Cakes for My Daughter's Winx Party: Red Ribbon and Iko's Compared

Left: Doll cake with wings from Iko's; Right: Spring Flowers Cake from Red Ribbon 

                  

For my daughter's 5th birthday, I got her involved in deciding on her party cake. For weeks we'd look at pictures of Winx cake ideas online. I originally wanted a single-layer fondant cake with edible toppers, but little Narra had other ideas: she wanted non-edible toppers she could keep as toys after the party; she wanted the kind of icing she could swipe off the cake with her finger; she wanted edible sugar flowers that can be plucked from the cake; she wanted it taller than a single-layer cake - she surely knew what she wanted! I had only one condition: It had to be within my budget of 2,000 pesos.  We ended up with 2 cakes that easily met all our criteria! We got one cake from Red Ribbon  (1400php) and another from Iko's (499php) and I just have to compare the two! 

Narra's first cake was chosen from Red Ribbon Bakeshop's online cake catalogue. She already had tiny Winx-themed figures at home and she asked me if she could decorate her cake by herself (and by that she means that deciding where to position the dolls on the cake will be entirely up to her).  So I had to look for the type of cake that can accommodate her toys as toppers. I was worried they wouldn't stand upright on their own when planted on boiled icing, so I looked for designs with 2-3 layers so we could lean the toys on the sides of the cake (and a tall cake was one of Narra's requests).

3-layer "Spring Flower" cake from Red Ribbon's "Debut" collection
(doll toppers are from Narra's own collection)

                                

I didn't find the cake in the usual "Female Birthday Cakes" section. I looked for options in the "Wedding/Debut" section because only cakes in that category can have customizable colors to suit party themes. We picked the design called "Spring Flowers", Narra asked for a pink and purple cake with green border icing (the border in the catalogue was white originally). The flowers are edible gum paste flowers with customizable colors too. The number on top is made of sugar (and can be delicate - ours broke when we removed the cake from the box, and we resorted to scotch tape for an emergency fix - it held up til the end of the party). The total height of the cake with accessories is around 18 inches. We cut the cake in take-home portions and sent them off as souvenirs - and the recipients were reportedly quite happy. At 1,400 pesos I found this cake reasonably priced for the quantity of cake and quality  of execution. I also love how Red Ribbon staff were so accommodating with requests - they even allowed me to pick up the cake late at night, past closing hours! So I wouldn't have to swing by in the morning. :-)   

With the remaining cake funds available, I was able to buy another cake for Narra - a doll cake from Iko's! Months ago, when we visited their shop in Pasig, Narra saw their doll cakes and asked me if she could have one for her birthday. I found the cake appropriate only for an intimate party because of the modest quantity of the cake. In terms of height, it stands tall at a little over a foot, and offers a visual impact statement (kids and adults alike gave positive feedback). It's nice to look at and captures the imagination of children of all ages. At 499 pesos, it's quite a steal!

The edible layer between foil on top and styrofoam at the bottom.

                               

It's not the kind of cake you should serve to guests though, don't get me wrong, it is delicious! But gaining access to the edible parts is challenging and cumbersome - and should best be done in private. The top layer from the doll's waist down to its knees is covered in icing-concealed foil! The bottom layer (from the doll's ankle downwards) is made of styrofoam. The only edible parts are from the doll's knees down to it's calves - so there isn't much - it's just enough for a small group of people - but it's yummy! The chocolate cake itself is denser than Red Ribbon's, and the icing too - is much more "swipe worthy" than Red Ribbon's too sticky boiled icing. When we took of the wings and washed off the icing, we were left with a forlorn naked doll - the party was truly over. As the saying goes: you can't have your cake and eat it too.  Thank goodness for photos!

Narra's candle-blowing (after we replaced her number topper with a candle)

For the candle-blowing moment at Narra's party, we had a few issues.  The doll-cake did not have any suitable space for a candle, and the placement of the candle on the 3-layer Spring Flower cake was at the front, which meant we'd have difficulty taking a good photo of her.  Our solution? We removed the "Number 5" at the top of her cake, stuck a candle right on top, and got Narra to stand on a stool so she could reach her candle and blow it out while facing her guests. I realize that Iko's offers the option of creating a faux mini-cake which can be "carried" by the doll on her arms, and a candle can be positioned on it.  The Red Ribbon "Spring Flowers" design has a huge flower with leaves positioned on top, I suggest - for other moms who plan on getting this cake for their kids - to forego the leaves, and request instead, that a candle be inserted next to the top flower.  Lesson learned: I need to be more prepared next time - I should anticipate all requirements for the candle-blowing moment and figure out a child-friendly and photo-friendly placement for the candle! 

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In the end I'm happy we had both cakes.  Dealing with both suppliers was straightforward and fuss-free, and both bakeshops were comfortingly accommodating and professional.  McDonald's SM Aura does not allow cake to be served within their premises so the cakes were only for display and photo-op purposes, but we were happy to have a cake to partition off as take away for guests (the Red Ribbon cake) and another cake to bring home to enjoy (our Iko's doll cake). 

The cakes really weren't just for Narra. They were really also for my own mother - who belonged to a brood of 12 children! - she didn't have fancy birthday cakes growing up - that's just the way it was in the 1950's - for the post-war generation - theirs was an age of frugality and resource-stretching home economics.  My mother always has a wistful look on her face, a sense of nostalgia (for something she's always wanted but didn't get).  She made sure that growing up, I would always get cakes for my birthdays :-D  I have fond memories of icing and sugar flowers, and blowing out candles - and on my 18th birthday she ordered a towering cake, 5 feet tall, with lights and fountains - all the bells and whistles! - we had cake for days... I want to laugh and cry at the same time, just thinking about what getting that cake for me truly meant for my mother.   It's my turn now, to pass on to my daughter, what my mother provided me: love, joy, child-like wonder, and a lifetime's worth of memories that comes with birthday cakes.

Related Post:

Celebrating Narra's 5th Birthday: Winx Party at McDonald's SM Aura
http://nikki-mama.blogspot.com/2014/05/winx-birthday-party-at-mcdonald-sm-aura.html

Celebrating Narra's 5th Birthday: Winx Party at McDonald's SM Aura

From top left: Winx party banner; Me and Narra; Family pic with mascots.

                         

Sometime in the mid-80s I had my own McDonald's birthday party. I remember being so excited!  Watching my own daughter's excitement felt like traveling back in time.  It seemed as big a deal to her today as it was to me back then. Sure, McDonald's represents accessible everyday fare these days, with their convenient locations and affordable food, it's hardly "special" anymore - but on the day of her birthday party, McDonald's wasn't just the common fast food she visits normally, it was HER party place - infused with the magical energy of HER party time!  

Prim and proper Narra while everyone stood and sang "Happy Birthday"

                         

Narra sat on her pink stool, hands on her lap, feet crossed, eyes scanning the crowd as everyone clapped and sang "Happy Birthday to you!" - she swayed gently from side to side - she was neither shy nor self-absorbed, just simply immersed in the moment. And when the song was done, she had this super sweet smile.  It's the first time her two worlds came together: school and family lives combining in celebration. She had just completed her first year of schooling, so having classmates at her party  is a whole new experience for her.  We knew she'd need enough time to play with her friends and cousins so we decided to book 2 time slots so we won't be rushed.

The Party Program.

                  

We booked our venue from 11 am to 3 pm. We chose the earliest time slot because parking at SM Aura could get full easily on weekends. We decided to serve food twice. For round one: We served spaghetti, chicken and rice, cheeseburger, drink and apple pie for adults and kids alike. Then, when everyone was full, we started with the program and games. This was followed by the second round of food service: piping hot French fries, ice cream sundae, and drink. As the food was served we were distributing loot bags and giveaways and doggie bags - everyone had food to take home!  

Art activities for the early birds.

                            

We also prepared a simple (and very well received) art station for the kids. I took pages from a nice coloring book and provided crayons, blendy pens, and colored markers.  We also had a "nail art" station courtesy of my mom. She owns a beauty salon and she brought one of her staff to do kiddie manicures. They brought cute nail stickers which was such a hit with the young ladies!

Nail art corner.

                                        

The program consisted of the usual party classics: "bring me" and who can sustain the last syllable of the phrase "happy birthdaaaaaaaaaaaaaay" the longest (the winner clocked in 12 seconds).  One game that was new to me was the "cup tower" game. Mothers and daughters teamed up to create towers out of flimsy plastic cups. All of Narra's classmates and their mothers joined the game. I felt the pressure because Narra really wanted us to win. We assembled a really high tower, but alas!, the ceiling-type split aircon was producing a blast of cold air that made our tower shake, and fall :-(  it was intense! Haha. I felt like a kid holding my breath, full of hope that we just might win! I had fun even if we didn't emerge victorious. 

"Cup Tower" game. I felt pressured with my kids watching in earnest.

                         

A high point of the program happened quite by accident. The mascots Birdie and Hamburglar were supposed to make their entrance, but were taking too long to arrive so the host played some upbeat music and the kids started to dance! It was so much fun to watch :-)  then, I requested the party host to play "Let It Go" from Frozen, and the little girls sang forcefully in unison, complete with synchronized action. Many of us watching from the sidelines were touched by the pure emotion, full commitment, and unrestrained quality of the impromptu group performance - one guest even asked if they rehearsed this or were taught the song and choreography in school.  

Narra and her classmates singing "Let It Go" from Frozen.

                        

It felt like a "Greatest Love of All" moment from the 1980s. I do believe "Let It Go" has reached the status of  "anthem" for Narra's generation.  Even if the song wasn't particular upbeat, it brought a different kind of energy to the party - the kind that makes adults thankful they attended a children's party. It was a moment of pure joy, uplifting innocence, camaraderie and harmony. That moment made me miss so many people, friends from long ago with whom I shared a special bond: choir mates in church; friends in high school; team mates, skate mates - anyone I performed with (formally or spontaneously).  I just knew my daughter was getting the full range of emotional benefits a birthday party offers.  

The only thing I had to prepare: Cakes, Loot Bags, some Game Prizes, Giveaways.

               

I booked McDonald's because I was busy working full-time this summer and needed the stress-free convenience of a fast-food party. I ended up enjoying the experience much more than I expected. And my daughter - my lovely, lovable daughter - she acted in ways that made me want to repeat the whole experience all over again :-)  When asked by the party host for a closing message, for what she wished for her birthday, she said: "I wish everyone would be happy".  Well said, Narra. You made me happy by letting me see how much fun you had :-D

Narra blowing her candle after making a wish for everyone's happiness!

Related Post:

Cakes For My Daughter's Winx Party: Red Ribbon and Iko's Compared

http://nikki-mama.blogspot.com/2014/05/cakes-for-my-daughter-winx-party-red.html

On Turning 35 and How I Celebrated My Birthday at Mystic Brew

Birthday Moment at Mystic Brew, with an old friend, and new dreams.

It is said that we go through a maturation process that follows a 7-year cycle.  Physically, the human body is believed to undergo a process of cellular regeneration that is completed in 7 years.  Like snakes shedding off old skin, we grow a new set of scales to protect us for another round of exposure to life's elements. At 7 we shed off baby skin and we become children; at 14 we shed off childhood and enter into puberty; at 21 we shed off puberty and enter adulthood... we explore the world, and champion revolutions; at 28 - we shed off our being vagabonds and become settlers: we settle down to work, no longer in adventurous experimentation, but towards gaining expertise - and stability; at 35 - we become established in our ways, and become part of the establishment we rebelled against when we were 21. We become conservative in our ways, and in our views.   I first read about these stages in an Osho Zen book entitled "Maturity"  - a serendipitous purchase at Power Books bought when I was 21. I was then leaving Manila, to study and live abroad to start my great adventure romancing the world.  I read the book cover to cover, and promised to return to it every 7 years.  When I returned to the book at 28 - I was contemplating marriage, returning home, and settling down - and the book helped me figure out my plans. So here I am now at 35. I am reading the book again.  It felt like conversing with an old friend. So much so that it made me want to do exactly that on my birthday. I called an old friend, and celebrated my day with a life conversation.

With Tristan: birthday conversation at the table of unlimited potential.

Oliver was away on a business trip.  If he were in town, I would've celebrated my birthday with him and our kids, for sure! But he wasn't in town. And I didn't want to do a "family" celebration without him - it wouldn't feel right - it would feel incomplete. I was going to wait for his return for a belated celebration so we could all be together.  My sister was away on a business trip too, so even my old family of four wasn't complete either! I spent the daytime with my parents and children - the two people I came from - and the two people that came from me. It was lovely being with them, as always - since we are together a lot, us 5 in this loving configuration of 3 generations. But by night time, I wanted to do something different on my special day. I called my best friend from college days, Tristan.  He was at his cafe - the one he owns - the one I haven't had the time to visit because it is located far from my routine paths. It's called Mystic Brew. A magickal name for a magickal place.  And over generous servings of ginger-laced coffee, we had a wicked conversation, about being 35.  

It is believed that the association centers of the brain come to their peak efficiency at around this age - so this is when the creative process of the mind is arguably at its most active.  Associations - or connections - how things are related - our minds are able to perceive them better - we get a clearer sense of how things work - we understand a lot more now, about individual parts and how they relate to the whole.  At 35, I am seeing connections - between past and present, present and future.  It is a time of great insights, and revelations.  I understand my parents now, and the choices they made, like I never have before. Especially those of my mother, my dear mother whose depth of sacrifice I am only just coming to know fully.  All these new discoveries, I was dying to share with my old friend.  

A powerful corner, outside Mystic Brew, a spot where time stands still.

With Tristan, I have eloquently outlined my ambitions from 21 to 28 - at the height of our friendship - we've spun the fabric of our dreams thread by thread, in each others' presence. Like an unfinished weave left hanging on the loom, are our life conversations, they are continuing projects to be completed only at death. Through the length of our friendship we've seen how new colors worked their way into our designs. Oliver started out as a single thread, that found his way into my life's pattern, a thread that soon dominated the picture, then Narra came, then Guijo, defining threads woven in interlocking stitches. I cannot speak of my life, without speaking of them.  Some old colors are slowly disappearing from view, the green thread that was once the main color in my life's design, the thread of my story with  De La Salle, has frayed and weakened, and I am deciding whether to snip it off, or pull it out, or to work it back into my story, with bullish determination to repair what was ripped apart, and to fight for an old dream with tighter knots this time.  Either that, or I let go of the old dream, and celebrate the start of new ones, embracing new colors to weave.  Tristan has an eye for design. With him, I step back to see the big picture of my life, to see the patterns - those recurring, those changing, those emerging. We deliberate. It is a great activity for a birthday - specially a birthday that falls on the 7-year cycle.  To appraise one's unfolding life as a work of art in progress.  I was glad I wasn't at some buffet, or swanky restaurant, or surrounded by so many family and friends that the quality of conversation suffers from the quantity of loved ones present. I was happy to be at Mystic Brew for an enchanted cup of healing friendship.  

The selection of handcrafted wands made by Tristan himself, on display.

Tucked in an inner street, in an inner village, in the outskirts of town, Mystic Brew is like a pilgrimage site - much like an enchanted cave in Banahaw, a delicious little secret spot revealed to the worthy traveler who braves the long journey.  It is an antidote to the gripping cookie-cutter consumerism of branded chains and global franchises. It is a coffee house full of spirits; where one can easily believe that an empty chair is reserved for the resident muse. Mystic Brew dares to dabble in magickal arts - with no less than a selection of wands on offer on the shelves of the charmed curio shop in the cafe. The wands are custom crafted by Tristan himself with his own hands.   Tristan recounted how a curious customer approached him, and asked in earnest: "Are these wands really magic?"and "Do they really work?"... funny questions these are, with serious answers.

At 35, says my Osho book on "Maturity", one starts believing. One turns to the great traditions anchored in the past. Whatever the religious persuasion, one grasps for faith - and seeks the truth in the Vedas, in the Koran, in the Bible.  One is no longer an anarchist, and begins to seek order.  One becomes conventional as one is enveloped with a desire to protect the life they've built.  So I turn to tradition for protection.  I go to church and rely on old prayers I used to utter with my grandmother and mother as we knelt side by side on church pews - I extend the chain to Narra and teach her to kneel by my side, to take my place, as my mother takes my grandmother's spot, and I take my mother's. I teach her about the miraculous lives of of Jesus and the saints, stories I adored as a child. And I also teach her to say "tabi, tabi po", like most Filipinos are wont to do, to ask permission from spirits as we pass through grass and trees. And I tell Narra to behave because Santa Claus is keeping score. I am a believer. In a Roman Catholic doctrinal sense; in a folk-Filipino-Southeast Asian-animist sense; in a fictional-literary Western sense in the tradition of Santa Claus, Peter Pan, leprechauns, mermaids, and will-o'-the-wisps.  My children shall drink from the cup full of my Mystic Brew of beliefs, my very own unique blend.  

A ghostly apparition in my cup: Do you see it smiling?

At 35, I am a wellspring of conventional views, I am the transmission belt of common beliefs and popular culture, and I find myself telling my daughter fairy tales I once found politically incorrect.  There was a time the idea of Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty, and Snow White made me gag, when I was 21 and mad at the powerful hold the Disney franchise had over our collective imagination. Now at 35, I am less combative, less rebellious, less revolutionary. I let Narra wear her flower girl gowns so she can pretend to be a Disney Princess. I will not deny her this - her right to be a child! I let her believe fairy godmothers cast magic spells, and mermaids can walk, and beasts can become handsome princes with a true love's kiss. I followed the Harry Potter series, the book and the movies, and found Tristan's wand shop brilliant!!! All his references to Harry Potter in his menu find an appreciative audience in me.  I am 35. I've run out of cynicism and angst.  I see the ghostly apparition in my coffee cup, and I imagine it to be greeting me Happy Birthday, and I smile right back. 

With Mystic Brew co-owners Algerome and Tristan.

As I said my good-byes, Tristan's new best friend, and co-owner of Mystic Brew, Algerome, gave me a birthday gift to bring home.  A room and linen spray he crafted himself and sold at the cafe.  In a world of mass production and mass consumption, I found it special to savor things made my hand by people I knew.  Even the herb on my pasta was planted in the backyard, and picked fresh to put on my plate.  Every sip from my Mystic Brew cup cured my disenchantment with the world. I believed in magic. And that's a good feeling to have on one's birthday.  

If you're looking for a homegrown enterprise with lots of character, make time to venture to the interiors of Las Piñas for some inspired coffee and imaginative food.

Their facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/MysticBrewPH

Their official website:

http://www.mysticbrew.biz/