This year, we teamed up with Hershey to bring you a special series on Labor day posts.  Be sure to check them out.  We kept it simple and included our Labor day menu .  We also always know how to keep it fun with lots of party games including baseball for entertainment for a Labor Day Party and as always we had a creative way to invite our guests to our party too.  We had a blast including the time with Hershey and incorporating and already included ingredient into our summers into a center piece for our party.

Tweet This Post

Planning your child’s birthday party will be a blast. The party planning professor is here to help with many birthday party ideas. Popular kids’ party themes with free mom-created party ideas will make lots of smiles. Use our party games, party planning tips, easy to make birthday cakes and cupcakes and tips on how to save money and throw a cheap birthday party. Host a fun children’s birthday party at home or at any location. Let us help you celebrate with our birthday party ideas.

Tweet This Post

Who doesn’t love a reason to dress up and party? When the Costume Supercenter offered us a chance to pick out a costume and review it, we jumped at the chance. In a house full of boys they all want to be pirates. To surprise my boys I searched for a pirate costume. The Costume Supercenter has a wide variety of pirate costumes for children and adults. I chose the Captain Jack Sparrow Prestige Premium Adult costume. Once it arrived I couldn’t wait to put it on and plan a swashbuckling adventure for my little pirates.

The costume looks great. I’m glad we chose the prestige version because it came with everything to make me look like a true Jack Sparrow. There were belts, vests, a coat, boot covers, pants, a hat, and a bandana with Jack Sparrow hair. Once costumed up, my boys no longer recognized their mommy. I had been transformed into the real Jack Sparrow thanks to Captain Jack Sparrow Prestige Premium Adult costume.

The belts and it’s buckles are very a little flimsy when tightening them.  The costume arrived in a timely matter in a secure shipping package.   The hat came in the package flat. I had to bend it into shape. The costume held up to a pirate adventure out in the hot sun with 15 + kids. The kids were impressed and some even scared at my realism.   We all had a great time and I hope to get some more use out of the costume.  I am sure it would make a great costume for Halloween.

Our thanks to the Costume Supercenter for providing us with the Jack Sparrow   Costume. While Party Planning Professor was provided the costume at no charge, no compensation was made, my opinion is my own and comes from my experience with the costume.



Tweet This Post

Sometimes, there are some things we need to think about that just don’t come to our mind on our wedding day.  This is, after all, “your” day.  I am a fan of the bride having her day but when it comes to be polite and courteous there is a need for that too.  I have seen weddings not head to the below advice and in return guests get tired and leave early, all because there was an hour of pictures being taken on the beach that were not the best shots after all.

We all have advice for the bride.  Here are just a few more pointers that will let your day be a success with everyone.  It is good to keep everyone in mind.  Its a tough life being a bride but here is some of my advice for keeping your wedding stress free.

Tweet This Post

photo credits countryvillagebothell.com

Look….. we could all use some tips when it comes to Party Planning.  We could all use use a couple tips to help us get through the event, save time, and make the most out of it.  The Party Planning Professor wants to help.

Birthday Party Tips for the Young and the Young at Heart

• Just because the person maybe 15, doesn’t mean you can’t have a themed birthday party.  Even weddings are themed these days and I love that you can create a facebook themed event if you wanted for a teenager and it can still be cool.  Think out of the box and make it happen.

• Let your the guest of honor choose the theme of her birthday party.  If it is not a surprise birthday party then let them be actively involved in the planning stages of the event.

• No matter what, have the guest of honor greet each guest at the door.   (If it is a surprise designate someone close to that person that will know most of the attendees.)  This will help all guests feel welcome.  This is considered a Party Planning Professor MUST!!!

• Have a birthday party table or counter space available for the presents that is not front and center.   Sometimes, guest of ALL AGES can be judgemental. Ideally this place should be a place where all of the guests can sit comfortably and see your  open the presents but in a place that all eyes won’t be on them when they bring the gift.

• Have food available before the guests arive and that is ready to eat right now.
• Always make games optional but always make them all inclusive.  If you are all for the games, make sure the birthday guests include all of them too! Don’t let the party be a nightmare with the wrong type of game for the group.

• If you plan on making a birthday party craft or project with the guests, make a prototype.  Let them know what they are headed for.

• A party favor or a goody bag is a nice way to end birthday parties. It is always nice to thank them for coming and hand them a little gift but do not fret.  Feel the goodie bags(if you choose to have them) with items that are useful not junk that will be broken tomorrow.

Tweet This Post

Elizabeth Norton is never at a loss for words. What is more important
is that she is a wife and mother to over 25 children. While 23 of
those have come and gone through Elizabeth’s house through the foster
system of New Jersey, 2 birth children remain who are delightful
(sometimes) boys. Her home is currently closed to foster care as she
candidly writes about her health issues, party planning and beyond as
she heals from a brain injury that literally through her and her
family for a “loop”. This has made her realize to enjoy the precious
years of her own young growing boys. Elizabeth pokes fun at her own
imperfections as she discusses matters of motherhood, party planning,
and hot topics that effect the families of today. She reigns from the “true” South Jersey. If you traveled any further south you would be standing with the sand beneath your toes and the breath of the wind across your
neck. Elizabeth claims that the beaches of Cape May County are like no
other. Say what you will, out of all of the fun that she has
experienced through working, being a mama to her 7 and 3 year old
boys, motherhood is by far the most challenging (yet wonderful and
blissful) gift she ever has received. Elizabeth has been blogging since 2005 and loves the support that she has gotten across the net but hates when blogging turns hoghschool! Drama is her life but she thinks she was created that way to be ready to take a foster child at any moment-In our house, at any moment, our life could change!

Tweet This Post

image use from weddingwindow.com

I am headed to a wedding. It is not Sat or Sunday. It is Friday. This makes me wonder if Friday is the new Saturday when it comes to weddings. It makes sense. Friday nights are less expensive in most cases and many involved are usually available.

My grandmother got married on a Wednesday. I always thought that was odd but she said that it was normal back then? I wish I could still ask her about that. Since she has passed, I became an event planner and until I sold my business and started Party Planning Professor I would never have weekends off without loosing a considerable amount of money. I am seeing a “date/day” shift in these economic times and in the event planning field. I think I like it.

Going to the wedding today, I had to get my Father-in-law to pick up my son from school but other then that there was not a huge inconvenience in finding childcare and my sitter can still have a life during the weekend. This is an added bonus for the guests.

What do you feel about Friday weddings? Would you find a Friday evening more convenient as a guest? When did you get married? Why did you pick that date?

Tweet This Post

Even at the age of 28, Elizabeth has had many opportunities to play her share of different roles. While her journeys have taken her to stage, writing, children party entertainment and beyond, her finest casting role is one of being a mother.

Elizabeth Norton is never at a loss for words. What is more important is that she is a wife and mother to over 25 children while 23 of those have come and gone through Elizabeth’s house through the foster system of New Jersey 2 birth children remain who are delightful(sometimes) boys.

Her home is currently closed to foster care as she candidly writes about her health issues. (which have made her realize to enjoy the precious years of her own young growing boys) She was writing a book about her emotional journey about being a foster parent called, “Lots of Love to Give.” She has dreams of one day being published but that is for another time. Her writings have been described as an emotional but blessed reading experience. Her writings assure those that although the children have left her home, they have never left her heart.

Elizabeth pokes fun at her own imperfections as she discusses matters of motherhood, party planning, and hot topics that effect the families of today. She is a voice for various motherhood panels and owner of the Party Planning Professor.

Her heath issues have made her stop and LISTEN to the main ingredient for a successful web marketing campaign.

She reigns from the “true” South Jersey. If you traveled any further south you would be standing with the sand beneath your toes and breath of the wind across your neck. Elizabeth claims that the beaches of Cape May County are like no other. Say what you will, out of all of the fun that she has experienced through working, being a mama to her 7 and 3 year old boys, motherhood is by far the most challenging (yet wonderful blissful) gift she ever has received.

You can email her at info )at( elizabethnorton )dot( com.

High Impact Action with Social Media

Elizabeth’s social media experience has landed her as a consultant and sound board for many companies.  One company in particular company, Genesis Today, counted on her social media opinion on a voting panel on the Genesis of a Great Idea Campaign for their next step in the virtual world. As part of this process, Elizabeth was flown to Austin, Texas and took part in an education class about the brand products, history and health.  On the final day, She deliberated  on 5 finalist’s presentations and cast her vote.

Held at the Constitution center she mixed and mingled while promoting Colgate amongst much romance in the air.

It was amazing opportunity to use word of mouth, live tweeting, and a live web stream with New Years Nation to say the least.

—————————————————————————————————————————-

Elizabeth is WebTV host, Let’s Read Together, which is now syndicated every Tuesday at 7pm in all time zones on MomTV in the United States.    Has taken her stage experience and transformed it to making a tradition in the home of watching a storytelling together and encouraging that the best story teller is the one who’s lap you sit on, your mom.  At the end of each show she challenges each child to read to each other.  This is all part of a literacy campaign and purpose that is close to her heart.

___________________________________________________________________________

Elizabeth is an active community member of Collective Bias and is part of the advisory board social fabric team.  Elizabeth’s involvement in Collective Bias is exciting.  Collective Bias, a start up company that is trail blazing the world of marketing and connecting consumers, social media personalities, and corporations both big and small to each other.

__________________________________________________________________________

Hyper Local Success Action with Social Media

When Jakks Pacific asked Elizabeth to review a product another idea came to mind and Jakks jumped at the idea.

Elizabeth, in a dual sponsored event, promoted the lovely vacation town of Avalon, New Jersey (where she is from) Golden Inn and Cabbage Patch combined presented an event to over 10 bloggers from as far south as Washingthon and Northern Pensylvania.

The adoption ceremony which included an interactive story time, a wonderful menu prepared by the Golden Inn, and much more with be remembered and talked about for many years to come.

Elizabeth was included in a promotion event that Nintendo planned by RoleMommy.com hosted by JIllian Micheals.  The event promoted the new workout wii game that was to hit shelves the next month.  In a combined effort for http://CapeMayMoms.com, Nick Ellisano (a local fitness expert) came as a correspondent for the fitness event and Elizabeth got his personal take on the fitness aspect of the game.

Tweet This Post

I have found the parties that are talked about for many years to come are the ones that boast the most time and involvement. If you go all out in RED, WHITE and BLUE as the guests start to arrive the decorations will set a great mood for the party. I swear by this statement, “If it looks like a party that had a lot of time and energy put into it, it really is one of the easiest ways to have a successful party happen”

Budget decorations: I always have red streamers on hand.  Did you know that Red is the most popular yet versitile color?  Think about all of the themes that can be combined with the color red. (Pirate Party, Princess Party(just add pink or Belle’s Rose, Christmas, Valentines Day, Labor Day, Memorial Day the list goes on and on.) Maybe simple paper streamers would work but investing in Red banners, or panels, or reusable streamers would be a GREAT choice for any party planner.

Think red, white and blue. You don’t have to pay for the FLAG table cloth that is $300 dollars. Think seperate red, white and blue. From table cloths, napkins, paper plates and even ice cubes, you want to have all the colors of the day come shining through. You can make your deserts and foods with these colors as well. It is possible to add color to the day but keep it simple and on a budget. The cheapest Plates are white. Just add blue and Red utensils and it will make a colorful table. I would suggest to spring for the Flag or themed napkins. What a great way to tie it all in.

Decorate your self and show that you really believe their is something to be happy about.  This is a great way to have some fun on this special day and to do something different to celebrate it.  Think of all the opportunities to be a patriotic character. Uncle Sam, Betsy Ross, One of our Founding Fathers, so many options and so many ways to “decorate”

Tweet This Post

Their is more to the 4th of July the hamburgers and hot dogs. Sure it’s great to be traditional but adding some surprises to the menu can totally put the wow in the party.

There is no rule that the food should be one thing or another. In fact, a potluck of choices is the most American of all ways to celebrate. Gather up some new menu ideas and make this fourth of July fun and enjoyable for everyone.

Need some help coming up with fun ideas for party food? Here are some of my favorite choices with some added suggestions from my twitter followers.

Seafood-shrimp, crab, lobster, clams. (Yes PLEASE to ALL of the above)

Don’t forget chicken, fish and steaks as an option.

Corn, Squash, Peppers, zucchine, eggplant

Shishkabobs(fun to eat and put together). This is a kid friendly favorite in my house.

Grilled potatoes (or baked potatoes on the grill)

Toasted buns on the grill

Pork Chops

Sausage

Grill on!!!

Tweet This Post