The Benefits of an MBA

When I was in college I had a rough start. My freshman year wasn’t that great because I had to live at home and I felt left out from all my friends in the dorms.  I soon started making it my goal to graduate so I could get a job and move out. I didn’t really think beyond just getting a job. I wasn't thinking about getting an MBA because I was young and naïve and didn’t realize how many benefits it would have in life.


Now that I am much older and I have my master’s degree I can carry my lessons learned onto my kids. Stay in school – get the degree and the MBA. The truth is, it doesn’t matter when you get your MBA, just as long as you do. Having an MBA can bring so many benefits to life.

One benefit is simply getting an interview. Whether it’s at a new company or the company you are currently working for, those three little words can have such a bearing on getting in the door.

The second benefit is having an advantage over other candidates for a job. If two people are fairly even on their experience and personality, the person with the MBA will most likely get the job. As for promotions, bosses love those with MBAs. When it’s time for an organizational changeup, the MBA will come out on top.

Having an MBA can also give you confidence to change careers, run for a board, or lead a group. It can even give you the basic background skills to start a business. For example, if you are going to start a party planning business, you would have the skills needed to make a business plan, write professional letters, and work within a budget. You will also have those three little words on your business card, which believe it or not can mean A LOT. If you are considering an MBA, it really will help you in more ways than you can ever imagine.  It was the best thing I ever did education and career-wise.

*This is a sponsored post for the University of Denver, however, all the points and views are my own.

Redneck Wine Glass

My husband found these on Amazon.com and I just had to share!  It's a redneck wine glass.  I thought it was actually kind of cute.  It would be fun to do for a camping party theme or a tailgate theme.  I know my kids would think they were fun to use. 

The Original Rednek Wine Glass

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004HZR94O/ref=s9_simh_gw_p79_d1_g79_i3?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0KH2QTXQ267GQG7AW2Q4&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.  I hope this holiday season brings you happiness, health, and hopeful thoughts for 2012.

Here we are having some fun on at the mountain close to our house.  And yes, I live in the desert.  We are so lucky to have snow less than an hour away in the wintertime.

My boys and hubby.

 

 

I have many goals and resolutions for 2012.  Most of them have to do with living a healthy lifestyle so I can be around many years to come for my kids. 

See you in the New Year!  

Sports Party

My son is obsessed with sports - all sports.  When he was asked what type of birthday theme he wanted for his 6th birthday he answered, "Sports, All Sports."  And there the challenge began.  It was so difficult to bring this all together and make the theme simple and clean.  I finally decided that green would be my main color since that is Connor's favorite color.  After purchasing 50 green foam fingers, I know wished I had bought red for the Arizona Wildcats.  Live and Learn!  The kids loved them anyhow and I am sure the parents appreciated the ride home with them hitting their siblings (oops).

My other main gift for the favors was pom poms for the girls (from Oriental Trading Co.) and water bottles with no imprint.  I got a great deal from a local advertising company, Minkus Advertising.  They really are the best!

I also had a bunch of various items for the kids to choose from so they could each bring home a swag bag like the movie stars do.  I think it was a hit but it was also a little chaotic so I had to enlist help from about 3 moms.  The kids lined up nicely and got to pick their items.  Luckily, each child got a foam finger and I had leftovers to give to the relatives.  Like I said, too bad I didn't pick red. 

I will post the invitations here too.  I made a fake ticket for Connor's Sports Zone.  Connor actually got annoyed when I kept saying Sports Zone because he didn't know what that meant.  I told him it just sounded cool and we needed a name. 

I got a lot of inspiration from Shindig Parties to go.  I can't take credit for this theme at all since she gave me all my ideas and she is very talented!  Amanda's website is http://amandaparkerandfamily.blogspot.com/  and her shop can be found here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/shindigparties

I purchased my striped straws (not pictured) and polka dot balloons from The Sugar Diva.  The service was great and I will use them again for sure.

My husband made this after we got the idea from http://amandaparkerandfamily.blogspot.com/

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Party Etiquette for Kids' Parties

There are basic rules of etiquette when throwing a kids' party.  I am not claiming to know them all.  After all, I was raised in a very middle class family that didn't even throw birthday parties, unless it was with my cousins.  I have learned a few of these tips on my own and from attending other birthday parties.  Here are just a few and I plan to add to the list as I gather some more.  Please leave comments if I have left something out.

1.  Invitations:  Send invitations (via email, phone, Evite, snail mail, or hand delivery) at least two weeks in advance.  When you send an invitation a week or less in advance it might be insulting.  It looks as if you think the recipient has nothing better to do than attend your party.  

2.  RSVPs:  Be cautious yet obvious that an RSVP is requested.  Add your Email, phone and possibly text information for people to get in touch with you.  I know that RSVPs are a huge problem in America.  I don't understand why people can't be courteous and respond to an invitation.  Parties are such hard work and can be so costly when food, party favors, and prizes come into play.  Here are some tricks that might help:

- Please RSVP by "this date" for food count.

- Please RSVP and include shirt size.  (This might entice people to RSVP if they know they are getting a shirt, etc.) 

- Please RSVP and include siblings names. (This might peak their interest as their sibling will be included in any personalization of the party)

I did read a post on a website in which someone did not include the party date to make people call for the date.  I thought this was rude and tricky but I am sure it worked!  I would stick to conventional wording on RSVPs.  If you become too pushy it may come off wrong and people may not want to attend your party anyhow!

3.  Siblings:  Should you invite siblings to a party?  I have run into this problem too often.  I have been invited to a party and my husband is working.  Either bring the sibling or find a babysitter.  The proper thing to do is kindly respond to to RSVP but to ask if siblings are attending or if you should find a sitter.  Don't tell the party host that you cannot attend unless the host does not accept the sibling as well.  If this is the case, maybe RSVP as no.  If you know the person very well it should not be an issue, but if this is a new friend at school, it might be best to leave the sibling at home or with a sitter.  As the kids become older, the parties will be drop off anyhow and it won't be an issue.  This is really just a problem for preschool - 2nd grade parties.  My thought it that the siblings should be fine to attend as long as it is not a specialized party.  Specialized parties could have a size limit, cost per child, or personalized party favors.

As for my parties, I always says siblings are welcome if they RSVP.  I don't want to run short on food, prizes, or party favors.  I would much rather find out in advance than be surprised the day of the party and be running around my house trying to find more party bags.  I always make extras but not more than 5.

4.  Party Favors:  You must have party favors!!!!  I don't care how low budget your party is this time.  If you invite someone to a party and they take time out of their precious day to attend and bring a gift, they should receive a parting gift - a thank you gift for their time.  Seriously, it could be as simple as a pencil with cute tags attached with bow that say, "Thank you for attending."  You can even get things donated by companies.  Trust me, this works!  I requested whistles from the American Lung Association, stickers, awards from a running store, pencils, pens, even those squeezy toys from a promotional company.  Promotional companies receive samples so they can spare a few giveaways if you promise to show their label/logo at your party or add it to the back of the thank you note.  Cross marketing always works!  You can also send a thank you note and include pictures with the kids and their parting gifts.  I have to make a separate post on party favors because they are my favorite thing in the world.  I know it's wrong, but I always judge a party on the party favors.  It's the finishing touch to a party and its the frosting on the cake.  It is something to "WoW" the child on their way out and to leave a lasting thought in their head that they had a great time at the party and they can't wait for next year's!

5:  Food:  Make sure there aren't any children with food allergies.  I try to not include peanuts in any of my parties because so many children have a peanut allergy.  You may want to include on the invitation in very small font, *Please let me know if your child has any food allergies.  This would be especially true if the party is a drop-off party for ages 6-8.

6.  Drinks:  It might be wise to not include alcohol at your child's parties if there are kids from school and to limit it to just close friends/family parties.  There is nothing like drunk parents running around ignoring their parental duties and then driving home their children.  Let's prevent accidents and just leave it out for a few hours. 

And while we are on the subject of drinks, um, could you please have some???  I have been to a few parties in the past few years in which there are NO beverages for the parents.  A party is the time for people to relax, have fun, enjoy a nice beverage and some tasty treats.  A party with no drinks is like a Target with no snack bar,  a Costco with no samples, and a JoAnns with no sales. 

Drinks ideas:  Soda in varieties with STRAWS available, Lemonade, Punch, Italian sodas, Crystal Light, V8 splash, flavored water, and alcohol free shakes.  Please don't think that plain water or water bottle will suffice.  Plain is not the way to go when throwing a party!

7:  Agenda:  Always write out an agenda before your party.  Type it up and give a copy to your spouse or co-host but make sure guests don't see it.  Make sure to stick to the schedule and as the first guest tells you they need to leave (and its close to closing time), make sure to bring them their parting gift and walk them to the door or exiting area.  Thank them for coming and tell them what a pleasure it was to have them there.  Eventually, all the guests will get the hint and see the parting gifts.  Try to remember that guests may have other errands to attend to and they don't want to be rude by leaving.  It will be a nice push for them to see the end is in sight.

Gifts - to open or not?  That is another article for another time.

Homemade Valentine Idea

Before:

Photo with slit and added candy: 

I kept seeing Valentine's with lollipops and wanted to use something a little different like Smarties.  This is what I came up with.  The kids thought it was a silly idea until they saw themselves holding a Smarties and agreed it was cute.

Free Shipping at Birthday Express

I have used Birthday Express and really love their site.  They have great customer service and products.  I ordered a pinata from there and it came in perfect condition. 

http://www.birthdayexpress.com/?REF=EMC-020711CEnewsShip-head

Free Shipping on Purchase of $25 or more.  Use PROMO CODE: ROE-093

House Party

Have you heard of houseparty.com?  They offer sponsored parties and you get free stuff!  You invite your friends, promote the product, post pictures, and have a great time!

Check it out here and apply for various parties.  It's free!

http:///www.houseparty.com

100th Day of School Cake

Cub Scout Cake Contest

Cowboy Birthday Party

My little boy recently had a cowboy birthday party and it was a hit with all the kids.  We asked them all to dress in western wear.  We also had these things planned:
A general store in which we gave them money to spend

• Panning for gold
• A Cowboy boot pinata
• A Jumping castle
• Cowboy Print boxes for all to bring home with little gifts.

Here are some more pictures over a Catch my Party.  They have a great site:
http://catchmyparty.com/parties/connors-cowboy-party

Snowman cake

I made this cake for my son's class.  The kids loved it!  Just bake a regular cake and cut around edges to form a snowman.  Use Oreo straws for arms and peach ring cut for nose.

Candied Pretzels

I found this on a blog and cannot take credit.  I used leftover candy from Christmas stockings.  Bake at 300 degrees until candy melted.

Smash candy lightly over pretzel and let cool on wax paper.

Display on a fancy platter.  They didn't turn out like I would have liked but they were eaten!

Mini Brownies

My friend Leslie made these for a girl baby shower and I thought I would try my hand at making them for Valentine's day.  So quick and easy!  Make brownie mix, use mini ice cream scooper to put mix in each section (use cooking spray and do not use paper cups).  After they bake and cool, place in each cup and decorate.  She said not to bake in cups because they get greasy.  Great idea!

Gotta love Betty Crocker to save some time.  I am still gonna try Wilton's version because this one had a bit of a "cheap, premade taste" to it.

Pirate Party Ideas

Simple brown bags purchased from Target with crossbones pasted on and crossbone ribbon.  Gift tags made with scrapbooking paper and basic white paper. 

A treasure chest borrowed and filled with boxes and then layered in gold shiny paper from the Dollar Tree.  Glue or tape jewels, coins, and other pirate goods.

I ordered a plain cake from Costco and decorated it myself. So easy!

More ideas to come as I upload the pictures......