Useless party give-aways

Ang tagal tagal ko ng gustong mag-rant about this haha! Pero siyempre hindi ko naman magawa talaga in person kasi nakakahiya. But since no one I know reads this blog (I hide this away from family and friends lol), dito ko na lang gagawin.

You see, we attended a party last month. We enjoyed the food and the hosts were very nice. Before we went home, the mom of the kids-celebrants handed us these fridge magnets.

One confused Caucasian guest asked her: "What's this?" The mom replied: "It's a ref magnet." At napa-"Ohh" na lang yung guest.

Napailing din talaga ako the moment na inabot sa akin ang mga ito. Sa basurahan kasi talaga ang bagsak ng mga ito. Oo na, mean na kung mean.

Eh kasi naman, why would I put pictures of other kids on our fridge? Pwede pa siguro kung pamangking-buo ko sila. Thrice ko pa nga lang nakikita ang mga batang iyan eh, at hindi rin kami ganun ka-close ng parents. These type of souvenirs should be given to immediate family lang, yung tipong grandparents at uncles and aunts lang.

By the way, these souvenirs were made in Pinas pala. Wala naman nga kasing gumagawa ng ganyan dito. Seriously, party hosts should stop giving out this nonsense. Pwede namang chocolates and candies na lang ang ipamigay in lootbags. Basta wala yung nagsusumigaw na picture o name ng anak ninyo (this applies to other souvenir items like pillows, mugs, frames, etc.).

We attended a wedding nga rin pala last August and these were the give-aways.

Ok yung nasa left (pastries ang laman) pero napailing talaga ako sa nasa kanan. My first reaction when it was given to me: "Seriously? May nagbibigay pa pala ng ganito ngayon kaloka!" At syempre galing din sa Pinas yan.

I hope those who throw parties are mindful enough think of souvenirs na hindi jologs. Hindi yung may maibigay lang, kasi sayang din ang pera at effort nila if these things end up in trash.

Dad's Christmas Party 2017

Hello, hello! Sorry for the lack of posts this December. Sobrang naging busy lang the past days, ang daming ganap! Sana magkaroon ako ng time na makuwento lahat dito haha.

Anyway, let me start by posting about Daddy Ford's company Christmas party last December 7, 2017. I am not posting the party per se, kasi hindi ko naman business yun lol. Haha gusto ko lang ikuwento how bitter I was! HINDI KASI AKO NAKASAMA, waaah!

This was Ford's second Christmas party in that company and like last year, he went alone. This year, the party was held in a high-end steakhouse and cocktail bar in Downtown Vancouver. As usual, employees were asked to bring their respective spouses/partners. Sayang, chance ko na sanang maka-attend ng party. I've never been to any of my husband's work-related events (be it oath-taking, etc.) kasi natataong hindi kami magkasama pag may mga ganyan (we used to be in a very long LDR). Kaso nga this time na nandito ako at magkasama kami, we have no one to leave our son Nathan with naman. Ang hirap dito kasi kaming tatlo lang.

Hay, naging bitter talaga ako! Aside from the chance to eat a very expensive steak (I love steak!!!), opportunity na rin sana ito to dress up and mingle with adults. Ikaw ba naman makipagchika sa toddler 24/7, masasabik ka rin makakausap ng matatanda noh. Sayang nga lang kasi strictly adult-affair yung party, hindi puwedeng magsama ng bata. Bar nga rin kasi yun.

I am sure that next year, absent na naman ako. Four years old pa lang si Nathan by that time kaya hindi pa rin pwedeng iwan, unless bumisita samin ang in-laws ko.

I also felt bad for hubby, kasi dalawa lang daw sila na walang kasama. He works in an engineering consulting firm so most of the employees were males. Yung isa daw na walang kasama ay single at bata pa. Everyone asked him about his wife, sinasabi niya na lang na walang baby sitter.

Before he left, kinunan ko na lang siya ng pictures. I knew na hindi siya magte-take ng pictures during the party kaya ito na lang.

Haha, ID picture daw.

The attire was semi-formal. Semi-formal na ba ito? Nagulat daw siya kasi talagang mga naka-tie pa ang nagdi-dine in sa restaurant na yun. They were served with a 4-course meal saka on-the-house and wine. Too bad he couldn't drink because he has to drive pa.

He later asked me kung gusto ko raw ba kumain doon some other time, I uttered a loud "NO!" Sayang ang pera. I am not into high-end dining kasi. Mas nakaka-high sakin ang shopping haha!

He's lost a lot of weight na rin talaga =)

In fairness, before he left that night, iniwanan nya naman ako ng famous steak niya para steak din ang dinner ko. Ang sweet, di ba?

Ooops, here's his pang-exchange gift nga pala. Worth $20 raw.

Ang corny niya, gift card na lang daw ang bilhin. But I insisted that we buy (kasi gusto kong mag-gift wrap haha!).

We got something similar to this one. Admittedly, medyo under-valued yung gift haha. Kasi it was worth $15.99 lang. Original price was $24.99 but there was a $9-off coupon available ka naging mura. Tapos no-tax day pa that time sa Superstore kaya we were able to save an additional $3 pa. Sabi ko ke Ford hanap ka kami ng pang-dagdag kaso tinamad na. Kunwari raw nabili namin sa original price haha.

(Pic taken from net, credits to the owner)

Here's what he received naman. Kaloka, "malas" talaga kami sa exchange gifts. This is something that we couldn't use/consume eh. Nilagay ko na lang sa balikbayan box at ipamimigay sa Pinas.

Pic taken by Daddy Ford

Some thoughts, why can't people just choose tangible objects for gifts? House/kitchen items are always a safe choice. Kung hindi man type ng receiver, at least walang shelf life at pwedeng ipamigay later on. Mahirap kasing magbigay ng chocolates (and foods in general) kasi nga iba-iba ang preference ng mga tao (unless kilala mo talaga ha) at concerns. Katulad namin, very picky kami sa food tapos diabetic pa. Kung hindi kami uuwi sa Pinas next month, I wonder ko paano ko madi-dispose yang Godiva na yan.

I also do not like receiving toiletries (unless the brands that I use), for the same reason that we have different preferences when it comes to products that we use on our skin and body. Maikli lang din ang shelf life ng mga lotion, body wash, etc. kaya kailangan mai-dispose agad.

#LatePost: Nathan's 2nd Birthday (2016)

Nathan is turning three in less than 2 months and I still haven't posted his first two birthday parties yet. Let me start with his second, kasi I couldn't find the USB (from the official photographer) where his first party pictures were saved. Nag-pack nga kasi kami ng gamit kaya nagkagulo-gulo na. Most of our stuff are in storage. But I am not worried naman kasi I have a copy in the Philippines. So I might be able to post it by next year pa. 

Anyway, Mamoosh and I gave a very small and simple party at home for Nathan last year. Unlike his first one, which I admit was sort of 'bongga,' I decided to just keep it low that time. My reason: "Pagod pa ako sa first party ni Tantan." It was actually true. Sobrang nangarag ako sa party na yun  (saka sobrang napagastos si Daddy Ford haha) which took several months to prepare. 

We deliberately went home to Pinas just a few days (November 8, 2016) before TanTan's birthday so we could throw nga a party from him. We just moved here in BC then so aside from wala kaming own house, wala rin kaming friends dito na pwedeng iinvite. Kaya sa Pinas na lang para mas masaya. Sunday ang birthday niya noon but we held the small salo-salo in our Marilao house on November 12, Saturday, para walang hassle sa mga cousins ko kahit mag-stay ng late.

Please read here na lang why I chose minions as party theme.

-------------------

I am glad because our every reliable secretary/assistant Joanne knows how to photoshop. Siya lang ang nag-design ng tarpaulin na ito tapos pina-print namin. Ang mura ng tarpaulin printing sa Pinas, yun ang mahal dito kaya hindi uso for parties.

Ang cute ng color scheme noh? It all started from the plastic table minion table cover that I bought in Dollarama. Teal color yata yan, saka syempre orange and yellow. Ang aliwalas tingnan. 

Bitbit ko yang mga balloons from Canada, binili ko sa Dollarama (orange balloons) and Party City (yellow and teal balloons). I would have bought everything from the dollar store kaso wala sila ng teal-colored balloons eh. The NATHAN balloons naman were bought at Divisoria by Joanne. Dito sobrang expensive ng mga ganyang letter balloons.

We just rented a couple of tables and chairs. Konti lang naman ang bisita namin. Ang konti lang kasi ng close relatives namin sa mother side. Sa father side naman, puro nasa States.

Joanne's husband Louie helped us set up the place. Natuwa ako kasi nag-match sa color-scheme namin ang chairs pati table cloth (na pinatungan ko ng yellow plastic table cover from Dollarama rin).

Balloons make me happy! Gusto ko talaga ng nice balloons kapag birthday.

As I have said, super simple lang ng party na ito. Walang kahit anong eklat (like games, give-aways), just food and balloons and cake.

We just asked my cousin-in-law Ate Janet (the Francisco family's official cook) to prepare some dishes -- fried chicken, pancit, lumpiang gulay (without wrapper), menudo, and beef caldereta.

We just ordered one small-sized lechon. Nathan's Grandpa Jim and Lola Elsie (hubby's parents) gave us some moolah for it haha.

Dito nga rin pala sa Canada galing ang mga disposable plates, utensils, and plastic cups. My old-fashioned mother wanted pa to use "real" (as in babasagin) plato and baso but I told her mahirap magligpit noh. She said, may kasambahay naman kami who would help. Sabi ko wag na dahil ayan nga at may dala na ako. Sobrang na-impress pa nga ang mga guests namin sa quality ng mga disposable na ito, ang kakapal naman kasi. Ayun, I later found out na hinugasan pa rin pala nila yung plastic cups and utensils kasi sayang daw lol.

The cake's so cute, I loved it so much! I ordered it from Box of Sweets, same maker of Nathan's barnyard cake. Ang gaganda ng cakes nila as in! And since since province-based sila (sa may amin lang sa Marilao), affordable pa.

This cake only cost me Php1,150. I just sent them my design (ginaya ko lang sa cake na pinost ng isang FB friend ko) at ayan, maganda naman. We agreed on a 6-inch cake at mas malaki siya sa expectation ko. Probably kasi malapad and the hat made it taller.

Ok, let't admit it. Good-looking cakes seldom taste delicious. Kaya bumili pa rin kami ng additional cake na "edible" haha. Salamat, Goldilocks!

The candle is from Walmart. Buti nakapagdala ako kasi ang chaka ng mga candles sa Goldilocks at Red Ribbon eh.

Nathan was still very shy that time. Kagagaling lang sa bundok eh (i.e. Canada). And shaiks, I was so bloated! Grabe ang bloating ko that time (sign na ng disease ko) na wala akong maisuot na damit kaloka.

Tsk, tuwing birthday ni Nathan ay may insect bites sya sa face. Grrr.

We had few guests. My BFF Raxie wasn't able to come kasi her brother died, tapos yung isa ko pang BFF was heavily pregnant. Tinamad na rin yung iba.

Aside from an aunt, my cousins, and nephews and nieces, I also invited Ford's two aunts and one uncle who live just a town away.

One cousin from my father side also came with his girlfriend (I only have two cousins left in Pinas).

We also called some of our kapit-bahays. We invited all our employees kaso konti lang ang nagpunta. Nahihiya daw.

Medyo na-overwhelm si TanTan at the start of the party kasi nga maraming tao. As expected, ayaw humiwalay sa akin. But later on, medyo nagloosen up na rin. Tumambay na rin sa labas with his guests.

Having a small party is fun, you get to chika a lot. Para rin kaming nagka-mini reunion. Our guests stayed till around 11pm, I think.

They were just kids dati grabe! Ngayon ang lalaki na, may asawa na nga ang iba. They are my son's second cousins.

Nagpa-prepare nga pala ng isaw bbque ang  isang cousin ko and that extended our night. At alam nya kasing paborito ko yun. #preDDSdays

It was so funny, Nathan hid under the table cover when we sang happy birthday to him. He was smiling pero hiyang-hiya talaga siya haha!

Nung bandang gabi, binaba ko na lang ang cake niya para maka-face-to-face niya si "bab-ba."

Amazed na amazed din siya sa cake nya, katuwa.

He actually didn't know how to blow the candle yet.

Nathan's second birthday gifts (which he opened the following morning, his actual birthday).

The only sad part about Tan's second birthday was that his dad wasn't there. Oh well, he was with us in spirit naman.

I would have to thank my Mamoosh nga pala uli for Nathan's handa. Siya talaga ang nag-shoulder haha! We love you, 'Nay!

-------------------------

Nathan will be celebrating his third birthday naman with his dad's side of the family in California. Yung first two bitrthdays niya were in Pinas na eh. Kelan kaya sa Canada?

Save-The-Date

Yey, tuloy na tuloy na! Ford's vacation request has already been granted last Friday so we will be going to California again this November 4 to 14. Makakapag-birthday na rin si Nathan doon.

As I have mentioned on this post, Nathan will be having a Paw Patrol party at his grandparents' house in Moreno Valley. We are very excited! Sana lang maraming relatives ni Ford ang makapunta.

A PAW Patrol Party for Nathan's 3rd Birthday

I know, I know, it's still very early. But I can't help but be excited for my son's third birthday celebration on November. Kasi unlike his previous two birthdays, maeenjoy na niya ngayon ang party niya. Mahilig na siyang kumanta ng "happy birthday" saka marunong na siyang mag-blow ng candle. He gets super excited na rin kapag binibigyan siya ng gift. Bata na talaga siya!

We will be celebrating Nathan's birthday in his grandparents's home in California. We went there for a brief holiday last May kaso nga nabitin. The oldies are requesting na bumalik kami agad. The grandaunts suggested na doon naman daw mag-birthday si Tantan (sa Pinas na kasi yung first and second birthday).

Ford and I talked about it. It'll be ok nga kung doon kasi wala naman kaming friends dito sa BC kaya hindi kami makakapagpa-party. Noong una ang plan lang namin ay mag-travel na lang to celebrate our son's birthday, kaso parang kulang. I want a cake, balloons, and tons of gifts for my little boy. Hanggang kaya (at hanggang gusto niya), ipaghahanda ko siya kahit simple lang. Hindi kasi ako pinaghahanda ng nanay ko noon kaya medyo fixated ako sa parties, lol. Seriously, ganun pala kapag may anak ka na, gusto mo palagi nyang maramdaman na special siya.

Ford has so many relatives in California kaya for sure it will fun. Kaming tatlo lang ang magkakasama on this side of Northern America kaya nakaka-overwhelm to be with family in the US. And I know they adore our son kaya lalong nakakataba ng puso.

Anyway, I had a very easy time deciding on TanTan's party theme this year.

PAW Patrol it is!

Picture taken from the net (credits to the owner)

Nathan is currently addicted to PAW Patrol. He loves Chase, Marshall, Rubble, Zuma, Rocky, Skye and Everest! Haha, pati kaming mag-asawa eh aliw na aliw na rin sa kakapanood nito. Kaya perfect na theme talaga. Sana lang gusto pa rin ng anak ko ang PAW Patrol in four months time haha.

Nagsimula na akong bumili ng party materials as early as June. Alam mo na, BORED HOUSEWIFE mode on nga eh. Saka para hindi rin kami mabigla sa gastos later on.

What I like about the PAW Patrol theme is that supplies are everywhere. Meron sa Dollarama, Walmart, Superstore -- meaning, MURA. Kung iba ang theme mo, you will end up buying in Party City. Ang mahal dun ha.

My husband advised me to just buy the party paraphernalia in California. Ayoko nga, ang taas kasi ng US dollars ngayon, talo kami sa conversion. Saka ayokong mangarag, gusto ko pagkain na lang ang iintindihin namin pagdating doon. Marami rin akong DIY ideas na gustong subukan kaya kailangan ko na ng materials ngayon pa lang.

A PAW Patrol theme is very common these days but I don't care. My son truly likes it at iyon ang mahalaga. Also, I've already mentioned in this post that I now prefer a 'generic' party theme. Nathan's first birthday party was 'barnyard"-themed and it was difficult to execute. Ang mahal pa kasi kailangang customized lahat (walang Party City sa Pinas eh, at di gaanong uso ang barnyard theme doon).

Dito naman sa Canada, limited ang suppliers kaya mas ok kung available na kaagad sa market ang materials na kailangan mo. Mas matipid din. Never mind na maraming kamukha, diskartehan mo na lang kung paano magiging extra special ang output.

I wish ma-post ko ang progress ng party preps ko. Oops, I also hope na magkaroon ako ng time na mai-share din dito ang first and second party ni Nathan. Time, time... I need a lot of time to blog!

Nathan is turning 2 next month!

For the nth time, I will be saying this: "Oh how time flies!" Imagine, Nathan will already be two next month!

Nathan and I are going "home" to the Philippines next month and we'll be celebrating his second birthday there. Kung dito kasi sa Surrey, hindi kami makakapag-party. Wala pa kaming maayos na place at friends dito eh. Yun nga lang, wala si Daddy Ford sa party. Di bale, in spirit na lang.

Anyway, unlike like year when we gave him a really big first birthday and baptismal party (which I haven't posted yet, sorry), we'll keep it simple this year. We'll only be inviting close friends and relatives. Sa bahay lang din namin gagawin ang kainan.

It will just be a simple salo-salo lang at home. Walang games, walang anumang arte. Parang Canadian party lang sa house. Basta marami lang balloons.

I chose a minion theme kasi gusto ko ng yellow motif naman (wala pa namang preference ang birthday boy kaya si Mommy na lang ang pumili). Nung 7th month kasi ni Nathan at naghanda kami sa Edmonton, Mickey Mouse theme na. So red. Tapos red na rin sa first birthday niya kasi barnyard. Kaya yellow naman ngayon para may distinction.

Plus may mga minion paper plates and other party materials na available dito. Ang sabi ko kasi last year when I had a hard time gathering stuff for a barnyard theme, ang next na party ni Nathan ay something generic na. Para hindi ako mahirapan.

So there, I will be bringing home some minion-themed party paraphernalias like plastic table cloth, paper plates, balloons, loot bags, etc. Mostly sa Dollarama ko lang binili.

Lola Mamoosh (my mother) will be shouldering the food (haha, ang sarap ng may nanay!). I have a cousin-in-law who cooks very well kaya walang problema. We will also have lechon courtesy of Nathan's Lolo Jim and Lola Elsie (Ford's parents). I ordered a small minion cake na rin from Box of Sweets (the same maker of our barnyard cake last year).

I wish lang na mag-cooperate si Nathan sa birthday niya. He's very shy of people kasi, Ayaw niyang lumapit (lalo na sumama) sa mga hindi niya kilala.

Oh well, excited na ako! Sana lang walang bagyo sa November 12.


--------------------
Nathan's birthday is November 13. Gagawin lang naming November 12 ang party para Saturday, hindi masyadong maha-hassle yung mga bisita na me pasok on Monday. =)

Excited for Nathan's Mickey Mouse Party

Ford and I have decided to throw a party for Nathan this coming June 13 (his 7th month "birthday") for our Edmonton friends because we (Nathan and I) are going 'home' in Pinas this coming July and will be back only after his first birthday in November.

Noong una, sina Mylene and Cecil and Joy (and their kiddos) lang naman sana ang invited pero naisip naming imbitahan na rin ang ilan pang kaibigan at kakilala namin dito. Sayang naman kasi ang preparation kung ilang tao lang.

Anyway, I am super excited. This is the very first kiddie party that I'll be organizing. Small party at home lang naman but still, I want to make it a little more special for our little boy. I have sort of planned everything na (from the menu to the decors and trimmings) in my mind, execution na lang hehe.

Yesterday, while we were at Dollar Tree, I've chosen Mickey Mouse as the theme na lang. Since we are strictly on a budget (magastos umuwi sa Pilipinas so kailangang magtipid), naisip ko na mas economical kung Mickey Mouse na lang kasi nga it's practically everywhere - mura at madaling hanapin. Eto nga at nakabili na ako ng ilang items (for just $1.25 + 5% tax each).

Plus Mickey Mouse is so adorable! Bagay na pang-baby kasi uncomplicated. When Nathan is a bit older, I am sure he would prefer different cartoon characters na. So baka ito na lang ang chance ko na magka-Mickey Mouse theme haha!

Ooops, this cap ang nagpa-final ng decision ko. It was given to Nathan yesterday by his Ninang June and it looked so cute on him!

I will try to tabulate all the expenses for this upcoming party. We'll be allocating a budget of $300 for this, sana magkasya. #goodluck

Housewarming + Birthday = Party Fun

We've been invited to a housewarming (plus birthday) party last Saturday, September 27, 2014. I was happy, may social life na kami kahit papaano haha!

As expected, Joy and Mark prepared so much food! May steak and pork chops pa sa labas.

Sinabay na nila ang houseblessing sa birthday ng eldest child nilang si Czesca. Joy and I are of the same age but she already has a 14 year old daughter. Si Chicklet ko nasa tiyan ko pa lang. May advantage din pala kung maagang nagbuntis. Now Joy is like a dalaga na lang uli.

The very pretty birthday girl.

Cakes here in Canada are very simple.

We've met a lot of people in this party. There was this nice couple (with a 7-month old baby) who were planning to buy din a townhouse in our place. They came by our house the following day and Pod accompanied them to the show home to introduce them to Cris (the sales agent) so we could avail of the referral fee (na ibibigay din namin sa kanila) pero sold out na pala lahat ng units dito. Sayang, gusto ko pa naman silang maging kapitbahay. On the other hand, happy na rin kami kasi mukhang tumaas na ang value ng bahay namin. Booming ang real estate ngayon dito sa Edmonton, sa dami ba naman ng new immigrants.

Joy and Mark's house is not new but it is located in a nice neighborhood and has a huge backyard. It's nice.

Too bad I wasn't able to take many pictures during the party because Chicklet wasn't cooperating. Ang sakit ng tummy ko grabe.

Picture courtesy of Joy

Picture courtesy of Joy

Picture courtesy of Joy

The party was well-attended. Ang dami nilang friends nakakatuwa. Most of our conversations revolved around kids. Conversation magnet talaga ang baby bump hehe.

Sa dami ng food, may take-out pa kami!

Again, thank you Mark and Joy for inviting us! You welcomed us in your circle of friends and we really really appreciate that. Cheers to you and your new home!

------------------------------------------

Ooops, this was our housewarming gift pala for them.

Soon I will learn the art of gift wrapping!

I don't know if they'll like it but I am guilty of choosing gifts that I personally prefer haha! I also do not like giving "practical" gifts that the recipients would and could buy for themselves. Gusto ko medyo kakaiba.

These four wine glasses represent Joy, Mark, and their two kids. Super colorful ng personalities so I thought of them when I saw these.