Entertainment

One memorable Saturday

April 1, 2011 | 12:00am

My Saturdays are fairly simple. Julius and I wake up at 5 a.m. to prepare for our 6 a.m. Dzmm Teleradyo program. Then we go back home, have breakfast, play with the kids, go back to sleep and go malling in the afternoon if I don’t have commitments to host corporate events.

But last Feb. 26 was not the usual predictable Saturday. It was the sixth birthday of my panganay, Antonia. I planned a 2-in-1 party to also celebrate my son’s milestone — my bunso, Nio turned a year old last Jan. 31.

Since my kids’ birthdays were just a month apart, Julius and I thought it was practical to hold just one party for them. Anyway, it was the same circle of friends on our invite list.

That’s me during the Toy Story and Disney Princess party of my kids Nio and Anya. Photos courtesy of Stanley Ong and Team (TheStorkStudio)

There are many things to consider when mounting your child’s party. Let me share with you, from experience, some tips which might help you achieve your dream party for your kids without overshooting your budget and turning your husband crazy.

1) With all your initial ideas in mind, list them down first. Have a to-do list.

2) Hire a party organizer. I’m fortunate to have met Raissa Alger of the Party Network. She has been in the business for 15 years and her track record speaks for itself. I was impressed with the way she organized several kiddie parties I attended in the past, so working with her was a breeze. She had an expansive network of party suppliers so it wasn’t difficult to please the OC in me.

3) Determine the main theme of the party. Since mine was a combined party for a girl and a boy, I decided on a Disney party. Toy Story for my son, and Disney Princess for my daughter. Everything follows more smoothly once you’ve decided on your party theme.

4) It’s all in the details. You wish to stick to the theme but hate to spend a fortune on game prizes and souvenirs. Tip: Go to Divisoria, the treasure trove of everything cheap like stickers and toys. Thank you to my kumareng Judith Muñoz who did the shopping for me. I saved a lot.

5) Personalize it. One thing I loved about the party: The personalized balloons, souvenir colognes and chocolates.

The photo balloon table centerpiece. Guests love them too and took them home as souvenir.

The baby colognes which bore the photo of my kids on its label. The personalized yummy chocolates made in Naga.

6) Not your usual guestbook. I used the enlarged photo prints of my kids, taken by Stanley Ong and asked the guests to sign on them. It’s a unique guestbook since it adds a personalized touch.

7) The magician, jugglers and mascots are the stars of the show. Tried and proven parties are always certified hits with them.

That’s me during the Toy Story and Disney Princess party of my kids Nio and Anya. Photos courtesy of Stanley Ong and Team (TheStorkStudio)

8) Guests will never forget great food. That’s why I trust Josiah’s Catering since our Wedding Day. (They also catered in John Estrada and Priscilla Meirelles’ recent wedding.)

9) True that kids love toys. But since my kids have plenty already, in lieu of toys, guests had the option to give to World Vision. In the party venue, I asked World Vision to display a “Giving Tree” where guests placed their donation pledges. At the end of the three-hour party, we raised more than P50,000. Not bad. It’s also a great way of teaching your kids to share their blessings.

Thanks to all our guests who gave unselfishly to World Vision.

Fellow moms, let’s face it. When it comes to organizing our kid’s parties, kinakarir natin down to the last detail. It is stressful, yes. But it is fun, challenging and fulfilling.

Here’s the list of suppliers that I trusted with for my kids’ party:

PartyNetwork party organizer: Raissa Alger with tel. no. 741-5936 and 926-7965

Josiah’s Catering: www.josiahcatering.com

[email protected] for the Audio and Light systems

Stanley Ong of TheStorkstudio.comFunshots Photobooth: facebook.com/funshots

www.directorscutdvp.com

Look Here! Photobooth: facebook.com/lookhere.photobooth