when mom speaks

A new month is here! Welcome August! And that only means one thing, Christmas is near!!! Actually, my online friends are already in the midst of Christmas party planning as early as now, well because of so many reasons like holiday rush, motherhood and out of town trips, we have to set our party and send out Holiday Party Invitations as early as now! And yep, book venues and caterers too!

Anyways, going back to holiday invitations, have you heard about www.holiday-invitations.com? they are the leading makers of personalized holiday party invitations in the online world today! I happen to pass by their site and I was truly amazed with their collections of cute and inviting Christmas party invitations! It made me want to organize one for my friends complete with personalized invitation and all the props! lovely I know!

I was just visiting sites when I found this cute Party Baby Shower invitation sample at www.cards-411.com, actually they have wide array of birthday party invites, baby shower invitations and even moving announcements! Very affordable compare to other makers of personalized invites especially if you buy in bulk and complete with personalized envelopes too! Their selection of baby invitations are the cutest, it makes me want to organize a shower party for a friend who’s about to give birth anytime this month!

Speaking of organizing a party, I might check on how long they’ll be able to deliver their baby invitations, maybe they can rush things if requested, especially if there are no special requirements at all. I might talk to some of my friends too regarding this plan of throwing a party, hope it’ll turn out positive!

A friend of ours is inviting us for their house warming party sometime this month. Actually, they already had an official house party blessing last month but there were many friends who weren’t able to attend for some reason or another. So the friend who owns the new house decided to schedule another moving announcement get together! I wonder if she’ll also send out Announcements Moving Cards or anything like that to those who she can’t contact via phone, probably she will since she were able to send our moving cards before something like the one below.

Anyways, speaking of announcements moving I was asked by another friend to design a simple card for their upcoming house blessing, but you know, I wouldn’t dare! specially if there are sites that offers affordable personalized card making like announcements-shoppe.com! I’d probably tell her about this site, and I’ll just do the ordering and all That simple!

I will be attending so many events this coming March and April, two friends are scheduled to get wed and I am already thinking of what to give them. Actually, there are four of us in the group whose already wondering what nice gift we can give the couple. Anyways, while I was browsing the web earlier I found this cute Custom T-Shirts that  personalize  messages and logos, so what I am thinking now is to get the two love birds their sets of shirts they can wear before or after their wedding! Where they can flaunt different t-shirt messages or designs! Perfect! Now all I need to do is lay down the suggestion to my other friends and most probably, they will agree and we will jusg have to choose over hundreds of perfectly made designs from designashirt.com. Here are some of the designs that hits me intstantly:

Also, the website’s available shirts varies from different custom creation a client desire, and I’m already thinking of ordering something for my relatives and friends who are about to celebrate  their birthdays this year! I can hoard now and worry no more on their birthday because I already had prepared something for them in advance! That would be totally cool!

A friend just recently had her baby baptized and I was one of the lucky sponsors Actually, it was a surprised invitation for my side because apparently, the invitation card that she sent to me wasn’t able to arrive, so I wasn’t able to prepare well. But, good thing, there are already so many things in my mind when it comes to baby gifts! Since I am one of those who favored PINK & BROWN color combination, thanks to Aggie and Glo for the inspiration, it has been my frequent theme, for my blogs and other templates and yes, even to my dear daughter’s Baptism party last 2007 as well. Anyways, back to baby gifts, I was able to snag super cute baby bedding from the mall, a day before the baptism party, and it was something like this…

super cute isn’t?! my mom who was with me when I was buying couldn’t help but get some for her dear grand daughter as well

Before I end this post, let me share with you some of the designs that I like from the baby bedding market site that I truly heart! everything is dainty looking right! perfect for the little princess!

And so I already got these cheapy items from a nearby party kiosk yesterday, some are from TK actually, but I noticed that Dora themed ones are so limited that is why I still had to opt for other items, well It’s really ok because it’s just a party-party-han after all. No fuss or anything if not everything are uniformly themed. I’m also done with the cake ordering, DH will just have to pick it up on the 25th after lunch time. So next to do are list down some of the merienda foods my mom and I will prepare for our more or less 10 relatives guests (mostly kids!)

Since we wouldn’t have a big birthday bash party for the little girl, we were just going to give her a Dora Cake for her to blow with her cousins and will ask my mom to help me cook pasta and fry crispy fried chicken for the kids and few relatives. But of course, even if they are so konti, I wonder what games will I let them play so they wouldn’t get bored and still feel the birthday ambiance after the candle blowing… so here are my lists to get and accomplish before her 2nd birthday:

1. order for the dora cake - I snag some designs from the internet and the husband and I are still deciding which design to choose.
2. buy some DIY balloons and 6 party hats, few loot goodies too.
3. Buy new play mat (the huge ones) for the play area of my parent’s house
4. List down and buy ingredients for the menu

There, I only have few to do’s pala! I hope to finish this all by next week!

This is so timely as my dear daughter’s 2nd birthday is coming up! But no, we don’t have any grand plan for her special day this year since we had a big one on her 1st birthday already. But instead, we might just get her a Dora cake and prep up some balloons here in our place on her day  and a dinner out with our immediate family since it’ll also be my mom’s birthday the day after Olin’s so a double celebration it is! so what gift shall we give the little princess? we are still thinking of what to buy actually, well, she’s eying one expensive item at Toy Kingdom, hmmm, I dunno, we’ll see if we can get that for her ;)  how about getting her a doll house with huge industrial knobs?? joke!

Anyways, let me just share with you this nice online find that I got to help parents save money for the kids party from babycenter.

1. Stay close to home

   If you can swing it, have parties in your own home or backyard — it makes it much easier to organize activities, and you won’t have to lug food and supplies around. If your living space is simply too small to accommodate a gaggle of friends and family, consider borrowing a relative’s house — but make it clear that you’ll do all the setting up and cleaning up.

   Or, if weather permits, host everyone at a local park. It’s much less expensive to drape some streamers around a picnic table than it is to rent just about any venue. Be sure to find out whether your park allows you to reserve a table (or a shelter) or it’s first come first served.

2. Shave your guest list

   Limit yourself to a set number of guests, and resist the temptation to add on at the last minute. When planning a party, it’s natural to feel like you have to invite all your friends and family and reciprocate all recent invitations. But the bigger the gathering, the more hectic and pricey it will be. (Hint: Pretend it’s a catered party and you’re being charged at least $10 a head.)

   For a children’s party, the general guideline for number of guests is your child’s age plus one. If you’re including adults, invite only those people you know will enjoy a few hours focused on kids.

3. Stick to simple foods

   Food is often a centerpiece of a good party (ever notice how guests tend to congregate in the kitchen?), but that doesn’t mean you have to serve a full meal. There’s nothing wrong with a light brunch, a dessert party, or a cocktail reception of hors d’oeuvres and simple drinks.

   If you want to serve a meal, think vegetarian, Italian, or both. A huge pan of spinach lasagna or baked ziti is easy to make and costs only cents per serving. Round it off with a tossed salad, a loaf of bread, and a big bottle of inexpensive chianti, and your friends will be saying grazie for weeks. If you’re cowed by the idea of cooking for a crowd, ask guests to pitch in with a potluck dish.

   If food is really your thing and you consider preparing it half the fun, keep your guest list extremely small, perhaps just another family or two. Choose fellow foodies, and you can take turns hosting dinner parties.

   When it comes to children’s birthday parties, however, food is fairly expendable, says Mary Toohey, the coauthor with her husband Bill of The Average Family’s Guide to Financial Freedom. Just pick a midmorning or afternoon time slot and “your expenses are cake, juice, and favors — that’s it,” says Toohey. She cut costs even more by baking and decorating the cake herself, though she acknowledges that not everyone has the time or talent to do that.

   You can also save by buying a cake, juice, and chips and other snacks at a warehouse store. When children get together, they’re more interested playing than in eating, so elaborate snacks are usually a waste of time and money.

4. Make homespun fun

   Sure, you’d love to hire a DJ and dance the night away. But it can be just as much fun to giggle through a game of Pictionary in front of the fire.

   Young kids are just as happy running around in a spirited game of Duck, Duck, Goose as they are sitting down to watch an award-winning magic show. Classics like Musical Chairs, Simon Says, and Pin the Tail on the Donkey (personalize it by drawing a picture of your child’s favorite animal on a piece of cardboard) never go out of style . You can create a carnival atmosphere with a beanbag toss (use Beanie Babies and old Easter baskets) and a sack race. Treasure hunts are always a big hit, too. Keep it simple: Decorate a shoebox with some tin foil and construction paper, and you have a treasure chest. Fill it with play money, sparkly trinkets, and other party favors, then hide it in a sandbox or under a blanket. Give the kids a treasure map, complete with age-appropriate clues, and they’ll have a blast pretending they’re pirates hunting for buried gold.

5. Hire undiscovered talent

   Maybe you want an entertainer to brighten up your child’s big day, but you shy away from the limelight. Then network. Do you know anyone who juggles or has a steady hand with face paint? Post a notice on the bulletin board at your local college or recreation center — theater students often make a few bucks on the side donning a fairy princess outfit or doing magic tricks. You might also catch that local guitarist at the farmer’s market and ask how much he’d charge for a half-hour sing-a-long.

6. Send electronic invitations

   Paper invitations can cost a bundle, and postage adds up fast (not to mention the time it takes to gather all the right mailing addresses). Instead, put technology to work for you and invite people via e-mail or online invitations

7. Be creative about supplies

   Chances are you’ll be hosting parties for a long time to come, so why not buy in bulk? Instead of those expensive themed supplies, buy paper plates, napkins, cups, and plastic silverware in festive, mix-and-match colors at your local warehouse store. When it comes to kids’ stuff, don’t pick anything too age- or gender-specific, and you’ll be able to use it for years.

8. Consider offbeat favors

   One of the biggest party money-wasters is overpriced plastic favors that get lost or tossed in no time. Try something different: Buy large packages of kid-friendly art supplies such as glitter pens, stickers, and stamps, then break up the sets and give each child one of each. Or use a Polaroid camera (or a digital camera if you can easily print pictures on the spot) to snap fun photos of each child. Then let the kids decorate the borders and take them home as a keepsake.

9. Line up help — cheap

   If you have limited time or space, you can still throw a great party, even when you’re on a budget. Search for local venues that will cater inexpensively — for example, some restaurants will cater for less if you hold your party during off-hours, such as during the afternoon.

   Scout out local meeting places such as VFW halls, community centers, and multipurpose rooms at houses of worship. These are often much less expensive than other reception locations. Or hire help in your own home. Paying a high school or college student for a few hours of cooking and serving costs much less than professional catering and buys you plenty of peace of mind.

10. Hook up with another partying family

    Host a group party with one or two other friends whose kids share a birthday week or month with your child. This works especially well for children under age 4. They won’t care if the party isn’t just for them, and you’ll save big by splitting the expenses. Sing the birthday song for each guest of honor over cupcakes instead of separate cakes.

got this thing from here.

Are you going to cook for Christmas? Because I am! Actually, I’ve been collecting food and recipe magazines as early as now that has yummy recipes good for the holiday feast. And yes, I also been watching cooking shows and taking down notes of the recipes and the how to’s. Intrigue with the easy green bean recipes  I might try one this weekend and see if it will do good for the Christmas table. I really wanted to impress the whole family with my cooking galore, thats why I’m gearing up! *wink* Let’s see if I’ll excel on cooking too just like my dear mom who really cooks well! But if everything else fails, I’d probably resort to cooking and preparing a simple Macaroni and Cheese dish!

How was your Halloween? Well, for us we had a blast! we brought the kids (my daughter and my two nieces) at SM Bacoor for the yearly Trick or Treating and Halloween costume contest, it was Olin’s second year actually, last year she was a little pumpkin and this year she goes to be a very cute and charming Butterfly princess!

We (together with my mom and sis) arrived at the mall lunchtime to meet up with my cousin and the kids, after we all ate we then proceeded to register the kids for the contest, well, we just wanted to get the loots and have some moment of stardom (we are not really hoping to win or anything) aka exposure! anyways, while the others are still in line at the registration area, the host announces that mall wide stores/shops are already open for the trick or treaters, so we then went out with the kids for the trick or treating hops… for two hours! my goodness we, the adults were oh so tired! but the  kids? they were still hyper as ever! they just simply love what they are doing! hopping from one store to another asking for candies and some other goodies! it was chaos! there were so many kids in full costume! but that deserves another post since I’ve took a lot of photos of kids in their awesome halloween costumes.

So there, after the trick or treating we then headed at the lower ground floor where the contest venue is located, and waited our time to come up on stage for the judges to see our little kiddos in costume! of course, stage mommy ako, I came up with Olin… kasi she doesn’t want to be put down during the time we were nearing the stage na, natakot ata sa voice nung host at nung mga ibang naka costume near the stage.. so like last year, stage mudrax ang drama ko! hahaha! so what ba diba? paki ko? eh sa gusto namin ang exposure mag ina eh! ahahahaha!

And yes, as expected we didn’t win… but it was ok, kasi those who won naman were talagang bonggang bongga ang costume and all! the winners for the fantasy theme (where Olin and my nieces fall under the said category)  came to be as DYOSA, with all the feathers and wide spread wings and all the works! At talagang tipong magwawala ang parenthood ng mga chikiting na iyon pag di sila ang nanalo-effect! ganun kinarir, ‘ika nga.  Yun Na! .

And yeah, she came home with candies and other stuffs too, but of course it was me and my sister who ate it all! bwahahaha! dinner at KFC afterwards and some Christmas decor shopping and candles for the following day All Saint’s day activity at the cemetery before we head home. Uber tiring the day was, but lots of photos and memories for Olin to look back when she grows up! makikita nya how super kikay her mom was and how supportive her Tatay, grandma and Ninang Tita was

(From L-R: Aggie. Joy. Peachy. Litzie. Mai with baby Asher. Moi. Alpha. Thea with Mikee. Abie)

It has been three days after our big and happy Twitter Party (EB) at Citadel Inn, Makati. Since we have to travel that far, we hit the road at 1pm to make sure we arrive at 3pm at the venue. Joy messaged me regarding the availability of our room that was move from 2 to 4pm, good thing they were able to make the room available thirty minutes before 4. Anyways, since hubby admittedly doesn’t know the ins and outs of Makati area, we decided to park the car at Cash and Carry and just rode a taxi to the Condotel.

Joy (with Sherwin and Sandy who arrived later) and Alpha (with hubby Jojo and Estong) were the first to arrive, anyways, we were able to make chika for a while, Olin and Estong hit it already, and were playing blocks and loops. Then Mai (with Paul and Asher) arrives followed by Aggie (with Edil, Mato and Martha), Thea (with Mike,Mikee), Abie (with Howell and Bela), Litzie ( with Denon and Dustin) and of course, the grand entrance amongs all… Pretty Preggy Peachy!

We had super chika although the kids were 100x louder than the mommies! It was a riot! but totally fun! Will do another set of first impressions post later although I sent a more windang one through email to the mommies

So there, we had so much food! but low side of it all, I was having a terrible migraine attack the whole, thus making me less chattier (as what Thea noticed).. I really wanted to talk and talk but my head is throbbing big time! Reason why I wasn’t able to pig out as much as I wanted to… And yes, I saw the fruit salad in the fridge, but had no strenght to pull it out, so water and coke did just fine.

The daddies… huhuhummm… they were too shy to talk to each other! although you’ll hear a little chit chats from them once in a while, they were the ones who practically look after the kids din kasi.. next time, mag-chichikahan na yan sila!

hmmm, what else? oh yeah, the gifts! Thanks to Mai for the wonderful green inspired bed sheet and Asher for Olin’s Dora cap and bracelet. Bela (Abie) for the Dora loots! Olin was ecstatic! grabe naloka cia sa dami! hahaha. Sandy (Joy) for the board books, my daughter super likes it! kasi she loves flipping books di ba? thanks thanks!! Martha (Aggie) for your doggie.. who were brutally killed by the kids, thanks for sharing.. kahit na ni-bully ka ni Olin.. Mikee (Thea) for the rocking lion na super inenjoy ni Olin at Estong!

So there, while waiting for the other photos to be uploaded (ehem to Alpha and Abie) here are my share of the event’s happening… sorry for the super high exposure, I wasn’t able to tweak my camera setting out of excitement! next time let’s raffle something like a grand Sony Vaio laptop! lol

you want more? click HERE

Doc Joey came up with this topic for PPBC! It made me realized about my daughter’s upcoming second birthday, to party or not is the question right now… anyways, before I continue with my reading about movers New York let me just blurb here my daughter’s First birthday bash last January.

What can you say about birthdays? Did you celebrate your kid’s birthdays with a big bash? Or a trip? Or just a simple celebration at home?

:: I definitely love birthdays and celebrations! this much better if we have unlimited moolah to spend!

:: We celebrated my daughter’s first birthday with a bash, not that ‘big bash thing’ but we kept a budget layout so we wouldn’t have to go over board with the expense. It was a happy celebration, I must say. Successful! you can view the party details and supplier ratings HERE (PART 1) and HERE (PART 2)

Was there anything significant that happened during your kids’ birthday?

:: Everything was memorable, things happened according to what my husband and I planned. It was a blast! The kids truly enjoyed every single moment of it, games, prizes and the magic shows. Don’t forget the delicious food that my mom make sure to be overflowing, she cooked additional viands to add with the catered ones.

Were you happy about how your kid’s birthday celebration went?

::  Oh definitely!

Any special memories?

:: Everything was memorable and special

Any other thoughts?

:: I should have hired a face painter though… it was really fun pala!