Recently in Attire Category

Just a few updates on previous posts:

In Ceremony conundrum, my fiance and I still didn't have a Catholic church to hold our ceremony at.

Well, not too long after that posting, we finally heard back from St. Benedict Catholic church in Montebello and got the thumbs up. The most humble and honorable Father Maguire will assist us in our marriage vows.

Despite the little bit of panic on our part for waiting so long, we are relieved and very happy to be married at St. Benedict, which was where my fiance originally wanted to hold the ceremony since it has been his family's church for many years.

Only a few more months to go.....

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In this Quinceañera posting, we got a mother's perspective on planning for this big 15th birthday tradition.

With all the hush-hush and sneaking around, surprisingly the birthday girl still had no clue up until the time she reached mom's driveway, which served the entrance to her big surprise party.

As mentioned in the previous posting, the quinceañera didn't want a big fancy bash but rather a smaller kid's party at the park. But of course, this princess did want a fancy dress to take studio pictures in.

Well, she got her dress and took her studio pictures, then held the party at the park.   

But after that fun celebration, we convinced the birthday girl to get back into her dress to take more photos with her grandmother and aunts who came in from out of town.

After a little hesitation, we dressed the birthday girl up in her dress at a separate location (away from the surprise party). We finished with a quick swipe of makeup and then headed to mom's house to "take pictures."

As we drove up to the house, balloons could be seen and loud music could be heard, coming from mom's driveway.

Though the birthday girl noticed that, she didn't think it too strange. She thought it was just stepdad blasting his ranchera music while hanging out with brothers and neighbors, relaxing after work.

Then she opened the driveway gate and saw a row of family and friends, all dressed up, waiting to greet her, and she could see the party decorations behind them. The shocked look on her face was priceless.

After the last song was danced, and the last piece of cake was eaten, I know my mother thanked everyone who helped in putting the surprise party together.

But I believe my mom deserved the greatest recognition for being the genius who beautifully coordinated the whole surprise, making it a fun, unforgettable celebration. 

Well this year is certainly keeping my mom and family busy.

First, the youngest of my mom's six children and the youngest girl, will be turning 15 this April, going from a teeny-bopper to a grown young woman (aahh! scary). Sensing she has to eventually grow out of her tomboy shell, my sister decided she wants to have one more day to act like a kid, hence the Sesame Street themed party.

Being a little envious of other friend's and family member's quinceanera parties, she convinced my mom that she wanted to also get a princess-like dress just to take pictures in. But, my mom not being one to do things small, has bigger (secret) plans for her and that dress. (More on that in another post.)

Then, I, my mom's first girl, is engaged to be married in September. Though I am not the first of her children to be married or have weddings, my brother's have been married for some time, I know my mom is excited this time to be involved in all the girly details of planning a wedding and being a mother-of-the-bride.

Party planning is not a first for my mom or I, but quinceaneras and weddings are another thing. Both my other younger sister, now 23, and I were not the quinceanera party type, so this is my mom's first time planning one of her own daughter's.

And though I have been a bridesmaid in three weddings, two being my brother's, I have never been involved in any part of the planning process so to my surprise, it's nothing like planning a birthday party.

Follow me as my mom and I try not to go broke or crazy as we plan these two happy celebrations.

What celebrations are you looking forward to this year?