Celebrations and holidays mean a lot to me. Every holiday and celebration has its own history and tradition. This year July 4th -Independence day is special, since I’m going to celebrate with people who come from different backgrounds and different countries.

I’m sure each one feels differently about Independence day. I will have fun asking each one what this holiday means to them.

For myself being born in the United States, I feel lucky to be living in the United States. Where I have the freedom of choice. I was able to choose the education I wanted. I’m grateful I was able to attend Harvard Business School.

In the United States as long as we believe in ourselves, have a plan and never give up we can achieve whatever we set out to accomplish. That’s freedom in my book. It takes hard work and commitment for most of us. But, we have the freedom of choice. That’s what I’m going to celebrate on July 4th and every other day.

We also have the freedom of the choice of religion, safety and protection comes with our freedom, freedom for speaking our beliefs and on and on. We have so many freedoms we take for granted. Until we visit other countries or hear stories from people who have lived under persecution we sometimes forget to be grateful for what we have.

Just like the Quinceanera celebration, is a day for everyone in attendance to be grateful. Think about the countries you wouldn’t have that freedom to celebrate a Quinceanera. How lucky we are!

For those of you born in another country. It’s a time for you to celebrate the freedoms we share. The freedoms our forefathers fought for. It time for us to think about what this day means to us. Our lives and the lives of our families and to be grateful for what we have now.
One important thing that comes to mind is that we must remember to feel the freedom first from within ourselves. As we count our blessings and are grateful for what we have today and the wonderful choices we have available to us every day. Never forget how lucky you are today and everyday.

Wishing you and your family a wonderful Independence Day.

Priscilla

PS: In my book I talk about being grateful for what we have. We have the freedom of choice, but how important making the right choice impacts today and the rest of your life. Check out the first two chapters free…scroll down on the link page for downloading the first two chapters free.

The other day I received a call from Alma, a client. She shared with me her budget was so small for her daughter’s Quinceanera party she was worried… if she could make it happen with the price of gas and food going up every day.

Ouch…I know what she’s talking about. I have adjusted the way I do things. I calculate what is the least expensive way to take care of my errands, before I get in my car and burn up gas. (In Los Angeles you can’t get around easily without a car.)

Alma lives in Southern California so I really understand how concerned she is. Alma said she invested in the purchase of my book. And, after reading it she outlined her plans with her family and came up with a list of things she is doing in order to give her daughter a beautiful Quinceanera celebration on a budget. A budget that’s not more than five to six tank fulls of gas.

I will share some of her secrets with you:

1. Alma and her daughter are making the guests’ gifts herself. The guests’ gifts are also being used for table decorations.

• Alma’s daughter chose the color theme and they are making organza wrist-corsages for the woman and men’s boutenaires. (When the guests enter the room they will see the beautifully decorated tables with their special take home mementos.)

2. With the help of some from friends they are making an arch out of balloons. The arch will show case the cake. (I will ask her for some written instructions and post them on the site soon.)

• Alma said they are putting lights inside the balloons to give a magical look. (Wow…we just need to be creative…)

3. Alma’s older daughter is baking the special Quinceanera birthday cake. She took a course in cake decorating last year. (planning ahead pays off)

• Alma said, they are planning on having a taste testing gathering for a few family members and friends. Everyone will rate their favorite fillings and cake flavors. Not only will they get terrific input which will help with making and serving the best cake ever.…everyone attending the testing will have lots of fun. (At the Quinceanera fiesta…I’m sure there will be lots of talk about the cake testing and how great the cake turned out…more fun experiences to share)

4. Alma asked her girlfriends’ brother who is a videographer if he would take the video of her daughters’ special day. (He said of course, he would be honored)

• I didn’t tell you Alma was in a bad accident a few years ago. She was confined to a wheel chair. She’s now walking again, but her recovery has put her family in a bad financial position. (During these difficult economic times people are very willing to donate their skills and/or time when they know you’re being careful with how you are budgeting things.)

5. Alma’s budget doesn’t allow for a reception hall and their house is too small to hold the party for 80 people. She is asking friends and family if they would donate their home for the party. (I noted this suggestion in my book, since the cost of the reception is approximately 52% of the total budget)

These are just a few of Alma’s secrets of how she is going to be able to celebrate the very important day in her daughters life on a very small budget. However, Alma is determined to stay within her budget and enjoying the planning process.

• After our conversation Alma sounded confident she would be able to give her daughter one of the most beautiful and memorable days of her life.

if you would like to share your ideas or have any questions, please either fill out the comment section here or email me at: priscilla@quinceaneraconnect.com

Thanks Alma, for sharing and being so creative.

All the best to you and your family and all my readers.

Priscilla

I know myself even though I write out my things to do list every day, I put off certain things until I can’t wait any longer. Last weekend when I took some time off I thought about the phone calls, I received the week before. Everyone had waited till the last minute to place their order for their invitations. I asked myself why did so many people do that? Then I realized it’s not choosing the invitation that’s stressful. It’s the work that has to be done once you receive your order.

I decided to offer bonus appreciation gifts to those who place their invitation order by June 8th,08 with us. I thought by knowing you’re going to get some appreciation gifts it might be easier to just go for it and get the job done. Also… you’ll find our helpful hints listed on the bonus page.

Check out the page that tells all about your bonuses. Click here for the complete information.

If you already ordered your invitations we have an appreciation gift for you… if you tell a friend or relative and they place their order by May 31- Just email us with their name and use the code: quince 123 and you’ll receive your own bonus gifts also. Our way of saying thank you.

All the best,

Priscilla

Everyday I receive phone calls from friends and relatives of the Quinceanera who need some help. Many times it’s last minute and they have been asked to purchase something from our site and they only have a week or two before the Quinceaneras’ celebration date. Ouch…

In the beginning I was a little pressured myself trying to help everyone with their requests. Now I’ve had enough experience and I know what can and can’t be done.
Almost all requests can be fulfilled. Not one of our customers has been disappointed. We follow up with tracking numbers and phone calls to make sure that all shipments get to where they are supposed to be as promised.

Special personalized orders are closely monitored to ensure our customers orders are out the door when promised.

We don’t have a catalog at least not yet. Catalogs are costly and we want to keep are prices low and quality high.

So we at Quinceanera Connect are here to assist you whether you need some help with making the best choice for a gift or you need to get an order shipped quickly…or you would like some help with planning a Quinceanera or whatever.

Just Ask Priscilla…you’ll always get an answer.

Call us toll free 1-866-478-4623 - just in case we’re on the other line and can’t pick up. Please leave a message and we’ll phone you back immediately.
All the best,

Priscilla

Mother’s Day has just past. A time for children no matter what age to tell their mother they love her. For those of us whose mothers have past on - a time to remember those special Mother’s days that will never return.

We should never take any celebration for granted. It’s part of all cultures to celebrate life. Whenever I receive an invitation to any kind of celebration I get excited. I think of all the special memories I have of the beautiful celebrations I’ve attended.

The sharing with loved ones a right of passage ceremony is a meaningful connection one should treasure forever.

A Quinceanera celebration is a very special time for most Latina mothers. It’s a time when mothers and daughters can bond as they share their hopes, thoughts and dreams when planning for the special day. Or, it can be just the opposite. A time filled with stress, arguments and anger.

It’s our own choice what it will be like. We shouldn’t wait until time has passed and our own mother is no longer with us. To remind us how precious and important the mother daughter relationship really is. It’s to late then.

The love and support a mother gives her daughter will impact her for her entire life. She will be a happier person. She will feel more confident in all areas of her life.

But, most of all she will know she is appreciated and loved for who she is by her role model, her mother. When she celebrates her right of passage and is dressed like a Princess she will feel beautiful from the inside out. Because, her mother always told her she is a very special person and she believes in her.

Daughters… I recommend you let your mother know you love her…you appreciate her for who she is… you believe in her and…tell her she is a great mother.

These are the best thoughts and words to share with each other on a daily basis. It’s beautiful of music to ones heart and soul.

Share and enjoy the gifts of life together.
All the best,

Priscilla

Mother’s Day dates back to 1907. It started out as a memorial day for woman. A recognition for peace for woman. Mother’s day was declared a national holiday in 1914. Over the years it has taken on a new meaning and thus it’s celebrated today as a day of sharing our love and appreciation for our own mother.

Mother’s Day should be celebrated every day of the year. The saying that mother’s work is never done. Is so true. Kids don’t realize the responsibility it takes of being a mother. Whether your child is a infant, a toddler, a teenager or college bound each mother gives of herself first to her child in a way no one knows.

I met last week with the gals on my advisory board. Each one is busy planning their Quinceanera they will celebrate within the next few months. We talked about what’s very important to them now. They shared with me it’s the time they spend with their mother. They enjoy making their mother happy.

They shared when they tell their mother they love her and then tell her she is a great mother. Each gal said their mother gets tears in her eyes when they say she is a great mother. They said they feel so good, because they know those words mean a lot to their mother. It’s true we all want to be told we are doing a great job. No matter whether it’s at work or at home being a Mom.

So…tell your Mom she’s a Great Mom! This will the best present you can give her.

Hey Mom…if your daughter doesn’t tell you that you are the Greatest Mom. It doesn’t mean your daughter doesn’t feel that way about you. It’s more likely she isn’t comfortable in saying it. Why not tell her she is the greatest daughter and you appreciate her for who she is. She will appreciate hearing your loving words. In time she will be telling you how much she appreciates you for being such a Great Mom.

We learn from our teachers. Be her teacher and you will also benefit.

Have a wonderful Mother’s day.

All the best,

Priscilla

So often I receive calls from mothers who need some help with the toast they want to give to their daughter at her Quinceanera celebration. It’s usually a week or two before the planned celebration and they are very nervous themselves, especially with last minute things requiring all of their time. They also have all of the other family responsibilities deal with. Plus, many times a time consuming job.

If that’s not overload what is?

I usually have the mom take a few deep breaths and we discuss what does her daughters’ coming of age celebration mean to her. After she wipes the tears of joy away, I hear the love she has for her daughter coming from her heart. She then shares her thoughts and love she has for her daughter.

I explain it’s most important to speak from her heart and soul. I tell her to look into her daughters eyes and then think of the days when she was a baby and the years in between. I then have her write out a few words explaining how she feels.

Then I tell her to think about what she wishes for her daughter in her life. Thoughts filled with wishes for living a beautiful life filled with the essence of truth to herself, God, her family, friends and the road she travels. I ask her to write about 100 words explaining her feelings and wishes for her daughter for having a blessed future.

If it’s difficult for her to write her thoughts down and recite them. I usually advise her to check out an Internet site that has poetry written about the mother and daughter relationship with love.

I recommend to everyone to enjoy and share your unconditional love with your daughter and everyone else who will be touched hearing your words from your heart.

If you have any poems or words you would like to share, we would love to hear from you.
All the best,

Priscilla

It’s taken me a long time to get a newsletter started. Please forgive me. I know it has to be difficult to find everything you’re looking on the site. I checked it out the other day and found the website has over 500 pages. Wow, that’s more than I had expected.

In order to keep you up to date with things, the Quinceanera Connect newsletter will contain ideas, tips and links to items that are being promoted. Plus, popular areas people are visiting on our site on a regular basis.

The newsletter will be sent once a week. I will also keep you posted on what’s new on the site. To sign up click here to: register for your free newsletter. It’s free so don’t miss out.

All the best,

Priscilla