PARTY Invite!

Hi everyone! In case you haven't heard or seen in Snapd Magazine, InsideToronto.com, The Etobicoke Guardian newspaper, Help We've Got Kids' online events calendar, throughout stores and community centres in the GTA, at local street and community festivals, in various facebook groups and websites, throughout social media or by good old fashioned word of mouth, I'm throwing a party! Planning for it has been so much fun! I even received mail from none other than the infamous child author Robert Munsch! More about that at the party celebrating the launch of my illustrated children's book with my niece Leia, and our illustrator Jhoselyn. I wanted to share the process of the party planning until now, because I have enjoyed it so much and you seem to want to know what I've been up to. After booking one of Drake and The Weeknd's Toronto rehearsal spaces for the party, I got busy spreading the word about my event, sending save the dates and creating, posting, printing and distributing ads and flyers anywhere and everywhere you can think of. I also promoted it at every festival including Word on the Street, The CNE, Taste of the Kingsway, Franklin Horner fantasy fair, annual public school fairs, Cornfest, the Ukrainian Festival, Lakeshore Culture Week's weekend festival and more. You name it, I was there smiling and handing out freebies and invites. In the meantime, I was posting my ads in any and every local shop, cafe and supermarket. I also posted it in schools and community centres like Norseman Community school and pool, and at LAMP. Next I am going to target daycares, including gyms with daycares. In the meantime, I contacted the newspapers, some of which confirmed they will be providing coverage of the event. Next I will be contacting children's book editors, publishers and agents to invite them to my launch and introduce them to my book. In the meantime, I've been compiling a list of TV and radio shows to contact, and preparing more personal invitations for my neighbourhood, including freshly picked apples from my tree. Leia will also be inviting her school friends. I themed my party as a play place for kids with a lounge for adults. Ordering the essential bouncy castle turned out to be a bigger decision than I had anticipated! So, I got two. I also had a fun time selecting climbing structures, ball pits, play tents and crawl tunnels that would suit everyone's taste and ages. Planning games, collecting prizes and organizing all the fine details has been part of the excitement-building that has kept me going, and which has put my elementary teaching certification and daycare operating skills to wonderful use. Next on my list of things to do besides planning food, drinks and decor was scheduling entertainment! The stage will start off with child hip hop talent Please and Thanks, followed by my own performance. There are a few surprises for the stage component of my event, at the end of which I will be reading from our book. With my launch about a month away, there is still time to round up your family and friends for our Big, Fun and FREE all ages party on Sunday, October 25th at 3595 Lakeshore Blvd W., between 1-4p.m. Arrive early to get the best experience including seeing our live entertainers kick off the show at 1:00p.m! Our book, The Hill of Feelings, a story about noticing feelings and choosing happiness even in tough situations, will be available for optional purchase at the event for $15 (cash only). Each book purchase will come with a free raffle entry, giving you the chance to win valuable prizes like spa days, car services, and family movie passes! We are also hosting a colouring contest with Toys R Us gift card prizes! Download your free pdf here, or get colouring at the event where colouring pages will also be available. I'm very much looking forward to this very special day! Thank you for supporting local young talent, and for helping me to build community memories that we can all be a part of together. Love, Effie