Holiday presence

Holiday shopping somewhat resembles paying your dentist a visit — you know you have to get it over with but the mere thought of it seems excruciatingly painful. Braving the traffic to even reach the malls these days is a challenge in itself and navigating through the maze of stores amidst the hordes of people can really drive you into a frenzy. That’s why I tend to shop for gifts throughout the year as I spot items which fit the lifestyles and personalities of my recipients. It makes selecting a present for a particular person a whole lot easier than when stressed to find the perfect gift in the midst of shopping bedlam. I then pop the pressies into my gift closet which is a gold mine that I myself need to stop pilfering from. It’s a method I’ve employed throughout the years to save myself from the anxiety of holiday shopping. Why stress over shopping when some people consider it as therapy? 

While I was able to tick off the lion’s share of my shopping list over the course of the past few months, I still needed to finish off my list. I was able to do it without having to leave the house by simply making a few calls and sending out a few emails. Discovering a gift that everyone would like and ordering a bunch of them makes gift giving a breeze and that is why I stuck with three suppliers who have completed my holiday shopping list.

I’ve become addicted to my cousin Tet Matias’s scrumptious, chewy brownies. Made of Belgian chocolate and the finest ingredients, they come in a box of bite size squares that are soft, moist and not overly sweet. It’s a scary thought knowing that I can eat half a box in one sitting while watching my latest guilty pleasure, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. You can eat them right out of the box or heat them up and have them a la mode by putting a little vanilla ice cream on top of it. Another hands-down favorite are Tet’s delectable lemon bars which are mildly tart and go amazingly well with a cup of tea. I’ve ordered a load of these goodies to distribute to some of my pals. Call 0908-7640164 or 477-3712 to treat those on your Christmas list. 

In these days of mass luxury, the only real indulgence we’re left with is something personalized. Striking stationery made of unique papers is crucial to making a statement. The most exquisite stationery imported from Italy by Carte comes in exotic papers such as titanium alligator, black crocodile, black stingray and green lizard with a personalized notecard tucked inside the stamped animal printed papers. Tucked inside a beautifully packaged box, these gifts have been a stellar hit. Email cartemanila@gmail.com to spoil your friends with a little box from Carte.

For my friends with little ones, my kiddie purveyor of choice is Googoo & Gaga. Composed of a husband (graphic artist) and wife (businesslady) team, AJ and Audrey Dimarucot, they churn out onesies by using sublimation printing technology ensuring that each onesie is one of a kind. Their designs are super funky and will definitely make the baby sporting the onesie a star. Cool picks for baby boys are the onesies with dragons, graffiti, guitars or skeletons while hearts, sunglasses and stars trump for baby girls. Email audrey@googooandgaga.com for special onesies for the ones you love.

May the force be with you this holiday season! Happy hunting for gifts!