First Post!

Today marks the day of my first post on this site.  How very exciting for me (and I hope eventually for others as well)!

I have created this blog to commemorate my journey into the world of children's party planning.  A few months ago, I had no idea this is where I wanted to be heading!  Here's how it all started:

It was spring time, perhaps April.  I was in Gymboree indulging in clothing shopping for my beautiful daughter Kira.  The sale at the store that day was particularly amazing.  I found several dresses that I loved for Kira, but then I found THE ONE!  I did not even know I was looking for it, but I found it:   the dress that Kira would wear for her 2nd birthday party.  Last year, I had a big first birthday event for Kira in Saratoga Springs, NY, and this year I planned to have just as big of a party, but this time at our home in the Tampa Bay area.  Back to the dress...white trimmed with ribbon in light pink, brighter pink, and green.  Full, full skirt.  Precious!

It was not surprising that I was drawn to this dress...these colors are some of the colors that are my signature ones for Kira.  Her bedroom is decorated in pink, green, and yellow.  Her 1st birthday party was themed in pink, green, and yellow.

This dress lead me to search for a coordinating party theme.  At the time, I was not seriously involved in party planning nor did I know anything about the possibilities out there.  I initially started looking on a typical party supplies website.  I found a really nice themed set of party supplies with the theme of Little Lady Bug and the color scheme of pink, purple, green, and turquoise.  I was ready to settle for ordering all of these things and to plan a typical children's party.

Then, somehow, something changed.  I cannot remember the exact moment.  It was actually a slow process of discovery over the past few months.  It started with a friend of mine who started a wonderful party printables business on Etsy (Paper and Pigtails) right around the same time that I began thinking about Kira's party.  I hope she does not mind me mentioning her shop on my blog!  This is when I began to realize there was a universe of unique and wonderful ways to plan for and put together a children's party.  I then "discovered" Paper and Pigtail's other designer from Bella Grace Party Designs.  My first visit to her blog was momentous.  There were AMAZING things that could be done with children's parties!!

At this point, despite a background of interest in art, crafts, and interior design, I did not think that I could ever do anything like that myself.  So I contacted Bella Grace Party Designs for assistance with party planning.  The owner was amazing in communicating with me through e-mail about the range of possibilities for party planning.  I was contemplating what party package I was going to choose when I coincidentally stopped in Michael's.  That is when the Do-It-Yourself fever set in for me!  Looking at all of the arts and crafts supplies in this store awakened my inner creative instincts.  It was at this point that I decided to take on Kira's party mostly by myself.

Party planning mode set in, and all of the sudden, I saw the world in a different way.  Everywhere I went, I was inspired by things that reminded me of my dream for Kira's birthday party.  Every store I went in, I began hunting for things for the event.  Anything in the ladybug gendre and/or pink, purple, green, turquoise (and I added orange) became fair game for potential party supplies.  My creativity began soaring, and I became so driven, focused, and enthusiastic.

As this passion was building, I was also exploring party planning on the internet.  Through Bella Grace Party Designs' website and exploration on Etsy, Twitter, and Facebook, I found some of the most premiere and fantastic party planners, crafters, bakers, etc (see my list of Websites and Blogs) I ever knew existed.  At the same time as inspiring ideas for Kira's party, these amazing professionals inspired in me the wish to become a part of this community.

To make a long story shorter, I am in the beginning stages of exploring the possibilities for me in children's party planing.  I am going to use this blog as a means to document Kira's 2nd birthday, to share my experiences as I learn, and to hopefully begin to network and build cherished relationships with other party professionals (if they would ever do me the honor!).

Thank you for reading!