Archive for May, 2009

shower party etiquette… don’t forget!

Friday, May 22nd, 2009

shower-party_001a day to shower with gifts!… no matter what kind of shower party it is, gift giving is a must.  i have attended numerous shower party, mostly bridal and indeed it is such a fun-filled event.  one thing i love about the shower party is its intimate gathering which means everyone who are  present in the party is a friend of the celebrant.

for those who want to throw a shower, the etiquette below will help a great deal to make a successful and non-awkward party.  there are three factors to make the event possible… 1st is the hostess, a person who will organize or initiate the party, 2nd is the guests, people who are friends of the guest of honor which is the 3rd factor of the event.  guest of honor is simply the person that the party is being given to.

here are the simple etiquette!

  • never give your own(guest of honor) shower… this must  be given by the hostess who is obviously your friend.
  • as a hostess, you are in-charge to choose where to hold it, sending out the invitations and shower favors are your responsibilities too…  as a hostess keep in mind that shower party is something informal so a friendly and pleasant atmosphere must be the goal.
  • the hostess should only invite guests that the guest of honor knows… sorry! but this is for friends and close friends only.
  • men and women are ok… don’t limit it for women’s gathering only.
  • the venue should be comfortable… usually being held at the place of the hostess or any place that everyone will feel at home.
  • must be a fun-filled celebration… that’s why the venue is important because of there are  games and activities involve.
  • as a guest of honor, you must send out a simple thank you note for the guests and hostess… a hand-written one is more personal and sincere.
  • foods are served… can be held at any time of the day, depending on the availability of the guest of honor.
  • 2-3 hour of celebration is enough… no need to prolong the celebration since the goal is mainly  to flourish the guests of honor with gifts by doing so dull moments can be avoided.

a great music to  indulge for a festive mood, why not?!… it’s not part of the etiquette but will surely make the party a blast!

Shower Parties not just for brides and babies

Wednesday, May 13th, 2009

baby-shower the most common shower parties being thrown are for  baby and wedding events.    shower party as celebrated is derived from the idea of flourishing  or the word itself showering the celebrant with gifts so giving gift is  only but pertinent  and a sure sign of etiquette … i will expound in my future posting about the etiquette in shower party which is quite extensive.

i just want to focus now to the variety of shower parties being celebrated which are not familiar for others.  this may give you an idea to throw  one for your friend or better yet your close friend since this is an acceptable informal celebration initiated only by chums.

BABY SHOWER is celebrated before the baby is born, gifts may be for the use of the mother or the baby’s.  BRIDAL SHOWER is typically given for the bride but the gifts may be for the benefit of bride and groom. never equate this with stag party since gift giving is not required on this albeit this is given to the groom but stag party is merely focus on the get together of guys on the last day or days of bachelorhood.  ADOPTED BABY SHOWER, yes! adopting a baby can be celebrated but instead of the usual like ‘ the baby is brewing’, ‘welcome baby boy/girl’  use ‘for a chosen baby’ announcement.  celebrating this must be cleared with the adopting mother because others may not want the public to know about the scenario otherwise you may do so.  OFFICE SHOWER PARTY is given to a person who’s about to be promoted at the work setting by the closest office mate. this is usually held in the office per se and attended only from people at work.  HOUSE WARMING SHOWER is given to the couple or someone who just move to a new place,  gifts evolves for house decors, kitchen utensils, bedroom accessories… etc. GOING AWAY SHOWER is given to a friend who is migrating to other state or country, basically a shower for good wishes and gifts  are something  reminiscent of the place, friendship and shared experiences.  OFF TO SCHOOL SHOWER is given for someone who’s going to study in other state or country.  ANNIVERSARY SHOWER is given by the close friend of the couple who’s about to celebrate their wedding anniversary.  to guide you for the kind of gifts you may plan to give  check the list below…

1st year      paper                              20th year     china
2nd year    cotton                             25th year     silver
3rd year      leather                          30th year     pearl
4th year      books/flowers                35th year     coral/ jade
5th year      wood                             4oth year      ruby
6th year      iron                                45th year      sapphire
7th year      wool                               50th year      gold
8th year      bronze                            55th year     emerald
9th year      pottery                           60th year     diamond
10th year   tin                                   75th year      diamond jubilee
11th year    steel
12th year    linen/silk
13th year    lace
14th year    ivory
15th year    crystal

so if you have someone in mind who’s about to have a milestone in life… why don’t you throw one!





awesome kids’ party themes

Saturday, May 9th, 2009

party-theme_001 nothing else matters but the  birthday gifts and birthday parties!… the ultimate desire of chaste and absolute world of kids.  parent’s delightful satisfaction is to see their kid overflowing with happiness.  nothing beats that.  a year too soon, again to prepare for the birthday celebration?  a mom’s rigid task to make the day memorable for her kid.  were the last two years  the usual cake and games party? … i hope not.

live your imagination and fantasy through your kid’s party… make it as your own production and as a producer you get to choose the resources.  inculcate the themes that kids have an eye for, something they’re familiar with or someone they idolize.

to help you moms  avoid disquietude in finding  themes, here are some of my suggestions:

Teddy Bear Theme- most of the children’s books always showcase a huggable and lovable bear.  surely, all kids will love this.  having a theme means nothing is too much so you could have a bear shape cake, cups with bear , plates and balloons with bears.  for your favors, you can have bear figurine, plush bear or bear picture frames.

Painting/Coloring Theme- all kids have a bit  Picasso, Chagall and Dali in them.  coloring your floor, painting your wall… just name it!… they just know what to do when you hand them a crayola.  set your party venue as an art studio, have cheap canvasses, cover each table with paper where they can draw/paint anything, have someone show them how to paint or draw with subject that is identifiable with kids, give prizes to the creative ones!

Circus Theme- there’s a distinct festive aura when one goes to a circus, why not bring it home!… there are performers you can book to entertain the kids, have a candy cotton around, pop-corn maker & magic shows.

Fire Fighter Theme- dress them up! adorn the cake with fire truck,  maybe invite a real fireman and have him show some skills!

Zoo Theme- kids have the heart for animals.  let them wear animal costumes, serve foods in animal shapes, use party accessories with animal design… anything about animals!

Fairy Tale Theme-  my niece Kyra is a sucker for prince and princesses and indeed she’s our own princess.  all kids love to dress up like one.  browse on your kid’s fairy tale books and the answer is there.

Puppet Show Theme- kids want to be entertained in a very creative way.  they can get engrossed in reading their books but seeing what they read is surely an amazement for them.

Picnic Theme- have a picnic feel in the party venue.  tables and chairs are optional on this.  have them seat and eat in a picnic linen with their picnic foods!

Pajama Theme- i just love them with their pjs on!… colorful as they are, pajamas just makes them very embraceable! this will the most comfortable party ever!

Irish Theme- green, green and green!… let them wear a green cone hats,  leprechaun-like shoes, have clover shape cake, use mugs instead of cups (of course serve with juice not a booze!)

make your child’s day a memorable one!… someday, the theme is going be the subject of the  grown-up talks like…  ” hey mom/dad!, remember my fairy tale theme party?”…

the starry starry Moms!

Thursday, May 7th, 2009

moms-of-the-starsone of the best accomplishments of every mom is to produce a child that turns out to be an epitome of their league… not necessarily a perfect one because no one is even if your son is a priest.

i got the list of the worthy ones… being picky and meticulous, my standard is quite lofty and discriminating. well, i wont be a fan of an arrogant and promiscuous one.

Amelie Menéndez.. mother of the actor Andy Garcia who is married for 27 years, respectable actor, maintained a clean reputation in spite of the tempestuous and liberated world of showbiz.

Teri Johnson… mother of the title holder in gymnastics Shaun Johnson.  at seventeen, she  possesses the quality of a wholesome youth…every mother would take pride of having a daughter like that.  one of the reasons i look forward to watch “Dancing with Stars” is her… she got this light aura, irregardless if she dances a provocative salsa or emotional argentine tango.  i’ve never heard any abuse with drugs nor alcohol which are common with most of the young stars nowadays.

Tina Beyince Knowles… mother of  Beyonce Knowles.  no one can dispute that she’s a great singer and performer that even Etta James should agree with this fact… her crude reaction when Beyonce sang in the inauguration of President Barack Obama was a sure sign of green-eyed monster and fire hell of insecurity… just move over Etta girl! you had your time and let other shine!… i  never seen a single feather of arrogance with Beyonce nor  sleazy reputation.

Teri Shields… mother of Brooke Shields, the real beauty and brain that not all women can claim… a graduate of Princeton University.  education is never been a priority with most of the stars… well! earning millions at a young age, why would they care!… such a dumb excuse isn’t it, knowledge  paves way to where millions will never lead you and that’s my stand.  Brooke was a supermodel and is a brilliant actress who balance family life with a low profile husband…  she deserves every bit of her fame.

Caroline Smith… mother of Will Smith.  who wouldn’t know the “fresh prince” of bel-air?… the  actor that is without a doubt so comfortable with his own skin.  exuding with confidence and talent yet never showed a hint of arrogance.  whenever i would see his interviews, i can’t help but admire how he speaks highly and proudly of his wife Jada.  his versatile, light  personality and of course a very effective actor are the very reasons why his mom should be proud of.

Mary Steep…  mother of Meryl Streep who had her M.F.A. in Yale.  from drama, musical, farcical  to tyrant boss roles, name it and she delivered all.  she possesses a finesse, confidence and sharp qualities that earns her elite stature as a movie star.  her capacity to live her decent private life in spite being big in her field is hell of a job.  i just love her in The Devil Wears Prada!

i’m not yet a mom but hoping to be one…one thing is for sure though that my child does not need to be a movie star for me to call her/him my star …. but hey! i wouldn’t mind if my child becomes one for as long as she’s got the qualities in my stars list, wouldn’t  you too?!

“Mothers”… the noblest echelon

Wednesday, May 6th, 2009

mothers-loveshe saw me the way no other soul  does… she felt my pain without a need of uttering a single word…  being as what every adolescents are,  swamped with disparate incomprehensible moods at times, her retaliations are only but impervious hugs and pestering kisses as if those were the last… couple of days short  my seventeenth birthday, she succumbed peacefully in the afternoon of September 7th…the hugs and kisses that i thought were too much were enough to last my lifetime.

huge of a deal to loose a mother… irreplaceable. the only one who can give the purest Storge love, far more different than a father could give.  the only soul who could be faithful  and yes, no else could ever be.  being a mother is the most stressful and demanding job that a woman can ever have… on this generation of working mothers the only solace is sleep and bath time… yet this is the job that is least compensated, rewarded and look-up to.

my perspective on love now is way different than before.  i find it funny now how i exhausted in longing of being loved faithfully, i realized that this will only happen once and i had it, she already gave it to me and it’s done… no one has the capacity to give such faithfulness that it is wrong to find it from other people.  i will faithfully give but will i expect it back? , i wont!… only a stupid woman will do that… I AM NOT.

yes, i envy those people who still share time with their mothers… i will never have that luxury in life.  i admire my sisters-in-law who dearly love my nieces, my high respect to my good friends who sacrificed a great deal in life being a mom, my appreciation to my mother-in-law who has a very kind and gentle heart… the duty that a woman can never retire from.  my heart melts to see  mothers who enthusiastically prepare the birthdays of their kids,  wedding of their daughters and be part in every milestones and storms in life.

i’m glad that a mother’s day is being celebrated although to remind the daughters and sons out there, a day is not enough for a lifetime of selfless job.

to all the mothers,  my respect and admiration… and to my mom …  romel, raul, rene, ros &  I will always have you as our number ONE!