Our Life in Words and Photos

Baby Einstein Themed 1st Birthday

This is my favorite photo from Kail's 1st birthday party - one of the few where he's actually smiling! He was a bit grumpy that day, having been dragged out of his nap, and then greeted by lots and lots of unfamiliar faces. Next, the airconditioning couldn't keep the venue well-ventilated because of the almost 300 guests in attendance! Still, it was a great party, one we wouldn't have been able to pull off without the help of these wonderful friends:

Venue - Artist Pavillion, Makati Park and Garden
Rating: 9
The place was amazing. The only downside is that it can be a pain to book it. With the party in January, we were trying to book it in September, but was told they'd only accept bookings 3 monts prior. Syempre the OC in me wasin panic because what if the date wasn't available and we'd have a tough time looking for another venue? But, with prayers and a very reliable party organizer, we were able to book it in time.

I would recommend the place for those with less than 300 guests (that's the maximum capacity of the venue). Since we had a little over or below the 300 limit, the airconditioning couldn't keep the place cool. Besides, I felt that there was limited space to move around because of the number of people nga.

Party Planner - Pizzie Hernandez-Yap and Irish Pablo of Little Royalties.
Rating: 10
They came highly recommended by a fellow n@wie, Emillie. We've inquired from Jelly Bellies and Kiddie Parties but we were so disappointed with their responses (or lack thereof). Since we were planning from out of the country, I would depend heavily on a reliable party organizer. Pizzie was so good at keeping in touch via email and updating me on what's happening. She would also send photos every now and then of designs for approval. They were able to customize our package according to our needs (and wants).

Initially, I was hesitant on the Baby Einstein theme because I have yet to see (in n@w) a party with the same theme but Pizzie convinced me that it's do-able, and she was the one excited about it. Since it was Kail's favorite,we decided to push through with the Baby E theme. We didn't go wrong!

Because Kail was hospitalized when we got to Manila (due to pneumonia), Pizzie even shopped for the game prizes and lootbag contents. I was soooo relieved!

We wouldn't have pulled off a successful party without Pizzie's all-out help and very reliable party-planning.


Caterer - Blue Petals
Rating: 10
We weren't able to taste the food - yung leftovers na lang. Hubz and I were both busy with entertaining our gueststhat we weren't able to eat at all! Our guests told us that the food is great though, so that's a plus. The waiters were very efficient, and there was even a waiter who would ask us often (me and hubz) if we needed something to eat or drink. Food was even brought to our table kasi nga we were so busy roaming around. There were a lot of waiters during the event, but I guess because we had around 300 guests.


Photographer - Jeff Lopez
Rating: 10
Jeff was at the venue early - scouting for possible photo ops. He was shooting away when guests started arriving, and wouldn't stop shooting even for a bite. He would also ask us if there's anything we want him to shoot, etc.

Prior to the event, I emailed Pia (Jeff's wife - also a fellow n@wie) of my recommended shots. When we received the DVD of the 300+ high resolution photos, everything was there! Hirap lang mamili ng photos for printing but we were so happy with all of them!

Since we were leaving 5 days after the party, they were able to deliver all the prints, the DVD with the high resphotos, the shadowbox layout, and the clock in time.


Choco Fountain - Jeff and Pia Lopez
Rating: 10
Again, Pia was there at the venue early setting up the choco fountain. Medyo tago lang yung placement nung choco fountain but soon enough, it became popular with guests. Pia was there all the time to assist the guests. She would refill when the dippings or the chocolates are running low.

Again, we were so busy roaming around but Pia brought us strawberries dipped in chocolates because it was running out and we haven't even tasted them.

Galing ng tandem ng mag-asawang Lopez!


Make up - Emillie Cobarrubias of n@w
Rating: 10
Who says we only get to be made up during our wedding? As a stage mom (and proud of it), I believe we should also look good on our kids' birthdays. Emillie became a good friend since our w@w days so I was really flattered she got to do my makeup. Our friends and family told me I looked so pretty, and even with makeup on, it was very natural. The makeup lasted for hours, even amidst sweat.... :) I must say, I also looked good in photos, hahaha! Ems is very talented, and like me, kikay din kasi, hehehe!


Invitations - Adworks c/o Little Royalties
Rating: 10
When we got Little Royalties to plan the party, I asked them if it's possible to get Adworks to do the invites. Yun pala, their invitation supplier is really Adworks. I was so happy. Though we went through several revisions of the invites because of my OC-ness, I didn't hear a single complaint about it. They would also submit a photo of the draft a day later.


Video - c/o Little Royalties
Rating: 10
They arrived on time, and was shooting right away when guests started arriving. They asked for Kail's photos to be included in the DVD. They were able to deliver the output a month or so later. We were happy with the output. Even Kail loved watching his video because the music they used were mostly his favorites. Please note, we didn'teven tell them what music to use but they were able to choose appropriate ones.


Food Carts, Game booths, Face Painter - c/o Little Royalties
Rating: 10
The food carts were already set when we arrived, and even before the first guest started to arrive. They were ready to serve when the guests started tricklng in. Even Kail loved the food. We had waffle, ice cream, and fishball/squidball carts. Patok din sa guests - both young and old ito.

The gamebooths were positioned near the entrance and so with the face painter. We saw kids having fun playing games at the game booths. We also saw a number of kids lining up for the face painter. Ganda din ng mga designs niya. If not for Kail's skin allergies, I would've wanted his hand painted siguro.... :)


Photo Bag Tags - c/o Little Royalties
Rating: 10
Initially, we wanted to have Konsepto do the bag tags but they were already booked that day. Pizzie was able to source out another supplier that does the same thing. Weeks before the event, they submitted the photo tag design for approval.

During the party, they were positioned at the entrance so the kids were able to have their photos taken before they took their seats. Our guests loved the photo bag tags because it's cute and functional at the same time. We even had 5 or 6 made for ourselves, hehehe!


Cake, Tarp, Backdrop, Venue Decors, Pinata, Pabitin - c/o Little Royalties
Rating: 10
We loved the cake! Even Kail loved looking at it because he recognized the characters there. Pizzie submitted the design months before the party and I approved it immediately. We upgraded on the cupcakes and cookie lollipops and they were a hit among kids.

The venue decoration was amazing. Gulat din kami with the pinata and pabitin. Kids had fun with those too.

The mylar balloon at the centerpiece was sourced out from US Balloons, so we brought it home with us. All others were sourced out from Manila na. I was really amazed that Baby E supplies are locally available din pala.


Lootbags/Backpacks - c/o Little Royalties
Rating: 10
The design was great that I even got 2 backpacks for Kail alone, hehehe. We opted for primary colors para generic.

I initially brought home some chocolates and small cans of playdohs to put in there but Pizzie texted us mukhang kulang so if it's ok, they're going to fill it with local chips. Tuwang-tuwa yung kids when they lined up for the souvenirs. Even I enjoyed munching on the chips that are in there, hehehe!


Host/Magician - Wanlu
Rating: 10
Wanlu brought the house down! This was one part of the party both adults and kids enjoyed. I was scanning everyone's faces and they were alllistening intently at Wanlu's tricks. He even made sure hubz, me, and Kail are part of his gig. He would often call us for games, or tricks.
He took care of everything - from the games, to the pabitins and pinata, to singing Happy Birthday, to blowing the cake. He truly was the life of the party all along. He's a little on the expensive side but truly worth every penny.


Lechon - Lydia's Lechon
Rating: 8
Those who were able to taste the lechon told us it was very yummy. Unfortunately, wala halos kaming nakita even when we bought the biggest one because we had Bllue Petals chop it so hindi buong lechon yung naka-display kundi chopped na. Wala rin kaming naiuwi - but this was because my MIL gave them to relatives. Favorite pa naman ng husband ko ito, so we were really disappointed we didn't even get to taste it. In fairness to Lydia's, they brought the lechon early even before the first guest arrived.

Baby Einstein paper plates, cups, napkins - Party City

These are some more stuff I brought from the US. Not all Party City stores carry them so I had to scout for one that does tapos dinayo ko pa yun. All for the love of Kail! :)

Reading all the exchanges in n@w, I first thought that planning a party in 3 months would be a total chaos, considering we were having a party after the holidays pa. But ours turned out a very successful one. Everyone texted us after the party to thank us for inviting them because their kids had a great time, and they also enjoyed the party.

The reason why we ended up with only 3 months to prepare for the party was because hubz and I were debating on whether it was practical to have a big celebration for Kail's birthday. I wanted it small and intimate, while he wanted to go all out. Since he was the financer, I had to give in. He brought up a valid point anyway. Since we are based in the US, this is the one occassion when our friends and families would see Kail. Who knows when the next one will be? Besides, we have waited a long time for Kail to come. What couldn't we do for him?

Photos can be browsed here. Disclaimer: Those with filename starting with DSC* were taken by my roommate so they look blurred. Only those with IMG* filenames were taken by Jeff. Baka kasi isipin ninyo Jeff takes blurry photos, hehehe!

Here is the altered wall clock from Jeff and Pia Lopez:

Here is the shadowbox layout from Jeff and Pia Lopez: