We are very grateful for the wonderful mentions we've received in the news and in the blogosphere!
New Westminster Newsleader - October 13th, 2010
Party in a Box - New West woman helps harried hostesses plan perfect parties for birthdays or showers
In the maelstrom of new experiences that swirl around a new baby’s fi rst year, preparing for that fi rst birthday probably ranks somewhere below getting a full night’s sleep, uttering their fi rst words and learning to walk. But as that annual milestone approaches for the fi rst time, new parents can easily be overwhelmed. “Party planning is not something they teach you in school,” says Melissa Balfour.
So she’s made it her business to help haggard parents out by planning and packaging all the ingredients for a successful first or second or seventh or 12th birthday party, and then delivering all that fun in a box. Think of her as a sort of Martha Stewart on call. For kids. Planning a party can be a daunting experience, says Balfour. There’s a guest list to draw up, snacks to make, activities to plan, goody bags to assemble. It all takes time, money and imagination, all of which can be in short supply for busy, working parents.
Based on themes like Hawaiian Luau, Sports Day, Under the Sea Adventures and Secret Garden Tea Party, Balfour creates the decorations and costumes, devises games and activities, suggests recipes for snacks and then delivers them, along with instructions, in a big plastic bin. When the party is over and the last guest has left, she returns to pick the party bin up. “I help the hostess or mom take care of all their party needs,” says Balfour, who shops locally as much as she can, and crafts many of the decorations and costumes in a workspace in her New Westminster home.
“I want to make it easy for people.” Balfour also helps organize baby and bridal showers, with themes like “Brunch at Tiffany’s” and “Made in Taiwan,” complete with decorative baubles, flower arrangements, links to recipes and a playlist with three hours of theme appropriate music. She’ll even create custom parties, for kids or adults.
For more information, or to book a party kit, go to Balfour’s website, www.prettyupparties.com.
Wet Coast Women - October 16, 2010
Up Close and Personal with the Women of the Wet Coast #8
Melissa Balfour is the creative brain behind the New Westminster based company
Pretty Up
Parties.
Melissa has used her creative background in set building and decorating to
put together kits to help you add that ‘pizazz’ to a party..any party – kids,
baby showers, wedding showers, etc. The themed kits are fun and affordable and
saves YOU the expense and time of combing the city to find your party supplies. Read More... Better Baby Bits - November 7, 2009
Birthday Parties for the Time Pressed This year we decided to hire a Birthday Party Planner and in addition to saving
us time and money, it also saved our sanity (and the planet too!). Melissa was
awesome! All I had to do was give her our theme (“whale of a party/undersea
adventure”), although she does have lots of her own ideas, and she came a couple
of hours early to set up, party in a box in hand. Her creativity blew my socks
off and the kids had so much fun “swimming” in the ball pool, hanging out in the
sea cave and fishing up a storm. She also brought crafts and stickers, all in
line with the ocean theme. Read More...
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