Holiday Break

I am looking forward to this holiday break. We'll be focusing on spending time with the family ~ joining the little guy's school christmas party, preparing for christmas eve, last-minute shopping, delivering gifts, enjoying some hot chocolate with marshmallows, driving through beautifully christmas lit neighborhoods and ultimately making memorable moments with loved ones this season of giving! 

So before I sign off for a long weekend break, this was how my week started : 

• tying grosgrain ribbons on design darling gifts (no need for a box ~ so pretty!)
• hanging our latest inexpensive T ornament (from michaels!)
• singing carols with kindergarteners last monday at their annual christmas sing-along
• driving through river oaks
• painting my nails nude again (chanel frenzy is a new favorite!)
• dining out with my girlfriends and having fun exchanging gifts
• holding tight the special christmas project aston did at school (adorable)
• and dressing up candycanes with washi tape flags (fancy!)  

Also, don't forget our ongoing 

DRESS SOCIAL SHOP GIVEAWAY

details on how to join here

we will pick a winner on Christmas eve! 

FRIENDS, i sincerely hope you all have a wonderful time with your families! 

i'll see you back here next week! 

Wedding Preps

Our weekend was packed, a birthday party and a wedding. I was surprisingly able to manage and take quite a few shots before heading to Ben's niece Maggie's wedding. But there will be a whole blogpost on the fun kid's party we went to earlier before the wedding.

Here are a few shots before we left to go to church and a picture of aston with his cousins. It was such a fun night being with family and just hitting the dancefloor and enjoying the open bar! 

Isn't he cute in his little striped jacket? Cuteness galore. 

Glow in The Dark Party

Our weekend ended with an exciting glow in the dark party Aston attended for buddy Aiden. Such a super fun birthday party the kids and adults enjoyed. Glow in the dark necklaces, bangles and eyeglasses were a must-have and the colorful glow all around make for a cool party scene!

Aston rocking the necklace as a headband! Such a ham!

  

Out of this world fun!

Super Hero Party Peeks

Last month we celebrated Aston's 5th birthday with a superhero party and i finally got the amazing pictures my talented niece Ailynne captured from the party (THANK YOU!). There are hundreds of beautiful photos to sort and I am just going to share a few of them here for now. I want to post them all! 

Thank you once again to all our friends and family who came to celebrate with us and making that day another special birthday for our little superhero! 

 

 

 

 

All photos by AILYNNE-ABARADO REMIGIO
and she's in facebook too!

The Birthday Boy

It's been a crazy week for our family. This delayed birthday post is way overdue. Last Friday, Aston celebrated his actual birthday waking up with some awesome news to drive to San Antonio for the long weekend and a surprise birthday cupcake for breakfast! What kid won't want that? 

We had been celebrating all 2 weeks long and this long weekend trip is the highlight of his birthday. We booked at a kid-friendly resort and we're excited to meet some friends there along with their kids too. We left right before lunch and had a pleasant drive to the country and our superhero was just beside himself. He knows he will be by the pool all weekend and will be hanging out with his buddies. 

Before we left for San Antonio, I made arrangements for a special treat for him during Looney Tunes breakfast which they offer at the hotel and their pastry chef baked a really delicious cake for him. He was able to share yet another cake candle blowing fun with his friends! 

Last two photos by friend, Nina

Pre-Birthday Tidbits

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Birthday Blessing at Chapel

Leading to the big party weekend, Aston had a big celebration at school starting with a May birthday celebrants' recognition at school's chapel. He was so thrilled to be called to come up and handed a special birthday sticker and being blessed with a prayer and a birthday song. His class then were treated with superhero cupcakes for his classroom birthday party! 

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Friday Dinner

With the grandparents, we feasted scrumptious italian dinner and enjoyed a concert under the stars at our local town center. Despite how hot it was that day, he insisted on wearing his boots and carry his Superman lunchbox filled with random toys. Boys will be boys!

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Superhero Birthday Party

Early Saturday morning, we then prepared for his birthday party. He had 2 hours of bouncy fun with his classmates and friends. More pictures from the party will be shared later. But do check out my mommy superhero outfit - LOL. I found an iron-on "supermom" sticker during mother's day weekend, it was perfect for the superhero party!

As if one party was not enough - we headed later to best buddy Noah's sports-themed birthday party! 

So much fun! 

More pics from his party will be shared soon! 

Mother's Day Weekend Recap

When I booked my husband's seminar a few months ago, I didnt realize it fell on Mother's Day weekend. We didn't have big plans but certainly we want to spend the day with loved ones especially with my mother and our little family. So, the trip was quick ~ we left Friday and back home Sunday afternoon just in time to spend Mother's day celebration with my folks, having an early dinner out by a lake. It was pleasant and nice. 

The whole weekend was delightful. Hanging out with my sister who lives in Chicago ~ sharing Gino's East pizza and stopping by a local Lego store with the little guy. The weather was cooler last Saturday and it rained a bit. But by the time we were getting ready to head to the airport, the sunny weather was out for a perfect Mother's day! 

Here are a few snapshots from our weekend : 

Packing for a quick trip to the Windy City

Arriving at Chicago's O'Hare airport

At the hotel's cool lobby

Dressing comfy for the weekend

Mother's Day breakfast with my sweet buddy


I hope all mother's get to have a wonderful Mother's day last Sunday!

Signed, Sealed and Delivered

Our little man's super hero invitations were finally printed and will be mailed out before the weekend. Paper invites were assembled in their coordinating white envelopes, sprinkled with festive star confetti and sealed with their matching address labels. We are in party mood over here! 

Invitations by Paula of frog prince paperie, available here

Party Planning With A Superhero

As of last saturday morning, our soon-to-be 5 year old's party theme was spiderman as approved by the birthday boy. That same morning he grabbed a random superman shirt we got him from old navy a few months ago and decided he wanted a cape to wear it with. So out we went for a lovely saturday outing with our caped superhero! 

And if you have a passionate little guy whose imagination rivals any artist, you know that soon enough everything (and anything) will revolve around that of-the-moment obsession. It didnt take long for him to switch out birthday party themes on me. Spiderman was a long favorite for over a year and we thought it was due time to give him a spiderman party. But just like that, superman won out! 

Thankfully, nothing was finalized with any of his party papergoods including the invitations. But i've got everything planned in my mind - the colors, the designs, party favors, tablecenterpieces, the cake!

Now I've got to creatively somehow re-plot everything and hopefully with just slight revisions and color changes. The joys of party planning with a fickleminded 4 year old boss ~ such challenges and i'm all for it! 

Stay tuned for more party planning details! 

Wedding Stories

Last Friday we attended a nephew's beautiful wedding and despite the gorgeous weather, my allergies as well as Aston's had it's major attack. It was actually nice to have the wedding outside and the venue was perfect for it. I wished we both took extra doses of our allergy medicines and Aston getting a few of his allergy-control eye drops. But nevertheless, we still had a lot of fun. The food was delicious, lots of dancing and lots of french macarons for the night. And not to mention the fun crazy photobooth! 

Here are a few iPhone shots I managed to take :

I did enjoy getting ready for the night. I had a hair blowout at my favorite blow dry place and get to dress up fancy with pretty jewelry and put on a rare appearance of some lovely high heels!

The wedding venue

Aston posing for his daddy here. He was such a well-behaved boy. He get to hang out with his cousins Daniel, who was the ring bearer and his little brother David! 

Gorgeous flower centerpieces

And lastly, the vintage get-away car for the newly weds! 

Congratulations, Arvy and Candace!

Party Plotting

In a few months, our little guy will turn 5 and i've got my work cut out for me this year. I've got feedback from the wee boss that he wants a spiderman party, then one day he'd switched out to a superman party or that he'd like a star wars jedi training get-together. It seems like he can't make up his mind! 

Luckily, i've got tons of inspiration from my favorite party gals and pinterest and i'm taking notes! 

How awesome is this spiderman pinata? Aston will flip out when he sees this! 

{source}

Source: catchmyparty.com via LiliPaz on Pinterest

If hosting a star wars-themed party, these cupcakes are perfect! 

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Source: karaspartyideas.com via LiliPaz on Pinterest

Of course, there has to be capes for our superheroes! 

{via}

Source: naturallychicmama.blogspot.com via LiliPaz on Pinterest

I kinda like the colors of this superhero-themed party and it's non-specific, non-commercialized goodness and i'm all for that ~ IF the little guy OKs! 

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Source: realsimple.com via LiliPaz on Pinterest

I am excited to plan this party but really, i can't believe he is almost 5! That's what i'm amazed about ~ where did our baby go? He was just in pampers and we blinked and soon he'll be in kindergarten! wow!

Birthday Week Post

The week started with a big bang. It was Chinese New Year and we are ushering the water dragon for 2012. Pretty exciting!

Thursday was my birthday and I got more cupcakes! Our staff know me well. I'm hoping the dozen makes it till this weekend at least.

Last year's birthday was a big milestone and it was nice to do a low-key quiet birthday this time. 

Happy Weekend guys! 

Recap of My Week

I can't believe the month is almost over and February is just around the corner. Let me go ahead and share a brief recap of my eventful week. 

The past week brought weird Houston warm weather coupled with drizzling days. I re-discovered my old anorak and paired it with my outfits most of the past days. I love that it's in a neutral shade that pretty much goes with everything. I say, great investment from over the years. 

Also I am thrilled to share that i found this amazing pink sperry topsiders and i am in love. It's the canvas kind and is so comfortable I can wear them all day. I practically wore them everyday in high school but back then it didn't came in this fun color (well, not that I can recall). I was just excited to get them! 

I also did some serious marketing work for the office, hence the granny look below. LOL. 

Then Saturday, met up with old high school besties for an early birthday lunch and Rae brought delectable Crave cupcakes! Amazing as always. Thank you! 

Little guy just had to be in the scene to blow the candle. Great week overall and I can't wait to celebrate Chinese New Year and get excited with the upcoming year of the Dragon!