Kids Don't Come with Manual

Let me get started by saying I really got excited when Mommy Bloggers Philippines (MBP) Admins opened the slots for sign ups for the MBP Christmas Party. I remembered last year (2014) I saw from a mommy blogger friend a photo of her and other mommies spending a very chic and fab White Christmas-themed party, that was also the time I first learned about Mommy Bloggers Philippines. I said to myself I got to be a member of that club and be able to join the following year's Christmas party. And the rest is history.

with the beautiful early birds of the event
photo by Mommy Rackell

So last December 5, I am one of the 40++ mommies who registered for this event. It was held at the The Linden Suites' Sky Lounge located at the hotel's roof deck. The room is perfect for small groups to have intimate meetings and events but you are not restricted to move around.

I arrived the area a bit early because I anticipated the possible traffic brought by the Holiday season that affected many for the past days especially in that Ortigas area, not to mention I am commuting that time. So I was able to see the venue still being decorated and helped the mommy volunteers prepare and place some of sponsored loots by the entrance.

The Stage

Table Centerpiece

The adorable Tea Party Photo op Corner decoration

The party theme this year was Red and Gold which Amari Events beautifully adorned, which felt like an indoor tea party. They also accented a photo-op corner for mommies to pose upon for a great Instagram-worthy selfies. An online contest was being introduced prior to this event. To post an Instagram photo with a caption answering the (mala Ms Universe) question "Why is this a Christmas to remember?" Below was one of my entries (coz I have 2 actually, see my IG page http://instagram.com/bh3ybang )

This is a #ChristmasToRemember because it has been a great year for my family. Everything fell into their perfect places in His perfect time. #MommyBloggersPh #Christmas2015 #LindenSuites #StyledbyAmariEventsPh

A photo posted by Bave dC (@bh3ybang) on Dec 4, 2015 at 8:02pm PST

Mommy Lani and Mommy Louisa, MBP founder and Admin, making the Opening Remarks

The party started almost past lunch time that is why the MBP Admins mommy Lani Llutz and mommy Louisa Mercado immediately began with a prayer and proceeded to the getting to know you segment where each mommies introduced themselves and made some stories how they've come up with each blogs. It was fun listening to their stories where I personally learned something from each.

My turn with the introduction of self
Thank You ORA RTW for my outfit ;)
Photo by Casa Litrato

After the laughs and fun stories, lunch is served. Our sumptuous food was catered by the hotel's in house restaurant Mesclun. It was a buffet of delicious soup, veggies, fish, beef and chicken and fresh fruits and cake. Unlimited coffee was also served together with Lotus Biscoff. We sure did have a tummy-filled day enough to fuel us with the event's lined up activities.

RIIIIGHT!!!!!!

LEEEEEFT!!!!
Photo by Casa Litrato

Games and raffle commenced and more laughs filled the room. The Vita Cube pass the loot game was one energy draining activity because we did nothing else but giggle and chuckle all throughout the game. We kept on repeating and shouting whenever the story teller would say "LEFT", "RIGHT", "ACROSS" while passing the loot to the direction being directed. Oh that game was fun! Glad I belonged to the loudest table if not the most fun bunch of mommies, Table 3. By the way, I won a Thermos from Zojirushi at the raffle!

Representatives from Frabelle made some product introduction of their coldcuts and nuggets and initiated the distribution of loots from our very generous sponsors.

Our menu for the party included a delicious buffet of Chicken Macaroni Soup, Seafood in Coconut Sauce, Slow Roasted Rosemary Chicken, Beef Pot Roast, Waldorf Macaroni Salad, Fresh Fruits and Chocolate Caramel Cake. We were also served unlimited coffee and juice.

Coffee and Lotus Biscoff: Match Made in Tea Party Heaven

Thank You Zojirushi

Few days, before this, we were advised to bring ecobags. If you can see the event poster, you will know what to expect. You will surely go home with lots, and lots and LOTS of take aways. Napahiya nga yung malaking eco bag ko sa DAAAAAAMMMMIII at laki ng mga nauwi ko! hahaha!

Blessings!!!! Thank you sponsors!

All in all, I brought home 3 LARGE ecobags filled with "blessings". I had to carry them and walk....YES! WALK! from The Linden Suites to Mega A where there is a shuttle terminal going to Marikina. I was wearing a red ruffled jumpsuit with 4-inches stilettos. Ramped the San Miguel Avenue, went over and climbed up and down the staircases of the overpass, more or less 2 and a half kilometers (yes still on stilletos, hahahaha) and sighed a relief, said my thank you prayer when I got my seat at the shuttle service. Thank goodness for my running legs and my baby Z for my everyday carrying workout, walking that distance and carrying those weights (only the attendees know how HEAVY), was a breeze. In my minds I was thinking, "Tumatakbo ka nga ng naka-stilletos eh, Nukabah!" (see my blog about that HERE)

My boys got excited when I arrived. We opened and took pictures of all the items before they could raid it and consume.

It was indeed a Christmas To Remember! Aside from the take home loots which will make our Christmas celebration prepped in terms of food, celebrating and sharing that day with a great bunch of talented and fun mothers in this community was such a good way to relax and even for just a moment or few hours we were able to celebrate what we are as individuals, away from the pressures of our daily jobs, routines, kids, husbands and everyday stress. It was a great way to destress and blurt out a good laugh with friends and new found ones.

the obligatory pose at the corner

definition of Wacky

Table 3

Thank you sooooo much Mommy Bloggers Philippines and I am so looking forward to be part again of this kind of events. Cheers to more blogging opportunities in 2016!

*****

The Mommy Bloggers Philippines “A Christmas to Remember” party was made possible by generous sponsors and a team of mommies who love this blogging community.

Thank you to The Linden Suites who not only provided us with a venue but also made sure we had a wonderful time by collaborating with their in house restaurant Mesclun to provide us with a lovely lunch.

Our venue at The Linden Suites, The Sky Lounge was beautifully decorated by Amari Events while our photos were taken by Casa Litrato.

Our generous sponsors, Fujidenzo, Zojirushi, Jolly, Lotus Biscoff, Frabelle, Robinsons Supermarket, Melawares, Wacoal, Philips, Cinnabon, Rebisco Vita Cubes, Fuentes Manila, Sun Villa Resort, Villa Del Conte Chocolates, Red Ribbon, Hotel Quickly, Shoppers Stop, Chelsy & Casey, National Bookstore and Starbucks for their support, giving us giveaways and prizes.

The Linden Suites

http://lindensuites.com/

https://www.facebook.com/LindenSuites

http://instagram.com/thelindensuites