I always have the knack for surprising my friends on their birthday or simply wrapping gifts in a…read morereally nice way! I do my best to find certain things needed for the surprise and it's been quite hard because you'd have to hit a mall in order to have all the things you need in one place. We are surprising our friend tonight for her birthday and we wanted to get everything we needed near our village. I was so glad that my cousin got to talk to our friend and he suggested a place in Kapitolyo. We actually just said we needed balloons so he gave us directions. When we got there, we saw the store called Lobo, Regalo, ATBP. Its exterior may look like it doesn't offer much but when you go inside, you'll feel like you hit a goldmine! I was so happy to see all the party related things they had there. I felt like i was a kid again. In order to get their attention, you'd have to ring the bell they have on the glass table. I then met Ms. Joy. She was so kind and she attended to everything I needed. She showed me balloon samples I could choose from and when I made my choices, she prepared it for me. I looked around while waiting and saw that you can get just about anything there! What I found most interesting here is that they even sell the old school party favors and supplies. i pointed to what I thought were normal candles but she explained that they were magic candles. When you blow the fire out, it lights back up again! It's so cool! I was even happy to buy the old school party hats in the 90s! The cone shaped ones are just a classic! I just really find it cool that the shop is somewhat old school too. It's very nostalgic. I chatted with her a bit and asked about how long the business was up and apparently it's been there for 40 years! She mentioned how her family's been running the business since she was small. I just really love this place and i'd definitely go back for future surprises and party needs! The next time any of you need a one stop shop for party needs, this is the place!

Call it hoarding or just plain obsessed, but I have this strange habit of collecting gift boxes,…read moreanimal-themed wrapping paper, and cheeky greeting cards months before the occasion arrives. I do this so I won't have to rush putting a thoughtful gift together on the day itself. Mother's Day? No problem, here's the card. Friend's birthday? I have just the right bag. Happy graduation day? Already signed. Tie Me Up Buttercup sees right into the desires of my decorating-happy soul, and boy, am I thankful. This gift shop lured me in with its stylish calligraphy, dainty collection of pop-up greeting cards, vibrant ready-made boxes, embossed wrapping papers, and decorative accessories, all of which will no doubt make a charming personal impression on a loved one. On my first visit I couldn't even leave the shop without purchasing two gift bags that read "a hug in a bag" and "I found this and thought of you." What I love most about Tie Me Up Buttercup is they know it's not just the thought that matters in gift-giving. It's the entire package.

I've been passing by Tie Me Up Buttercup every time I use the restroom near Banana Republic in…read moreGreenbelt 5, but I don't really pay much attention to it because I never really felt the need to buy ribbons or gift wrappers. That's my wife's job. All that changed one January evening when, as I was on my way to meet my wife in a steak restaurant on the far end of the hall, I suddenly remembered that my gift for our wedding anniversary wasn't even wrapped up yet. It's bad enough that earlier in the day I almost forgot to buy something for my wife. I would only feel worse if I didn't present my gift to her in a traditional manner. Good thing, when I got out of the nearby restroom I saw Tie Me Up Buttercup. Colorful gift wrappers were no longer my problem. Also, I realized that the kiosk didn't only offer ribbons and gift wrappers, they also have various greeting cards, party decorations, and stationery for everyone--kids, moms, dads and even grandparents. I decided to add to my purchases a big greeting card with the word WIFE in big letters on it. The paper products that they sell are made of high quality materials and the designs are a feast for the eyes. Just be prepared to shell out big bucks when buying from this store. Yes, it is just a small kiosk, but their items are a bit pricey.

Love this lil shop. I was looking for a last minute gift for a friend of mine and was in search of…read moreowls. I called and she was kind enough to walk around the store and describe what they had. She was so nice. Because she went the extra mile, I went ahead and jumped in my car and went to the shop. SO CUTE! Lot's of great lil gift ideas for all ages. They also have amazing smelling candles. I will definitely come back here again.

How does this business have zero reviews?! Has nobody in Manila been to a costume party?? Or…read moreperhaps nobody has because they haven't heard of this place yet. My friends and I decided to go with the theme of "Miss Universe" for one of our many Christmas parties and I for one was going to give them a run for their money with my costume so here I went upon the recommendation of a friend. This place is paradise for anybody who likes to play dress up. You could literally get lost searching all day for the perfect costume because there are just so many options. And that's a good thing. Fast, polite service. Not strict. And they didn't catch the small stain I left on my costume, thank God.

I was looking for a place to buy cheap balloons in. This place I had bought stuff from before in…read moreGranada didn't feel like they were giving me a bargain, and I like to get a little more variety and reliability than an National Book Store, so I searched the internet and finally the Yellow Pages (remember that?) and found this place which was just a jeepney ride away. The area around it's a little rough (it's Cubao) and when I got up to the place I was greeted by a crazy barking dog. They operated out of a house, so I had to holler to make sure the place was open, but the kind businesslady let me in and once inside, it was all cuteness and kid's party vibes all around, even in the dim fluorescent light. The store's owner Ruby was very kind in helping me out with what I needed, which were a shitload of balloons, and I was pleased to learn that they had all colors imaginable (like black, which I love) and that the balloons came cheap--I could get them at eight bucks a pop. Like most other party supplies stores, they have a lot of other offerings, like pabitins, small toys, plastic chairs, and even a karaoke machine, though I did just come for the balloons and I left pretty damn pleased with myself and the store.