New Years is coming soon!

Miss Fae Diddle Diddle was just recently interviewed by Daily Candy about fun ideas to do with children for New Years Eve. Fun!

http://dailycandy.com/kids/san-francisco/article/94524/NYE-Party-Tips-from-Happily-Ever-Laughter

It's almost December!

She loves Purple...can you tell?

Ooohh....you should see the mess of fabric on my floor! We've just created a new character, our Sugarplum Faerie! Here is a cute photo of Miss Violet modeling our new threads. She is gearing up to play the Sugarplum Faerie over 10 times in December, and 3 of them are at Lisa's Tea Treasures in Campbell!

You can read more about the Sugar Plum Tea at Lisa's Tea Treasures here.

We also have created several versions of our Holiday Elf, more photos to come soon!

Sylvie and Olive!

Miss Blossom, meet amazing photographers

Hello out there!

This past weekend, Miss Blossom flew over to a special celebration in Sacramento, and a very talented grown-up was there snapping photos along the way! I just *love* it when grown-ups send us pictures, but when I saw these...well, they are some of the best children's photography photos (at a party, in action...) that I have seen in a very, very long time (and I have seen *so many!*).

If you are in the Sacramento Area, check out Kimberly Dunn Photography, and Lisa Smiley Photography. Here are some photos from the big day so you can see for yourself!

http://www.kimberlydunnphotography.com/2010/11/haidyns-fairy-birthday-whole-faerytale.html

http://lisasmileyphotography.blogspot.com/

Miss Blossom painting the birthday girl.

Three friends peeking at their face paintings.

Tada!

Photo by Kimberly Dunn Photography.

Sweet 16 Celebration

I had the honor of attending a Sweet 16 celebration last weekend, and it was so fantastic to be able to create my more elaborate face painting designs on the guests that were there. I love painting on little faces, but a bigger face that can hold still is always a treat! The birthday girl was sweet enough to send along some photos from the big day. Happy peeking!

Just plain 'ol praise!

Wow. I just peeked at my inbox while in the middle of editing a mermaid photo and talking to parents on the phone...and received the cutest email from a parent! I have to say, this is one of my favorites yet...it is about Miss Melody, one of our Sacramento performers.

""I was at my nieces 1st birthday party this past Saturday for Sara. I want to tell you how delightful I thought Miss Melody was. The kids were captivated and she was very engaging.It was impressive to see her make these balloon characters too!

Again, thank you, it was a unique party experience, because for the most part as an adult, little kids parties are dreaded and not looked forward to. Thank you for being refreshing. I really enjoyed it."

9.25.2010"

I love what I do. Even if I look a little crazy.

I love it so much. I can say it is because of the glitter and costumes and children...of course. But my favorite part? Working with the amazing women that are a part of our Faerie family. They bend over backwards for each other in a pinch, and get each other excited about the silliest things (new purple face paint?! Oh my goodness!). When I get a chance to lean over and help them as much as they help me, it makes me the happiest faerie on the planet.

My favorite moment of the day? I *just* flew in from Los Angeles last night from a Balloon Twisting training, and was about to jump in the car to drive back down there to save the day. One of our Faeries is sick and I was going to take over all of her performances, so there won't be any sad faces at any celebrations this weekend. However, Miss Blossom and Miss Lina jumped in to save the day, and will Miss Blossom will by flying to LA in a matter of hours, and Lina gave up some of her plans for her own birthday on Sunday, to cover one of Blossom's shows. Because they like adventure. And love their job. As much as I do.

(here are some super cute photos of my performances a month or so ago up here in the Bay Area, just for fun. Because I had them. And they are pretty *laugh*.)

Praise for Miss Meadow

I found this in my inbox this morning!

"I never wrote to thank you for our Fairy visit on August 1.

Our daughter loved her birthday party with Miss Meadow. Miss Meadow arrived and all of the stress of the party was removed from me as she took the attention of kids & adults alike. Her ability to capture and captivate 9 children and their parents at the same time was amazing! Her talents dazzled the crowd and her kindness was felt by everyone. I have attended many parties with princesses and fairies, but have never experienced the level of excitement and awe that Miss Meadow brought to our event.

Thank you so much for making a very fairy princesses day so special J

Here are some pics – if you would like any copies, let me know and I can send the originals."

Nervous about Clowns?

We are too. No really. Super nervous. Even though I have been in this birthday party world for a super duper long time, it still makes me feel funny when I see a clown at a Parade or something of the like. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE clowning, and in fact, one of our Performers (Miss Chestnut) attends Clown College full time in San Francisco. I realized, it is just the 'image' of a clown that gives me the willies. So, meet our Circus Girl!

She is a perfect addition to a celebration that involves little ladies and gentlemen, because she adds that extra sparkle, but without the 'pink' that most of our other Characters have *laugh*. Here are Miss Willow and Miss Flicker, our Los Angeles Faeries, modeling some of our ever changing Circus Girl costumes.

Want to find out more about her? Click here!

Our wings fly all the way down to Los Angeles!

I am very excited to announce the opening of (drum roll please...), Happily Ever Laughter - Los Angeles! After many, many requests from parents down south, we have finally extended our faerie family (and Pirates, and Mermaids...wow!) to the Los Angeles area.

You can meet our sparkly friends on our webpage here (just look under Los Angeles near the bottom of the page). Take a peek, there are lots of neat stories about who they are!

It has been quite the exciting journey. After holding Faerie summer camp (that is what we called our training down there, as it was so nice to be all warm and sun kissed after this foggy Bay Area summer!) for the past month, our Faeries are up and ready to fly!

Up, up, up...and away!

Ok...time to meet the Faeries!

Miss Crimson

Miss Piper

Miss Amelia (also part of our SF Bay Area family...she has strong wings!)

Misses Willow and Crimson twinkling their toes!

Miss Bunny! Miss Bunny!

Oh. I just got home and I am now the happiest one! You've got to see the cutest email we've just received....!

"Thank you, thank you, thank you for making Chloe's party SOOO magical! All the girls (and grown ups too) adored Fairy Bunny! Her beauty and natural fairy kindness simply glow -- it was so fun to become wrapped up in her charm and magic. Huge kudos to Fairy Bunny!"

Feelin' Proud!

I am sitting in an airport right now, pretty tired after performing down in Los Angeles. I thought today was going to just be a day full of waiting for a flight (oh...Fridays in the airport...oh oversold flights *laugh*), and then we found out we got a present. Wait. Not just one present. FOUR of them! Happily Ever Laughter has won 4 Best of the Best awards from Bay Area Parent Magazine this year! Thank you so much San Francisco, East Bay, Peninsula, and Silicon Valley for being so sweet to us. *smile*

Ok, going back to looking a bit strange with my Faerie make-up and flowers on in LAX. The grown-ups around me must think I'm crazy. But at least my sparkly shoes look nice. *laugh*

Ah...the Oregon Country Faire...

The Youth Stage...my home at the Oregon Country Faire.

It was a hot one this year! With temperatures above 100 degrees everyday, it made performing at this year's event extra tricky! Thankfully, almost every booth was selling yummy strawberry lemonade, and it was a wonderful treat after a performance. One booth even gave me one for free after one gentleman behind the counter said, "This is for you, Miss Faerie. You made my son a balloon yesterday, and it made him SO happy. Thank you. " I have to admit, I felt a bit like a celebrity. Oh my! *laugh*

Here are a few pictures of the performances, and some of the fun friends I met along the way!

Happy Summer! Happy Summer!

This young chap made me giggle quite a bit!

What's in the box?

I wonder what it is going to be?!

Where did June go?

For the month of June, our presence on the computer has been a bit dim...for good reason! We have had several reasons to celebrate around here this month. First, we have been feeling very lucky to have been performing at more celebrations than ever before, in addition to sporting some new costumes along the way!

Also, June also gave Fae Diddle Diddle a chance to celebrate her dream come true...she finally married her Prince Charming! After the wedding (held outdoors of course, in the forest), she and her Prince flew to France and Russia, and just landed back here in beautiful California. Fae had the chance to see one of the worlds most fantastic ballet schools in Saint Petersburg graduate their students during a special performance, finally see the sun never set during Russia's 'White Nights', and admire the sparkle of Paris at night.

Returning home from such a wonderful trip was doubly exciting...because she is preparing to perform at The Oregon Country Faire this weekend! She had been invited last year to perform for her first time on such a fabled stage, and was jumping up and down when she received the invitation to return this year! If you are up in Oregon this weekend, peek at her on the Youth Stage...hooray!

Well...welcome July...we are wondering how much fun you have in store for us! Happy Summer everyone!

Bring on the Summer!

Our sparkles and wings are starting to really spread now that the weather has warmed up! It has also been fun lately to perform as characters other than our Faerie (although it is still, hands down, my favorite!)...our new Hula Girl!

Miss Autumn, one of our Secre-Faeries (you can meet her sometimes over the phone when you call us *smile*) was raised on the island of Maui, and has taught us a few tricks about what it means to really bring the Hawaiian spirit to a celebration. Gone are the cheesy (ok, ok...they are fun, but only when real!) grass skirts, enter real Muu-Muu's!

I have been sewing like crazy to make enough gowns for our Faeries to wear. Each time I finish one, it seems like another is requested (I feel very, very lucky!). Here is a little peek at a couple of our Hula Characters...hooray!

When Faeries get together...

...they tend to find amazing things. This afternoon was definitely a fun one. Here is a little peek for you!

Our Faeries really do fly!

Our ever brave, Miss Meadow and Miss Blossom, risked bent wings when they flew around the other day. Miss Meadow is in the Redwood Forest around our Tree House Headquarters. Here is a peek at them when they found places to rest that day. *smile*

Our Newest Circus Girl Costume!

I finally finished it!

Well, I did a while ago, but I haven't gotten a chance to take a picture until a few days ago...it has been super busy around here! Here is Miss Sunshine modeling our newest Circus Girl costume. Hooray! It is always fun to see the final costume after I gather all the fabric and put it in a pile *laugh*. Yay!

The amazing Miss Meadow and her fun Faerie friends!

We just received the *cutest* note from a mommy....

Hello,

Just wanted to drop you a note (and a ton of photos) to tell you how amazifying Ms. Meadow was at entertaining a dozen three and four year olds at my daughter's birthday party this weekend. From the moment she arrived the children flocked to her like she was, well, like she was a magical, child-enchanting fairy! She was sweet, gentle, funny and wonderful at engaging the children and her face painting designs were gorgeous! The parents loved her as well, many asking where I found such a wonderful fairy (to which I replied, "Why, Happily Ever Laughter, Of course!")

Piper absolutely T.R.E.A.S.U.R.E.S the special gift that Meadow brought for her and told me all day about how much she loved the "Bery Beautiful fairy with hair that goes around and around (curly??)" and that having her face painted was her absolute favorite part of her day.

I can't thank Meadow enough. She is a treasure! I am in the beginning stages of opening a children's birthday party planning service and I hope to send you a GAZILLION referals in the future!! I have attached some of our favorite photos of the day.

Thanks again!

Sunday Morning Treat

Good morning!

As I sit here checking emails (with about 20 flowers in my hair and full Faerie make-up...I am off to perform in a few minutes), I am just smiling with glee because the weekend isn't even over yet and parents are sending in thank-you's already! Some of them just minutes after their Faerie left their celebration (oh...smartphones *laugh*)! Wow. What a weekend! Here are two sweet notes about Miss Amelia and Miss Bunny

"Miss Amelia was amazing today - the most perfect fairy! Phoebe was delighted from the moment she saw her in her wonderful fairy costume. We had a big group of children and she painted each child's face beautifully, gave a great magic show and ended with very creative balloons (love the snail!). Many parents were asking how I found her, and how to contact her for their parties!

She left her little face painting mirror in the park, and I would like to send it to her. Can you pass along an address?

Thank you for helping to make our party so special."

----

"Wow! We loved Miss Bunny! What a beautiful and gifted fairy. Kids and parents were all delighted. The facepainting was phenominal! Thank you thank you thank you for this wonderful service! Please give Miss Bunny our best!

Elena's family

p. s. her costume was exquisite"

Faeries in Training!

It's happening! Our newest Faeries had a lot of fun yesterday at Day 1 of Faerie School! They learned to twist (our almost 9 year old helped us do the math) by using almost 1,000 balloons! We had to take a few pictures, and of course have someone test out the happiness level that balloons create. Here is a little peek at yesterday's fun!