Since 2 years ago… I never get tired of thanking God for giving me the best gift I could ever imagined – my one and only little girl! We are celebrating her birthday and the more I thank God for giving her good health all these years… Like all mothers feel, nothing can compare how happy I am seeing her every milestones and today is one of the highlights. My Claire understands that it’s her birthday and even if I did not throw any kiddie party, she was so happy and so energetic seeing all the familiar faces of the whole family surrounding her.

For me, it’s still a big party at home because we are a big family and everybody is in the mood to celebrate this special occasion… It is such a busy day, from malling in the morning, buying her gifts, balloons, cakes, then preparing the food at home for dinner, and of course we don’t want to miss the Holy Mass as a thanksgiving. Then the rest of the night is eating and drinking and Claire is still up playing, running and laughing with her cousin on her same age. One thing for sure, this little girl is happy!

Happy 2nd Birthday baby! We love you!

Birthdays, Family birthday, birthday cake, birthday center piece, birthday party, cake, church, Family, love

It’s Rowel’s birthday and I’m glad how this day turned out to be such a memorable occasion not just to the birthday boy but as well as to me because I play paintball for the first time… at last! The birthday party is held inside a paintball game site and everybody had so much fun, eating, singing, picture taking, drinking… until one of my colleagues suggested that the boys will play paintball after eating. How about the girls? Well, at last… I’m brave finally, I don’t want to be left out also since the other girls will play.

the game is about to start and we still manage to pose...

thats me, hiding...

When the game is about to start, I honestly feel scared thinking of how painful it is if get hit! Scared but excited… and my excitement reached to the highest level when the umpire gave a loud ready-set-go signal. What a nice feeling when I tried to run as fast as I could to find a perfect spot to hide myself at the same time find the target opponent and shoot… The best part is when the game is about to conclude and when I tried to go out from where I’m hiding to look for the enemy and… OUCH!, I’m HIT! I felt two paintballs splat on both legs! But at least we win! Happy!

Paintball is indeed a “No Paint-No Fun” game and it’s fantastic! No wonder many loves to play paintball even the girls, now I know how much fun it is! It is painful and even I go home with 2 large bruises, at the end of the day, I decided to play again! Hope I could organize and invite all my girl friends!

Thanks for Rowel’s birthday and “WebOss Paintball”… visit their website at www.weboss.ph.

Birthdays, Occasion, Travel birthday, birthday cake, bonding, paintball game, weboss paintball

my birthday gift to the celebrant

I got a chance again to make my own version of ham and cheese macaroni salad today, instead of bringing a birthday cake, i thought to share my specialty during our family dinner tonight in my sister’s place for baby Gab’s birthday.

My nephew turns 2 years old today… and it reminds me that my little girl’s 2nd birthday is fast approaching too. Oh! how time flies fast! My sister did not throw a big kiddie party this year, so she invited direct family members only and treat all of us for a simple “salu-salo” with just 2 main dishes, 1 cake and 2 desserts. And it turned out to be an intimate celebration and the  2 year old birthday celebrant seems not to care that it’s his birthday and how the gathering is going. It is a simple yet a happy occasion with the family and a practical one.

Yes, i think it’s practical enough not to throw a big 2nd birthday party to your kids especially after a grand 1st birthday party, because after all… kids at this age won’t care yet. I will postpone another coming year or two for another big kiddie party for my daughter so this year should be a simple one too.

Birthdays, Family birthday, birthday cake, birthday party, cake, chicken ham, Family, kiddie party

My brother will turn 20 tomorrow and I’m thinking how to make him happy on his special day without breaking my wallet… with much deliberation, I decided to give him a birthday treat by meeting him for dinner after his class. I already briefed my sister to tell my parents that a birthday party or a big dinner in the house will not be possible this time since most of us were on a busy schedule this week. But I’m sure a big celebration is not what my parents to have but only to see all of us gathered again through an occasion like birthdays.

A simple birthday treat can already manifest a memorable occasion… I remember when my classmates way back high school surprised me with a birthday treat by wearing my favorite color and giving me presents full of green, one of those presents was even a pail full of plain green leaves, I can remember how I laughed so hard and it became the most beautiful and unique gifts for me… and the last treat they gave was my birthday cake and it was decorated also in green! it was so funny and very memorable… that up to now I cherished everything and it was one of my happiest birthday!

I hope my brother will be happy to see me on his birthday… my treat…

Birthdays, Family birthday, birthday cake, birthday treat, Family

What a beautiful day for a special occasion such as my father’s birthday! Every year this day reminds me of how grateful I am to have a father like him. I witnessed all the hard works, the care and love he showered to the family and most of all, I witnessed even the mistakes and the down moment of this man whom I called my father. Everybody wishes a perfect and a great dad… but a good father is also an imperfect one… and through that imperfection I see the beauty of his being a father… those imperfect moments made the two of us talk and discuss to each other and form a bonding that rekindle good relationship.

A father who loves me, cares for me, cook for me, supported me in every things I do, spank me when I commit mistakes, and bring me to the altar to step the next chapter of my life independently and call me in the middle of my hectic schedule just to say ‘I miss you and I love you‘, and a father who commits mistake and bad decision and in turn give me a chance to scold him and advice him for those mistakes…

All these moments with my father reminds me of how thankful I am to have him in my life. And because of these, his birthday is worth a celebration every year.

Birthdays, Family birthday, birthday cake, birthday party, Family, father

I remember how excited I am when my sister approved for me to do all the planning and preparations for her little boy’s 1st birthday. I want it to be simple yet special because aside from I adore my nephew so much, I also thought of working on this occasion with a personal touch.

I do the shopping of materials and birthday favors myself and make use of my own creativity for baby Gab’s birthday cake, guest message board, loot bags, decorations during the event, birthday banners, games and even foods. The occasion happened and was successful even with pressure on my part, but I take pride with myself in doing it with a touch of passion. I was also able to prove to myself that we can create a special party out of a limited budget.

"I design this birthday cake with a lot of thoughts"

"...and oh! I love this banner so much, i thought of showing the beautiful face of our birthday boy in the whole banner"

"This is my idea of a centerpiece..."

It requires time, creativity and effort but at the end of the day, there is a satisfying achievement. Especially if somebody from the guest recognizes and appreciates the whole party… well, it’s all because of me!

Birthdays birthday banner, birthday cake, birthday center piece, birthday party, kiddie party

Nothing can compare how happy and grateful I was when I finally gave birth of the little and precious angel I patiently conceived for nine months… and here she is now, our beautiful and gorgeous little princess turns 1! My husband and I were planning to throw a birthday party for her and all I need to do is plan out carefully to make her day memorable.
my little princess on her birthday visiting Poor Clare Monastery
Her “Princess Belle at the Bridge” birthday cake by Goldilocks
the kiddie party with the host clown

Here are some 5 essential tips I learned and gathered from friends and from my readings that I want to share with you all.

1. Plan it ahead. Planning is already proven essential before starting every project and I consider my 1st baby’s 1st birthday party a big project. Let all ideas pour out and laid it out in your notepad, don’t mind the writing, just write and write and organize it later. Discuss it with your partner and start gathering ideas. I started thinking and planning 3 months in advance.
2. Create a Checklist. A checklist is very helpful so that nothing is left out during the preparation. Make sure to mark it checked every time you are done with the item/task and always review at the end of the day what are the things needed to be done yet.
3. Be your own Boss. Since you are the one who plan it and creating a checklist, it is also fun and rewarding to do all the shopping, decorating, sending invitations and packing all the party bags and prizes, making souvenirs and balloons. It is tiring but so rewarding when it get to the point that your little girl or boy will be asking you who is doing all the dirty works when he/she turns 1. You can also play around with your budget if most of the work is with a personal touch.
4. Party at home. It is advisable and practical to host the 1st birthday party at your own house so that your baby feels comfortable and can easily be brought to his/her room when tired.
5. Hire a host or clown. Doing all the planning and preparing all the party items according to your own preferences and creativity is already enough to be a big part of the first important occasion of your little kid’s 1st birthday party. So the last item in your checklist is to make sure you hire all the help during the event, like a clown to host the party for the kids, instruct your household helpers to cater all the guests and will take charge of the orderliness in the party area. So, all you have to do is relax and entertain your guests.

My little girl is a gem in my eye and I always love to see her little gorgeous and smiling face.

Birthdays birthday cake, clown, kiddie party, princess