Party Preps: Have Event...Will Party!

A SIMPLE CELEBRATION

RF and I wanted a simple celebration for Oona. Yes, we would've wanted games, coverage, an AVP presentation, a performer, a tarpaulin banner, fireworks...heck, the whole deal! But apart from not being in a financial standing to splurge, we know the celebrant would not even be able to remember the fun that's supposedly to be in her honor. That party would have to be when she's old enough...say, three years old.

It would also give us enough time to save up for the arm and a leg it's going to cost. Hehehe!

Call it envy of my other mommy friends. Going all out would be great but again, reality demands practicality.

So, we agreed that we'll just hold lunch for everybody at a restaurant with good food. Everyone we know enjoys satisfying meals over bongga-ciousness anyway. The bottom-line: GOOD FOOD, GOOD COMPANY, GOOD TIMES.

Then the hunt began.

We tried a couple of restaurants, thinking of a buffet lunch our guest list would enjoy. At first,
there was Jaymie's Grill along Arnaiz Rd. (which would have been convenient because it was near Don Bosco Church and our house. But the time slot we needed was unavailable.

Then we considered the Triple V Buffet Triumvirate of Kamayan, Dad's and Saisaki. No go as the nearest branch was too small to house our projected guest list (100pax). They have very good packages though. My nephew celebrated his first birthday there and the food was to die for. However, you just can't go wandering over to the other buffets that aren't included in your package. You're going to have to pay extra for hapless guests.


TGIF and Hard Rock Cafe? A real rock n' roll shebang would be SO cool! Rockin' at One Year Old! The stuff of legend...but really too steep. Ambisyosang Nanay!

It really is sad that Jo-ni's is gone. It would have been perfect to hold Oona's first party with a family tradition like Joni's. At their main branch in Makati, I remember they had a big reception area on the second floor. I wax nostalgic everytime I pass by the place. Their food was filling and delicious and their cake remains the indulgence of my childhood. To date, the building houses Citibank, an Art Gallery, a dental office, Philosophy Salon and Spa and The Cafe.

Eventually, we wound up with the tried and tested food at Max's Restaurant. Years Of Sarap To The Bones. TheTradition. Sixty House That Fried Chicken Built.

I love their house chicken and the crispy bites satisfy RF's cravings for cholesterol.

We reserved the Baptismal Party Package for lunch over the Kiddie Birthday Package.

We liked the simple elegance over the more garish theme that passes for what kids are supposedly interested in these days.

(Not to make okray but no mascots and too-bright colors for this family if I can help it.)

With a menu that would satisfy picky eaters (Soup, Kare-kare, Veggie bites, Crispy Pata, Chicken, Pancit, Rice and Leche Flan served with Softdrinks and Ice Tea), it fit our budget for a projected 100 guests with a cake, give-aways and balloons.

We knew we wouldn't be having a program as we only had three hours for the venue (they threw in an extra two hours free anyway) and everyone would be more interested in eating and catching up on each other.

So with the venue and menu picked out a few months in advance, I was sure we wouldn't be too stressed about the event itself.

Boy, was I ever so wrong.

Party Preps: Oona turns One!

So it's been a year since I went to the hospital, getting pissed at the driver and cracking up the nurses' station with my drug-induced stand-up comedy routine. God, I should be stoned more often. I was never wittier, funnier and never had a much more appreciative audience than when I was in labor.

Now, a different birthing is going on as I attempt to put together Oona's First Birthday Party and Baptismal at the same time and at the last minute.

And nope, we are not chinese.


THE BIRTH/CHRISTENING DAY

If I had a dollar (wag naman dime lang, para sosyal!) for every time I had to explain the practicality of holding the joint celebration, I'd probably have enough to cash in for the restaurant downpayment. It's been explained to me that it's mostly the Chinese who usually does this. Tradition and practicality reasons.

We just figured it was more convenient. Otherwise, we'd have just celebrated the birthday and waited until she's old enough to choose her own spiritual path. Really. However, family tradition will not be denied. Hence, a Baptism along with the birthday.

It doesn't leave a dent on our liberated views on spirituality after all. It wouldn't hurt to "officially" invoke divine blessings for the child. Besides, RF and I came from Catholicism and we've so far survived.

We also think of it as thanksgiving for Oona's first year of life on this Earth. She has given us so much joy and touched so many other people's lives.

TAG TIDBITS WITH PHOTOS

this is a tag from pheng.

participants: 1. tere-blessings in life 2. yen-me and mine 3. jody-in this game of life 4. pheng - life. love. family. work. travel. 5. laya-mommyluscious 6. your name and site here.

1. what do you want for your birthday?
nothing material although a family vacation would be nice. i would really like to be with family and friends on a beach somewhere.

2. who will be your next kiss?
oona! or daddy...sometimes they ambush me together.

3. when was the last time you went to the mall?
yesterday. met up with rizal for badminton (naubusan kami ng slot sa court) and walking (na inulan kami). ended up at starbucks, waltermart and had dinner with mommy s and jonas.

4. are you wearing socks right now?
am barefoot, barelegged and happy about it. although i AM in my pajama shorts.

5. how did you spend your summer?
i spent the summer transitioning from one workplace to another (LONG STORY), helping my former boss launch a little studio of our own and plan for the future. we went to the beach with oona for the first time (she began to enjoy the beach when she discovered water was splashy).

6. have you been to the cinema in the last 5 days?
nope. would've wanted to watch dark knight but am just leery of the hype. i don't want to be disappointed. i watched a dozen DVDs over the weekend though! oona is a really cool couch potato buddy.

7. what was the last thing you had to drink?
kalamansi juice.

8. what are you wearing right now?
shorts, white linen billowy shirt, messy hair and a determined look on my face (to finish updating everything and work on oona's birthday plans).

9. what was your last purchase?
books! at booksale, my latest addiction.

10. what was the last food you ate?
tilapia, last night's left-over fruity salad from pancake house and half a cup of rice (naks!).

11. who would be the person you would call if you were up in the middle of the night and couldn’t sleep?
RF the hubby, but there would be other auto-defaults since work could slam him with meetings for hours on end.

12. have you bought any clothing items in the last week?
seriously, i haven't bought anything in the past three months or so that could be construed as real clothing...serviceable items, most like but real clothing...none yet.

13. do you have a pet?
nope. although oona does a wonderful impersonation of a puppy, a kitten and a vocalizing bird alternatively. she does water sprite and monkey every now and then too.

14. what made you laugh in the last 5 days?
last sunday, when RF surprised oona. she was quietly rummaging happily through my bag when RF came into the room suddenly. she was so surprised she cried and clambered to RF asking to be picked up. she then proceeded to vent her fright and angst on the defenseless tissue paper she was holding on to,shredding the tissue and babbling her gulat, gigil and nerbyos! na-stress! tissue confetti snowed on the floor and i was laughing so hard, i had a stitch on my side. my poor little baby!

15. if you could be anywhere right now, where would you be?
beach. retired. and filthy rich. having family around is a given.

16. what is the last thing you purchased online?
my breast pump from pheng.

17. one thing you hate about yourself?
i wish i could shed pounds faster and my posture! kuba na ako. peste.

18. do you miss anyone?
some of my friends in other countries.

19. what are your plans for the day?
read.

20. last person you msg’d?
mae hao, saowee and rei. yep all at the same time. if jonas was online, he would be the last i messaged, hands down!

21. ever went to a camp?
nope. i went up to famy with my high school class and banahaw with my rizal class in college. does that count? oh and we had a bivouac for PE in college. it was rainy, muddy and very uncomfortable. labbet.

22. are you a good student in school?
i studied. define good.

23. what do you know about the (your) future?
i know it's exciting and largely unknown.

24. are you wearing any perfume or cologne?
eau de tilapia.

25. where is/are your best friend/s right now?
singapore and manila, they are in.


now i’m tagging yas, jonas, johnny and mec.

Love Makes The World Go 'Round

Mec tagged me with this blog award.

Behind the award, is a wonderful story of love and survival of a little boy given another chance to live through a heart donor.

Please help raise awareness for Organ Donorship in the Philippines and abroad.

I am tagging the following people and giving them this award for being great Moms, Dads and Human Beings: Pheng, Den, Jonas, John and Johnny.

Borrowed Pixie Angel

Sometimes I look at Oona and wonder if she's really mine.

I know she came from me, fruit of my womb...the scars I have are way too itchy to be ignored and proof that she inhabited me for 9 months (not to mention the poundage I still have to lose!). But sometimes, she's just really her own little person, if it's possible to see such self-possession in someone less than a year old.

Apart from having borne her and continuing to nourish her, I wonder if I really have any contribution at all to this little amazement.

Of course, the words of a certain poet ring true.

I suspect, many more times in the future will this prophet's words echo in my head, the last never more true than the first time, as my little girl marches steady into the fulfillment of her being with those twinkling little stars in her eyes and that mischievious sunshine of a smile.

On Children
Kahlil Gibran

Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them,
but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

You are the bows from which your children
as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,
and He bends you with His might
that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let our bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies,
so He loves also the bow that is stable.