Honestly, I really hated motivational quotes like this post's title. Remember in Year 4 or 5 they'd make you write a quote in your exercise book in cursive writing (who uses cursive nowadays anyway???) and then you'd get to draw a colourful pattern at the bottom of the page. One that stuck in my mind after all these years is "buat baik berpada-pada, buat jahat jangan sekali" which I had to write down in Year 5 courtesy of Pn Eshah. Firstly' cos I still don't know exactly what berpada-pada means and I remember I did this really cincai cloud scallopy pattern that I got scolded for.
Wait a minute.. what was this post supposed to be about? Oh yeah... planning!
At the moment I'm planning my son's 3rd birthday party. Remember when I said that I didn't plan to do the big party thing this year? Looks like I will be throwing a party, after all. Though my parties tend to be more open-house sit around and makan-makan affairs, we've still got a lot to plan. Any mom who's ever organized a birthday bash for her kids will understand the stress, anxiety and sleepless nights it takes. And that's just planning the gift bags! There's the cake, the food (which has to cater for all types of palates - kids and adults and must not contain anything kids can choke on or be allergic to), decor (balloons, streamers, banners), the entertainment (the birthday kid knocking the cake off the table doesn't count), the guest list (nak ajak boss ke tak???) and so on and so forth....
At the moment I'm stressing over the gift bags. I don't really have much time to browse and plan and draw charts and hold family meetings since I work full-time and all. So far most of my planning has been at work where I curi-curi Google with the screen minimized and covered by spreadsheets and make quick notes on random bits of paper which I stuff into my handbag to be deciphered later at home.
I have been to some fantastic birthday parties where the moms really outdid themselves. I'm giving most of the credit to the moms since I know that all the dads did is shell out the money and say, "Suka hati u la, yang!" like they're supposed to. Hahaha. So I do have high expectations to live up to, I suppose.
Please please super moms.. I need help. Tips? Suggestions? Suppliers? Anything!!! I've got 2 weeks to pull it all together.
Wait a minute.. what was this post supposed to be about? Oh yeah... planning!
At the moment I'm planning my son's 3rd birthday party. Remember when I said that I didn't plan to do the big party thing this year? Looks like I will be throwing a party, after all. Though my parties tend to be more open-house sit around and makan-makan affairs, we've still got a lot to plan. Any mom who's ever organized a birthday bash for her kids will understand the stress, anxiety and sleepless nights it takes. And that's just planning the gift bags! There's the cake, the food (which has to cater for all types of palates - kids and adults and must not contain anything kids can choke on or be allergic to), decor (balloons, streamers, banners), the entertainment (the birthday kid knocking the cake off the table doesn't count), the guest list (nak ajak boss ke tak???) and so on and so forth....
At the moment I'm stressing over the gift bags. I don't really have much time to browse and plan and draw charts and hold family meetings since I work full-time and all. So far most of my planning has been at work where I curi-curi Google with the screen minimized and covered by spreadsheets and make quick notes on random bits of paper which I stuff into my handbag to be deciphered later at home.
I have been to some fantastic birthday parties where the moms really outdid themselves. I'm giving most of the credit to the moms since I know that all the dads did is shell out the money and say, "Suka hati u la, yang!" like they're supposed to. Hahaha. So I do have high expectations to live up to, I suppose.
Please please super moms.. I need help. Tips? Suggestions? Suppliers? Anything!!! I've got 2 weeks to pull it all together.
9 comments:
your children will thank you for doing this for them. imagine browsing the old photos together.
you could maybe start with brainstorming for a theme and then branch out the ideas from there.
- what your son likes.
ie: cartoon characters, colors, favorite items like clothings, foods, song, thing to do and so on.
could be a good way to make it more personal, so the other kids or families can get to know your son better. it is your son's birthday after all.
i won't be too worried about giving out favors or gift bags. i'm thinking, if you haven't got time to get the gifts for the guests before the party, you can try to allocate some time during the party to have a photo session. your son with the one kid/ family.
to minimize the mess of getting everyone one by one to do this, include a number for every family and let them know in advance when you invite them that you will call out the number during the party for a photo session with your son.
then call lar the number and make sure you have a list with you to check them off. that's it.
number - only if you wanna.
when the party's done, select and print the photos, get photo frames from one place like ikea then hand them out if you're thinking of a chance to meet up with your friends.
would this time and cost saving for you?
i'd go this route if i need to trim down time to go to different places to get different knick knacks, look for gift bags, wrap them up, etc as gifts.
have fun planning and happy birthday to you!
chewbies: yeah.. good idea! only normally i'd be running around like a headless chicken during the party. this yr with the added bonus of a baby permanently fused to my hip. i know of some moms who plan their kid's parties down to minute detail MONTHS in advance.
haha... yea, i'm sure everyone has their own way of getting something done. you can plan this party your way.... has to work for you, or you'll end up getting ultra stressed out.
not everyone gives out favors pun, that's secondary if you ask me. people will have a good time anyhow, if they don't.... hmm... can't please everyone kan? it's YOUR SON's birthday mah.
hanz!!
happy birthdayyyy!!!
u have fun today!
ps:sorry cant make phone calls..u know what happened..hahaha!
bff
hey, hop over to my blog. check out the recent post. i want a parent's perspective. also look at the comments.
Oh yes, I totally agree on the credit being given to the mom. My own husband expressed his amazement at the stuff I bought for the loot bag, AFTER the party. "Bila you beli ni?" "When did you order the bag?" and "Masa bila you put it together?".
I don't know about other husbands, but mine is totally hopeless when it comes to organising birthday party. Ever since he suggested pony rides for my daughter's FIRST birthday, his role has been very much limited to digging deep into his own pocket.
This year, I didn't want to have a bday party for Rey since we're having aqiqah for the new baby around the same time when Rey's birthday is. I just thought of buying a cake and then have her blow out her candles during makan2 after the marhaban ceremony.
However, the little girl has been telling her Bapak about wanting a Princess Cake for "birthday to you Reyrey". Her Bapak, being the sucker he is when his daughter buat muka puss-in-boots, has been trying to talk me into throwing a separate party to Rey. I told him that he's very welcome to throw one for his daughter if he wants, but he has to do everything himself. Haa!
sorry la no idea from me on these things dear... No experience as I didn't do my daughters' 1st & 2nd birthday party.Thanks for the invitation by FB.
hi hanna,
i am recommending this site --> http://good-eats-blog.blogspot.com, maybe boleh dapat some more ideas of party food, favors and cake. I dah 3 times order dengan diorang.
Hanna, i totally agree with you. Me too having sleepless nite. Since day time spent working at the office, only have time to do it at night after the boys "tido". Last nite i slept at 4am worrying that i cannot do it all by myself. Since hubs is hopeless in this, It will only stress me further if i ask him to help. He would say, eh perlu ker nie, nie buat aper, takpayah etc. For hubs bday pun i senyap senyap buat party favor. ahahahaha
For me, if i'm throwing a party i like to pick a theme, bukan ape nak senangkan kerja so i can narrow the scope like food, party favor, decorations etc. Macam hubs bday, we had a bbq party, so most food i prepared were suitable for bbq party like kebab, corn, pizza etc (nasi goreng tuu coz hubs kena makan nasi..) then i baked burger cake which i thot suitable for the party. then as for party favour i give senduk since its a cookout party, wanted to give apron but could find it. I only had 2-3 days to prepare it.
Tapi yg i pening kepala now there are few people yang "maybe attending". They make my life so difficult. Coz there are at least 13 maybes. So do i still need to do party favor. I only want to make not more than 10 extra favors. Nanti membazir. If you need any help don't hesitate to ring ring me.
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