Quinceanera's Diary Countdown 14 more days

Have you been worried that you have so much to do before your daughter's Quince Celebration? I invite you to read our new blogger's entries on our main Quinceanera site.

Her name is Lily and she is doing such a great job working with her mother and father planning her Quince Celebration. And no matter what stress the family is experiencing they all end up happy and appreciate everything they have.

• Use the link here and read about how her mom is making the guest's souvenirs.

• Read about how the family took off to relax and enjoy their hobby.

• Read about what they are doing when time is short before the party and dealing with a small budget.

Lily's diary should be named:
'there's always a way to solve a challenge and still have fun'

Enjoy...

All the best,
Priscilla

A Quinceanera's Diary

Do you wonder what your daughter is thinking? When planning your daughter's Quinceanera are you communicating with each other? Are you discussing the choices to be made together or are you assuming she will like everything you choose? Do you ask your daughter what does she want and then go and do what you really think is best, without considering her feelings?

Check out the real feelings of a Quinceanera as she and her family plan her celebration party. Her name is Lily and she is writing 'My Diary' blog entries on my regular site.

I believe every mom should read Lily's daily blog entries too better understand what does a soon to be fifteen year old, a outstanding student and compassionate daughter really want for her Quince celebration.

The story is... Lily's parents decided three weeks before her fifteenth birthday to have a Quinceanera Celebration. There's usually a lot of pressure when planning a large party, but this family has more challenges than most families.

Her mom is suffering with Multiple Sclerosis and her dad just lost his job. He has been unsuccessful in finding a new job. It's a sad story, but it appears that the Quinceanera Celebration party is the bright light the family needs at this time.

I have gotten to know the family over the phone. I won't give you any more information right now. Because, I hope you will read Lily's own story. It's straight from her heart. Leave her a comment. She would love it.

All the best,
Priscilla

Today's Quinceanera Miracle Is The Honored Sponsor

Have you been concerned whether you can afford your daughter's Quinceanera Celebration? Are you worried that you might not being able to make your daughter's dreams come true. The ones she has had since she was a little girl?

Thank goodness for the Quinceanera tradition of having honored sponsors. When the costs are divided up the Quince celebration can become a reality today. As a mom or aunt or friend of the Quinceanera I recommend you do a few of the following things.

Tips for planning a Quince Celebration:

1. First meet with your immediate family to discuss a budget for the Quinceanera celebration.
   
2. Then set up a list of each item you feel is required for the Quince celebration.
3. As a guide when you're developing a budget, I recommend you break down into categories and place the items into the correct areas listed
4. The amount you spend on food and beverage depends on whether you are having the party catered or at a hall or hotel. If the party is going to be held at home and sponsors are donating the food, the percentage will be much lower of the total budget.
   
5. These percentages should be used as a flexible guide.
   

• 52% for food and beverage.
  
• 18% for Photographer and/or videographer
• 4% spent is usually for Flowers
• 3% for cake
• 6% for Quinceanera dress and accessories
• 3%-18% for music
• 3% for Invitations
• 5-10% miscellaneous item

During these difficult economic times the Quinceanera tradition of having honored sponsors has made it possible for many families to be able to still have their daughter's Quince Celebration. It's tradition for honored sponsors to join in with the planning and sharing in the financial costs. That's what makes the Quinceanera tradition so meaningful. That's what our ancestors did. During good times and bad times our ancestors shared in making sure every Quinceanera in the community had her rite of passage celebration.

Quinceanera's Sponsors Help Make Her Celebration Happen

Are you confused after listening to newscasters describe the financial situation in the U.S. and around the world? Do you worry about what will happen tomorrow? With the free press we have in the U.S. everyone can speak what's on their mind. That's why we hear different reports from different people.

There are a few things that you can do to make sure your focus is to keep everyone in the family happy and not stressed. That means you need to take care of yourself and not worry about things you have no control of. And to control things you do have control of.

Thank goodness for the Latino Quinceanera tradition of having honored sponsors. When we divide the costs of a Quince celebration it can become a reality. As a mom or aunt or friend of the Quinceanera I recommend you do a few of the following things.

1. Develop a budget for the entire celebration. Then cut the budget back 20%.
   
2. Put a plan together and list each item that you feel is required for the Quince celebration.
3. As a guide when you're developing a budget I recommend the break down for each item as follows:

• 52% of the total amount to be spent is usually for food and beverage.
  
• 18% 0f the total amount to be spent is usually for Photographer and/or videographer
• 4% of the total amount to be spent is usually for Flowers
• 3% of the total amount to be spent is usually for cake
• 6% of the total amount to be spent is usually for Quinceanera dress and accessories
• 3%-18% of the total amount to be spent is usually for music
• 3% of the total amount to be spent is for Invitations
• 5-10% of the total amount to be spent is for miscellaneous item

TIP: The more time you spend on pre planning and working with your sponsors who have committed to participate in your daughter's Quinceanera will help make it happen. By dividing up the costs of the celebration with many people the event will not be a financial burden for anyone. Every sponsor is honored to join in with the planning and sharing of the financial costs. That's the beauty of the Quinceanera tradition. We should be thankful and grateful for what we have and especially for our honored sponsors who will help make your daughter's rite of passage is one of the most special days of her life.

Order for the Blessing on the Fifteenth Birthday

There is a new bilingual book available for purchase from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. 'Order For the Blessings on the Fifteenth Birthday'. The book is being released September 19th 2008.

The book explains the celebration of a young woman's passage from childhood to maturity. The new bilingual book contains rituals for use to honor the Quinceañera within her community.

It contains options for using the rite of passage within and outside of Mass and includes an appendix of intercessions. Helping create a living memory and support of the Quinceanera as she thanks God and requests his blessing and dedicates herself to Mary as models of faith.

The book can be ordered on the website usccb.org website.

A good companion book is Quinceanera Connection: Your Dream Celebration On Any Budget

All the best,
Priscilla
P.S. 'Order for the Blessing on the Fifteenth Birthday' will help your daughter with the planning of the ceremony for her special day.

Quinceanera and Mom Bond When Planning Her Celebration

As a mom planning your daughter's Quinceanera Celebration do you feel over whelmed and stressed at times?

A mom called me the other day. Her younger kids were crying in the background and her daughter was leaving all the final planning work for her celebration up to her.

After some discussion it sounded like she and her daughter had gotten into some arguments and weren't talking. The celebration was in one month. The mom was just about crying on the phone. She asked me what could she do? I told her to take a few deep breaths and write a note to her daughter and ask to sit down and talk with her.

I asked if she had signed up for me free newsletter so she could receive my gift of 17 page eplanner. She said no. I advised her to sign up immediately and print out the pages from the Quinceanera ePlanner. Then she should review what has to be completed for her daughter's celebration and ask her daughter for her help.

I read to her the following Seven Ways to Make a Difference In Your Daughters Life. She took notes over the phone. She thanked me. But better yet...she phoned me back the next week, too let me know she followed my advice. She and her daughter had a beautiful bonding experience. She is happy. She said her daughter was much happier also. They were both excited about working together putting the final plans together for her daughter's dream Quinceanera celebration.

I want to share a section from my book - Quinceanera Connection :Your Dream Celebration On Any Budget. - 'Parent Talk' with you.

'Seven Ways To make a Difference in Your Daughter's Life'

• Speak from your heart.
• Be her parent, not her friend. Be friends when she is an adult.
• Listen with love and understanding.
• Praise your daughter for her achievements...big or small.
• Listen to her problems and discuss solutions.
• The support and love given at home make a life-long difference.
• Accept her for the special person she is.
  

Wishing you and your daughter all the best,
Priscilla
P.S. If you would like the whole story order my book: Quinceanera Connection: Your Dream Celebration On Any Budget - Order Now and receive your bonus gift of 70 page Quinceanera e planner.

Quinceanera Celebrations - family decisions

First... if you linked to this page from my newsletter. Please scroll down for the five articles about the 'secrets for saving money' - when planning your Quinceanera celebration.

Next: I wanted to share one of my Bloggers Ilene for Quinceanera Connect.com is having her Quinceanera Celebration today. Therefore, I am leaving for the church now and then to the party. However, the family had to deal with a decision regarding today.

Ilene's grandmother had been very ill. So, the family decided to either postpone or cancel Ilene's rite of passage celebration. However, her grandmother asked the family if anything happened to her, she wanted Ilene to have her Quince Celebration anyway.

Sadly, her grandmother did pass away a few weeks ago. The family got together and decided to fulfill her wishes. They modified some parts of the mass and the party. But, Ilene's grandmother will be there in spirit.

I will report back to you in my next post.

Wishing you all the best,

Priscilla