This month we are focusing on children’s fashion and are excited to feature Rae Gun as one of our Goodie Spotlight’s. Marissa is the owner and brains behind this super cute clothing business…she even makes all the clothes herself. Each outfit that she creates is just as adorable as the next (and quite affordable I may add)! After finding out about her business and falling in love with the amazing outfits that she makes for young children we just had to interview her.

Read our interview with Marissa and find out what inspired her to create Rae Gun!

Image courtesy of Rae Gun

LPG: Please briefly explain when and why Rae Gun was started.

RG: When my sister found out she was pregnant with a little girl I started sewing for that baby. I showed my friends my creations and they encouraged me to try to sell them. I had just learned of Etsy and it was so inexpensive to give it a try so I did and the rest is history.

LPG: What makes Rae Gun’s clothing so unique?

RG: Rae Gun is basically clothing that I would put my kids in. It’s stuff that’s cute, current with a vintage flair but totally wearable. I like to say they are pieces that can be worn to a lunch out with the aunties or a day in the park.

Image courtesy of Rae Gun

LPG: What is the number one thing that parents should know about children’s clothing and choosing the right outfit, size and/or style?

RG: Just read the listings. I write a lot of information in each of the item listings. If they have questions feel free to send me a note.

LPG: What goals do you want to achieve in the next 5 years?

RG: I would love to build my Rae Gun presence on facebook. The Rae Gun page is http://www.facebook.com/raegunwear. I don’t want to get huge but I like doing this and with a business my size word of mouth is still the biggest way people find out about me. Also it’s a fun way to connect with my customers.

Image courtesy of Rae Gun

LPG: What would you like everyone to know about yourself and Rae Gun?

RG: One of my favourite parts of the business is being apart of special moments in so many lives. I make a lot of birthday outfits and it is so fun seeing pictures after the party. If anyone sees something in my shop but needs different colors to match a party theme or has an idea of something they’d love but can’t find it in my shop I can usually do a custom order so feel free to ask. But most things are made to order so it’s best if anyone is interested in placing an order (custom or otherwise) to give themselves plenty of time for me to make and then get it to them.

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Thank you Marissa for taking the time to answer these questions for us! We love your clothing and hope to see the popularity for it grow along with your business. When I have kids of my own or become an auntie, I’ll definitely become an avid customer!

Lauren H. & The Little Party-Goers Team

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To shop Rae Gun or for more information visit:

Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/RaeGun
Blog: http://raegunwear.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/raegunwear

Stay tuned for more Goodie Spotlights coming soon! In the meantime, let us know what you think by tweeting us at @littlepartygoer & @LPG_Staff, or leaving us a message on our Facebook wall.

Our theme for this month is Children’s Fashion, so when we heard about a Children’s After School Sewing Program offered at The Sewing Studio, we had to tell all of our readers!

Image from www.toronto.olx.ca

Why this activity? Children love to be creative just as much as some adults do…or more if I would say so myself:). So why not let children explore through sewing, using their mind and fingers while creating their own unique clothing that they can call their own?!

Skills children can learn through this activity: Children will learn how to use a sewing machine, sewing terminology, hand – sewing techniques and so much more. Not only is this a great opportunity for children to feel a sense of accomplishment and proud of their own creation, children will learn how to use their mathematical skills without even realizing it. For example, by measuring how much material they need in order to create their finished product. Some of the unique items children will learn to make include, a teddy bear, personalized pillow, t-shirts and stylish fashion accessories. This might even inspire your child to become a little fashion designer…who knows, the possibilities are endless!

When are classes offered? The program begins on May 22nd to July 3^rd, every Tuesday for 2 hours starting at 4pm, for seven weeks.

The fee is $250 (plus 13% HST) and includes fabric and supplies!

For more information please visit:

The Sewing Studio

1225 Yonge Street (at Summerhill)

info@lovesewing.com
416 901.0758

Suitable Ages: This program is for children 8 to 13 years old.

We hope you liked this months Activity Spotlight. Please feel free to share your comments with us and visit our twitter & facebook page!

Big hugs,

Maria & the Little Party-Goers Team

One of the many questions we constantly get asked is “how do you plan a fun party for kids and where do you buy the supplies?” Instead of answering the questions ourselves, we thought it would be nice to have Melissa from The Party Works, an online party supply retailer, tell us how to throw a kids birthday party while making it fun with unique party supplies. Below is Melissa’s interview…we hope her answers help you plan the best party ever for your little ones!

Hi, Melissa. So, what made you decide to work for party supply retailer?

I love kids. I have two of my own, and I know how important birthday parties are to them. Party supplies can make birthday parties really special. I love to be a part of something that brings joy into the lives of kids.

Image courtesy of The Party Works

Have you planned a lot of birthday parties for your kids?

Yes. My daughters are 5 and 12 now. So, I’ve planned plenty of parties for them over the years. I love planning their parties, but I will say that their birthday parties aren’t usually as perfect as I’d like them to be. Luckily, I have learned what does and doesn’t work at a kids’ party over the years.

What’s something that doesn’t work when it comes to a kids’ birthday party?

Inviting more than twenty kids usually causes problems. I find that smaller, more intimate parties are often the best. At smaller parties, there are fewer little personalities to try to manage.

What’s something that does work?

Keeping the kids really busy throughout the party is ideal. It’s when they get bored that they get into trouble and start fighting with each other. Oh, and it’s also a good idea to plan age-appropriate activities. If the activities are too simple or too difficult, they’ll get bored and act up too.

Image courtesy of The Party Works

Do you think kids can have as much fun at backyard parties as they can at commercial party places?

Yes, absolutely. I think they love running around outside more than they love running around inside. So much of their PE and recess time is being cut at school. I find that most kids enjoy a backyard party that allows them to release some of their pent up energy in the sun. A little bit of sun usually puts them in a great mood.

Since summer is around the corner, do you have any tips for parents who want to throw backyard parties?

I would suggest having plenty of water or sports drink on hand and some fresh fruit too. The kids get hot, and you’ll want to keep them hydrated. Oh, and don’t forget to decorate your backyard. I think a lot of parents think that decorations are for indoor parties only, but you can definitely decorate your backyard. And doing so will make the party seem more festive.

Do you have any suggestions about picking out party supplies?

Take a pulse with your kid before you order them. Your son or daughter may have loved Bob the Builder a month ago, but now he or she may have moved on to Sponge Bob. Kids are fickle! Your child will be able to let you know what he or she likes, and you can order the party supplies based on that. Above all, make sure they’re age appropriate!

Image courtesy of The Party Works

What are the top-selling Party Works party supplies?

Currently, the top-selling products are Super Mario Bros party supplies, Toy Story 3 party supplies, and Strawberry Shortcake party supplies.

Thanks Melissa for your birthday party tips!

Thank you! It’s been a pleasure to be interviewed for Little Party Goers. I hope all the parents out there have a wonderful time throwing birthday parties for their kids!

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Melissa is a guest blogger and associate at The Party Works. She loves to help parents make their children’s birthdays special with things like Super Mario Bros party supplies.

Hi Everyone!!!

My name is Lauren Hulme and I am the latest intern with Little Party-Goers and I could not be more excited!! I live in a smaller town part of the G.T.A., but I am constantly visiting different towns, which keeps my life pretty exciting.

I am a recent graduate from Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo with an Honours Degree in Communication Studies and the Business Administration Option. I absolutely loved my program and it is how I became interested in social media and visual communication.

I am a fun, energetic and outgoing person who loves to laugh a lot (I sometimes tell really quirky and silly jokes, but hey it makes people smile!). My biggest passion in life is dancing and has been since I was 4 years old. I also enjoy outdoor activities and I absolutely love my dog MAXX (he is in the picture with me above, sporting a nice bow-tie). I have an appreciation for unique things, whether in décor, clothing, design or anything visual – finding such items keeps life colourful and interesting.

In addition to my more personal interests, I quite enjoy events and planning. While in University I gained a lot of experience in planning events for students through volunteering which made my passion for it grow. I also have previous experience working with children at day camps and other special events for over 6 years. This is one of the reasons why I am excited to be interning and apart of the Little Party-Goers team – it combines many of my interests and pertains to my education. I hope I can engage with many of you through our online mediums and bring you exciting Goodie and Activity Spotlights.

Stay tuned for more updates and information by following us on Twitter and Facebook!!

Lauren H.

We are delighted to feature Evie and Mallow as our second Goodie Spotlight for this month’s Sweets & design. Samantha Reagin is the face behind this yummy creative cake pop business. We were so amazed by Samantha’s work and unique talent that we had to ask her what inspired her to make cake pops and designs that simply make your mouth drop once you see them. You can definitely tell by the pictures below that lots of love and passion goes into each cake pop Samantha makes. Read  below for our full Q&A with Evie and Mallow…

Image courtesy of Evie & Mallow

LPG: Please explain briefly when and why you started Evie and Mallow.

E&M: I first made cake pops for my daughters “cupcake themed” 1st birthday in 2009. They were a hit and I was addicted to making them. People soon started requesting that I make them for their special events and in 2010 a decision was made to launch Evie and Mallow

LPG: What makes Evie and Mallow unique?

E&M: Originality is extremely important to me. I try to come up with ideas and flavor combination’s that no one has seen or thought of before. When a client sees their pictures published and reviews made by others, they are proud to say, “those were mine!” Each of my pops are custom made to my clients wishes, and I will not allow anything less than 100% to be presented to them. I will never say that I cannot complete a design. I love a challenge and I think we complete the task at hand well which makes us stand out from the rest. As well as designing cake pops, we also offer chocolates, cream pie and cheesecake pops, cakes, cupcakes and designer cookies as well as pettiskirts (for the ULTIMATE party princess!) and personalized tags and banners to match any and all themes.

Image courtesy of Evie & Mallow

LPG: What is the number one thing that you want people to know about Evie and Mallow?

E&M: That I put all of my heart and soul into EVERY cake pop I make. A lot of people don’t quite understand the labour that’s involved, but some individual creations can take up to an 1hr each to decorate (and that’s after baking, mixing, rolling etc). Everything I do is made by hand and I do it because I love it. I’m passionate about it and when you get something from someone that’s passionate about what they do, you know you’re going to get the very best!

LPG: What goals do you want to achieve in the next 5 years?

E&M: 5 years!? Usually the question’s 2! lol The first thing I’d love is to be featured in some magazines or to be written about in newspapers. I really want to start doing more trade and event shows. There are soooo many amazing cake artists and cookie designers I’d love to collaborate with. (When 2 or more minds come together, great things can happen!), and obviously I’d like to have a little shop, In 5 years, I’d love for people to say the name Evie and Mallow and have it be a recognized brand…is that reaching to high?? lol

Image courtesy of Evie & Mallow

LPG: What are your 3 most popular cake pop designs and flavours?

E&M: For kids, I usually stick to the tried and true chocolate and vanilla. But for adults they enjoy apple pie, peanut butter cup, and cookies and cream.

Thank you Samantha for taking the time to answer our questions. Best of luck with Evie and Mallow…we look forward to seeing your work in the magazines soon! Those cake pop creations of yours our simply too cute and super creative!:)

Maria & The Little Party-Goers Team

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For more information on Evie and Mallow visit:

www.evieandmallow.com

Twitter: @evieandmallow

Stay tuned for more Goodie Spotlights coming soon! In the meantime, let us know what you think by tweeting us at @littlepartygoer & @LPG_Staff, or leaving us a message on our Facebook wall.

Sweets and Design, we absolutely love this month’s theme and we’re even more excited to have SweetEnsemble as our first Goodie Spotlight for this month’s blog! Founders of SweetEnsemble: Panos Katsigiannis, Chryssa Katsigiannis and Demetra Andreou definitely understand the importance of creating an event without leaving any details…or sweets. They are passionate about their work and by simply looking at the images  they generously provided us below, you’ll see why they are so great at what they do.

Read below to find out what makes SweetEnsemble’s approach to events so unique.

Image courtesy of Mimmo & Co.

LPG: Please explain briefly when and why you started SweetEnsemble (SE).

SE: We officially started the company in October of last year but really, we’ve been putting together events for the last couple of years – private events for our friends and family. The passion we all shared got us thinking and as one thing led to another, we now get to express ourselves in a bigger way, and with the constant support of those who believed in our vision from the beginning.

LPG: What makes SweetEnsemble’s approach to event decor and design unique?

SE: It’s the details. We invest our time in getting a real understanding of what our clients’ vision is. The Ensemble then makes the most unique, out of this world idea, a reality. Everything we do is brought to a different level – WOWing our clients and their guests.

What’s important each time is that there is a logic and purpose to the decor. And the designs themselves are developed and created by working industry professionals – art directors and designers – making all the finishing touches that little bit more special.

Image courtesy of Mimmo & Co.

LPG: What is the number one thing that you want people to know about SweetEnsemble?

SE: That our secret ingredient, if I may, is quite simple: we really love what we do. So much pride is taken in what we do, that many times we feel as if we’re the ones actually hosting the event!

LPG: What’s one tip that you would give our readers who are planning a unique event and want to be creative while making a statement?

SE: Think outside that box, and then do whatever it takes to make it a reality!!! It’s that connection you make with your attendees that will set your event apart from the next.

Image courtesy of Mimmo & Co.

LPG: What goals do you want to achieve in the next 5 years?

SE: It would just be to keep growing, learning, connecting. To continue collaborating with people who are just as passionate as we are. People who also demand a similar level of execution and finesse when it comes to their work.

Thank you Panos, Chryssa and Demetra for taking the time to answer our questions. We look forward to the opportunity to work with you in the future. All the best!

Maria & The Little Party-Goers Team

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For more information on SweetEnsemble, visit:

www.sweetensemble.com

Twitter: @sweetensemble

Stay tuned for more Goodie Spotlights coming soon! In the meantime, let us know what you think by tweeting us at @littlepartygoer & @LPG_Staff, or leaving us a message on our Facebook wall.

Image courtesy of Joee Wong Photography

Photographers…we love them; they capture the sweetest memories that people can cherish forever.  Joee Wong is just one of those photographers who knows exactly how to capture a memory, especially one that involves little ones – cute kids. He’s been a photographer for 8 years, capturing memories for families, weddings and corporate/commercial clients. Being a father of three adorable little boys and knowing the importance of creating a lasting memory, he recently started baby & family photography.

When we find something we like and they are great at what they do, us Little Party-Goers people need to share it with all of you. So here you go. Below are some images of Joee’s work – now how cute are those pictures…and those kids?!

Congratulations Joee! We can’t wait to work with you one day!

Image courtesy of Joee Wong Photography

Image courtesy of Joee Wong Photography

Image courtesy of Joee Wong Photography

For more information on Joee Wong, visit:

www.joeewongkids.com/

www.joeewong.com

twitter: @jwphotoca

Enjoy,

Maria  xoxo