By Frank Sinatra, AAP Editor

The goal of the newly opened My Little Sweet Tea Parties in Pennsauken is to give little girls the best birthday ever, while giving parents a break from the stress of putting together a party at home.

Longtime Pennsauken resident Sue McCleery has lived in the Chadwick section of town for over 12 years. And while she’s a trained paralegal and has worked as a realtor, her real knack is putting together one-of-a-kind events for a child’s special day.

“I always enjoyed doing parties for my kids and I had friends that would always ask me to help with their parties,” explains McCleery. “I think birthdays are really special for kids, so I wanted to start a party business that could make a really special birthday for little girls.”

The age of her clientele usually range from toddlers to 12 years old, but she can customize a party for anyone. While birthday parties or the base of her business, Sue can also host demonstrations, showers and more. “We’re working on adding a high tea once a month for adults,” says McCleery.

My Little Sweet Tea Parties has two party rooms that can accommodate a dozen or so little guests. One room is decorated for the kids; the other is set up for parents, so they can socialize and relax when they’re not busy taking pictures of the kids during the party.

McCleery went on to explain the activities during a typical birthday party.

“The kids will come in and play dress up. Then we’ll move to the party room. They’ll have tea and snacks. Next, we’ll come into the main area and we’ll play a game or make a craft, then we’ll go back into the party room and decorate cup cakes. We’ll sing, ‘Happy Birthday.’ We’ll finish with another game, or if they’re doing dress up and want to do a runway show or dancing. It’s whatever they want to do.”

And it’s not just for girls.

“It can be for both boys and girls. Boys enjoy playing ‘make pretend.’ They’ll come in and I’ll give them a super hero cape, or a fedora and a vest. I always try to customize the party. If I know a lot of boys are going to be here, we’ll do games that suit both boys and girls. Nobody’s excluded. I like having company.”

Parties run anywhere between one and a half to two hours and include snacks such as fruit, cheese, crackers pretzels, cupcakes, brownies, and cookies; children can also choose from pink lemonade, water or apple juice. At the end of the event, guests walk away with a party favor such as toy necklaces, bracelets, or rings, and their decorate cupcake, if it isn’t already eaten. Each party is extremely customizable; parents can choose a particular theme and color scheme and bring as much or a little food and favors as they want.

“Anything they want to bring in, they can. They’re welcome to bring food in for the other parents or food in for the kids. They make their own party,” say McCleery. “I just have pieces of the puzzle they can put together. “

Sue is very hands on at each event, a works diligently to make sure that a party at My Little Sweet Tea Parties is truly unforgettable.

“My goal is when a little girl leaves, she says it was the best birthday party she’s had and her friends want to have their birthdays here.”

My Little Sweet Tea Parties is located at 2345 Bethel Ave., in Pennsauken, across the street from the Pennsauken Township Police Department. For more information, visit them on Facebook by clicking here.