Posts tagged ‘party ideas’
I Celebrate Polaroid!
I’m a huge Polaroid fan. Always have been. In fact, my motto used to be, “I never do a party without Polaroid.” Hence why I miss my Polaroid INSTANT camera so much!
I have this fantasy though that we can bring it back. Yes, I said we – you, me and all my other fabulous readers and viewers out there in cyberspace. Do you think if we started a letter writing campaign it would make a difference?
“Dear Polaroid-
As a party thrower allow me to express my sincere and deep depression over the loss of your INSTANT camera products. Don’t get me wrong; I like the digital age just as much as the next girl, but it’s just not the same. So can you please bring back the Polaroid One-Step, the JoyCam or the Izone with sticker film? I know you must think me old school, Polaroid, but really I’m not that antiquated. I have embraced the technological age with open iArms; I just want to be able to give my party guests instant gratification again. I want to be able to hand them a fabu picture of themselves in an adorable theme-related frame, and be dubbed the best party of the year! Is that too much to ask? Signed, Your Biggest Fan”
Of course my fantasy continues with the following response from Polaroid:
“Dear Biggest Fan-
We at Polaroid understand what a party-thrower-extraordinaire like you needs to dazzle your guests in this technological age. That’s why we created the PoGo INSTANT Digital Camera. It’s a camera and printer all in one! Each pack of film contains paper for 30 sticky-backed prints, so you can just snap, print and share images without connecting to a computer. So go ahead, take that killer group photo, view it, crop it, add a border and print out as many copies as you want to hand out in your party-terrific frames. How’s that for improved instant gratification? Oh yea, and did we mention that we’re taking preorders on the Polaroid 300? That’s a product you might be familiar with…it’s an updated version of our Classic Instant Camera and Film. Oh yes, you heard me correctly – Instant! We thought you’d be happy to know about that. Signed, YOUR Biggest Fans at Polaroid
P.S. We’ve seen your party plans online and we think you’re pretty terrific yourself. In fact, we’ve been looking for the perfect expert party planner to bring Polaroid back to its once glorious heyday. We think you’re that girl! Can we sponsor you?”
What? Fantasies do come true you know! And in the meantime I’m lending a hand at www.savepolaroid.com, apparently we can do a lot more these days than just write letters. Ah, technology. You gotta love it!
Currently the host of “Shelby’s Secrets to a Great Party!” airing on YouCanPlanAParty.com, Shelby Phillips is an award-winning party design expert with over 20 years experience. Shelby has co-written a book series titled “The Enlightened Party Planner: Guides to Creating Parties from the Heart” and developed a 6-step formula for bring people together to celebrate. She has also been a host and designer on the Style Network’s “Big Party Plan Off,” and owner of a successful event planning and promotions company.
A Unique Father’s Day Idea
Have you ever received a hi-tech gadget and were so happy to have gotten the gift, but actually delayed opening the box because you were dreading the set-up process? Well I certainly have. I mean, who has time to read the owner’s manuals and load software? In fact, I think having someone set-up my gift and teach me how to use it, may be almost as good as the gift itself in some cases!
This Father’s Day when considering a “techie” gift for dad, why stop at just the gift? Include a “full service” package for a real added surprise. Give him the gift out of the box, all set-up and working, and then offer to show him how to operate it for himself. Now he’s armed and ready to use it DURING his Father’s Day celebration. What fun!
Gifts this concept will work well for, especially if dad isn’t as technically savvy as he once was, include iPhones, SmartPhones, and cellphones; bluetooth headsets; video cameras and the Flip; digital cameras; iPod, Nano, Shuffle, and other MP3 players; iTouch, iPad, and other portable internet devices; DVD and BlueRay players/recorders; and the Wii, Nintendo, PlayStation and other gaming systems.
Whichever gift you choose, adding the full service package makes this a complete, thorough and thoughtful gift from you!
For more great ideas to rev up your Father’s Day BBQ a bit, check out YouCanPlanAParty.com.
Currently the host of “Shelby’s Secrets to a Great Party!” airing on YouCanPlanAParty.com, Shelby Phillips is an award-winning party design expert with over 20 years experience. Shelby has co-written a book series titled “The Enlightened Party Planner: Guides to Creating Parties from the Heart” and developed a 6-step formula for bring people together to celebrate. She has also been a host and designer on the Style Network’s “Big Party Plan Off,” and owner of a successful event planning and promotions company.
Celebrating Mom on Mother’s Day
I love this month’s episode of Shelby’s Secrets to a Great Party! because the Party Plan is a Garden Brunch to honor Mom. Now whether or not you chose to throw Mom a party for Mother’s Day, do watch the video clips because much of what I introduced as party ideas can actually be made into beautiful heart-felt mother’s day gifts as well.
For example, in the Food & Beverage clip I introduce an idea using personalized ramekins. Signed by the special people in her life, along with a copy of our Baked Eggs recipe, this could be a delicious gift.
In the Activities clip I show you how to put together an “I Love You Because” book, complete with a floral pen inspired by mom’s favorite flower. Filled with heart-felt sentiments, even photos, this gift is unique and momentous.
After watching the Mother’s Day Garden Brunch episode myself, I thought even if someone did one or two of the elements for mom, what a celebration she would have. Being a mother myself, I speak the truth.
To all the mom’s out there…this one’s for you! Happy, Happy Mother’s Day!
Currently the host of “Shelby’s Secrets to a Great Party!” airing on YouCanPlanAParty.com, Shelby Phillips is an award-winning party design expert with over 20 years experience. Shelby has co-written a book series titled “The Enlightened Party Planner: Guides to Creating Parties from the Heart” and developed a 6-step formula for bring people together to celebrate. She has also been a host and designer on the Style Network’s “Big Party Plan Off,” and owner of a successful event planning and promotions company.
Planning A Tea Party?
When I turned eight, my mom threw me the most fantastic Alice in Wonderland birthday party. Having never forgotten the details of that day, when I grew up, I was inspired to create my own Mad Hatter’s Tea Parties for my friends. I am so tickled to be sharing some of my tea party ideas with everyone today because I have such fond memories of my adventures in Wonderland!
I remember my eighth birthday party like it was yesterday. You had to crawl through a rabbit hole just to get into the party. The White Rabbit (my aunt) greeted you and gave you a door prize number to wear around your neck. One lucky little girl was going home with a live animal. Can you guess what it could possibly be? Yes – a white baby bunny! And that was just the beginning. This party had gigantic hand-painted backdrops, oversized props, costumed characters played by family and adult friends, skits performed by me (I was Alice of course) and others, games, singing –- it was truly the event that inspired me to become a party planner…and I was only eight! Boy, Mom’s good!
This month’s episode of Shelby’s Secrets to a Great Party!, YouCanPlanA Tea Party – A Mad Hatter’s Tea Party — is of course a spin off of the original…a grown up version to be sure! I wonder what memories you’ll create that will stick with you and your guests for thirty years? Have fun putting it together and I’d love to hear how it comes out! You can view the episode at http://www.YouCanPlanAParty.com
P.S. My mom and I went on to write a series of books together called The Enlightened Party Planner: Guides to Creating Parties From the Heart. Book three is entitled Our Favorite Parties. It is a richly detailed volume devoted to fifteen of our favorite theme parties given for our friends and family, three of them Mad Hatter Tea Parties! Written in narrative style, each offers clever ideas for themes, invitations, costumes, décor, music, food and beverages, activities, and special touches – the six elements of a successful party! Check it out next time you’re having a cup of tea at http://www.lulu.com/enlightenedparties. The book series is also available at Amazon.
Currently the host of “Shelby’s Secrets to a Great Party!” airing on YouCanPlanAParty.com, Shelby Phillips is an award-winning party design expert with over 20 years experience. Shelby has co-written a book series titled “The Enlightened Party Planner: Guides to Creating Parties from the Heart” and developed a 6-step formula for bring people together to celebrate. She has also been a host and designer on the Style Network’s “Big Party Plan Off,” and owner of a successful event planning and promotions company.
New Party Ideas Resource Now Online
I’m a firm believer that we can hear the same thing twenty times and not REALLY hear it. But for whatever reason on the twenty-first time, it clicks, and we have that “ahh” moment. (Thank you Oprah.) Likewise, we can read book after book on the same topic without much breakthrough. Then an author comes along who connects with us, things start making sense, and we begin to see things in a whole new way – a shift in our perception occurs. Brilliant!
I can’t help but feel that everyone’s brain processes information differently. So as a writer or speaker, if you don’t connect with everyone in your audience, it’s not personal. You know, different strokes for different folks. Diversity makes the world go round. You can’t be all things to all people. I think these statements are true. In fact, that’s why a little competition is good.
I’m not afraid of the competition because I think we all have a message to deliver and there’s plenty of “listening” to go around. To that end, it is my hope that people see www.YouCanPlanAParty.com as one of their valuable resources for party planning. Hopefully their main resource of course, so that I can keep teaching people how to throw great parties, because that is really my goal — to connect with you and provide my information in a simple, easy-to-implement format. Hopefully my approach will work for most of you, but if not, there’s always the competition.
Currently the host of “Shelby’s Secrets to a Great Party!” airing on YouCanPlanAParty.com, Shelby Phillips is an award-winning party design expert with over 20 years experience. Shelby has co-written a book series titled “The Enlightened Party Planner: Guides to Creating Parties from the Heart” and developed a 6-step formula for bring people together to celebrate. She has also been a host and designer on the Style Network’s “Big Party Plan Off,” and owner of a successful event planning and promotions company.
queen of connection | Shelby L. Phillips 