Celebrating Little Ones Mag | Issue Two | August 17

ISSUE #2

| AUGUST 2017

little ones!

A M A G A Z I N E B Y L I F E ’ S L I T T L E C E L E B R AT I O N S

C E L E B R AT I N G L I T T L E O N E S

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grow

connect

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For businesses in the event and baking industry who service childrens’ celebrations DIRECTORY - BLOG - PHOTOSHOOTS COLLABORATIONS - BUSINESS SUPPORT NETWORKING EVENTS - SOCIAL MEDIA EXPOSURE

Showcasing the best small business vendors in Australia for your next event!

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PA RTI E S KITTY CAT Styled 8th Birthday

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Dream a Little Dream Events

DELIGHTFUL DONUTS Styled 4th Birthday “Celebrating Little Ones” is an independently produced magazine.

CREATIVE DIRECTOR TANYA CASTELLINO LIFE’S LITTLE CELEBRATIONS lifeslittlec@gmail.com ART DIRECTOR & DESIGNER NICOLE HANNA PRETTY & PRINT info@prettyandprint.com

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Enchanted Party Hire

FROM THE DESERT BLOOMS THE PERFECT PAIR Styled Twins Baby Shower

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Silk and Cedar Events

UNICORN AFTERNOON SLUMBER Milly’s 4th Birthday

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A CHAT WITH DIANE OF DIANE KHOURY WEDDINGS AND EVENTS

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A CHAT WITH THE FOUNDERS OF POPPIES FOR GRACE

Sweet Dreams and Goodnight

FRENCH BALLET Maya’s 9th Birthday The Details Studio

MAGICAL MERMAID Naomi’s 5th Birthday

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Life’s Little Celebrations COPYRIGHT All images contained in “Celebrating Little Ones” are subject to the copyright of the artist, stylist, illustrator or photographer as named, but not limited to.

Reproduction of any part of this magazine without prior written permission is prohibited.

DISCLAIMER While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy of the information in this publication “Celebrating Little Ones” accepts no responsibility or liability for any errors, omissions or resultant consequences, including any loss or damage arising from reliance on information in this publication. © Copyright AUGUST 2017

TEEPEE CAMPER Kai’s 4th Birthday

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Saffy and May

PENGUIN MONOCHROME Carter’s 1st Birthday

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Opulenticity Party and Buffet Styling

TROPICAL TOUCAN Keely’s 10th Birthday

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5 TIPS FOR CHOOSING YOUR CHILD’S BIRTHDAY CAKE

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SweetP Cakes and Cookies

A CHAT WITH SARAH OSMOTHERLY FROM SUGAR COATED MAMA 10 TIPS TO CURB THE PRE-PARTY PANIC

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The Party Kit Co

EVENT FLOWERS, THE DO’s and DON’TS Bella Fiore Floral Designs

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Joyful Invitation

MICKEY MOUSE Issac John’s 4th Birthday

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Sugar Coated Candy & Dessert Buffets

WOODLAND PICNIC Oscar’s 1st Birthday

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VENDOR SPOTLIGHT

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SHOP THE PARTY - MERMAID

Paper Face Party

INTO THE CLOUDS Neveah’s 9th Birthday Kiss with Style

R EGUL A R S SHOP THE PARTY - TROPICAL

SHOP THE PARTY - NATURAL

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Thanks

BRANDS WE LOVE Browse and source items from some of our favourites!

TO OUR CONTRIBUTORS

SWEET HEAVENLY EVENTS AND PARTY HIRE Styling and Hire (Sydney)

SARAH OSMOTHERLY SUGAR COATED MAMA www.sugarcoatedmama.com

www.sweetheavenlyeventshire.com.au

PARTY SPLENDOUR Balloon Décor & Party Boutique (Sydney) www.partysplendour.com.au CLARE LAMATA BELLA FIORE FLORAL DESIGN www.bellafiore.com.au

ELLANA HADDRILL SWEETP CAKES AND COOKIES www.facebook.com/ SweetPCakeandCookies

RUBY RABBIT PARTYWARE Party Boutique www.rubyrabbit.com.au

THE PARTY PARLOUR Party Boutique LEL NGO PARTY KIT CO www.partykit.co 2 | C E L E B R AT I N G L I T T L E O N E S | A U G U S T 2 0 1 7

www.thepartyparlour.com.au

Welcome

In the world of events and children’s celebrations – the sky is the limit when it comes to themes and décor.

Mums can truly create a celebration as unique as their own child! This issue of “Celebrating Little One’s” is an amazing example of this – showcasing everything from a Kitty 8th birthday to a Penguin 1st birthday to a Cactus baby shower and Unicorn sleepover party and much more!

This issue we also have fabulous tips and advice for all of you in business within this industry thanks to chats with experts such as Diane Khoury, Sugarcoated Mama and Poppies for Grace!

S P E CIAL THA NK S Nicole Hanna of Pretty and Print www.prettyandprint.com/blog - responsible for the creative design of this magazine and making it as beautiful as it is.

The Life’s Little Celebration’s vendors involved in the coordinated shoots for the magazine.

All who contributed articles and features.

If you love party planning for your little one’s you’ll also find helpful tips for incorporating florals into your event, advice for choosing your child’s birthday cake and keys to avoiding last minute party planning stress.

This magazine features the talent and uniqueness of the vendors who are part of the Life’s Little Celebrations network (www.lifeslittlecelebrations.org) and I’m excited to share with you all of their creations which are the best in this industry servicing children’s celebrations!

Happy planning!

Tanya xox C E L E B R AT I N G L I T T L E O N E S

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Born with glitter in her veins www.lifeslittlecelebrations.org

V EN DOR SP O T L I G H T

SWEET HEAVENLY EVENTS & PARTY HIRE

EMMA SMITH EVENT STATIONERY Emma Smith Event Stationery is a boutique design studio creating special pieces for your little one - for any occasion.

www.facebook.com/SWEETEVE-302522109927248/

Your place for unique and boutique props to bring your celebration to life! Whether it be your wedding, a christening, or Birthday party, we can assist by creating, designing and styling picturesque events in Sydney.

FLYAWAYPINEAPPLE

LITTLE BOO-TEEK

Specialising in handcrafted bespoke decorated cookies with a flair for creating the most wonderful, whimsical delicious works of edible art.

With Little Boo-Teek’s selection of must-have party decor, you can theme to impress! You don’t need to spend a fortune to create a lavish look!

www.flyawaypineapple.com.au

www.littlebooteek.com.au

SWEET EVE Sweet Eve is a Melbourne based business, specialising in couture cookies, chocolate bars, oreo bites, and bomboniere for all your special occasions.

www.emmasmith.com.au

www.sweetheavenlyeventshire.com.au

SWEET DREAMS AND GOODNIGHT Australia’s original and best slumber party provider. We create the ultimate sleep-over experience for children and their friends, while removing the stress for parents, located in Perth and Melbourne. www.sweetdreamsandgoodnight.com.au

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Birthday

GIFT IDEAS

F IND T HE PE R FE CT GI FT FO R Y OU R LIT T LE ONE’ S BIRT H DAY T H AT WI L L I NS PI R E T H E I R IM A GINAT ION AND B E E NJOY E D FO R Y E A R S !

From Little Boo-teek

B IL LY L OVES A U DREY S WAN B A G $34.95 www.littlebooteek.com.au/product/ billy-loves-audrey-swan-bag

A LI MR O S E DE S I GNS PR I NCE DOL L $49.95 www.littlebooteek.com.au/product/ alimrose-designs-prince-doll

DE A R L I T T L E MA I L B OX ( B L U E ) $49.95 www.littlebooteek.com.au/product/ dear-little-mailbox-blue

TIG E R T RIBE U NIC ORN WOODEN SKIT T LES $28.95 www.littlebooteek.com.au/product/ tiger-tribe-wooden-skittles-unicorn

T I GE R T R I B E KI T PA X R O CKE T S H I P www.littlebooteek.com.au/product/ tiger-tribe-kit-pax-rocket-ship

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TIGER TRIBE BOX SET - FAIRY HOUSE $64.95 www.littlebooteek.com.au/product/tiger-tribe-box-set-fairy-house

FA I RY DO O R FA I RY FL O SS $39.95 www.littlebooteek.com.au/product/fairy-door-fairy-floss

T IGER T R I B E B O X S E T - CA R $69.95 www.littlebooteek.com.au/ product/tiger-tribe-boxset-car

TIGER TR IBE RA G D OL L - CHA RLOT T E $49.95 https://www.littlebooteek.com.au/ product/tiger-tribe-rag-doll-charlotte

W O O DEN NO T E B O O K LAP TO P $34.95 www.littlebooteek.com.au/product/ wooden-notebook-blackboard

T IGER T R I B E VI NTA GE T E A SET - KI T T E NS & PU PPI E S www.littlebooteek.com.au/product/tigertribe-vintage-tin-tea-set-kittens-puppies

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INTER V I E W WI TH | D I A N E K HO U RY

FROM A DREAM TO A

styling queen A CHAT W I T H DIAN E K H O U RY O F D I A N E K HOU RY WEDDIN G AN D EV EN T S

Inlighten photography | www.inlighten.com.au

www.dkevents.com.au

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Talented and renowned stylist Diane Khoury is known for her amazing and one of a kind events – whether they be Weddings or First birthdays or Christenings. With over 250K followers on social media she is the holder of the Weddings and Events planner of the year award for 2014 and is one of the most sought after event planners in the industry.

In this issue she shares more about her journey to where she is today, shares her thoughts on the latest trends and lends some advice to those wanting to be successful in this industry.

WHAT PATH HAVE YOU TAKEN WHICH LED YOU INTO THE WORLD OF WEDDINGS AND EVENTS? I have always had a passion for styling and fashion and I honestly fell into this career by chance.

I come from a business analyst background and whilst at Uni studying my degree, I worked weekends in retail and really had a knack for sales and styling.

All my customers loved dealing with me and listening to my style advice and I always thrived on seeing my customers so happy.

Once I finished my degree I went into the corporate working world and really missed the daily interaction with customers and styling and merchandising which I was so accustomed to doing in my retail job.

Whilst I worked in my business analyst role, I worked my way up but also still had a passion for styling – so when a friend who was a fan of my style asked me to work on her wedding, I did so, treating it as a hobby.

For birthdays, they are still fun with activities for kids incorporated but bold colours and colour concepts have been introduced rather than animated themes.

For Christenings, there has also been a lot more customizing for events with personalised gowns with initials, personalised candles and towels – all with the same initial/monogram applied for the child.

However, we believe that no matter how experimental or creative the styling is, the essence of what the occasion stands for should be incorporated and not lost and we have found that with many trends this has been successfully achieved with a fine balance of styling and sentimental moments created.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE THOSE IN EVENTS WANTING TO ENTER INTO THE WEDDING MARKET? Weddings are such an emotional day and the lead up to the big day is also a beautiful but emotional journey.

However, after I did her wedding, I had such a great response and started being approached for more and more event styling and it became a snow ball effect. I realised I could turn my passion into my career and decided to work in planning, coordinating and styling in events and haven’t looked back ever since!

The memories created on that day last a lifetime so If you’re going to work on such a special day, you need to be a strong individual that can handle the emotions, be sensitive and empathetic and never lose sight of what you’re doing – which ultimately is to plan and create a memorable day for the bride & groom.

WHAT DO YOU SEE ARE THE LATEST TRENDS IN EVENTS SPECIFICALLY FOR CHRISTENINGS OR FIRST BIRTHDAYS?

They are always the focal point and it really is about going on the journey with them and treating it as if it’s your own wedding and treating each wedding like it’s the first.

I’ve definitely seen a trend with many birthdays and christenings now incorporating feature points and installations with their events.

We never become complacent and it’s never about how amazing a wedding was the week before, the next wedding is always treated like the first and the attention and care to detail must never falter.

A lot more experimental elements have been applied with creative theming and larger scale focal points in the overall set up (think cake tables with decals, backdrops and focal areas in a venue that make a statement).

The pressure and hours are big and mentally you have to be strong to handle all the emotions and really roll with the punches.

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Kitty Cat

By Dream a little Dream Events

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PA RTY FEATUR E | ST YLED 8T H BIRTHD AY

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WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION BEHIND THE STYLING FOR THIS PARTY? WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS THEME AND COLOUR SCHEME ETC.?

Inspiration came from current trends in homewares for muted pastels and neutrals, industrial styling, the Ruby Rabbit Kitty tableware range and the fashion trend for ruffles. We decided on an ‘Alley Cat’ vibe that is a bit grungy and cool for an older girl and shot in the late afternoon/dusk – when cats start coming out to play :-)

WHAT WERE THE SPECIAL FEATURES AND HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DAY OR THE SETUP/DECOR? Balloon garland in unusual colours – Ivory, blush, white, rose gold and grey. The cute cakes by My Petite Sweets, pretty cake toppers and the girls adorable outfits.

Inspiration came from current trends in homewares for muted pastels and neutrals, industrial styling...

ANY CHALLENGES FROM THE DAY OR THINGS WHICH DIDN’T GO TO PLAN? ARE THERE ANY TIPS YOU LEARNT FROM THIS EVENT THAT YOU CAN PASS ON? We had originally planned an outdoor shoot in an actual city alley but bad weather meant a change of venue and finding something with the grungy/industrial look we wanted to contrast with the pretty ruffles and peachy tones created a few challenges.

WHAT ARE YOUR TOP PARTY PLANNING / STYLING TIP FOR MUMS Take colour cues from your favourite themed party-ware to create a cohesive look. You don’t have to use all the same range. Mixing and matching different colours and patterns in plates/ cups, napkins etc. can often suit a theme better and make your party look interesting & high-end.

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VENDORS

PHOTOGRAPHY SANDIE MALLON PHOTOGRAPHY www.instagram.com/sandiemallon STYLING DREAM A LITTLE DREAM EVENTS www.facebook.com/dreamalittledreamparties PARTYWARE & BALLOONS RUBY RABBIT www.rubyrabbit.com.au LARGE CAKE, CAT CAKES AND MACARONS MY PETITE SWEETS www.mypetitesweets.com.au CAT PIÑATA PARTY PONY DESIGNER PINATAS www.partypony.net.au COOKIES FROSTED BY NICCI www.frostedbynicci.com.au CAKE TOPPERS COMMUNICAKE IT www.communicakeit.com INVITATIONS AND FAVOUR BOX LABELS EMMA SMITH EVENT STATIONERY www.emmasmith.com.au MODELS HAIR www.instagram.com/sara_jane_s MODELS POPPY, ALANI, CHARLIE & NIKKI FACEPAINTING KRYSTALS KIDS PARTIES www.krystalskidsparties.com/ balloon-twisting-kids-party-perth

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SHOP THEPARTY TROPICAL FL A MI NGO FUN PA PE R PL AT E S Confectionately Yours | $10.95 www.confectionatelyyours.com.au/ paper-disposable-tableware/paper-plates/plates-flamingo

F R U IT COOKIE S Petite Cookies | POA www.petitecookies.com.au

FL A MI NGO I NV I TATI O N Eve&Co. | POA www.facebook.com/eveandcostationery

M ERI M ERI FRU IT GOL D H ONEYC OM B GA RLA N D Emiko Blue | $34.95 www.emikoblue.com/meri-meri-fruitgold-honeycomb-garland.html

F I N D THE S E B U S IN E S S E S L IS T E D O N T HE L I F E’ S L I T T L E C EL EB R AT I ONS VENDOR DI R EC T ORY

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27 MAY

2018 SYDNEY

A BUSINESS BASH FOR PARTY MAKERS & CONFETTI SHAKERS

save the date C E L E B R AT I N G L I T T L E O N E S

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PART Y F E AT U R E | S TY L E D 4 TH BIRT H DAY

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Delightful Donuts

By Kylie Hin from Enchanted Party Hire

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WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION BEHIND THE STYLING FOR THIS PARTY? WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS THEME AND COLOUR SCHEME ETC? Donuts are so delicious, fun, beautiful and appeal to all ages. The party concepts for donuts are limitless but as we were catering for a younger age I wanted to ensure that our styling was both pretty, elegant but most of all cute! I wanted it to look beautiful without losing the fun & adorable element that kids love !

With this in mind a retro classic 60s Candy Shoppe was the inspiration for the underlying styling element. To keep our younger clients happy the gorgeous little faces & sprinkles on the donuts fulfilled the cute requirement in spades. The cake was a central feature and definitely didn’t disappoint, the children absolutely loved it…..and so did all the adults! Keeping to the retro Candy Shoppe theme the colours were pink and white with gold accents.

WHAT DID THE GUESTS ENJOY THE MOST ABOUT THE SETUP OR PARTY?

WHAT WERE THE SPECIAL FEATURES AND HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DAY OR THE SETUP/DECOR? The attention to detail on the cake , donuts, cake pops, cupcakes were absolutely gorgeous. The Donut Wall was gorgeous and displayed the donuts beautifully.

ANY CHALLENGES FROM THE DAY OR THINGS WHICH DIDN’T GO TO PLAN? ARE THERE ANY TIPS YOU LEARNT FROM THIS EVENT THAT YOU CAN PASS ON? Unfortunately the venue cancelled on us at the last minute so a Plan B is always important! Australia Post also lost a few contributions from vendors which was unfortunate!

WHAT ARE YOUR TOP PARTY PLANNING / STYLING TIP FOR MUMS It is always important to be as organized as you can before the party date. It is better to be early and have all your items ready to go rather than a last minute rush.

However sometimes rushes can’t be helped and then it’s important to have a good network to turn to.

Even though it was a photoshoot the “models” really loved the donut wall and all the faces on the donuts and cookies.

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Donuts are so delicious, fun, beautiful and appeal to all ages.

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VENDORS

STYLING & PARTY DECOR ENCHANTED PARTY HIRE www.enchantedpartyhire.com.au PHOTOGRAPHY SKYLIGHT SNAPSHOTS www.skylightsnapshots.com.au CAKE, COOKIES & DONUTS SWEETP CAKES AND COOKIES www.facebook.com/SweetPCakesandCookies CAKE POPS & NAKED CUPCAKE TIER CASS’S CAKE POPS www.facebook.com/casscakepops COOKIE MIX FAVOUR BOTTLE SWEET HEALTH www.sweethealth.com.au PLATES, NAPKINS, STRAWS, CUPS & GIFT BAGS FAVOR LANE PARTY BOUTIQUE www.favorlaneparty.com MILK BOTTLES, STRAWS, CONFETTI, DONUT COASTERS FANTASY KIDS PARTIES www.fantasykidsparties.com.au DONUT BOXES GLITTER AND GLUE DESIGNS www.facebook.com/glitterandgluedesigns/ GRAPHIC DESIGN - BACKDROP, INVITATION, CHOC WRAPPERS, BOTTLE WRAPPERS & SIGNS GIGGLES & GRACE DESIGNS www.gigglesandgracedesigns.com/

BALLOON WREATH Balloons North Brisbane www.balloonsnorthbrisbane.com DONUT WALL WOW WEDDINGS & EVENTS www.wowweddings.com.au DONUT CUPCAKE PICKS KAIVALYA DESIGNS www.kaivalyadesigns.com.au

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INTER V I E W WI TH | A L A N A WAT ERSO N

Spreading the joy!

A C HAT W I TH THE F OU N DERS O F P O P P IES FO R GRACE

We chat to Alana Waterson –

one of the founders of the bright and well known party boutique Poppies for Grace – to find out more about running this colourful business!

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TELL US MORE ABOUT POPPIES FOR GRACE AND WHERE DID YOUR BUSINESS NAME ORIGINATE FROM? We met in high school, quite some time ago now! I was studying screen printing at RMIT and my lecturer suggested I approach some stores with cards I had designed. The cards sold really well! But I soon realised I needed some help on the business side of things. So I asked Sara to help. As more cards sold, this collaboration became Poppies For Grace.

We started as a stationery brand and that has naturally evolved into a party brand, but the dream has always been to bring colour and fun to celebrations.

The name, Poppies for Grace, came about one night over dinner with friends. I was suggesting some of my favourite words and our poet friend came up with ‘Poppies for Grace’, it was a good fit for who we were and what we wanted to be.

incredibly supportive and who believe in us, and Poppies.

Don’t be afraid to say ‘I don’t know’ or ‘I need help’. There is always more to learn. Make mistakes and grow from them. Let your kids see you trip up and get back up again.

Draw people around you that you trust. Commit to making your business an environment that embraces the reality of motherhood and families. You get to choose what that looks like and how that feels.

Be brave and trust your instincts. Make a choice to believe in yourself. The world needs you and your gift! Your kids need you to be who you were created to be, too.

HOW DO YOU STAY INSPIRED, ORIGINAL AND ON-TREND? We love what we do - which is a huge motivator! We strive to learn, improve, adapt and innovate. We are committed to leading the way in what we do.

We know how blessed we are to be able spend our days playing with colour and being invited into peoples lives.

We know what we do is a privilege. I think that is a big part of why we are always moving forward. And because we have a team who’s combined gifts and skills are constantly pushing us on.

POPPIES FOR GRACE HAS DEVELOPED A STRONG BRAND PRESENCE .

WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE FOR GROWING AN ORIGINAL AND CONSISTENT BRANDING LOOK?: We have been around for a long time! I think that helps!

We also don’t compromise on what we do and the quality of products or how they look. We have evolved and changed along the way but I think that those changes were so natural that it made sense to our customers and us.

WHAT IS YOUR ATTITUDE TO THE BOOM OF MANY LARGER CHAIN STORES NOW SELLING CHEAPER PARTYWARE? HAS IT CHANGED HOW YOU DO BUSINESS? DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY IN THE POPPIES FOR GRACE OFFICE! Oh gosh, where do I start! We have an amazing team that work at Poppies. We all have our own areas that we oversee but in lots of ways much of what we do is a team effort. The day starts with emails and packing orders, and cups of tea! The warehouse is always buzzing with our amazing makers who spend their day’s hand mixing our confetti or assembling and packing our products. In the studio there is often meetings going on about ordering, product development or an upcoming installation. It is always busy, but we like it that way!

WHAT ARE YOUR TOP TIPS FOR MANAGING A BUSY BUSINESS WITH MOTHERHOOD? Have a great team around you, at home and at work!

We are surrounded by family and a team who are

This is a hard one! We recently saw that a chain store had copied some of our distinctive products, down to the packaging colours and name- and it was awful! We shed some tears over that. But the flip side is that it drives us to continue to innovate, create and bring joy. We can’t control what other people do; we can only concentrate on our thoughts and actions. We are committed to bringing joy and quality products and that is where our energy needs to go.

DO YOU HAVE ANY TOP TIPS FOR THOSE WHO WORK ALONGSIDE A BUSINESS PARTNER, AS YOU AND SARA DO? HOW DO YOU MAKE IT WORK WELL? Regular cups of tea away from the office are essential! We appreciate and value what we each bring to Poppies, but our friendship is bound together with something much tighter than our business. You have to prioritise spending time together being friends, not business partners.

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PART Y F E AT U R E | S TY L E D TW I N ’ S BABY SH O WER

From the desert blooms the perfect pair

By Chantelle from Silk and Cedar Events

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WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION BEHIND THE STYLING FOR THIS PARTY? WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS THEME AND COLOUR SCHEME ETC? Elizabeth from Elk Prints and I came up with the concept of “from the desert blooms the perfect pair” in honour of all mums and dads that have had or are having difficulty falling pregnant, or have sadly lost babies. We chose to showcase ‘from the desert’ representing the difficult journey and hardship they have gone through to fall pregnant and the blooming reflects their joy and happiness in celebrating the precious life they have created. We chose to showcase a twins shower with “the perfect pair” based on the prickly pear cacti which we just love.

We really wanted to bring a positive approach to this difficult time and thought that the soft feminine colours of peach and pink would help us achieve this.

Our hearts go out to all the Mums and Dads that may currently be experiencing the desert in their journey.

WHAT WERE THE SPECIAL FEATURES AND HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DAY? We just adore our venue, Mont Du Soleil, as it allowed for a natural backdrop and hence allowed all our pieces to shine through.

ANY CHALLENGES FROM THE DAY OR THINGS WHICH DIDN’T GO TO PLAN? ARE THERE ANY TIPS YOU LEARNT FROM THIS EVENT THAT YOU CAN PASS ON? Yes our proposed Mumma had her baby 3 weeks early!

Our tip here is to schedule your baby shower 4 weeks prior to arrival as a minimum.

WHAT ARE YOUR TOP PARTY PLANNING/ STYLING TIP FOR MUMS: Plan, plan, plan – organization is key and always trust your instinct and don’t settle.

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VENDORS

STYLIST AND PLANNER SILK AND CEDAR EVENTS www.silkandcedarevents.com.au PHOTOGRAPHER MARZENA PHOTOGRAPHY MELBOURNE www.marzena.com.au/portraits STATIONERY AND ARTWORK ELK PRINTS www.elkprints.com/blog VENUE MONT DU SOLEIL www.montdusoleil.com/contact.html

FLOWERS FORGET ME NOT FLORET www.forgetmenotfloret.com/ MACRAME CAKE, CACTUS CAKE, DONUTS AND TARTS TAYLOR MADE GOURMET www.taylormadegourmet.com.au/catering PINK RUFFLE CAKE AND MACARONS MY CAKE STUDIO www.mycakestudio.com.au PERFECT PAIR CAKE TOPPER A LA ROCH www.alaroch.com.au COOKIES PETITE COOKIES www.petitecookies.com.au

BALLOONS + PROPS SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL DECORATIONS AND BALLOONS www.facebook.com/simplybeautifuldecorationsandballoons/ PARTYWARE FAVOR LANE PARTY BOUTIQUE www.favorlaneparty.com FAIRY FLOSS FLUFFY CRUNCH www.facebook.com/fluffycrunch.au HAIR AND MAKE UP MISS AIMMEY www.missaimmey.com/

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Plan, plan, plan organization is key, always trust your instinct and don’t settle.

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5 TIPS FOR

CHOOSING YOUR CHILD’S

Birthday cake www.facebook.com/ SweetPCakeandCookies

If you have a sweet tooth and an appreciation for creative sweet treats, choosing your child’s birthday cake may just be your favourite part of the party planning.

That said, it can be an overwhelming task.

There are a whole list of things to consider including the design, the flavour, how many tiers, what size and of course your budget.

Ellana from SweetP Cakes & Cookies helps you navigate this deceptively tricky task by providing us with her top 5 tips on choosing the perfect cake for your little one.

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1. BUDGET

5. CHOOSING YOUR SIZE

Before you go crazy on Pinterest with design ideas, it is important that you trust your cake designer with your budget. Most cake decorators will provide you with a starting cost of their cakes either on their website or through email or phone. This will give you an idea of a starting point cost.

One of the first questions you will hear your cake decorator ask is “Are you serving your cake for dessert or for coffee?�

Hmmmm whats the difference, do I hear you ask?

There are lots of ways to translate a theme into a birthday cake and letting your designer know your budget means they can work with ideas which are realistic for you.

Remember the more time your decorator is spending on decoration details the more your cake will cost.

2.THEMES AND DESIGN Okay, here is the fun part - themes and design! My first advice would be check out cake designers in your local area and have a look at their style.

Does it match with yours? Do you like their previous work?

The next step is to talk to your designer about the theme you have chosen - this may be as simple as a colour theme or as elaborate as you like. Pin some photos from Pinterest of designs you like, colour themes, invitation ideas and even how you want your party style to look. Share these with your cake designer as this will give them a really good idea of the look you like.

For me I usually sketch out designs for my clients so they get a visual of what their final cake will look like.

3.FLAVOUR Think about your audience - you may love a Chocolate Stout Cake or a super hot Chilli Chocolate Cake, but chances are a bunch of 5 years olds are not going to.

My advice to parents with cake flavours are to keep it sweet and simple - Vanilla and Chocolate flavours are always a hit with little ones.

4. BUTTERCREAM VS FONDANT This comes down to a personal preference but you also need to consider the weather at the time of your event. I am a Queensland Cake Designer and only recommend buttercream in certain months of the year (May, June, July, August) unless the cake can be kept in refrigeration until the last minute or the event is being held in a fully airconditioned venue.

If you are having an outdoor party and would like the cake on display on a sweets table in the summer months you are likely to have a very melted cake by the time it is time to sing happy birthday.

Dessert serves are essentially served as dessert with an accompaniment like coulis, fruits or ice-cream and will be the only dessert served at your party. Dessert serves are larger slices of cake - most decorators base this size on a 1inch x 2inch x 4inch high slice. I usually recommend clients cater for 10% extra to allow for slight cutting errors.

Coffee serves are served at the end of the party and is usually what I recommend for parties where there are lots of other sweet treats served. Coffee servings are usually 1inch x 1inch x 4inch high.

Another thing to consider when thinking about the size of your cake is the height of your cake - not all cakes are created equal!

Most decorators base their tiers on 4 - 5 inches in height, although there are lots of other options for you to explore as well: The Extended are cakes generally 6 inches in height and offer an opportunity for you to change your serving size to either a smaller or larger serve.

The Double Barrel Cakes are double the usual tier size and measure from 8inch - 10inch high and they have a very sneaky cake board in the middle so the cake can be cut up and served in the same way as an average sized tier. With these different height options you and your decorator can play with the visual design and look of your cake.

The Dummy (or The Foam / Foamie /The Fake): Dummy Tiers are fake cakes made out of styrofoam and decorated in icing. If you have a modest guest list although want a tall supermodel cake, without the left overs, there is an option of dummy tiers. However, it is worth noting that a lot of the cost of a custom made cake goes towards the decorating - so a five tier cake with only 3 layers of cake will still be close in price to a 5 tier cake.

When you chat to your cake designer let them know how many people you are expecting to the party and how you would like to serve the cake and they will give you a recommended size and a serving chart so you can cut the proportions correctly. Of course you can add extra cake or dummy cakes to increase size if you are wanting to make a statement with size.

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PART Y F E AT U R E | M I L LY ’ S 4 TH BIRTHD AY

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Unicorn afternoon slumber

By Sweet Dreams and Goodnight

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The incredible desserts and cake had everyone talking as well as the overall impact of the tents and clouds...

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WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION BEHIND THE STYLING FOR THIS PARTY? WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS THEME AND COLOUR SCHEME ETC? My daughter wanted rainbows and unicorns. I wanted to create a feeling that felt like the kids were floating in the clouds and they were living a true dream.

WHAT DID THE GUESTS ENJOY THE MOST ABOUT THE SETUP OR PARTY? All the kids loved the tents and the clouds - they were rolling around in them throwing them to each other. It kept them entertained all day

WHAT WERE THE SPECIAL FEATURES AND HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DAY OR THE SETUP/DECOR? The incredible desserts and cake had everyone talking as well as the overall impact of the tents and clouds and the effect it made as people walked in.

ANY CHALLENGES FROM THE DAY OR THINGS WHICH DIDN’T GO TO PLAN? ARE THERE ANY TIPS YOU LEARNT FROM THIS EVENT THAT YOU CAN PASS ON? A thunderstorm was forecasted and heavy rain, so there was a mad rush to get tarps and rope to close in the area to protect the balloons and clouds from blowing everywhere.

When the sun rose on the day – it was perfect! No rain, not a cloud in sight.

Lesson learnt - just be prepared for anything especially when setting up for winter parties.

WHAT ARE YOUR TOP PARTY PLANNING / STYLING TIP FOR MUMS Plan ahead and ask for help, so you are not running around at last minute going crazy. Balloons are time consuming but they can be done a day or two before the event.

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VENDORS

PHOTOGRAPHER LANA PRATT PHOTOGRAPHY www.lanapratt.com.au CONCEPT & STYLING SWEET DREAMS AND GOODNIGHT www.sweetdreamsandgoodnight.com.au TENTS SWEET DREAMS AND GOODNIGHT www.sweetdreamsandgoodnight.com.au CAKE AND DESSERTS MY PETITE SWEETS www.mypetitesweets.com.au PARTYWARE AND BALLOONS FAVOR LANE PARTY BOUTIQUE www.favorlaneparty.com INVITATION AND CHOCOLATE WRAPS EVE & CO STATIONERY www.eveandco.com.au SMARTIE BOX WRAPS GLITTER AND GLUE DESIGNS www.facebook.com/glitterandgluedesigns GHOST CHAIRS WE CREATE PERTH www.wecreateperth.com.au UNICORN AND RAINBOW CUT OUTS FOOTE AND FLAME www.footeandflame.com.au

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Local is the new

Black

www.lifeslittlecelebrations.org

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PA RTY FEATUR E | M AYA’ S 9T H BIRTHD AY

French Ballet

By Vicky Kosmas fromThe Details Studio

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WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION BEHIND THE STYLING FOR THIS PARTY? WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS THEME AND COLOUR SCHEME ETC? My inspiration was the venue and the long French windows. We wanted to step away from the conventional “pink” ballerina parties - lavender and silver was an elegant choice!

WHAT WERE THE SPECIAL FEATURES AND HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DAY OR THE SETUP/DECOR? The custom made paperie from Mooi. Co (tutu place cards in particular) were a very special feature. A definite highlight was watching the girls admire their beautiful tutus!

We wanted to step away from the conventional “pink” ballerina parties lavender and silver was an elegant choice!

WHAT IS YOUR TOP PARTY PLANNING / STYLING TIP FOR MUMS - Start planning well ahead of time and look everywhere for inspiration.

- Don’t overload too many ideas into one concept.

- When possible, make your guests feel special by giving them a small parting gift - Add a personal touch by doing something crafty or handmade with love.

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VENDORS

STYLING THE DETAILS STUDIO www.facebook.com/thedetailsstudio/ CAPTURED BY KIRRI PHOTOGRAPHY www.capturedbykirri.com.au BIRTHDAY CAKE, DONUTS SWEETS WITH LOVE www.facebook.com/Sweets-WithLove-1550881478533583/ CUPCAKES, MERINGUES QUINCY LANE www.facebook.com/Quincy-Lane-1500236163563930/ STRAWBERRY TOWER DOM’S STRAWBERRIES DELIGHT www.facebook.com/DomsStrawberriesDelights/ MACARONS ONE BITE www.facebook.com/onebitemacarons TIARA CROWNS SCHOOZA HANDMADE www.facebook.com/schoozahandmade/ BALLERINA TUTUS TINY TUTU CAKE COUTURE www.tinytutucakecouture.com.au FRENCH DRESSER, KIDS TRESTLE TABLE, TIFFANY KIDS CHAIRS, LAVENDER CAKE STAND, SILVER CAKE STAND TINY TOTS TOY HIRE www.tinytotstoyhire.com.au COOKIES (TUTUS AND FLORAL PLAQUES), COOKIE TOWERS, TUTU CAKE POPS, PANACOTTAS COOKIE QUEEN KITSCH’N www.cookiequeenkitschn.com.au INVITATION, TUTU PLACE CARDS, THANK YOU TAGS, DESSERT LABELS Mooi.Co – PAPERIE www.mooico.com.au CAKE TOPPER AND STRAWBERRY TOWER TOPPER A LA ROCH www.alaroch.com.au

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Style, Create and Celebrate with us

Browse our collection of designer partyware. All the best brands and latest party trends to help bring your dream celebration to life.

thepartyparlour.com.au

www.sugarcoatedmama.com

A CHAT WITH

Sarah Osmotherly Sugarcoated Mama

As a successful and well known event stylist, Sarah has appeared on the TODAY show, coordinated the Kara’s Party Ideas down-under tour and graced our online feeds with her gorgeous party setups! Here she shares her advice about being successful in this industry…

1. HOW DO YOU STAY INSPIRED, MOTIVATED AND UNIQUE AS AN EVENT STYLIST? We are very lucky to have an abundance of resources to readily access at the press of a button. The introduction of Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram has seen the trend of uber cool styled parties go crazy across the world. So naturally I use these online tools to help inspire me when styling a party, however I’m often inspired by modern culture. It could be the amazing colours or backdrops from a stage show, or the incredible cinematography from a movie I have seen, or sometimes just a very clever shop window or café that catches my eye. These creative outlets are what help me find unique ideas and draw upon for direction.

Keeping your ideas fresh and distinctive is definitely an important part of being a successful Event Stylist.

2. WHAT ARE YOUR BEST TIPS FOR MAINTAINING FANTASTIC RELATIONS WITH YOUR CLIENTS? Under promise and over deliver When it comes to events, the client is relying heavily on the Event Stylist to create something amazing for their special 60

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occasion. One of the best ways to help maintain fantastic relations is to deliver exceptional results every time.

Don’t oversell yourself and promise unrealistic styling results. By setting reasonable expectations, you give yourself the opportunity to completely impress the client and position yourself as someone they will call every time they have an event.

To help achieve this you need to have a very specific outline of what is included in your pricing and then deliver not only what you promise but always surprise them with a little something extra.

It could be an upgrade on some flowers or a more detailed table setting or bigger balloons. It’s those little touches and extras that my clients love. It is important that you are not out of pocket for this, so make sure you factor it into your pricing. With so much competition in the event world, if you “under promise and over deliver,” you will not only keep the client satisfied; you’ll keep the client.

Personal attention and the “little things” Everyone loves personal attention! Make it personal.

Clients want to feel a sense of relationship with you. It’s the little things that make clients feel important.

Before I take on a job I ask the client to fill out a form so I can gauge their style, their requirements and their expectations. With this information I can then create a platform to make the initial meeting and presentation acutely personal. I usually bring a gift to the initial meeting, whether it is their favourite cupcake or flower, something to bring a smile before the creative journey begins. Find what is important to the client, what they are passionate about and deliver the very best.

3. FOR THOSE STARTING OFF - HOW CAN THEY GET THEIR NAME OUT THERE? WHAT WORKED FOR SUGAR COATED MAMA WHEN IT CAME TO GAINING EXPOSURE? First things first is the name itself. Picking a memorable catchy name is critical for branding and marketing. My public relations background helped me with this part of the journey. Sugar Coated Mama is a name people don’t forget and I believe it is one of the reasons I got my name out there so quickly.

The next step was collaboration; I approached a lot of my favourite stylists and suppliers and created events free of charge to get some awesome images for my social media platforms. I then went nuts on social media, liking and

commenting and posting and liking and commenting and posting and this went on and on for weeks and months.

It was a lot of hard work, but I was lucky enough to be discovered by Channel Nine’s Today Show after they saw a party they loved on my facebook page.

I had three days notice to set up two kids parties on their show. I embraced the crazy challenge head on and this led to hosting many party segments for them across a few years (until I had my little boy). I also approached Kara from Kara’s Party Ideas to tour in Australia. This was a big move as I had not worked in party styling for very long, but hosting her tour really helped raise my profile nationally. So my advice in gaining exposure and getting your name out there is - don’t be afraid to think big, embrace challenges, be brave, take risks and fake it till you make it!

4. WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE ARE THE KEYS TO A SUCCESSFUL EVENT STYLING BUSINESS? - H ard Work – be prepared to not shower every day and have crazy hair!

-H ave fun and laugh more -B e unique – set the trend, don’t follow them -A ttention to detail – It’s all in the detail -D eliver beautifully styled events - every-time!

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YOUR HEAVENLY DESTINATION FOR ALL THINGS SWEET & SPECTACULAR

www.sweetheavenlyeventshire.com.au

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SHOP THE PARTY MERMAID MER MA ID A GE C A KE T OPPER DIY Parties by Renee | $22 www.etsy.com/au/shop/DIYPartiesByRenee

“S PL A S H ” I NVI TAT I ON | CU S T O M D E SI G N Emma Smith Event Stationery From $2.50 per invite www.emmasmith.com.au

M A K E A SPLA SH PA RT Y B O X The Loot Lab | $14.95 www.thelootlab.com.au

S H E LL P L ATE The Party Parlour | $9.95 (pack of 8) www.thepartyparlour.com.au

F I N D THE S E B U S IN E S S E S L IS T E D O N T HE L I F E’ S L I T T L E C EL EBRAT I ONS VENDOR DI REC T ORY

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PART Y F E AT U R E | N A OMI ’ S 5 TH BIRT H DAY

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Magical Mermaid

By Tanya from Life’s Little Celebrations

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WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION BEHIND THE STYLING FOR THIS PARTY? WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS THEME AND COLOUR SCHEME ETC? Naomi loves Princess Ariel and swimming so a mermaid party was an obvious choice for her 5th birthday! For this theme I incorporated the iridescent trend throughout - in the invitation, backdrop, balloon tassels and iridescent tableware –perfect for a mermaid theme.

WHAT DID THE GUESTS ENJOY THE MOST ABOUT THE SETUP OR PARTY? We had great winter weather that day so the kids enjoyed playing in the backyard and a visit from Princess Ariel and devouring some desserts at the end!

WHAT WERE THE SPECIAL FEATURES AND HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DAY OR THE SETUP/DECOR? The invitation was simply stunning as a starting point to set the theme and colour scheme! I loved using the clear plinths which really made the backdrop, balloon and desserts stand out! I used various businesses from the LLC directory and it all coordinated beautifully on the day! The cake and desserts were also a highlight – I, along with many guests, couldn’t believe the details on all the edible delights!

The highlight of the day was definitely seeing Naomi so excited about the decorations, cake and of course Princess Ariel arriving!

WHAT ARE YOUR TOP PARTY PLANNING / STYLING TIP FOR MUMS - P rovide your vendors with a copy of the invitation or something which indicates to them the colour scheme and look you’re going for so that everything coordinates - To ease the stress - get as much set up the day before and all the little jobs such as favour bags etc during the 1-2 weeks leading up to the event!

- L et go of perfection and don’t worry about the little details if things go wrong– you’re often the only one who will notice if something doesn’t go to plan!

- I f you have toddler – get hubby to take the kids out for a drive during the set up time so you can get things organised without little hands pulling it all down. This really helped me this time round!

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Provide your vendors with a copy of the invitation or something to indicate to them the colour scheme...

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VENDORS

STYLING LIFE’S LITTLE CELEBRATIONS www.lifeslittlecelebrations.org PHOTOGRAPHY CAPTURED BY KIRRI www.capturedbykirri.com.au INVITATION, BUFFET LABELS, FAVOUR BAG TAGS, MERMAID TAILS EVE & CO STATIONERY www.facebook.com/eveandcostationery PROPS, CLEAR PLINTHS, CAKE STANDS AND KIDS GHOST CHAIRS SWEET HEAVENLY PARTY HIRE & EVENT STYLING www.sweetheavenlyeventshire.com.au BALLOONS PARTY SPLENDOUR www.partysplendour.com.au PARTYWARE AND TABLEWARE FAVOR LANE PARTY BOUTIQUE www.favorlaneparty.com CAKE, TARTS, CHEESECAKES, DONUTS SWEETS WITH LOVE www.facebook.com/Sweets-WithLove-1550881478533583/ BACKDROP DD BRAND www.ddbrand.com.au COOKIE MIX BOTTLES SWEET HEALTH www.sweethealth.com.au PARTY FAVOURS - MERMAID NECKLACE THE LITTLE EVENT COMPANY www.littleeventco.com.au

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Teepee Camper!

By Saffy&May

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PA RTY FEATUR E | K AI’ S 3RD BIRTHD AY

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WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION BEHIND THE STYLING FOR THIS PARTY? WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS THEME AND COLOUR SCHEME ETC? Kai is a typical active and exploring boy, who loves the outdoors so a teepee/camper theme was the perfect theme.

I absolutely love the current trend of greenery colours and wooden natural textures so I decided to mix these with touches of white.

The party was held at a park, which not only was the perfect setting for this party theme, but also the perfect place for the birthday boy and guests to run wild and enjoy.

WHAT WERE THE SPECIAL FEATURES AND HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DAY OR THE SETUP/DECOR? I design each set up with the little party people in mind. In particular, I feel providing an activity or space especially for them is key to an enjoyable party.

A beautiful teepee was set up for the kids to play in. Also, colouring in sheets, crayons and sticks were set up outside the teepee for kids to grab freely.

The kids table was the perfect height for the little ones to either stand or sit down. Each table setting had a beautiful personalized teepee placecard and arrow for each guest to keep. Also, gorgeous Indian headdresses were placed on each stool for the little guests to wear and take home.

A mini dessert table featured a simple yet beautiful semi naked cake topped with the cutest teepee topper. Desserts include cupcakes, cake pops, cookies and chocolate bars.

Each child guest received a cute treat box in addition to the teepee place card, arrow and headdress. Cookie and hot chocolate mixes were gifted to the adult guests. These beautiful favours were displayed on a small favour station.

ANY CHALLENGES FROM THE DAY OR THINGS WHICH DIDN’T GO TO PLAN? ARE THERE ANY TIPS YOU LEARNT FROM THIS EVENT THAT YOU CAN PASS ON? The main challenge styling a party outside is the weather.

While it wasn’t an overly windy day, the slightest bit of breeze can pose a challenge when setting props, especially balloons. I normally stay away from balloons if styling outdoors but balloon garlands have really changed that for me. These are great, because if done properly, the balloons are secure and the garland can be pinned so they don’t fly away.

WHAT ARE YOUR TOP PARTY PLANNING / STYLING TIP FOR MUMS -

Center the party on the birthday child Plan ahead Have a checklist Always have plan B - this is a definite must for outdoors parties.

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The kids table was the perfect height for the little ones to either stand or sit down.

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VENDORS

CONCEPT, DESIGN, STYLING, PROPS AND KIDS FURNITURE SAFFY & MAY www.saffyandmay.com.au PHOTOGRAPHY ELAINE RUTH PHOTOGRAPHY www.elaineruthphotography.com.au STATIONERY Mooi. Co www.mooico.com.au CUPCAKE TOPPERS, CAKE POP STICKS, BUNTING FLAG, GARLAND AND EDIBLE COOKIE IMAGES A LA ROCH www.alaroch.com.au CAKE AND DESSERTS BAKED CAKES AND CUPCAKERY www.bakedcakesandcupcakery.com.au TREAT BOXES, CRAYON BOXES AND COLOURING IN SHEETS GLITTER & GLUE DESIGNS www.etsy.com/au/shop/GlitterGlueDesigns HEADDRESS, MINI HEADDRESSES, MINI TEEPEE CAKE TOPPER, FEATHER ARROWS AND FEATHER BUNCHES KREATE A DREAM www.etsy.com/au/shop/KreateaDream BALLOONS, TASSEL GARLAND FAVOUR LANE PARTY BOUTIQUE www.favorlaneparty.com COOKIE AND HOT CHOCOLATE MIXES SWEET HEALTH www.sweethealth.com.au TEEPEE SWEET DREAMS AND GOODNIGHT www.sweetdreamsandgoodnight.com.au

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SHOP THE PARTY NATURAL HAP P Y BIRT HDAY CIRCLE C A KE T O PPE R Glistening Occasions | $40 www.glisteningoccasions.com.au

I VORY PA RT Y FA NS ( 4 PAC K ) Ruby Rabbit | $18.95 https://www.rubyrabbit.com.au/collections/whisper-white/products/ivory-party-fans-4-pack

C OOKIE MIX PARTY FAVOU R

CU S T OM T I MB E R B I RT H DAY B OA R D

Sweet Health | $12 www.sweethealth.com.au/collections/all

Whimsy Chuffed | $60 https://www.whimsychuffed.com.au/collections/birthdays-decorations/products/birthday-board-timber

C H I L D R E N ’S CHA IRS F OR HIRE PERT H Allegra & Grace | POA www.allegraandgrace.com

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Darling...

it wouldn’t be a party without you! www.lifeslittlecelebrations.org

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PA RTY F E AT U R E | CA RTE R ’ S 1 S T BIRT H DAY

Penguin Monochrome

By Jayne from Opulenticity Party & Buffet Styling

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C E L E B R AT I N G L I T T L E O N E S | A U G U S T 2 0 1 7 | 8 3

WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION BEHIND THE STYLING FOR THIS PARTY? WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS THEME AND COLOUR SCHEME ETC? My son has always been called Mr Squishy since birth which reminds me of penguins. Whilst on a trip to Sydney I came across a playsuit with a penguin on it and it was perfect for his birthday. My love of monochrome also played a factor with a black/white theme

WHAT DID THE GUESTS ENJOY THE MOST ABOUT THE SETUP OR PARTY? That it was a fun and relaxed environment without having too many guests. I preferred a more relaxed and intimate ambience so close family & friends could mingle.

I preferred a more relaxed and intimate ambience so close family & friends could mingle.

WHAT WERE THE SPECIAL FEATURES AND HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DAY OR THE SETUP/DECOR? I had a large over 1m tall penguin that was a part of the dessert table which was a real feature!

ANY CHALLENGES FROM THE DAY OR THINGS WHICH DIDN’T GO TO PLAN? ARE THERE ANY TIPS YOU LEARNT FROM THIS EVENT THAT YOU CAN PASS ON? Being a stylist myself, the key for me is organization.

One thing you can never control however is the weather and keeping food warm!! Windy days make for difficult balloons.

WHAT ARE YOUR TOP PARTY PLANNING / STYLING TIP FOR MUMS Be organized and prepared. Try and do as much as possible prior. I always find that something will pop up last minute or prevent you from running on time. I don’t take to last minute well so I ensure as much is done as possible prior to the day of the event including most of the set up.

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VENDORS

STYLING & CONCEPT OPULENTICITY BUFFET & PARTY STYLING www.facebook.com/opulenticity PHOTOGRAPHY JANINE HARVEY PHOTOGRAPHY

www.facebook.com/janineharveyphotography

DESSERTS BELLADONNAS SWEET TREATS

www.facebook.com/belladonnassweettreats

INVITES ,FAVOUR & DRINK LABELS LOU LOU PIE CREATIVE www.facebook.com/louloupiecreative/ LOLLIPOP HOLDERS GLITTER & GLUE DESIGNS

www.facebook.com/glitterandgluedesigns

BALLOON GARLAND,CONFETTI BALLOONS,PLATES & NAPKINS FAVOR LANE PARTY BOUTIQUE www.facebook.com/favorlane/ CARTER ACRYLIC SIGN FOOTE & FLAME www.facebook.com/FooteAndFlame/

WOOD ICE MOUNTAINS SHARTRUESE www.facebook.com/shartruese PENGUIN ACRYLIC ICON & CAKE TOPPER FRANKIE & CO

www.instagram.com/frankie_and_co_designs

CANDLE RUBY RABBIT PARTYWARE www.rubyrabbit.com.au

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www.partykit.co

10 TIPS TO CURB THE

pre-party panic

By Lel Brassel Ngo from The Party Kit Company

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Whether it’s the first party you’re hosting, or your tenth, you’re probably familiar with the following scenario: It’s the day before your child’s birthday party and it still feels like there’s 738 tasks to complete before you get a wink of sleep. You’ve probably been having dreams about frosting or favours, and waking up in a panic about things you’ve forgotten…

It doesn’t have to be this way! If you’ve still got some time before your celebration, here are ten tips from a party pro that will help you get some sleep and actually enjoy the party!

1. W rite it ALL down - this includes your guest list, menu, budget, and detailed to do list. Even write down what you are going to wear and have for breakfast on party day! It sounds insignificant, but the less decisions you have to make in the lead up to the event, the better.

2. Outsource whatever you can; the cake, invitations, the venue! It will decrease the amount of things on your todo list, and the smaller that list is, the less overwhelmed you’ll be.

3. Distinguish the ‘nice to haves’ from the ‘musts’. If you’re a day out from the event and you still have to cut out 40 personalised favour tags, take a minute and decide whether it will really impact the overall celebration.

4. Be decisive and stay away from Pinterest. Once you’ve decided on what you’re doing, ban yourself from Pinterest. Last minute theme/menu/decoration changes are costly and stressful.

5. I nvolve the birthday boy or girl, if you can. Get their help designing invitations, or packing party bags- this will make the whole process even more memorable for them.

6. Start early, especially when it comes to DIY. Pick your favourite TV show and pack those favour bags a good 1-2 weeks before the event.

7. Get some sleep. Much of your stress probably comes from fatigue, so make sure you get a proper night’s rest.

And if you’re up to all hours DIY-ing, refer to point 3.

8. Practice. Whether it’s the cake or a DIY floral arrangement, have a go at it a week or two before; knowing that you’ve done something before will make you more confident and help you relax.

9. Be smart about menu choices. If you aren’t able to outsource, choose foods that suit being prepped in advance so you’re not spending all of your time in the kitchen when you want to be enjoying the time with your guests.

10. Take a deep breath and accept imperfection as things

will never go exactly as planned. Remember that the most important thing about the party is celebrating your child with friends and family!

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PA RTY F E AT U R E | K EELY ’ S 1 0TH BI RTH DAY

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Tropical Toucan

By Gayle Williams from Joyful Invitations

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WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION BEHIND THE STYLING FOR THIS PARTY? WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS THEME AND COLOUR SCHEME ETC? Age 10 is a hard age to theme – my daughter is looking for something a little less ‘cutesy’ whilst still retaining the fun. Monsteria leaves are the look of the season and although I love flamingoes, I wanted to do something a little different, so combining these ideas I was able to design something perfect for her age group.

WHAT DID THE GUESTS ENJOY THE MOST ABOUT THE SETUP OR PARTY? Games were tailored to the theme and we celebrated with limbo, bobs and hula dance (an adaption of the bobs and statues game), a tropical piñata, pass the parcel with tutti-fruity / tropical prizes providing a wonderful prelude to the biggest activity which was where each guest got a toucan teddy with certificate where they could name, make up hobbies and characteristics of their new ‘pet’.

Budgeting is incredibly important and I often find myself selecting a theme well in advance...

WHAT WERE THE SPECIAL FEATURES AND HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DAY OR THE SETUP/DECOR? Each guest was given a lei and hula skirt upon arrival and then were able to decorate themselves in hibiscus tattoos. This helped to create the mood and make each guest feel incorporated into the theme.

WHAT ARE YOUR TOP PARTY PLANNING / STYLING TIP FOR MUMS Budgeting is incredibly important and I often find myself selecting a theme well in advance just to start buying supplies early. I spend my money where it will make most impact, generally on things like cake and cookies and then get more thrifty by using printables and hand crafting other parts of the table. I think that one of the best tips is to keep your child’s personality in mind when you are designing the table, remembering that this is primarily for them and that they are the most important guest of all to impress.

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VENDORS

INVITATIONS, PRINTABLE ACCESSORIES, BACKDROP AND STYLING JOYFUL INVITATIONS www.joyfulinvitations.com COOKIES PIPED DREAMS www.pipeddreams.com.au PHOTOGRAPHY MADELEINE CACCIANIGA

www.madeleinecaccianigaphotography.wordpress.com

CAKE ALENA’S CAKE FANCIES www.facebook.com/alenascakefancies CHOCOLATE PALM TREE MOULDS CONFECTIONATELY YOURS www.confectionatelyyours.com.au LOLLIES, PALM TREE CUPS THE LITTLE BIG COMPANY www.tlbc.com.au PROPS PARTY KIT ‘N KABOODLE www.partykitnkaboodle.com.au LOLLIES THE PROFESSORS www.theprofessors.com.au

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PART Y F E AT U R E | I S AAC JOH N’ S 1 S T BI RTH DAY

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Mickey Mouse

By Sugar Coated Candy & Dessert Buffets

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WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION BEHIND THE STYLING FOR THIS PARTY? WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS THEME AND COLOUR SCHEME ETC? Isaac John’s parents chose the theme for their son – we kept the traditional Mickey Mouse inspired colours of red black and yellow but used white as a basis for a clean stylish look which worked with the venue.

WHAT DID THE GUESTS ENJOY THE MOST ABOUT THE SETUP OR PARTY? The Mickey Mouse concept! It’s definitely a theme everyone is familiar with.

WHAT WERE THE SPECIAL FEATURES AND HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DAY OR THE SETUP/DECOR? The Mickey balloon ear feature was the focal point for the event – everything else was designed to compliment this concept - the cart and picket fencing was a minimalist touch that made the balloon features pop.

WHAT ARE YOUR TOP PARTY PLANNING/ STYLING TIP FOR MUMS We always say plan all details in advance , from theme, to colour palette, to the finer details and layout and always work with the space chosen for the event rather than against it, but always be prepared if something doesn’t go to plan.

C E L E B R AT I N G L I T T L E O N E S | A U G U S T 2 0 1 7 | 9 9

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VENDORS

STYLING SUGAR COATED CANDY & DESSERT BUFFETS

www.facebook.com/SugarCoatedCandyDessertBuffets/

PHOTOGRAPHY CJ PHOTOGRAPHY www.facebook.com/cj.cjphotography BALLOONS MOONSHOT BALLOONS www.moonshotballoons.com.au CAKE COUTURE CAKEHOUSE MELBOURNE www.facebook.com/couturecakehousemelbourne DESSERTS PATTY CAKE PATTY CAKE www.facebook.com/Patty.Cake.Patty.Cake.byFleur/ COOKIES DESSERT MENU PLEASE www.facebook.com/DessertMenuPlease INVITATIONS & EVENT STATIONARY BELA DESIGNS www.facebook.com/beladesigns CART & PICKET FENCING MINI PARTY PEOPLE www.minipartypeople.com.au VENUE LITTLE GINGER www.littleginger.com.au

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...always work with the space chosen for the event rather than against it...

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PART Y F E AT U R E | OS C AR ’S 1S T BI RTH DAY

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Woodland Picnic

By Paper Face Party

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Fun activity stations for the kids were a feature set up on the day

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WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION BEHIND THE STYLING FOR THIS PARTY? WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS THEME AND COLOUR SCHEME ETC? Born in the Year of the Monkey and with a love of baby animals we were inspired to created an indoor Woodland picnic theme for the Birthday boy, Oscar. Designed around a pastel colour pallet with baby blue being the focus. We added a pop colour with our fresh blooms.

WHAT DID THE GUESTS ENJOY THE MOST ABOUT THE SETUP OR PARTY? The treat table was a hit for young and old, brimming with treats from; personalised stamped sugar cookies, vanilla and chocolate mini cupcakes, macarons (Raspberry & Pistachio), baked mini donuts (Mocha & Lemon) through to a perfectly baked vanilla birthday cake.

WHAT WERE THE SPECIAL FEATURES AND HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DAY OR THE SETUP/DECOR? Fun activity stations for the kids were a feature set up on the day; a Dress Up Corner, personalized colouring in sheets and cars with a play mat.

ANY CHALLENGES FROM THE DAY OR THINGS WHICH DIDN’T GO TO PLAN? ARE THERE ANY TIPS YOU LEARNT FROM THIS EVENT THAT YOU CAN PASS ON? We would have loved to set up our picnic table out doors however winter had truly arrived.

WHAT ARE YOUR TOP PARTY PLANNING / STYLING TIP FOR MUMS Planning activities for all ages makes for a fun and relaxed party day, whether you have an entertainer booked or are keeping it simple.

MY GO-TOS ARE -D ress Up Corners are awesome for free play and get the imaginations going.

-A Colouring in station (with pencils if in doors), perfect for down time or if you have a more shy party goer.

-A nd a Box of Cars, great for keeping the really little ones busy.

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VENDORS

CONCEPT, PLANNING, STYLING, FLORALS & ACTIVITY STATIONS PAPER FACE PARTY www.paperface.com.au/ DESSERTS MACARON MADNESS www.macaronmadness.com.au BIRTHDAY CAKE CAKES BY KOO & CUP CAKES TOO www.facebook.com/CakesByKooAndCupcakesToo CATERING BLUE SALT CATERING www.bluesaltcatering.com.au PHOTOGRAPHY

www.instagram.com/pumpkin_mum

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She had cake in her

hand &

confetti in her hair! www.lifeslittlecelebrations.org

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www.bellafiore.com.au

Event Flowers THE DOS & DON’TS!

It’s no secret, flowers not only compliment an event but have the potential to make the event.

However there’s more to flowers than meets the eye… which is why your best friend when organising an event is your local florist. Here are some important things to consider when using flowers for your event.

By Clare Lamata of Bella Fiore Floral Designs

FOLIAGE - BRINGING THE OUTSIDE IN Styling today is about creating an atmosphere, magical surrounds or setting, to reflect a particular theme for your customer / guest of honour. Whether it be of luxury, a jungle or a princess - talk to your florist about options consider hanging foliage from your arch or from the ceiling to create a Jungle theme, or puffier foliage for a more romantic look eg peppercorn bush. Ivy is a lovely addition, and great and easy to use.

FAKING IT… There’s a growing trend to use silk flowers rather than fresh - which can help from a freshness perspective, and silk flowers today are very life -like. A lot of Sydney’s top stylists are using both silk and fresh flowers in their work, due to cost, availability and quality. So its worth asking your customer or the guest of honour - if they mind fake or fresh.

WHAT FLOWERS SHOULD I USE? WILL THE FLOWERS BE TOUCHING FOOD? This seems like a logical question and easily answered, but donuts, cookies, strawberries, cake pops, cakes touching flowers that may have had chemicals sprayed on them – all need to be considered. Try and keep them physically separate where possible and if they are touching, ask your florist if they have been sprayed. Make sure any flowers that have pollen, such as Oriental lilies have had their pollen taken out.

Cake flowers are usually ok, as cake makers have considered baking paper under the flowers as well as taped the ends of flowers so no sap touches the cake. Make sure if you are doing the flowers yourself, the flowers must be taped right to the end of the stem and completely covered.

WHAT COLOURS TO USE? Colours can dramatically change a tone of an event so it is important to consider different colours, and different hues within the same colour. Eg Bright pink vs baby pink.

White is always a popular colour to use, as it can look elegant and very clean cut. Be mindful of whether the event is indoors or outdoors, and what season your event is in.

Eg: Using white flowers outdoors in Summer, even if in an oasis, may not always last in direct sun and heat.

Blue is another popular colour for baby showers and christenings, but be mindful of limited “blue” flowers, in Hydrangea season. Use other colours that are equally as beautiful, yellows, oranges, golds and greens as they have more availability and choice.

ALLERGIES… In the age of allergies, this needs to be considered. Oriental lilies, jasmine, pampa grass can all set off kids allergies at your event. Silver dollar gum, which is extremely popular at the moment, has a gum residue that is sticky, so it is important to ask your florist what flowers she / he will be using and any pitfalls.

If you don’t have a lot of knowledge of flowers, roses are always a great option. Roses are available all year round and are quite hearty compared to other flowers so they will last a while. David Austin Roses are popular - available Autumn and Spring, but be careful you get them in good condition, as they can be very delicate and petals will fall off if over refrigerated or too old.

Lisianthuses, babies breath, hypericum (berries), sweet peas, dahlias, freeshias, wax, tulips are all very beautiful flowers that will compliment and enhance your event, adding beauty and an element of “uniqueness” to your event.

TRICKS OF THE TRADE - O dd numbers are the secret to any successful flower arrangement, so keep this in mind when putting together your flowers for a vase, or how many arrangements to have on the table.

- L ess is often more - we are seeing a trend of over the top florals in both Weddings and Events, which may look pretty, but often the most simplest vase arrangements can look better.

- B e open with your florist as to your budget and what you can get as part of that budget. All florists are artistic souls, so they’re happy to help be part of the vision, and as qualified florists can bring a lot to the table in regards to experience, creativity and passion.

- V isit your local flower markers and your growers out at their farms. It is amazing to visit a flower farm and the growers have so much passion for their industry….

Teepee setup by Hipster Mum www.hipstermum.com Kid Magazine www.kidmagazine.com.au High tea florals. Photography: Natasha Lesonie Photography www.natashalesonie.com Blue florals: Zoom Images www.zoomimages.com.au

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PART Y F E AT U R E | NEVEAH ’S 9TH BI RTH DAY

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In the Clouds

By Kiss with Style

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WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION BEHIND THE STYLING FOR THIS PARTY? WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS THEME AND COLOUR SCHEME ETC? A decorative grey cloud cushion was the inspiration for this birthday celebration. The cushion was symbolic of the cold and grey winter weather in Melbourne. The birthday girl really wanted a pool party with her friends and grey clouds or rain were not going to stand in her way. Her request was fulfilled, albeit indoors, at the local sports and aquatic centre.

WHAT DID THE GUESTS ENJOY THE MOST ABOUT THE SETUP OR PARTY? Having a pool party in the height of winter was very novel. The birthday girl and her friends had a blast splashing in the heated pools and water slides. The celebrations ended with pizza and pasta at her favourite Italian Restaurant followed by birthday cake and other cloud themed treats.

Coming up with new party themes can be challenging at times. Walking into a child’s bedroom is a great source of inspiration.

WHAT WERE THE SPECIAL FEATURES AND HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DAY OR THE SETUP/DECOR? The cake was an absolute stand out on the dessert table. It was designed to compliment the cloud cushion and it amazingly defies gravity. It’s a very clever and super cute design.

I was also thrilled to source some unique cloud shaped balloons, which featured above the dessert table

WHAT ARE YOUR TOP PARTY PLANNING / STYLING TIP FOR MUMS Coming up with new party themes can be challenging at times. Walking into a child’s bedroom is a great source of inspiration. Little trinkets or bedroom décor can become a fabulous theme for their next event.

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VENDORS

Cakes Cake Me To Your Party www.cakemetoyourparty.com.au Photography Frank and Frida Photography www.frankandfrida.com.au Styling Kiss with Style www.kisswithstyle.com.au

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LO V E D T H I S I S S UE O F

CELEBRATING little ones?

To find out how you can be involved in the next issue coming this November...

Email lifeslittlec@gmail.com

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