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1/4/2022 0 Comments

Birthday Club

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Who doesn't love a special treat for their birthday to feel special? Our Birthday Club was created for just that! Each month, children can come in to receive one of our services completely free of charge if their birthday falls in that particular month! We offer face painting, glitter tattoos, and balloon animals. The birthday child can select which one they wish to have most of all. No strings attached and no purchase necessary! Really! Just sign up on our website and then pop in during our regular hours of operation. 


​The only information we need is a parent's contact information along with the child's first name and birthdate. When you come in to redeem your service, we can simply look up your profile. No need to do anything else after you sign up. And that process only takes a minute or two! This does add you to our mailing list but you are welcome to unsubscribe at any time. Plus, who doesn't want to know about our special events and sales?! 

And don't forget we have several other ways to celebrate their big day. Order a special balloon bouquet from our Balloon Bar, snag a special gift from the gift shop, or hire our team to come out for their party. We are always happy to celebrate in whatever way you like! 

Sign your family up on our website at www.onceuponapartyindy.com! 


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10/5/2021 0 Comments

Birthday party planning made simple

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DIY canvas painting kits are a great alternative to goody bags!
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Face painting is our #1 most requested service!
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Our custom balloon decor takes every party to the next level!

Hosting a birthday party for your child can quickly become overwhelming and time consuming, not to mention expensive! In our 10 years of being in business, we have seen it all. From backyard parties with just cake, ice cream, and a couple games, to a 1st birthday that easily cost five grand (yes, I'm serious and probably underestimating), there is always 1 thing they have in common- the kids have FUN. Here are some of the most important points to consider based on what the last 10 years have shown us.

*What does YOUR child enjoy and want to have at their party? 
Ask you child. What are their interests? Give them a couple choices and have them pick their favorite activity. Do they or you want to have a party at home or at another location?

*What is your budget?
Don't go broke trying to impress their friends or their parents, or trying to do it ALL.  There will always be other parties to host! And what do you want your money to go towards? An impressive cake? Decorations? Activities?  The venue? Prioritize what matters most to you and your child.  

*Keep it simple
If you try to cram too much into 2 or 3 hours, that can many times lead to being too overwhelming for children if there is simply too much going on. Historically, the children just love the opportunity to gather outside of their normal setting, like school, and to just be TOGETHER (usually running around and playing without structure ). I planned many activities in the beginning of my career and they were a massive flop because the kids just wanted open ended play. That resulted in a lot of time and effort wasted on my part, not to mention disappointed parents who paid me to provide those services.

* Make a kids zone
If you are hosting at home, determine where the children may (or may not) play while there. Create an area that welcomes them and has items or toys for them to play with to help keep them out of areas or items you don't want them to get into. If you have hired any outside entertainment, designate a location for them to set up and entertain. Have a conversation with them beforehand about what needs they may have for their setup. 

*How much time do you have to dedicate to the planning?
Here is something we see often. Parents reach out and just want 1 or 2 of our services. Then, the week before the party, they call us frantically asking what else we can help with because they just don't have the time! Really think about what you can commit to ahead of time. I am guilty about thinking I can "do it all myself" and that's simply not the case most times! If you know you don't have much time, then consider finding an outside venue to host that can assist with setup, execution, and cleanup! Many times they offer even more than that, like, food, cake, decorations, and more. 

*Ditch the goody bags
Show me a parent who likes what comes home in those goody bags. I'll wait... Seriously. We spend money on things that go straight to the trash can or on candy already after having cake and ice cream. We hate them. Don't do them. If you want to give your guests a keepsake, put some thought into it. I did a spa party recently and each guest got a personalized washcloth to keep (hello Dollar Tree). When my son turned 5, each child went home with a puzzle (again, Dollar Tree). I now offer alternatives in my store such as pop its or themed "paint your own" canvas kits. These make so much more sense! Put them in a little bag and send them on their way! 

Of course, you knew there would be a shameless plug here! This is exactly why we opened up shop inside of Adrenaline Family Adventure Park. They have awesome party packages and now along with our services, you don't have to do a thing! And nearly for the cost of doing it on your own but without the headache of hosting at home or spending hours planning! You get a party host, play time where they can run free, options to add pizza, ice cream cake, and all of our services. Want balloon decorations? They will be in your party room waiting for you! No mess, no fuss! 

So happy party planning, but let us know if we can help! 

Shauna Williams




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8/28/2021 0 Comments

More fun in store inside Adrenaline

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Well, our new storefront has been open just a little over a month now here inside Adrenaline Family Fun Park in Fishers! In July, we took over a small space inside the 50.000 square foot facility. Formerly known as SkyZone, the new owner more than doubled the park adding thrilling new attractions for both young and old. The ropes course is a favorite for the older kids and adults, while the dedicated area for toddlers has been a welcome addition for younger kids. They even host 2 Toddler Playtimes each Friday and Saturday mornings just for little ones! 

Our new space allows us to offer our services- face painting, glitter tattoos, and balloon animals- during our operating hours. We also created our new "Balloon Bar" where you can order one of our balloon masterpieces for your event.  Our gift items and toys have been a hit as well (so. Many. Pop Its.). So basically, it is just a really FUN place! 

While you can access our store directly from Adrenaline, we have our own dedicated entrance. You can pop in while you are having fun at Adrenaline, or just stop by to see us. Need a gift for a birthday party? Come grab it here! Want a unique way to celebrate your child for a job well done? Bring them here for a special treat! Is their birthday coming up? Join our Birthday Club and they get one of our services FREE during their birthday month! 

Looking for a great place to host your child's birthday party? Adrenaline has some awesome party packages! Best of all, you can add our services on to your party package for a discounted rate! (Click here for more info)

So come have some fun with us and let us be your go to place for all things fun! 
10080 E. 121st St. 
Fishers, In 46037
​317-597-0250

​Shauna

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3/19/2021 0 Comments

A visit to the Tie Dye Lab in Avon

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Just west of Indy down Rockville Road in Avon is a little creative gem called The Tie Dye Lab. You can pop in and create your own wearable work of art with friends and family, young or old! 

The TDL is a member of Indiana Originals like we are, so I saw a posting about a particular workshop they were hosting for this particular style that I thought might interest my 14 year old son. For those with teens, you know how rare an opportunity this is so I jumped on it when he said yes!

We easily reserved our spot online, selected our size shirts, and even selected our colors from their color guide online so that our station was all set up for us when we arrived. We were able to add a couple more colors when we started as well so they are flexible with that! 

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To get started, one of their many employees came to walk us through the process. Now, being a DIY-er at heart I do wish that we got to be a part of the process more. They provided thorough instruction sheets with photos, but our helper informed us she would be tying our shirts up for us. She followed the pattern for the style we were doing, the "blackhole" design, and wrapped our shirts with several rubber bands. She then instructed us to lay our wrapped shirts across the grates and generously apply the dye as she had instructed us. TDL provided plastic gloves and aprons so this process really wasn't too messy! Once that step was complete, they took them for us so the dye could set about 15 minutes, cleaned up our area, and offered us a game to play while we waited! (We chose UNO, and I lost bad).

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Once the dye had time to set, they called us over to rinse the excess dye out of our shirts in their big sinks. It took just a couple minutes and then she ran them through a ringer to squeeze out the excess moisture (my son says he wishes he could have done that part!). And that's it! The shirts are still wet and need to be washed at home with their special detergent they give you within a couple of hours, so they put them in a plastic bag and send you on your way! Once they are washed, the colors are more safely set for future washings. 

You do not need a reservation if you have less than 8 in your group. They are recommended for 8+.and YES, you can book a birthday party with them! For all the info, visit www.thetiedyelab.com! 

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2/2/2021 0 Comments

Keeping Valentines Day Simple and Local

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 It is 2021, and even though Valentines Day technically falls on a weekend this year, many people will opt to stay in or celebrate in a less traditional way this year. I took a brief survey, if you will, on my social media page asking friends how they typically celebrate this day set aside for love, if they even do at all! 

The overall consensus was that most give a small gift to their immediate family- spouse, children, grandchildren. Chocolates, candies, stuffed toys, and such were the most popular mentioned. When asked about valentines sent to school, everyone agreed the inexpensive, ready made cards from the store are still their preferred way to go. Another easy option is the printable downloads you can find online and print at home. 

I discovered years ago that going out to eat on Valentines Day is just too "people-y" for me and I just don't find waiting over an hour (even WITH a reservation!!) to be romantic! So here are my suggestions for taking it easy this year (and staying healthy!).

1. Enjoy dinner in. Each year I make something special in a heart shaped pan, like meatloaf or brownies! Last year, I took our favorite food items from our favorite restaurants and recreated them! It was a labor of love but it was AMAZING! (it was the Gorgonberry Pecan salad from Bru Burger, baked spaghetti because it is my son's favorite in general, followed by the Macadamia Nut Brownie with vanilla ice cream from Bonefish Grill...mmmmmm!). I know many that are planning to do takeout or Doordash, but I imagine the wait will be extreme! 

2. Exchange simple gifts- homemade cards and gifts from children are such treasures! Trust me, as the mother of a 23 year old son, TRUST. ME. One year I even told my not-very-romantic-husband that I would be happy if he just wrote "I Love You" on a piece of paper for me! He did. And I still have it! He even drew it in a heart for me. Swoon. 

This is also a great opportunity to support small businesses in your community. Ask on Facebook if you aren't familiar with any, you'd be surprised what is out there! Here is a list of a few of our faves here in Indy: 

Once Upon A Party (duh!)- we are offering several options including cookie gift sets and balloon bouquets
Send a Friend Lasagna- This will take care of dinner and dessert as they are partnering with Circle City Sweets! 

Indiana Gifts- a variety of locally sourced gifts, and there is truly something for everyone! 
​Etsy also has a search function that allows you to search for products made in your own state!

3. Try something new​- who says Valentines Day requires dinner and chocolate? With it falling on a Sunday, consider brunch at a local eatery instead. Head to your favorite coffee shop in your neighborhood. Enjoy a daytime activity (outdoors if it is bearable!).
4. DIY- but get inspiration from others, don't reinvent the wheel! Our group over on Facebook, OUAP Family Fun Finders, is intended to provide you with DIY tips and tricks for entertaining! Here is a nice article as well with some fun ideas from another blogger, "Let Me Give You Some Advice".

Simply put, use this day as an excuse to pause and show affection for the ones you care about most, while supporting some other local families around you so you can show them some LOVE this year as well! Have any other ideas to share with us? Drop a comment for our readers! 

XOXO, 
​Shauna
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