Ellysz in Wonderland Party...

When I first got a call from Kathy Dalimot, I had two pending inquiries for a wedding. But since she was more steadfast in reserving our date, she got the slot that very day she confirmed her reservation. And truthfully, I'm grateful she did because her daughter's birthday party was one SLAMMING event I will always be proud to have handled..

This special  celebration is to mark the very first birthday of Kathryn Ellysz Dalimot, the firstborn  of Eric & Kathy, a preemie by birth but a wonderchild nonetheless. Kathy & Eric had to undergo a lot to bring this beautiful angel into this world, as the mom's pregnancy was comparably difficult to most pregnancies we know. But as Kathy relates, no pain is unbearable for her little girl.

For her very first birthday, the couple decided to throw her a big, (nope, let me reiterate) a LAVISH Alice in Wonderland party. Believe me when I say LAVISH, I mean the exact word.

It was a first "Alice" party for me though I had "tea & princesses parties" in the past but this was more elaborate so I had to see Johnny Depp's version. I remember watching Alice way back when I was a kid and I must admit, I didn't like it much back then. The latest movie however gave me a change of heart. As soon as I finished the movie, ideas starting pouring in, my mind was flooded with things to incorporate.

That's when I started working on the floor plan. Just like most of the parties we coordinate, I try to provide customized floor plans and since Kathy had my good friend Bernadette (of Andre & Kurts) was doing  the balloons, I decided to make a mean floor plan. With mean, let me tell you why.

My original plan was to fill the aisle with giant mushrooms, colorful centerpieces with cards, butterflies, feathers, trees and grasslands with colorful flowers all made of balloons. There will be matching table centerpieces with playing cards, butterflies, trees and grass with colorful flowers all made of balloons...  We're talking about turning Antel into a giant balloon forest.
 
 I  suggested candy buffets with "Eat Me" and "Drink Me" logos, wooden signages, cards , hats for the kids and more. We all fell in love with the floor plan but I knew I hit the motherload when I suggested giant balloon mushrooms to fill the aisle as it was impossible to finish in just 6 days or less.

 Kathy opted for pink trees instead which I thought was equally gorgeous. At the back of my mind, Adette would have strangled me for pushing her a little too far as she was s clueless on how to go about with the mushrooms  but knowing how creative she can be, I insisted she do it.    A series of trials and swollen fingers after, Adette managed to pull of her very first red polkadot  mushroom. I was instantly won over. Kathy loved it too so she swayed  Adette to incorporate at least two mushrooms inside a fence. In short, there had to be mushroom balloons and wood  was not an option. Hence the final product.

 Personally, if I had my way, I would have forced Adette to make me a farm full of mushroom balloons, but that's me.. ( that is if she doesn't wring my neck afterwards, nyahaha)

the aisle filled with pink-colored trees..

Antel Grand Ballroom was literally transformed into a beautiful magical Wonderland that day, full of lush pink trees, polkadot mushrooms, grass and flowers, all made of balloons. You'd  think you got lost in a balloon forest once you step in. Everything was so colorful and grand, even the standees. Everyone who came in was caught in awe. This is definitely one  of the most  beautiful events I've been into. Adette has again outdone herself with this one.

the candy buffet..

Let me add how all the details of this party had been  intricately prepared. From the name tags, giveaways and stickers (a labor of love by Kathy's sister Kay), to the beautiful invitations from Adworks, Ellysz's cute  Alice costumes from Baby Fashionistas, sand of course, the food and set up by Ricci Co of Lynagails.

 For the host, Jay Kristofferson Guillare came in, complete with his spade costume. And then there's the magic show which the kids loved... For that, Karl Matrix had his awesome 40 minutes on the stage... There was also a caricaturist, face painters & the local "sorbetero". Kathy had her mind set on what she wanted for her baby's party  and she achieved that goal very well.

Karl Matrix doing his magic moves..

 The enormous backdrop was also in theme, with letter balloons on top serving as the focal poin tof the stage. The vibrant  centerpieces on each  table however exceeded what was expected as in incorporated everything Alice ~ playing cards, butterflies, flowers, feathers... It was just so beautiful to look at, and unusually taller than usual. Comparably richer in charm and flare, (in layman's term, it had more ARTE in it, I Loooove it!!)

beautiful table- centerpieces...

 Of course, we also had our gift to Ellysz, the famous pastillas lollipops which was an instant hit to the guest. We prepared two candy buffets, an ice  cream cart, activities and everything fun you can think of. It was evident on the kids' faces how well they enjoyed the party.  This Wonderland had been filled with family and friends, laughter and chit-chats were aplenty.

cake pops...

     When it was time to introduce the celebrant, I felt a familiar tinge of pride as Kathy and Eric proudly walked to the stage with their pretty little Ellysz.  Just seeing their smiles, I knew we did good. From how most guests would approach us and tell us how beautiful theevent  had become was enough to wipe away the exhaustion we felt. I forgot how painful my feet hurt from all the running and rushing but it never seemed to matter anymore.

This occassion was indeed a very happy & successful one. The food was great, the catering staff were all so courteous and prompt, we had no complaints whatsoever. We even had a raffle contest where the winners got to bring home egg-lamps, donut fans, clocks, fruit notes and so much more. (I'd say, Kathy got a little carried away with the prizes)

From the tiniest detail, my staff and I made sure everything was crisp and perfect before the guests started arriving. Supervising and helping with the set up wasn't as easy as it looked, but it was definitely one of the highlights for me as it was so rewarding.

Everything perfectly meshed well in the end. Tiresome but overwhelming indeed. I wouldn't monopolize the recognition though since this was a team effort and all the other major suppliers made this sucess possible. 
  
The last contest was the balloon burst where Ellysz herself popped the huge balloon. And then everyone started collecting their loots and take-home balloons on their way out.. So far, the party was a huge success. Save for the little "riot" the kids created out of sheer excitement for the prizes (which is an ordinary scene in kiddie events), I would say, the party was perfect.

Little Ellysz might still not have any clue as to what happened today, but when the time comes that she is old enough to understand, I'm sure she'll be very grateful to look back at the beautiful memories of how she turned one and how wonderful she is loved by her family..

From the bottom of my heart and all those from the Wedding Village, Ellysz will always be our most favorite and cutest Alice... Happy Birthday little girl!!!

Isenn's Cars-Themed Party...

Becoming a parent doesn't come easy always. Most of us go through so many hardships  and sacrifices just to have children, this October client of ours  is no exception.

a glimpse of the McQueen Cake

 Seven wonderful years of being parents to little Isenn,  Irish & Lee's journey wasn't always  a walk in the park.. There came a point that they had to face their biggest challenge when their son was detected with a hearing defect that somehow affected his speech. Although all is well now and the handsome little one is on his way to recovery, it will not change the fact that this couple went through a lot of adversities  just to be able to provide Isenn all that they could.

the Martinez family....

games games games!!!

For their son's 7th birthday,  they managed to throw a Cars-Themed Birthday party  which was graced by so many  friends and family, Villa Nuñila was literally jampacked that Friday with people who knew and loved this beautiful family. Kids were literally everywhere, laughing and enjoying the party especially the magic show.

families and guests were all smiles that day...

they  were all eyes on Chayno the Magician

The place was filled with colors and was adorned with balloons of red, black, yellow and blue... The mother herself went all the way to Manila to personally pick the candies and give-aways, and even the candy jars which were an instant hit to the kids and kids-at-heart.

what's left of the shifting gear pastillas pops...

candy ball bearings... =)

 The invitations were all sent out with Isenn's picture wearing a racing costume, the one which was  taken at the special photoshoot they had a few weeks before the big event. They chose a  Lightning McQueen cake and cupcakes with car toppers... Everything was in-theme,( even the couple's outfits). Everything was done with love.
  

the Cars-themed Cupcakes..

Leih and I distributing the candies and give-aways...

 And to top this event off, Isenn's father, Lee Martinez made it known that he had another surprise for his wife and son ~ a trip to Hongkong a few days after the party. Now, that's what I call a present, would you agree?

 A child is always a blessing... A reason for us to do better in our lives... And for Irish and Lee, that reason is none other than, their very own little racer, Isenn...

From The Wedding Village, we  hope you had a wonderful day, birthday boy... =)

Mommy Celebrates Her Birthday!!

October 19th truly is a very special day in our family. Today, my mom celebrates her 65th birthday, and my little girl turns 1 year and 9 months, something to really be thankful for... And of course, it called for a simple celebration.

Mommy, Leihson, my cousins Jates & Kuya Borge, together with my little girl and Nanny Ruby, enjoyed a wonderful dinner at Vikings Luxury Buffet. I made the reservation 2 weeks before. Thankfully, we arrived just in time before seven. A few more minutes and we're about to fall on the waiting list.. (blame traffic)

me and my cousins..

It was a memorable celebration indeed as it may be the last one Mommy and I will be sharing with my cousins who are both US bound next year. Honestly, just the mere idea of celebrating another birthday without them sets me into depression, but then, I am also happy for my cousins since they've been waiting for this opportunity for the longest time.

It had been a wonderful night for me and my family...

I managed a few  plate "re-fill" of Seafood Thermidore and baked cheese oysters... Even my little girl liked the thermidore.  And boy was I so delighted with their new Chocolate Shake Vendo. I would rather not tell how many glasses I gulped down with this one.. So far, all the courses we tried were good, we'll definitely be back again and again and again... =)

I took a few pictures of the interior of the place.. Nice, ei?

A Wonderland Floor Plan

This next party ranks as one of my most anticipated from my list of clients. It may sound biased of me but having a baby girl gives you more choices for party themes  compared to boys. From Disney Princesses, to Barbie Dolls and Nick-Cartoons, the list seems endless...

 For our November celebrant,  our venue will be turned into a grand Wonderland, with trees made of balloons of beautiful and vibrant colors... Every detail will be themed and incorporated into the event. From the give-aways to the candies, even the centerpieces will  have a touch of "Wonderland"...

For starters, I prepared a floor plan which will serve as our basis for the over-all layout of the venue.. From how the tables will be arranged, to the proper designations of the cupcakes, candy buffet and more, details have been specified to make sure everything turns out perfect...

More stories will be posted soon as this  Wonderland party unfolds...

It feels very much like celebrating my little one's special day... =)

Floor Plan for Cars Themed Party

Thinking of a theme for boys is probably one of the most difficult, in my experience. Compared to the countless themes you could choose for little girls, they are very limited. A few of the most common are: Marvel-Themed parties, Transformers, and of course, the Cars Theme.  So for a Cars-themed party, you will have to be more creative in incorporating Cars into the program and the venue itself. You wouldn't want to look too usual although for this theme, that's a given.

So for  Irish & Lee Martinez's only son Isenn Lee,  we decided to  prepare a floor plan that will serve as  the basis for the party's over-all look. It will be an afternoon event to be held at Villa Nunila in Naic, Cavite.

I would admit, the preps for this 7th birthday wasn't all smooth at the start. Since the venue is a bit far flung from Manila,  it was  difficult finding suppliers who wouldn't charge a  huge  out-of-town fee. Good thing, we were able to secure Chayno The Magician. At first, I wasn't sure he'd be able to accomodate my client, luckily he said yes. I knew Chayno since I've worked with him already, so I knew I was referring only  the best.

The catering service will be coming all the way from Quezon, a distant relative of the family who will take charge of the venue set up. The candy buffet however wasn't included in the service so we ourselves will help arrange it near the stage, as planned. I'm thinking chocolate donuts for "mini-tires" and red round candies which we will tag as "Ball Bearings", and more array of goodies and candies to add a little flair to the spread.

The venue  was supposed to be decorated by a good friend of mine but a change in plans were made two weeks before the party.  Instead, balloons will be produced by another distant relative as a gift for the birthday bor.

A few more weeks and Issen Lee celebrates his 7th birthday.  With Mater & Lightning McQueen all present, I can vouch he will have a wonderful celebration. Lucky kiddo.

Fancy Cakes & Cupcakes...

It has been a while since I last posted a blog or two and I promise to make  a mean comeback...

A few more parties in the works and things have been pretty busy for me and my team. Two more lavish birthday parties are scheduled ahead in the Ber Months and so far, most of the details are already laid out...

the cake & cupcake spread

Since there is a wonderful surge of events in the coming months, we decided to search for more trusted & quality suppliers that could provide our clients the best service ever... And when we talk about parties, automatically, there has to be a cake...



Let me introduce to you  one of our newest tie-up cake & cupcake supplier, Nina Espi.. She owns Cakes & Cupcakes by Nina. A gifted baker with a flare for art, she creates beautiful cakes & cupcakes that you would love to devour, only, it's too beautiful and fancy you'd think twice of touching it... =)

What caught my attention big time was her push pop cupcakes, a very creative way to introduce cupcakes in a different light.. And I thought you can only do push pops with ice creams! I guess I was wrong... These pretty goodies come in different colors, flavors & designs. You can even customize it to your liking.. It's great for dessert spreads, you can even incorporate this in your kiddie candy buffet..But that's not all, you can check out her cake albums which are to die for as well...


Not everyone has a sweet tooth, but I doubt it if you can say no to these... Feel free to sink your teeth in to those yummy pastries soon... Good job, Nina! And welcome to the team!

Ching's First Dora Doll

My little girl is in love with Dora. I made her watch a few episodes on Nick Toons back when she was still six months old and I must say, she remembers Dora pretty well up to this day. I am amazed at how keen she is whenever Dora items are around. She  can even recognize the cartoon from afar.

And since I know how much it will make her happy, I started looking for a beautiful Dora doll at  toy stores in Manila. Sad to say, my efforts were futile. They don't sell Nicks stuff here unlike in the States, so I had to look for it online.

Thankfully enough, my friend Suyen (who owns House of Flair) helped me get these items for me. I also ordered a beautiful dress from Sew Purple Couture, a specialty shop owned by my cousin Eyelyn Enerio who designs and sews the dresses herself. I found her designs too pretty, I had her customize a beautiful plaid dress for Chingching.

All these items came in after months of waiting. May I say, the wait was worth it. I was just as excited when I got the box filled with Ching's Dora doll, plaid dress, and ribbons. The doll was so pretty, I knew my little girl will like it.
 And so she did!!! I couldn't begin to describe how ecstatic she was upon touching her very first Dora Doll... All afternoon, she carried it with her, kissing it from time to time, and even talking to her.. It did cost me a few dollars but I don't really mind, not anymore after seeing my little girl's beautiful smile...

Kids are just the most appreciative of all...

Father's Day At Corniche

 It was Leih's second time to celebrate Father's day, so after Chingching's scheduled monthly check up, we headed straight to Corniche at Diamond Hotel, Manila for a sumptuous late lunch treat. The last time I went here was a few years ago when a good friend invited me for dinner.. But that's another story...

the beautiful Corniche interior

I surprised my husband by getting reservations for two, in advance... Of course, the little girl was with us in her usual "likot" mood. Honestly, bringing a squirming toddler can be such a pain sometimes especially when you have no nanny to depend on... I can barely finish my plate in one seating.

The place though was so inviting, it was more spacious than the other buffet restos in the metro, with a man-made cascading falls at the end of the room, all in it's beautiful glory for everyone to enjoy...

 I was quite taken with the falls myself that I chose a seat next to the see through glass wall. I particularly enjoyed the sound of water from the falls, it had a relaxing effect to it, romantic too, may I add..

my  first  plate.. hehehe

And then we started feasting on the wide array of food served before us... There were partitions specially reserved for Japanese food, Chinese, Italian, and the list goes on....

 I loved their tasty maki and the crunchy prawn tempura, with it's very light sauce...I also had a big serving of crispy suckling pig-skin, and some other roasted delicacies from the carving station. There were different kinds of pastas, pizza, a variety of rice recipes, and delicious courses to choose from... I was literally in buffet heaven once more..

But knowing me, of course I wouldn't pass up on the desserts. And boy was I a happy food tripper...  Different kinds of cakes, pannacotas, and brulee were all splayed in front of me, as if they were prepared just for my eyes... They were all exquisitely done, the way they look  also justifies their taste.. I helped myself to a few servings and  still  couldn't get enough of all these sweets.. This time, it seemed I was in Sugar Heaven and I didn't want to leave anymore..

The late lunch was indeed worth our hard-earned money... I wouldn't mind coming back to this place...Definitely I won't be waiting till Father's Day next year to do that... no siree...