And Just Like That.. She's Two

Two years ago today we were gifted with this little bundle of joy whom, little did we know, would rule our universe since then.

Happy birthday to the daughter of our dreams. You are loved beyond words.

It is an honor to watch the person you are becoming but please, please, not too fast.

party planning mode is ON!

In less than a month, someone's turning 2!! The little girl is excited and so is everyone else in the household. Ummm, no, we don't do the hotel ballroom/ village clubhouse professional- party- planner- organized shebangs around here. I like to go the old-fashion way, where mums do it from scratch. I am extremely hands-on and like to be on top of it all. If only I could bake a cake, I would.

You see, I find utter pleasure from the planning stage down to execution and on to the end result. (Lets just say, I {fine, hubby and I} pulled off a destination wedding without having to use a wedding planner.) Simply because, planning a fete gives me some sort of a high.

Not that we dig HUGE parties. I like small themed ones that are unique and true to the person or occasion. And more importantly, I value creativity and practicality. Resourcefulness is the name of the game here.

On her first, we had this.

I was being selfish and thought to myself then that that was my only chance to have my penchant for Matryoshka dolls play a role in one of my biggest milestones. She turned one and I think she had fun. So did I.

Now that she's turning another year older and seem to have developed strong preferences, I try to be less selfish by giving her several theme options.

Option 1

Tea Party

She likes playing tea time and this is something she might enjoy.

 Inspiring beyond words. Found these here and here. 

Thing is, she might appreciate it more when she is a little older. 

Option 2

A Picnic

Before we moved back to Manila, I already thought of having a real deal picnic shindig with baskets, mats, and the works at the Botanic Gardens.

This option might just be logistically difficult around here.

Option3 

Pink Flamingo Party

This is just so pretty!!!  Came across this here, where I found a bevy of amazing party ideas. Need  more time, probably a whole year to pull this off though.

Option 4

Mexican Fiesta

This might be the easiest given my time frame. With the pinatas, maracas, tacos, burritos, margaritas-- little miss celebrant will surely enjoy and so will her little guests, and most probably (read: tequila) the adults too!

31 and grateful

Every first day of the year I turn a year older.

New Year's eve for me is bittersweet. While I am eager and excited to bid adieu to the year that was and hopeful for a year anew, I am on the other hand a tad melancholic that I am indeed another year older.

This time around, I feel a little different. As I look back, I have a lot to be grateful for. The year that was, was nothing short of crazy. It was all about traveling, shuttling back and forth from Singapore to Manila, and then finally moving back. With a lot of major things happening in between.

Mischka had so many milestones, we have lost track already. I am just glad that she is always so eager to join the ride and the challenges her mama Mikka and dada Mitch decide to embark on. {Yes, she calls us endearingly with our first names.} We are beyond grateful to be blessed with such a trooper of a child, who also manages to be very sweet, loving, and extremely funny. Just with her alone, I have a lot to be grateful for. 

Not to mention my amazing hubby, my dear family {whom I sorely missed over the holidays,} and my friends who are almost like family.

Because of these characters and fixtures in my life, I don't mind being 31. It actually feels great being one.

Cheers to a fantastic 2010 and double cheers to a stellar 2011!