Reminiscing About DIY Birthday Parties + The Little Whisk

Now that all my kids are teenagers, no one gets excited for birthday parties anymore.

I would ask them if they want me to throw them one, and sadly, they now all decline my offer.

I remember when they were all much younger, I would make intimate DIY birthday parties that would allow me to express my creativity. I would DIY galore!

The most fun I've had was when I hosted a crafternoon birthday party for B.

I had a craft table set-up. The girls all had their own craft kits bundled up in a cute feline princess box. I printed out the instructions for each craft and laid out some samples to inspire and guide them.

Some of the crafts they did that afternoon:

Ang cute di ba? And to think, most of the materials were just upcycled 

from ordinary household materials

You can read all about the crafternoon  party here: http://thephenomenalmama.blogspot.com/2012/03/a-crafternoon-party.html

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Another memorable one was when I threw a SPArty for J. All pof her friends were treated to an hour of foot soak and cleaning, foot massage and pedicure, too!

She just loved the experience of gathering all her good friends in one place 
and having lots of girly fun with them. 

We did a lot of DIY for this party also. We baked our own cupcakes. I designed the birthday banner and had it printed out. It's still with us up to this day. We take it out every year during B's birthday and hang it in our dining room. For me, it just makes the  banner more special because it has celebrated so many birthdays with us already.

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But even if they have outgrown DIY birthday parties, they still request for me to bake something to give to their friends.

Carrot cupcakes are a fave, it's one of the most requested flavors by all three kids. They asked me to make it so many times already.

A Thomas the Train themed cupcake for when R was still in pre-school

Cookies of all kinds and flavors are also another favorite

Just last year, B requested for matcha cookies

There was also a year when J requested me to make cookie cups

http://thephenomenalmama.blogspot.com/2013/10/phenomenal-tip-diy-cookie-cups.html

That's it! I'm done reminiscing. Hahaha!

Last year, J requested for flamingo sugar cookies as birthday treats for her friends.

Decorating sugar cookies is not my area of expertise, and so I had to call in my friend, Maggie of The Little Whisk to help me out.

Maggie is a work-at-home mom of two boys. She started doing decorated sugar cookies as a hobby. When she was planning for her eldest son’s birthday five years ago, she was looking for cookie and cakepop suppliers for her Dr. Seuss theme but she couldn't find a supplier. That’s when she got interested in baking and decorating treats like cakepops and cookies. 

It started as a hobby and she would bake and design for friends and family. Until pretty soon, people she didn't even know would order from her. She is the best sugar cookie supplier out there. She's very easy to talk to, and you can really rest easy knowing that she always exceeds her clients' expectations.

My daughter was very happy with the The Little Whisk cookies she ordered from her. Just have a look at them.

The Little Whisk is a home-based supplier of decorated sugar cookies, cakepops and cupcakes for any event. It aims to make any event and every celebrant feel extra special through our treats. Our goal is to make events more special and to put a smile to anyone who receives and tastes the treats.

 The Little Whisk specializes in decorated sugar cookies. They create customize inspired and intricately-designed cookies depending on the customer’s preferences. The customers can either show a peg or tell the theme of the event and we will send over some sketch or design pegs.

Here are some of her works:

And I'm saving two of my most favorites for last...

Ang gaganda di ba? For more photos of Maggie's cookies, visit The Little Whisk on IG and FB.

To know more about The Little Whisk: 

Facebook | Instagram 

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Funkita + Funky Trunks

School is out for most of the kids, and that means it’s officially beach and pool season. That also means that it’s time to get your kids a new swimsuit for the summer, preferably one that is both stylish and durable.

I first heard about Funkita from my daughter and her friends back in 2013. Her swim friends who were on an athletic scholarship in Phuket were wearing it, and when they went back to Manila on their Christmas break, she asked them buy her some.

For my oldest daughter, getting a new swimsuit is like getting new clothes kase 

she's almost always wearing one. This is one of her first Funkita suits. 

She just fell in love with the flamingo pattern when she saw it.

Belo Baby Love

It was just a year ago when I was invited to an intimate lunch hosted by Cristalle Belo to introduce her newest venture, Belo Baby. I was one of the few lucky moms to try it first before they launched it nationwide.

I remember going home last year with a basket filled with Belo Baby toiletries for my kids to try. Cristalle was so proud to share with us that all the Belo Baby products use 100% certified natural ingredients and 0% harmful ingredients. 

Belo Baby is crafted with care for the most delicate skin, for the most meticulous moms. 

{What's In My Cart} Where To Get Thai Pantry Essentials in Manila

Months after attending the Thai Cooking Classes with Chef In Stilettos, I have made the Green Curry so many times - it is that good!

I'll share a Green Chicken Curry recipe at the end of this post.  

But first let me kwento muna, ok, about how happy I am that I am now able to cook Thai food with confidence.

Healthier Me in 2017

The start of the year always has me thinking about ways on how to improve my lifestyle. I always like to think what new thing I can change or add to my routine that will make a significant impact to my health and that of my family's.

But being healthier doesn't mean changing my entire routine. Sometimes, all it takes are a few simple changes lang. Because if it's a big change and it's something that you cannot maintain, then sayang lang. It’s all about the small but moves that you can maintain which will reap huge health benefits in the long run.

1. Replace White Rice with Whole Grain Rice

"Brown, red and black rice are whole grain. That means it contains all parts of the grain — 

including the fibrous bran, the nutritious germ and the carb-rich endosperm.

White rice, on the other hand, has had the bran and germ removed, 

which are the most nutritious parts of the grain."

Another Post About My Li'l Man

When he was younger, he had a hard time focusing and would get distracted easily. Study time meant having a "movement" break every 20 minutes. 

When he was 6, he joined the swimming team. The temporary assistant coach told me he doesn't have the potential to medal. 

But I told my son otherwise, I always encouraged him with Philippians 4:13, "You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you."

When he graduated grade school last year, I was so proud of him as he went up the stage to be recognized as first honors and as a subject excellence awardee, overcoming his concentration + focus difficulty.

This school year, he's one of the youngest to qualify for Team A of the high school swim varsity. He also consistently medals for his age-group competitions.

When we consistently tell our kids that God made them to be amazing, they will believe it, and they will become it. For nothing can blanket us with complete confidence as the word of God.

If you want to read more about my son, I write about him here:

How To Help Our Little Ones With Their Big Worries

My Not So Li'l Man
How Swimming and Philippians Taught My Son Courage

My Blessing Roll Call


Watch out as Globe Platinum launches its new plan in the next few days. Visit http://globe.com.ph/Platinum

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Thai Cooking Class With Chef In Stilettos

I have always loved Thai food.

But for the longest time the thought of cooking Thai dishes in my own kitchen intimidated me.

When my friend, Didi, invited me to attend the Thai Cooking Class With Chef In Stilettos, I readily said yes. It's a sign that I have to conquer this Thai-cuisine paralysis, and who better to do it with than Chef Cecille Chang.

Cecille Chang was the owner and Executive Chef of Thai at Silk, Silk Road Thai Bistro, Simply Thai, Pad Thai & More. With a passion for cooking, Cecille was trained in famous culinary schools and Thai food masters.

DIY: Yummiest Homemade Granola

I want my family to feel good about what they eat.  As much as I can, I serve homemade and nutrient packed food that also tastes great. Let's be honest, it's a challenge to come up with something that's healthy and yummy, too. It takes a lot of trial and error on my part.

This granola recipe is both yummy and healthy... and super easy to make pa. I promise you. It's everything that a granola should be: crispy, crunchy, nutty. It's also healthy, nutrient-packed and super-simple. After you make this one, you will never buy granolas again. 

My homemade granola recipe has ingredients like quinoa, chia seeds, flax seeds, tree nuts, etc and uses natural sweeteners over processed sugar. Golden slivers of dried mangoes and red gems of goji berries add a visual delight as well.

How To DIY Promposal Balloon with Fringe Tassels

It's February already!

For my oldest daughter, February means that Prom Season is here! She'll be having hers end of the month.

 The handwritten font on the balloon and the DIY fringe tassels shows her creative personality.

J goes to an all-girls school, so the girls have no choice but to ask their dates to prom. She is bringing a friend she is comfortable with, whom the conversation flows easily and whose company she enjoys because that is the best way to enjoy prom.

Dove: Be Your Own Kind of Beautiful

After being past the "supposedly" wonderful age of (eeeep!) forty, I have finally accepted, although very reluctantly, that I am a certified Tita!

Yes, after several years of whining and complaining about being called Tita, I have already accepted my tita-ness with arms wide open. Wala na! I have three teenagers already and there's no turning back. At this point in my life, it seems I'm everyone's tita na! Hahaha!