Party Venue: Intimate Gatherings at Mom and Tina's Bakery and Cafe

There are parties that are meant just for close relatives and friends, those where conversations and food matter more than entertainment. Honestly, I love going to small parties where I know almost everyone and I'm comfortable going back to the buffet table for second servings without worrying about who's keeping tab. Simply put, those parties where it's almost like being held at home.

If you are like me who likes intimate parties, then Mom and Tina's is just the perfect venue.

Mom and Tina's Bakery and Cafe Ortigas branch have 4 functions rooms that can accommodate from 12 persons up to 60 people which is just perfect for christening or baptismal parties, small birthday celebrations and even corporate meetings.

photo grabbed from Mom and Tina's website

If you've dined at Mom and Tina's before, there's no need to introduce further their wide array of sumptuous dishes. Every single dish is just mouth-watering especially their Chicken Spinach Lasagna and Roast Pork (main dish). 

They also have an impressive list of dessert selections of cakes, pastries, cupcakes, muffins and pies.

Their buffet packages start at Php600 per head (add VAT) for a minimum of 30 persons. If you're not into buffet, the functions rooms can still be had for 2 hours with a minimum food order (price depends on the function room size/capacity).

For motre details on their menu, check Mom and Tina's website.

DIY Cake Toppers (From Plain to Fabulous!)

It happens sometimes, right? When you have tons in your list that you forgot order a special cake for your party or you simply do not have a budget for that customized cake your daughter would surely love...

Well, moms are like magicians so those little hiccups can easily be sorted out with a bowl full of patience and mountains of creativity. Yes, we can decorate our own cakes!

Here are some ideas:

Cake flags and buntings work like magic for decorating or topping up round cakes..

Or light it up with candles

For my daughter's birthday party in school, I didn't buy customized cake but settled for a regular round cake. To liven up the cake, I used fancy candles.

My aunt found this cute and stylish tiny candelabra and turned a plain chocolate cake into an awesome party cake! Everyone wants to blow those tiny candles!

There are dozens of ideas you can explore with decorating a plain cake. No need to put a hole in your pocket for a cake that's elegantly styled but 3/4 styro you can't even serve to all your guests.

Be creative and resourceful! You'll be surprised with what you can come up with.

Party Venue: Castillo Royale Ortigas

If you're up and about to executing a Royal themed party, this is THE venue. Castillo Royale perfectly suits a magical party fit for a princess to be. 

Look at that ceilings with fabulous swags! It's even more charming when the lights are on and with extra decorations. I was shown a photo of a sample basic setup and it's already good as it is.

A powder/dressing room is also provided at the mezzanine. Brides or debutantes can have the dramatic entrance through the elegant staircase.

This ballroom is at the 5th Floor of MORE Building and can accommodate up to 350 guests. It is huge, clean (as it is relatively new) and without obstructing pillars.

Rental fee is at Php40,000 for 4 hours use. It includes 15 tables and 150 pieces of Tiffany chairs. There's a corkage fee for clients bringing outside caterers since they also have packages that includes food and complete amenities.

Castillo Royale Ortigas

MORE Business Center

Ortigas Avenue Extension

Taytay, Rizal

Tel nos 584-3272/584-3275

Party Venue: Whitespace Manila

Planning a grand celebration for more than 300 people and wants to do away with hotel reception? There's a venue in Makati that could accommodate that crowd (up to 450) and still exude a grand, luxurious atmosphere.

Here's Whitespace.  

Photo from Whitespace website

720sqm of all white space (hence, the name) that can be setup any way you wan it - garden-themed debut party, a Victorian fantasy wedding, Carnival-inspired children's party and many more. The possibilities are endless with this huge hall with no huge obstructing pillars whatsoever.

The rental cost could be an game-ender though for those on a budget. The whole 720sqm hall can be had at Php140,000 (VAT excluded) for 5 hours use, while the smallest hall (Hall A) with a 150-seating capacity costs Php55,000 (add VAT).

The rental includes a basic sound system, caterer's gallery (a room with glass walls so you can view the caterer's activities), 5-hour use of dressing room and lounge, bathrooms with dedicated attendants and use of parking space (23 slots free). 

For more details and to view their packages, visit their website. I recommend watching their video to see how they transformed the huge space into unbelievably beautiful debut and wedding venues.

Party Venue: One San Miguel Avenue Bldg Function Room (9th Floor)

This is the newly renovated (improved) 9th Floor Function Room at One San Miguel Avenue (OSMA) Building.

Cafeteria in the morning but it's a good and spacious function room for parties on weekends. The function room is operated too by Baby Nathan's Kitchen as with the 49th Floor function room also at OSMA.

Prior to renovation, this function room rents out for Php15,000 +10% service charge for 4 hours use including food. After the improvement, mainly the lights (those hanging balls ala Miley Cirus) and the flooring, they've raised the rent to Php25,000 + 10% service charge.

Interested to have a party here? Contact the following:

Baby Nathan's Kitchen

9th Floor, One San Miguel Ave. Bldg

San Miguel Ave., cor Shaw Boulevard

Pasig City

Look for Sheng or Annie

You may also check their website for more details on their menu.

A Diva Party at Music Match KTV

It's no secret that Filipinos love to sing and family reunions revolve around two things - food and the videoke/karaoke machine. In fact, I am surprised to learn that in the province videoke machines are being rented even for wakes and funerals. Nag level-up na!

So if you are the typical Pinoy who likes to serve a microphone and songbook at your parties, Music Match Family KTV is the place to be.

 

KTVs are more popular for instant barkada get-together or for small family celebrations, or maybe just when you feel like belting out Mariah Carey song's without annoying your neighbors. But Music Match anticipated their venue could come handy too for small company gathering and team building, hence, they came up with various Party Packages which includes food and use of videoke room.

 

They have rooms that could accommodate up to 40 people which is perfect for parties of small companies. In fact this is what we rented for my aunt's 50th birthday and three months after for my company's annual staff party.

 

They have 3 Extra Large rooms (in Ortigas Branch) that can accommodate up to 40 people but in my opinion, it will be too crowded to have 40 people especially if you are serving lunch or dinner (not just pica-pica). There will be very little space to move around if you maximize the room's capacity.

 

XL rooms are fitted with exclusive toilet so no need to go out your KTV room for bladder breaks.

Now regarding the food, Music Match is located near Dampa (in Ortigas and Macapagal) so they accept paluto. However, if you want to stick to their menu, expect bar food.

For parties, you can choose from their Barkada Packages below (updated as of Jan 2014):

 

 

Buffet package is also available for a minimum of 20 persons. However, alcoholic drinks are not included unlike in Barkada Package where customers can choose local beers, iced tea and lemonade.

 

Visit their website for more details on Music Match Family KTV.

School Birthday Celebrations Dos and Don'ts

My eldest first attended school a month before she turned 3 (her birthday is July) so it didn't take a month before I was faced with the new dilemma - celebrating her birthday in school.

Classes started mid June and although it may be a bit weird to announce a party when school had just started, we pursued with our plan of throwing my daughter's 3rd birthday party with her classmates. From then on (and in the last 4 years) she always had a birthday celebration in school.

Over the last four years, I have learned a lot about partying in school based from my own mistakes, boo boos and successes. With 2 kids now going to school, it means I have to plan 2 class parties annually. Thankfully, I am now armed with these tips to help me execute simple but unforgettable school parties for my adorable little ones.

Please allow me to share my two cents worth of bright ideas to help celebrate your kid's birthday in school:

1. Send out an invitation one week before your intended day of party in school. Better if you can get a list of names of your child's classmates so you can personalize each invitation. Invites doesn't have to be expensive - you can buy those pre printed generic ones at National Bookstore or if you have creative hands, go design and print your own party invites. There's a lot of free printable invitations too ready for download from the internet.

2. Serve food appropriate for children. Save your morcon and chilli crab recipe for adult parties. This is for your kid, hence, serve party food for children like spaghetti or mac and cheese, fried chicken, pancakes (if early breakfast).

It's also good to serve what the celebrant likes to eat so he/she enjoys the food too! Example, if your child doesn't eat spaghetti (like my daughter) but you want to serve that on her birthday, make sure you have a separate pack of her preferred food for her to eat (take it from my own experience!).

3. Pre pack the food so it's easier for you to serve each child. Consider that the teacher allotted only the recess time for your child's celebration and would want to go back to class schedule on time.

Better yet and if your budget allows it, just order from your kid's favorite fast food (read: McDo, Jollibee or KFC).

4. Serve "just enough" food depending on child and his/her classmates' age. For example, a nursery (3 year old) may be overwhelmed with chicken, spaghetti, rice and burger so it may be best to serve in smaller servings.

5. Consider cupcakes for candle blowing instead of regular birthday cakes. Cupcakes are easier to serve and distribute although the downside is it may be more expensive.

6. Bring extra food for teachers, and other relevant people (hehe). If your child is taking a school bus service, allocate food for the bus driver and assistant too.

7. Prepare loot bags with small toys and a few goodies. All kids love getting some treats to take home after a party. Consider that as a 'thank you' token to them for helping you celebrate your kid's milestone.

Remember you don't have to make the celebration grand. The important thing is your child is happy and he/she knows you made her birthday with her classmates and friends a memorable one.

Birthday Cakes by Iko's Breads and Cakes

I first saw Iko's bakeshop when we went to Kapitolyo, Pasig to dine at Three Sisters. They have a well-lit, attractive bakeshop that is hard to miss if passing by Kapitolyo's main gate. Curious of what's inside, I decided to pop in and see what is good to buy. That's when I learned that aside from specialty breads and pastries, they also customize cakes for birthdays and special occasions.

And so I now have another cake supplier that I can order from for the numerous occasions I organize and host - my kids' birthdays, office parties and family gatherings.

Their cakes are reasonably priced. For example, their doll cakes cost only Php499 each. While it's true that the doll cake is relatively small and I bet there's a thick styro beneath, it's still affordable.

I just had my first customized cake ordered from them for my son's 4th birthday celebration. I wanted a Minion themed cake but they refused to accept character cakes as they said they are not licensed to use the designs. It disappointed me a bit but I was also impressed that they are honest with their business.

As alternative, I chose race car design and requested for colors that would match minions. My plan was to buy minion toys and just put them as cake topper. I was thinking of the Minion Rush game in our tablets. Thankfully, it worked quite well and close to how I imagined it.

  

 My 10-inch round cake for my son cost me Php999. A bit cheaper than cakes by Layers and Layers which is just a few meters away from Iko's in Kapitolyo.

They used choco moist cake which is delicious and filling. I read from a few forums that Iko's cakes tend to harden when refrigerated which I agree but it's because the cake is really "full", not chiffon or mamon-type. It's more like a pound cake. All our guests love it, even my sister who ordered from Goldilocks ended up taking home a slice of Iko's cake (my son and my nephew had a joint party) as they liked it better than what they ordered for their son at Goldilocks.

Iko's Breads and Cakes Kapitolyo

6 East Capitol Drive, Kapitolyo, Pasig City

Telephone No. 02 4743899 

Operating Hours: 8 AM to 8 PM

They are also located in various SM and Savemore Supermarkets.

It's a Hello Kitty Party at Jollibee!

To all Kikay mommies our there, you will surely love the latest party theme at Jollibee. Why oh why, it's Hello Kitty!

Everything is pink, well, except Jollibee who is his usual self.

Pay a party fee of Php1250 so you'll get Jollibee to appear and dance at your party, snag 20 game prices, 1 Hello Kitty message board, and 30 balloons (all pink if you want!).

Now the very pretty part are the party trinkets, favors and loot bags.

For Php7.00 per set, you get Hello Kitty tray liner, invitation card and party hat. Individual prices are also available.

I love the dainty backdrop with the name of the celebrant also in vibrant colors. It's so chic!

Hello Kitty decors and plenty of pink balloons to match!

  

I swear these party hats are much prettier in person!

For the cake, Jollibee's official bakeshop is Red Ribbon and they have the Hello Kitty themed cake for only Php900.00

Jollibee is quite strict with bringing your own loot bag especially if you are having a theme that they don't offer. But with a Hello Kitty party, there are plenty of options as give aways (hint: 168 Mall). You don't have to stick to the Jollibee loot bags!

Php 60.00 per set

I said we will not hold a party for our youngest child's 2nd birthday, but with this favorite theme already available, we just might! In fact, I am even thinking of having MY own Hello Kitty party on my birthday.