!

AND

2. Become a fan of Kate Landers Events, LLC (if you are already a fan, thank you kindly! Feel free to leave a note on my wall just to say hello!)

AND

3). Become a fan of Sweet Little Birdy, and leave her a note just to say hi and letting her know you dropped by! Compliments welome, of course!

That's it!!!

For an extra entry, in your comment you leave on our blog tell us what you found most enjoyable about Tara's interview!

This contest is open to people ages 18 years and older, and internationally.

Contest ends Monday, November 1st at 11:59pm EST.

Good luck!!!
{Please note: Kate Landers Events, LLC, is not responsible for the products or delivery there of of any offerings in any of our giveaways other than products or services from our own shoppe. We do our very best to make sure we work with the most delightful and reputable vendors and designers out there, but we hold no responsibility or liability for any giveaway item(s). We are merely the hosts of the giveaways, not the sponsors and hold no liability should the sponsor not deliver what was promised}

LaunchHER {Exclusive Interview}

Prepare for loads of inspiration and motivation!!!

We have all been given the great privilege of learning much through an exclusive Q & A I conducted with the two *brilliant gals* behind LaunchHER, Sallisha Armour and Karen Jensen Zitnick.

I was ecstatic when I discovered LaunchHER. A brilliant concept, fabulous resource, a dream for a female entrepreneur.

Let's dive right in and learn from these masterminds!


{Question} What inspired you to take over LaunchHER?


{Answer} 7 short weeks ago, literally just a few days before LaunchHER was offered for sale to us, we had decided to "go into business together." Before we acquired LaunchHER, we knew we wanted to offer our collective experience to women-owned business ventures, no matter what stage they were in.

We initially thought we would use Kara's law firm, Jensen Zitnick, P.A., as the vehicle for offering the business and legal tools and advice to women-backed business ventures for start-up success. When the acquisition of LaunchHER presented itself, Kara was on her way out the door to pitch our collective services to our first clients.

That night, while grocery shopping at Target together, we realized LaunchHER was the perfect place for us to start with our consulting services because we could not only promote the women-owned ventures we love so much, but also mold LaunchHER to fit our vision. Because LaunchHER was so new and a relatively unknown, we knew we could take it and run with it!

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{Question} What exactly is LaunchHER?


{Answer} LaunchHER highlights independent women-owned brands who are in the beginning stages of business. We profile these ventures every Tues and Fri through our "Freshly Launched" feature. The unique thing about our Freshly Launched profiles is that they are absolutely free. We highlight only those businesses who appeal to us and are definitely starting out on the right foot, from a business/branding/marketing perspective.

In addition to the Freshly Launched business profiles, Kara shares her legal expertise with our readers through the LaunchHER Law series. The series has proved to be very popular, most likely because Kara addresses really important legal considerations for start-up businesses, entrepreneurs, and indie businesses in a way that makes these complex legal topics very understandable.

The response to our acquisition of LaunchHER, our Freshly Launched profiles and LaunchHER Law posts have been overwhelmingly positive. We were getting so many inquiries from women who either already had a small business going and wondered what to do next, or those who had a really great business idea and didn't know how to launch. So we responded to the marketplace's demand and now offer LaunchHER Consulting packages.

Our packages are tailored to meet the needs of each person and their business. In addition, all packages are priced with a flat-fee- even the legal services. We are sensitive to the financial concerns of small businesses in the early stages and want to make really great advice available to all.

Plans are already in the works for LaunchHER LIVE Events in select US cities.
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{Question} How can LaunchHER help a woman who has a start-up business or is thinking of starting one?

{Answer} For those who have already launched their business, we can profile her business on our site. Through our LaunchHER site and twitter, we reach literally thousands of people every day! Our twitter following has increased over 4-fold since we acquired LaunchHER just 7 weeks ago, and our site gets nearly 1500 visitors each week, on average!


Through LaunchHER Consulting, we can help women start and / or develop their businesses through our full-service consulting and legal packages. We customize our flat-fee packages to the unique needs of each clients and are passionate about helping women launch and grow their businesses!

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{Question} What is the most common mistake you see in many start-up businesses, and what advice would you have in preventing it?

{Answer} In general, trying to do it all. We've never met a business owner who regretted handing off their books to an accountant or hiring an attorney for all things legal. By recognizing what your strengths and weaknesses are, it makes a lot of business sense to pay the money and hire a professional to take on the tasks that line up with your weak points. Handing over your hard-earned money so early in the life of your business may be a very difficult act to do, but if by hiring someone else frees you up to create, or market, or whatever is required to bring money in the door, then it's money well spent in the long run.


Specifically, not protecting their intellectual property before launching. Registering a trademark, securing copyrights, and considering all of the intellectual property ins-and-outs before putting your business out in front of the world is just plain and simply intelligent business. Finding yourself on the defense down the road in terms of protecting your business name without having a trademark can be very costly.

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{Question} How important do you think social media is to LaunchHER, and to a start-up business?



{Answer} Social media is without a doubt number one for LaunchHER and should be given serious attention for any business. Whether it's twitter or facebook or linked in, social media is great for not only getting the word out about your business and its offerings, but it's also a great way to test the market and get immediate feedback with minimal investment.


At LaunchHER, we love the conversations and connections we have over social media. And whether it's Sallisha tweeting under @LaunchHER, or Kara tweeting under @JensenHaus or @JensenZitnickPA, each of us had made friends with and networked among other women in business. Making connections literally worldwide that otherwise wouldn't happen is beyond amazing.

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{Question} Do you have any advice on how to manage balancing work and family, based on your own experience?



{Answer} It's all a work in progress, really. What works one day or one week, may not be ideal after a while. Just recently we've been talking a lot about the "season" each one of is currently in, because we are both at different "seasons" in our personal lives. Tweaking our work arrangement to fit the seasons of our lives is the key to making it all work for us both professionally and personally. Not being afraid to have the conversation about what is or is not working, business-wise, keeps a balance for us both individually.

The value that each of us places on the amount and quality of time we spend with our husbands and kids is the reason neither one of us is on the traditional fast-track career-wise.

Both of us have had stellar careers in our chosen professions (Sallisha on Wall Street and Kara as a litigator with a nation-wide law practice) but neither one of us wanted to sacrifice personal relationships in furtherance of our careers.

We arrived at our own work-at-home situations long before we even met each other, but the parallels of our lives as professionals and as mothers is pretty amazing. So it's important for us to stay true to the reasons that we sought-out a different career path than the traditional and expected journey.

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{Question} What is the best piece of advice you have ever received (personal or professional)...words to live by?


{Answer}

The Golden Rule: "Treat others as you would like to be treated"

"Decide to be diligent."

Professionally: "Hire to your weaknesses."

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{Question} What websites or blogs do you enjoy reading on a regular basis?


{Answer}

1) www.sweetharper.blogspot.com

2) www.cupcakemag.blogspot.com

3) www.katelandersevents.blogspot.com  (Of course!!) {Well, THANK YOU!!!}

And honestly... a slew more! Always love to check out the create genius of women and be "in the know!"

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{Question} What are your priorities, and how do you keep them in order?




{Answer} Thankfully, our personal priorities are the same: our faith, our marriages, our kids, and then everything else. In that order.

We are so alike in so many ways, we used to joke that we shared a brain. But then we realized that between the two of us, it was like having 3 brains, so now we say we are on the same wavelength. Being on the same wavelength is what keeps our priorities in order for us both. We just get each other.

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{Question} Just for fun: how do you celebrate birthdays?



{Answer}

Kara Growing up, birthdays were a BIG DEAL. Who am I kidding - they still are! I really prefer to celebrate for at least a week. So with my husband and boys, on their actual birthdate they get to choose the breakfast menu and we go to their favorite restaurant for dinner. I always take their actual birthday day off from work; whether or not they go to school that day is up to them. We always have at least one family birthday party on the weekend closest to their birthday, with out-of-state grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts and uncles joining us as they are able.

Sallisha I'll admit it- I'm weird about my personal birthday. I kind of ignore it until the day of... and then go out to a FABULOUS dinner, dressed up in my favorite "things I used to wear before I had kids" outfit, and eat a decadent meal without worrying about how it is affecting my hips. With my children, however, birthdays are the ultimate deal. We start with a paper-chain countdown for the month prior to the big day, and celebrate with our immediate family, extended family, and then friends. That's right - 3 parties. Love it! I also journal to each of my children, and on their birthday, I spend time recounting the tremendous blessing that they are, and how I have treasured them in this past year.
 
WOW! An enormous thank you to Sallisha and Kara, you two have been so insightful and I have already read this over a couple of times...I think it will take me 10 more to digest everything!
 
Did you want to ask Sallisha or Kara a question I didn't? You can! These two are Social Media Mavens, and you can connect with them on twitter, through their website or facebook page.
 

A Beatrix Potter First Birthday Party

When a fabulous client Marti {of a well-known bridal shop in Memphis} contacted me a couple months back to create a custom party design for her son Hudson's first birthday, I was ecstatic when she chose to go with a Beatrix Potter "Tale of Peter Rabbit" theme.

 I personally adore Beatrix Potter's work and was so excited to design a fall-inspired take on the theme.

Marti has a great sense of style, beautiful taste and wanted a very classic first birthday for her and her husband's darling son Hudson. Just check out the PRECIOUS overalls she had custom made for him, with hand embroidered vegetables!

And the matching peter pan collar onesie with the rabbits, I find this absolutely darling!

Since his birthday is in October, I suggested a color palette of soft orange, soft brown, cream, with hints of pale blue and pale celedon green. I absolutely adore this custom painted sign!

I also suggested using white pumpkins, squash, lots of kale, and she created the most stunning arrangements with it.

Check out this centerpiece, striking--that is none of my doing, she and her team of floral stylists and family were the masterminds behind this! Many lovely pieces were designed by Millstone Gardens in Germantown, Tennessee.

How about this one? I mentioned using a rustic basket filled with seasonal garden vegetables...but she went above and beyond, incorporating moss, kale, corn, a "carrot"--wow Marti!

Love the pumpkins...

For her cake, I had a VERY specific vision: two tiers, fondant, with a picket fence around the sides, turnips and carrots on the "ground" of each layer, a wheelbarrow on top with vegetables from the garden (heads of lettuce a must), terra cotta pots, a watering can and a sweet brown with his little light blue coat caught on the fence, just like in the story. Marti loved it too, and followed the detailed description PERFECTLY. I absolutely love the detail on the bunny's chest, don't you?

And the wheelbarrow on top of the cake...perfection. The entire cake is extraordinary. Cake designer Dee from Kake Deevas of Arlington, Tennessee did a spectacular job, absolutely stunning!!!

For the table with the food display, I suggested a burlap table covering (possibly gathered like in my mystical mermaid party), and hers is fabulous!!!!

I love the letters that spell out "Hudson" to personalize the table! 

For food, I suggested lettuce wrapped sandwiches, vegetables and dips, pumpkin soup served in mini pumpkins...and Marti incorporated many of these elements at the party. She also created the most DARLING names for each of the foods, named after different characters in the book. 

When trying to entertain a large group outdoors, serving flatware rolled in sets wrapped in napkins on display in a galvanized bucket is always an easy answer--and I love how she has custom labels made to wrap around her bundles. VERY cute!

For the table setting: sticking with our color-scheme, she did a fabulous job, and personalized classic paper cups with custom printed labels (another thing I love to do at many of my parties).

Another fun idea from Hudson's first birthday party: serve beverages in a wheelbarrow!

I am just smitten with the darling vegetable custom made labels, favor tags (oh, invitations too!)...

Marti was so sweet to share her secret source for these gorgeous printed products: Kathryn Miller of Original Ink. She can do anything custom and in watercolor or pen/ink.  All of Marti's was in original pen/ink.

Children often love balloons, and these large round ones are so in fashion at the moment, and a personal favorite!

While you can't see it here, Hudson's Smash Cake featured a darling watering can, and coordinated with the colors of the party. I love his monogrammed bib!

I take SO MUCH *JOY* in adoring this photo of the handsome and happy birthday boy. Marti wrote to tell me he really enjoyed the party--REALLY! A first birthday!!! I was thrilled to hear it.

I just had to share with you this sweet photo of gorgeous mom Marti and her adorable birthday boy Hudson!!!

A tremendous thank you to Marti, who took the photos along with her family and friends (beautiful work!!!), for sharing her party with us all. I just love seeing how my custom party designs turn out, especially when a gifted client like Marti executes it so beautifully, adding many of her own unique twists and creative ideas, making it better than I could imagine!