And the tree was happy. : packaging

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Gift baskets

I know what you're thinking. "Gift baskets are (for the lack of a better term) so corny!" Well if you're thinking about the gift baskets you see in the supermarket filled with random groceries then yes, they are predictable and unoriginal. BUT, I think themed gift baskets to suit the personality of the recipient are perfect. Here are some ideas to inspire you to make your own gift baskets.

giftbaskets.com lanikae.blogspot.com

These coffee and tea gift baskets are perfect for those who always start their day with a cup/mug. It's really easy to buy your friend's favorite brand of tea/coffee and fill up the basket with complementing items- maybe some biscuits with the tea or biscotti with coffee.

giftbasketsguru.com

This spa gift basket is perfect for your mom or sister. There are so many lovely banig baskets and boxes available at Kultura in SM or at the culture section in any department store. As for the lotions and oils, my go-to store would be Watsons and Body Shop. They have a wide variety at very affordable prices.

egazing.com

For papa or kuya, a beer gift basket would be perfect. Grab a bucket and fill it up with a few bottles of his favorite beer or maybe some new ones you'd like him to try (Robinsons Supermarket and Distillery have a nice selection of imported beers), a bottle opener (found cute and cheap ones at Saizen in Robinsons Galleria), and maybe a bag of his favorite chips.

The great thing about gift baskets are that the possibilities are endless! It's budget friendly too because you can customize the items depending on how much you're willing to spend. It's totally up to you to make it as small or as grand as you like. Just make sure that the recipient would use whatever is in the basket.

Golf gift "bag"

For new moms

For your niece

Last month, I gave a gift basket to my tita who loves to cook. In her basket, I put some cute silicon oven mitts, matching finger mitts (both from Gourdo's), hand soap and hand lotion (Watsons). I was going with the "taking care of her hands" theme. See! There are so many ways to make the perfect gift basket for your friends and family.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

3 rules I live by

When it comes to gift giving, I have basic rules that help me get the job done.

1. Stick to your budget

No, this does not mean that you have to be kuripot. It just means that money doesn't grow on trees (oh how I wish it were that easy) and you can't spend you're entire salary on a gift for a special someone. Well you could, but then you'd probably have to stick to eating one meal per day, drink free house water instead of margaritas when you're out with your girlfriends, or worse, limit yourself to window shopping! I kid. Window shopping is fun, it's practically essential in the gift giving process. But you know what I'm getting at. So go ahead and get that much needed mani-pedi for yourself and STICK TO YOUR BUDGET. Besides, at the end of the day, it's a gift- a TOKEN of your appreciation for the relationship you have with that other person. It's not the end of the world (Though be careful, giving a really bad gift can mean the end of that wonderful friendship. Believe me. I've heard some pretty nasty, and honestly, sad stories of broken friendships, one over a DVD!). Of course, the more special the person means to you, the bigger your budget could be.

2. Think about the person you're giving to and not yourself

Seems pretty obvious right? But then how many times have we ever given a gift, secretly hoping we would receive that same gift too? Guilty? I know. So am I. Sometimes, it's so easy to get carried away and give something we like thinking that everyone else would love it too. If this happens to you too, better make a list of 3-5 interests or hobbies that you know the recipient of the gift is in to. That way, you have a written reminder staring you in the face and telling you to put that aztec print purse down and head to the accessories department instead because your friend absolutely adores anything with pearls and isn't really the bohemian type.

3. Don't forget about the packaging

Second to the moment the person sees the actual gift and rejoices because he/she loves whatever you've given them, my next favorite moment is watching the recipient's facial expression the first time he/she eyes my present. Is he curious about what's inside? Is she secretly hoping it's what she thinks it is? Or is the wrapping just too boring that my friend isn't even the slightest bit interested about what I spent hours looking for? They say first impressions last. Well, it counts for gifts too. I'm not saying that you should go all out and have it gift wrapped by a professional. There are so many DIY tips and tricks out there to add a special touch to your gift. Some even look to pretty to destroy! Take a look at these for some inspiration :)