On hiatuses

Stats down and site visitors reduced, I felt quite compelled to speak. Not that I have to explain. This hour, those usually zesty neurons are zonked out, and my body is close to surrendering itself entirely to the bed. But alas, requirements must be met and on-time. It is only 9:30, yes, and a friend, surprised, once exclaimed, "WHO THE HELL SLEEPS AT 9?!". 

A mom, that is. At the end of the day, she's just dry and flat as wheat. I will not go into details, but what I could say is, ladies, you will get there, and when you do, you will simply nod and tell yourself, now I know why she didn't seem to have time for anything else other than cookies before bed.

A beach retreat would be nice 'round this time.

A few points:

1. Nearly three weeks ago, there was pure panic when I learned I had to be somewhat laid off from work. A day later I signed up for ODesk and a couple of clients entrusted projects to me. At the same time, an old colleague assigned a couple of press releases. The guys from where I used to work also asked for revised proposals, brochures and corporate profiles. Someone referred me to a client who now has me creating four 500-word articles a day. Work is B-O-U-N-tiful. No weekends as usual. I am beat. 

I am not complaining; I am beyond grateful. Never knew freelancing could be this lucrative.

But the days do tend to be overwhelming, particularly because my daughter decided that she will not just stand there and play while I work. She now breastfeeds - most times upright, in a squat or tumbled over - every 30 minutes day and night, and she will throw a temper tantrum if I lay a fingertip on the laptop while she feeds. 

The tantrums get worse by the minute. It has gotten to a point where I want to hide in the kitchen and down two kilos of chocolate in one sitting.

2. There are things I want to write about other than hair removal techniques and marketing content. Like our short-lived Pawikan Sanctuary trip. Tagaytay in December. J. Co's soul-stirring donuts and other desserts my tongue had the pleasure of sampling recently.  I have tremendous backlog in blog entries. But right now, as much as I want to, there's just no time. Yet. 

3. Yesterday, I made a pact with myself, which I shared on Facebook.

Lia sat on the colorful mats tinkering with the erasable board her Daddy brought home last night. She drew what looked like an armadillo, though with the superbly elongated tail, it might have been a magical snake.

She stopped momentarily, bit the pen while examining her masterpiece. Perhaps she’ll be a Picasso someday. Her intent and focus were dumbfounding. She has never stopped that long to mull over things. Like a ripple in a mad storm, she is in constant motion: scooting up the staircase, walking to and fro the dining room to the couch, hauling utensils out the kitchen drawer. Even in her sleep, she would wave a hand as she snores. 

That moment made me laugh. For at the same time, she was a curious 13 month old, and oddly enough, a blooming grown-up figuring out the sense in her actions. It also made me realize that I don’t ever want moments like that to slip away without meaning. They may mean little to her when she grows up, but it would mean the world to me when she’s already venturing out into the world on her own and all I am is an old hag in a wooden chair, looking out the tangerine sunset. 

A door that swings both ways, as I please. 

Ergo, nearly impossible as it is, I made the promise that I will write of her each day, no matter how trivial or ordinary the day was. Here’s to hoping promises will be kept.

In honor of promises, here's what's up for today:

When people ask me when I plan to make a follow-up baby, I say, never again. Too difficult and too  costly to raise, I explain. And while that is totally true, what I never tell them is that I am beyond content with the Little Miss. She for me, is sufficient. And because despite her being the driving force behind my hair-pulling incidents and her making me scream at the top of my lungs on an hourly basis, I don't think I could ever love another kid as much as I love her.

Cheesy!!!

So there. Points made. Now back to regular programming.

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Eulogy for a dog

After a tear-filled day of digesting overwhelming information from pet med sites and recounts of people whose dogs suffered the same fate, I shut my eyes and asked for a sign. "Maybe if she's still alive by tomorrow, it means you would want to give her that fight, and I would respect that. But if it's her time to go, then take her by tomorrow. Whichever way, I hope that your decision would be something that she would be most comfortable in. She deserves that."

At 12:30pm the following day, I did get my answer.

2009.

Three days ago, when I brought Batchoy to the vet, I was afraid that it was going to be the same virus that claimed the life of two of our Rottweiler pups the same week because like them she was lethargic and totally anorexic. But to my relief it came out negative. Negative for distemper too. But as the vet opened her mouth wide, he discovered a bevy of ulcers on her gums and tongue. Her breath reeked of strong ammonia. Then that dreadful hunch: Renal failure.

Two days prior to that, she ceased eating totally. She tends to be picky and wouldn't take regular kibbles if she has been eating it for a week. Wouldn't take a bite to save her life.   So I moved on to giving her rice mixed with table food and meat chunks, which during most times, she'd leave alone save for the meat. I thought that her increasing pickiness has to do with the fact that she was receiving gracious rations of tasty meat from the neighbors. There were no significant behavioral changes at all. 

Plump and heavy as a puppy, we named her Batchoy.

She was feisty as usual, scaring away messengers and "intruders" like she was in the goddamn K9 Squad. Till two days ago, she kept that welcoming and buwis-buhay habit of running to and fro across the parking lot as the car backs up - which annoyed Jigs to bits. She'd jump at family, lean her head on their belly and beg for a pat on the head whenever they visited. 

Choy-choy has always been a very smart and sweet dog. We didn't teach her tricks. She learned what halika, alis, tabi, up, and sit meant on her own. Whenever she ate, she would stop in an instant if I said "'Wag mo muna kainin". She loved playing hide-and-seek, and would rally up the stairs to find us in corners, behind curtains or doors, inside tents, and squiggle excitedly every time she does.

We didn't have to order her or coax her for a walk. She's always loved those and eversince I was in college, she would instantly jump off her feet whenever I've put my shoes on and accompany me to the jeepney stop regardless if she was sleeping or not. I've always felt safe during lone walks even when I was so pregnant because she was trampling alongside, and no dog or man could come near to harm me and Lia. Her dog instincts were lightning fast. 

She has survived two near-death experiences: One from acute renal failure in 2006, and another, a deep laceration on her intestines from a jump-off-the-gate stunt she did at dawn while we were asleep two years ago. Both instances, she was up and running the next day, even with an IV line on. Like nothing serious happened. A dog with the spirit of a Viking.

Batchoy with her sister Stitch, back when I was still living my parents in Manila.

But, for the past month-and-a-half we also saw how she gradually lost weight. Her abdomen, deep and hollow as a crescent moon, and her coat, an unkempt, lackluster shroud of white in disarray - all effects of her kidneys failing. Later I would find out that majority of affected dogs don't exhibit any symptoms at all, lest the disease has hit Stage 3. By then, irreversible kidney damage has occurred, and only 25% is left functioning. From old age most probably, said the doc. After all, she's already 56 in human years.

Being it a Sunday, the lab was closed and the vet decided to do the blood work yesterday morning. I wasn't expecting that the results would turn out promising. All her symptoms pointed directly to end-stage chronic renal failure. And even in human patients in the hospital, when this is the case, we don't expect them to continue on their mortal journeys for very long. 

A walk at dusk in 2011 with our Rottie, Shisha, when I was three months
pregnant with Lia.

From the time she went home with the IV line on her last Sunday till yesterday, she was in close watch, and we saw how the IV, water, and meds didn't seem to help. She was depressed and asleep most of the time, and vomited yellow bile four times. The light in her eyes was gone. Whenever she looked at me, she seemed immensely exhausted though still fighting. I know her spirit would have wanted to stay, but her nearly eight-year old body has given up on her. 

By noon yesterday, her breathing was faster and deeper, much like she was heaving a sigh with each breath. I gave her water through a syringe and told her I was going to check again on her right after lunch. Jigs was the first to go out, and he yelled that Choy-Choy was gone. Thirty minutes. That was all it took. She went peacefully in her sleep, no grand exits, seizures or loud, painful groans. She wiggled her tail a last time Monday evening, after snarling at some pesky fly bugging her leg.

She was still warm though a bit rigid when I prepped her for burial. Cleaning that huge cage and tucking the soft mats away in a plastic bag where her limp body laid for three days was the hardest. It was like taking out memoirs and letters out of a soul box

for burning and watching it transform from a safe, memory-filled home to a hollow, useless space.

Batchoy at 2 years old. 2007.

The lab results came out around 3 pm and confirmed our suspicion. Four-fold BUN and two-fold Creatinine values, toxic wastes in her blood, which meant her kidneys' filtering ability was totally useless. As a result, she had also become anemic and septic. Had she been alive when those came out, I would have brought her to the vet to be put to sleep anyway. There are no treatments. She might have lived a few more weeks or months being fed soft diet through a syringe, but it would be an insufferable journey. She would have seizures, severe vomiting, pain. And that's not a life I would choose for her just so we could buy more time to spend with her. Better one day sooner than a day of misery, as they say.

In the end it's a choice between fighting for a second (or fourth) chance at life and learning to let go. It's always unbearable to be making the second one, but as caretakers we do it,  because these animals as we call them, are as much family as our brothers or sisters are. And they too, deserve to die with decency and comfort for all the unrelenting love they have shown us, even when we forget to replenish their bowls, scold them crazy, or even sell them for meat at times. I was lucky I didn't have to make that heartbreaking choice. Choy-choy went on her own terms. 

People say that my pets are blessed to have been saved from the streets. Sometimes I tell them that I am the one who's blessed to have been endowed that incredible opportunity. In the end, I'd like to believe that it is us humans who get more out of these relationships. Not only are we offered unconditional loyalty, companionship and protection, pets do awaken a certain humanity in us that we may have never thought possible. 

Thank you, Batchoy, for sharing eight wonderful, love-filled years with us. You will forever be missed. I'm sorry you weren't able to stay long enough to play with Lia, but I promise you will be in her bedtime stories. Don't bite Jesus. He's a pretty nice guy. 

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Morong Beach and Sunsets: Bataan's Other Best Kept Secrets

Bataan is perhaps best known for the 1,787-foot Mt. Samat, the seat of the historic Shrine of Valor (Dambana ng Kagitingan), a commanding memorial dedicated to the brave souls who endured the Bataan Death March. But roughly 50 kilometers northwest, in the brisk town of Morong, awaits a dramatic splash of oranges and violets setting down clear green waters and light gray shores.

We arrived half an hour after four past lahar-stricken towns and densely forested thoroughfares at Bataan White Corals Beach Resort, where we were billeted for the weekend. 

The welcoming sight of a fiery sun coming home to the vast West Philippine Sea completely unobstructed greeted us as we combed the fine, coconut-fringed sands barefoot. I have witnessed many sunsets on water, but Morong's definitely one of the most enigmatic.

Plans for a Mt. Samat trek was scheduled the following day, but all the boys in the group went on an early drunken spree, so us gals resorted to abusing the resort pools and the sea instead. While saltier than usual, the water in the beach was wonderfully warm and very calm, being situated within a cove (Anvaya sits nearby). Though not sparkling clear, we spotted a lone jellyfish and two schools of anchovies floating ashore, much to our delight.

Much of the corals have been destroyed by the daily low tides though, and should you crave a snorkeling activity, your best bet is to hire a boat to take you to a nearby coral reef and a small parcel of land the locals call White Beach - both accessible in 20 minutes via an outrigger that can sit 10 persons max. A two to three hour trip (travel time included) costs P1,000 to P1,500, depending on one's haggling skills. 

Boatmen also offer trips to the Pawikan Sanctuary in Nagbalayong for P150/head, but if you have your own vehicle, the sanctuary is an easy fifteen-minute drive from the numerous resorts in central Panibatuhan. 

The tides begin to settle by noon, exposing a rocky patch of seabed that spans for miles. Curious tourists flock to this brown sprawl of jagged earth during dusk when it is fully exposed, searching for dead starfish and corals. We were told by locals that corals abound on the other side of it, though fins would come in handy what with the numerous sea urchins scattered beneath.

We tried our luck and treaded the waters and crushed pebbles onward to the rocks, but couldn't push through any farther out to that side, because the rocks become more slippery, irregular, shaky and incredibly difficult to walk on as you venture out further. Live soft corals, sponges and shells sit on the rocks, and it would be a sacrilege against precious marine life to pursue for the sake of curiosity.

Despite a postponed Mt. Samat trip and island hopping activities and a super early check out *whine*, this Bataan jaunt is one for keeps. It was a weekend that is special on so many levels, being our first in Bataan. More than anything else, it was a weekend of amends. It was the first time that we've seen my stepdad since getting married, and his first to see Lia. The joy in his eyes as he tells Lia to call him Angkong or Kong Kong was priceless. 

Morong is no Boracay or Coron, but there's much splendor that awaits open eyes.

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Hunger

I am hungry as I write this. Starving is more like it, but spare me your patience as I wax poetic.

Let me expound.

The long road ahead.

Monday morning. As I logged on for my usual 8am - 5pm online shift on Skype, I noticed a note from the HR head Friday lunchtime (when I was busy doing last minute preparations for a weekend Bataan trip) that I have mail. Typically an e-mail from her meant only two things: the bosses had an urgent task for me that can not simply be coursed over Skype, or I was dead meat.

Now I never have been handed that second one in my nearly two year-stay in the firm, but intuition made me restless the past two weeks. Everyone I used to work with has either resigned or have been weeded out, and this does not exclude upper management. There were only two of us left from the original employee line-up, the other being the HR head. One of the company's owned ventures have been shut down after a long period of low returns. The daily three article-task turned nil; I had to check with the project manager if I should be concerned. As the lone content writer/ copy writer/ editor in the company, this was rather strange, especially that the web development team is always working on something.

I keyed in my company e-mail address and password. Subject line: Per Article.

My heart pounded.

I didn't need to read the entire e-mail to know I was being sacked. Okay, so they did say, "We are converting your status to a per-article basis. Please give us a proposal on how much you would charge." But really, we all know that's just a pretty phrase for "We hate to see you go, but we have to."  When someone says, "It's been a pleasure working with you", that always signals an end. And at the rate things are going, chances are, there's no looking back for either of us now.

For the first time in two years, I am once again, officially unemployed. The thought sent me multitudes of titillated nerves and terror at the same time. I have all the time in the world to freelance full-time now. Be a full-time blogger. Or perhaps, I could venture into print media, selling marketing copies and press releases.

But on the other hand, doubts raced and were raised. Was I to end up in a reception area afterall, punching in extension numbers and entertaining visitors? Could I survive solely on freelance work? There are occasional ones of course, but cutthroat as the industry is, that alone can not suffice for the bills, the rent, and  my growing daughter.

The idea of being a full-time mum crossed my mind. A few well-meaning souls remark that motherhood agrees with me. While my rambunctious daughter does bring out a certain glee and pride in my usual day-to-day routine, being solely a stay-at-home mom and wife with no other preoccupation is not a life that suits me well. Even with the ever-present, nerve-wracking pile of chores and writing assignments to deal with, I tend to get bored. My spirit is not one that can be shackled in a single place. Daily adult interactions and long commutes are pleasures I crave.Walking miles through metropolitan wind, rustling leaves and honking cars are always a welcome retreat. Sometimes even, I would imagine myself donned in smart casuals like before, coming home to Lia and being greeted with a shrill "Mommyyyy!!!" while I hand her over a small pack of pasalubong.

As I gather my best work and once again, go through that tedious cycle of hunting homebased employment resources, updating cover letters and resumes and receiving polite thank you notes, I felt exhausted like I never have. But at the pit of my soul, immense hunger also churns. That which makes one squirm in anguish and fueled with desire at the same time.

Hunger is good. It feeds the spirit with persistence and insight. It makes one curious of possibilities, so he may stretch his limits, create reforms, and discover more. My only hope is that at the tail-end of all this, there is a chock-full of sating flavors waiting on my plate.

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A Ballerina Themed First Birthday Party: Suppliers and the Lowdown

It all started with a tutu.

Then Pinterest happened, magnifying my penchant for things pink and frilly, and the idea of Lia being a ballerina for a day became a much coveted decision.

The one issue I had was that a party as pretty as that sounded, in all senses, expensive. Soft. Flowy. Sheer. Whimsical. That collective effect often comes with costly fabric like mesh and tulle - both aren't widely available in the Philippines. And I wasn't willing to spare twenties of thousands for a party my daughter wouldn't even remember.

Ergo, the DIYs.

If anything, this was probably the most I made for an event. Maybe even more plentiful than the ones I crafted for our wedding. The experience was unnerving,what with less than a month to go and a growing tot who couldn't stay put in an already chaotic household.

But all's well that's end well as they say, and Lia turned one in a poof!

Venue: The Gazebo
Address: El Pueblo del Rio Subdivision, Sta. Maria, Bulacan
Rate: P1,500 for 5 hours + P1,000 refundable deposit

Up to the last minute we were considering a hassle-free, cheaper Jollibee party. Our biggest consideration was that holding a party in an air-conditioned venue was more convenient for guests especially on an arid April day. However it also presented a lot of restrictions in terms of creative freedom. I want the Ballerina theme, not Jollitown, damn it!

Since  half the guests were neighbors and only a few are from Manila, we opted for the gazebo in our subdivision and moved the party to 5:30pm.

Wouldn't say the venue was awesome, it could use some refurbishments, but it served its purpose. There were toilets at the back, and it was breezy and spacious enough for 55 guests (We invited 70 but there's the usual on-the-day guest fallout). The lush greens and adjacent pool made for a nice summery backdrop for photos.

Caterer: L. De Vera Catering Services
Address: San Jose Patag, Sta. Maria, Bulacan
Website: http://www.ldeveracatering.com/
Rate: P220/head
Inclusions: 5 viands, rice, buco pandan, bottomless drinks, servers, venue styling; gift table, cake table, and other extra tables

Living in the province, there are very few choices one has when it comes to catering services. We only had 2 at that given rate. While this is one of the most established caterers in Bulacan, I had reservations booking them. We had two food tasting experiences, both pretty average. (My mom makes much much better morcon and lengua, I could tell you that.)

Beef caldereta

Second, our AE always seemed so...spaced out. Text replies are difficult to elicit. I had to unleash my inner dragon to have them change the so-so morcon to chicken lollipop, because they already went to the grocery for ingredients five minutes after we talked the menu over, and because apparently, I had to call to confirm the change, not simply text - which I did over and again, only nobody was picking up the phone.

Food was decent enough. Crowd favorites were chicken barbeque, green peas with quail eggs, and fish fillet (last two were consistently delish). The beef caldereta was good too, although some slices were tough to chew. Buco pandan was okay. As expected, the chicken lollipop turned out dry and quite vapid. The four seasons juice was yummy though.

Green peas with quail eggs

Fish fillet

Waiters were attentive and customer-centric. We were greeted with smiles and ice cold water while setting up the sound system and candy buffet table, even if we didn't ask for it. They granted our requests on pretty much everything and solicited our opinions while setting up the venue. We - alright, alright - I requested them to use more organza and less shiny fabrics, and they did. Additional tables? Done, no charge.

Oh, and the craftmanship on the venue stylish was superb. Very classy and whimsical. I love, love, love the wick centerpieces on the buffet table :)

Photographer: Sister-in-law's husband :)
Cost: Free!

We couldn't thank JB enough (and the SIL of course!) for saving us the work on doubling as photog, and giving us wonderful mementos to share with Lia when she grows up. We are fortunate to have a brother-in-law who's artsy and gifted with an eye for detail. From the bottom of our heart, salamat ng marami!

Birthday cake: Box Of Sweets by Punky Porca
Rate: P1,000 for an 8-inch fondant cake with simple design (Gift from SIL)
Address: Marilao, Bulacan
FB page: https://www.facebook.com/BOSbyPunky

Found Punky while looking for DIY candy buffet designs. This Bulakenya is highly recommended even by Manila brides for her reasonably priced, tastefully crafted cakes and unique candy buffet creations. Very respectful and nice supplier to deal with. Transaction was a breeze. I simply e-mailed her a picture of the cake design I wanted, had the in laws pick up the cake on the day itself, and that was that.

I expected more though in terms of flavor. Maybe it's just me, but I found the chocolate sponge to be more milk and mint than chocolate, and quite on the bland side.

But no doubt she delivered in terms of design quality :)

Chocolate cupcakes and macaroons for cake tower: Baked with love by sister :)
Cost: Labor of love. For the raw ingredients, we spent around P1,200 for about 80 pieces of 3oz cupcakes and around 100+ pieces macaroons

Confession: I've always wanted a cupcake tower for our wedding. So now that I can spare extra for one, I made sure we're getting it! Good for me because my sister happens to be one of the meanest bakers this side of the planet!

Everyone loved her treats. She uses cake flour and pure chocolate bars (no cocoa) for her cupcakes, so not only are they soft, the chocolate flavor is also thick. For her macaroons, she incorporates a hefty amount of nougat, which makes them very filling and not too sweet. Taob ang cupcake tower! My niece had to replenish every so often, and guests even brought some home :) Yey!

Mini chocolate fountain: Bought from online seller in Sulit.com
Cost: P450 + P90 shipping fee
Dutche Chocolate Fondue: Bought at All About Baking for P195 per aluminum pack (sells at P250 and up online)

It was mini, alright. And so darn cute!The kids enjoyed it immensely, and the Dutche fondue was exquisite and so easy to use. Big hit for a little project. Made me happy :)

Cupcake tower: 3-tier DIY cupcake tower from All About Baking in QC
Cost: P280

Sassy and very easy to assemble. I only had to add lace on the sides to cover the carton and voila! We have a beautiful cupcake tower.

Circular paper lanterns: Bought in bulk from online seller in Sulit
Cost: Around P1,500 for 26 pieces of 10" lanterns (assorted colors)

Another nice-to-have I wanted during the wedding. Had I known they were as affordable in bulk, I would've spent on these beautiful babies without a blink.

The lanterns came with instructions, though one could easily manage without it. Easy to assemble and disassemble. Needs satin lace for hanging, but the cost is almost negligible. Definitely added more oomph to the worn-out venue.

Ballerina dress for venue designing: Bought from Kamuning ukay ukay
Rate: P50. P35 for fuchsia flower clip from PrettyClipz

Was supposed to wear this but it turns out ballerina dresses don't go well with rounded figures. Hehe.

Lia's ballerina outfit
Cost: Roughly P1,100 including shipping costs

P100 for pink onesie - bought from online garage sale
P200 for Minnie Mouse-inspired tutu - bought from online garage sale
P70 for OshKosh Bgosh pantyhose/leggings
P520 + P90 shipping fee for Ballerina flats with hardsole from Kasey Summer Padilla of Little Imelda
P170 - Aphrodite halo from Kasey Summer Padilla of Little Imelda

Utter cuteness. Bargain hunting pays off well. 

I bought the tutu about six months before the party from the n@w garage sale in FB. Little did I know that the whole ballerina concept would spur from there.

The Aphrodite halo from Little Imelda was a bit large for Lia's head and kept falling off, but it was so darn pretty. In terms of aesthetics, I'd rate the ballet flats a 5/5. But quality, maybe just a 2.5. Lia wore this just for a few hours (She barely even walked!), and it had even a bit of inner sole allowance, but the whole thing sort of went to pieces afterwards.

The front stitches on the sole became loose that if she wore it one more time, I'm afraid it will flap open and expose Lia's foot.

The upper loop where the tie goes in is hanging by a thread. Literally. 

It had a lot of runs, which is understandable because it's made of satin. But I also found one pearl missing from the loose threading. The glue didn't hold it enough, I guess. 

Sayang kasi the rubber hardsole is really thick and high-quality. Looks like Lia won't be able to use this pair anymore. For me, the quality is nil compared to Tot Couture's. But I couldn't speak for Kasey's other creations. Heard she makes great crib shoes :)

DIYs by moi:

Table centerpieces
Cost: Labor of love. For the raw materials:

P35 each for the teddy bear centerpiece from Sarah of Stephensmom Balloons + P110 shipping fee
Around P36 for 4 yards of pink tulle
Plastic cup, pebbles, pearl and organza ribbon came from my stash at home

I had this teddy bear centerpiece from Lia's baptism, about a dozen unused fuchsia plastic cups in the kitchen, and organza ribbons from excess wedding invites. The idea evolved from there. We had excess pebbles too for a gardening project once, which I used to make the base stable. Very easy to make. Took me around 2 max to finish seven of these.

Sarah as usual, was very accommodating and delivered the additional teddy bear sticks on time.


Lootbags
Cost: Around P15 each lootbag including:

One 2-piece pack of Oreo - P4.50
One Goya lollipop - 0.80cents
One Jelly ice candy - 0.80cents
One Mongol pencil - P6.00
6 pieces of M&Ms - Free, pasalubong from US; P.050 for the plastic container for repacking
National Bookstore multi-colored paper - P1.00
Printable tags - Around P1.50 for cardboard type paper and printer ink

Here's what's inside..

Tutu wreath
Cost: Around P250 for the tulle, wreath, satin lace ribbon

While time-consuming, this is an easy project to make. It took me around 4-5 hours to finish, layering and knotting included.

Here's how I did it: http://www.filipinaexplorer.com/2013/04/how-to-make-ballerina-tutu-wreath.html

Invitations
Cost: P4.50

Materials:
Baronnial envelope: P1.50 each
Organza ribbon: Around P.050
Cardboard type paper: P.75
Ink: Maybe P1.75 for the tag and half-paged invite

I downloaded the tags and invitation designs from here:
http://blowoutparty.com/blog/2011/01/free-ballerina-party-printables/


Candy buffet 

Materials:
Glasses and jars: Free. Used empty salsa and jam containers at home.
Bamboo stick: P30 for 100 pieces
Breadsticks: P20 per 50 pieces from All About Baking in QC
Marshmallows: P45 per medium pack from local grocery
Stik-O wafers: P40 per jar (around 100 pieces?)
Pochi candies: P27 per pack of 50s
Pink choco balls: P120+ per 1/2 kilo pack from All About Baking, QC

The caterer's waiting crew was responsible for setting up the table. All I did was hand them the choco fountain and the liquid fondue, the pre-designed glasses and jars, then fill them up before the party started. Turned out to be a hit among the kids. And I didn't have to spend thousands on it. Hehe.

Wine glasses and candy jars for candy buffet
Cost: Around P2 each for organza and tag

Pen holder and note for guestbook
Cost: Around P50

Note/ paper holder: Bought from Ukay in Kamuning at P20
Materials for pen holder and note: Around P20

Organza lace and print-outs: Around P10
Photobook/ guestbook from Artscow.com. Will discuss on a separate post.

Prizes for games:

Cost: Around P150

10 pieces for kiddie games: Roughly P15 each (includes Nissin wafers, leftover jelly and candies from lootbags, and an 8-piece Angry Bird Crayon Box. Used my National Bookstore GCs from the My Favorite Book Awards for this, so technically, there was zero cost on my part, hehe.

2 pieces for Pinoy Henyo winner (Adult game): Toiletries which were gifts from other people also. So zero cost uli.

During the party itself, we had a couple of misses just as there were perhaps a couple of hits. People started pouring in by 5:45, but we waited forty more minutes to start the kiddie games in consideration of other guests who haven't yet arrived, and people obviously got bored. We didn't have a specific program in mind. Born with no hosting skills whatsoever, there was occasional dead air.

For lack of communication, the boys lit the fireworks while we were doing Pinoy Henyo, which divided audience attention, leaving some wandering about till the end of the party. We burned a DVD of party music to play but it won't skip to the next track manually. Kids were all in position for a Trip to Jerusalem sesh, and we had to break their enthusiasm because the player can only play jazz for that time. Sheesh.

Note to self: Hire a host next time.

But at the end of the day, I think the kids pretty much enjoyed their day and we're happy with that. Hey, after all, this is a kid's party. Adults get to eat, kids get to eat, play, slobber around the candy buffet station, take home cool prizes, lootbags and even table centerpieces (which they transformed into a magic wand. Heh).

And most importantly,  we were able to celebrate a year of Lia's milestones and quirks with people that mattered - all in a single day.

We have these folks to thank:

Ninang Apple and Tito Renel, the only Manila-bound godparents who made it.

In time for dinner. Haha. Thank you so much! 

Ze sister for baking those sweet treats with love even when she was dead hungry herself. 

Thanks to her, I gained 4 pounds in the course of 10 days 

eating leftover brownies and macaroons.

Ze sister-in-law and her husband for the birthday cake, and for helping out with the prayer, picture-taking, hosting
and in cleaning up the venue after the party.

These sweet girls for helping me host the program.

Dear neighbors who came and outlined a party program on the spot. Hehe.




The MIL for picking up the birthday cake. And Lia's lola sa tuhod for coming despite arthritic tendencies.

Mi familia for the after-party aid and munchies. And me niece tirelessly replenishing the cupcake tower.

...And everyone else who made time to come. Thank you so much!

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