The Yellow Party

Our DIY Invitation

It was my youngest's third birthday and we couldn't let it pass without a celebration. Even if it's just a small gathering of about 15 cousins and neighbors who live within some 500 meter radius from our house. So how did we spruce up a home-based birthday party without really splurging? We decided on a theme. It's going to be a yellow party. Let me share with you our party details.

Decors
Crepe paper for the curtains, art paper for the banderitas, Japanese paper for paper pompoms, sticker paper for the letters and photos. I got the idea of the paper pompoms here...http://www.polkadotbride.com/2013/05/diy-tissue-paper-pom-poms-tutorial/

Party decors

Food
How can anyone go wrong with spaghetti, chicken lollipop and hotdog? We also ordered 2 gallons of ice cream. Cheese- and buco-flavored sorbetes from Castillo's Ice Cream from Niugan, Malabon (351-1758) and our yellow cake from Betsy's Cake Center (281-1127) in Rizal Ave., Malabon.

Family and food

Food and friends

Sweets and Chips Corner
Lahat ng hindi pwedeng kainin (on ordinary days), nandito. We got different yellow candies and put them in nice bowls. We also had cheese-flavored wafer sticks, mango flavored marshmallows and yema. We got cheeseballs, Pic-A Ultimate Cheddar Snack Mix and Pik-Nik Potato Strings.

For the sweets and junk food junkies

Activities
We designated two places as dance area and play area. In the dance area, we set up the Xbox Kinect with the dance game Just Dance 4. In the play area, we rented a Little Tikes Classic Whale Teeter Totter (seesaw), Intex Ball Toyz Lil' Rolling Play Center (balls) and a mini slide from Rent A Toy. These were super value for money. The kids really had a great time. Both activities were a hit. The party started at 3pm, but it was almost 7pm and the kids were still with us.  If we hadn't set a cut-off, the party might have continued.

Having fun with the toys

Dancing the day away

Loot bags
We opt for a small plastic container. We just labeled it with sunnie's name. We got goodies that were in the color theme - Growers nuts, choco coins, choco mallows, mango flavored jellies and yellow colored candies like Maxx menthol candy and butterballs.

Bring home the loot!

It was a team effort. I was in charge of the decor and the overall coordinator. Ramir was the cook and everyone else were our assistants. I think it's the best part of doing a home-based birthday party. We get everybody excited by making them participate with the things that needs to be done.

But even if its a home-based party, its not glitch free.  When we were lighting candles on the cake, a lighted stub flew on the table which was covered with Japanese paper. In a snap, the table was on fire. And since it was near the paper curtains, these caught fire too. The decors on the Sweets and Chips Corner were gone in a blink of an eye. Honestly, we panicked. We thought we would burn the house down. Good thing, it stopped on its own. The Sweets and Chips Corner was covered with ash. But we cannot not proceed without the cake blowing ceremony. So never mind the horrific we-might-burn-the-house-down scenario, we went on as planned.  And where was the birthday girl while all of these were happening? She was at the mini slide, playing. "Baka masunog din ako" was her reply when asked why she went to the play area while the decors were burning. We can't dampen her spirit. She blew her cake even if it was accented with ash.

Burned!

So what's the moral of the story.  Paper and fire don't mix.  As much as possible, keep them away from each other.

To my daughter S, you're always our sunshine.  Parenthood wouldn't be as fun and exciting if it hadn't been for you and Ate. We're blessed to have you around, every single day. Stay sweet, feisty, smart and happy. Looking forward to more wonderful, silly and happy years with you in my arms.  Group hug.  Mahal na mahal.