It's Time To Celebrate...COME ON!!!!

Congratulations to our Week 1 Winner ....

ANGELA!!!

So... who is ready for Week 2?!?!?!

Enter Here for a Chance to win a 

Personalize Party Banner

The winner of this week's giveaway will get the choice between a 

"Happy Birthday" Banner

or a

Photo Banner with up to 13 Pennants

Either will be personalized in choice of colors and theme!!

<a id="rc-5749884" class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/5749884/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a> <script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script>

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!

Also, remember to share our page! The more likes we have at the end of the Grand Opening Celebrations the bigger the prize we will give away!!

XOXO

A

PS-Full details can be seen in last week's blog post here:

http://prettylittlebloglv.blogspot.com/2013/03/crickets-we-heard-crickets.html

WE ARE GIVING STUFF AWAY FOR FREE!!!!!

First of all, Congratulations to our Winner.... Joannie Hernandez!!! We will message you to get the details for your prize! And a special thanks to your husband for serving in the Army. :-)

Next, lets address the giveaway...

Crickets.... We heard crickets....

It looks like what we thought was a simple format didn't work out so well. So we have revamped it with Rafflecopter!

We will run the giveaway for 4 weeks, but we will run one giveaway per week. You will have to enter each week. To qualify, You will be required one weekly entry for “Liking” Pretty Little Parties on Facebook. All other entries are optional.

PRIZES:
Week 1: Set of 24 Custom Cupcake Toppers ($20 Value)
Week 2: Custom Banner in choice of “Happy Birthday” or Photo Banner ($30 Value)
Week 3: Set of 12 Custom Invitations and 12 Matching Thank You Cards ($40 Value)
Week 4: Grand Prize Drawing – One Party Pack. Value and specific pack won will be determined by the total number of “likes” reached on the PLPLV Facebook page at the end of the giveaway.

GRAND PRIZE DRAWING:
350 Likes on Facebook, PLPLV will award One Essentials Pack ($65 Value)
400 Likes on Facebook, PLPLV will award One Embellishments Pack ($95 Value)
500 Likes on Facebook, PLPLV will award One Epic Pack ($175 Value)
1000 Likes on Facebook, PLPLV will award One First Prize as an Epic Pack, One Second Prize as an Embellishments Pack and One Third Prize as an Essentials Pack.

Contest will begin weekly at midnight on Saturday and end the following Friday.
Week 1: Saturday 3/23/13 @ 12:00am through Friday 3/30/13 @ 11:59pm
Week 2: Saturday 3/31/13 @ 12:00am through Friday 4/5/13 @ 11:59pm
Week 3: Saturday 4/6/13 @ 12:00am through Friday 4/12/13 @ 11:59pm
Week 4: Saturday 4/13/13 @ 12:00am through Friday 4/19/13 @ 11:59pm

Winners will be notified within 12 hours of the end of the giveaway and will have 24 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

SHARE SHARE SHARE!! And reach for the amazing grand prizes that we so desperately want to give away!!

GOOD LUCK!

A & E

PS- We are still offering the discounted package prices in the meantime!

Every Day is a Party!! Isn't it?

Welcome to Everyone that has joined us from LillyBelle's Closet!

We can't wait to meet our winner!! Was it you?

You've joined the party at an exciting time! 

We are celebrating the 

GRAND OPENING 
of our website!!

Now that we've reached 300 Facebook fans we want to do something to thank all of you for supporting us  and what better way to do that than with a giveaway!?!?!

I mean, really, who doesn't love free stuff?

We want to thank you all by giving away a set of EVERY DAY IS A PARTY note cards in your choice of collection simply by being a fan of Pretty Little Parties on Facebook. All you have to do is  comment on this Pretty Little Blog posting with a link to your Facebook page (If you open your Facebook timeline all you have to do is copy the address bar & paste it in the comment field on the blog post.) and tell us a little something about your loved ones. We want to get to know our fans!

We will draw the winner of the EVERY DAY IS A PARTY note cards on 

Friday, March 22nd @8pm PST, so you have until then to make your comments.

Once the winner is announced we will post a special offer for everyone who entered.

The winner MUST like Pretty Little Parties Facebook page as well. If winners do not respond to their win within 24 hours another winner will be chosen. Pretty Little Parties will use random.org to select the winners. Each entry in the comments will be assigned a number in the order they are posted and that will determine the winners.

With that, we are pleased to announce our brand new

EVERY DAY IS A PARTY

Collection

You don't have to wait for your loved ones' birthday to celebrate how much you love them! We've created this collection to help you inspire those you love to be great and amazing on a daily basis. So many of us live busy, hectic lives that we get caught up in the chaos of it all. Take a moment and let them know how important they are to you. 

The EVERY DAY IS A PARTY Collection starts with petite note cards that are just the right size to fit into a pocket, a lunch box, a wallet and more. Each one features an inspirational saying along with a fun image to make them smile. We will be listing these in our Etsy Shop in the next few days, but you can also order a set from us directly through Facebook or our website. Keep an eye out for additional products in this collection!

They are sold in sets of 12 for $10 plus $2 shipping. Each petite card will be different.

 This set featured here is a very girly set, but we also offer boy sets, grown up sets 

& just because sets, too! The possibilities are endless because...

EVERY DAY IS A PARTY!!

Now let's get back to this GRAND OPENING and that GIVEAWAY!

Now here is where it gets REALLY good!

Note Cards are great, but wouldn't you like to get your hands on one of these 

AMAZING birthday party packs?

 

Well here is how you can enter to make that happen!

SHARE OUR FACEBOOK PAGE!!!

When we reach 400 LIKES, we will draw one name and that person will win a Personalize Birthday Banner ("Happy Birthday" with your choice colors & theme) A $30 Value!

When we reach  500 LIKES, we will draw another name and that person will win a personalized Essentials Pack! A $70 Value!

When we reach 750 LIKES, we will draw another name and that person will win a personalized Embellishments Pack! A $110 Value!

When we reach 1000 LIKES, we will draw another name and that person will win a personalized Epic Pack! A $213 Value!

If we reach 1500 LIKES by the end of the Giveaway, we will draw TWO more additional names for TWO more Epic Packs!

In order to win one of these AMAZING prizes, we must be able to verify that you have shared our page, so please make sure it is posted as "Public". Then come back and comment on this Pretty Little Blog posting with a link to your Facebook page. (If you open your Facebook timeline all you have to do is copy the address bar & paste it in the comment field on the blog post.)

Here's a hint: Share the blog posting with giveaway information!

We will run this promotion through the end of the day on April 21st, 2013. 

You can enter once per day. Anyone found linking their page more than once per day (12:00am-11:59pm PST) will be disqualified. The winner MUST like Pretty Little Parties Facebook page as well. If winners do not respond to their win within 24 hours another winner will be chosen. Pretty Little Parties will use random.org to select the winners. Each entry in the comments will be assigned a number in the order they are posted and that will determine the winners. Your entries are rolling, so once you have entered you will be entered in each step of the giveaway. Facebook post will stay pinned to the top of our page to help make it easier to share. SHARE TO WIN & GOOD LUCK!!!

WHAT'S THAT?!?!? You can't wait to see if you are a winner?

No Problem! We've got a special offer just for you!!!

This offer is available only through Facebook or our website! 

This offer expires on April 21st, 2013.

As an added bonus for everyone who enters, shares our page and is a non-winner, we will also have a special offer! So, stay tuned and help us increase our LIKES!!

We are super excited to get to know all of you and to be able to give away some AWESOME prizes! We love creating and we love all of the support you've shown us. Please continue to share all that is Pretty Little Parties. Remember... the more you share, the more people who join the party, the more prizes we will giveaway!

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!!

XOXOXO

Ali & Erin

You feeling lucky????

With St. Patty's day quickly approaching, I thought it would be nice to start out with the first of many free graphics that we will be offering from time to time.  These are "Who's Lucky" super cute cute owls for your enjoyment.  Suggested uses, note cards for kids/friends/teachers, tags, etc.  I made one 'dorable pink and green plaid owl and one not so pink plaid owl.  There aren't any conditions on using them, just the request that you PLEASE help us spread the word and tell everyone you've ever known in your entire life about prettylittlepartieslv.com

And Happy St. Patrick's Day (a little early). 

Exciting Things!!! News! Giveaways! FAQ's!

Hello Pretties!

So many exciting things have been going on in the Pretty Little Parties world the last couple of weeks!! We try to share the news as it comes up, but some of it is internal so you never get to see what is going on.

First... OUR WEBSITE IS UP!! We've (ok Erin mostly) been working day & night to get the details of the website going and functional. And finally that labor of love was ready to launch! You can now visit us at www.PrettyLittlePartiesLV.com 24/7! Check back often! We will add more pictures and themes over time. You never know where you will find inspiration for your next party!

Second... We've been asked a ton of questions lately so we thought maybe we should get the Frequently Asked Questions taken care of before we go too much further! If there is anything else you think we should answer, just let us know! We want to make sure everyone knows how easy we can make things for you!

So let's get this party started!

"What kind of services and products does Pretty Little Parties offer?"
We are glad you asked! We have created several different "party pack" structures to help maximize your budgets and to fit your needs. Premiere Little Parties is the division of services where we do it all! We can design a custom pack, do the set-up and break down and dot the i's and cross the t's. This is a service we offer locally (Las Vegas/Henderson, Nevada area). Contact us for details.

"What is a theme?"
The type of party you want! Party themes can be determined by the location of the party (ice skating, picnic in the park, dance studio), by the colors you pick to decorate with (pink/green, purple polka dots, black & white stripes) or by your kids favorite things (Sesame Street, Barbie, horses, butterflies)! The possibilities are endless!!

"What themes do you offer?"
ANYTHING & EVERYTHING!! Each child is unique! So our mission is to make a each child feel special for their big day! So we can do anything for anyone! However, we will always have out previous themes available for anyone who wants it to book! We recently have featured the following themes:
-Secret Agent Super Spy
-Beautiful Butterfly Garden
-Glam Rock Star
-Pinball Wizard
-The Hunger Games
-Hogwarts Houses Harry Potter
-Massive Monster Trucks
-Victorian Tea Party
-Alice in Pretty Little Wonderland
-Raindrops on Roses & Whiskers on Kittens
-Night Owls Sleepover
-Cityscape Super Heroes
-Vintage Baby Lamb
-Cutest Little Cupcake in Town
-Black & Hot Pink Hello Kitty

"Do I have to pick from the themes you have pictured/listed"
NO!!!!! Our favorite saying is "if you can dream it, we can do it". What is a mom to do when their little darling NEEDS a rainbow-transformer train birthday party??? It definitely can't be found in one of those big party supply stores or websites. That's where we come in!!! The more unique the better in our book. ​

"How much does it cost?"
Pretty Little Parties strives to provide quality products at affordable prices. Party packs start at $65. Our Essentials pack includes a banner, invitations, welcome door sign & cupcake toppers which is just enough to get you started. The Embellishments pack adds just a touch more, but the EPIC PACK well that has EVERYTHING!!

"I like 3/4 of what is included in one of the packs, but there are also a few things I would like to add." ​
No problem-o. We have a list of a la carte items to help you create a unique experience for your unique kiddo. We can create a custom pack just for you or you can order the one item you were looking for.
​
"I think I saw something similar on Etsy/Ebay/Pinterest, but it had to be downloaded/printed/cut/glued and put together. Is that what you are selling?"
​NO NO NO! You pick it, we do it. We design, create and put it all together before shipping. All that is left is set-up and enjoyment.

"Where can I buy one of your Party Packs"​ ​
Normally we have several listings on Etsy at all times for made-to-order packages. We can also make custom packs, just give us a call or email to get the ball rolling. ​
​
"How do I place an order?" ​You can visit our Etsy store PrettyLilPartiesLV or contact us directly through email or phone (or even text if you are so inclined).

​"This is all cute and nice, but I'm a coupon kind of mom. Can you help a sister out?" ​Yup yup! We are too! Check with our blog, Twitter and Facebook page frequently (links above) for contests, giveaways, coupons and specials. In fact through 3/17/13 we are offering Free Shipping on orders placed through Facebook!

"How did you two become so totally awesome?" ​It's been rumored that we were born with glue guns in our hands... Others whisper that Martha Stewart is our fairy godmother... The truth is we were born this way, but only God and our mother's know for sure if it wasn't actually a result of alien abduction.
​
And finally... GIVEAWAYS!!

Who doesn't love a good giveaway? We know we sure do! Currently we are helping LillyBelle's Closet celebrate her 2000+ fans on Facebook. She is hosting a multivendor giveaway with 6 GIANT prize packs! So there will be 6 winners who win several different items. There are some amazing vendors! Pretty Little Parties has offered an Essentials pack to one lucky winner. Go & enter today! http://lillybellescloset.blogspot.com/2013/03/2000-fan-celebration-giveaway.html

In celebration of launching our website, we will be having a Grand Opening Celebration of our own in a couple weeks, so keep an eye out! Be sure to share our page with your friends & family too! The more fans we have, the bigger the giveaway will be!!

Now that you've been handed a ton of information, let your brain cells relax and share the love that is Pretty Little Parties!

HUGS!!
Ali ;-p

PS- Wreck It Ralph is out on video (yes I'm that old)! If you haven't seen it yet, I HIGHLY recommend it! And I would LOVE to do a party based on this movie! If you're interested just let me know!

PPS- Check out the sneak peek at Lily's 1st Beatles Birthday!

Why doesn't anyone RSVP!?!?!?!?!?!

Why hasn’t anyone RSVP’d to my party?   A common question in the event planning world, but also on the minds of any mom trying to put together a party. 

What is wrong with people?  Haven’t they ever tried to put a party together before?  Do I order enough food for everyone invited and hope it doesn’t go to waste?  How many treat bags do I need? 

All valid questions and not always easy ones to answer and moms can be left frustrated and worried about not being prepared to accommodate everyone who shows up or wasting a lot of time and money if a lot of guests don’t show up.  Making what should be a fun and exciting event, stressful and full of anxiety

For example, my son’s birthday fall just before the holidays and I’ve learned through trial and error that if we invite 30, maybe 8 will show up and of those only 4 will RSVP more than 24 hours in advance.  Making planning extremely difficult, especially for an obsessive planner like me. 

It’s no different in the wedding world.  If you go to any chat board like the Knot or Weddingbee, you will see almost non-stop posts from frustrated brides who are at their deadline for head counts for their venues and still have no idea how many people will be coming. 

Of course the easiest way to avoid party stress is to hire someone to put everything together for you, but when that's not an option, please learn from my experience (and mistakes).  Here are some handy-dandy tips for increasing your chances of getting RSVPs and reducing stress….

1.)     If requesting RSVP’s by phone, put the name of the person that the phone number belongs to on the invitation.  Especially with parties for school aged kids, parents might be hesitant to call a number and not know who to ask for.  "Hi, this is Billy's mom... is.. um.. Bobby's mom there..uh...?"

2.)    Consider giving multiple options for RSVP.  Put an email address or even online (facebook or e-invite) along with a phone number and/or number to text to.  Like it or not, we live in a digital age and some people just aren’t phone talkers, so give them as many options to respond as possible.

3.)    Put an RSVP deadline date, a few days before you actually need to know.  With some party venues, you will need to know a solid number a few days to a week before the event.  (However, I always count on at least a few trickling in at the last minute).

4.)    Just call.  If you really need to know exactly how many people will be attending, try to have a list of phone numbers of those you are inviting just in case you have to break down and call to pin down a guest count. 

No matter what the final number I always count on a few extras, for those last minute calls or just in case a younger sibling is tagging along. 

~Erin

Giving Birth to a New Baby

For months you sit there and think to yourself "what on earth have I gotten myself into?" When the time finally comes for you to take action and bring this new life into the world you begin to panic. But then you remember to breath. Four counts in, four counts out. LET'S DO THIS THING!! And there she is all shiny and new and beautiful. That's how it feels launching Pretty Little Parties. I know it's not the most original analogy but hey I'm a mom. This is what I know!

So let's take a few steps back. After sitting down to Skype with Marie Ramos of Lipstic Logic (thanks again for everything!), Erin & I did some strategizing and planning. First things first, branding ourselves. Who are we and want face to we want to present to the world? Well from the last post I think you may have a good idea about all that. But how to show that to people who don't yet know us through our products and our online presence? Great photos and a killer website and a unique logo! Now we are working on the logo, developing the website and today we had a session with Lauren of LaLa Photography to take great shots of the sneak peeks you've been seeing on Facebook.

Let's call this "The Anatomy of a Photo Shoot". You pick a location, hire a photographer, set it up and shoot, right? Well fortunately due to my years in the wedding industry I do know it isn't quite that simple. Thank goodness for that! Not that it kept me from having complete anxiety about the whole thing. If we get this wrong we have totally messed up our launch!! What if we get there and we are told we can't shoot? Why did we decide on an outdoor location again? Do I have enough to shoot? (And my all time biggest worry...) are the products we are offering good enough?

*sigh* a big long deep *sigh*

Well they don't call it a "Leap of Faith" for nothing! So I took a deep breath and said to myself (and probably Erin too) "LETS DO THIS THING!"

Themes were planned. We decided on Superhero Cityscape, Vintage Lamb Baptism, Glam Rock Guitar Girl, Raindrops on Roses and Whiskers on Kittens, Alice in Pretty Little Wonderland, Night Owl Sleepover, Butterfly Garden & Secret Agent Spy plus a couple others that got tabled for now. (We can do this again, right?)

Products were developed. This is the part I LOVE!! I love deciding on the colors, developing the graphics & picking fonts and finding the inspiration!! This is the part I feel that sets Pretty Little Parties apart from other party planning services. We personalize it. We want to birthday kid to feel special and unique, so everything is created to be one of a kind. Although we do plan on having the "standards" that we sell on Etsy and have in stock for last minute parents. And this is where the lifetime of being crafty comes into play! Not to mention being able to use our handy dandy brand new Cricut machine!

THIS is where the anxiety really set in! Did we rush the design process? Are we actually ready to take this step? Lots of restless nights in my house. All kinds of heartburn. Mini panic attacks that the husband & daughter just didn't quite understand although they desperately tried. (Breathe)

So to help resolve the anxiety, lists are prepared, trips to the supply store are made and everything is triple checked.

The day of the photo shoot, I wake up extra early after not being able to fall asleep the night before. The cars are packed full of set-up supplies and off to meet Lauren I go! We arrive and unpack. First thing we discover is that we forgot the main table so we are limited with where we can set up at. In the end we got it all worked out and I am actually quite happy with the final location.

Set up, photograph, tear down, & repeat 8 times. Yep we managed to do all that in the wind (we had to postpone the banners this time because Mother Nature still hates me from my Eiffel Tower days... Don't ask!) with shifting sunlight but everyone was a trooper. Including my extremely bored 4 year old. Lauren was able to get some great shots of the set-ups. (She also sang with my daughter to help keep the geese away from the cupcakes LOL). I simply cannot wait to get them posted and launch the website so that you guys can share in my excitement too!

Pretty Little Parties is definitely a labor of love. I want to take special care of her and see how she grows up in the crazy world!

I'm sorry there aren't any new pictures this time for you, but next week we should have some great shots for you!

Hugs and much love!
-Ali

PS - Next week Erin will dive into the world of party etiquette!