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.