From The Auntie Bebots.

Another long overdue post…(as always..what else is new?)

Anyway, here’s the birthday greeting cum thank you card given by my dearest twitter friends to Asher on his first birthday. We received them via courier a few days after the party. I was told that these supposedly accompanied the envelope that contained the “fund” gift to the little one but I think someone forgot this on the party day. More than the gift itself, I really value their thoughtfulness and sweetness as they pooled together their poetic minds and artistic hands to come up with such when in fact they could have just sent online greeting cards instead which is way a lot easier to do. After all, our friendship is founded and “binded” online. BUT that’s how they love my son so much that they allotted time to design and print such. By the way, here’s the poem they especially made for Asher. I think Sherwin (Joy’s husband) helped them compose this sweet literary piece.

Again, thank you for your sweetness Titas Glo, Aggie, Kathy, Alpha, Joy, Thea and Litzie.

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QOTW # 51

1. How’s the week going on so far?
:: It’s pretty good. Just a little bit startled of Asher’s frequent pooping recently. I’m calling his Pedia now for consultation.

2. Would you rather love or be loved?
:: It’s better if both are just equal.

3. How do you feel when you hear a friend completely butchering a story?
:: I still listen but try not to believe every word she says.

4. If you could have a recorder which would make a DVD or video tape of your dreams, would you use it?
:: Yes because I have a tendency to forget my dreams as soon as I open my eyes in the morning.

5. Have you ever had a dream about being a place you’ve never been, and days or years later, you end up there?
:: Yes, deja vu. I’ve experienced it a lot of times already.

6. Do you sit at your computer and eat snacks and have refreshments to drink?
:: Yes. Haha! Online addict? yes that’s me.

7. Which is more true: everything matters or nothing matters?
:: Everything matters. But on the second thought, it actually depends on the circumstance.

8. What was the last thing you gave up on?
:: My mind is completely blank now…I’m sorry I can’t recall.

9. Can the love of a person really make you change?
:: Yes…change for the better.

10. Any plans for the weekend yet?
:: We’re attending JB’s party on Saturday and we’re all excited. Then on Sunday check out this wireless alarm that we saw in the hardware. I think we’re needing one here at home.

Join us here.

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1st Birthday Party Supplier Ratings - Part 3

Since I am in the mood to continue and before the momentum breaks, here’s my Part 3 of the Supplier Ratings. Part 1 is here and Part 2 here.

Now on to the smaller knick knacks of the party:

Chocolate Fountain: c/o Asher’s Ninang Paula
Rating: 10+++++++

Just as the song goes, the best things in life are free. And definitely, this gift of Ninang Paula to Asher was heaven. A week before the party, I received a text message from my dear friend informing me that she’ll sponsor the chocolate fountain and it will be her gift for his beloved inaanak. Of course, I was ecstatic because I didn’t avail any regular party food booths so this would do, I figured. She owns this 4-layered machine and she gladly lent it for the party. She together with his fiance Joseph, were the ones who set up and prepared everything from the choco melting/diluting, dippers slicing and fruit coating (check out the choco coated apple picture) and up to packing up. There were a lot of guests who came in early so even before the party started, the chocolate was drained up to the last drop. The husband and I didn’t even get to taste it. It was a hit that my twitter buddies are now craving and wanting for a chocolate fountain party for our next meet up. But ironically, they’re also stashing some weight loss pills now.

Facepainter: c/o Partyboosters
Website: http://www.partyboosters.multiply.com
Rating: 10++++

Another knick knack that was a hit for the kids. A lot of the kids had their faces and arms painted, even little Asher managed to have one in his arm. Actually, itinakas ng brother ko from me. The program’s through already and yet, there still was a queue of kids waiting. Poor face painter he wasn’t able to eat so I just gave him a take home meal plus a tip, of course.

Back-up Photographers: My Twitter Friends
Rating: 10+++++++++++++++++

The friendship and bonding with my Twitter buddies (whom I get to chat with everyday) is one of the nicest things that I’m most thankful for in my online world. Not only we get to read each others’ blogs, chat, share and listen to rants and raves, exchange mommy and wifey thoughts, enjoy our common interests in moolah earning blog entries, digiscrapping, online shopping and photography everyday in the Twitter World, we are also one in our miseries and triumphant for every success and celebrations we jubilate. Haba ng intro…haha! Well, they aren’t actually our suppliers because I didn’t book them in the first place (because I want them to come and enjoy the party as guests). Even without me asking, automatic yan they are equipped with the SLRs so just imagine how everyone was busy uploading, commenting and waiting for each uploaded pic in our Flickr galleries right after the party. Photography and Digiscrapping are two of the things that bind us..after all, it is in our Bebot digiscrapping forum where we started and met. So what do you expect, artistic silang lahat and they all have the eye for photography especially the husband and wife tandem of Alpha and Jojo. As mentioned previously, John took a few snapshots of the party details but Alpha, Jojo and the rest of the gang compensated it with magnificent shots. Even John Aguas was amazed and delighted to see a group of (sexy) moms each busily focusing and clicking their SLRs. By the way, Alpha and Jojo are planning to take photography to a higher level so should you wish to get them as back up photographers for your parties, do get them.

Ice Cream Cart: Pagsinohin Ice Cream
Rating: 10++++

We’re so lucky to spot Mang Junior a few days before the party. He’s the ice cream vendor who regularly rounds our village in the afternoon and just lives nearby. When I inquired and learned that his services are less expensive than those of the party planners, I immediately booked him. I paid Php 300 DP and we exchanged contact numbers. Since he has another morning event on the party date ( ha daming bookings din ni kuya), he sent his son to serve and man their ice cream cart. They arrived one and half hour before the party, super aga. Hehe! Aside from the chocolate fountain, the ice cream was a big hit too to the kids and older ones.

Giveaways for the Adults: Personalized Chocolate from Choclittalk
Website: http://choclittalk.com/
Contact Person: Rico
Contact Details: choclittalk@yahoo.com.ph / (632) 744 3223 / 0910 9106243
Rating: 10+++++

One of Asher’s party suppliers who were easiest to deal with. With the help of my Twitter friend, Caryl who I consulted as I initially planned of designing, printing and wrapping the chocos myself, we stumbled upon this custom made chocolate supplier a month before the party. Rico was polite, flexible, prompt and very patient with my inquiries. Actually, their site, as is, is already very informative and helpful but Rico’s customer service all the more made them a commendable supplier. I’ve collected a number of personalized chocolate local suppliers but Choclittalk stood the cheapest. Since I was an OC party host, I was the one who made the design (including the nutrition facts) to concur and harmonize with the other DIYed stuffs like invites, tarpaulin backdrop, etc. I just sent the layout via email and Rico was the one who fitted it to their template for printing. They also did the chocolate themselves…it’s home made. The printing and packaging was superb. Payment and shipping arrangements are flexible. Nice colors, wrapper quality, packaging..all in all it was superb. And the taste? Of course it was heaven (premium brown flavor)! I ordered two variants: premium brown and cookies n’ cream. Too bad, I didn’t get to taste cookies n’ cream, I heard it’s the best. I knew that it would be gone in an instant so I hid a few for myself even before I distributed them. And oh, Asher’s name was also imprinted on the chocolate bar itself. Cool!

Guest Sheets: c/o my Bebot and Twitter Buddies ate JennyL and Diane
Rating: 10++++

Asher is truly blessed because I have artistic friends who volunteered to scrap his party guest sheets. I would have done them myself but my hands were already full of the party preps so I was glad that ate Jen and Diane came to the rescue. Ate Jen created 3 layouts while Diane was so inspired that she made 8. Unfortunately, the shipping from Artscow for Diane’s layouts didn’t make it on time at Kathy’s place (who ordered it for me at Artscow). If you like their designs and should you wish to hire their services, just let me know and I’ll forward their contact details.

Part 4 and final installment to follow.

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1st Birthday Party Supplier Ratings - Part 2

Another overdue post.

The first part which consists of the venue, venue styling and catering reviews are here. Pardon if it’s really taking me so long to finish this.

**Host/Magician: Flooch
Booked through Partyboosters
Rating: 10++++

Flooch is one of the major reasons why the party was a HUGE success. He surely succeeded in entertaining (to the fullest) not only the kids but also those young at hearts. He is very articulate (English speaking), very spontaneous, very much skilled, absolutely no dull moment with his entertainment. The kids loved each second and every portion of his magic tricks and other antics. I wasn’t able to watch fully the program proper as I was busy entertaining and chitchatting with some friends and guests but nevertheless, everyone was all praises for him after the party that it got me so anxious to watch the video. Luckily, John sent the edited video yesterday and I was amazed with his tricks. Nakakatuwa talaga and I can’t help but laugh with his pranks and jokes. His games were also one of a kind and I love that he had every kid participated by holding games according to age bracket. Overall, I give him two thumbs up for his service. Days before the party he informed me (through Jacque) that he might arrive a little bit late because he has a booking before ours. He arrived about 15 minutes before the party call time but we still started on time. He was so swift and was able to setup his sound system and props quickly. We were also able to discuss the program flow but unfortunately I wasn’t able to emphasize that we’d have a thank you speech towards the end of the program. (I thought kasi standard na yun in every program.) Well anyway, I can’t blame him entirely kasi the crowd got a little bit unruly na at the end part at pinagkaguluhan ang mga balloons, decors and the cute cupcakes. Nevertheless, the program was a big success and kudos to Flooch for that.

Photo and Video: John Aguas Photography
Contact Person: John Aguas
Website: http://www.johnaguas.com
Contact Details: johnaguas@yahoo.com / 0920-983-2364 / 0922-257-3469 / 994-0345
Rating: 10

John isn’t obviously any of these subjects since he’s the one behind the lens and captured these candid moments which are his forte.

If you followed my party preps entries, you would remember that John wasn’t my first choice. I first inquired from a popular and very demanded photographer among my fellow n@wies but I was dismayed with how this supplier corresponded to me via email. John, on the other hand, was otherwise. He was very prompt and courteous either email or text. And because of that, I was inclined to get him since mabagal nga yung isa magreply. Later, fate has it that we’d get John talaga kasi Photog A was booked. We were pleased with John’s output: both the pictures and the video. He was able to take shots of everything although I should have emphasized earlier to get plenty close up shots of the party details. Nevertheless, okay lang since my reliable all-SLRed-twitter buddy guests-turned-back up photographers were able to capture more photos (especially Jojo and Alpha..the next Karl and Mimi tandem). They arrived in the venue early and were able to capture each guests as they came. If I saw and remember correctly, his team consists of 2 back-up photographers and of course the videoman. Initially, I only booked his photography (labor only) services as we didn’t allot a budget for the video. But later on, we realized that having a video of the party is a must to document this once in a lifetime event fully. One week before the party, we contracted his video services as well. I so loved the editing of the video. We received it yesterday and I had fun reminiscing the party. Nice music selection (jungle-themed kiddie intro song as well) and for the rate we have paid, it’s all worth it.

Cake: Sugarbox
Contact Person: Emily Uy
Contact Details: 4952065 / emilyu@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.ilovesugarbox.com
Rating: 10+++++

The birthday cake is one of my least concerns during the party preps because I knew then that I’m covered. I didn’t have any other supplier in mind other than my ever reliable cake maker, Emily Uy. She made our wedding cake in 2005 and she also did Asher’s baptismal cake last year. Suki na kumbaga…tried and tested. I knew that I wouldn’t have a hard time booking and availing her services. So the moment I saw the Jungle Mania cake in her gallery, I emailed and texted her right away for a quotation and booked her consequently. The cake has all the exact details I have in mind…the bright jungle colors, the animal concept, the satellite/tiered style..everything. It’s perfect period. The rate she gave me is also way below I expected the cake to cost, much to the “manager’s”/husband delight. The cake consists of 100 pieces of cupcakes, each with gumpaste animal toppers, plus a round one that served as the main “topper” of the satellite cake. As always, Emily was easy to deal with and I’m so glad that she accommodated my order as I’ve heard she’s busy and overbooked as ever. She also gladly obliged to my request that we just settle the balance on the day, when normally it should be fully paid a week before the event. Her uniformed crew also arrived early and so they had ample time to setup the cake. I don’t know if they stayed or just came back towards the end of the party as there were two of them who assisted in repacking each cupcake for distribution to the guests. Even before Flooch was able to wrap the program up, they were already stormed by the over eager crowd each asking for cupcakes. The cupcakes were chocolate flavored and the guests’ verdict: yummo! I wasn’t able to taste the cupcakes since there were nothing left for us. What we have though is the bigger round cake which is the yummiest butter flavored cake I’ve ever tasted. I also love the green frosted icing she made into grasses and tree leaves…it was not too sweet but just right. Buti na lang, I have a skinny figure so I can load up sweets as much as I want to without any diet pressure or worries. ‘Til the next birthday cake, Emily.

Up Next…Part 3 and (hopefully) the last installment of the Ratings..

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Video Overload.

That’s what you’ll witness in Flickr and Youtube galleries in a little while.

We’ve finally received the edited video of Asher’s birthday party from John Aguas yesterday and I’m currently uploading it to my Youtube account. It would have been to my Flickr gallery but I think the file is way too large and beyond the upload limit. I have other Asher videos uploaded in my Flickr anyway so you might want to see it muna while the party video is still uploading and at the same time, while I check out and peruse a car insurance renewal proposal that our agent forwarded.

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