Sometimes opportunities tap you on the shoulder and you leap at the chance to dive into them. Other times you need a little convincing. When the news of Kara’s Party Ideas Workshop popped up on my Facebook feed I cannot deny that I was excited about the mere idea of being in the same room as the party guru herself, Kara. But at the same time, the voice of reason kicked in and I was weighing up the reality of only throwing two parties a year (one for each of my boys) and whether that was reason enough to spend both the money and the time to attend a whole day workshop on party planning.
Reason was quickly traded in for fun and with not-so-much convincing from my sister, we both had bought our tickets to the full day workshop. I walked into the absolutely stunning Williamstown Town Hall with very little expectation. With only a few steps into the majestic hall, I knew that this was going to be vastly different. The gorgeous stands set up by all the vendors, the sweet smell of freshly baked cupcakes and the laughter infused chatter of strangers saying hello set almost a picture-perfect tone, or better still an instagram-perfect tone.
I was like a giddy fan-girl when Kara walked into the room, but in her laid back polka dot shirt and chinos I had nothing to fear from this superstar. She was down to earth, humble, funny and I suspect feeling quite tired from the whole extravagant Australian tour she was on. The story of her rise to fame was inspiring. The reality that from something she loved grew somewhat of a party empire showed me that the key to success is to believe in yourself and follow your passion in life, one small step at a time. The personal anecdotes that she shared, sitting awake at night with ideas racing through her head, the stress and anxiety before hosting a party, left me content that in a world defined by difference, we are all actually the same.
Now I went to the workshop quietly confident that Kara with her amazing site and extravagant parties would be inspiring in real life. What I didn’t know was just how much I would fall in love with the awesomeness that is Sugar Coated Mama. Sarah was the MC for the day, but she was so much more than that. She was the-bomb! She was a whirl wind of positivity, oh-so funny, engaging and so real that I think most women in the room instantly wanted to become her BFF. Her positive energy was contagious and perhaps the most valuable lesson of the day I learnt from her.
We have a choice in life, whether to tackle the world and its daily grind feeling defeated before we even begin – or feeling ready to get on the roller coaster and have a great time. Sarah seems to approach everything that she does with a radiance of hope and optimism, sending out such positive energy into the Universe can only bring positive energy back to you. Perhaps a little bit of giving what we hope to receive.
So while the day started out being about cake stands, cupcakes and the perfect photo backdrop, it ended being about life and how to keep sane amongst the crazy and to always have a good time – it is a party after all.
For more awesome details and images from Kara’s Party Ideas Workshop check out adelphi mou’s post here.
And a HUGE shout-out to all the amazing talent showcased here; My Sweet Event, Love Every Detail, Two Little Jays Lolly Buffet, Igby Productions, Grain & Co, Tiny Tables and Chairs, Nectar and Stone and Stylish Little Parties. Kara’s Party Ideas Workshop was presented by Sugarcoated Mama and supported by Confetti Fair.
What is your best party planning advice or tips? Are you a Kara fan-girl too?
