Party Themes and Costumes Double the Fun!

Cat Woman, unmasked! *Miyawrr*

No, I did not attend a post Halloween Costume Party and I wasn't wearing a Felix the Cat Costume. It was a kiddie costume party with the theme "Your Favorite Cartoon Characters and Superheroes," and instead I chose to wear my favorite Supervillainess costume, The Cat Woman. I picked the character because there are fewer interesting Super Heroines than Super Heroes to choose from aside from Wonder Woman and our local Darna, whose costumes, I think, are frighteningly bold and daring for a kiddie party that I'd rather come as Dora the Explorer with full bangs and a backpack! But more than that, I am really fascinated with the Cat Woman. She has a love-hate, on-off relationship with Batman who actually loves and trusts her enough to reveal to her his true identity as Bruce Wayne! Now, how sweet is that? The Cat Woman may be vicious at times, not to mention, a professional thief too *eww* but she has a conscience and a heart that make her want to reform. The Cat Woman is also very witty and attractive. According to the creator, Bob Kane, Cat Woman was inspired to "...personify feminine pulchritude at its most sensuous." and "At the same time, this character was meant to be different from other Batman villains like the Joker in that she was never a killer or evil."

Cat Woman and Bat Girl at the scene

I hosted the event with Sis #2. By the way, I have 3 sisters who I numbered according to seniority with #1 being the eldest, every time I mention them in my blogs. No problem numbering the brothers because I only have one. This is to avoid confusing... err... me rather than the readers, actually. Well, I just thought my sibs might not like me mentioning their names on my blog... so I just tagged each with numbers and promised to post "only" beautiful pictures of them. How sensitive of me, preserving their privacy... don'tcha think? *bats lashes*

Enjoying much?

More balloons!

Can't have your cake and eat too? Not true! I ate the cake and took home a cupcake *teehee*

Now, going back to Sis #2... it was funny that she chose to come as the Bat Girl, you know, Batman's female Robin sidekick, therefore, an enemy of the Cat Woman... yes, that's funny. I really loved her costume and the kids loved it even more! She wore a black dress and a black cape with matching mid-calf black boots. Her black mask was also a good replica. My pilya (playful) Sis #3 however, teased her incessantly that her yellow bat chest emblem looked more like Angry Birds! Sis #2 shot back, "And who told you Tinker Bell's outfit was hot pink?" *rolled eyes* Sis #1: "Who says I'm Tinker Bell? I'm the Pink Fairy God Mother! Haha!"  Oh, I got my share of teasing too, although not from any of my "wicked sisters" but by a kid who kept finding his way to get near me to whisper "Bakit wala ka po buntot?" (How come you have no tail?). My answer for the third time... I cut it. The little boy was not convinced, no he wasn't at all.

"Who says I'm Tinker Bell?" - The Pink Fairy God Mother

The mother of the 1 year old birthday boy was supposed to come as Pocahontas. I personally made her headdress which I think was really cute. Unfortunately, she got sick and could not attend the party that she planned and prepared for more than a month! But Mommy Pocahontas made sure that everyone will have a good time and we all did! The birthday boy's father would have complimented Pocahontas because he wore a Woody Costume, the main character from the Toy Story! He looked like a real cowboy with his hat and checkered shirt with matching red hanky tied around his neck. He even had a holster and a gun on the waist and wore real mean boots that looked stomp lethal to me. See the connection? Pocahontas and Woody... Indians and Cowboys... would've been perfect!

Superboy and Woody

The Birthday Boy came wearing his Superman Costume. He looked so cute as we introduced him with the Superman theme song blaring on the speakers. The other kids looked awesome in their costumes as well. They enjoyed the games we have prepared for them most especially the classic Pinoy street game also often played during fiestas, the "hampas palayok" (hit the pot, literally!). A clay pot  filled with goodies such as money (paper bills and coins), candies and also cornstarch powder was hanged around 3-4 meters away from the line of kids who will tried one by one to hit it with a wood and break it while blindfolded. Each kid excitedly waited for his or her turn to be blindfolded and assisted by the game master to turn around in place 3 times before walking towards the pot to have one good shot to hit and break. The crowd cheered wildly and gave different instructions that somehow confused each hitter. We had 3 pots to break and the successful  hitters received their prizes while the cheerers got the chance to take the scattered goodies! It was really fun!

Ooops! Missed!

Aww! Missed again!

Best Dressed: Snow White and the Three 3 Butterflies!

All in all, the event was a hit! The party theme and costumes definitely added color and doubled the fun! The food was also delightful and plentiful! Most importantly, the children enjoyed all the activities and prizes. The kiddie party ended with the announcement of the birthday boy's best dressed buddies which signaled the start of yet another party, this time for the not-so-young visitors!

Alas, drinks were served!

Cat Woman and friends... thirsty no more hehe

Christmas Countdown: Pasko 2011 Wise Shoppers Start Stocking Up This November

It's the nation's longest and biggest celebration of all... the grandest.... the most awaited... the feast of all feasts! Mind you, we have more than two hundred feasts in all regions, provinces, cities and towns. I think even the barangays (smallest unit of government, like a village) are creating ordinances to officially celebrate each of their own feast of foundation day, much like in Twitter having a day for everything, such as Happy Chocolates Day! *Yay!*  And out of all the hundreds of fiestas that we love and celebrate, Pasko (Christmas), is considered as the celebration of all celebrations! The tradition is so widely spread that even Non-Christians can't help but enjoy this season of love and camaraderie.

Main thoroughfares, business districts and key cities all over the country are dressed up with Christmas lights and decors soon after the Undas (All Saints Day and All Souls Day). Most of the houses' exterior areas, lawns and gardens are now sparkling with Christmas lights and Parol (Christmas lanterns). On the front doors hang Christmas wreaths and the interiors are adorned with more lights, decors and a Christmas tree or  Belen (nativity set).

Shopping malls are also starting to get really crowded with early Christmas shoppers which is why all malls are now decorated in Christmas themes. Some people are starting to buy their Christmas presents but the wiser shoppers are frequenting the grocery stores to stock up on the ingredients and other items to be used for the traditional Noche Buena (Christmas eve family dinner usually served at midnight) and the Christmas Day Feast  when visitors and the inaanak (godchildren) are expected to drop by for their aguinaldos (Christmas gifts). A few are even starting to stock up for the Media Noche (New Year's Eve Family Dinner). All in anticipation for the imminent price increase that happens during the holiday peak season.

It is advisable to start planning for your  Noche Buena and stock up on the ingredients that are not easily perishable as early as now! Below is the list of the usual food that Filipinos prepare on the table for the Noche Buena. I have included the products that you can start stocking up on, little by little, every time you do your regular grocery shopping. Be careful not to overdo it 'though, or it will be hoarding. But if you happen to over-stock, no worries, you may give away grocery baskets as Chrismas presents hehe.

Queso De Bola

1. Queso De Bola (Edam cheese ball coated in red wax) - If you are planning to include Queso De Bola on the table for the Noche Buena, buy now. This product do not stale over a long period of time so there is no need to worry if you stock it this November because the price will surely increase as Christmas nears.

Nestle All Purpose Cream

2. Fruit Salad - You will need condensed milk, canned fruits and all-purpose cream. Make sure to check the expiration date. I use the following brands: Carnation condensed milk, Del Monte Fruit Cocktail and Nestle All Purpose Cream. I refrain from using untested brands when cooking for special occasions but early shopping of ingredients will allow you time to experiment so, go ahead and try new brands, you'll never know what you'll discover!

Prasa Picono's Puto Pao

3. Native Kakanin and Puto - a variety of  native glutinous rice cakes, flour cakes & desserts, commonly with coconut milk, evaporated milk and sugar. There are a variety of native kakanin cooked in different ways such as steaming, boiling, baking and even grilling!

Kakanin (rice cake) and Puto (steamed flour cake) are usually served during Noche Buena but the preparation is meticulous and takes time. Make sure that you are well-stocked with cans of evaporated milk and sugar. So start filling your stock as needed or just opt to pre-order your kakanin or puto from trusted makers this early and have it delivered in time for the celebration. This is to avoid being on the wait list due to bulk orders the sellers get during this season. Always ask for the shelf life of these products. Most kakanin and puto normally lasts from 3-4 days, if properly refrigerated. Otherwise, consume it the same day it was delivered. Try Prasa Picono's Puto Pao for your made to order Puto Paos, these are steamed flour cakes filled with braised pork and chorizo (sausage) topped with itlog na maalat (salted egg). It's a puto with a twist!

Del Monte Tomato Sauce

4. Tomato based recipes - We love tomato based recipes, aminin (admit it). We use it in pork, chicken, seafood or even vegetables. Popular tomato-based viands that are usually included during Noche Buena are Lengua Estofada (Braised Ox Tongue), Beef or Goat Caldereta (Stew with liver pate, cheese and sweet pickles), Pork or Beef Pochero (Stew with cabbage, saba banana, potatoes and green beans), Sweet and Sour Fish and not to forget the all-time-kids-fave red spaghetti. So, buy your tomato sauce cans now. I always use the Del Monte Brand because I like the rich red tomato color and also the sourness.

American Maid Mayonnaise

5. Other Salads - Pinoy's salad dressings are usually mayonnaise based like that of the Thousand Island Dressing rather than the vinaigrette type. We want it thick, flavorful, creamy and smooth.  Most commonly served during the Noche Buena  are the chicken macaroni salad, potato salad, shrimp and vegetable salad and Caesars Salad. There are ready made brands of dressings that you can avail but if you want to make your own signature salad dressing, then buy a good quality mayonnaise. I have always favored the Lady's Choice brand but I recently discovered a good alternative that is cheaper but at par or even of better quality. I bought it at Tropical Hut which is not my usual store and it's just too bad that SM Supermarket do not carry this brand because I frequent this store more. Try the American Maid Mayonnaise brand. You can also make use of the salad dressing as a topping for your steamed Lapu-Lapu (Red Grouper Fish) or steamed Pla-Pla (Large Tilapia Fish).

Purefoods Fiesta Ham

6. Hamon (ham) - The Noche Buena seems to be incomplete without the Hamon (ham). This product do not spoil easily because it is cured. My favorite is the honey glazed bone-in roasted ham similar to a dry cured Chinese ham but there are also a lot of good quality, ready made Hamon de Bola (Boneless Balled Ham) available in supermarkets. Purefood's Hamon de Bola is my brand of choice but I'd like to try the Holiday Ham because I like their endorser Chef Rob Pengson *wink*. If you plan to give away Hamon de Bola as gifts, you may start buying now.

7. Red Wine or White wine - For very special occasions such as the Noche Buena, wine is preferred to be served on the table (although the ref is of course filled with the local San Miguel Beer Pale Pilsen *LOL*). You would want to stock up on your favorite red or white wine earlier not only because the price will rise but more because the items will be scarcer in groceries and liquor stores as the holiday season peaks. This is because liquors particularly wine, are one of the top choice Christmas gifts and people buy them by the boxes! There are a lot of expensive and excellent tasting wine available but there are also a few good ones that are affordable. I recommend Carlo Rossi's Cabernet Sauvignon 4 liter jug. It's great to pair with beef or pork dishes because of the bold mixture of red cherry and blackberry tastes that compliment the strong flavor of meat. Reminder: keep calm, don't hoard :))   

To make it easier,  plan the Noche Buena menu list first to be more specific which canned or bottled ingredients and other items should be on your grocery list. Other suggestions for stocking are the following canned, bottled or dried products aside from the items above depending of course on the food to be prepared: button mushrooms, liver pate, whole corn, baby corn, canned pork leg, green peas, pineapple chunks, pineapple juice, pickles, cherries, olives, olive oil, dried shiitake mushrooms, dried fruits like raisins and other dried ingredients such as spices and herbs.

All prices, especially food products are expected to rise during the Christmas Season so it's good to be an early shopper.

An old saying that is most of the time true...

 "The early bird catches the worm"

Have fun wise shoppers!