"Michelle Simone Entertains"
Sun.Star Davao, Dec. 8, 2007

On Saturdays after lunch, my daughter Anicka and I enjoy curling up in the sofa watching one of our well-loved shows, “Michelle Simone Entertains”.

Ever since the show, formerly known as “Entertaining at Home with Michelle Simone”, aired its first season on cable TV’s Lifestyle Network, we became hooked!

The 30-minute program features cooking, crafting, decorating and party organizing segments. Each week, Michelle Ty-Simone shares with her viewers ideas on how to create a different theme party.

What’s so fascinating about Michelle’s style is it’s not too technical (read: boring). She makes cooking look like a breeze. Almost all of her ingredients can be sourced locally and it doesn’t take an eternity to see the finished recipes (ala Rachael Ray’s “30-minute Meals”).

The interesting craft projects, on the other hand, are quite easy-to-make yet impressive.

Phenomenal woman

“My husband Roger and I owned and operated an event planning business in Hawaii. When we moved to the Philippines, we were looking for a business to do, but we were so burnt out from event planning”, shares the 33-year old Michelle.

So, they decided rather than organizing events/parties for others, they would teach people how to create theme parties themselves.

A graduate of Brent International High School in Baguio and Hawaii Pacific University, Michelle is a self-confessed workaholic.

Aside from being the show’s host and executive producer, Michelle is the general manager/president of Michelle Simone Productions. She is likewise into interior decorating and event planning. Michelle also used to facilitate and coach self-help seminars

“The second season of Michelle Simone Entertains, (now on QTV, Saturdays at 12:45 noon), still has the same sensibilities and quality of programming that the first season had”, explains Michelle.

“For the second season, I did my own production rather than outsourcing a production company, so a lot of the technical production side of the show is once again a learning process, but I had a great team in this season and I can honestly say we achieved a degree of synergy that resulted in a great series of shows. And I expect that to propel us to keep on getting better with each season we do”, she reveals.

Theme parties

The talented and bubbly Michelle never runs out of fabulous ideas.

In the past, Anicka and I had a blast learning about food, craft projects and decors for various themes like “English Tea Baby Shower”, “Hollywood Slumber Party”, “The Last Minute Party”, “Carnival Birthday Party”, “Halloween Trick or Treat”, among others.

One of our favorites was the “Hollywood Slumber Party”. Michelle invited a group of orphans and treated them to an unforgettable night of fun and fashion.

The studio set was amazing with mirrors, cushions, curtains and dresser in attractive colors of hot pink, green and lavender. Each girl was given their own “kikay” (girly) kit composed of child-friendly make-up, nail polish and various accessories.

The guests had a fantastic time feasting on pink caramel popcorn, barbeque ala kebab, gourmet burgers, vegetable chips with two dips and banana/orange smoothies (complete with their dainty little umbrellas).

For this episode’s craft project, Michelle taught the viewers how to make their personal star-designed placemat with fuzzy boa border. Perfect for the juvenile fashionistas’ dining pleasure!

Busy as a bee

Apart from the show, what’s keeping Michelle busy as a bee these days is her “The Blooming of Days Planner 2008”, the second installment of the “Rolling of Days Planner 2007”. It is a collection of her poetry dedicated to empowerment of women. It has one-of-a-kind graphic art as well as original poetry, to keep one inspired throughout the year.

“The Blooming of Days planner is out in major bookstores like Powerbooks, National Bookstore and Fully Booked”, shares Michelle.

For her Dabawenyo fans, Michelle has this special message:

“I’m very honored and grateful to know people are watching the show all the way in Davao. My work is my passion, from hosting, to producing my show, to creating ideas my viewers find helpful”, she expresses.

Michelle adds, “I am thankful that I am blessed to continue to do what I love. My only hope is that I can do it for many years to come and that can only be made possible if people continue to watch my show. I am very grateful and honored that the great women of Davao find the time to do that. So my message from the bottom of my heart is “Thank You”.

(I would love to read your comments and suggestions! E-mail me at mom.about.town.dvo@gmail.com. Visit http://www.mom-about-town.blogspot.com)


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Michelle gives her tips in creating these lovely Christmas box houses:

CHRISTMAS BOX HOUSES

MATERIALS FOR 9 HOUSES
- 9 empty large milk cartons
- 1 beige folder, long
- 9 star ornaments
- 1 ½ kilo of small bundles of hay
- 1 quart light brown paint
- 1 ½ quart yellow paint
- double sided tape
- paint brush

TOOLS
- scissors
- craft knife

STEPS:

HOUSE
1) With a craft knife, cut a window opening of 1 1/2” x 2” on the two wider sides of the box.
2) With a pair of scissors, cut the bottom of the empty milk carton.
3) Cut legs out by cutting out a 3 1/2” x 3 1/4” piece of carton off of each side, leaving the 4 corners of the box with leg heights of 2 1/2” each.
4) Paint the inside of the box yellow and outside of the box, light brown. Let it dry.

ROOF
5) Cut 2 1/2” x 9” of the beige folder. Stick double sided tape all over one side.
6) Stick strands of hay on the sticky side of the folder, this will serve as the roof top.

COMPLETING THE HOUSE
7) Once dry, put double sided tape on the top corners of the painted box.
8) Stick your folder roof with the hay side facing up.
9) Add the star ornament on any wide side of the box.