My 2009 Christmas Gift Giving Ideas

A Mom and More — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 17:06:28 +0000

“Christmas gift suggestions:
To your enemy, forgiveness.
To an opponent, tolerance.
To a friend, your heart.
To a customer, service.
To all, charity.
To every child, a good example.
To yourself, respect.”
-Oren Arnold

When I was younger, gainfully employed and had the luxury of time, I’d start shopping for Christmas gifts for my parents, siblings, other relatives, friends, coworkers, business associates, and godchildren as early as July. I kept a list of people I had to buy gifts, send cards, or treat out for Christmas lunch or dinner. And, for myself I’d spend a sizable sum to prepare for all the Christmas parties I’d have to attend by buying new clothes, shoes, bags, and accessories (as if I were the Celebrant).

With each coming Christmas, I’d update my list and make sure that I’d leave no one out. Through the years, I’d have additions to my list that I’d become as busy as a Santa’s elves weeks before the 25th of December — wrapping my gifts and doing rush shopping for someone not in my list but who hands me a gift. At times, I even have to buy a second gift for a friend if I find out that I receive one which is too expensive compared to the gift that I gave away.

Over the years, I’ve experienced increasing stress as my gift shopping list continuously expanded. With my desire to buy the better gifts for those who are dearer to me, I end up frustrated since I no longer have time nor the funds to get them what they want. Eventually, I felt I’ve missed the true essence of gift giving — that of giving out of love, giving from the heart, and giving of one’s self. But I still continued giving since my gift recipients have learned to expect a gift from me each and every year and would feel slighted if I didn’t.

But, after I retired and times became harder and harder — even if I wanted to continue giving gifts to everyone, I had to change my gift-giving mindset. I began trimming down my gift shopping list until I have pared them down to the barest essentials: my immediate family members, my coworkers in school, and a couple of close friends who have shared my journey (through thick or thin).

Starting this Christmas, I thought I’d do themed gifting for my loved ones to begin a new trend in my personal gift giving cycle. I’ve chosen a theme similar to the global environmentalists’ cry: reduce, reuse, and recycle.

Reduce

spending using credit cards and scout for the best price before buying a gift;
gift shopping for only the most important people (my family) and most worthy recipients (the workers and helpers who have been my “angels” in school) — to reduce undue stress;
clutter and piles of stuff for my gift recipient by giving a gift check or card, a magazine or online subscription, a concert ticket, a spa or facial coupon, a book or food certificate to a gift recipient’s favorite store or restaurant;
unwanted pounds, fats and calories gained by my recipient by omitting sweets, cakes, and cookies and substituting them with fresh fruits, juices, and non-oily seasoning and homemade condiments.

Reuse

old gift wrappers, cardboard, boxes, pieces of cloth, plastic, ribbons and other wrapping paraphernalia to wrap my gift creatively;
Christmas cards as gift tags instead of buying a deck of new cards;
sturdy paper bags from international brand shops to carry several gifts for individual family members;
idle materials and craft them into great personalized gifts to be kept for years as gifts of valuable time;
and revive my talent for writing my own Christmas greeting for e-cards rather than buying others’ canned commercial greetings; making short poems or prayers using my gift recipients initials or letters of his/her name;

Recycle

a friend’s photos from an old scrapbook and have it collaged for a photo mug, a shirt, a memorabilia frame, or mouse pad to rekindle friendship and remind a good friend of times past;
an unwanted item from the closet, read-but-almost new books gathering dust in the bookshelves, a hastily bought clothing or houseware on sale which has never been used for years, an extra corporate gift — to give to someone who will find it useful or to sell on ebay or other auction sites for cash to use for other gifts;
quotes which I have been collecting by compiling them into a stack of inspirationals grouped according to subject matter;
my kids’ artwork by having it professionally framed, and given away for an aunt or uncle’s den;
by patronizing eco-friendly groups selling items from recycled materials.

I am sure that my reduce, reuse, and recycle theme this Christmas would not only ease my stress but it would also refocus, reorient, and rechannel my gift giving to the true meaning, the real reason for the Christmas season and Christ’s birth: giving of one’s self, sharing from the heart, and loving beyond Christmas time — not just others but myself as well.

Any other gift ideas to match my gift theme this year?

My New Wardrobe from Second Hand Ukay-Ukay Shops

A Mom and More — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 14:43:50 +0000

My kids want a fashionista mom. They want me to look cool and youngish (even at 50), wear clothes which blend with what they wear (not those tailored from a distant past) and censor my appearance when we go out (probably so they won’t be embarrassed that they have an old hag with them).

Without a stable job, no discretionary funds and a long list of want-to-haves and payables – thanks to UK shops, I can be in fashion without robbing a bank or closing my savings account. Truly, second-hand shops support current fashion and lifestyle trends of: going retro, recycling and customizing.

Look at the new wardrobe I’ve built out of my trips to UK shops with Aei.

Mom in red

Through all these years, red remains my favorite, so here’s a collection of reds and lighter shades of red: pink, old rose, fuchsia blouses, skirts and sweaters – to usher in good luck, sustain my passion and create productive energy as I turn 50.

A little dose of green and blue

I don’t know why green has never been my color while younger sister Annie, an architect, loved greens all the way and youngest sister Arlene, an artist-entrepreneur, was all for the blues. To spice up my wardrobe, I’ve chosen some bit of greens and blues (which I have always labeled as masculine colors ) and whites to give some calming effect to my dominantly red personality.

Denims for all seasons

When I retired from the corporate world, I only had a single pair of denim pants (a stretch, button-up skinny jeans in fashion in the 1980s-90s). I have always worn dresses and skirts which fit my stature and physique. As a passage marker, I thought of donning on denim pants and skirts which I initially found stiff and uncomfortable compared to the cotton and silk I used to wear at work. Now, with UK shops, I can be as cool, smart, comfy and chic with the variety of blends, textures, shades, styles and accessories that designers have created out of the durable and timeless denim. Here are some great denim finds which can fade away beautifully with me over time.

I have worn a lot of UK finds to special occasions and often, I am asked who sews my clothes for me. I reply: they’re ready-made but personally embellished by me. I smile inside, feeling proud of having made good fashion choices, as Aei winks an eye or brushes my elbow.

My relatives and friends will never really think and know that my wardrobe comes from the second-hand stores, and not the USA or UK, unless I tell them. Shhh …

A Mom and More » Re-hub

My 2009 Christmas Gift Giving Ideas

My New Wardrobe from Second Hand Ukay-Ukay Shops