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Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Party Flow & Etiquette~


There are two things you must keep in mind for any party at any budget, and that is Party Flow & Etiquette. We have become a society where everything is quick, fast, cheap and in a party, all of those tend to show. Hosting an event is not as easy as it looks, and there are some basic rules that must be followed! Remember, when you invite someone to your event they are taking time out of their day/evening to be there for you. Often they have purchased a gift, or even hired a sitter to come. Be mindful of that, and remember it is not all about you.






Party Flow~

Every party needs a timeline, especially children's birthdays and baby showers. For children birthdays make sure the party is an appropriate length of time... typically 2-3 hours for younger kids. Attention spans do not last, and the excitement can be overwhelming. Have an agenda to keep the kids engaged and the party moving along. There is nothing worse then parents trying to keep their child entertained at your party. Schedule games, crafts, activities, etc... Kids do well with routine and a good flow... and so do adults!









Party Etiquette~

I have been to quite a few events so feel free to call me 'old fashioned' but I am a stickler for proper party etiquette. If at all possible, do not book the parties for smaller children around lunchtime. At the 3 and under stage a child typically needs to nap after lunch, and missing that could turn into a disaster.  Whether you have hired an event planner or have a family or friend hosting, if this is a party for you, your child or at your home, you need to work the room! Make sure you take the time to say hello to each of your guests (assuming a party of 50 or under). Thank them for coming and introduce guests to one another. This creates good conversation and helps people relax at your event. Always send a thank you card to each and every guest after the event, thanking him or her for coming and if they brought a gift. A hand written thank you goes a long way do not skip this rule!



Make your event memorable, you can plan a great event on even the smallest of budgets if you remember these simple rules!


For party planning services & prices please call me!



Stephanie Antoinette
480-717-2795
www.JLVbebeconcierge.com

Sunday, November 11, 2012

The working mom...






One of the driving forces behind this business was that I was a working mom who barely had a spare moment to sleep, let alone accomplish anything else. I worked a lot of hours, and I was on call, nights & weekends. My free time was very valuable to me, and rarely did I want to spend it on interviewing nannies, planning birthday parties, organizing my own shower, finding a housekeeper, etc... I needed things done quickly, the right way and under budget. I also wanted to make sure I was getting with the right people, luckily for you; I have already done the trial and error. Had there been a service like mine while I was working, I would have signed up immediately!

For instance, 4 weeks before Ella was due I was planning a pool birthday party at our house for my oldest Kiana. I didn't want Kiana to feel her birthday was getting overlooked because we were about to have a baby. However, I was in NO CONDITION to put this together on my own... so I went in search of some help. I needed someone to clean our home, not only for the party but a deep clean before Ella came. So I searched online, and in the papers then finally decided on someone. It was a few days before the party and she was supposed to show up at 7am. After several calls, messages and freak-outs (on my end) she showed up at 2pm! Since I had somewhere to be a 4pm she only stayed for a couple of hours and then came back the next day to finish. Not only was she incredibly late, she did a horrid job and charged me about 30% more then what she advertised! She even left water stains on the tile!

Then came the research for a photographer... I didn't start looking until late in the pregnancy. Prices varied from 250 to 2500- in the end I knew none of them or their work so I did it myself. In the past couple of years I have made it a mission to find the best of the best, and I have! The pictures I took of Ella were ok, but sadly I wasn't in any of them. I should have learned the lesson of finding a good photographer from my wedding disaster- it just took me awhile to find the perfect ones.





As working moms we feel so much guilt... do we spend enough time with our family? Did I give my child the best birthday I could, what products am I supposed to buy, who can I trust my children to be left with while I work? These are real concerns that almost any mother faces, but especially those who spend the majority of their days away from their kids.

My concierge can provide mothers the resources, services and extra hand they need. What is best about this is you can be rest assured you will not have a disaster like I did. My vendors provide their services at a discounted price to my clients that you would not find if you sought them out directly. Not to mention all the time and effort it would take to compile a go-to list. J'aime la vie by Victoria Antoinette is your one-stop shop for all mommy and baby needs! I work with the valley's top florists, photographers, bakers, venues, and more to provide you whatever you need.


Stop stressing yourself out, take your free time back and hire me for all your needs! My services pay for it-self a hundred times over!

xx,
Stephanie Antoinette