Who would expect that a sunny and fair morning up to the mid afternoon will turn the clouds cumulus and pour big rain? And exactly the time that the kiddie party starts, the rain also starts to pour. I start to get panic because the party that I planned for almost a month will not turn exactly how I wanted to have it for the kids. Why? it is because the venue is at our rooftop with only a half portion of it got shaded… and because of the rain the kids are forced to gather only in the shade. But I gradually got calm and composed myself when I found out that despite of the unpredictable weather, the kids are enjoying and participating the games and the programme… thanks to the two clown host that I hired.

I learned a very important lesson from this occasion – and that is to have a Plan B in every event planning. I could have plan it that when it rains, the kids can be transferred indoor immediately or could have set up the whole area with shades.

It turned out to be a successful birthday party after all, because from the look of the kids bringing with them the prizes and abundant goodies and foods, I can say they enjoyed the party. And most of all, the birthday celebrant enjoyed it.

he is already happy to have the simple cake and and blow his 3 candles

It’s easy to make little kids happy on their birthday, a 3 year old can already recognize that someone is making him special. They hug you and kiss you when they are happy… such a nice feeling indeed.

And for my only one nephew, I tried my best to make him happy on his 3rd birthday by dropping off my sister’s place after my work even if it takes an hour travel. Toys will make Gab happy so I pick a big toy train for him and of course our presence.

Everytime we celebrate my nephew’s birthday, it also reminds me that my Claire’s birthday is fast approaching and the next couple of weeks will be exciting to me as I love planning and preparing for her birthday. I just can’t help to have all the best for these kids.

Happy Birthday Gab!

busy setting up his toy train...

for Lunch - Blue Elephant The Walk IT Park

for Lunch - Blue Elephant The Walk IT Park - his favorite

for Dinner - Giligan at Ayala Terraces

I got lots of options in mind how to make him happy on his special day. I will share some of them to you:

• Go out of town together in the place where we both haven’t gone to
• Buy him a new gadget, his favorite (psp, itouch)
• Throw a party at home exclusive for his friends only
• Treat him to a spa
• Dinner in the best restaurant in the city

Well, I have to pick only one though since I’m not a millionaire to have them all in just one day. I realized that aside from all these gifts and treats just to make hubby happy, one important thing that cannot be bought and too expensive but I know I can afford is “Time”. So even both of us are busy in our respective career, I make it a point to meet him for lunch near his office. So we have lunch in “Blue Elephant” at the “The Walk, IT Park”. I chose the place because it’s new and we haven’t tried it yet. The food is good and affordable, and the place is cozy.

I did not choose to throw him a party or go out of town but one thing I realize is that having a simple and sweetest time together even in the middle of your hectic schedule already means a lot to the man you love. A dinner in “Giligan” in Ayala terraces completes the occasion. So just finding time together will make a husband happy on their birthday.

a surprise bouquet of my favorite flowers

Claire playing on her table while waiting for the food...

It’s a good thing to have availed of a birthday leave and away from my office desk and laptop so I can enjoy my birthday the whole day. I’m not going out of town this year or any lavish party at my expense for this special occasion of my life. But I only wanted to have a special dinner with the 2 most special people in my life and a shopping spree treat. I even did not expect an expensive bouquet of flower to be delivered in my office the day before my birthday.

I always make it a point to go to Church first before all other occasion activites and hear Holy Mass as my thanksgiving to the good Lord who has given me so many blessings in my life. And this year is even unique because I am able to go to Confession as well. It’s a perfect day, the weather is good and the planned dinner to Tsim Sha Tsui in Ayala makes my stomach full… It’s my first time to this restaurant and I’m pretty satisfied with the food and the ambiance is good, maybe because the place is mostly coated with my favorite color.

I also got everything I want from my shopping, from shoes, to dresses, spa, etc… and I can say, I got all I want for my birthday plus a surprise bouquet of my favorite flower coming from the love of my life completes the occasion. Indeed a very happy birthday to me!

With lots and various emerging high tech trends nowadays, I can’t think of a reason if I still fail to send a long distance greeting to family members, friends and loved ones for any occasion. Not unless if the reason is being “unthoughtful”, busy, or simply no time to do so…

I have listed some options I can think of for me to be able to extend even a simple “Happy Birthday” message to a long distance friend of mine:

• Connect to the internet and login to any popular social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Friendster – post a shout out to her wall or send a private message.
• Write a blog with my special birthday greetings in my personal website and send the link to my friend – it’s another way of greeting a friend with a personal and unique touch.
• If I’m in travel but within the “Wifi” area, grab my iPhone and connect to a free instant messaging that we are both subscribing. My favourite is the “YAK” application, very simple and handy.
• Send an email with personalize electronic greeting cards – there are lots of beautiful e-cards flashing in the internet.
• Grab a cellphone and dial her roaming number – it’s expensive but we can hear our voices and exchange talks.
• Lastly, chat and open my video cam – especially if I know my friend is also always online.
• And oh, sending birthday cards by snail mail is also an option!

Well, there are lots of options to take, the “techy” way or the “old-school” way – whatever our option is, I believe that sending greetings to loved ones will make us a part of their special day and will surely make them happy.

yummy "cookies n cream" cake from "Red Ribbon"

Happy birthday to the best dad I know!

I’ve been thinking how to make my dad happy on his special day, then I realize a birthday celebration for dad need not to be expensive or extravagant. Dads are usually happy with a simple happy birthday greetings coming from their loved ones. Well, maybe because unlike women, some dads usually don’t spend much time partying.

I can’t find a perfect birthday present for him yet… but I’m sure bringing him a birthday cake will already make him happy…

Want to share this poem I like to send to my Father on his birthday,  from poemsource.com

Good Man

Dad,
Every year, your birthday reminds me
how grateful I am that you are my father.
With all that’s going on in the world today,
I’m thankful I get to watch you,
to look up to you, being an example of a good man.
What a privilege it is to observe your strength,
your competence, and your kindness.
I am so blessed to be under your wing,
your protection, your care,
learning important life lessons from you.
If all fathers were like you,
the world would be a very different
and much better place.
Happy Birthday, Dad!

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!

One month to go, and it’s her 2nd birthday… hubby and I decided to throw a big party only every other year so I still have a lot of time and budgeting to prepare inorder to throw a Tinker Bell theme kiddie party for her soon… Well, while she is still a little baby, I can decide how the party will go, and by making it a point that the whole family and friends will enjoy and the most challenging part is to really grab what your baby is fond of.

My hint: she is amazed to see Jollibee, she adores her Pooh stuff toys, she shrieks and wow to see Tinker Bell, she dance and follow when the Disney princess dance and moved… and I have to choose one of those.. and I think I love the character of Tinker Bell the most… my little girl gives the sweetest smile when her dad called her “Tinker Claire” and I think it sounds good… hehe..

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.

The weather cooperates to the occasion, I prayed so hard that amidst the storm in Manila, God will keep us safe and let us enjoy this special day, and thank God He answered my prayer. From Baguio, we arrived in Makati safe and the typhoon is gone although we experienced some rainfalls but we ignore it, I tried my best to make him happy on his day so no room for any complaints even how uncomfortable I am with the rain. But when we arrived in the Mall of Asia, the rest of the day was already his day, we had so much fun!

We had lunch in “Burgoo” – I’m amazed with their unique style of having their table covers in a blank white paper and they have coloring materials ready on top, then I found out that we can freely mess the table and write anything on it… then I write a big “happy birthday” greetings to the love of my life… hehe… perfect background which reminds us why were here, it’s his birthday! Less than 15 minute, our food is served – I tried their chef’s choice of soup for the day – the creamy mushroom soup, it’s delicious! The main dish that my hubby picked is one of Burgoo’s best – the Shrimps and Rib’s platter, we enjoyed our lunch up to the last rib! My mango shake is perfect too… the restaurant is cozy and very comfortable, it’s one of the best dining experience.

the birthday celebrant...

the mango shake with our inspiring background

the chef's choice of soup for the day

the best shrimp and rib's platter

Then we spent the rest of the afternoon in the Science Discovery Center which highlighted the 45-minute planetarium show, Ice World. Everything we shared together on this birthday is first time and special to me and I’m sure he enjoyed his special day! Indeed a blessed day and a memorable one!

Happy Birtdhay, mwah!