Helium Shortage - should you get worried?

Are you preparing birthday or children's party and inflated balloons are on your to-do list? Then read on because it can be more difficult to get than it seems. And more expensive.

If you type helium shortage in Google search you will learn that helium is a commodity that is becoming more scarce. The balloons and party supplies companies have been hit most as helium is being prioritised for heavy industry and medical science.  You will also learn about recycled or impure helium which is not suitable for neither medical nor scientific purposes so instead of wasting it, we could simple put it into the balloons.

We have been reading lots of articles about helium shortage and since we have received a letter from our supplier that we won't be able to order more helium canisters we started to worry. At the moment we still have our remaining stock but as you may have noticed we were forced to put the price higher to €34.95 per small canister.

However if you buy your balloons and inflation at our website www.thebigparty.ie, it will cost €2.50 per standard balloon and we do not intend to increase this price any time soon.

Unfortunately the helium for balloons and party suppliers has been cut and we hope that sooner or later there will be better news.

EURO 2012 Fever hits Ireland

In our 3^rd year trading www.thebigparty.ie has just had our busiest week to date as Euro 2012 fever hits the country.

Bunting has been the big seller with over 2000 packs sold in the 7 days leading up to the big match v Croatia.
Afro wigs, flags and tricolour capes are the other big movers as the Irish public scramble to show their support for the ‘boys in green’.

While many radio programmes and other media are running stories to say that stocks are running out in shops, the online channel is the option of choice for many. With big supplies and nationwide next day delivery www.thebigparty.ie are hoping for a ‘result ‘in the first match.

Come on you boyz in Green! The country feels like ‘thebigparty’ is about to start.

Easter Celebrations

Spring flowers, birds, baby animals, Easter bunnies, chocolate eggs and young lambs, that means Easter is back again.

Easter is an special occasion to celebrate resurrection of Jesus Christ. These most important religious celebrations are being spent with families and close friends. People usually wear new clothes on Easter Sunday. Some young girls wear green hair ribbons, yellow dress, and white shoes. Others may pin little crosses made of green, yellow and white ribbons on their right sleeves. These colors and new clothes signify purity and a new start to life.

Some people would strictly follow the traditions and 40 days before Easter on Ash Wednesday they will quit something they cherish. It can be cigarettes, alcohol or some favourite food.

To list all Easter celebrations and beliefs would be very long, but let's have a look at some of the most traditional ones.

1. Spring cleaning of the house on Good Friday
2. Attending confessions and asking for forgiveness on Good Friday
3. Shopping for new clothes and getting a new haircut on Good FridayVisiting holy wells and graveyards on Good Friday
4. Attending a Holy Vigil on Saturday Night
5. Attending a special mass on Easter Sunday
6. Having a traditional meal of roast meat with stuffing, potatoes and vegetables
7. Easter egg hunt on Easter Sunday

If you are having a family get together in your place, surprise them with Easter decorations and summer tableware, buy chocolate eggs for each child and maybe for adults too, to add some fun and don't forget to get some Easter baskets too.

St. Patrick's Day Ideas

St. Patrick's Day celebrations are always big and it doesn'tmatter, if you are staying at home or heading to the streets. We have some tips for you!

If you wish to stay at home in the family circle, you could get some green table covers or even better, table covers with spring clovers on them. Add some extra plastic tumblers, green paper plates, St. Patrick's Day napkins and make your favourite food. If you are the lucky one and have garden, you could put some hanging decorations outside such as lantern garlands or
hanging swirls. According to weather forecast it will be nice and sunny day.

We believe you will go and see the fantastic parade in your town or head up to some of the bigger towns. All the streets will be covered in green with most people wearing green hats, tiaras, head boppers and some of them will also have face paints all over their faces. So get yourself something green and lucky for a day to go with the crowd. If you wish to have something
special, why don't you get a tattoo? Don't worry, the tattoo we are offering is safe and will cause you no pain.

To get some of these fantastic items check http://www.thebigparty.ie.
Order today and you will have it delivered tomorrow. We also offer pick up, so
if you order your goods after 3pm today and before 3pm on Friday, you can still
go and pick up your goods in your local depot. Contact us for more information.

Happy St. Patrick's Day and Sláinte :-)

Happy Pancake Tuesday!

If you are like me, you just love pancakes and it does not matter if they are tiny and crispy as a paper or thick and small.

I have tried lots of different pancakes, plain ones, pancakes with lemon and sugar, pancakes with maple syrup, pancakes with fruit and yoghurt, pancakes with nutella and coconut, pancakes with banana, nutella and coconut, pancakes with blueberries and whipped cream, pancakes with ice cream, fruit and whipped cream. I have also tried pancakes with spinach, pancakes with ham and cheese, pancakes with shrimps, yes shrimps! The list is endless.

While I am writing all this, I can feel the cravings and the taste. And I realise it is a Pancake Tuesday and the shop will close in 30min! So now I have to go and get at least some of the things I had last year (as you can see on my last year's photo, just the ice cream was left in the fridge).

Happy Pancake Tuesday, let's spoil ourselves!

Party of the week - Mickey Mouse

Are you planning a party for your little one and have absolutely no idea what theme to decide on?

Every Friday from now on we will post one photo featuring party of the week. We started this on our Facebook page but we believe it would be handy to keep them all on our Blog as well as we could go back here and check the suggested ideas.

Party of the week is Mickey Mouse Party with one of the most recognizable cartoon characters in the world. Have a look at our idea with some of the Mickey Mouse party essentials. You will need table covers, paper plates, paper cups, some napkins and if you don't want to keep on Mickey Mouse theme only, you can easily mix and match them with both blue and black tableware. As for decorations you could get either letter banner or pennant banner and some balloons. To add to the fun get some Mickey Mouse ears or Mickey Mouse party hats, the kids just love them!

If you wish to give presents to your little visitors, why don't you get some Mickey Mouse loot bags and fill them with little treats, it could be either some pocket toys or pick n mix sweets.

So who is for Mickey Mouse party as your next themed party? Or maybe you already set your party with Mickey Mouse? Do you have any photos? Share them with us!

To get some of our Mickey Mouse party tableware and accessories, have a look on our website:
http://www.thebigparty.ie

Rise of mobile devices in 2012

Mobile devices are fast becoming the first choice for Irish online purchasing. thebigparty.ie have seen a huge increase in customers accessing and purchasing using handheld devices. For example in the first 2 weeks of 2011 4% of customers accessed the site using handhelds whereas in 2012 that figure has increased to 16%. A four fold increase in 1 year! In the same period the numbers accessing using windows has gone from 91% to 71% again highlighting the move away from the PC/laptop to the handheld.

Amongst the handheld user group Apple comes out on top with over 80% using an IPhone IPad or IPod. 16% are with Android and it will be interesting to see if this increases through 2012. The balance are using Blackberry and other devices.