Sunshine, Sportball and Greek Day!

Nicholas and Soda Pop!

I love the sun!

What a busy and brilliant weekend! I had so much fun, and thanks Mr. Sun for hanging around yesterday, it made it all the more glorious! Saturday began slow at the Kids Market on Granville Island, but picked up by then end. I was also lucky enough to be introduced to a fellow clown who is here all the way from Ireland. We laughed, we chatted, and he showed me some of his amazing handy work with balloon twisting. His name is MOJO and he is only here through July, so let me know if you need a magician, amazing balloon twister or someone versed in the art of tom foolery. 

I also did some balloon practicing for next Friday which is Canada Day! We will be at the Kids Market doing balloons and face painting, so come on by!

MOJO!

Sunday was probably the craziest day I've had yet. Rachel and I went to three events (whew!) and had a great time doing it (it's always nice when the weather is on your side). We started the day at a birthday party near Commercial Drive. Before I continue, I must tell you that Rachel has decided on her clown name! She shall hence forth be known as Soda Pop the Clown!

Soda Pop the Clown!

Soda painted many a Hello Kitty at the birthday party. The birthday girl even got her full face done as Hello Kitty (one of my faves) and kept telling Soda Pop "I like you." She was pretty darn cute.

Soda Pop and Beebop!

Soda chillin in the grass

Then it was off to the Sportball fair in Dunbar, put on by the people at Right to Play. Party Kids strongly supports the Right to Play initiative around the globe, who's vision is to ensure every child's right to play. Play in an important part of belonging, childhood development, self-esteem and fun. Sadly, some children never get to feel the sense of empowerment and community that team sports can bring, but Right to Play is working to change that. Check them out at :

www.righttoplay.ca

The Sportball event was to be our last, but we received an urgent call on the Clown Phone from Nicholas saying that he was over run with people at Greek Day on West Broadway and needed our help! 

We rushed down there in time to give him a much needed falafel break (mmmmm, falafel).

We were stationed in front of Just Imagine and painted, and painted, and painted!

Thanks so much to Donna and the staff at Just Imagine for having us!

I shall leave you know with the Greek Day photos, which speak for themselves... 

Happy Greek Day!

So busy on West Broadway! Yummy Greek food does have a tendency to draw a crowd.

The lovely Molly and Adena at Just Imagine

Donna Dobo, the owner of Just Imagine- thanks again Donna!

Line-ups for face painting

Unicorn by Nicholas

Peacock by Nicholas

Grecian Clown Goddess

Until next time, love peace and clown hugs,

-B to the Bop  xoxo                                     

Party Bazaar and Father's Day!

My Dad the Green Man!

Though the sun was not completely with us this weekend as we had hoped, there were still fun fun parties going on all over! Our Elmo made an appearance in West Van, the face painters were busy at the Kids Market on Granville Island, and we were able to attend the Party Bazaar's Grand Opening and Fundraising Celebration with all proceeds going to Canuck Place Children's Hospice.
Thanks Cecily for your hard work at that event.

Cupcakes the Clown at the new Party Bazaar location

The beginnings of the festivities at the new Party Bazzar location, next to the Main Street SkyTrain!

I was then lucky enough to spend my Sunday with my favorite party people on earth, my family. I attended the Dad's Make a Difference Father's Day picnic put on my the Nanaimo Men's Center where my very own father was Master of Ceremonies. He even let me paint his face like the Green Man (see picture at the top). Love you Daddy! You are the best!

This little girl wanted to be a half kitty half butterfly. I obliged and this is what came out!

My beautiful older sister Alex helping me face paint at the picnic, thanks Ali! Love you!

Last photo of the day brings me back to when my little sisters were small and Alex and I would amuse ourselves by dressing them up in wigs and such. Along the same vein, here is a photo of my precious niece Shaela. It is entitled "Biggie's Back." Peace!

Lush-ious Long Weekend of Parties

This past weekend of parties spanned from Friday to Monday, starting with our Party Kids get together on the Friday (see my last blog for photos from that) and ending yesterday with Hugo's Thomas the train themed Birthday party. 

A photo of the chaos at Lush featuring my good friend Rachel Dolan aka. Sad Clown

Saturday I had a gig at Lush in Metrotown. Lush not only has great products, but is a supporter of organizations such as Forest Ethics with whom I volunteer. They were celebrating their 14th birthday at Metrotown, and I was invited to be the real clown at their circus themed event. Thanks for having me, it was awesome!

"I'm a real clown, I swear!" (Puts hand on heart)

We had a ring master and acrobat too!

I spent Sunday the Kids Market, a place that is never low on fun. Rachel was face paint training and it was great to spend some time with her, and do a mini photo shoot too! Though she has not yet decided on a clown name, she still dawned a red nose all day and looked pretty adorable doing it!

Rachel the Clown

Triceratops face paint to match his finger puppet- here's hoping for dinosaur parties this summer! RAWR!

What a clown-ster! (note face paints under arm, ready to paint at a moments notice!)

Have I told y'all that I love trains? When Hugo (the little boy that I used to nanny for) informed me weeks ago that he would like a Thomas the Train party I was overjoyed! We had a bouncy castle, train craft, Thomas the Train play tent, face painting, balloons and a music show. The kids were literally bouncing off the walls with party-fun. To top it off, each child got a wooden train whistle to take home. I can't wait to do more train parties, they are so much fun!

I didn't get too many photos as I was busy painting (most sad I didn't get one of the cupcake train Birthday cake Emily made) but here is one of me and Thomas (we're good friends you know!):

I also had the chance the do my first hair wrap of the season on my dear friend Bryna this weekend. Email me if you would like one, they are alll the raaaaage and custom designed!

The More We Get Together....

Pink sTiger by Nicholas

Last Friday was an evening filled with meet and greets, awesomeness, face painting and balloons. All of the Party Kids that will be attending parties this summer got together to meet and eat a most excellent feast of vegetarian delights. I am so happy to have everyone on board, and really excited for the amazing summer we have ahead. It's looking like this summer is going to be insanely busy, so get your party bookings in ASAP to reserve your date.

In preparation for an Elmo themed party we have coming up this weekend, I worked on an Elmo head balloon design. In reality it was fairly simple, but the results are nothing short of super radical, with the power to make anyone look pretty silly. Really, is there anything better?

Elmo Amira

Elmo Rachel

Elmo Quinn

Elmo Tim and his buddy Eric

Nicholas did a great demonstration of his skillz with Snazaroo (a face painting product that we will now be using in tandem with Carand'ache face paints because of its excellent blennnnding qualities). I was the model for his pink tiger which was amazing beyond my wildest expectations, while Cecily was turned into a Rainbow monster. Great face painting was had, and here are the results!

Rachel's first full face Spidey

Whimsical design by Amira

Owl by Nicholas

Rainbow Monster by Nicholas

The Owl and the Pussy Cat (Owl by Cecily, Tiger by Nicholas)

Thanks to everyone for bringing such delicious food and conversation, and a special thanks to Tim and Eric (mine and Amira's partners) for cooking up homemade fries and black bean burgers for everyone while we went over the summer schedule. As per usual, the bean burgers were an amazing success, so I shall now give  you Eric's secret recipe (don't tell him I gave it to you). Happy summer cooking! Nommmm!!!

Eric's Black Bean Burgers

• 1 (16 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 small can of Kernel Corn
•  1 Jalapeno, diced
• 1/2 onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, peeled
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup bread crumbs

Puree the garlic, egg, half of the beans, corn, onion and Jalapeno. Add pureed mixture to none pureed ingredients and add bread crumbs. The consistency should be that of a burger patty, if not, add more bread crumbs. Oil pan on stove and put the patties in, coating them in bread crumbs first. Then you make your burger how you like it!

Now for one last photo because I think it is hilarious and should win some sort of prize. It is of a woodsman and his owl wife and child. Hahahahaha. So awesome. 

Children's Festival at Granville Island

Another great Children's Festival has come and gone, and we were glad to be somewhat a part of it this year. I was great to see all the smiling faces coming into the kids market, to be shined on by the sun and to see people supporting children's entertainers.

My beautiful little sister was in town, and came down to get her face painted, "Colours of the Wind" style.

Nicholas was there all week, working hard dressed as a bunny ears man.

Bunny Face by Nicholas

Beautiful Laura with Butterfly Mask by Me

Butterfly by Nicholas (gorgeous!)

Sunset Pirate Ship by Nicholas

Tiger by Nicholas

I had the chance to take Dylan, a little boy that I nanny for, to the kids market on the Friday just to check out what was going on. He got his face painted (of course!) and we checked out the attractions, while making sure to take some pictures with the awesome props. It was really fun! I leave you now with my favorite picture from our adventure...