Mommy Ginger
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First Birthday List of Party Suppliers: Giveaways and Prizes (Part 2)

So as mentioned yesterday, I am bad at creating graphics. I don’t know how to manipulate or edit photos using Photoshop. It’s a good thing that I got help from another amazing artist named Ena Tabora Quinto from Art Recipes by Mrs. Q. Enah and I have been working together for the free printables that you can get from this blog. With this, I did not have any hesitations in making her one of my party suppliers.

I needed help with my mug design for the giveaways for the adults and the nametags of the children. I knew that I could always rely on Enah to create great designs for me. Here is the artwork that she made for the mug and the nameplates for the children.

Nameplate for the Kids with the theme Little Miss Sunshine

Nameplate for the Kids with the theme Little Miss Sunshine

Mug Design with Little Miss Sunshine Theme

Mug Design with Little Miss Sunshine Theme

She’s so amazing, right? I just had to interview her for this article!

Ginger: How do you describe your style?

Enah: Simple, Elegant and Modern…the three adjectives that best describes my kind of my style in creatively designing artworks to liven up life’s celebrations. I go for the simple elements of design and refrain from using effects like gradients, shadows and embossed types. Polka dots and stripes are never out-dated so they are a common element in my designs.

Ginger: What are the services that you can offer for a mom who is planning their kid’s party?

Enah: Art Recipes aims to bring chicness to house parties. We encourage moms to DIY. We design and produce printables like invites, backdrops, favor tags, favors, candy buffet essentials (cupcake toppers, candy labels), posters, etc.

Ginger: What advice can you give those who are planning to do a DIY party?

Enah: Decide on a theme and create a moodboard. It’s just basically gathering all the inspiration you get from the internet and deciding which ones you want to execute. From there you will know the things you can DIY and which ones you need to order from suppliers.

Ginger: Any tips on design (what colors to use, etc.)

Enah: You can never go wrong with simplicity and elegance. When it comes to colors, Colors will depend on the theme. Pastel colors will go well with vintage or shabby chic themes. Bold colors for circus or safari theme parties.

Ginger: Where can they get in touch with you? 🙂

Enah: Please do check and LIKE our facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/artrecipesbymrsq
Instagram: artrecipesbymrsq
Mobile Number: 09272557663
Email: artrecipesbymrsq@gmail.com

What an impressive lady! 🙂 BTW, here is how the mugs and the name plates looked like during the party.

 

mugs and tags

 

These mugs were given to the adults. For the kids, we ordered 50 pieces of Canned Goods. Haha! Not the ones that you get from the grocery, by from a supplier called Canned Goods (Facebook Page).

They created a design that matched the them of the party.

Canned Goods design

Canned Goods design

We saw this at a coupons site so we got discounted rates for the items. We got it for Php 3,375 (Php 7,500 value) for 50 cans + a Php 700 design fee. Each can was at Php 81.50.

You have a choice of what you want the can to come with. Here are the choices:

Toy Soldiers (Classic Green Soldiers inside)
Space/Sci-Fi Kit (Small Toy Robots inside)
Classic Kit for Boys (Trumpo & Candies)
Classic Kit for Girls (Jackstone & Candies)
Safari Kit (Small Toy Animals)
Nostalgia Candy Kit (Haw-Haw, Potchi, Yaki, Chocnut, etc)
Carnival (Cotton Candy)
Bubbles (Bubble Toys)
Arts and Crafts (Origami Set)

I chose the bubbles. When the cans arrived, they looked so cute. Check this out!

Canned Goods with Little Miss Sunshine Theme

Canned Goods with Little Miss Sunshine Theme

But as for what was inside, I was a bit disappointed. It contained just one little container for the bubbles. I actually saw this same container at Divisoria so I knew how much it costs. What my sister and I did was we filled the can with a lot of stuff (candies and treats) for our guests to enjoy.

The payment of Php 81.50 (discounted price) was really for the can, but if I were to suggest, I wished Canned Goods would make the freebies inside look more “special” and more customized. For the bubbles, I would have just used another customized container and not pack it straight from the supplier. Also, in terms of following up with them, it took them a long time to respond to my sister’s inquiries.

So to sum it all up, the idea of Canned Goods is great, but I hope they take this post as something that they can refer to in improving their services.

This is their Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/CannedGoodsPH

As for the prizes, I got them all from 168 Divisoria. We spent the whole day looking for great items to give to out as prizes. These are the things that we saw and bought:

Zeeka's Giveaways

Zeeka’s Giveaways

I hope you liked them! 🙂

Watch out for our next posts on the other party suppliers for Little Miss Zeeka’s Party!

First Birthday List of Party Suppliers: Venue and Graphics (Part 1)

Here it is! I know a lot of you have been asking me to already come up with this party suppliers feature. I’m sorry I am delayed in posting this since I got sick after the weekend (but that’s another story). So as you might all know, the theme of Zeeka’s First Birthday Party is Little Miss Sunshine.

Why Little Miss Sunshine? (You may or may not ask… but i’ll still tell you anyway =P). It’s because Little Miss Sunshine looks like Zeeka. She’s so cute and always smiling! Okay, plus Zeeka brings a smile to everyone’s faces. Just yesterday, she made three tables (one table of mature women, one table with a quite couple and one table with the whole family there) her audience at Greeka Kouzina. She was dancing, waving and smiling! I can’t believe how sociable this little girl is. I wonder who she gets this from? 🙂

Anyway, planning for me started last October 2013. Yes, it started Months before. Just to show you how OC I am, here is a snapshot of the presentation that I made to show all the party suppliers.

The presentation that I made for suppliers

The presentation that I made for suppliers

I already had a vision of what I wanted the party to look like and to be like. Of course, I started with the invitations and graphics. I already wrote about this in a previous post.

http://mommyginger.com/2014/02/invite-backdrop-graphics-little-miss-sunshine-theme-party.html

Again, thank you to Lique Dimayuga of Artique for the invitation and stage backdrop graphics.

To contact Artique, here are the details:
http://artique.foliohd.com/
mangelicastro@gmail.com
0922.531.7048

But aside from that, Artique also provided the vector image that I used for all the other things needed for the party. This was the image that she provided.

Lil Miss Zeeka Vector Image

So, this vector image was what basically carried the mood and feel of the entire event. I also chose the color theme of hot pink, orange, yellow and bright blue (and a little bit of green, maybe) for everything that was to be placed in the party. Speaking of which, the day before the party, I was busily decorating the place with our household helpers. I just bought crepe paper and my sister bought little circular fan like decors that we hang in the venue. It was a good thing that the venue (Urdaneta Clubhouse) allowed us to set up a day before. We could set up only until 5PM though so we had to start at 2PM.

Urdaneta Village Clubhouse

Urdaneta Village Clubhouse

Venue: Urdaneta Village Clubhouse
Rental Fee (for residents): P15,000 + Php 5,000 (Security Bond)
Rental Fee (for non-residents): I think it’s plus Php 5-10K
Phone: +63(2)8176051-53

This is what we set up the day before…

Window Stickers that I had made

Window Stickers that I had made

DIY Decorations

DIY Decorations

The venue is quite huge and can accommodate around 200 people (banquet style). I had 180 guests so we had around 18 tables, with 10 seats each.

So by now, you might already have guessed that I’m bad with creating graphics. I don’t know how to work on Photoshop so I needed all the help I could get. Check out my next post for another party supplier.

Happy First Birthday, Little Miss Zeeka!

Happy birthday to my baby girl! I can’t believe that you’re one already. Time flies so fast, but you’re dad and I are grateful that we have such great memories of us three, together, since the time you were born (and even 9 months before that).

Mommy Ginger, Dada Ej and Baby Zeeka

Mommy Ginger, Dada Ej and Baby Zeeka

When you were still in mommy’s tummy, we imagined how you would look like and how you would be. We wondered what your personality would be like. Would you take after mommy or daddy? Now, that you’re here with us, we think that you’re perfect in every little way.

I love how you smile so sweetly to everyone that you meet. I love how you hug me and lay your head in my chest when you’re shy. I love how you stretch your little arms and legs in the morning after breastfeeding. I love how you call everyone ‘mama’, even your dad. I love how you say hello and wave with your two little hands. I love how you sign and dance to tunes; as early as now, we see that you love music. I love how you try to bite everyone if you’re in your ‘gigil’ mode. I love how you cry when you’re hungry — you have such a good appetite. I love how you love the water. I love how you can cry one minute and say ‘hahaha’ all of a sudden after a minute. I love how you stretch up your arms forward and say ‘vroom vroom’ as if you were driving a car. I love your sweet ways, panggah!

Know that mommy and daddy will always be here for you. Know that every day, we pray that your future be bright — one that is filled with opportunities, true love and contentment. We pray that when you grow up, you grow up to be a lady with a compassionate heat and a lady with strength of character that is enough to love and guide her own family as much as we love you now. We pray that you always love yourself so that you would be able to love others around you! Entrust everything unto Him, Zeeka.

Know that you are loved. Happy First Birthday, little darling!

Love,
Mama and Dada

Baby and Family Expo PH set in August 2014

I didn’t  get to go to this event last year, but I did go to their press launch. The BABY & FAMILY EXPO PHILIPPINES 2014 is the country’s biggest family expo where families love to shop, learn and play. The expo is on its second year. The BABY & FAMILY EXPO PHILIPPINES 2014 is a one-stop shop for all baby, children, pregnancy and family needs, happening this coming August 01-03, 2014 at the World Trade Center, Pasay City.

Baby Family Expo 2014

The three-day event will cover the stages of family growth from maternity, newborns, infants, toddlers and children. Parents can learn the latest trends and relative tips from country’s experts about pregnancy do’s and don’ts, newborn and infant care, child development tips, parenting 101 and more.

Last year’s Baby and Family Expo became the main event of the year for all maternity, baby, early childhood and parenting needs, with over 200 exhibitors as well as experts and celebrity parents like Regine Tolentino, Gladys Reyes-Sommereux, RJ Ledesma, Edric Mendoza, providing free seminars to expo visitors and fun-filled activities for the whole family.

This year, a gallery showcasing fascinating toys and creations will spark the awe in children and rekindle the inner child of every visitor in the Baby & Family Expo’s Toy Museum inside the hall. Children can also enjoy fun and exciting rides and games with the World of Wonder. Fun-filled activities specially organized to widen children’s horizon will also be set up at The Imagination Kitchen, an arts and crafts station.

Highlighting the exciting roster of events is the first ever Baby Idol and Kid Idol talent contest, where babies and kids can shine bright like a star showcasing their singing, dancing, and acting skills.

Other activities to look forward to are the Family Olympics 2014, where moms and dads can show-off their diaper changing and grocery shopping skills, together with their kids for a cake decorating challenge. Another highlight of the expo is the annual Baby & Family Expo Awards Night, where outstanding celebrity families and entrepreneurs will be recognized through the Golden Family Awards and ParentPreneur Awards.

During this three-day family event, visitors will get todiscover the latest products & services for the whole family, and avail of exclusive discounts from much loved stores and brands.

“The BABY & FAMILY EXPO PHILIPPINES is going to be bigger and better this 2014 with over 5,000sqm of space area and over 400 exhibiting brands. We invite a variety of brands that have never been seen before in the country and created larger activity areas to give babies, kids, parents and entire families a great bonding experience” says MEDIACOM SOLUTIONS INC. President and Expo founder, David Abrenilla.

The BABY & FAMILY EXPO 2014 is organized by MEDIACOM SOLUTIONS INC.- “Making Lives Better”, Philippines’ leading media, events-led marketing, communications, exhibition and convention organizing company. Part of MEDIACOM SOLUTIONS INC’s social advocacy is to nurture family development and child care, in partnership with leading foundations such as World Vision and UNICEF.

BABY & FAMILY EXPO PHILIPPINES 2014 will be an experience families wouldn’t want to miss this year!

Stay informed and get current updates by joining their community – Baby Expo Facebook Page www.facebook.com/babyexpoph , Twitter: @BabyExpoPh and visiting the website at www.babyexpo.ph. For queries, call +632-843-2174 or email babyandfamilyexpo@gmail.com.

No Hope Lost: A Pneumococcal and Rotavirus Disease Awareness Campaign

I was vaccinated when I was kid. I don’t know what vaccines were administered, but now that I am a mom to Zeeka, I had to research and know what vaccines I wanted to give her. Zeeka’s pedia research and let her know what I wanted heinstructed me to research and then to tell her what vaccines I wanted her to administer.

I had Zeeka vaccinated for Hepatitis B, DTP (Diptheria, Tetanus and Pertussis), Polio, Influenza Type B, MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella), Rotavirus and Pneumococcal. Yes, Zeeka had all those. I’m a bit “praning” (scared) when it comes to diseases. I guess this is also what made me exclusively breastfeed Zeeka up until today. Breastfeeding protects and strengthens the body’s immune system.

No Hope Lost Campaign

No Hope Lost Campaign

I attended an event which was for a Pneumococcal and Rotavirus Disease Awareness Campaign. I got to learn more about the causes and effects of pneumonia and diarrhea. Going there, I actually thought no one really died from these diseases right (especially diarrhea). It sounded so common and I have never heard of any baby who died from these diseases, BUT…

Do you know that PNEUMONIA AND DIARRHEA are the top two leading causes of death among Filipino children less than 5 years of age? Scary right? And this fact is also true worldwide!

National statistics show an estimated 37 Filipino children die of pneumonia every day. To understand this disease better, Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung which affects primarily the microscopic air sacs known as alveoli. The typical symptoms of pneumonia include a cough, chest pain, fever, and difficulty breathing. Pneumococcal disease is an infection caused by the bacterium S. Pneumoniae also known as pneumococcus which can result to life-threatening conditions such as pneumonia. It can also result to Acute Otitis Media (AOM) which is an ear infection, a common and highly prevalent disease. It also includes severe diseases such as meningitis, complicated pneumonia, and sepsis (blood poisoning), which occur when the pneumococcus “invades” the blood. The invasive forms of the pneumococcal disease are a category called Invasive Pneumococcal Disease (IPD).

Diarrhea on the other hand is the second leading killer of children under 5 years of age, accounting for 1.4 million child deaths annually. Rotavirus Gastroenteritis (RVGE) is the common cause of diarrhea and severe dehydration in young children. It is also the leading reason of diarrheal hospitalizations and deaths among children. It is most severe and frequent in infants aged 3-24 months.

I learned during the event that Rotavirus is called a “democratic virus” because it can affect anyone, regardless of gender, age, status in society.

Well, as always, they say that prevention is better than cure. The sad thing is that not everyone knows that these two diseases can be that deadly. I, for one, didn’t know that it was that serious. When I heard about this, I was actually glad that I had Zeeka vaccinated for these two diseases.
“It’s the best time to raise awareness on pneumonia and diarrhea prevention. These diseases should not cause unnecessary suffering to young children,” says Dr. Sally Gatchalian, Philippine Foundation for Vaccination Director. “Sometimes it’s just that parents don’t know enough about these diseases, and they don’t know that there are actually vaccines for them.”

Ria Trillo, Barbie Almalbis-Honasan,Dr. Sally Gatchalian with the GSK Team

Ria Trillo, Barbie Almalbis-Honasan,Dr. Sally Gatchalian with the GSK Team

People showing support for the No Hope Lost Campaign

People showing support for the No Hope Lost Campaign

Dr. Sally Gatchilian was the speaker during the launch of the the “No Hope Lost” campaign from GlaxoSmithKline. The campaign is really a call to action for parents to get their children vaccinated against pneumonia and diarrhea. This is to save them from getting these diseases.

“With the help of our dear pediatricians, and the Department of Health, we are committed to the reduction of pneumonia and diarrhea cases nationwide by supplying high quality vaccines. These diseases account for an alarming almost 50 mortalities per day in the Philippines. GSK is here to support the Filipino medical community and the government’s drive to make health services accessible to everyone,” added Philip Cruz, GSK Medical Director.

So, please do ask your pediatrician about preventive measures against pneumococcal and rotavirus diseases and do your research about these diseases and how to prevent them.

Mommy Ginger supports the No Hope Lost Campign of GSK

Mommy Ginger supports the No Hope Lost Campign of GSK