Our Work: Jilie's Pirate Birthday

Guess what I was doing at 1:17 this morning? Loading the washing machine and coughing my lungs outs! It must have been the mother hen in me that had me putting all the laundry away and nesting our home before another work week. And now I am blogging while Jilian wrestles with Ethan in his playpen. Life’s been busy, but I’m still feeling blessed with every second.

Jilian turned 5 years old a couple of weeks ago and we threw her a pirate party at the beach. I first asked her sometime last year of what kind of party did she want and her reply with no hesitation.. “a pirate party at the beach, Momma”. She mentioned many times that a pirate party is a perfect party for a girl named Jilie.
With a Momma that loves to plan parties and a Ninang that has so many awesome ideas.. AIE ran with the pirate theme and we simply planned her dream party.

 I was really lucky to have found Hayley from Hayley Anne Photography.  She is an awesome photographer from the area. Hayley captured so many beautiful pictures that day and the pictures speak for themselves. She was so easy to work with and I’m so happy to have found her!!  Hayley followed the kids while they played in the sand and dug through the beach for the treasure hunt.  












Ninang Madz surprised Jilie w/ the ultimate treasure chest cake

Love...What I've been up to

The past few months..I learned to just relax and enjoy life. My life has been a whirlwind since I'm now a mommy of two. My family and friends keep me sane. They are all crazy, but yes... they keep me sane.  My kids fight for my attention and they give me headaches, but I'm blessed to have them.

We're only here on earth for a short period and I tell myself to appreciate it all everyday. 

                                                     XOXO,

Our Work: Thuy's and Tot's special day

We've been so bad at updating I know! Wedding season is over and we are both taking a much needed break. Our goal before the end of the year is to record the work we've done throughout this busy season on our blog.

Photography by Adele Cabanillas

Of all the events we’ve had the pleasure of working, we at AIE found one we LOVE to pieces. Jackie had told me earlier this year "My ultimate dream job is to do a wedding at Hakone Gardens.” When one of our fave photographers, Thuy Le Tran, asked us to help her with her own wedding we were happy to oblige. I could hardly contain my excitement when she had told me her wedding venue was Jackie’s dream job. Let me tell you... the Hakone Gardens landscape in person, does not disappoint.

Nor has Tot’s and Thuy’s style. This wedding was so chic, crafty, and rustic that I could’ve just died with giddiness. Together, Adele Cabanilla’s Photography and Lynna Nguyen’s Photography captured the day so beautifully.

This wedding was so adorable it’s being featured in today’s Style Me Pretty’s blog. Here’s the link: Saratoga Wedding by Adele Cabanillas | Style Me Pretty via @stylemepretty

Congrats to the lovely couple on your marriage! Wishing you many years of happiness!


All Photography by Adele Cabanillas

Thank you to our fellow vendors that assisted in another successful event!

Photographers: Adele Cabanillas
2nd shooter: Lynna Nguyen
Venue: Hakone Gardens
Caterers: Ming Ta of Flourishing Gardens
Officiant: David Johanson
Bartenders: Richard Vo of Tipsy assisted by Austin Mosqueda
Florist: Ada Wong
DJ: Ngoc Hieu of X-Generation Entertainment
Lighting & Linen Rentals: Thomas Chou
Photo backdrop Rentals: Bwiebe Events
Hair + Make-up: Lili Li
Bridesmaid Make-up: Charlene Tran
Invitation Design: bride's diy
Invitation Printing: Vietnam Printing

Cheers!

Love & Celebration: Being Blessed and Inspired..

Having a daughter taught me so many things...like strawberry ice cream is the answer to all irritations and Daddies are the best playmates. My daughter, Jilian is a true blessing. She mimics my actions and makes me realize.. wait.. did I do that?? She is certainly my little teacher from heaven.  We just celebrated her 4th birthday a couple of weeks ago. 

Pictures by Lynna Nguyen Photography 
www.lynnanguyen.com

In the next few weeks, we are welcoming another baby into our lives!! This time.. A BABY BOY!!
Wil, Jilian and I are super excited and anxious!!  We can’t wait to meet Baby J. 

Pictures by Thuy Tran Photography
www.thuytranphotography.com

Even though there's more laundry, more drama, more patience needed.
There's also more purpose, more meaning, more love.
Even though I can get lost in my role as mother, it’s actually made me who I am and a better me.

I’m so blessed and inspired.. 

XOXO,

Celebration: Sending off the bachelor...

...into his rite of passage has always been a tradition. One I didn't think I would ever help partake in.

I have the opportunity of being a part of my two good friend's wedding this coming September. This is like my 10th wedding (including my own) I've been in. By now I know how these things work. Get the dress, help set up and attend the bach parties, same with the shower, then wedding day! Those are a normal bridal party duty. Of course I have to take it up a notch.

Shar & Gene's bachelorette/bachelor party was semi co-ed. We were schedule to be in Vegas the same time for their celebrations. Daytime maybe a meet up with the guys, maybe not. It was different, yet fun!

I am a BIG believer that the celebrants should shine by having their own custom shirts to wear out while they are in Vegas. Obviously I made the bride's shirt but this is my first ever bachelor's design. Knowing he was a gamer and working with one of the groommen, one of the bridesmaid, and the bride I was able to think of something uniquely his. Thanks Rene, Elena, and Shar for your help on this!

We've returned from Vegas a few weeks back and had a great time. Thank you guys for allowing me to part of your special day!

People & Love: Meeting new friends and inspired by them…

From every event we plan, we meet talented vendors along the way.  Margaret Jacobsen from Margaret Jacobsen Photography is certainly one of them. I wanted to hire a local photographer for my daughter’s 3^rd beach birthday party that was located in the Monterey area since my daughter’s birthday took place at SeaCliff State Beach.  I checked Craigslist and that’s where I found my new friend. It’s only been 6 months since I met her, but it feels like as if I’ve known her longer.  Margaret is so free spirited and her talent with capturing the moment is so intriguing. You can definitely feel the love when you see her photos.

Here are a few photos from one of the many moments Margaret had captured of my family. To see more of her work click here and here.





Thank you Margaret!

Love & Our Work: Happy V-Day

Happy Valentines or Single Awareness day everyone!

As promised here is a post on our latest photoshoot. All stationery were designed by me, maritessb. I've been working on designs but never had the chance to take photos of them. So I finally decided to suck it up and make time.

THE INSPIRATION: I love baked sweets. A few friends helped by donating a few of the goodies. The cake pops were done by my friend Miss G and the heart-shaped cookies were creations of Mrs. Angie and mom. Miss G just did a set for her daughter's birthday w/o bringing me any leftovers... So I guilt her into making me some. I asked Mrs. Angie for the cookies she gave away as part of her wedding favors because they are so cute and delicious. Everything else were baked by me! If I wasn't a license coordinator, part-time event coordinator, or part-time stationery designer... I'd be a baker. LOL!

Since I'm incorporating everything I "love" it's only fitting to do a Valentine inspired photoshoot. Cheesy as it may sound I LOVE Valentines even when I was single. I love how 1 day is dedicated to the expression of love for one another. Sure gifts are exchanged, wines are being poured, and tummies are stuffed but the whole point is to be kind to each other/yourself for one day. It doesn't have to be a romantic experience. I spent last weekend and tonight with family and friends. One of the best Valentines ever. Life is too precious! It's nice to be reminded to spoil someone or yourself in middle of the cold wintery season.

With that being said here are some of my photos from the shoot. My two lovely sisters (Jenn and Sheila) and husband helped me with the set up. You can catch the rest of the photos soon on our FB Page.

An overview of our spread: chocolate doughnuts, red velvet cake, cake pops with butter chocolate cake, mini cherry pies, pb&j sandwiches, brownies, sugar cookies. Books are loaners from the library and the plates are a combination of Martha Stewart, Anthropologie, Target, Etsy, and Micheal's.

The top right invitation is for little girl's craft birthday party. I'd thought using felt as a pocket folder would be so adorable! The middle right is a baby shower book invite with my own monkey character. The style of this invitation was inspired by Paul Frank. The bottom invitation is a "Bee Bee" shower. 

 The top invitation (in the set below) may look familiar. It's my own DIY wedding invitation. Here are the detailed instruction on this invitaiton here. Bottom left is a latticed punched invitation I did for Mrs. Angie's bridal shower. On the right is an invitation holder made from a dolie! I love that idea. The design inside is my spin on it. Look at our FB album to see the inside design.

This is a favor box I've done for Mrs. Angie's bridal shower (lattice punched invitation above). I'll post the photos of the party soon.

Thanks for checking out our work! Happy love day! Remember this is only 1 day... make it last throughout the year.

Love: Simply inspired and having your dreams come true…

This feels so surreal because I get a chance to help plan soirees with one of my best friends!! I’m so honored to share this dream with my Tessie. I heart her so much!!

Source of photo from our friend Grace

Tess and I helped many brides these past couple few years and each one reminded me of my own special day.

My wedding took place five years ago and I still get goose bumps when I think back to that day. I remember hearing from the distance, behind the church’s wooden double doors, our song “Here I Stand” sung by Jon and Nerizza Manongdo. I could feel the emotion with very word they sung as their powerful voices echoed throughout the church. I looked at my parents for a last glance when tears began to fall. Carol O., my day of coordinator, fixed my long cathedral veil and the train of my trumpet style dress. She asked me if I was ready and I nodded yes at the same time trying my best to fight back the waterfall of tears. As far as I can remember as a little girl, I’ve dreamt of this day and of this moment, but nothing could have prepared me for how it felt.


Seconds later, the church doors opened wide and what I saw was my dream through my veil; it was a beautiful sight. I was welcomed with the watery eyes and joyful smiles of our loved ones. As I walked down the red draped aisle, I could see at the end my groom with his beautiful smile.

Carol, my day of coordinator was my super hero that day. She made sure everyone was well informed and every little detail I planned out was well executed. Weddings can be so complicated, but ours was simply stress free– thanks to our Carol!! This special day truly inspired me to help other couples with their dreams..

Now that was my special day.. now let us make your day as memorable as ours..

All wedding photos were taken by Michael Loeb Photography