The Joys of a Jollibee Party

"My Best Friend Jollibee"-themed birthday banner.

Earlier this month, we celebrated Narra's 4th birthday with a small party at Jollibee, Greenmeadows. We gathered some 60 people: 24 relatives from my side of the family; 24 from my husband's side; and 12 other guests (mostly staff, and a couple of friends who lived nearby). 5 dozen people - a cozy bunch. We were quite comfortable in the big party room at Jollibee Greenmeadows.  I'm glad we chose that room.  Weeks before the party, when I took Narra to nearby St. Paul College to buy her school uniforms, we stopped at Jollibee Greenmeadows to check out their party zone, and I made her choose which room she wanted for her party (since there were 2 options).  When she saw the wall murals and colorful chairs in the big room, she got excited!  

Party Zone 1 (big room) at Jollibee, Greenmeadows.

So when we got home, we were ready to book our party on-line, using Jollibee's fun-to-use Kids Party Website.  I did the booking with Narra on my lap. I let her choose the theme she wanted (she chose "My Best Friend Jollibee"), and I asked her what food she wanted to serve.  Narra enumerated the following requests: Chicken, spaghetti, burger, fries, Sarsi float, and peach mango pie (Oh dear, I am imagining the calories!).   Because she chose the menu, when her guests were already eating, she walked around the room and asked some of them "ok ba ang food?" (is the food ok?)  Haha. My parents found it peculiar that she'd ask that, so I had to explain that because she had ownership of the menu choice, she was keen on getting feedback (or praise!)

The Red and Yellow "loot bottles" packed and distributed by Narra.

Narra wanted to have a "costume party" after having attended several themed-parties.  I suggested to her if we can just have a "color-theme" instead, a "Jollibee-themed" party - and we'll ask our guest to come in Jollibee colors: red, yellow, orange, or white.  Our guests came looking very festive in red and yellow clothes!!!  We bought red and yellow water bottles to give away as souvenirs.  I took Narra to Divisoria to shop for fillers.  We also bought a piñata, which we had to cover up because Jollibee does not allow displaying stuff featuring licensed characters.  So, using the Jollibee invitations we got, we made Jollibee cutouts, and glued them randomly on the piñata so we could cover the prohibited image.  Narra enjoyed our art project.  She also enjoyed filling up the piñata and water bottles with goodies.  Next, we prepared the pabitin. 

Jollibee, holding the pabitin, as kids grab the prizes.

Traditionally, the pabitin hangs from a hook, and stays out of reach, until it is dropped by whoever is manipulating the rope.  At Jollibee parties, this is modified: there's no rope, and no hook on the ceiling. Jollibee himself, the mascot in heavy costume, stands precariously on a plastic chair, and holds the pabitin, while dozens of kids (and some adults too) grab the items hanging from the criss-crossed slats of bamboo.  I put only light and small items on the pabitin, and made sure they were easy to detach, otherwise, Jollibee (the mascot) could be in for a struggle!!    

Candy frenzy after the Jollibee piñata was pulled open.

I loved how "game" Jollibee was - I mean the mascot - or the guy inside the costume.  He truly was the life of the party.  He had a great sense of humor, and a very relaxed aura about him.  It's no joke balancing on a plastic stool, in full costume, with limited vision, and padded/gloved hands, all this while holding on to a prop that everyone's pulling at.  He kept in character the whole time, even as everyone scrambled for candies after the piñata was popped open, he stood still on that plastic stool, so he wouldn't step on anyone, and he posed with the piñata Narra made. What poise!

Narra, happily watching Jollibeee dance for her birthday!

I loved how Jollibee made Narra feel special. He showered her with attention, waving at her as he danced, and posing with her for countless photos - and he mindfully performed a lot of fun poses and expressive gestures, for variety - he sat on the floor, and later lay-down! And kids just hugged him to their hearts' content like one giant stuffed toy.  He gave quality time :-D I guess it helped that we took a dinner slot, from 7-9 pm, and there were no other parties after us, so he wasn't rushing his stay.   

Quality time with Jollibee who sat on the floor, cradling Narra and Guijo.

Towards the end of the party, after the candle blowing, Jollibee mimed a captivating birthday message for Narra, performing a speech done in hand and body movement, and the audience (and Narra too, of course) attentively listened to the host as he translated.   It was a heartwarming end to an easy party.  And Narra will grow up remembering her special day with her best friend Jollibee.  

Narra and her Best Friend.

On Aiden's Birthday: The Gruffalo-Themed Cake

The celebrant, taking a break from his pool party, to blow the candles on
his finely-crafted Gruffalo cake tower.

A mouse took a stroll through the deep dark wood

A fox saw the mouse and the mouse looked good

"Where are you going to little brown mouse?

Come and have lunch with me in my underground house."

"It's terribly kind of you, Fox, but no --

I'm going to have lunch with a gruffalo."

"A gruffalo? What's a gruffalo?"

"A gruffalo! Why didn't you know?"

...So starts the best-selling book by writer and playwright Julia Donaldson - a well-loved story for parents and kids in the post-2000 era.  I first saw "The Gruffalo" with my kids, animated, on DVD.  Sadly, we missed the theater production that was staged in Manila a few months back.  Last weekend, I was thrilled to "see" the Gruffalo, exquisitely rendered in cake and cupcakes!!!  Our friends Aiel and Sabina threw a party for their son, Aiden, and the little boy had his "favorites" on his special day.  He obviously loved to swim! And he loved the Gruffalo!  It was a high point in the party when our little celebrant, swaddled in a towel and still dripping from the pool, blew out the candles atop his wonderful cake tower!   And when he was told he could already have some cake, he went for it!  With his arms still snugly wrapped around his body, he leaned towards his cake, and took a playful nibble - amidst the cheers from an appreciative audience.   I loved the unguarded moment, when a little boy was allowed to be a kid, and everyone else basked in his youth.   Ah, what a few candles on a lovely cake could do. It could stir the imagination.

The Gruffalo cake with the celebrant's "stamp of approval" - his teeth marks!!!

"A gruffalo, what's a gruffalo?" (asked some of the other adults in the group - those single without kids)
"A gruffalo! Why didn't you know?"(answered some of us, parents raising babies of the digital age)

"He has terrible tusks, and terrible claws,
and terrible teeth in his terrible jaws,
He has knobbly knees, and turned out toes,
And a poisonous wart at the end of his nose"

I tried to explain to our non-parent friends who or what the Gruffalo was, with a brief and flat synopsis of the plot, delivered in a very cold fashion. "The story is right, but you're saying it wrong" said our host, Aiel, who explained how well written the children's book is.  I was rightfully put to shame!  To rob the story of its rhythm and rhyme, to speak of it without its cadence and charm - is to reduce its value so, so much!  For there is so much more to it than its plot - with much of its beauty derived from its being a song.  So I promised myself to rectify the situation! (Hence, this blog post with excerpts from the book!).  "You can watch it on Youtube" said Aiel to me, and the rest of the group.  But I wanted something more old school.  Sure, we have the DVD at home, and we can watch it repeatedly - but I preferred to have the book, and read it out loud to my kids, in my own voice - so I could savor the words, and have my kids lean on me, and hear me speak, and feel me read, as I put them to bed.

The Gruffalo cupcakes, with yummy gummy tusks, complete with a green wart on his nose!

As luck would have it, Aiden's birthday is right before my daughter's and his mom, Sabina graciously asked me "What would Narra like for her birthday?"  And I figured, I could link Aiden's party to Narra's gift, to weave memories and strengthen ties.  I asked for a copy of the Gruffalo book.  And it arrived a few days later (bundled with another book, thanks Sabina and Aiel!).   And when it came time to read Narra the story, I started by asking her if she remembers Aiden's cake, and the cupcake she chose for herself, of the little mouse.  And so the circle of inspiration is completed: a book inspires a cake, a cake inspires a mom to read a book.  And the magic of one afternoon party continues on... 

Narra with her "little mouse" cupcake.

Sabina thanked Cake Avenue Bakeshop and Annette Sison for the cake and towers.

I hope I got the correct website:

http://www.cakeavenuebakeshop.com/

The "Happy Cream Puff Croquembouche" for My Parents' Anniversary

The Croquembouche from Happy Cream Puff.

I was looking for something new, and ended up getting something traditional - but novel nonetheless.  It was my parents' anniversary last week, and I volunteered to take care of getting them a "cake".  I considered the usual trendy suspects: a custom-crafted fondant cake, or cupcakes with customized toppers, or cake pops.  In the end, I decided to go for a less common option (at least here in the Philippines, that is): I got a croquembouche.  And it wasn't just the usual croquembouche made of uniform profiteroles piled high and bound together with threads of caramel. Nope.  I got the colorful variety of cream puffs iced in various flavors, and festooned with fondant flowers for a bit more flair. It had two eclairs wedged at the center of the tower for the dedication: "Happy Anniversary Walter & Sonia".  What a joyful looking creation it was from Happy Cream Puffs.

My parents, and my excited daughter Narra, discussing whether we
could have our "cake" and eat it too!

In the past, the first pastry shop that came to mind when considering getting a croquembouche in Manila is the well-established Dulcinea.  They offer the classic version, which looks very much like the elegant desert centerpieces that figure prominently in French weddings, baptisms, and other family celebrations.  Happy Cream Puff, by comparison, has more adventurous arrangements and flavors to offer.  At their shop, they have a design catalogue of petit puff design combinations to choose from.  There are also trims available, for an added fee.  Available trims include fondant ribbons, from elaborate ones used as toppers, or a simple bow at the bottom, or in my case, gum paste roses in red and white, framed by green leaves, scattered throughout the tower.   The croquembouche looked too pretty, it felt a shame to dismantle it.  My dad kept saying: "you can't have your cake and eat it too" and so he wanted to just "keep the cake".  My daughter Narra, on the other hand, has been dying to get a piece.

Seated: Dad, Narra, and mom; Standing: Marion, me and Guijo.

Happy Cream Puffs' Croquembouche comes in three sizes: small (approx. 50 pcs); medium (approx. 75); and large (approx. 100).  I initially ordered a small one, then upgraded it to a medium-size last-minute, on the very morning I was scheduled to pick it up.  Good thing the guys at Happy Cream Puff make their pastries fresh, assembling the cream puffs just minutes before pick-up/delivery.   The staff were very accommodating with my requests, for additional decor, and change in size, and even for my requests for boxes and paper bags to put the cream puffs in so I can send them home to guests as souvenirs.

My daughter Narra, leading the effort to dismantle the croquembouche.

My parents' anniversary celebration was a lunch buffet with family at Beurre Blanc in Resorts' World.  Everyone was full by the end of the meal, and desert was included in the spread, so the cream puffs really had to be packed for taking home. We put a couple of dozens in boxes for the celebrants to keep, and the rest went to paper bags for taking home...and a few petit puffs ended up being eaten on the spot despite protestations of being too full to eat another bite.  Guests reported that the puffs were fresh, with a creamy light filling, and a crunchy exterior... true to its name: croque en bouche in French means "crunch in the mouth".  True to its name indeed, "Happy Cream Puffs" made us happy.

Family pic outside Beurre Blanc.

To order your own croquembouche from Happy Cream Puffs visit:
http://www.happycreampuff.com/

Nacho's Birthday Fiesta at Agave Mexican Cantina

Nacho's colorful Mexican-theme birthday cake.

A couple of weeks back, my nephew Nacho celebrated his first birthday at Agave Mexican Cantina at Bonifacio High Street.  I found it a cool concept, so apt for the little celebrant - what better way to celebrate the birthday of a boy named Nacho? (his full name is Ignacio after St. Ignatius of Loyola...and yes, his dad's an Atenean).  Now, Agave is not usually the kind of place one associates with children's parties.  Mojitos and margaritas, and late nights come to mind when I hear Agave... but on early Saturday and Sunday afternoons, the venue works as a novel venue for children's parties.

On the menu that afternoon were some Mexican snackables: mini tacos, chicken skewers, calamari, burrito rolls, and of course - in honor of the celebrant's nickname: nachos!!  There was also spaghetti for the kids... and loads of refillable iced tea - which was a blessing in the ultra hot weather.  We had a good supply of sweets, from the mini cupcakes surrounding the festive fondant cake; to the candy prizes and chocolate giveaways - and even the assortment of candies that fell from the fiesta piñata.  My kids were absolutely thrilled with their loot - I'm sure it felt like Halloween for them, with all the treats they got. 

Guijo, playing "ball" with his lolo (the guy hidden beneath the sombrero).

There were classic party games, like "Bring Me" with a twist: the items were mentioned in Spanish - so we had to do a bit of translating!  Then the kids got to try pinning the tail on a mule (this game was still in keeping with the Mexican theme).  And there was a cute piñata with the word "Fiesta" written on it - and colorful ribbons hanging beneath it.  My niece, Sophia (Nacho's big sister) was wearing a Mexican dress.  And lying around, was a yellow-fringed Mexican sombrero which my playful dad put on, to the delight of my children.  My son Guijo found the balloons particularly entertaining. He threw balloons at my dad and uncles, and babies alike - from senior citizens to toddlers - everyone was a potential playmate for Guijo.   He and Narra are so much fun to bring to parties nowadays, because they can already enjoy themselves immensely.  They love joining games, and winning prizes, and bringing home loot bags and balloons. 

My cousins Ian and Elaine, Ate Sophia, and the sleeping celebrant, Nacho!

And of course, my kids loved it when it was time to sing Happy Birthday to Nacho.  The fondant cake had fun stuff on it: maraccas, and a cactus, sombrero, and chili, and a colorful Mexican blanket.  And there were mini cupcakes, with cute fondant toppers, perfectly sized for kids and adults-on-a-diet.  As soon as the candle on the cake was blown, the guests swiped most of the cupcakes away... my little Narra included!

She was one happy party-goer.  Both my kids were still quite on a "high" that even after the party, they still wanted to play some more with their cousins, they ended up just running around to their heart's content at the open spaces of Bonifacio High Street's open-air promenades.  It was a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Ole!

For more info on Agave Mexican Cantina's Party Packages, visit:
http://www.agavecantina.com

R3's Superheroes Party: Avengers versus Justice League!

What Narra chose from R3's cupcake tower.

When I got the invite from RJ and Vanessa Ledesma (my good old friends from college days at DLSU) to attend their son R3's first birthday party, I found the theme quite exciting: Avengers versus Justice League!  Costume parties are always fun, of course, but the timing of the party was just perfect! With Iron Man 3 still playing in theaters, and with The Avengers, Spiderman, Batman, and The Green Lantern playing on HBO, my kids (and their parents) are very much in super hero mode.  

RJ in full costume, as Robin (with Super Girl Narra, and me)

I didn't come in costume, but I did make the effort to come in a super-hero-shade of red.  But RJ was in full costume, dressed in green tights, complete with black briefs in keeping with his character as Robin -  and his son R3, our celebrant, was dressed as Batman!  Vanessa was gorgeous as Cat Woman, and their eldest child Fortune, was so pretty in her Wonder Woman costume.  

The Super Ledesmas: RJ and R3, Vanessa and Fortune.

It was only in preparation for the party, when I asked Narra what Superhero she wanted to come as, did I realize that she doesn't know Wonder Woman! Or Supergirl! or Catwoman! She wanted to come as a Disney Princess! How could I blame her? She didn't grow up watching Linda Carter twirl the way I did. And could I blame her for thinking of Disney Princesses as heroes? They haven't been damsels in distress for quite some time now.  With Narra, I had to invest some internet time, showing her photos of children wearing superhero costumes.  At the store, she wanted to buy the Tinkerbell costume instead, and I had to explain to her that the theme of the party was Avengers versus Justice League.  Good thing I got her to agree to forego Tinkerbell and go for Super Girl instead. When we got to the party - she fit right in with the rest of the kids, dozens of them in Spiderman, Batman, Captain America, and Superman costumes.  By the end of the day, I couldn't get her out of her costume anymore.

Bouncing little heroes.  Pure fun. Sheer chaos.

With Narra's Supergirl costume, we had the Justice League covered. So I figured Guijo can take care of the Avengers side. He came as the Incredible Hulk, in a kid-friendly padded t-shirt which he actually enjoyed wearing.  He kept showing it off to his grandparents, aunts, and cousins, thumping on the foam on his chest.  He's pretty sociable and at 20 months, he's easy to bring to a party - already old enough to walk around, and understand what's going on.  There was a puppet show, magic show, and bubble show at the party, and Guijo was enthralled!

Guijo, attempting his Incredible Hulk look.

Narra loved getting her Face Painted. I was amazed at how detailed she was in giving instructions on what she wanted to have done: "May I have a butterfly please, a big one all over my face, with purple wings, and jewels in the middle" she said to the painter.  I am astonished. I speak to Narra in Filipino. Oliver and I made this rule, that we will raise our kids to have Tagalog as their native tongue. But whenever Narra attends children's parties, or goes to school, she immediately switches to English, and it never fails to surprise me to hear her speak so comfortably in a language I do not use with her.  I dared her to say the same instructions to the face painter, but in Filipino. She didn't do it. I wonder if she knows how to say the word "butterfly" in Tagalog? Or "jewels"?  Uh-oh. It's time to reinforce her Tagalog vocabulary!  Maybe I should have dressed her in Darna costume instead of Super Girl!  Then I could've shaved Guijo's head, had his face painted green, then draped a rubber snake around his neck and turned him into Zuma! ... but that wouldn't have complied with the party's theme...

Narra's face paint.

...which was a great theme after all!  I loved the fact that Iron Man arrived at the party! Guijo got to shake hands with him, and Narra too (along with the other kids) were completely in awe of the man in the suit.  Narra too, walked up the stage, all by herself, eager to come close to Iron Man, so she could touch him.  

Guijo, timidly touching Iron Man's hand.

Narra, cautiously approaching Iron Man.

RJ and Vanessa threw a great superhero-themed party for their son R3, and for me and my kids, it was super fun indeed :-D