Halloween Costumes=)

This is just my overdue post about our Halloween day.

We bought each of our girls costumes at Bumblebee and Company just a couple of days in time for the Halloween day. We went to Trinoma's Cirque Festival 2010 because it was near our in-laws' place (below are some pictures I took while we were waiting for the mall to open).

But i was very disappointed with how things worked that day. I went on a long queue to have my two girls registered, thinking that only those registered kids are allowed to do trick or treating on selected Trinoma stores. To my surprise, some families were already going from one store to the other for trick or treat while I and still a lot more parents were lining up to get registered=(. After seeing this, I told my husband to do the same while I line up to register. After our registration was done, my girls got tired and so we went home na=(.

Good thing the costumes we bought included a free photo shoot plus one 8x10 print at Blow-up Babies! Regular cost per photo shoot at this studio is P500 for non-members plus additional P900 for every 8x10 print.

Here is the outcome of the photo session..

Missy enjoyed playing with this big dancing ball

CJ embraced and loved riding on this horse^_^

Costumes does look prettier in person and on studio shots huh? Or maybe their photographer just did a fabulous job? Or maybe my girls just look awesome on their outfit? lol ^_^

Our First Pampanga Event!

We just had another successful out of town event yesterday. We don't really accept out of town events not unless the client is budgeting more than 15k (transportation not yet included). Hmm.. I think the last time we held an out of town event prior to the one yesterday was way back May 2009 at The Greenery in Baliuag Bulacan.

I was extremely excited about this event because it was our first Pampanga event and our biggest dessert station order so far. Planning this dessert with our client, mommy Diana, was a breeze. She actually gave me the idea of introducing parfait to our line of products. I've made parfaits only during family gatherings but never though that it could be a nice add-on to our line of dessert station products.

We arrived at the venue around 1pm and immediately started with our setup. I told myself that we needed to be there at least 2 hours before the event because of the parfaits that I only do on the venue, plus the mini cupcakes that will be iced with cream cheese frosting and whipped cream frosting. So glad that we were able to pull everything in time for the party.

Here's our dessert station setup :

Super Premium Mini Cupcakes



Parfaits

Gourmet Mini Donuts

Chocolate Fountain



Thank you so much mommy Diana for the warm welcome and your kindness (I meant the extra transpo tip.Ahem^_^).


Oh btw, we lost 14pcs of shot glasses that day=(. This was our third time to cater with parfaits but our first time to lose shot glasses. We, including the resto's waiters kept on searching for those glasses but sadly never found them. Just hope that it does not happen again because clients are charged with any lost or broken items.

Cheers!

My Great Budget Finds =)

As a mom, we need to budget our hard earned money all the time. And am so glad that I was lucky enough to find these great find items at the mall and online!

1.Here is Missy and CJ enjoying their new sofa bed.=)


Description : We bought this at the Megatrade Hall at SM Megamall last September 18. SM Home World has this 3-day Home World Warehouse Sale once a year to sell dinning, kitchen, bath, bedding, living room items for as low as 30-90%. We got this sofa bed for only P9,000.00 but is originally priced at P14,500.00.

Savings : P5,500.00

Below are some other items we bought from the Megatrade Hall sale :

• A pair of pillow case - Bought it at P100 per pair. Originally priced at P100 each. Saved P100.
• A gold curtain holder - Bought it at P180.00. Originally priced at P350.00. Saved P170.
• An Orocan kitchen cabinet - Bought it at P999.00. Originally priced at P1,299.00. Saved P300.
• A pair of hand towel - Bought it at P45.00 each. Originally priced at P75.00 each. Saved P60.00
  

2.Beside Missy is our new curtains.

Description: We also got those from Megatrade Hall's Home World Warehouse Sale. We bought those three curtains for only P750.00 but its originally priced at P1,500.00.

Savings : P750.00


3. My Ninewest bag!=)

Description : I bought this slightly used cute Ninewest bag with cellphone holder from an ebayer.=) And I sooo love it!! I got it for only P1,300.00 but mall price is P5,500.00

Savings : P4,200.00


4. My brand new Fossil watch=)

Description : Honestly, this is my first time to buy my own watch. I normally receive watch from our relatives in the US or a hand me down from my mom(again from her siblings in US). So am so so happy that I was able to purchase one for myself this time. Hopefully next time I'll buy one for my mom too=) This brand new item came from Portland, Oregon and bought from another ebayer for only P3,000.00. Mall price is a shocking P7,500.00.

Savings : P 4,500.00


5. Hubby's new Samsung Champ *^_^*

Description : This cellphone is so lovely. It's a touch pad! We got this through Globe Telecoms=) It comes free if you grab their cheapest P299 My Fully Loaded plan with a 3-year lock in period. I've heard this model is worth P5,000.00 if bought from Samsung outlets.

Savings : P5,000.00


Now that we already bought some for ourselves, it's time to look for early Christmas sale for our kids, relatives, and friends=)

Cheers!

Cj @ 3rd birthday celebratio at Dad's and Kamayan's

We had a simple celebration of Cj's 3rd birthday at Dad's and Kamayan's at SM Megamall Sunday last week. It was only exclusively for my family and my hubby's family. Some got their foods from Dad's merienda buffet (already priced at P190 per head) and for some who still opted to eat rice, they chose Kamayan's lunch buffet (priced at P360 per head).

Both buffet treat were satisfying. I cannot recall the selection available for Kamayan's lunch buffet, but for the merienda buffet (where I also got my meal), there were:

1. Dimsum (Siopao, Mami, Siomai)
2. Chocolate cake
3. Kakanin
4. Spaghetti
5. Carbonarra
6. Cream Puffs
7. Puto and Dinuguan
8. Pancit Bihon
9. Pancit Palabok
10. Ginataan


After the food trip, hubby's family went ahead while we still stayed at the mall and headed of to Kidz Republic! My two girls enjoyed this playground better that Dave's fun house. They were both very energetic at this point and were so much full of excitement as they went up and down the slide and the trampoline, round and round the hanging rubber trees, running around the hanging bridge etc. They can still recall what they did and where they went. And every time they remember that playground, they would always tell me, 'mommy let's go to the jungle playground!'. lol.

How I wish we could go back this weekend but we are so preoccupied with three events. Hopefully we'll be back there again next weekend. I'll be bringing the camera for sure!

Cj @ 3!

Our youngest daughter's birthday is already coming up but haven't got any plans yet till this day. Even if we're done celebrating CJ's birthday together with her ate Missy last month, I feel guilty that i still haven't done any party preparation until now.

Of course we need to celebrate that day. I'm still thinking about what's the best way to celebrate her third birthday.. if it would be celebrated in our home with our relatives, on a resto, or a park, or a small party at a fastfood chain like Mc Donald's or Jollibee.

Here are my thoughts :

1. If it would be celebrated at home:
- i'd like to create a do-it-yourself cupcake package for everyone's entertainment.
- plan to cook turon and pair it with vanilla ice cream
- plan to make cheese or caramel fondue.. i love both but i need to pick just one hahaha
- i don't want to bake a cake this time, since i already baked at their party.. not sure if this is a good idea though
- daddy will cook , no plans yet what he intends to do

2. If it would be celebrated on a park:
- i would still do what i plan to do/cook at home but will bring this on a park for picnic.--the thought sounds tiring though ;(

3. Iif it would be celebrated on a resto
- it would probably be at dad's and would be a merienda buffet for our relatives and close friends

4. If it would be celebrated on a fastfood chain
- this would be fun, but i need to check my guests and need to book the event soon
- we wont do anything elaborate. will just utilize what they have on the party package and will probably invite relatives and close friends only.

Hmm.. can't decide since i also have lots of thought in my head..lots of events this week and next week..

By the way, am so proud that our Cj is already using the potty to pee and poop! No one taught her that;) Also, she sooo loves singing and dancing!

My Supplier Ratings for Missy and CJ's Rockstar Princess Birthday Party!

It's now time to share our feedback and supplier ratings for our two girls' birthday party held last Saturday. I just now realized na talagang wala atang perfect party. Meron at merong konting glitches at malilimutan..

Venue : 49th floor One San Miguel Ave. Bldg
Comment : Very nice place talaga for a party kse nice ang lighting esp ang view outside the bldg. Yung ibang guests pumunta pa talaga sa labas para mag picture-picture.=) BTW, may big poste tong venue na to bandang stage area, kaya to complement that, we told the caterer to situate the stage on the side across the entrance door. Normally kasi, stage is situated on the left side of the entrance door wall( if ganito setup the big poste will really block the stage). On the party picture, you won't even notice na may poste.
Rating : 5* kahit may mahiwagang poste hehehe
Peso power : Free if your order at their caterer is 15k up kaya ours was free


Caterer : Baby Nathan's Catering (official caterer of OSMA Bldg.)
Comment : Sarap sarap ng foods! All guests din were satisfied sa food kaya thumbs up ako dito. Wala na akong fave kasi lahat talaga masarap :) Kasama sa freebie ng catering ang floral centerpieces kaso hindi na ko nagpalagay ng floral centerpieces kse may balloon centerpiece na kasama yung package na nakuha ko sa Party Boosters. Sayang lang kasi hindi pumayag yung caterer na gumawa ng ilang floral decor sa dessert buffet area instead of those floral centerpiece sa table..
Rating : 4* dahil sa hindi napagbigyang floral decors sa dessert buffet :(
Peso Power : 23,800 (260 per head sa adults and 100 per head sa kids)


Balloon Decorator/Venue Dress-up : Party Boosters c/o Jacque (n@wie)
Comment : The best talaga ang Party Booster sa akin. Always superb ang rating ko every time i see them setup parties na kine-cater namin. Mababait din ang staff ni Jacque and helpful. Tinulungan pa ko ng isang staff sa paglagay ng cupcakes sa tower, at mga brownies at mini cupcake sa dessert buffet :) All guests were raving about the beautiful colors of the balloons and the rosset balloon table centerpieces. Nai-uwi pa namin yung mga pillars at nilalaro pa rin til today ng mga girls ko.hehehe
Rating : 5*
Peso Power : 5,500 (balloon pilars, balloon bursts, table centerpieces, and balloonderitas).


Side Entertainment : Arts n Faces c/o Liby (face painting and hair salon)
Comments : Madali kausap at mabait si Ms. Liby. The best yung mga staff na binigay nya sakin. Ang galing talaga ng pag tatoo nila. Luv luv ko rin yung setup ng hair salon nila with the big mirror na may lights, barbie head model, hair color sprays, hair pins, etc. everyone enjoyed this area talga. Sulit na sulit din every penny ko sa kanila. If we have another party, sila pa rin kukunin ko.hehehe
Rating : 5*
Peso Power : 3,800 (promo rate nila :)


Host/Magician with Side kick and Balloon twisting : Boogie n Friends
Comments : Na-disappoint ako dito sa supplier na to. I was hoping to see kuya Boogie mismo kasi sa mga bnf hosts, siya lang talga ang type namin maghost. I always tell grace (yung nakakausap ko sa contact number nila) na si kuya Boogie ang gusto namin. Even on the email i
sent them, i always tell them na si kuya boogie..umooo naman si grace pero hindi pala si boogie ang ipoprovide. They provided a host na long hair like boogie pero walang quality ang hosting. Pure tagalog, may mga palpak na magic, parang hindi coordinated ang program, mejo
hindi alam magencourage ng kids na sumali sa games..basta i was not satisfied. Quite helpful naman ung side kick sakin pero siyempre yung hosting ang importante sa program..
Rating : 3* for coming early, making the guests laugh on some acts, and for the helpful sidekick

Additional Comment (after seeing the pictures) : I guess hindi lang na-meet ng host na pinadala yung standard na hinahanap ko sa host. If it was Boogie talga, im sure I won't have anything to say kasi we were all the while expecting him. Lagi kse kami nasa birthday parties kaya we know kung ano ang meaning ng isang magaling na host. Lesson learned ko lang is next time choose a host na siya rin ang contact person, hindi yung parang companya ang kinakausap.
Peso Power : 3,000


Photographer : Mediamonsters c/o Lisa
Comments : They came in just in time na magsisimula pa lang yung party. I was happy kasi she came with a backup photographer which i did not expect kasi i know sa package na kinuha ko one photographer lang ang kasama. Tapos happy happy din ako kse may kasamang freebie ang nakuha namin. Hope the pictures turn out great!
Rating : 5* as of the moment kse dko pa nakikita ang output
Peso power : 3,500


Guitar Cake and Cupcakes : My Chocolate Heaven (DIY ko)
Comments : Siyempre satisfied ako kse love your own! hehehe. Sabi ng guests masarap ang cupcakes and mga relative na nakatikim ng cake nasarapan din kaya superb irerate ko.whehehe.
Rating : 5*
Peso power : DIY ko. Pero if costing based from our rates its 5850 + 2k for 75 cupcakes with themed cupcake topper in premium box and
the guitar shaped cake.


Dessert buffet : My Chocolate Heaven (DIY ko ulit)
Comments : Hiniwalay ko to kase lower irerate ko sa sarili ko..I left the dessert treat labels sa house and due to time constraints (kasi nga its our party), i was not able to put the cream cheese frosting on the mini cupcakes. Nice raves pa rin naman ang guests sa taste.. sarap daw lahat esp yung brownies na may mint (that's Creme de Menthe..wala nga kasing label hehehe), Lemon Mini Cupcakes, Cake pops, at Cheesecake Brownies. So happy na rin to hear that :)
Rating : 4* dahil sa kulang na details
Peso power : DIY again. Pero if costing based from our rates its 5,500+ (70pcs mini cupcakes, 40 pcs cake pops, 3doz cheesecake brownies, 3doz creme de mente brownies, 1 customized silver package chocolate fountain setup, assortment of yema, pastillas, and polvorons



AVP : DIY ni mommy and c/o tito dop (bro ko)
Comments : I love the AVP my bro din. Mejo nasayangan lang ako kasi hindi na-isetup ng maayos yung projector. Mejo nagingn bluish yung color (another not perfect thing that day). But thanks to my dad din for bringing the projector (na galing pa ng province).
Rating : 4* dahil hindi perfect yung output color
Peso power : none

Name tag(na naiwan sa bahay with the dessert station labels kaya sayang..),backdrop,welcome tarp,invites,lootbags,game prizes: labor of love ni mommy at daddy
Comments : kinarer since 3 months ago. Labor of love ulit kaya superb rating ko dito!
Rating : 5*
Peso power : 3,500


Sana makatulong ang rating sa ibang mommies=)


Missy’s 4th and CJ’s 3rd Rockstart Princess Birthday Party!

It was a stressful day for us pero worth it effort. :)