Farm Stand Themed Birthday

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What a joyous occasion - celebrating a little one's very first trip around the sun! When tasked with creating a special and intimate gathering to mark this milestone, we couldn't wait to infuse the event with a sense of playful wonder.

The client shared that their darling babe adored water play and fresh veggies, which instantly sparked our imagination. A charming farm stand-inspired design was a natural fit, brimming with vibrant colors, interactive elements, and plenty of opportunities for hands-on fun.

The mini picnic table served as the dessert table and was filled with farm themed elements like honey jars, baskets of produce, wooden eggs, market scale, and seed packets.

We chose desserts that had a more rustic feel to them - mini pies from I Like Pie Bakeshop were placed in peat pots and given markers with the pie flavor. A semi naked carrot cake by one of the best in the SGV, The Shredded Carrot, was placed on the market scale and decorated with fresh blooms.

Handmade soft play felt veggies and fruits to inspire garden play. Potted basil gave Blake a responsibility to maintain and water with his personally branded watering can.

The main goal was to add elements that Blake could enjoy and play with long after the party was over. Seed packets, printed by Gen X Graphics, were given character traits for careers and was a fun moment to choose a future path.

Beautiful hand painted seed packet sugar cookies by Robbie Lynn were the perfect detail to complete the table. We added just a touch of florals, placed whimsically in a tin pail and rain boots.

And what's a party without balloons - Oh Shiny stepped in to give Blake a celebratory bouquet that was bright and happy - a great way to entertain and distract during Eileen Liu's engaging photo session with the family. 

Vendor List

The result was a truly one-of-a-kind party that perfectly captured the birthday girl's personality while creating lasting memories for the whole family. After all, isn't that what these special occasions are all about?

Shared by Designer, Euri Wong of Fleuretica. Event Review by Head Rascal (Ngoc Nguyen Lay), mother of two rascals, ages 9 and 11. Photos by Eileen Liu Photography.

Bonjour Fete

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I’m a devoted lover of celebrations: birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and anything that gives me an excuse to restock my desk drawer with decorations, cards, and other trinkets. I am also all about clean, cohesive aesthetics, so when I walked through Bonjour Fête’s signature pink door, it was love at first sight. From the color-coordinated shelves to the tables full of gifts and décor, Bonjour Fête is the party planning boutique of my dreams.

I spoke with Rachel Huntington, owner and Chief Creative Officer of Bonjour Fête, to learn more about this business and the mother of two behind it all.

Bonjour Fête (“Hello Party” in English) has two stores in Los Angeles, but the French-inspired name and branding pay homage to the idea’s true birthplace: Rachel’s Montreal home. In 2014, while planning her own daughter’s birthday, she realized there was no single place to go to for party supplies. As any mother knows, there’s hardly enough time as it is to get everything ready for a kid’s special day, whether that be a first birthday or a get-together with all their classmates. Tacking on multiple trips to several stores didn’t make being a parent any easier, so Rachel created a solution: a one-stop-shop for any parents’ party planning needs. Rachel sourced products from all over and created a curated collection of party supplies in the basement of her own home.

What started as a solution to her own party planning needs grew into a business idea when she noticed how excited her friends were to see such a diverse assortment all in one place. They moved to LA in 2016 and, within just three months, Bonjour Fête’s first brick-and-mortar store in Studio City opened its doors. Transitioning from the “de-facto” party planner for her kids to creating a business around it was no easy feat, but Rachel’s endless passion coupled with the long hours she put in made it work.

By taking a big risk of starting out with a storefront, Rachel opened herself up to the possibility of big rewards, which is exactly what happened! Face-to-face interactions became one of the things her business thrived on and her favorite part of it all. Seeing the look on customers’ faces when they walk through the door for the first time never gets old, and they often leave overjoyed that Bonjour Fête’s passionate team helped them find their inspiration.

With any new business venture comes unexpected challenges, and, much like the rest of the world, Rachel and her team didn’t foresee the pandemic and the impact it would have on businesses everywhere, small and large. With canceled events, smaller get-togethers, and stay-at-home orders, Bonjour Fête’s business came to a standstill when the pandemic hit. Thankfully, her business is back in full force. Many people are still erring on the side of caution and hosting smaller celebrations at home, which is exactly what her business caters to.

Through Bonjour Fête, Rachel hopes that anyone can come in and feel inspired to create something special. She loves being a part of people’s milestones and holding this small, unique role in people’s lives. Whether that means being the first to know the sex of a baby, knowing about an upcoming engagement, or being honored to help with celebration of life parties, Rachel and her team value the moments that her store allows them to be a part of.

This year, Bonjour Fête is launching their long-awaited own line of products. And that’s not all for this small business - Rachel sees her Bonjour Fête continuing to grow, and hopes to expand to stores in cities around the country.

For your next DIY party, you can find Bonjour Fête at their Studio City and Pacific Palisades locations, and online here.

Written by Head Rascal (Ngoc Nguyen Lay), mother of two rascals, ages 8 and 10. Photos by Adrienne Gunde Photography.

Father's Day Gift Ideas

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I feel like dads are universally impossible to shop for. They’re either too practical or they have it all, and they rarely – if ever – talk about things they want. A few years ago, my husband picked up a brewery kit and brewed his own beer. He went off on some tangent about how he was going to open up his own brewery, but the thing that stuck with me was how much he genuinely enjoyed the experience. For Father’s Day this year, I’m thinking of gifting the Dads in my life an experience, so I wanted to share some ideas I’ve been brainstorming.

● For the dad who loves beer

Albert loved brewing his own beer so much that I’m thinking of picking up another brewery kit and giving him another go at it. For a kid-friendly option, I’m thinking of picking up a kombucha brewing kit so my boys can brew their own kombucha alongside their dad.

● For the athletic dad

If your dad is an exercise fanatic, register yourselves in an upcoming run near you! You and your dad can not only enjoy the run itself, but also all the time you’ll spend together training in the days or weeks leading up to it. You can find a list of different runs near you here.

● For the outdoorsy dad

If your dad is an outdoorsy guy, plan a hike with him that neither of you have ever been on! Be sure to pack plenty of water and wear comfortable shoes. SoCal has no shortage of beautiful hikes, and there are even some with gorgeous waterfalls as a reward for all the walking. Here is a list of the ten most beautiful hikes in SoCal.

● For the dad who loves to read

If your dad is more of a bookworm, set a reading goal for the year together. You can revisit it next Father’s Day and share your favorite books, or talk about the ones you absolutely hated.

● For the movie critic dad

If your dad loves to watch movies, plan a movie night! It can be as simple as choosing something new on Netflix that you know he’ll love and grabbing all your favorite snacks to watch on the couch at home.

With any of these ideas, the most important part is that you plan something special and it comes from the heart.

Written by Head Rascal (Ngoc Nguyen Lay), mother of two rascals, ages 8 and 10.

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Valentine's Cards

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Beyond the excitement of carefully planned date nights, flower arrangements, and chocolate boxes, Valentine’s Day provides the opportunity to illustrate the depth of care to those we love the most. It’s easy for our kids to simply look at this holiday and see the world’s emphasis on money and materialism. For our family, Valentine’s Day’s has a deeper meaning that emphasize a special type of care and love for one another.

It seems like celebrating holidays is becoming more complicated. Keep it simple! We plan on sharing ready-made Valentine’s Day cards with the kids’ classmates. They don’t need to be big and fancy; it is the time and thought behind them that counts. These easy valentines make it fun for our boys to share their love with their friends.

It is also an opportunity to get some extra writing practice in with your rascals. Make it fun and work on them together!

Written by Head Rascal (Ngoc Nguyen Lay), mother of two rascals, ages 7 and 10. Photos by Adrienne Gunde Photography.

A Cat in Paris

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I’m a sucker for a well-executed theme and the Harmony Tree Venue team did an amazing job with their “A Cat in Paris” design. This concept was such a fun idea, and the design team was able to create such a cute, whimsical set-up for this shoot that would be perfect for any party.

To showcase their event coordination & design services, Grace Eaplin and team decided to put together this style shoots in collaboration with Fleuretica (stylist), Oh Shiny Co. (balloon garlands), LaserdrewLA (backdrops), Becky Yang (backdrop artist), Robbie Lynn Bakes (cakes), Melinda Creates (desserts), and LV Floral Events (florals) and of course, the uber-talented, Herman Au (photography). The Cat in Paris theme, was inspired by their love of cats (and their French attitude), desserts, bread, cheese, and flowers!

Nothing beats a bike ride in Paris with the wind in your hair, the aroma of freshly baked baguettes wafting in the air, an array of colorful bouquets gracing the countless flower shops, and adorable cafes lining the streets with fashionably dressed patrons savoring their morning coffee. Cats, with their usual laissez-faire attitude, complete the scene. To incorporate the cat details without making the theme overly cartoonish, they created little details such as cat logos on the sparkling cider bottles and butter cans for the bread (made to look like cat food), as well as adding cat silhouette coffee cups filled with pink carnations and roses. Then, of course, there were baguettes, croissants, macarons, and our favorite dessert cart, accompanied by the quintessential bicycle with the flourishing florals in the basket. The color palette of blush, black, and a hint of gold is pretty, fresh, and chic, reflecting the scene for a lovely springtime Cat in Paris party!

HARMONY TREE VENUE INFO

Our venue offers a flexible space that includes an indoor playground and can comfortably accommodate up to 60 guests. In addition, the following are available for guests (some have a service charge/add-on fee*): a ping pong table, an air hockey table that can convert to a pool table, an indoor nerf basketball area, an indoor handball area, a Nintendo switch gaming area, projector and screen for movies, Infinity game table which accommodates four players, META Virtual Reality gaming set for four*, and toys as well as board games. Medical grade and high-quality air purifiers are placed in each room and common area.

Private rooms are available for smaller activities and gatherings, as well a studio equipped with a full-length mirror and ballet barre. A kitchen is available for light food prep (no cooking or baking). Our restrooms are handicap accessible and come with low toilets, low urinals, and low sinks for the younger guests. Security cameras are located throughout our facility for safety purposes. Our private parking lot has more than 21 parking spaces, and guests can also access street parking.

Our event coordination & design team can help create the perfect party or gathering and coordinate catering services from surrounding restaurants.

Vendors

Written by Head Rascal (Ngoc Nguyen Lay), mother of two rascals, ages 7 and 9. Sponsor post for Harmony Tree Learning Center.

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Definition of Family

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AJ and Ben always say, “We have so many aunties and uncles!” This is because, when I become close with someone, I introduce them to my rascals as an aunt or uncle. Sometimes, AJ and Ben will ask, “Which aunties and uncles are our real ones?” My husband and I always tell them that they all are. Thinking of our own definition of family and how it may be different from other people’s definition made me want to share what exactly family means to us with our Hello Rascal Kids community.

I know the common saying is, “You can’t choose your family,” but, in my family, we do. For us, family is not defined by biological relatives. We like to think of our family as chosen, and we can add whomever we want. To me, family are the people who are always there for you. Family are the people who show up when someone is having a tough time. They’re the ones who you know you can always count on, no matter the distance or time between seeing each other.

I share this definition of family with my rascals often, and I hope that they keep this meaning of family alive and pass it on for generations to come. Right now, their family is made up of mom and dad’s circle of loved ones, but, as they grow older, they’ll create their own circle of family. As they get older, some of their friends will become family, too.

I choose to share this now because AJ is growing up faster than I could ever imagine. He’s 9 years old, and, while he’s always had his little quirks and characteristics, he’s developing his own personality and turning into his own person. Someday, he’ll be a whole new AJ. I wanted to remind my community and remind myself that our kids will turn into their own human beings and their own people, but a lot of how they turn out is what we as parents have laid in our foundation.

I’m really proud to have laid the foundation of a chosen family for my rascals, and I hope that, one day, I get to reflect and see how much my family has grown with the addition of people that AJ and Ben have chosen to add to our circle.

While this definition of family may not make sense to everyone, it’s what makes sense to us, and I’m happy to have a big, loving, ever-growing chosen family.

Written by Head Rascal (Ngoc Nguyen Lay), mother of two rascals, ages 7 and 9.

Corgi in Space

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Grace Eaplin (owner for Harmony Tree) shared the following regarding this unique Corgi in Space celebration:

"By combining our love of space, exploration, and corgis (we are obsessed), the idea of Corgi in Space was born. It was all about being bold, bright, and quirky! We wanted to contrast the bold colors of orange, yellow, and red with a navy backdrop and some silver and copper sparkle. Getting our special guest, Chandler (@thisvelcrodog), to cooperate was probably the most challenging task. However, we actually love the outtake shots because they captured his fun personality! We love all things round, so the planets, the backdrop, the desserts and treats, and the corgi all just “aligned” for us. For this theme, attention was paid to the design of the desserts & treats, such as the star-shaped Rice Krispie treats, planetary cake pops, ombre Jello cups, cheeseballs (asteroids), and the awesome planets on the cake. The florals were also more circular and dainty (to mimic the feel of stars). The exceptional Becky Yang captured Chandler’s likeness as an astronaut floating in space, which was the true star of the backdrop. We had such a fun time with this one and bringing this vision to life was just “out of this world.”

The design team’s attention to detail added so much depth and energy to the set-up, from the corgis decked out in full astronaut suits to the cheese asteroids. Our favorite detail of this theme was the galaxy cake topped with planets and adorned with stars. We hope you love these photos as much as the design team loved setting up.

HARMONY TREE VENUE INFO

Our venue offers a flexible space that includes an indoor playground and can comfortably accommodate up to 60 guests. In addition, the following are available for guests (some have a service charge/add-on fee*): a ping pong table, an air hockey table that can convert to a pool table, an indoor nerf basketball area, an indoor handball area, a Nintendo switch gaming area, projector and screen for movies, Infinity game table which accommodates four players, META Virtual Reality gaming set for four*, and toys as well as board games. Medical grade and high-quality air purifiers are placed in each room and common area.

Private rooms are available for smaller activities and gatherings, as well a studio equipped with a full-length mirror and ballet barre. A kitchen is available for light food prep (no cooking or baking). Our restrooms are handicap accessible and come with low toilets, low urinals, and low sinks for the younger guests. Security cameras are located throughout our facility for safety purposes. Our private parking lot has more than 21 parking spaces, and guests can also access street parking.

Our event coordination & design team can help create the perfect party or gathering and coordinate catering services from surrounding restaurants.

Vendors

Written by Head Rascal (Ngoc Nguyen Lay), mother of two rascals, ages 7 and 9. Sponsor post for Harmony Tree Learning Center.

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Back to School Supplies

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Back-to-school shopping has always held a special place in my heart. Even when I stopped being a student, I kept finding myself looking forward to the end of summer and the start of a new school year. Nothing gets me quite as excited as seeing store shelves filled with notebooks, planners, and desk accessories. Luckily, being a mom to two little rascals allows me to live my back-to-school dreams with them year after year, and I always sneak in some supplies for my office, too. Here is a list of my top 10 supplies that I have picked out for my rascals.

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Mardi Gras Themed 3rd Birthday Party

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Laissez les bons temps rouler! This popular Cajun French phrase in New Orleans means “let the good times roll” and good times were had at this Mardi Gras themed 3rd birthday party!

When your birthday falls on Fat Tuesday, you celebrate with delicious food and drinks, fun games and giveaways, and a special appearance from New Orleans’ favorite frog princess.

The main attraction at this toddler-friendly party was the white castle-and-slide-combo bounce house adorned with a custom balloon garland in purples, greens, and golds. In addition to being a gorgeous addition to any outdoor party, the open front allows caregivers to supervise the little acrobats while socializing nearby.

For the young (and the young-at-heart) guests, the party entertainment also included a photo booth, a tarot card reader, and a visit from a princess who sang songs, made balloon animals, read stories, and played games.

Colorful linens, gold chiavari chairs, tall feather centerpieces, a variety of Mardi Gras beads, and gold balloons spelling out “Mable Gras” tied together all of the décor at this indoor/outdoor celebration. Guests were provided custom face masks, custom tumblers (similar to what you see thrown from Mardi Gras floats), and temporary tattoos with the birthday girl’s face.

No Mardi Gras party would be complete without an abundance of yummy food and drinks! The plentiful spread included favorites like bourbon chicken, shrimp po’ boys, traditional king cake, and beignets topped with powdered sugar. A custom cake and dessert table provided the perfect end to a delicious meal.

For many of the guests, this was the first in-person gathering in two years, making this truly a celebration to remember. Below is the full gallery of our party; thank you to our vendors for making this birthday special.

Fabulous Vendor Partners:

By Meredith Anderson, mom of 1 rascal, age 3 years.

Summer Bucket List

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Since having kids, I’ve realized the importance of creating traditions. My boys inspire me to make summer time special. With my job as an event planner, summer is the busiest time of year. I’ve always felt overwhelmed with trying to balance work and family. But this year, I’m approaching this season with a new outlook. Summer is a great opportunity for our family to slow down and soak in time together, and gives us reasons to go through our Summer Bucket List. We’ve made our list simple and included items we all enjoy as a family. Here are a few item we have in our list:

  • Take a trip to the beach

  • Make fresh lemonade

  • Shop at a farmers market

  • Visit the library

  • Eat ice cream

  • Have an outdoor movie night

  • Pack a picnic in the park

Thank you to Chelsea’s Messy Apron for this bucket list, visit her website to download file.

What’s on your summer bucket list? We would love to hear and see your ideas. Please tag #hellorascalkids so we can follow along with your adventures

Written by Head Rascal (Ngoc Nguyen Lay), mother of two rascals, ages 6 and 9. Photo from Chelsea’s Messy Apron.

Mom's Self Care

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With Mother’s Day approaching, I began to think of the moms in my life. A running theme for many of them is the struggle with balance and the demands of motherhood. More often than not, self-care is the one area that moms tend to let fall by the wayside. Putting your best self forward requires intentional choices (especially for busy moms), even if that means stepping outside your comfort zone and putting yourself first. You CAN feel healthy, look great, and live a joyful life, all while juggling a family and a career. The key? Make time for yourself, big or small; any time you save for yourself will contribute to the well being of your entire family.

Easier said than done, right?

What moms tend to overlook is that their own self-care is a way to make them happier and healthier, which, in turn, makes them a more effective member of the family. It’s also an opportunity for them to model health and balance for their children.

Recently, I took the day off from work and planned a day for myself - that’s right a day just for me. My self care day may look different than yours, but it incorporated places and activities that recharged me. My day included a trip to Morning Lavender Café for some retail therapy and tea tasting. I am a extrovert at heart and wanted to be surrounded by my friends, so I invited a few to join me. We had afternoon tea and I spent time chatting and catching up with my girlfriends; this really did fill my cup. I sent everyone home with homemade bath salts and a promise to take a relaxing bath some time during the week. Just a few hours to myself had me feeling refreshed.

After my day out, I thought about sharing a few simple self-care tips. Pick one or make up your own routine; it can help make you feel more balanced and happier.

Get your body moving.

Whether you need to exercise more often or just want to shake up your regular routine, choose activities that motivate you to exercise consistently. I like having dance parties in the living room with my kids or yoga alone in my bedroom.

Feed your body well.

Good food fuels your body, so make sure you eat and drink high-quality ingredients. You need to nourish yourself with proper foods. It's great for your kids to see you practicing self-care because you're modeling healthy behavior. I cook fresh meals often and try to eat fresh fruit when possible.

Get connected.

Don't let your busy schedule squeeze out time for family and friends. If weekly date-nights aren't going to happen, then try to at least schedule some time to connect on a regular basis. We had date nights every Tuesday before having kids. Now, date nights are more limited but it is still important for us to plan time together.

Put your healthcare on the calendar.

You wouldn't let your kids miss their annual check-ups—so don't let your own health fall off the calendar. Schedule annual checkups, appropriate tests, mammograms, skin exams, pap smears, flu shots, and vision screenings. And get to the dentist for an annual exam and cleaning (my least favorite). This is not my favorite task but whenever I schedule an appointment for the kids, I will make sure I schedule one for myself as well.

Make sleep a priority.

Moms often get sucked into the "get-stuff-done-when-there-is-time" mentality. Try instead to give yourself the gift of true rest. Getting adequate sleep has helped me have the energy to manage anxiety and increase my positive outlook for the next day. It has allowed me to be in a sharper, better mood when I am awake.

Stay connected to yourself.

As a mom, it's easy to lose yourself in the day-to-day routines of family life: car pools, laundry, preparing meals, paying bills, cleaning, etc. Before you know it, 10 years have gone by and you're a shell of your former self. The antidote? Pursue hobbies. Journal. Do things you love just because, like tea tasting.

Tea Tasting

Because this brings me so much joy.

When thinking about self-care: Be realistic while setting your daily goals and regularly assess your priorities.

Written by Head Rascal (Ngoc Nguyen Lay), mother of two rascals, ages 7 and 9. Photos by Adrienne Gunde Photography. Friends: Wilmarose Orlanes and Michelle Groom. Location: Morning Lavender Café.

3 Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day with your Kids

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For Valentine’s Day, I always try to get a small gift for my boys to share in the celebration of love and take a little extra time to show them how much I love them. This year, I purchased custom wooden tic-tac-toe boards for Ben and AJ, and, while this is what I chose to do with my family, I wanted to take time to share three ways you can share Valentine’s Day with your rascals.

Tell them you love them. Start simple by telling them that you love them and explaining what Valentine’s Day is. Try explaining different kinds of love, such as romantic love, family love, friendship love, the love between siblings, or any other types of love that you want your kid(s) to know about. Right now, my boys are at a point where the people they love most in the world are me and my husband. Since they don’t fully understand the different kinds of love, when I try explaining marriage to them as picking the person you love enough to spend the rest of your life with them, they’ll say, “I’m gonna marry you, Mom!” It warms my heart to see what their understanding of love is, and I try to take these small moments to teach them.

Make a meal together. Teach your kids that there are a ton of different ways to express your love for one another. Sharing experiences together is just one of many. Consider cooking a Valentine’s Day dinner or dessert together. Doing this is a great way to teach your children that you can show love not only through shared experiences, but also through acts of service and doing things for each other. Make sure to cater your meal or treat to something that matches their skillset so they can feel involved and included. If your rascals aren’t old enough to be super hands-on in the kitchen yet, a simple, easy, and safe dessert to make together is heart-shaped cookies. You handle the oven, and then take on decorating together!

Teach them the importance of sharing love. Teach your children the importance of being inclusive with their love. This can be done in a number of ways; find the one that works for you and your family. One way to teach your children to be inclusive with their love is to explain why it’s important to get a valentine card for everyone in their class if you opt to have them bring valentines. As a kid, I didn’t understand why our teachers would require us to bring valentines for the entire class or not at all, but as an adult, I understand how damaging it can be to feel left out. Make sure you explain to your rascals that, if they want to bring valentines, they’ll need to bring enough for everyone so no one goes home empty-handed or feeling unloved. Another more subtle way to teach them the importance of being inclusive with love is to not make their love fit into traditional gender roles. This is something I like to emphasize with my boys because, growing up, I didn’t see the boys around me feel comfortable expressing their love for each other, even just as friends. As a girl, I always felt the freedom to tell my girl friends that I loved them or to show them, but I didn’t see this with the boys. Boys grow up with an expectation to be tough with their love, which can impact them negatively in the long-run. I want my boys to grow up knowing that showing love is not a weakness, and the ability to share love is a strength like no other.

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Written by Head Rascal (Ngoc Nguyen Lay), mother of two rascals, ages 6 and 9. Photos by Simply Adri Photography. Wooden Board Games from PB Corner. Lava Card by Lovepop.

Our Original Rascal

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Let’s celebrate our original rascal. My AJ is 9 years old today. Before Hello Rascal Kids was created, this little man was my first rascal. Here’s a throwback to AJ’s first birthday party.

For full highlights of his party visit Skybox for AJ’s First Birthday!

Then and Now

Written by Head Rascal (Ngoc Nguyen Lay), mother of two rascals, ages 6 and 9 (just turned 9).

Boss Baby 1st Birthday

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Our rascals attended their little friend Ryder’s birthday a few months ago and loved the Boss Baby theme so much! We interviewed the Boss’s assistant, aka Mom, about the party; continue reading below to hear what she shared with us.

Please share your design ideas and theme concept.

I was aiming for a masculine, corporate, clean, and professional design using blues, black, and white colors. Here are a sampling of the decor items we put together for his party:

  • “Ryder Corp” logo- a big cut out for the entry way along with a balloon garland (resembling entering into a company building)

  • Black briefcases with the Ryder Corp sticker logo - these were party favors for the kids and contained mini composition notebooks, a box of crayons, mini milk bottles filled with m&ms, kids’ black sunglasses, and a snack bag

  • “Employee of the Month” poster- showcasing his photos from 1 month to 12 months old

  • Milestone poster with all his developmental milestones

  • Dessert table - including sugar cookies designed as briefcases, number 1s, milk bottles, and black tie suit onesies. We also had a 2-tiered cake with his logo on the bottom layer and suspenders and a tie on the top, along with a smash cake with a Ryder banner. Other treats included candy apples decorated like a suit, cupcakes with toppers of ties and Ryder Corp, chocolate caramel pretzels sticks, and chocolate covered Oreos with the Ryder Corp logo printed on them. The back drop read “Boss Ryder is One,” made with the cricut (“Ryder” was made with wooden letters, the rest were construction paper),

  • Guest tables were designed with white table covers and small photo frames painted blue and black with an image of Ryder in his tie, suspenders, white dress shirt, and black undies staged with a computer and holding a briefcase

  • Balloon accents - both latex & foil balloons in black, blue, & white

What's the story/inspiration behind the party theme?

To be honest, we picked the theme because Ryder, the birthday boy, looks like the character Boss Baby. Ryder didn’t know anything about Boss Baby and we had never seen it before. We started playing Boss Baby episodes every day to inspire décor ideas. I think it was only after his birthday that he actually started showing an interest in the cartoon!

How long did you plan the event before it was held? What was involved in planning it? Did you have to craft décor items, scour the thrift store looking for certain items, etc.?

I prefer to plan in advance, but with Covid I didn’t know what could happen. I did little bit of planning here and there in terms of writing down options and ideas, but did not purchase anything until about a month before the party. I used the cricut to make cupcake toppers and the signage for the back drop. Amazon was my best friend for purchasing the stuff for the party favors and balloon garland. With a baby around, it is hard to do in-person shopping. Almost all items were acquired through Amazon, Target, and Dollar Tree.

Do you have any time-saving or money-saving tips on planning events?

Call multiple vendors and shop around for prices. I was able to compare prices; if I had booked the first vendors I called, I would have spent a lot more. As for time saving…get help! We couldn’t have done it without the help of friends and family. Most of the creative ideas came from my sister!

Explain the profession game.

The profession game is a tradition amongst many Asian cultures. My family did the profession game when I turned one, along with the first birthday of every one of my family members. You begin by laying out different items that relate to a profession. The birthday boy/girl is then placed in front of the items and you allow them to walk or crawl toward the display and whatever item they choose first is predicted to be their future profession. For Ryder, I had a measuring tape for a lawyer (was supposed to be a ruler but we forgot it), a ball for athlete, a laptop for tech, a stethoscope for doctor, a book for scholar, a dollar for investor, and a microphone for entertainer.

He chose the doctor stethoscope and book! Very studious!

Vendors

  • Photographer: Matt

  • Dessert Table: Collectable Editable Treats

  • Ice Cream: Frostbites (Cypress location)

  • Vietnamese Crepes: Banh Xeo Lovers

  • Artwork: Nathan Tran and Tanni Tran

  • Rentals: Godinez Jumpers

  • Balloon Artist: Up Up and Away

Shared by Tina Ngo, mother of 1 rascal.

Pink Ghouls Inspired Halloween Party

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We are thrilled with this Pink Ghouls Inspired Halloween Party by April Gray of C. C. Monroe Event Design. Pink is the new black for Halloween décor. While we all love a good pink party, April wanted to add a little twist to this current trend by incorporating dried pressed florals into the design, inspired by Ashley Renuart’s acrylic pressed floral installation. For the color scheme, she went with soft neutral colors of blush pink, mauve, and ivory with skeleton details added to make it spooktacular.

Pink Ghouls Inspired Halloween Party on Hello Rascal Kids

Creative Amme did an amazing job creating floral pressed skull placecards with matching acrylic drink stirrers. The team created custom skull décor by adding dried pressed florals to the eyes of Dollar Tree skulls. Schentell of Offerings curated the perfect mix of dried floral “potion” bottles along with soft whimsical arrangements. The theme of skeletons and dried pressed florals carried over into the dessert design with Sweet Deetails creating the prettiest 2-tier cake along with matching floral adorned skull cookies.  We also want to take a second to admire the “boo”tiful cotton candy created by Twisted For Sugar.

Pink Ghouls Inspired Halloween Party on Hello Rascal Kids

Glamfete created the perfect plastic fringe garland, which was adorned with little pink skeletons and used as the backdrop for the tablescape. For a pop of color, Party Shop Avenue created a custom mauve and pink balloon installation.

Pink Ghouls Inspired Halloween Party on Hello Rascal Kids

The little Halloween models wore Shop With Grace and Joy t-shirts. When April saw the t-shirt’s design of pink skeletons, she knew it was a must have item. Skipping the traditional Halloween face painting, she decided to add pressed florals to the girls’ faces to get them Halloween ready! The dried floral hair adornments created by Offerings were so cute it was almost scary.

Pink Ghouls Inspired Halloween Party on Hello Rascal Kids

The styled shoot took place at Festoon LA. We love it’s modern boho vibe! The photos were perfectly captured by Caitlin Alohilani Photography.

Vendors: 

 Shared by April Gray of C.C. Monroe Event Design, mother of four rascals.

Gone Bananas

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We've gone bananas! My daughter Lea recently turned 7 and was excited to be able to have a party with her friends and finally regain some childhood normalcy after the last year. When I asked her what theme she wanted she said "I just want to go bananas" and our banana theme was born! I wanted to create a stunning yellow vintage banana concept. With the help of 3 Little Birds Rentals, who burned the midnight oil painting their chairs in different shades of yellow, I was able to achieve my vision.

Gone Bananas on Hello Rascal Kids

The showstoppers were definitely the vintage chairs that we hand selected and painted ombre shades of yellow. We maintained the ombre color scheme with the tableware and the desserts. The details on the guests table stunned everyone. I had never seen such a beautiful flower arrangements. The bright yellows were perfect for this summer front yard party. Each touch was thought out - from the banana place cards done by Anne Jones to the banana stir sticks by Creative Amme. The banana cake and mini donuts were the cutest thing we've ever seen by Janice Wong. Janice brought our vision to life with her beautiful and modern desserts.

The kids jumped around in a pastel yellow bounce house from Bounce Couture with an added ombre balloon design by Shana Sharp of Sharp Balloons.

Gone Bananas on Hello Rascal Kids

The birthday girl had an amazing time and so did her friends. It was nice to see so much joy in their faces. The kids went home with cookies from Doughy Dogs and custom tote bags as favors.

Vendors:

Shared by Victoria Petrovsky, mother of one rascal.

Sesame Street Themed 2nd Birthday Photo Shoot & Party Boxes

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It’s no secret that birthday celebrations over the last year have looked different than in the past. Families & vendors have pivoted to help create safe & memorable birthdays through virtual events, drive by parties, and socially distant outings. What happens, though, when those options don’t work for one reason or another?

In our case, we knew our newly-turned 2 year old would not have the attention span for a long virtual party with multiple people in small boxes on the screen. We also live in an apartment with limited space in front between the street & sidewalk, so a drive-by party would not be possible without inconveniencing all of our neighbors. Lastly, we live on the opposite side of the country from most of our family, including all of the grandparents who would not want to miss out on the celebration.

Sesame Street Themed Birthday on Hello Rascal Kids

What’s a mom (who works in the event industry and LIVES for celebrations) to do? It was really important for us to commemorate our daughter’s 2nd birthday in a safe way, and we wanted to have something to look back on to remember this unique and unexpected year. We decided that we would design a themed photo shoot to capture the essence of our daughter becoming a true toddler and then use these photos to surprise our family with a “party in a box” shipped to them the week before her birthday so they could celebrate with us from afar.

Sesame Street Themed Birthday on Hello Rascal Kids

For the theme, it was easy to settle on Sesame Street, as our daughter (like most toddlers) loves Elmo, Abby, Cookie Monster, and friends. Once the theme was selected, the fun began! We scoured Etsy for details like custom shirts, a street sign made with her name, character cutouts, and small photo props.

After getting all the details together, it was time to find the perfect location to shoot. Due to the pandemic, it was difficult to find a location that was open to the public, outdoors, and safely socially-distant. Luckily, a friend recommended the talented vendor Modest Peach, who builds custom backdrops. They designed the most incredible re-creation of the famous Sesame Street stoop, complete with perfect toddler-sized stairs. We were able to set this up outdoors and create our own “set.”

What’s a birthday without cake? Our favorite bakery, Fantasy Frostings, created a delicious multi-layered polka-dot confetti cake that was the perfect finishing touch for the photo shoot. In fact, our little birthday girl did not want to sit still until we gave her the cake and a fork!

Sesame Street Themed Birthday on Hello Rascal Kids

Rachel Robena Photography captured all of the magic of this special day on Sesame Street. We framed one of the photos and included it in the party box that was shipped to the grandparents on the other side of the country. In addition to the photo, the package included character photo booth props, tasty treats, custom color changing cups, and party supplies. We then hosted a small cake celebration over Facetime once everyone received their party box! It may not have been a traditional birthday party, but it is definitely one we won’t forget!

Fabulous Vendor Partners:

By Meredith Anderson, mom of 1 rascal, age 2.

Little Legends: Exceptional Men in Black History Inspired Birthday

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Little Legends - Exceptional Men in Black History Inspired Birthday on Hello Rascal Kids

It’s no secret that it’s been a tough year for children. I wanted to do something at home for Lennon’s birthday to honor his heritage. Ever since he was a baby, we’ve been reading a page of Vashti Harrison’s “Little Legends, Exceptional Men in Black History” to him every night. Every night we focus on one individual and their accomplishments. As he is getting older, he starting to look forward to reading this book every night. When I had the idea to make this book a birthday theme for him, I wanted him to feel represented in a beautiful light. Representation is important; images help shape our identity. 

The cover of the book was my inspiration. I worked with Moon Rising, an incredible designer that helped me recreate Lennon in the same style as the characters in the book. He was now front and center as an exceptional Black boy, soon to be man. Each child received a bookmark with a different character from the book and their name on the back. We also had library cards made so they can continue reading rest of the book series about exceptional people in history.

I kept the color scheme the same as the cover of the book, focusing on black, white, mint, and yellow stars. The florals created by Pavan Floral are stunning and working with her is always a pleasure. Her creations alway fit perfectly with my aesthetic. Janice Wong created our amazing desserts. We had a beautiful cake where she hand-painted the characters. The cookies featured the faces of the characters in the book and the cake pops had a printed image of the cover. 

The star of the celebration was the incredible backdrop provided by Modest Peach. They recreated the cover and had life-sized cutouts of Black men in the book, such as civil rights leader John Lewis, standing on podiums. I want Lennon to always remember this day. I want him to know how special he is and how exceptional he is. My hope is for him to shoot for the stars.

A BBQ lunch catered by the incredible Sarah of Active Palate was the perfect meal. The children had mac & cheese cups and fried chicken sliders, while the adults had a BBQ spread. Adults were also treated to a beautiful grazing table put together by Cheese Pretty Please. Yummy green juice for the kids and sangria for adults by Nate Parker really complimented the meal. The photographs from this day were captured by the incredible Kara Coleen; her photos will help us remember this magical day. 

Talented Vendors

Little Legends - Exceptional Men in Black History Inspired Birthday on Hello Rascal Kids
“Thank you for sharing Lennon’s Special Celebration with Hello Rascal Kids”

Full Event Gallery

Shared by Victoria Petrovsky, mother of one rascal, age 2.

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Stars Inspired 1st Birthday

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Star light, star bright, it’s a first birthday on display tonight.

Star Inspired Birthday on Hello Rascal Kids

Inspiration can strike at any time, just take a look at this gorgeous dessert table inspired by the song “Yellow” by Coldplay!

Star Inspired Birthday on Hello Rascal Kids

Ombre blues, grays, and golds provide a cool color scheme for Elliot’s 1st birthday.

Star Inspired Birthday on Hello Rascal Kids
Star Inspired Birthday on Hello Rascal Kids

The 1st birthday cake smash is a tradition we never get tired of seeing! Cute babies and sweet cake?

L-O-V-E

And of course, what would a birthday be without your family? Shine on little Star!

Star Inspired Birthday on Hello Rascal Kids

From Lilian Hsyu of Just Merried Events ~ “This was a very special party for Elliot and his family, not just because he was turning 1, but also because this was the first time they would celebrate with friends and family after making their big move home from Texas to California. Elliot's mom, Kelley, really wanted to throw a special celebration to commemorate their California homecoming and Elliot's birthday, but she was still in Texas trying to plan the party. She and I connected through a Pasadena moms group on Facebook, and I'm grateful she trusted me and my coordinator Alexis to do the legwork for her. We toured a few Pasadena venues for her and made vendor recommendations based on her preferences, style, and budget to keep her decision-making process easy. I'm so glad we brought on Caitlin Alohilani Photography to capture all the details + fun - I've come to realize that having a photographer who is great with kids is so important to getting adorable shots of the little ones!

Kelley really loved a star themed dessert table she found on Pinterest featuring lyrics from "Yellow" by Coldplay, so we built around those ideas to tie the details together. The dessert table backdrop was customized and built on site by Outsource It, and we added the lettering done by Letters to You for the final touch. The galaxy cake & stellar desserts by Janice Wong were the perfect touches for the dessert table. I especially love the little pillow fort we built using a play bed at Playlab - we turned it into a twinkling night sky with floating stars and clouds. My favorite detail was the favors kids got to take home - cotton tees that said 'Shine On" customized with each little guest's name on the back. I think the parents were happiest with the tacos made on site by Tacos al Gusto - OK, that wasn’t exactly a celestial theme, but you can't go wrong with having a taco cart!”

Talented Vendors

Party reviewed by Crystal Zeyen, mother of one rascal, 1 year old. Shared by Lilian Hsyu of Just Merried Events.

Hot Chocolate for the Holidays

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The holiday season is “s’more” about laughter and cheer and finally, that time is here! What’s even better than cozying up next to the fireplace with a cup of hot chocolate? Pairing it with your favorite wintery treats and building your own dessert bar! Celebrate with your loved ones and show off your artistic side with our simple step-by-step how-to guide on making a holiday inspired hot chocolate & dessert bar right in the comfort of your own home.

Hot Chocolate for the Holidays on Hello Rascal Kids. Lifestyle blog for the modern families, parents and kids.

The Setup
Find a place in your home that will be best suited for setting up your DIY Hot Chocolate Bar. Make sure that there will be enough room for the cups, the hot chocolate, and all of the toppings. We like to use three different coordinated textured elements on our bar setups. For example, we could use fabric, wood cutting boards, glass bowls, and glass cake stands. We also try to have varying heights for the items. For example, place some of the toppings in boxes and others on top of stands. Gather a few holiday decorations to add to the display - we love the personal touch of handmade signage. These little details make the Hot Chocolate Bar extra special.

Mugs
Ideally, using mugs that you already have on hand is the easiest option. But, if you don’t have enough mugs on hand, you’ll need to buy some. One option is to head to your local thrift store to look for Christmas mugs. Thrift stores usually have TONS of mugs and having an assortment of mismatched mugs can add a fun look to your table. If you’d rather not mess with glass mugs, or you’re going to be serving a large group, disposable coffee cups with lids are also a great option. Of course, using disposable cups also means you won’t have to wash all those mugs after your party.

Hot Chocolate for the Holidays on Hello Rascal Kids. Lifestyle blog for the modern families, parents and kids.

Hot Chocolate
We usually make our own homemade hot chocolate, which is actually really easy to do. Once it is made, we keep it heated in a slow cooker and use a ladle to pour it into cups for serving. Alternatively, you could also use a hot beverage dispenser if you have one on hand. If you are short on time or don’t want to make it homemade, you can certainly use instant hot chocolate mix packets. Place the packets in a nice basket or tin to keep them together. If you are serving a larger crowd, you might want to buy a multi-serving container of hot chocolate mix, rather than individual packets. This mix can be displayed in glass bowl or canister with a scoop. If you use the dry hot chocolate mix, you’ll need to have hot water handy, so I would recommend using a hot beverage dispenser.

Hot Chocolate for the Holidays on Hello Rascal Kids. Lifestyle blog for the modern families, parents and kids.

Topping Ideas
We tend to go bit overboard with toppings, but you don’t have to. The basics like marshmallows and chocolate chips are sufficient. If you want to go a step further, you can also easily add some crushed candy canes. If you’re looking to make a bountiful spread, there are lots of toppings that you can pick up that require little or no prep. Some of the additional toppings we’ve enjoyed over the years include chocolate syrup, caramel syrup, caramels, coconut flakes, flavored syrups or creamers (traditionally used in coffee drinks), chopped candy bars, and assorted sprinkles. Place each item in a bowl with the appropriate serving utensil and you’re ready to go.

Hot Chocolate for the Holidays on Hello Rascal Kids. Lifestyle blog for the modern families, parents and kids.

Hot Chocolate in a Jar Recipe

Gift idea: Homemade hot chocolate mix in a jar is a great way to spread the holiday cheer. In each jar, layer cocoa powder, powdered milk, sugar, chocolate chips, candy canes, and marshmallows. Screw on the lids and affix a personalized label with the instructions below:

To serve: Remove the marshmallows and mix together the remaining ingredients in the jar. Bring 1 cup of milk to a simmer over low heat. Add mix and stir until completely combined. Pour into cups or mugs and top with marshmallows before serving

Peppermint Hot Chocolate Recipe

  • ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

  • ¼ cup powdered milk

  • ½ cup sugar

  • ½ cup chocolate chips

  • ½ cup candy cane, crushed

  • ½ cup marshmallows

  • Serves 4

Photographer: Simply Adri Photography
Location: Bonjour Fete
Desserts: Merely Sweets
Signage: Scribble Story Design
Invitations & Stir Sticks: Jen Simpson Designs

Originally published on Skybox Event Productions. By Ngoc Nguyen Lay, Head Rascal. Mother of two rascals, ages 5 and 7.