Welcome Home!

I been more than a year a go since my cousin, Ate San and my niece, Bea visit us here in Pinas. And this time, they're both holding a Blue Passport!
Funny thing was, (as related by my cousin) the line to Immigration at NAIA 2 was quite long compare with the Immigration line for Filipinos. And most of them are Filipino-looking,too. Too bad, many of them changed their citizenship (same as with my cousin) for a better future. And maybe, Holy Week is nearing too so lots of balikbayans travel back to Pinas. My niece told my cousin, "See Mom, that's the result of you changing your citizenship..We have to wait in here longer" Hehe

Anyways, I'd like to welcome them both! I just missed them so much. My Ate San, is so dear to me.. We've been close like a sister eversince. We got even closer when I was in college. All my gimiks and dates - she knew. I can confide to her everything! And my dear Bea, my Inaanak, and we share same birthdays!

For a short one month, me and my other cousins promised her of fun and exciting bakasyon fever!

Bye for now, need to prepare for a welcome party for them at our auntie's house.

Cheers!

Plan: A Surprise 65th Birthday Party for my MIL!

My Sister-in-Law, Hannah, decided to throw a Surprise Party for my Mom-in-law. I just learned this from my husband, who's asking me of thoughts and ideas on throwing a party and giveaways and for decorations, specifically, the table centerpiece.

It's Party Planning once again! This time, I do not have control of everything :) And my husband can't even tell me what motif or theme for the party! Its really hard to prepare without a theme!

In my mind, a "Burst of Sunshine" 65th Birthday Party would be a fun theme, and utilizing Sunflower as the main theme. Since my husband relied on me on decoration ideas and for giveaways, I suggested this.. 

I'll update with my upcoming blogs how will and how to celebrate a Burst of Sunshine Theme! (just the giveaways and table centerpieces).. 

Keep following and reading!

A tiring weekend that was!

T'was a late posting regarding our tiring but fun weekend date. Me and my hubby, Jojo, was looking forward for date weekend like this, especially now that we have a kid.

Lucky for us, we had delivery schedule at Shangri-la Makati (Circus Party of Jacob Marthy). Too bad, we weren't able to bring Jakey with us. Our car was full of orders of Ms. Mae! 

After delivery/drop-off of orders at Quezon Ballroom, my husband told me we need to go to Robinson's Place in Malate for something. His e-cigarette had some problem, (NOTE: My husband is a E-Cig addict!). I agreed but with one request - He should buy me a bag, the one that i've been eyeing for weeks now at Rustan's. 

After dining at Foodcourt, we chose this over the  Persian Restaurant we passed by along Pedro Gil because of food selections. Then, we separate ways - he went to his E-cig Kiosk/Shop and met an E-cig user, too (to buy additional batteries, haist) and eventually bought his quite expensive E-Cig. I think, as of the moment, he has 7 E-Cigarettes now! Different sizes, colors.. What will he do with all those,right? And I, walked to Rustan's. 

Fortunately, they has my Lulu Bag and it's on sale! I just love Rustan's! On my way to my husband, I bought Jakey his Elmo Polliwalks! He sooo adore Elmo and I know he will like it, so I bought it, even if it's quite expensive for a sandals that could only be used for couple of weeks. 

I'll post pics of him wearing those.. soon.. 

Note: Combine prices of Jakey Polliwalks and my bag is even cheaper than my husband's E-Cigarette!!

After Rob Place, we went back to Shangri-la to meet and celebrate Jacob Marthy's Circus Birthday Party!

At around past 6 o'clock, we decided to leave and travel back to Laguna, it's still quite a long trip..

Drop by at home, bought the famous Pulvoron in Sucat Muntinlupa for my Mom and drove SLEX to Laguna.

Stopped at KFC-Shell SLEX for catch-up dinner. I missed the Double Down :)

It's a long and tiring day, but both of us, and my Kid Jakey ended the day with fun and it's date weekend/shopping day.right?

Cheers!

Jacob Marthy's 1st Birthday: A Vintage Circus Party

As per my previous blog, I said I can't attend the event.. But on a sudden change of schedule, we made it! Jojo and I managed to attend and enjoy (for a while) Jacob Marthy's 1st Circus Birthday Party.

Jacob Marthy is the 1st born of a client, Ms. Mae, a client of mine I met thru Fb. We just communicate during the whole ordering process via YM and e-mail exchanges. 

At the Makati Shangri-la, we get pass through the Service Door (back area) where all the cooking,etc happens inside the hotel. A Set-up Crew ID was given to us. I wish I took pictures of everything, but I;m quite pre-occupied with the delivery. 

When I saw the Quezon Ballroom (setup time, around 12:30/1:00 pm), I told myself, it is really a special and grand birthday for Jacob :)

We dropped off (me and Jojo) the items and texted Ms. Mae that will come back around 5:00 pm.

(Our mini gathering was canceled, and re-scheduled this coming week since my cousins will be here in pinas on the 25th, so we just kill our time at the mall, [separate blog on this topic])

We came back at around 5:00 and instead of Service Area we parked at the Basement of the Hotel :) 

I met Ms. Mae, and she introduced me to her friend, Ms. Claudine (who I think decorated the Whole Ballroom) Jacob is really a Lucky Baby!

Too bad, I didn't have any photo of Jacob.. 

Anyways, Happy Birthday Jacob Marthy!! 

Unofficial Photos (from my iPhone):

Entrance Decor:

Circus Entrance

Ceiling decors:

So festive Looking! I really loved this!!

Ceiling decors

See the decors and balloons!

Stage Backdrop:

Circus backdrop

Table Centerpiece:

Super love this! Huge Hot Air Balloons!

Host in Action and Costume: I don't know who she is.. Can't comment much on this.

Party Host in Costume

Dessert Station: So fab!

Carousel decor

ferris wheel decor

The Circus Cake: A Huge Cake for Jacob

circus cake

Giveways and Prizes: from Handicrafts,atbp

Giveaways

Birthday Giveaways

Added notes to this.. It was really a Grand and Fab Circus Party! 

Food Carts: 

Seattle Best (too bad, it's already sold out when we came)

Big Chill (had 1 cup of mango Shake)

Side entertainment: Photobooth

Will update more when I get to see the official photos. Would like to thank Ms. Mae to for getting our service and be part of his son's 1st Birthday party. 

Circus Party - Event with a client

I'm not so sure how this works or if it really a good thing. We have a client who's based in abroad (not so sure, if it's Kuwait or London) and he planned everything for his son's 1st birthday party here in Pinas thru emails and fb. 

All her orders for the event were rush. (We consider it rush, around 1-20days before the event) But we managed to finish it and on time. 

It's a Vintage Circus Party for Jacob (yeah, same name as my Jakey). She invited us to come and celebrate with them.. First thought of mine was I'm shy and I do not even know her, it may look like i'm a party crasher :). I told my mom about it, and sais "Why not? She invited you, and she might introduced you to her friends, too!" Yeah I know, it would be of great help when she does that.. 

But, I have lots of things to attend to this weekend, we will just drop by at Shangri-la in Makati to deliver the orders, wait for her and will leave as soon as we can.. We have a family affair/reunion (unexpected), sort of since our balikbayan relatives are here in Pinas for Holy Week. Maybe it's not meant to be.. But I really appreciate the gesture. 

I'll just share all the designs we have for the Circus Party -- and she ordered a lot of items! 

Penholders

Tissue Holders

Kiddie Stools

Circus theme giveaways

Lunchboxes

Circus theme Giveaways

Kiddie Chairs

Circus theme Giveaways

Clocks

Circus Theme Giveaways

Thanks to you my dear client, and Happy Birthday Jacob!

Jacob and his Rocking Horse

My son loves horses! Everytime he sees horse on TV, DVDs he gets excited and says Horse! Even in our house, my mom keeps a paired horses figurine (inherited from her sister), he keeps on saying horse! (well, not really horse, sounds much like "Osh" :)
When we visit a friend in her shop, there's this mini wooden rocking horse on display. Just to kill time, I let him play with it.. But, when it's our time to go, we wanted to bring it back home! Maybe my friend saw how cute Jacob in the rocking horse, she gave it for free! I sooo love her.

When we got home, that's the first thing he did - rode on the horse's back! It's quite too small for him but really I captured these precious smiles and laughter from my super cutie Jacob.. And i'm sharing it to the world!
*Quite Blurred photos

Jacob's 1st Birthday: Complete Details

Many people were asking me for the complete details of Jacob's last year Sesame Street Party. This was posted by me in kiddieparty.com. Have fun reading! And for comments, you have leave it here.. Cheers!

It's been a while since we had Jacob's Party. But the memory and experience was something I could treasure for a lifetime. And I'm so proud of it so I decided to share it with you!

Date: 12 Sept 2010

Venue: Prestige Tower Roofdeck, Ortigas Pasig City

Time: program starts at 4pm

Theme: Sesame Street Party

Reason why I chose Sesame Street as the theme for the party: Since Jacob can't choose his own theme for the party, I did! I'm not a big fan of sesame st but the songs and music from the TV series was the first thing that came into my mind when i started to plan Jacob's party. Also, it's a very colorful theme! Perfect way to start Jacob's colorful life with us..

The planning stage started as early his 3rd month bday (right after his christening).

Venue: Prestige Tower Roofdeck

Ratings: 4/5

Ms. Salou was very accommodating in terms of quick replies and assurance of everything I need for the party. Booked as early as April. The only flaw I encountered (but not a major one) was the venue has low ceiling, i just informed the planner of this so she/they could adjust with the decor i wanted for the party.

No corkages for food we brought in. We occupy the whole area for the party since it was quite a big one.

Peso Power: free when you availed their catering service (P15000 and up)

Included in the contract:

FUNCTION ROOMS

Function Room 2 can accommodate up to 120 people with a rate of P1,500/hour. Function Room 3 can accommodate up to 50 people with a rate of P1000/hour. - Jacob's Party was over 200 but still they accommodate it.

Amenities:

o tables and chairs - covered

o mantle and tablecloths - i chose Gold,Emeral Green, Blue and Maroon

o flower arrangement for the buffet table

o centerpieces for each table - we have our own table centerpiece

o stage

o overhead screen

o podium

o sound system (amplifier, speakers, microphone)

To avail free use of our function room for 4 hours, the client must have at least P15,000 worth of food catering booking. In excess of 4 hours, standard rates will apply.

(copied from their website)

Contact: Ms. Salou

Website: http://www.cateringtrio.com/

Food: Chow Unlimited

The food was prepared by Chow Unlimited. Initially, we only reserved for 100 guests but end up adding more 3 days before the party. Because of this, we occupied the entire party area (roofdeck).

Adult:

Food Menu: Menu

Steamed Rice

Chicken -Lemon Chicken

Pork- Pork Ragout

Pasta-Creamy Bacon Spaghetti

Vegetable- Mongolian vegetable

Dessert- Buco Lychees

Drinks- (1) one round of iced tea

Price: P260/per x 150 = P39000.00

Additional foods where brought in and prepared by my Mom and my MIL. Good thing! because expected number of guests exceeded our list! about 50-60! and that's huge number for non-RSVP guests Smile

Foods: all recommended (for samples, you could contact me)

Menudo by my dad (his specialty)

Embutido by my Mom (hers)

Spaghetti (by MIL, excess from Kid's Meal)

Pancit Malabon (from Taguig)

Leche Flan

1000pcs of Macaroons ( I ordered from a friend)

Lanzones from Laguna

Gryn Wasabi- Makati Branch - ordered morning of the party. 2 big bilao of mixed sushi. Affordable and everybody took a piece of it.

For the kid's meal, we decided not to avail Chow's Menu since i read feedbacks with the Spaghetti, i just paid extra P700 for the tables and chairs for the kids. To personalized it, I put a sticker on each styropacks with "Jacob's 1st Birthday" Party Pack.

Foods: prepared by MIL

Fried Chicken

Spaghetti

Sunkist Tetra Juice Pack

Pulvoron

Price: free (c/o them) except for the Tetrapacks. Originally I was looking and wanted an exclusive sesame st party even for the drinks. I saw Apple and Eve's Sesame Street Tetrapack Juices,but no to avail here in the Phils ( I checked everywhere), so I opted for Sunkist Tetrapack Juice.

Ratings: 4/5

Everybody enjoyed the foods! for the kids, the packs were served, for the adults, buffet style.

Decors: Kiko's Balloons and Services

I so loved them! they make Jacob's party such a memorable one to all the attendees! We availed the package 4: P15000.00

Inclusive of:

Full styro setup

- stage backdrop

- character standys

- personalized welcome sign for the entrance

Two balloon columns (upgraded with big foil character head)

Sesame Street Backdrop

Ten (10) pcs balloon table centerpiece with theme mylar balloons

Floating balloons (250 pcs) – balloon drops

Balloon burst - 50 pcs

Balloon clusters for stage floor

Mini cake table arch

Cloth swags for ceiling (in color motif)- red, yellow, green,blue,orange

Party Decoration

Balloon Burst

Balloon Burst in Action

I just added additional P300 for the sculpted/shaped elmo and bigbird (in replacement with the balloon pillar) on the entrance door.

Sesame Street Balloon Pillar

Entrance Decor

availed a party coordinator just to lessen the hassle on registration P1000.00

Peso Power: 4/5

It's the most affordable yet still expensive for decors Smile but i super loved it! i didn't regret to shelled out such moolahs for this party.

I just informed Ms. Kristine regarding the low ceiling, emailed them the photos of the venue (prior meeting). And i wanted Ballloon drops for ceiling decors, no more no less.

End result - uber nice party!

My cousin from US, Ate San, sent us a package with these uber cute decors.. it's a generic 1st birthday decor, but really makes every inch of it (decor) unique and special..

Swirl Hanging Decor

link Here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2061413&id=1257993971

Entertainment: Lambert Flores Bubbleshow

it's the 2nd supplier we booked after the venue. Saw his ad on multiply and inquired. We availed his P8000 package but on the eve of the party, we contacted them.. It was him who will perform and moreover, he will perform the P12000 package! I super like!

Everybody enjoyed the party because of them. Lively hosting (by his wife), and everyone participated. They asked me to prepare 60 major and 40 minor prizes. But, i ended up more since i have balloon burst - i prepared 50 pcs for this. But during the party, other giveaways were given as prizes also! i don't know why.. i just didn't have any control with this - but it's ok. the good thing was i had lots of giveaways prepared for Jacob's party.

4-5 crews were present and they're very organized when it comes to the program and party itself.

Recommended!

Dads in action

Bubble Cake

Guests enjoyed too the Bubbleshow!The best..

Big Bubble

link of the video: http://jacob911.blogspot.com/2010/12/jacobs-party-video-highlights.html

Peso Power: P8000

ratings: 4/5

Giveaways: Handicrafts,atbp

Since, it's our business i prepared giveaways separately for adults and kids.

40pcs for the kids of kiddie stool

Kiddie Stools

50 pcs for the mini kiddie stool for adults but ended up as additional prizes again!

35 pen holder (slot type ) intended for the suppliers as a courtesy gift but ended up as additional prize for the games and activities

tissue holder - giveaways for the guests

ratings: 5/5! everyone loved it! and wants to take home each item! waahh.. i'm biased but really, Jacob's party helped boost our sales via online. it's a unique yet affordable giveaways for a party.

Peso Power: free (since it's ours)

Additional cost was from the thank you tags i made for each item.

tags:

Invitation: I personally made this invites for Jacob's party. Since at first i was planning to have a Sesame Street Live! Party but due to restriction with the venue and design/backdrop from the decorator/supplier, we ended up with sesame st party just utilizing all the color themes. For the invites, i made a poster type and designed it this way. so proud! printed it with a laser printer, printed it on a thick 150gsm paper. for the envelopes, i bought colored papers and put a yellow feather at the back of the envelope. it's a way of saying" Big Bird wants you to be part of Jacob's big day!" Smile

Sesame Street Invitation

invites:

i just added an additional sheet for the direction to the venue - made by me exp for the party! so proud!

map:

Prestige Tower Map

ratings: 5/5 My DIY!

peso power: im not so sure with the amount but i saved a lot since i DIY it.

Contact: Grace

email: handicrafts.atbp@yahoo.com

website: www.facebook.com/handicrafts.atbp

mobile: +639228716183 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              +639228716183      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              +639228716183      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +639228716183 end_of_the_skype_highlighting +639176433405 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +639176433405 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Prizes: I bought the prizes and items at Toys R Us, Divisoria Mall and 168 but i made it personal for the party. I put my own touch with a twist to make it more fun!

Sesame Street Stuff Toys

Prizes

additional prizes were given to:

early bird, youngest guest,oldest,raffle winner.

ratings: 5/5!

Cakes and Cupcakes: Sugarbox by Ms. Emily Uy

I just emailed her what i wanted - all characters and colors should be present in the design. it's up to her. result: super love the cake!! i haven't tasted it nor took a piece of it at home!

cupcake tower:

blowing cake:

Sesame Street Cupcakes

Sesame Street Cake

Peso Power: 4/5 P6500

Ratings: 4/5

Photo coverage and photostudio: Sophia Photography

Spent 13k for this. Worth the money! everybody had fun with the photostudio. and i love the shots! captured every moment!

2 photographers covered the event and around 5 crews for the photostudio!

Photobooth

photostudio: click here

ratings: 4/5

Party Hats: i specifically asked a headress maker for this design and its crowd's favorite!

pre-party:

Headdress

 at the registration:

cookie monster:

Cookie Monster

elmo:

Elmo

zoe:

Zoe

oscar:

Oscar the grouch

Peso Power: 3/5

Expensive for a head gear but really i love it!

ratings: 4/5

Table Centerpieces: DIY by me. Concept was, sesame st everywhere! so i googled for the things about the theme - and picked up the location where he story revolve. blog about the centerpiece: click here

Table Centerpiece

SInce we had lots of tables for the guests, good thing, my Ate San sent this uber cute table centerpieces from US.

ratings: 5/5

photos:

Candy Station: I DIY this too! Since I left Prestige Tower Roofdeck to prepare for the party, I just asked Ms. Kristine (Kiko's Balloons) and Ms. Salou (Prestige Tower) to setup the Candy Station which was supposedly my project. But since I cannot do it anymore on time, I r