FROM ONE THING TO ANOTHER, AND ANOTHER…

One of the lesser known facts about myself is my love for fashion. An even lesser known fact is that I was once an investment banker, a long, long time ago. Who would’ve guessed that many years later, I would end up being a mom of 2 beautiful daughters, put up my own event styling company, and a kid’s fashion line to boot?

Fifi & Co. Photos taken by the AMAZING Anj and Cha at Delightful Little Darlings!

One thing I realized is that in life, one thing leads to another, and another, and another, until you end up pretty much so far away from where you began that even your own mother would never have guessed what you end up becoming.

Another fun fact: when I was in high school, I saw a random newspaper ad about a balloon sculpting seminar (you know, the type where you make balloon swords, dogs, and flowers, etc). On a whim, I joined, and my mom tagged along. It wasn’t a calculated move; I didn’t go there thinking I would make a living being a balloon artist. I just went, and had fun. Little did I know then that I would be doing balloon decorations for a living.

Steve Jobs went to a class on calligraphy not because it was part of his major, but because he was interested in it. It was fun. 10 years later, it all came back to him when he was designing the Mac.

Regardless of where you end up, the most important thing is that along the way, you’re having fun. You’re curious. You’re actually interested.

So what fun thing am I working on now?

3 words: Fifi & Co Playdate!

Photo by Delightful Little Darlings!

COME AND PLAY AT FIFIESTA AND COPACABANA

If you aren’t familiar yet with The Playdate, it’s a yearly thing where all the moms and kids get together to have one fun-filled afternoon of food, activities, and photo-taking. Oh, and the kids get to try on, for the first time, the latest Fifi & Co clothing collection!

Here’s an amazing video reel by Lemon Three Films capturing the soul of the event beautifully:

For our digital invitation, I had Party Magic’s resident artist, Pat The Lion, whip up something cute:

I even had Pat design t-shirts for the whole production team (I made shirts for the peeps at Fifi & Co, Party Magic, Delightful Little Darlings, Lemon Three Films, and of course for our inimitable host, Pat Infanteof Cocoon Studio!).

Now, on to the set design.

Upon entering, the mommies were greeted by a glass wall filled with Mexican-inspired doodles!

[Read more…]

THE ONE OFFERING TO RULE THEM ALL

Here’s a riddle for you: what do birthday parties have, that debuts and weddings don’t?

Simple: food carts.

Weddings and debuts ain’t got nothing on birthday parties, because at birthday parties, we get our pick of snacks, whether it be fries, churros, burgers, or ice cream and we get to eat them all, even before the program starts. That’s right. No need to wait for those latecomers to arrive for the program (and the meals) to start!

MY PERSONAL LITMUS TEST FOR THE BEST FOOD CARTS

The food cart landscape is exciting, and continually changing, with new concepts always popping up. That’s why I feel the need to write a blog post like this one at least once every year.

But Michelle, what makes you decide which food cart concepts are the best?

I have a basic test for this: I only choose the food carts that I would get myself if it were my own party. It’s what the wise ones say all the time, you gotta walk the talk. In fact, I’ll probably already book these carts for the upcoming birthday of my daughter!

So, here’s the list.

Ready?

THE BEST FOOD CARTS FOR 2019

***Some of the food carts listed below offer EXCLUSIVE PROMOTIONS AND/OR DISCOUNTS; these can be found underneath each of the “Download Rates” sections boxed in yellow, so be sure to read carefully!***

(1) SIP DRINKS

Have you ever shopped in the grocery, or the convenience store, looking for that perfect drink to quench your thirst, but just couldn’t find any? I know I have. It’s because our society is filled with sugar-laden, artificially sweetened, and even caffeinated drinks that keep us awake in a sleep-deprived stupor. Most of the time, I find myself searching for a second drink to cleanse my palette from that first sugary drink. And all of the time, that second drink is just plain old water!

Enter Sip. The first time I saw Sip was during the Spectrum Fair Bazaar, mostly by chance. One sip and I was hooked.

Sip is a new beverage concept that aims to provide an exciting alternative towards a healthier lifestyle. Their drinks are handcrafted and made with only the freshest ingredients.

What I like. Creative flavors that are tasteful, based on real fruit ingredients, and most importantly, not that sweet. When you drink, you actually feel refreshed and not overloaded with sugar.

Tip. Go for the Lychee Loco if you are looking for a light, refreshing drink. Try also the Strawberry Yakult if you want something with a stronger punch!

CONTACT DETAILS

Contact Person: Hazel Chang

Mobile Number: (0917) 531 3564

Email: sipdrinks.ph@gmail.com

Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/sipdrinks.ph/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sipdrinks.ph/

(2) SERA’S LECHON CON SANGUCHERIA

Now here’s a truly exciting new concept. The Lechon con Sangucheria (which means, “big lechon sandwich”), is a staple in Peru and Argentina. Their version of lechon is heavily salted and spiced with turmeric, peppers and paprika.

Sera’s is the first of such a concept in the Philippines, and presents its own interpretation of this classic dish. Sera’s uses its own baguette bread, which is crunchy yet dense enough to absorb the rich juices of the lechon.

What I like. Sera’s uses its own special Peruvian garlic mayo, seasoned with a secret mixture of herbs and spices. It’s then garnished with a tomato / onion salad dressed with balsamic for balance.

Tip. This concept is PERFECT for Filipino-fiesta themed parties, and even Spanish / Mexican / South American themed events!

CONTACT DETAILS

Contact Person: Kyle

Mobile Number: (0977) 807 6012

Email: kyle@regainphilippines.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seraslechon/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seraslechon/

(3) BAO ASIAN TREASURES

For those looking for something more Asian for their events, Bao Asian Treasures is the newly launched siomai food cart! This type of food cart is great especially for the Filipino-Chinese, as the siomai is one of the most well-known Chinese delicacies around the world.

What I like. Bao Asian Treasures’s siomai is made of fresh, lean pork, which is not fatty nor oily. What I like is that Bao’s siomais are healthy to eat, as there are no artificial extenders and preservatives. This healthy siomai comes in 3 variants: Shrimp & Mushroom Siomai, Mushroom Siomai, and Black Truffle & Mushroom Siomai.

Tip. Book for an event now to get FREE 45 pcs of frozen siomai (comes with an insulated bag); see Exclusive Offer below.

CONTACT DETAILS

Mobile Number: (0943) 738 6888

Email: bao.asian.treasures@gmail.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bao.asian.treasures/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bao.asian.treasures/

(4) SAINTE ANNE CREPERIE

Has anyone ever noticed the relative lack of options in terms of crepe food carts? I know I have. It was a wonderful revelation, then, when I chanced upon Sainte Anne Creperie at one of my client’s parties!

What I like. As you might already surmise in this blog post, I am a fan of subtle and light flavors. And Sainte Anne’s crepe is exactly that: light, soft, and with that subtle hint of sweetness! Because the crepe is so light, you get to enjoy the toppings and flavors without getting too full in the stomach. Oh, and not to mention, for an additional cost, clients can have a scoop of premium vanilla ice cream with their crepe!

Tip. Sainte Anne Creperie, has the following 4 available flavors, all of them equally delicious: Butter, Lemon & Sugar for that light taste, the classic Banana Nutella for those chocolate lovers, Mango Cream for something more fruity, and lastly, Smores!

CONTACT DETAILS

Mobile Number: (0917) 309 8850

Email: sainteanneph@gmail.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sainteanneph/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sainteannecreperie/

(5) CASA NOSTRA PIZZERIA

What party is complete without pizza? Up until this day, I have not encountered a kid who does not like pizza. And now, you can have a freshly baked pizza right in your party with Casa Nostra Pizzeria, the first Neapolitan pizza food cart! [Read more…]

THE BEST COMPLIMENT A STYLIST CAN EVER GET

It’s actually not, “the styling was beautiful!”, although those words bring such great comfort to me and my team. It’s also not, “the theme turned out really nice!”. No, it’s not a proclamation of words, written or otherwise.

So what is the best compliment?

It’s the client hiring you for the 2nd time.

Watch the spectacle that is Chad’s birthday party. Photos taken by Delightful Little Darlings. More below!

As the truism goes, actions speak louder than words. And no action speaks louder than a client getting you for the 2nd time. Because underneath that action is the client silently saying to you, “You did such a great job the last time that I’m trusting you with the special day of my 2nd child this time around!”.

In business parlance, it’s well known that acquiring repeat customers is “cheaper” than trying to get new ones.

But in event styling, I actually feel the opposite: there’s even more pressure for me the 2nd time, because this time I would have to up my game even more!

This is the story of how my client, Jasmin, got me for the 2nd time, and how we did a party for her son Chad Mason.

THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH

When I think about what makes a great party, I think about the melding of the theme with the venue (assuming of course, the client likes the choice of theme in the first place). It is never a good idea to have the venue adjust to the theme. Venues are fixed, immovable objects, while themes can be fluid. Rather, it is always best to have the theme adjust to the venue.

Given how big a hit The Greatest Showman was in the big screen, it’s no wonder the movie’s tunes and aesthetics have inspired people from all over the world. For Jasmin and Chad Mason, I wanted to do something different though:

Because the venue was naturally dark (minimal windows), and because the event was dinner time, I felt that it would be more apt to use string lights and light bulbs for the ceiling as well as different types of lighting on-the-ground (such as “altar bulbs” and christmas lights). This led to a more dramatic feel in terms of styling.

Because of all of the above, shadows danced among the scenery, which, combined with burgundy red hues, led to the overall grand and mysterious feel of the party. For instance, I love the play of shadows that happen at the curtains on the stage:

Part of the ceiling decor where these trapeze artists hanging in the air:

To maintain a more subtle aesthetic, I used gold silhouettes of the circus performers instead of a more literal representation. For example, this strongman on the stage: [Read more…]