Vinny's "aVINgers" Themed 5th Birthday Party!

Hello loves! May is such a busy month for me. For whatever reason, so many people in my life were born in May! Including my son, Vincent. He turned 5 this year, and requested an Avengers themed birthday party! I couldn't have been more thrilled to throw it for him. Being that the new Avengers movie came out on May 1, Avengers stuff was so easy to find! Pics of the party and party details are below:

Theme
Even though "Avengers" is a theme in itself, I always try to customize my parties in some way, and normally it's playing with words. This year, since it's for Vinny, the theme was "aVINgers," and Vinny was "The inVINsible Man!"

Since the new movie came out so close to his birthday, I thought it would be nice to set up the party like a movie theater. My original plans were to watch the Avengers movie (old one) outside, but it was scheduled to rain that day and we were having trouble getting creative with outdoor seating/blankets, so I decided to keep it indoors.

I do ALL my parties on a very tight budget by the way, so I try to create everything myself first before I buy/rent it. Most of what you'll see are things I created or manipulated, or common things that are used in a different way. I'm not going to say that I will never splurge, because I do think certain celebrations deserve a good splurge, ;)...but I still want the party to look good and for all the guests to have fun, so my main focus is always on the details and what my guests would like to see and do.

Enjoy the pics!

Credit to my cousin, Ashaela for creating Vinny' s superhero self! She is an amazing artist and I'm so thankful she helped me with this project because I would've NEVER been able to create that!! Thanks girl. :)

Also thanks to my dad for carving out the cityscape silhouette FREEHAND WITH AN XACTO KNIFE!! I'm so lucky to have such amazing artists in my family.

It's amazing all the things you can do with cheap plastic tablecloths! I used plastic tablecloths and ornament hook command strips to hang all of the backdrops. They stayed up through the entire party and day before (which is when I set it up)! I've tried TONS of ways to hang backdrops and this is one of my favorite methods.

 I had yellow and red pillows that I wanted to throw onto the couch (I used them during Vinny's 2nd Birthday Party, you can see them here), but I couldn't find them and didn't feel like purchasing new ones, so I just did without. They would've looked great though! I bought them from IKEA--you can find so many good things to use for parties at IKEA!! It's also where the clamp-spotlights on the table came from.

 

 DIY Photo Booth
My parent's house has a "butler's pantry" -- or, the floorplan's way of describing a cute hallway between the kitchen and the dining room. ;) It came in handy for my DIY photobooth! I used two blue plastic tablecloths to hang the backdrop (I doubled up so you couldn't see through it), a banner I had from a previous party (I purchased from Target), and tons of props--superhero masks, glasses, hats and headbands, etc. I wanted to hang a curtain in the doorway to the photobooth, but thought of it too late and couldn't find a tension rod. People were taking pictures with their cameras/camera phones, and I also had my polaroid camera on hand so even the adults could take home a party favor!

 

FOOD GALORE!!
We had tons of food, but here are my three kid-birthday-party-food staples:
Lumpia (filipino eggrolls) - The kids LOVE it.
Pancit (filipino dish) - Noodles for long life.
Muffin Meatloaf - Everybody loves this meatloaf! I constantly get asked for the recipe so here it is: Skinny Kitchen BBQ Muffin Meatloaf

Can't forget about the cake! I made the cake using colored cake mix (I found at Wal-Mart). I bought three layers in red, blue and yellow. I used white icing for the base color of the cake, and blue and red m&ms to create Captain America's shield.

Games
So for games this year, I admit I was slacking. I wanted to do ALOT more than what I originally had planned, but I had quite a few kids/parents let me know they weren't going to make it, so I admit, I got a littled discouraged and didn't do all the games I wanted to do. But we did get to do pin the heart on Iron Man, and all the kids got prizes. Our winner (above) got two prizes, of course. :) I really wanted to create a Hulk Smash game (found on pinterest) for the kids, but didn't get a chance to make the box for it. Maybe next time. ;)

Hope you all enjoyed, and a big thank you to all those who came and those that sent him gifts and birthday wishes! Vinny had a great time and fell right to sleep once everyone left. Until the next event...for now, I need a nap. :)

Tips for Developing Your Career

A little while ago, my boss attended a women's conference and noted a few career tips, which she shared with me and a few of my female colleagues. Being a young female, a mother, and still being early in my career, I found her tips really inspiring and thought I'd share them with you all. I've also done some research and brainstorming on my own and added a few tips that I also find very helpful. I think these tips can empower anyone--male or female.

1. Be confident. It's okay to not be 100% ready for the role, but do not let what you don't know outshine all that you do know. Stop making statements that sound like they end with a question mark. (I do that all the time!!) People are drawn to those with confidence. Make your executive presence known.

2. Don't feel 120% qualified for the new opportunity. It's common for women to feel that they have to be more than qualified for the role before they take it on. Learn to be comfortable with failure and take chances. In addition to this, I think it's important to own your mistakes, correct them if you can, learn from them, and do better the next time around.

3. Communicate effectively. Be a good listener, don't interrupt or talk over someone else. Be comfortable asking for what you want and lose the qualifiers, such as, "this might be a dumb question but..." "I know I don't have much experience here but..." "I'm not sure if I should raise this up or not but..."

4. Be comfortable with confrontation. This echoes communicating effectively. I find that it's especially difficult to learn to be confrontational in an effective way. Meaning, how do I say what needs to be said in a way that will be received the way it needs to be received? You may need to confront your employee (as a manager), your coworker, your manager, a committee, etc. There's a really good article on how to be comfortable with confrontation below. I love how it suggests that you have a solution planned. If you're going to bring an issue to the table, bring a possible solution as well. You'll be more convincing if you do the pre-work beforehand instead of relying on the other person to figure out a solution completely on their own. I've learned this the hard way. I once brought an issue to the table with no solution and the first thing to come out of my manager's mouth was, "So what do you suggest?" And I had nothing to offer. Ugh--I don't ever want to experience that feeling again! It was then that I realized: You will certainly get a pat on your back by expressing your concerns for the business, but you will add value by offering a solution to the problems you are noticing. See the article here: http://www.levo.com/articles/career-advice/get-ready-to-battle-how-to-be-comfortable-with-confrontation

5. Market yourself. Find tactful ways to credit your accomplishments. Create visibility for yourself--for example, show up in person for the meeting (if you can) rather than calling in. Furthermore, be an active participant--come prepared with thoughts, questions, and ideas. Also, brand yourself. Here's an article on branding yourself and defining what makes you different: http://www.levo.com/articles/careerexpert/how-to-build-personal-brand

6. Gain sales experience. Learn how to influence and persuade. True sales roles will help you develop this skill. Once you've learned it and mastered it, it'll be a good tool to help you market yourself!

7. Know your strengths and invest in them. Know what you're good at and where you can improve and never stop learning.  There are always opportunity to better yourself and master your craft. Invest in your skills.

8. Don't get caught up with titles. I'll be first to admit, this is hard to do! A title to me is almost like a first impression (on your resume, that is). I used to be scared that people will discount my abilities based on the job titles of my previous positions. Then I realized, there's more that I could put on paper than I give myself credit for. What I've learned to do is be the best in whatever role I choose to take on. The article that I got this tip from stated, "Be the editor-in-chief in your own role, in how hard you work, how professional you act, and how well you dress, and you will advance organically." Site: http://www.whowhatwear.com/career-job-advice-tips-how-to-succeed-work-2014

9. Think outside your job description. Finding ways to help your company do better, even if it's not part of your role, will  get you noticed. Your initiative will attract more responsibility, which will lead to trust, and eventually a more important role. Site: http://www.whowhatwear.com/career-job-advice-tips-how-to-succeed-work-2014

10. Understand the value of teamwork. And always recognize the contributions of others. I'm a big advocate of giving credit where it's due. I'm sure you'd want the same done to you.

11. Don't pigeonhole yourself. I love this tip. I had a conversation with the big boss the other day, and we were talking about how so many people (especially in my generation) look for--yearn for--a "career pipeline." This article reminds us that "few career paths are straight." There may not always be a path laid out for you that blatantly states: you will start here, then move to this position, then that, then the next, then the last in which you will stay at until you retire. I say build your own pipeline. Figure out what skills you need to develop to promote yourself, then find a position that will give you those skills. Even if your pipeline turns out to be in the form of a roller coaster, if you are constantly developing yourself, you will obtain what you need to get you where you want to go. Always be open to new opportunities even if they're not directly above the position that you're in.

Site: http://www.whowhatwear.com/career-job-advice-tips-how-to-succeed-work-2014

I am always actively developing myself and my career, and these tips really inspire and motivate me as I do. Do you all have career advice you'd like to share?  What's helped you along the way? I'd love to hear your tips, advice, and stories in the comments below!

The Importance of Strengthening Your Inner Voice

Current State: In the comfort of my own home, in my bathroom, enjoying a steaming hot bubble bath while I hear the kids running around like mad men playing with their dad. I think I just heard something break. Yup. Closing the door and turning on Adele now.

I'm laying here feeling like Rev Run at the end of an episode of Run's House (where he types up a motivational diary/journal entry from his bath tub--for those that didn't know). And I can't help but reflect. So many things are running through my mind right now. It's been years since I've allowed myself to unwind. Can you believe that?

Anyway, I feel like rambling off some thoughts so here it goes.

Thinking back on the early early early years of my life, I can't believe who I was. I was a pushover. I was bullied. Yes--punched and kicked on the playground every. Single. Day. By, apparently, two boys that "liked" me and thought that was a good way to show me some attention. The worst part was that I let it happen. I had no voice when it came to my opinions, my friends, not even a voice to stand up for myself!! You'd think that someone beating it out of me would do the trick. Nope. I was the only child and I felt completely lost and alone. There was no way that I would've ever spoken up for myself. I let other people be right ALL THE TIME, even if I knew I was right. I remember feeling so bad for the "nerdy" ones in my class because they were always picked on, laughed at, and no one ever wanted to play with them. I so badly wanted to be their advocate, but I wasn't. I prayed to God that they would end up somewhere AMAZING doing AMAZING things. I just wanted them to be bigger and better and not end up lonely and depressed. And yet I said nothing. I didn't feel like I had anything valuable to say. I didn't think I could help them. And today I can say, it is the worst feeling in the world to feel like you don't have a voice.

That attitude translated into my friendships, group work, and so on and so forth, and it lasted all the way through my sophomore year of high school.

Then one day, someone had faith in me. A few people did, actually. And they told me they thought I should command my drill team my senior year of high school.

WHAT. No. There was nooo way. You want the girl that can't step up to anyone to lead an award-winning, highly respected, AFJROTC drill team?? And be loud and mean and aggressive? Pshhhyeah right.

That was my original answer. It turned out by the time I was 16, I had talked myself into believing that I was not important, not worthy of anything, invaluable, and incapable of doing anything more than my daily routine. After giving it some thought, I said yes, and it changed my life completely.

Stepping into a leadership position that young put me way out of my comfort zone. I felt SO vulnerable and SO exposed. I had to make decisions, lead a team full of my friends--friends that were used to me being passive and saying "yes" all the time. I had to change to gain respect, which is the only way I would succeed. It was the hardest but most liberating thing I've ever experienced.

So I started by changing my thoughts and working on my inner voice. I was tasked with having to teach, keep order, motivate, help, advocate, recruit, and all in all move this team forward (btw, drill team was huge in my high school). Therefore I had to speak to myself. So here's what I had to ask/tell myself:

1. What's there to lose?

2. Who cares what other people think?

3. What's the worst that could happen?

4. People believe in you, now you have to believe in yourself.

5. People are depending on you, so unless you get over your pride, you will continue to hold yourself back and you will fail.

That last one hit me hard. I realized I could turn this into something really good or just take the easy way out and fall flat on my face. Then it came down to execution--ain't nothin to it but to do it. So I did. And at times I felt like a FOOL. But I got over my pride and it started to feel good. I was actually motivating people. I received a standing ovation from a class of new recruits because of my "speech". People started asking me to "say a few words" at various events. The girl that couldn't speak a word about anything became the girl that everyone wanted to listen to, and all it took was a little discomfort and vulnerability to bring out my inner strength. Isn't that amazing--how letting go of your pride can actually HELP your confidence? 

It was at that time that I learned how strong my voice really was. I learned that  I could use it to help people, and to speak life into people. I started giving myself credit for good ideas that came to mind. It boosted my confidence and allowed me to trust myself--I trusted that my ideas were good, I really was intelligent, and I really did have a choice.

If anyone that's reading this feels the same way, or feels similar, I challenge you to try something different tomorrow. Put yourself outside of your comfort zone. Facilitate a meeting. Confront an opposing opinion. Act on an idea that you've been holding back because of your fear of failing or feeling like it's not good enough. Be an advocate for someone. Share your thoughts on something. Share your thoughts on this blog post! :) But before you speak to anyone, speak to yourself. Remind yourself that you are able and important and valuable in so many ways. Your inner voice is your strongest voice, and before you can convince anyone, you have to convince yourself first. I now believe that you really don't know yourself until you are put in a position to find yourself. What happens to a tea bag when put in hot water? All of its flavors come out. Allow yourself to grow and I promise you, you will.

Speaking of hot water, this bath is starting to feel like a sauna now. :p

Have a good night and as always, thanks for reading. 

Tis the Season for White Pants

White pant season is back! Although I've never been a follower of it "ending" after Labor Day. I loooove white pants, especially white skinnies year-round! It's such a versatile piece to have, and you all know me and versatility. I no longer make the mistake of buying things I can just wear once! Unless it's a wedding dress...

Anywho, I'm so ready for spring/summer time and WARM WEATHER! Or as I like to call it, OFFICIAL white pant weather. :)

Please excuse my squinting. The sun was BEAMING that day! :)

Pants // UNIQLO - the most comfortable pants ever, by the way.

Heels // Steve Madden

Shirt // Love Culture (OLD)

Jacket // Amazon

Layered Necklaces // LOFT