Zoom!

Last night was the grand opening of the new location of Zoom (816.842.8697) - a fabulous toy store. It was planned in coordination with the recent launch of M Magazine & benefited The Toy & Miniature Museum of Kansas City.

Holy cow, you would have thought we were at Disney World! As we entered the front of the store, employees had "egg races" for the kids...after they competed, they got to pick a toy. As we walked through the front doors, both kids signed up for (and eventually won) door prizes. Throughout the store, employees had MORE games and activities set up to play - and win more prizes! Outside, there were delicious treats for all ages. Topsy's provided popcorn & their famous cherry limeades...I saw a bar, but didn't make it over. Up, Up & Away provided the balloon entertainment - a huge hit with my boys.

Overall, the event was a hit with the entire family. We can't wait to head back down the The Plaza for another Zoom adventure!

Are you ready for the 4th?

I'm a big fan of all holidays, but I have to say the 4th of July has always been a favorite. There's something about everything surrounding the 4th...it's a happy, laid back, "everyone gets the day off of work" kind of holiday. There are no expectations of gifts, travel or religious activities - it's just a celebration of the good ol' USA.

We've started collecting some great loot for the big day. (Think obnoxious glow-in-the-dark necklaces & bracelets from Wal-mart) Here are some of the more classy La Plates items our guest will see at our picnic:

Mom Jewelry

I'm not a fan of "mom jeans", "mom haircuts" or many other "mom" categories. However, I find that when the word "jewelry" is pared with it, I'll take it! I seem to have to justify any major or minor purchase these days. So I've decided to justify this shopping spree by showcasing my children...it seems like a good excuse for mommy to buy herself some jewelry!

Sonja Renee has a wide variety of fabulous pieces - not "mom jewelry" at all! My favorite collection is the engraved disk pendants. I'll be ordering up a "J" and a "W" for my boys, then the hubby can pop for the bling disks later...OK, so I won't hold my breath!

If you're thinking about ordering and can't make up your mind, the ladies at Sorella in Macon, Georgia can take care of you. Give them a call at 478*476*8600

KenzieKate - amazing!

Years ago, my affair with stationery began. As a young child, I designed custom paper for anyone that would pay attention to me. Parents, grandparents & friends all went along with my gig for quite a while...until recently, in fact! While my designs moved from paper to plates, I still have a special place in my heart for fabulous paper.

KenzieKate is an amazing combo of fashionably chic, meets classic wedding invitations. Mackenzie uses amazing papers with her original artwork and colors to custom design the perfect invitations for her brides. Check out her collection at www.kenziekate.com

Trunk Shows

People ask all the time, "how do trunk shows work"? Basically, trunk shows are in-home parties that are coordinated by La Plates and the person interested in sharing La Plates with friends and family. A portion of most trunk show sales goes to the charity of the hostess' choice.

Last week, we were thrilled to have a trunk show in a lovely home in Savannah, Georgia. A portion of all sales will be donated to Hospice Savannah. We took a few shots of the set up, before guests arrived. Trunk shows also give us an opportunity to test out new products. You may see a few items in the photos that you haven't seen online...a sneak peek at what's to come!

One of the hostesses of the trunk show is also a fabulous artist/jewelry designer...she displayed some fabulous pieces too!

Thank you to Kathy and Kendall for sharing your home & fabulous friends and family - what a great night!

Gift Notes, Gift Wrap, etc...

So here's the deal...La Plates sends all receipts for products via the email address you provide to us. Therefore, no pricing is included in your box of goodies. The only issue with no pricing in your box, is that there is no paper for a gift note.

We realize that a gift note & gift wrap would be a fabulous touch, but it's just not an option right now. However, we have a solution. In the "Order Comments" section of checkout, you can create a very brief note. BRIEF means a few words like: "Happy Birthday - Love, The Smiths". This note will appear on the UPS label of your La Plates package. Hopefully the recipient of your gift will see the note...every once in a while people don't look at the label, so you may want to let the "giftee" know a treat is on the way!

UPDATE - Gift notes will be available July 1st! Be sure to look for the option when shopping online.

Father's Day gifts...shop in time for delivery!

June is almost here and that means you've got to get ready for Father's Day! Be sure to order in plenty of time for delivery - June 1st is the "official" cut off. We already mentioned our monogrammed cooler earlier this month. Here's a favorite platter for any of those grilling dads out there:
Our acrylic ice bucket looks perfect for Dad with his CIRCLE monogram:

since the Daddy in our house already has plenty of La Plates gear, this is what he's getting from the kiddos...picked out by them:

www.rainydaybooks.com