Being an intentional host…

Have you ever walked into a party and immediately wondered if you were at the right place or if you were supposed to be there? Maybe the room was quiet, no one greeted you, and you weren’t quite sure where to sit or what to do. As a host, the last thing you want is for your guests to feel that way. Its not that the host is wanting it to feel that way, but its usually that as the host you are super busy! Whether you’re planning a birthday, shower, or corporate event, a warm and inviting atmosphere makes all the difference. Here are a few simple ways to ensure your guests feel seen, welcomed, and excited to be part of your event. These are random “behind the backdrop” details that are for the most part inexpensive but worth it! Let’s dive deeper than the party decor and food for just a few minutes…

1. Greet Them with Intention

Assign someone to be at the entrance as guests arrive. This person should have a friendly personality and be comfortable welcoming people. They can let guests know where to place gifts, guide them to the food or activity area, or simply help them find a seat. First impressions truly set the tone, and having someone dedicated to hospitality helps guests feel appreciated right away. This also helps with the flow of the party. As the host, you can’t always be the greeter, so its important to plan ahead.

For a child’s birthday party, greet them into the “magic scene”. You could have bubbles going past the door.

Your greeter (if a willing participant) could welcome them into the “safari” for a jungle themed party. Combine point #2 below with jungle music and you’ll be a winner!

We did a softball themed party once, and we had Matt’s dad dressed as the “popcorn” guy with red suspenders. He went around yelling “popcorn…get your popcorn” so much we thought we were going to dream about it! It’s one of my favorite memories!

2. Set the Vibe with Music

Music might seem like a small detail, but it plays a big role in creating the right vibe. If you’re throwing a beach-themed birthday party, ocean sounds or playful tunes like “Bubbles” can bring the theme to life. Hosting an 80s-themed roller-skating party? A playlist full of 80s hits can instantly energize the space. A farm party…you guessed…animal noises! Disney party…easy peasy…disney music! No matter the event, thoughtful music choices show that you planned with intention and care. It doesn’t have to be loud or even all over the venue. It could be at the entrance!

3. Use Your TV to Elevate the Space

If your venue or home has a smart TV, use it to enhance your décor. One easy trick is to find “framed TV art” on YouTube that matches your theme or the season. It’s free and creates a polished look that guests often notice. For the 4th of July, it took less than 2 minutes to search “Patriotic Framed TV Art” and was a great addition to the room.

Another idea is to create a slideshow of photos—either current or nostalgic—and display it using a USB flash drive. While this takes a little setup time, it adds a personal touch that guests always appreciate, especially for milestone events or family-centered gatherings.

4. Send Guests Home with a Thoughtful Favor

Party favors don’t need to be expensive to be memorable. For one of my daughters’ birthday parties, I printed free mermaid-themed coloring pages from the internet, rolled them up like scrolls, and tied on two crayons with a ribbon. It was simple, budget-friendly, and the kids loved it. (Although I’ll admit—I also sent each child home with a goldfish that year, which I wouldn’t recommend unless you’re prepared for a few surprised parents!)

I don’t always do this for each family gathering, but I always did this for my children’s birthday parties.

Know your audience (I’ve done this the hard way!)…noisy, messy, simple…all the things. It probably wasn’t my best moment to gift goldfish to children…especially when the fish were destined to not even make it home alive…

My mom always searched the earth for her 4th of July Kids treats. One thing she would include was a box of poppers (these little white paper pieces that pop when thrown).

How cool are the styrofoam airplanes from Dollar Tree? Add a tag “Thanks for flying by.”

Basically…I believe that you can break up anything and put a ribbon on it. For instance, buy a box of sidewalk chalk. Separate each piece and tie a ribbon around it with a tag that says “You made my party colorful! Thanks for coming!”

My mind loves to race when it comes to party favors & budgets! Call me up and let’s get creative together!

5. Add a Touch of Greenery

If you’re hosting in your home (or a cozy home-like venue), one of the easiest ways to make guests feel special is by placing a small bouquet or twig of greenery in the guest bathroom. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy — I usually just clip something fresh from my yard!

My mom always taught me to add a little live greenery cutting to each room, and I’ve found that this small effort goes a long way in creating a welcoming atmosphere. I personally save this detail for family gatherings or adult parties, but you can use it anytime you want the space to feel a little more put together.

6. Disposable Hand Towels: A Small Upgrade with Big Impact

This is really random…but worth it. Do yourself (and your guests) a favor — look up “disposable hand towels” on Amazon. They’re a little more expensive than regular napkins, but they’re totally worth it. I prefer the simple white ones. They feel more elevated than the napkins from the grocery store and can be used in the bathroom or at the table as napkins. Bonus: They don’t shred or fall apart when wet! They also don’t feel like cardboard when you wipe your mouth! ….You’ll thank me later.

Creating a thoughtful atmosphere doesn’t have to be complicated. With just a few intentional touches, you can turn any event into an experience guests will remember for all the right reasons.

Behind the BackDrop: NIGHT OWL BIRTHDAY PARTY

The Night Owl Birthday Party: A Sweet and Timeless Celebration

Throwing a memorable party doesn’t always mean sticking to the trends; sometimes, the best themes evolve naturally. That’s exactly what happened when we hosted the Night Owl Birthday Party! With a little creativity (and a bonus room next door, thanks to my sister and brother-in-law), we transformed a space into the ultimate Night Owl Clubhouse. From there, the magic began!

Though the kids from that party are now 18 (where does the time go?!), the bones of this theme remain timeless and adaptable for any group of kids. The process of bringing it to life was both exciting and rewarding.

The Birth of the Idea

The Night Owl theme started as a simple concept and quickly blossomed into something much more. I wanted the kids to feel like they were stepping into a cozy, exclusive clubhouse where adventure awaited them. But I also wanted a personal touch—something that would make the night truly unique.

Creating the Night Owl Experience

The centerpiece of the party was the idea of adopting their own owl! Of course, I couldn’t find plush owls to purchase at the time, so I rolled up my sleeves and made my own. (To be clear, I’m no sewing expert—threading a needle now feels like an achievement in itself—but I made it work!) Along with the handmade owls, I created adoption certificates to make the experience extra special.

We also added fun details to enhance the clubhouse vibe—pillows, blankets, string lights, and some snacks perfect for midnight munchies. It was all about creating a cozy, magical atmosphere.

Making it Timeless

The beauty of a clubhouse party is its versatility. You can customize it for both boys and girls, changing up the theme to match your child’s interests. Whether it’s a woodland theme, a space station, or a detective hideout, the clubhouse concept works for all ages.

My Takeaway for You

The Night Owl Birthday Party is proof that you don’t need a big budget or expert skills to create something unforgettable. Sometimes, it’s the little touches and the thought you put into an idea that make all the difference.

If you’re planning a special celebration, I hope you can take inspiration from this and make it your own. Build a clubhouse, create a theme, and let your imagination take flight!

The table was set up on the back porch and was made to look like a bed. The headboard was cut out of cardboard from our local cardboard factory. The girls (plus my nephews) started out eating! Obviously table settings are much more elaborate now…but for its time…ya know… it was a cutie.

My nephew, Walt, always enjoyed entertaining the girls…and as you can tell they were giving him a few laughs! Walt plays a big role in many more birthday parties to come…especially blowing out candles!

The snaggle tooth birthday girl with her cake!

Then the pinata chaos…what’s a party without a big stick swinging at everyone’s face, right?

More cardboard for the entrance of the “clubhouse”! As you can see, they were allowed to decorate their clubhouse. I was very trusting…but yet this was a fun part for them!

The calm before the storm…

All the lil night owls…ready to party!

They all received bags that were filled with “trading items”. They knew beforehand that they could also bring their own items to “trade” with friends. I told the parents that they would be provided with items also.

So we entered into our time of trading. They had a blast and my daughter still remembers this to date! They traded their hearts out!

Then we had an adoption ceremony where they adopted their hand sewn owls. The owls each had their own certificates and they were able to name them!

They took very good care of their lil owls!

Certificate Wording:

Official Adoption Certificate

Adopted this very night, the night of April 5, 2013 in the Secret Owl Clubhouse. As my clubhouse friends are my witnesses, I hereby proclaim that I will care for my owl pal as long as the stars and moon hang in the sky!

My owls name is:

My owl weighs:

My owls favorite food is:

My owl likes to…. wake up early / sleep late

More trading time!

So much fun was had by all! Absolute chaos!

Comparing certificates!

Owning their clubhouse…

Sweetness!

This was left behind by her friend, Rylee. When I saw this, I knew that it was all worth it!

Behind the BackDrop: Mad Scientist Party

We are thrilled to kick off a new series of posts: Behind the BackDrop! I want to share stories, inspirations, and creative journeys when raising my children. I’ve told you before that I am a social worker, so my theory is that these parties were fun creative outlets for me outside of work.

While my job as a balloon artist is to make your party picture perfect, I want to remind you that most of my treasured memories are from the least perfect moments.

To kick off this series, I’m sharing the story of the UGLIEST but most fun party I ever hosted. It turned out to be one of the most loved by all the kids!

For my youngest child, Megan’s, 9th birthday, we hosted a “Mad Scientist” theme party. I’d love to be back in that very room, surrounded by all the little mad scientist wanna be’s. I had parents tell me for weeks that their children came home wanting to do science experiments. SO FUN! From balloons being stuck with skewers without popping, to volcanoes erupting, there was something for all!

First, let’s look at a few of the pictures!

I have to admit, I had the advantage on this one. My sister is a college science teacher and one of our long time family friends, Poppy McDonald, is a retired science teacher. She pulled out ALL THE TRICKS for these kids!

They each had a clipboard with a printed task sheet to complete. They all took this VERY serious!

We provided gloves, mad scientist glasses, aprons, and all the gadgets that they needed for the science experiment. They had pseudo scientist name badges! Again, all very inexpensive touches!

Peep …Walt the cousin…he’s a faithful attender…

A mess was made but the smiles were big!

One of their tasks was to place a skewer through an inflated balloon.

Yes…that’s me…the “Natty Professor” with the birthday girl and science teacher. I was just there for moral support at this point!

Our local cake lady, Jenny Williams, made her cake!

Every detail was covered down to the drink mix!

As I said before, this was the UGLIEST party ever hosted, but one of the TOP parties in our books.

We hung black tarp on the walls of a carport and also covered the tables with it. There were several black lights and all other decorations were neon. It gave the feel of a true science lab. We wanted to do this outside so that we didn’t have to worry about explosions! Haha!

Can I give you a little hint for any theme? PLAY MUSIC! It adds such a special touch for your guests to walk in to. For this one we played bubbly noises over and over again!

I really didn’t have alot of money in this party. I told you that I had a small advantage, but you might too…I borrowed the aprons, bottles, and other tools from a local school. The other decorations came from the dollar tree. I believe that I also borrowed the black lights. My costs were associated with the ingredients that were needed for the experienments (vinegar, baking soda, skewers, balloons, etc). I had WAAYYYY more time in the planning, than I did in money paid. I’ll be honest, it did take significant planning (but I leaned on my pros in science heavily!).

As you can tell, parties do not have to be picture perfect. Have fun with your children while you can! Making sure your guests have fun and feel welcomed…now that’s a perfect party!