ML Interest Tag: bridal

9 Scenic Spots to Watch the Sunset in Portland

by Annette Benedetti

Show your kids the meaning of “magic hour” by taking them to one of the best sunset spots in all of Portland

With summer in full swing, a sunset viewing party is something you need to get on the calendar—pronto. It’s quite possibly our all-time favorite free summer family activity. And although we know many of your favorite city picnic spots and hiking trails easily double as sunset-viewing destinations, we think you’ll be surprised by a few of the best places to see the sunset in and around Portland. Head to the waterfront or up to the mountains to see some of the best sunsets Oregon has to offer. Really want to make the most of the evening out with your little ones? Pack some popcorn and all your stargazing supplies to see what you can glimpse in a galaxy far, far away once the sun has said “good night” and a blanket of sparkling stars fill the night sky.

Mt. Tabor

The Eastside’s favorite dormant volcano, Mt. Tabor, offers plenty of hillside space for picnics, fun, and exploration. But when it comes to dusk, it's definitely one of the best places to watch the sunset. Hike the trails, play at the playground, or stroll to the top, then settle in to watch the sun put on a show over the city skyline and the west hills. Just remember that although the park is open until midnight, it's closed to motor traffic after 10 p.m. and all day on Wednesdays.

Insider Tip: The top’s views can be somewhat limited, so spread a blanket out on the west slope over the reservoir. You’ll get to sit and relax and still enjoy the view.

S.E. 60th St. & S.E. Salmon St.
Online: portlandoregon.gov

 

Mocks Crest & Skidmore Bluffs

This simple park on a hill offers tree-shaded areas, grassy open spaces and views of the beautiful Willamette River. You might have to come early to get a spot at this locals' favorite, but the views on the hillside are worth the effort. The bluffs tower above a steep drop down to Swan Island, and the views just can't be beat. This classic picnic site runs for miles above the Willamette River. This may be the best spot North Portland has to offer for killer sunset views.

2206 N. Skidmore Terrace
Online: outdoorproject.com

 

Stonehenge in the Gorge

Cross the veil at twilight and find an otherworldly vista at Stonehenge, Washington. Rather than an ancient Druidic worship site, this replica was built in 1918 as a WWI memorial, but you can still look for a few witches and goblins between the massive stones. Three miles west of the Maryhill Museum of Art, just off Highway 14, the perfect replica is perched on the edge of the Gorge, offering stunning views both ways. It’s the more affordable (and maybe more beautiful) way of visiting Stonehenge.

35 Maryhill Museum Dr.
Goldendale, WA
Online: maryhillmuseum.org

Related: Celebrate Summer at These Amazing Picnic Spots

Pittock Mansion

Built in 1914, the mansion on the hill is a popular destination in Portland. You can take tours inside as late as 5 p.m., but arguably the best attraction is the view of the city. The best views actually face east, but if you weren’t up for the sunrise, you’ll still catch a beautiful scene of the alpenglow on Mt. Hood as the sun sets behind you, casting purple and pink light on the snowy slopes. Also, the extensive grounds of the mansion are a great place for a picnic.

Insider Tip: If a pre-sunset mansion visit is on your list, you can score tickets online to make the trip easier. It's free for kids under 6.

3229 N.W. Pittock Dr.
Online: pittockmansion.org

 

Cathedral Park

Catch the last of the rays between the cathedral-like buttresses of the St. John’s Bridge. Whether you picnic down by the edge of the Willamette or higher in the park, you’ll see the sun dip slowly behind the trees of Forest Park on the west side of the river. It’s debatable whether it’s better under the bridge or above, so come back and test them both out. 

N. Edison St. & Pittsburg Ave.
Online: portlandoregon.gov

 

Council Crest Park

Nestled in the southwest hills, the top of Council Crest offers stunning 360-degree views of the city. You’ll catch the sun setting in the west, and if you turn around you can enjoy the light reflecting off the mountains in the east. It’s a 3.3 mile hike up the top (you can also drive, if that's easier), where you’ll find picnic tables and a vista viewing point with all the best views.

S.W. Council Crest Dr.
Online: portlandoregon.gov

Related: 6 Family Forest Park Hikes You Can Do Now

Eastbank Esplanade

Stay close to home by simply heading to the river for the nightly views. Sit behind the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) on the pier, take an evening stroll or ride bikes up the esplanade and enjoy the glow. The 1.5 mile path includes sections on the water, benches and plenty of place to sit and gaze. Head to the canoe launch and dip your toes on a hot night, or stay up on the main section and watch the sun set behind the Hawthorne Bridge.

S.E. Water Ave. & Hawthorne Blvd.
Online: portlandoregon.gov

Related: Free & Cheap Museum Days at Portland's Best Museums

 

Powell Butte Nature Park

The rocky volcanoes of Powell Butte are home to wide meandering trails through a surprising variety of landscapes—wildflower meadows, old-growth forest and cottonwood groves. Many trails are paved, making them an easy stroll, and at the top, markers point to surrounding mountains like Mt. Hood, Mt. Adams, Mt. Jefferson and more. At 600-feet high, it’s a spectacular spot to watch the sun dip. And dusk is the best time to look for the park’s normal residents like bats, raccoons, gray foxes and deer.

16160 S.E. Powell Blvd.
Online: portlandoregon.gov

 

Angel’s Rest

For a spectacular view of the entire gorge, challenge yourself to the Angel’s Rest hike. This is best for older kids who can handle the five-mile round trip hike up a steep slope or kids young enough to be carried. The natural amphitheater offers an incredible perspective once you reach the top. There’s a field of boulders on the west side before you reach the ‘summit,’ which is likely a better place to watch the sun go down. Give yourself plenty of time to reach the top before sunset and bring flashlights and headlamps for the hike down.

Insider Tip: There are no guardrails, so be mindful of safety and keep your little ones close!

Bridal Veil Exit #28
Online: stateparks.oregon.gov

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JOANN Launches Nationwide Masks for Schools Program

by Jennifer Swartvagher

While plans for the fall academic season are not set in stone, one thing we do know is that students, teachers and staff will be wearing masks when they go back to the classroom. JOANN Stores, the nation’s largest retailer of fabric and crafts, is helping to prepare the nation’s most at-risk schools to get back safely with a new Masks for Schools program launching nationwide. With every pre-made protective face mask purchased from the chain, it will donate one to a school in need.

mask

“We have been on a mission to protect Americans by way of cloth masks since the onset of this pandemic, and masks will continue to be one of the most effective ways to mitigate the spread for the foreseeable future,” said Wade Miquelon, CEO & President of JOANN. “We realize that as schools – from preschools to universities – resume in-person classes, they will be in need of masks. We aim to continue the mission we set forth in March – to help mask and protect all, while supporting those on the frontlines, and regardless of any ability to pay.” 

This new effort comes as JOANN’s “Make to Give” DIY mask campaign has reached an incredible milestone, providing an estimated 200 million masks to Americans by way of store and corporate donations, and customer mask-making purchases. Larger coordinated efforts to support hospitals and healthcare systems have included JOANN’s partnerships with Neiman Marcus and David’s Bridal.

“The response has been incredible, and we know that more than ever, people are looking for ways to help,” said Miquelon. “We launched our free Make to Give mask effort to help them do that, and we want to continue empowering America to give to those in need. We know some of the nation’s most at-risk school districts are already looking for ways to protect their students and staff, and we’re proud to be able to start contributing now.”

JOANN’s longstanding partnership with Kids In Need Foundation will allow the company to help serve those most under-resourced with the protective equipment they may not be able to obtain otherwise.

“As schools across America prepare for the start of classes in just two-to-three months, we know there are many challenges,” said Corey Gordon, CEO of KINF. “We are thrilled that our longtime partner JOANN – which donates millions of dollars in crafts and materials every year to underserved teachers and students nationwide – is playing such an active role in ensuring teachers can teach and learners can learn, in a safe and healthy environment.”

For more on the Masks for Schools program, visit www.joann.com/masks-for-schools. For free mask-making tutorials, patterns and updates on the Make to Give effort, visit joann.com/maketogive. To see how JOANN is working to protect Team Members and customers, see the latest at joann.com/joanns-response-to-the-coronavirus.

*Editor’s Note: According to the CDC, children under age 2, or anyone who has trouble breathing, is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance should not use a cloth face covering.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: JOANN Fabrics

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Your Guide for When Stores Will Reopen

by Jennifer Swartvagher

RetailMeNot has created a list of companies that have announced their reopening plans and schedules. You will need to check with your local store for updated hours and the latest information as policies might vary by location. Each retailer will be following safety procedures pursuant to local guidelines. 

Shopping Mall

Abercrombie & Fitch

The retailer has started to reopen select stores based on state and local regulations, including locations in Atlanta, Boise and Dallas, and will continue to open on a rolling basis. Upon reopening, staff will follow safety and health procedures, including the use of personal protective equipment, social distancing, contactless payment options and more.

 

American Eagle

American Eagle has reopened 43 stores and plans to open another 600 by the end of May. As stores reopen, the retailer will implement a host of new health and safety measures, including offering masks and hand sanitizer to all customers, curbside pickup, a touchless return process, temperature screening and more. Although the retailer will still allow customers to try on items in fitting rooms, each room will be sanitized after. Any garments not purchased will be quarantined in a box for 24 hours.

 

Apple

Apple closed all locations outside of China during the coronavirus pandemic, but the company now has plans to reopen in certain U.S. locations after reopening in Austria, Australia and South Korea. Apple will begin by reopening with five stores in Alabama, Alaska, Idaho and South Carolina.

The tech retailer is still encouraging customers to purchase items online when possible, and will focus on providing customer service and support through the Genius Bar at open locations.

 

Bed Bath & Beyond

The company plans to reopen approximately 20 retail locations, including its Christmas Tree Shops brand, by May 22, subject to state and local guidelines. buybuy BABY and Harmon stores have remained open during the pandemic to provide essential goods.

 

Belk

As of May 1, the department store has reopened stores in South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Arkansas and Oklahoma. Stores will begin by opening with limited hours from noon to 6 p.m., limiting the number of people in store to ensure social distancing standards and offering curbside pickup.

 

Best Buy

Starting in early May, Best Buy began opening 200 stores on an appointment-only basis. Appointments can be made online or by phone and will include a detailed check-in process before each appointment where a sales associate walks through safety guidelines for customers.

 

Chico’s

Starting May 4, Chico’s began the rollout of three phases of reopening. First, the fulfillment of national orders through store inventories; second, buy-online-pick up in store (BOPIS) including contactless curbside pickup; and third, the introduction of a new shop-by-appointment service for all brands, including Chico’s, White House Black Market and Soma.

 

David’s Bridal

The bridal shop began reopening some stores at the end of April by appointment only and expects to have all stores open for appointments beginning in June. In addition, customers can book a virtual appointment to meet one-on-one with an expert stylist.

 

Dick’s Sporting Goods

The sporting retailer has reopened almost all of their 850 U.S. retail locations with nearly half open for in-store shopping and the others open for contactless pickup. The company has implemented various safety measures, including new social distancing protocols, sanitizing carts and baskets, requiring teammates to wear face coverings and more.

 

Dillard’s

Starting May 5, the company will reopen 55 locations in 11 states, including Utah, Texas, Arkansas, Colorado and Florida. The company will monitor government guidelines to open all stores “as soon as possible.”

 

Express

The clothing retailer has reopened select stores in Georgia and South Carolina with plans to open all 300 stores by Memorial Day, May 25, based on local regulations and mall guidelines. Stores will implement social distancing, provide contact-free customer service and payment options, limiting store capacity and other safety features.

 

GameStop

As of April 21, GameStop reopened stores in Georgia and South Carolina with the “potential to reopen” locations in other states and countries in the coming weeks.

 

Gap

The retailer has reopened a small number of stores in Texas and plans to reopen the rest of its 800 locations—including Old Navy, Athleta, Gap, Banana Republic, Janie and Jack and Intermix stores—in the U.S. by the end of May. Stores will have reduced hours, a limited number of customers allowed in stores, and team members will be supplied with reusable face masks to wear during their shifts.

 

Hobby Lobby

The crafting retailer has begun to open some stores in states where it is deemed an essential business. There is no plan yet for further reopenings.

 

Kohl’s

Kohl’s has reopened stores in 14 states as of May 11 and plans to continue reopening based on state and local guidelines. The company will implement new health and safety best practices, including limiting store hours, social distancing measures, a new returns process and others.

 

Macy’s

The department store began reopening stores in early May, including locations in Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado and Utah, and plans to reopen all stores by mid-June. New safety practices include increased air ventilation in all stores, social distancing practices, gloves and masks required for staff and suspended services that require close contact.

 

Nordstrom

The retailer has opened select locations in Texas and Nordstrom Rack stores in Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas with updated safety measures.

 

Saks Fifth Avenue

The company has reopened a select number of stores, including locations in Atlanta and Palm Beach, and plans to offer Curbside Pickup and Returns at select locations. New cleaning and safety measures include mandatory face coverings and daily health checks for associates, reduced occupancy, and additional safety measures for dressing rooms and beauty areas.

 

Simon Malls

The largest mall chain in the U.S. began reopening locations in select states, including South Carolina and Georgia, at the beginning of May. The company will provide free CDC-approved masks and hand sanitizer to shoppers who ask for them and make temperature testing free and available using infrared thermometers.

 

Stein Mart

The company has begun to reopen stores with new safety protocols, including closing fitting rooms and allowing customers to try on at home and make returns, requesting shoppers wear face masks, social distancing measures and contactless checkout.

 

Ulta

As of May 11, the beauty retailer opened 180 stores in Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma and several other states. Testers will no longer be available, and the company is also implementing mandatory face coverings for all associates, hand sanitizer available for use and limited occupancy.

 

Urban Outfitters

As of May 12, the retailer and owner of Anthropologie, Terrain and Free People brands, has reopened select stores in 19 states, including Texas, Florida, Colorado and Rhode Island. In-store safety precautions include cashless checkout, reduced hours, mandatory masks for employees and contactless pickup at select stores.

 

Williams Sonoma

As states begin to reopen, Williams Sonoma is also opening select locations. The retailer will implement a host of safety measures, including encouraging customers to wear a face mask and requiring it in certain locations, limiting the number of people in store, daily wellness checks for associates and more. Call your local store to confirm hours and safety procedures.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Marcin Kempa on Unsplash

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Facts, Lies, and What I Love about Encyclopedia Brittanica

By Suzanne Weerts

Photo: Jack Weerts

As a child, I longed to own a set of World Book Encyclopedias so I wouldn’t have to beg my mother to drive me to the local library whenever I was assigned a school report. I imagined the ease of doing research in my very own home. Over the years, encyclopedia salesmen in felt fedoras and suspenders came calling at our house. I’d listen in on the conversation between the screen door as my mother kindly said, “We’ll think about it,” knowing full well that meant NO. Why have something that takes up so much space and costs so much money when you can borrow it for free?

But the encyclopedia salesmen all did something that forever changed the trajectory of my academic knowledge. So that my mother had something to ponder and peruse, they each gave her the “A” volume to try out. “No obligation to buy and you can keep it even if you determine you don’t want the rest,” they’d promise.

That’s how my family came to own the ‘A’ of Encyclopedia Brittanica, Colliers Book ‘A’ and the ‘A’ volume of World Book Encyclopedia, which meant that when my 4th-grade teacher assigned animal reports, I did mine on the aardvark. When my 7th-grade teacher’s fall project was countries of the world, I chose Argentina. Throughout my childhood, I did reports on the Amazon, Arizona, Agamemnon, Anteaters, Abigail Adams, Arches National Park, Jane Austen, Argon, and Attila the Hun.

Of course, I often needed more than one source, so I still had to spend time thumbing through card catalogs and wandering the stacks in a quest to follow the trail of the Dewey decimal system. But those encyclopedias always got me started in my quest for the quickest report.

Today, however, access to information is too easy. If I can’t recall the habitat of the aardvark in casual conversation, it’s available in seconds on my smartphone. When my children ask a question that I can’t immediately answer, I say “look it up” and they do. Then and there. I don’t have to say, “Let’s look that up when we get home,” or “Hold that thought until Tuesday when we should have time to swing by the library.”

Now, while we’re driving through Yosemite, we can investigate the history of Half Dome from the safety of our car. No need to read the plaque at the crowded viewpoint by the side of the road. While we’re hiking along the cliffs, we can determine the height of Bridal Veil falls and know within seconds the amount of water that has cascaded over the cliff since the last snowstorm while someone else in our party looks up the visual differences between poison oak and poison ivy as we attempt to stay on the beaten path. That is, of course, if I would let them take their phones out and would stop preaching about being present and pointing out the people who are about to walk off a precipice while checking their email or taking selfies on moss-covered rocks over a dangerous crevasse.

But that is a different story.

When my now college kids first began using computers for elementary school projects, we had to remind them to fact check. Wikipedia can be wrong. But Wikipedia was then the main place where tricks were played with on-line information. Lately, we all have to be careful as we sift through articles, considering sources and their biases or motivations behind downright lies. It’s said that the main way to tell if something is real is if it is publically available on several different sources, which means that, while we may now have the ease I always dreamt of with access to research materials available in our own homes, the work is in many ways more difficult.

Different online sites often repeat the same information verbatim and it is tricky to find the original source and to know if it is accurate. Access to information today means too there is a massive amount of material floating in the cloud of infinite capacity. Top sites can have been boosted with ad dollars. I am less trusting and less certain of the facts I grew up believing as new information surfaces. Are these “facts” for real? Unfortunately, our children are having to learn through their academically formative high school and college years that dark forces lurk in the world of information.

Adding to the challenge that technology has presented us, students often use submission programs like Turn-it-in.com. It is a great way for teachers to check for plagiarism, but now portions of the report my daughter wrote on the Revolutionary War in AP US History four years ago can’t even be used in her college history class because she’d be plagiarizing herself. Seriously! If you have a unique idea on the writings of Thomas Paine and you describe your notion brilliantly when you’re 18 and then incorporate your own thought into a paper when you are 20, you can go to campus court for self-plagiarization.

Our children already have enough stress in their lives but they, like us, now have to navigate all the false information being planted by foreign operatives and others into our newsfeeds and likely into seemingly authentic sources. I hear students complain, “No one really knows what is legit anymore.” It is true for all thinking people these days, I fear.

Sometimes I wish a salesman would come to the door and I could reduce their stress with a full 22-volume set of World Book Encyclopedias.

I often return to the wisdom learned in my 6th-grade report on Aristotle, “It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” I tell my children to listen to ideas from all sorts of people but filter carefully. It is healthy to question and to be aware, yet I know it can’t be good for our souls to so often doubt veracity.

Suzanne Weerts is a producer, writer and storyteller who shares tales from her life on stages across Southern California. The mother of two young adults, she does a lot of yoga, eats a lot of chocolate and drinks her fair share of wine in a quest for calm.

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Katy Perry Reveals She’s Expecting First Child with Fiancé Orlando Bloom

by Jennifer Swartvagher

Katy Perry released a music video last night and that’s not all she shared with her fans. At the end of the video she revealed some big news. Perry and fiancé, Orlando Bloom are expecting a baby this summer. 

In the video for the new single, “Never Worn White,” Perry dresses as a Mother Earth figure, adorned in flowers. She also appears in a white bridal-like gown as she sings.

In the final shot of the video, Perry cradles her baby bump.

“omg so glad I don’t have to suck it in anymore,” she later tweeted, adding “or carry around a big purse lol.”

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Katy Perry via Instagram

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The Disney & Allure Bridal Collection Is Completely Magical & Fit for a Princess

by Karly Wood

Most women want to feel like a princess on your wedding day and thanks to a new collaboration with Disney and Allure Bridal, your wish can finally come true. Brides will soon be able to shop the new Disney Fairy Tale Wedding Collection––and cue the magic!

The 16-piece collection will feature styles fit for a princess and are inspired by the characters of Ariel, Tiana, Aurora, Belle, Pocahontas, Snow White, Jasmine, Rapunzel and more. Disney Weddings shared a few sneak peaks of the upcoming styles including Ariel’s gown which of course, has a mermaid flare.

 

Brides will only need to wait until after April to get their hands on a gown. Allure will release the entire collection during New York Bridal Fashion Week.

Kleinfeld Bridal will be the exclusive carriers of seven of the 16 gowns. The New York and Toronto boutiques will house the Disney Fairy Tale Weddings Platinum Collections which will range in price from $3,500 to $10,000.

The other nine styles will be available at select bridal stores throughout the U.S. and are more moderately priced at $1,200 to $2,500.

––Karly Wood

 

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Meghan Markle & Prince Harry Debut Another Aww-dorable IG Photo of Baby Archie

by Erica Loop

Mother’s Day in the United Kingdom may have been Mar. 22, but new mama Meghan Markle still wished mothers all over the world a joyous day in a sweet Instagram post this weekend.

Even though the world got a glimpse of Archie Harrison Mountbattan-Windsor last week during a much-anticipated press appearance, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex shared a new type of pic this time. The proud parents posted a sweet photo of the baby’s feet cradled in his loving mother’s hand.

Along with the pic, the pair posted well wishes for the holiday and a quote from the poem “lands” by Nayyirah Waheed.

While Prince Harry didn’t directly reference his own mother, the forget-me-nots seen in the photo’s background are a possible reference to Princess Diana. The delicate flowers, which were also in Markle’s bridal bouquet, were Diana’s favorite.

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Sussex Royal via Instagram

 

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Love Shack, Baby: A New One-of-a-kind Spot for a Shower

by rtlizkleisner

Expecting? Looking for an intimate, unique spot to host a baby shower? Think there’s a diva (or divo) on the way? Check out The Love Shack, an unconventional, high-glam space that also happens to bill itself as a “life-size dollhouse.” 

photo: The Love Shack

Built on Love
The Love Shack was first envisioned in 2009 by Alexander (a photographer, video editor and furniture designer — um, check this out), and Britta Love when the newly-engaged couple decided to move from London to NYC. (Yes, that’s their real surname.) Three years later, a ‘little palace in Brooklyn’, as they like to call it, was born. Working together, this couple transformed an abandoned industrial building in Bushwick into two, life-size dollhouses.

photo: The Love Shack

The “Palace”: Live, Work, Love
Here’s the deal: The Love Shack serves as the Love’s permanent home and studio, but they are happy to rent it out for small, special events such as baby showers. They consider it, “an experiment in the possibilities of loft living, surreality and commercial space.”

The Lovely Perks of the Space
The Love Shack features an outdoor garden with patio umbrellas, a working domestic kitchen, two bedrooms, an intimate library space and an unexpected “indoor balcony” perfect for a toast.

Despite its size, the 1,000-square-foot loft still feels spacious with its white walls and high ceilings. Almost all the furniture or light fixtures are original creations, so the overall aesthetic of the space is playful, funky and elegant.  And even though it’s located steps from the streets of Bushwick, The Love Shack feels like a tranquil escape.

How to Plan for a Shower at the Love Shack
The hourly rate for booking The Love Shack depends on when you’d like to host your party. The hourly rate for daytime events is $175/hour, while evening affairs run $200/hour. (The hourly rates apply to set-up and clean-up time, not just festivities, so plan accordingly.) The Loves recommend booking the Love Shack 6-8 weeks ahead of time, although showers have been booked much shorter notice. (Email is the preferred form of contact; get in touch at Britta@LoveTheLoveShack.com)

There is no catering or service staff provided on-site, but you are welcome to hire in catering or use the full kitchen. Champagne flutes, wine glasses and tumblers rental available upon request.

The Love Shack is a relatively small space so the average guest list is 20-30 people with a maximum capacity of 50 people.

photo: The Love Shack

Bells & Whistles & Cats
The Love Shack also includes a full sound system, chandelier and lamp dimmers to adjust for your desired ambiance, and three very friendly (and mostly sleeping) cats. An air purifier runs 24/7 to remove any dander from the air, so allergens have not posed a problem for attendees thus far.

The Love Shack is predominately rented for baby and bridal showers, but occasionally holds first-year birthday parties and other photographic events upon request.

The Love Shack
161 Stockholm St.
Bushwick
Online: lovetheloveshack.tumblr.com

 

Do you have a favorite spot to host baby showers in NYC? Share in the comments below!

— Liz Kleisner

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Face Time: Atlanta’s Best Face Painters

by Phebe Wahl

Nothing adds color to your kiddo’s party like a fabulous face painter. Read on for our favorites in Atlanta.

Atlanta Party People
This family-owned business packs a party punch in Atlanta, Dallas, and New Orleans, and pride themselves of how well they work with the kiddos. Not only do they specialize in full-face designs, but they can also do cheek or eye designs to keep the time-in-the-chair (and out of the party) to a minimum. The best thing about Atlanta Party People? They’ll even come to your party  dressed-up to match your party theme!

Details: Atlanta Party People, $125 per hour, $75 per each additional hour, 678-431-7465

Mystical Parties
While face painters they have a plenty, Mystical Parties also offers A to Z children’s party packages, ranging from Super Hero to Princess, and everything in between. Choose their a la carte face painting option, however, and you’ll be sure to hit a home run.

Details: Mystical Parties, $190 for 2 hours (10 full faces or 15 simple designs per hour), 404-579-9057

Party Animals Entertainment
The name says it all. This outfit has been running circles around Atlanta for nearly 30 years, and you can count on them to provide everything from a singular face painter to a pre-packaged theme party replete with its own concierge.

Details: Party Animals Entertainment, $125 per hour of birthday parties (averages 12 faces painted per hour), 770-645-0901

The Alison Agency
This professional entertainment provider has experience with all types of parties, from weddings and bridal showers, to corporate events, to family events, including throwing incredible birthday parties. Count on the Alison Agency to provide professional, easy booking and event day delivery of face painters.

Details: The Alison Agency, Contact for pricing, 770-509-9409

Fun-O-Rama Parties
Face painters, puppet shows, character parties, and more – Fun-O-Rama Parties can help you plan your little’s best birthday ever. With plenty of themed parties to choose from (beyond your expected princess or pirate fare), Fun-O-Rama brings creativity and organization into your life pre-party. Not sure you want to go whole-hog this year? Just want a solid, dependable, and talented face painter? They’ve got that covered, too.

Details: Fun-O-Rama Parties, Starting at $99 per hour for face painting (allow for 5 minutes per person), 770-572-1737

Fancy’s Face and Body Art
Fancy knows face painting, and if you’re looking for some solid Atlanta references, she’s the one to call. With a client list that includes local rap royalty, Cirque Du Soleil, the Georgia Aquarium, and Nickelodeon, you can feel confident that she’s prepared to handle any scenario that may arise at your bash. Another reason Fancy will set your mind at ease? She uses only hypoallergenic, cosmetic quality paint that washes away with simple soap and water.

Details: Fancy’s Face and Body Art, $150 per hour, 404-399-8653

My Fairy Godmother Parties
When you’re in the throes of planning a party for a hoard of kiddos (and often, their accompanying parents), sometimes you wish you had a fairy godmother. Luckily for us in Atlanta, we do. Call My Fairy Godmother Parties for everything from a single face painter to a party package dubbed The Royal Ball.

Details: My Fairy Godmother Parties, $75 for as many guests as are invited, 404-453-4596

Looking for a spot to stage your soirée? Click here for ten indoor party venue ideas!

—Shelley Massey

Photos courtesy of Atlanta Party People, The Alison Agency and Mystical Parties and Fancy’s Face Painting via Facebook

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Nursery Decorating Ideas That Will Make Your Heart Flutter

by Phebe Wahl

What better way to procrastinate putting that pesky crib together than to surf the web for decorating ideas? From hand-painted ceilings to DIY decor, there are lots of things you can do with a baby’s room. We rounded up the coolest nurseries from coast to coast. Flip through our photo gallery and imagine re-creating them for your own wee one.

Play With Patterns

As the power couple behind breathtakingly beautiful bridal blog Green Wedding Shoes, it was a given that Jen and Jason Campbell would have an awesome nursery for their daughter Sienna. The Los Angeles-based pair worked with their contacts at Serena & Lily and the Land of Nod to outfit the space, and personalized it with baby animal photos by Sharon Montrose. We love the contrast of the juxtaposing patterns on wall decals by MUR and rug by Serena & Lily.

Photo courtesy of Green Wedding Shoes

How are you decorating your nursery? Chat about your baby’s crib below!

— Phebe Wahl

Click HERE for more baby room decorating ideas all things baby related.

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