MNG

Now that Christmas is over, the post holiday sales are beginning. I think these sales are great for buying gifts "for stock". Throughout the year, there's bound to be a friend or family member who's celebrating their ____th birthday and sometimes we just don't have the time to shop for a gift. This is where your stock of pre-bought gifts come in. And what better time to shop for these than during sale season? Simple and classic gifts that don't go out of style are what you're after.

I've been a fan of Mango ever since it was brought here in the Philippines. They're on sale now and here are some of my picks for gifts you could keep on stock. Haha! Oh and they're all under P1,000!

Crocodile effect card holder (P395)

Frayed endings foulard (P495)

Essential cotton jumper (P545)

The sweater comes in 7 staple colors that make it easy to match with anything in your recipient's closet. The classic V neck style is flattering on many body types and the simple design makes it appropriate for women across many ages. 

Braided belt (P595)

Wide belts are always flattering as they accentuate the waist. The braid detail and simple buckle make it appropriate for both casual days at the mall or work days at the office. 

Mini shoulder bag (P645)

Openwork oversized sweater (P950)

I love this laid back yet chic over sized sweater. Perfect for lazy days. Any girl can rock this cardigan. It goes with everything. 

Suede purse (P995)

Rounded leather coin purse (P995)

Any girl would appreciate receiving a coin purse. It's both handy and stylish- especially when it's made of suede and leather.


You can check out Mango stores at Alabang Town Center,Power Plant Mall, Eastwood Mall, SM Megamall, SM MOA, EDSA Shangri-la Mall, Greenbelt 5 and many more.

Or, you can shop online here. 



All photos are from the Mango website. 

Gifts for NYE

I know. People don't give gifts on New Years. But then if you just want to make someone special extra happy or you're feeling extra generous this year, why not? Here are some gift ideas for when the clock strikes 12. 

2013 Color of the Year: EMERALD

via makeup4all.com

Get your favorite gals some nail polish in 2013's color. There are lots of brands to choose from. Just head on to Watcons, PCX, the beauty section of department stores, and Face Shop for great nail polish choices. 

via louisvuitton.com

via lyst.com

I've recently been addicted to Fino leather goods. I've got a bag, a key chain for my car keys, and a license holder. They're genuine leather items and proudly pinoy made. An emerald card case or coin purse from Fino is a nice NYE gift. 

via smdeptstore.com

For the fashionista, party girl, and style blogger, you can never really go wrong with eye catching accessories. I personally prefer huge rings and quirky necklaces. SM definitely has a lot of emerald accessories to satisfy any girl's sartorial needs. Check Accessorize too for interesting finds. 

Dots, circles, and round things

They say that wearing dots and having round objects in your house brings you and your family good luck on NYE. Wish your loved one some more luck with these dotted and round gifts. 

via jcrew.com

via polyvore.com

The weather in the Philippines doesn't really call for wearing polka dotted scarves but working in offices with air conditioning does! Haha! Perfect for the working girl or for those who travel a lot. I've found lots of cute scarves in Accessorize, Payless, and department stores. 

via ava.ph

These Thabto jars are just so adorable! They come in a set of 3 for tea, coffee, and sugar supposedly ( the glints in their eyes say "t", "c", and "s") but you can put anything in them. You can buy them from ava.ph for P1,827.50 (they're on sale now!). 

via spot.ph

Get your tita or your mom a gift basket full of turmeric salted eggs from The Breakfast Store. It costs P320 for a basket with a dozen eggs. They're yellow instead of magenta because the eggs are treated with turmeric, a kind of spice. The Breakfast Store is located at Katipunan Avenue, near Banapple.



Happy New Years everyone and happy gifting! :)

Meeting the parents

Listen up, gentlemen. The first time you meet your girlfriend's parents, you MUST bring something for her mother. Forget about the rest of the family (well, get them a cake for plus points haha). I think that it makes a really good first impression to bring your girl's mom some flowers or a nice plant.

Flowers

Characteristics of a mom that would love a bouquet of flowers:

• The glamorous mom that holds dinner parties on a regular basis
• Gardening means picking out the plants she likes and having them planted by a gardener. Or maybe she had a landscaper design everything for her. 
• She loves flowers inside the home more than outside. 
• She goes to the nail salon for her regular mani-pedi.
• Her style is more chic and clean which she partners with some perfectly lined eyes and deep red lips. 

What flowers to get her:

• No roses please. Save the romantic flowers for your girl. Yes, get your girl some flowers too. 
• Ask your girlfriend what her mom's favorite color/flower is and incorporate it into the bouquet. (See previous post)
• No need for a card, in my opinion.
• Some take into account the meaning of flowers. Here are a list of a few flowers with nice meanings. 
• Baby's breath - festivity
• Carnations- gratitude for pink ones and cheerful for yellow ones
• Daisy- innocence
• Freesia- spirited
• Hyacinth- sincerity
• Hydrangea- perseverance
• Jasmine- grace and elegance

Where to buy flowers:

• See aforementioned post

Plants

Characteristics of a mom that would love to receive a plant:

• The domestic goddess- she cooks,cleans, and is the captain of the house.
• She likes to get down and dirty...in the garden. She takes care of plants like babies. 
• Her garden is her prized trophy. It seems as if she spends just as much time or more working on her garden as she does inside the house. 
• Her style is mostly bohemian and free spirited. She likes floral prints, flowing skirts, and natural hues like tan and gold. 
• She rocks the natural look with hardly any make up to cover her beautiful face. 

What plant to get her: 

• Orchids. This is a no-fail plant to give to moms. They're so beautiful and rather easy to take care of. They also stand for "delicate beauty". 
• A small fruit bearing plant like a young calamansi tree. We had one in our garden before and we'd actually use the calamansi for cooking. I remember seeing someone sell young red pepper plants in a bazaar which I thought was a cute gift idea. 
• Herbs for a mom who cooks a lot. 

Where to buy plants in Manila:

• Market! Market! in Taguig
• BF Homes in Paranaque
• Weekend bazaars

How to wrap the plant:

• Make sure the pot the plant is in is nice and clean. 
• You can wrap the pot with some nice ribbon to add a bit of oomph! 
• Here are some other gift wrapping ideas I found:

via weddingdish

Cute Christmas idea from Alex Schlegel via Pinterest

via bride.net

Last few tips

• Don't spend too much money. You want to impress but you also don't want to appear like you're buying the mom's approval. 
• Don't expect that giving something to the mom means instant approval. Be polite and engaging in conversations.
• Match the lovely gift, whether flowers or a plant, with a well dressed boy. Go for pants/ shorts (and no, not those super short shorts from Topman. Sorry.) with a polo shirt and closed shoes. No slippers for dinner please. 
• Relax. Breathe. Be yourself.