Let's Talk Siblings...

I don't have one. Well, wait, let me correct that I have one. I have one with my dad, a half-brother. I have 10 more from my husband, which are called brothers-in law and sisters-in-law. I have one that's very special to me too. He isn't a biological brother. In fact, he is in no way related to me, except all my life, I thought of him as my brother.
I met him when he was 16. He was a senior student at a local highschool and was the best student of my Mom. When he was 16, I was about 7. I idolized him. He was thin then. I finished elementary, he was there and he stood watch. I reached highschool and he was so supportive, even happy that I got in at Philippine Science High School. I graduated in Highschool at Ednas as First Honorable Mention and he was there to applaud for me. He was also there when I finished college, at what University....... I shall not mention anymore. Suffice to say, that at every important aspect of my life he was there. At my marriage, he was the Best Man. When I gave birth to my daughter, he was there. At my daughter's christening and 1st birthday, he was not absent. The same goes when my son was born.
He is working in a foreign company here. America is in recession and I am ever fearful for his job security. With this in mind, I go into research and discover that executives like him, have a chance to get employment elsewhere in case of job termination which does wonders for my peace of mind. He was a safety engineer and now he's an executive project manager. There's still such a thing as Executive Recruitment. It's where executives are being hired or outsourced. I'm perfectly sure that my brother, knock on wood, if in any case he gets sacked, then at least he still has a bright future ahead of him because there is such a thing as executive recruitment around. If  you're an executive looking for other possible employment opportunites, then I guess executive recruitment might just be for you.

For more information on executive recruitment, head over to Spencer Stuart, a well-known CEO headhunter in the United States. Check out this other Spencer Stuart page for more details.

What's your story?

I joined Lainy's Online Anniversary Blog Writing Contest. I had so much fun doing it. Everyone has a story to tell. It's your choice on how you present your story to the world. One of the more effective ways of telling a story besides writing it, is putting it into moving pictures... well, in other words, movies or film clips. Most internet marketers will tell you that they get their point across faster when they upload videos and talk to you about their selling points.
Advertising is also one of the best ways to get your products sold or marketed. In connection with this, I found this interesting site that specializes in multimedia video editing. What's amazing about it, is that they can help you conceptualize and produce tv commercials,  a corporate video (maybe USANA made use of them), live sporting events and videos for entertainments. I'm thinking of getting someone making an avp for my 10th wedding anniversary. I've always wanted to learn making avps myself. But then, that's me being a cheapskate. If you've got money to burn, and serious about getting your products out there and making your story told by one of the finest storytellers I've seen, then try http://www.groovylikeamovie.com.

With Recession and all...*

Most, if not all of us, have felt the effects of recession. You're one of the lucky persons, if you haven't. My mother-in-law and I were discussing Education last night. We were having a talk about my daughter who's about to attend toddler school this June. I told her about where I went to highschool and life about my college days.
We even talked about my brother-in-law who is now a junior in college. My hubby has 10 siblings. A few of them, in college already. My mother-in-law is looking for ways to buy cheap college textbooks. With different courses, it is most difficult for her to find resources and buying brandnew is not really an economical or a practical option. Some of the methods she uses is to search second-hand bookstores, borrow from friends or other relatives who took the same course or even from friends of friends.
I've been beginning to imagine my kids as they go thru elementary, highschool and college. I guess when it comes to books, since they only have one schoolyear as difference, what the 'ate' or my eldest daughter is going to use, will be inherited by her little brother.  I am dreaming that my two kids will share their books, so in that little way, I might be able to save some money and be able to use the money I was able to save for more important stuff like medicine, vitamins and food for my kids. What do you think? What do you do to save money? What are your plans?

Something I did*

Remember the fact that I now spend most of my time staring at handmade items from etsy? I should mention I also do that at multiply. In fact, I now have a lot of favorite sellers from these online shops. I add them as favorites but I have not yet bought from them. I just love dreaming.

I'd like to share a 'craft' (handmade) thingie that I made.

 

It's a photo of a single necklace that I made.

The materials were:

A snap-on keychain, left over from my giveaways on my daughter's 2nd birthday.

A chain which I bought from an online seller at multiply, a long long time ago.

Voila! I have a photo pendant which holds a different picture in front and a different picture at the back.

What do you think?

Next thing I'll be making is my Twilight Mom photo pendant...

I'm currently working on my blog tweaking and attempt at a makeover for Passions of Mys because I really want to start selling online again. Or probably just to earn. I just hope I can manage 3 blogsites properly.

Oh, by the way, I joined     

You can check out my entry, here.I'm looking for opinions or reactions since I feel as if it's a little off-tangent compared to the other entries which chronicles how they really started blogging.
Oh well, even if I don't win, at least I gave it my best shot.
I think that was one of the most difficult things I tried to do.

Still on Wedding Planning...

I think I bit off more than I can chew with regards to this wedding planning series. There's just tons and tons of information and essentials and stuff that I would like to share. 

The Essentials in a Wedding:

Invitations - well, if you've decided on the church, the time, the date, the reception, you'll need invitations to send out to your selected guests. Again, I emphasize creating your guestlists in the "by family" category and placing a column for expected guests from that family so you can make a tally sheet. Usually, same number of invitations and souvenirs unless, you want to give souvenirs by person, then you have to make a headcount.

Church - well, that depends on your religious denomination. I'm speaking for Roman Catholics, there are some requirements that you have to attend to, like wedding banns, seminars and special guides on getting an approval from the Vatican if you so desire. 

Rings - if you're to be married, you'll need 2 rings. 1 for you and 1 for him. Find a local jeweler. If you've got gold stashed away somewhere, have it melted and made into a ring. Loose stones from other gems can also help into cost-cutting the price of your ring. 

Flowers/Florist - basic stuff will work unless you want to stand out. Dangwa is the cheapest place where you can find Flowers for Manila-based brides. From Luzon? Head on out to La Trinidad, Benguet. Uber cheap flowers and beautiful too. 

Gowns/Barongs - outfits for the entourage. I went to a local couture. Famous for her gowns in proms and weddings. There are a lot of bridal shops out there. Others, even offer packages. Negotiate. The keyword when you go into any supplier's office is negotiate. Ask for package deals. Be sure that when you go and decide on a couture that you have the number of your entourage members finalized and listed. From the simple to elaborate...find a gown that fits your personality, something that you can wear in the future for your renewal of vows or something you'd like to pass on, if you'll keep it. For cost-cutting purposes, I went with keeping me and my hubby's clothes, the rest of the entourage got first-use on gowns that I picked the colors of. 

Photo & Video Coverage - Canvass. These guys usually hang around churches during weddings. It's actually your choice whether you save up here and spend it on something else or splurge. You hopefully only get married once and you'd want to keep memories of this special event for posterity. Some prices are just too astronomical for me. Do you have a freelance photographer as a relative? Ask him/her to take the pictures. Low on budget? Others just opt for the photos. Or again, ask for their package prices.

Hair & Makeup - these don't go hand-in-hand with Gowns. ASK for TRIAL Makeup, Always! To save on money, when you have your trial makeup done, do your pre-nuptial photos as well, these are the photos placed on tarps and on display on your wedding. That's hitting 2 birds with one stone, right? The purpose of the trial makeup is for the hmu artist to get a feel of what your skin tone looks like under makeup and how best to fix you up for the big day.

Reception/Caterer - depends on where you want to hold it. In a hotel? A local restaurant? At home? Having a reception somewhere other than your home is less worry and less tasks for you. Having it at home? You need to source for reliable caterers. Rent chairs, tents, skirting for the tables and chairs plus create an ambiance suitable for a wedding. Besides all that, you have to clean your house, your garden, your backyard and everything in sight and not in sight. Again, ask for the package rates. There usually is. Serve good food. If there is anything I've learned in attending weddings and parties, people rarely remember the gowns, how the ceremony went, everyone praises or complains about the food. If you want to splurge on something, I suggest and emphasize on FOOD.But that's the glutton in me.

Cake - personally, I don't think the cake needs to be over the top. I was happy to have cupcakes in tiers as a wedding cake but they hadn't heard of it yet when I was about to get married. Instead, I settled for satellite cakes which worked for me, since after the wedding I got to send out the cakes to other relatives. One whole layer to Tuguegarao, another to Manila, another to Baguio, and so on. If your reception is a hotel/restaurant, they usually have tie-ups with bakers or they bake their own cake. It's your choice again. Be practical about it. Cake is just cake.

Souvenirs/Tokens - all depends on your budget. Best place to scout for these is Divisoria. You'll be dizzy with all the wonderful stuff they can offer. Invitation makers also offer souvenir items usually. Again, ask for package, be ready with your estimated number of guests. When you go to Divi, go early, start your bid in half the asking price, tell them you'll buy in bulk so that they'll give you the items in wholesale price. 

Marriage License -  essential. Grab one from the civil registry. There's a seminar from POPCOM that you have to attend as well. If I remember correctly.

Little Things you need:

• pillows for rings, Bible and coins. 
• Pins for rings, corsages, and others. 
• Candles, matches, veil,cord, Bible, 'aras' or coins.
• Guestbook if not included in the photo/video package, songs for the ceremony and the reception. 
• Hair pins for hair, scotch tape for simple repairs.
• Shoes!!! - I almost forgot this. 
  
• I can't seem to think of anything else to add. Got any ideas? Comment on this post.
  

 

Party Planning, Wedding Planning Series

January had me thinking about all the things that I am looking forward to this year. As of last count, I am excited about 3 weddings. The first would be the wedding of my sister-in-law. She's having both a civil and a church wedding. The second would be the wedding of my bestfriend since highschool. She finally found someone who can match her wit and passions. The third wedding which as of this post is still unofficial is that of my 'adopted cousin' from dorm years in Kalayaan.

With these in mind, I feel as if my mind is travelling back to the time when I was planning my wedding. So many details, so little time.

   
    Planning for a party begins with the occasion, the date you want to hold it and the time. For weddings, the biggest considerations would be your budget. When you celebrate a wedding on a weekend, expect a higher turnout of guests. When you decide to celebrate your wedding on a weekday, there is a bigger chance of less visitors.So take note of that to help you decide. For weddings, find colors that will suit the ambiance of your church and your reception. For aesthetic purposes, check what colors suit you, your entourage and the view. Consider this: You are having an evening reception and the colors would have to be vivid enough for it to be captured on film.

I always tell anyone who asks for my opinion on party planning that after you've settled the date, the time and the where... your next priority should be the guestlist, the guestlist, and the guestlist. The guestlist is usually the basis for the number of invitations you would have to send out, food to be prepared and the number of souvenirs/tokens you are going to give away. In any party, you must have a guestlist prepared. This actually helps since after you get married, if and when you have kids, there are tons more parties to plan. Having a guestlist handy is of great help. For a wedding, with the guestlist you can start planning on your entourage participants as well. Remember that when you pick out principal sponsors, they usually come in pairs. You can pair husbands and wives together or you can mix it up, it's all up to you.

For Catholic weddings (Members of the Entourage):
Principal Sponsors (Ninongs & Ninangs)
Secondary Sponsors (Candle, Veil & Cord)
Best Man/Men
Groomsmen
Maiden of Honor/Maids of Honor
Bridesmaids
Ring bearer
Coin bearer
Bible bearer
Bride and Groom (of course)
Parents of the Bride
Parents of the Groom

What usually helps you make a guestlist is by putting columns. I prepare a guestlist by invitation but put extra columns for an expected number of guests to do the head count.
Example:
                                                 Expected
1.Mr & Mrs. Romualdo Rosario            3            the +1 is their daughter 

With this, I am able to estimate the number of guests who will arrive and the number of invitations I have to make/order/send out.
 

Twilight is everywhere....

            Twilight is everywhere...But here. So sad, yet still excited. At least Twilight may be shown when it's a holiday in the Philippines. There is an offchance that I will be able to see it and hopefully with my niece. I converted her into a Twilight addict. We're looking forward to the opening of SM City Rosales and hoping that we get to watch Twilight there. 
People everywhere are raving about it. Of course, there are a lot of expectations when you watch something you've already read. Reviews for the movie is also out. In case you want to read one, head on out to this site: Found Not Lost 
I liked her review but then there's another one, which I don't know if I should take into heart at : NY Times 
           So, like everyone else in my dingy little city, I will have to wait. But then, I'm biased so I don't think I can provide a fair review. I usually find every book I've read that is put into a movie better in the book. But then, I love it when it is placed in a movie because I get to see a clearer picture. I don't read and visualize how lines are delivered or how they look. I just feel the emotions. I don't obsess over the color of the hair, how they'd look, it's more of the characters and their representation. I read fast and I don't stop until I finish a book. I have a habit of rereading though especially if I liked certain parts. 
I'm currently rereading twilight, breaking dawn and reading Patricia Cornwell's The Body Farm. I forgot, I also am rereading The Host, also by Stephenie Meyer. 
             Here's a photo from the movie. Photo Credits to NY TIMES.

 

Edward looks human here.