AboutGeorgia Blair Expertise Are you planning a child's birthday party at home? Want to make it more exciting than exhausting? A little expert advice can help make it a more memorable event. The Party Fairy's strategies for successful parties can help parents turn down the chaos level and turn up the fun. We specialize in fantasy tea parties - but whether you're planning a sweet and nostalgic tea party or a rough-and-rowdy treasure hunt for boisterous little pirates, we have plenty of tips, tools and techniques to share. Need an idea for a centerpiece? A party game? Wondering whether the activities you have selected are age-appropriate for your guests? Not sure what to do with the two little boy cousins invited to a very girlie-girlie tea party? We can answer a variety of questions on many topics. Chances are good that we've heard your question before - but if not, we've created an entire business from the ability to create and imagine workable programs for children!
Experience As the owner of The Party Fairy, I have personally conducted more than 500 birthday parties for children on a paid basis - and did this free of charge for years before I decided to trun it into a business. All told, I have probably conducted more than 650 parties. My parties feature original storytelling, games and crafts - and offer parents the complete package of party decorations as well. I travel to preschools to perform storytelling programs which combine improvisational drama and interactive role-playing with children, and conduct a variety of imaginative programs for children as part of the special events offerings at The Party Fairy Store. I also host themed summer day camps for children.
Organizations None are relevant.:) And don't worry; nothing odd. Just church and school organizations.
Publications New York Times regional newspapers chain (I was an employee for several years and worked at various newspapers during my 20-year journalism career) I also worked at many smaller newspapers throughout Alabama
Education/Credentials I was a journalism major many, many years ago - shortly after the world was created. :) Although a journalistic background is not particularly relevant to the business of children's party planning, a communications background could prove useful in answering questions from the public. Other Party Fairy employees whose opinions may be sought for particularly challenging questions include a former elementary school music teacher, a newly-graduated marketing major and a new MBA grad. :) What a mixed lot we are!
Awards and Honors Hmmm....
The only ones possibly relevant here are several Associated Press newswriting awards
Past/Present Clients No one of national note or significance (yet!) because my clients are all pretty much under 9 years old! But to their parents, of course, my little clients are all shining stars! :)
Expert: Georgia Blair Date: 3/12/2008 Subject: Dessert party for bride
Question I'm hosting a party for my sister two days before her wedding. It will be a dessert for bridesmaids and close female family as all live out of town from my sister. Her close female friends from town will also be invited. My sister doesn't really want gifts or too much attention so I don't want to call it a shower. It is sort of a bachelorette party but not a wild one. I'm looking for ideas for the party (besides eating dessert!) as well as ideas of how to word the invitation to the event. Her sister in law is giving a shower this month with mostly grooms family but has already used the idea of everyone sharing a recipe and advice for marriage. Don't want to repeat that.
Answer A couple of possibilities come to mind, but here's my favorite...
A Spa Party can be a refreshing and relaxing treat for a bride-to-be in the days leading up to her wedding -- and guests arriving from out-of-town will appreciate a little pampering, too.
You don't have have to hire a masseuse or spend a fortune on spa products to stage a Spa Party. A little imagination,some Internet research and a short shopping list will yield a memorable party for all.
It's important to use an all-natural theme with your Spa Party. Not only is this far less expensive -- but two days before your sister's wedding is no time to give her a mud mask that is going to cause her cheeks to peel, her forehead to turn bright red or her chin to break out!! If you stick with natural ingredients typically found in the kitchen, and restrict yourself to simple scrubs and soaks, you'll have no worries on that score.
Dozens of sites on the Internet offer natural recipes for skin cleansers, astringents, oils, scrubs and more. Your guests can experience everything from a refreshing and simple cucumber eye treatment to a tingling, invigorating hand soak in lemon water and herbs. Honey, lemon, mint -- these ingredients can all be turned into fun little homemade spa prducts. Everyone will learn a few new tricks, spend some time laughing together, and feel beautiful, refreshed and totally pampered for the wedding.
Here's an example of how easy it is to create a simple, inexpensive spa product at a party like this one. Visit your favorite local bath shopand pick up a couple of different scents. Stop off at the grocery store on the way home and pick up Epsom Salt, Mineral Oil and food coloring. You'll also need small containers for this product. Pretty glass bottles with corks can be purchased at your local crafts store -- but you can also use simple plastic bowls with lids purchased from the grocery store. Get the smallest size if you use plastic containers. I believe it's a 3-oz. size.
During the party, have guests mix a few drops of mineral oil into the Epsom Salt to create a wonderful skin-softening scrub. Keep stirring until the salt is thoroughly moistened. If the mixture gets too soupy, simply add more Epsom Salt. Mix in drops of food coloring to create pretty colors (a little red and a little blue make a pretty llavendar, for example)and finish off with a few drops of your choice of fragrance.
This scrub works great in the bath to smooth, soothe and soften tired feet, rough elbows and more! It's fun to make and will be a fun little take-home favor for your guests.
If you want to try it out at the party, let guests rub some on their feet and then rinse it off with a little warm water. Simply put large, dollar store plastic bowls out for guests to put their feet into and use plastic pitchers to pour the warm water over them. Provide a soft and fluffy towel to each guest for drying afterward. No one's pedicure will be ruined, and they'll all laugh and have a great time -- and be amazed by how well this stuff actually works!
Be sure to print out copies of the recipe for this and any other simple spa products that you discover in your online search so that guests can repeat the experience at home.
A couple of other notes on making this party theme work for you....Soft, relaxing music is a must. Dim the lights and use lots of candles. White candles! If you have card tables you can set up in your family room with white table cloths and clear glass bowls for mixing, you're well on your way to creating the ambiance for a Spa Party. White is a great color for a Spa Party...Simple, elegant, clean and coincidentally very, very appropriate for a wedding-related event! Clear vases holding single white carnations will help give you that spa ambiance, too.
But since this is all about your sister's wedding, feel free to use her wedding colors in the decor, too!
Once the pampering is completed, invite your guests to indulge in some wonderful desserts. Or -- if you want to forego traditional desserts, you could even substitute Smoothies, milk shakes and other delectably delicious drinks (and with a pretty dollop of whipping cream, a drink can actually BE dessert!) Bring them out on silver trays for an elegant close to your Spa Party -- or, if you don't have silver trays, it's OK to use the dollar store variety that mimic silver trays. This party is about having fun!
