Events Planner

Currently, my friends and I are trying to come up with plenty of DIY projects and crafts. All 6 of us have assigned tasks to each other by asking "What's your use?" That's the thing with friends. You can practically ask them anything under the sun without thinking if they're going to be offended.

We wanted to put personal touches on even the littlest of details so when we brainstorm, it's like waging a war against each other. Nothing's set on stone yet cause when something is about to be agreed upon, a better idea always comes up. I tried to do research on my own when I went home. I was about to look for ideas in Pinterest when I saw my cousins' pictures in my newsfeed in Facebook. It's slipped my mind that my Tita Cay, mom of my three first cousins, is a master events planner and a DIY queen. If I make birthday celebrations and other events a big thing, she makes it the event of the year. Unlike me who prefers paying for a venue where my party is going to take place and paying for catering services, she makes it a point that everything is personal. She starts everything from scratch, including the venue which is always at their home. She does magic. As for the food, well, when you have in your midst Wawa Lucette, trust me when I say that the food will always taste superb! Let me share with you some of her works:

1. Elija's 3rd birthday celebration last 8 April 2013.

Theme: Pirates

Instead of having the usual photobooth, they DIY-ed the pirate ship using Caoume's piano box, filled it with balloons and no one would ever know it was just from a recycled box. The giveaway loots were the black pirate bags. They served 13 dishes, including the 3 desserts. 

2. Ezy's baptism last 24 February 2013.

For the giveaways to the godparents, Tita Cay printed their pictures on these white fluffy pillows. For the other guests, she rolled colorful towels and inserted them in these tumblers making them appear like sundaes. They transformed one part of the basement into playing corner for the little ones. They prepared 13 different dishes. 

3. Caoume's 6th birthday party in June 2012

Theme: Western

The last time they were here in the country, Caoume was telling me all about this. She kept on telling me that she'll be inviting all her other medium-kid friends. Upon entering their home, the children were handed shirts to wear. Caoume was so pretty and such a stand-out, it actually gave me an idea to try this in the future too! Her giveaways were, aside from the shirt, foldable water bottles. There were different prizes in her cart which was good since her friends were all very energetic. They set up the inflatables too. See, even the cake was a DIY. 

4. Elija's 2nd birthday party in 2012

Theme: Angry Birds

His birthday coincided with Easter Sunday so they decided to include the easter egg hunt as part of the games. All the children were in search of the lucky eggs, which in the end they also had to paint. Instead of having goody bags, they were given angry birds bags where they will put the eggs that they've found.

5. Caoume's 5th birthday party in 2011

Theme: Under the Sea

In the backyard of the Valles, their very own waterpark was set up! The medium-kids had fun swimming and taking turns in the slide while the toddlers had fun in the inflatables and riding their plastic cars.

6. Elija's 1st birthday party


Theme: Indian
This baby boy's energy is that of Hubert, Hamish, and Harris' (triplets from Brave) combined. He's such a bundle of joy! For his first birthday, Tita Cay sent invitations and thank you notes to their guests. The loots included cute pacifiers and the ref magnet bearing Elija's adorable face.

Even though those cuties are continents away from me, seeing their pictures always bring a smile to my face. They remind me so much of Merida and the triplets from the movie Brave, what with their curly hair and naughtiness. It's now time for me to plan that party for my friend! I'll post the preparation and the outcome here one of these days. I'm so excited to be one of the party planners :)

It outgrows me

She is now numb.

A visit to my mom's province reminded me of what I have been neglecting ever since college set in - quiet time.

I forced my younger brother into joining me as I surveyed the place where I used to play when I was a lot younger. Seeing all the green stuff made me want to run, do cart wheels, play tag, even practice my driving skills. I stopped learning how to drive after I panicky bumped into our neighbor's flower pots about a year or more ago. Since then I am already somehow doubtful of what I can do behind the wheels. I might commit the same mistake of stepping on the accelerator when what I really wanted was to step on the brakes. So it felt so wonderful to do all the things I  love doing before, without any restraints that hold me back.

Next Plan: Get a driver license before I turn 18 :)

Leakage

SOMETIMES...

There's nothing else beyond what you're being shown. Stop complicating things. I mean, quit fussing around, thinking analytically what's been running in the person's mind. Sometimes, what the person say might be the truth, no matter how unbelievable that may sound. Don't over-analyze things. The person knows what she's doing and what she's capable of. So please, don't give any special interpretations to what she's blabbing about. Blabbing, being the operative word.

I always knew looking back on the tears would make me laugh

I've been doing a lot of thinking these past few days. Certain thoughts can't easily be set aside, I realize. It takes a single train of thought to put my system into its chaotic state once again. But not to worry for I'm steadying my defense for quite sometime too. I had already anticipated this thing coming. I considered all possible reactions I may have once everything took place. I made myself as prepared as a soldier can be, ready to battle against anything. Impetuous as it may sound though, I wasn't able to anticipate the contrasting feeling that I may have felt if the opposite of what I was expecting would have come instead. I didn't even perceive this option was possible, considering where my emotional state was prior to this event. Surprise surprise. I was stunned at how things resulted into. Since when did my seemingly unending problem fix itself on its own? I mean, I was taken aback by how the once complicated problem I used to have for a long time suddenly flashed before my very eyes, presenting itself to be a thing in the past now. Time really heals. And I love the feeling of being freed from all the agonizing conditions I put myself under.



... But I never knew the laughs would make me cry.

Stolen

I had the worst practice for Cheering so far :| :(
It all happened yesterday, 19 October. We had our batch practice at the plaza. I left my purse for awhile to attend to the Cheerdancers since they rely on the steps I was about to teach greatly. When I came back for my purse, I opened its pockets. I was shocked to see the second pocket empty. I brought 3K because of some things I need to pay like the car's gasoline and my driver's food (I was to go someplace after classes). There was nothing left, even down to the cents. I hurriedly checked on the first pocket to see if my phones were still there or were they stolen too. Good enough, they were there. Then it dawned on me, that the only people who went near my purse were my batchmates. One of my batchmates probably is the culprit. And I hate the thought that even I wasn't spared from this kind of dishonesty.

Bottomline is, I really shouldn't expect people to be like what I expected them to be. So now, I am penniless for the whole week. I couldn't tell my mom about what happened cause she just might get mad at me for being so irresponsible. I hate the feeling of having no money, for real.

Stranded

Typhoon Ondoy definitely ruined a lot of things. And I myself was a victim of his destructible power. Early Saturday morning, I was on the road with my driver Mang Joseph, contemplating whether I will pursue on the long-before plan which is to happen that day or postpone it for obvious reasons. Against my better judgment, I went on with the plan. Came 10 AM, the visibility rate narrowed down to almost a zero. We could barely see the road from inside the car. A lot of roads were almost impassable. So we ended up staying for a while in a friend's place (Margaret Gatmaytan). Around 2 PM, my driver and I were on the road again, wanting to try everything just so we could finally go home and check on what's happening there. We were able to arrive at all the possible routes that could lead us home but everytime we'll be at least 10-minute far, the road gets flooded making it impossible for us to pass through. Until 6 30 PM, we were searching for alternate routes. As the night was dawning in, so was I becoming more desperate to reach home. Then I pondered, that's probably how stranded means. Whichever road you try to take just to find any possible way out, you'll always end up in the spot which makes you feel caught up in the whole situation.

Losing all hopes in reaching home, I went to Karen's place. My mom, who also tried everything just to reach me and make me feel positive despite the unexpected misfortunes, suggested that it'll be best if I will sleep at Karen's instead of staying inside my car and spend the rest of the night there. It's not right to rejoice for the misfortunes of others but I'd be a hypocrite if I won't admit that I found the happy part in the situation. For the 2nd time in my entire life, I was allowed to sleep over at someone's place, making me feel glad in spite of the unfortunate circumstances everyone was in. The Soledad Household was indeed one of the most warm and friendly family I've ever had the chance to spend time with. Karen Soledad proved me one thing: it's in times like this that I get to know who my real friends are :>


Karen Soledad



such a weak bottle! :))

Some Friends

I honestly disapprove of people who can't tell someone what they negatively say about that person face to face. Feels like, why go through all the process of badmouthing someone just so she'll be laughed at by everyone else when in fact, you could tell her directly what you want to say? I was never a fan of this kind of hobby. Believe it or not, I don't see the fun part of it :)) Yes I put down others too, but I see to it that I do it when the person I'm putting down is present :> Oh well, enough of this. I'm not personally mad at someone okay? I'm just trying to impart some things on behalf of a friend ;)

So anyway. I don't know whether I should be happy or not after receiving a Starbucks Planner this morning. I appreciate all the gifts I receive, by the way. But then after receiving a Starbucks Planner 2009 (let me reiterate that, 2009) this morning of 23 September 2009, I don't know what else to say. HAHAHA. Okay okay, I still want to thank you Janica. :)


My second 2009 Planner :))


Janica Barrera