Taking Gifting to the Next Level

‘It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas everywhere you go….’

A few more days and it’s Christmas time once again. And I’m pretty sure people from all ages (including me) are so excited for the “most wonderful time of the year.” Oh yeah, Christmas has always been my favorite holiday. Why? It’s the season for family reunions, scrumptious foods, cheerful music, colorful displays, and lights! Who doesn’t like those?

But on a serious note, Christmas is really the season of Giving. Giving gifts on Christmas Day is one of the common practices all over the world. It has been a tradition and it owes its origin to the Magi who came from the east of Jerusalem to greet Jesus with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.  In fact, Christmas itself is really about the biggest gift that God gave the world, his son Jesus Christ!

And in a season marked by giving, I love the idea of giving back to our community, that’s why this year, I’m planning to take gifting to the next level. I’ll turn the tradition of giving and receiving more meaningful. How? Instead of buying gifts only for my loved ones, I will do the gift-giving in three ways: gifting to my family and loved ones; to myself; and to the community.

Watch my Taking Gifting to the Next Level video below

Gift For Myself (My Christmas wish list)

Honestly, I can’t think of anything I really want this Christmas. Since I we already received the best gift ever, our daughter Samantha Ysabelle.  My husband and I waited for 8 years to have a baby, now she’s here and she was worth the wait.

But I guess there’s no harm in asking for more (Christmas wishes), since it’s okay to reward ourselves with the things that we’ve been wanting to have. =D ehem *to my dear husband please read this part*

Here are some of the things I want this Christmas:

• Back Massager
  Back pain is a common complaint of new mothers like me and frequent visit to massage parlor can be expensive. A hand-held massagers can help relieve pain and increase blood flow, plus it is cheaper.
• Hair Accessories
  As a busy mom, I often end up wandering through the house forgetting what I was going to do and I tend to forget to brush my hair. Plus I keep on losing my hair brushes.
• Stand Mixer
  I recently purchased an oven, and I’m planning to start my baked goods business. I have a hand mixer but it tends to overheat after 20 minutes or so. That’s why this heavy duty Kitchen Aid Mixer is definitely on my wish list!

Gift ideas for my loved ones

For my husband:

• A manly diaper bag
  Modern daddy needs something cool and man-like! The dad diaper bags are awesome and especially designed and styled for men!
• Key Finder
  My husband misplaces his keys quite frequently. A key finder can help him track his keys, even his phone, or other easily-misplaced items.

For our daughter

• Christmas outfit/dress
  Since this will be her first Christmas, I want to give her a cute Christmas outfit. At her young age, she already loves to dress up. I have a feeling that Sam will be a fashionista.

  

• Sophie the Giraffe Bath Toy
  Sam loves a toy that she can chew on. She also loves to swim/take a bath. For Christmas, I want to add to her first toy collection and get her this Sophie bath toy. She doesn’t have bath toys of her own, and I know she’d go gaga over this one!

Gift to the community
Take time to think of those who might not have a Christmas. Praying for them is always good, but actions are even better. Show you care.

I am a strong believer in supporting charities, and giving back to my community, so this coming Christmas, I’m planning to bake some cookies or cupcakes and give them to the homeless/sick kids/elderly. It’s just a small gesture that I’m sure will bring smiles – and sometimes even joyful tears to those who will receive my baked goodies.

To inspire you to give back this season, I’ve put together some ways how we can contribute to our own communities. Take a peek below and discover how you can make a difference during the holidays…

• Make cards for hospitalized kids.
  Anyone can make cards, regardless of age, location or artistic ability. It is an easy and affordable, yet meaningful way to make a difference. Get together with your kids, families, friends and bring out the crayons and markers. Make sure to write a sweet message inside to instantly brighten a child’s day. Any hospital would be more than happy to receive these cards
• Sing Christmas Carols to the Seniors
  If you don’t have the money or items to donate, simply visit a local home for the aged and you can sing Christmas carols to the elderly. Sometimes just feeling like you matter as a person can really uplift someone.
• Another great idea is to participate in SM Cares Bears of Joy campaign
  SM Supermalls offers an opportunity for shoppers to give back and make another child happy, through the SM Bears of Joy charity program. For only P200.00, shoppers can buy 2 bears, keeping one for themselves and SM will give to a child in an orphanage or charitable institution.
  Bears of Joy are now available in select SM Supermalls. I bought ours at SM City Masinag.
• Sponsor A Noche Buena
  Provide holiday gift baskets to the families in need. As part of Merry SM Christmas, gift baskets are available at SM Markets for as low as Php350 starting October 1.

 “For more updates about this year’s “Merry SM Christmas” campaign, visit SM’s official Christmas microsite (https://www.smsupermalls.com/merrysmchristmas2015) and follow its official social media accounts at Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/smsupermalls), Twitter (https://twitter.com/smsupermalls), and Instagram (https://instagram.com/smsupermalls/); and get an insider access to all the fun happenings at SM Supermalls nationwide through Viber (http://chats.viber.com/SMsupermalls). Shoppers can actively share their holiday merriments inside the SM Supermalls by posting their photos on social media and adding the hashtag #MerrySMChristmas2015.”

Even with the endless parties and grand celebrations that will keep us busy this Christmas, there is always an opportunity to make someone happy. After all, giving is indeed the true spirit of this holiday season, wouldn’t you agree?

Make the holiday season merrier by giving back to our community. However, the spirit of Christmas should not be just for one day but for the whole year!