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.

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.

A few months ago I was invited to take part in a discussion surrounding bullying. It astounded me to learn how many different types of bullying there are, and what young people are surrounded by daily at school, online and elsewhere.  One of the guest speakers was Jeff Kovac from Power2Gether – a powerful initiative that aims to do more than just educate, but to take action against bullying and put an end to it, starting at the primary school level.

Jeff answered some our questions about Power2Gether and his goals for the future. Read on to see what he had to say!

LPG: Please explain briefly when and why you started Power2Gether.

JEFF: My partner, Dan Malka, started to conceptualize Power2Gether a little more than a year ago, after one of his 3 daughters was being bullied in school. Although the teachers and school administrators promised to alleviate the situation, ultimately, very little was done and the bullying continued. We decided that there was definitely sufficient “talk”, but a clear insufficient amount of “action”.

LPG: What makes Power2Gether’s approach to educating parents, educators and kids about bullying unique?

JEFF: We take a hands-on approach within the schools. We don’t focus on the negativity, but concentrate our efforts on promoting empathy, empowerment, self-awareness and honourable digital citizenship which is tied into the high tech/digital world most children live in today. Our approach also offers a continued presence within the schools, and not a 1 lecture or 1 rally throughout the academic year. Our curriculum, call 2 action, physical presence of visual material, as well as the educators who are a part of our team are a consistent, sustainable and constant presence. We’re not looking to just weed out bullying. We’re focusing on re-cultivating the culture of our schools to make them places for education in a tolerant environment.

JEFF: I’m not a specialist, and I don’t think 100 educators, specialists, or therapists would all agree that there is just “1″ specific thing parents should know about bullying prevention. The issue encompasses so many facets of a child’s life. However, being a parent myself and seeing what other parents have and are currently going through with regards to bullying situations with their own children, I would humbly suggest to be a “hands-on” parent. Get involved in your children’s lives. Create dialogue. Don’t talk down to them, but talk “to” them. Especially if a child is withdrawn or if you’re feeling that your child might be feeling depressed or intimidated. Preventing bullying is not an easy thing to do as a parent, so you need to empower your children with giving them the comfort level and feeling of security that they can talk to you and open up about what may be going on in school. Communication and open dialogue is a good way of getting problems solved swiftly and effectively.

LPG: What else would you like everyone to know about yourself and Power2Gether?

JEFF: President Eisenhower during The Great Depression was quoted as saying, “above all, try something.” I have lived my life with that motto, because it burns me inside that so many people today talk the talk, but don’t walk the walk. Dan and I are trying our best to bring our action plan to as many schools as possible so that we can help the students of today become healthy, caring, empathetic and civil people for tomorrow. We have recruited some incredibly talented academics and experienced educators onto our team so that we are surrounded by passionate, hard working specialists. Dan and I are both parents and are both passionate about leaving this world a better place for our own children. We also want to ensure that they have the abilities to “make” their future a good one, without needing us later on.

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

JEFF: Within the next 5 years, Dan and I would like to see Power2Gether grow right across Canada as well into the United States. We’d like to create satellite offices in as many different regions as possible. Power2Gether was not ever intended just for Montreal (our local city). It is intended to share for all schools to take part in, no matter where they’re located.

Thank you Jeff for answering our questions and working so hard to put an end to bullying! We truly appreciate your efforts and can’t wait to see the difference you and your team will make!

Haley & The Little Party-Goers Team

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For more information on Power2Gether, visit:

www.power2gether.com

@Power2Gether

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.

To top off our month of Children’s Food & Nutrition fun, we interviewed Joey from The Kids Cook Monday.

Getting kids to try new foods and eat right isn’t an easy task, but The Kids Cook Monday campaign has spearheaded a great way to change that with great tips that makes it easier than ever!

Continue reading to hear what they have to say!

www.thekidscookmonday.org

LPG: Please explain briefly when and why The Kids Cook Monday was started.

TKCM: The Kids Cook Monday campaign was launched about a year ago as a fun way for parents to pass down their cooking skills, nutrition knowledge and spend time together with their kids in the process. Studies show that kids who engage in frequent family dinners are less likely to be obese and kids who help cook are more likely to try new foods. These benefits are only found when kids engage in family dinners frequently. The Kids Cook Monday encourages families to begin each week cooking and eating together, so that family dinners really become a sustaining part of the family’s lifestyle.

The Kids Cook Monday it is not the only Monday campaign. Back in 2003, our founder, Sid Lerner, launched the Meatless Monday campaign as an easy way for people to cut meat once a week, for their personal health and the health of our planet.

As Meatless Monday became more popular, our surveys found that people preferred to start the week focusing on their health goals. Whether you’d like to cook with your kids, exercise more or count calories, starting each week with those health actions helps you to integrate them into your lifestyle.

LPG: What makes The Kids Cook Monday’s initiative unique?

TKCM: There are lots of great organizations that promote cooking and eating with your kids, but we focus on the when and the how. We’re here to help you get that family dinner night on the calendar to begin each and every week.  Every Monday we feature a different family friendly recipe, separated in “kid”, “adult” and “together” cooking task suggestions.

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

TKCM: As a follow-up to our Kids Cook Monday toolkit for families(pdf), we’re about to launch a Kids Cook Monday toolkit for educators. The educator toolkit should serve as a guide for anyone looking to promote family dinners through a class. Whether you have access to a full kitchen or can just do a tasting lesson in a classroom, we’ve got lesson plans for how to integrate family cooking into your program.

LPG: What else would you like everyone to know about The Kids Cook Monday?

TKCM: That it’s easy to take our concept and run with it! Tell us about how you’re using Monday to encourage family dinners and we’ll welcome you to The Kids Cook Monday movement. Shoot us an email at info@thekidscookmonday.org and we may even be able to feature your program, blog or family on our website.

www.thekidscookmonday.org

@KidsCookMonday

Stay tuned for next month’s topic, 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.

Haley xoxo