Gift Ideas for the Late Christmas Shoppers Like Me

Though I frequently join bazaars, I'm not yet done with my very own Christmas list.

Last year I bought 2 dozens of shopping bags from Mama Earth. I am still crazy over shopping bags, but this year I was able to buy half a dozen from another seller (I think the name is Earth Cherish) from the St. James Bazaar.

My hubby would always tell me not to give generic gifts to friends-- such a pressure! We plan to visit more bazaars this weekend, while I have a bunch of personalized gifts currently in production.

(I'm having tote bags personalized for friends, not drawstring such as the ones in the photo)

When budget is really tight, it could be really hard to think of possible gift options. My mother-in-law, who's a very practical gift-giver, gave me some ideas. The other tips below came from my frequent stroll to the bazaars I have joined:

1. Aluminum foil. My mother in-law will be giving rolls of aluminum foil to her neighbors! I find it really useful because I remember rushing to the market last Christmas because I ran out of supply. I just suggested that she can make a really nice packaging to the gift.

2. A Basket of Salted Eggs. With a really attractive packaging, I think salted eggs make perfect gifts because of its longer shelf life. You can make it as a hearty breakfast, a side dish or even as a salad.

3. Bottled foods. Jaq's Kitchen makes really yummy specialty sauces like tuyo with eggplant, spicy tahong with aligue, and spicken longaniza. A former colleague owns GUSTAZO that makes the yummiest Bagoong with Baboy and Bottled Tuyo in Corn Oil. Why not make your own if you happen to have a winning recipe of bottled foods like atchara and bagoong.

4. Natural Soaps. By Nature is one of the pioneers in the natural soaps business. Aside from soaps, they also have balms, insect repellants, and essential oils. I am a big fan of By Nature's oil-based insect repellant. For me, it worked wonders for my daughter because the effect takes a while to subside.

5. Herb pillows. These are compresses that you can either put in the refrigerator or warm in the microwave to treat common ailments such as body pains, tummy aches and bumps from minor accidents. They are usually available in bazaars. I got mine from Babibski Baby's sister company but I just can't find the herb pillows in their site. They will be at the MEGA TRADE HALL 2 & 3 at SM Mega Mall, on Dec. 16-22, 2009, Wed.-Tues. and at the NOEL BAZAAR, World Trade Center, Manila on Dec. 18-20, 2009, Fri.-Sun if you want to consider herb pillows as gifts.

We have 9 more days before Christmas so we still have time. My mom told me that Divisoria is so crowded even in the early morning, so good luck to those who will even attept to go there.

Happy shopping!

1st Birthday Poll: To Spend or Not To Spend

Several months ago, I started a poll to ask mothers how they spent or how they would like to spend their child's first birthday.

Around 59 moms answered and 54% of them decided to celebrate their child's first birthday with a grand party (magicians, lots of food and loot bags). The word "grand" would mean differently from one family to another, but for me this meant the parents saving up for the party several months ahead.

The other 39% preferred a simple party with relatives and close friends, and 5% opted to have a family vacation instead. These parents were those who might believe that a grand party will be too much for a young child who will not even remember the celebration at all when he grows up.

I just hope that the parents do not base their decisions for other people. The party is for the child and not for the guests. Just don't forget the pictures. A child's birthday party is still a KODAK moment-- whether grand or simple.

LADY GIGA

My very first bazaar experience was selling natural products by GIGA Ventures at our village bazaar around early 2008. I personally love GIGA because of their insect repellants and natural soaps. The bazaar was successful but I was not prepared to pursue a business back then.


Even if I no longer sell GIGA, I must say that I am still such a huge believer of their products. In fact, I gave as gifts this Christmas the GIGA Sports Bar for Men to some of my male colleagues. My ultimate favorites are their natural balms: NO ITCH and NO PAIN. These balms are made of virgin coco oil with essential oils.I use NO PAIN whenever I have a splitting headache, heartburn, and body pain. I tried it once for massage and it was truly soothing. My helpers and parents are also big fans. The smell is a subtler version of Whiteflower-- but who cares? "I smell gurang (old), but I feel bagets (young)."

My daughter is the primary user of NO ITCH for insect bites and other skin irritations. It really works in healing the inflammation without leaving black marks. We keep a big container in the house.

I no longer sell GIGA, but I just buy them in bazaars or in ECHO STORE and ECO MARKET. Call me Lady Giga. I will give you no poker face.

Photos taken from giga.com.ph.

My Magic Wand Project

I had my very first blog back in 2006 when I documented all the details of my wedding. Now, I'm writing a new chapter in my life, this time sharing to fellow moms and would-be-moms my experience as a housewife and a budding entrepreneur.

I chose the title My Magic Wand because I felt that homemakers have the gift of converting simple household objects, such as broomsticks, cooking spoons and TV remotes, into enchanting pieces. Admittedly, I never considered myself as the housewife material until I became one. Since I worked 10 years straight before I tied the knot, I did not have much practice when it comes to house-cleaning, child-rearing, and all the other tasks that homemakers are supposed to be experts in. Mind you, soap operas/ telenovelas and Wowowee are also not my kind of shows. Perhaps even laid back mothers like myself have also evolved.

It's been 2 years since I decided to become a housewife. The first six months were spent learning the new role-- taking care of baby, cleaning the house (since we just moved in to a new home), mastering menu planning (I'm not an expert cook), and getting to know my hubby even more. The succeeding months started the transformation. To be honest, the original plan was for me to spend just 1-2 years at home and then I will go back to corporate life. It's been 2 years, and I have no intentions at all to go back to my good old marketing job. With a business that is slowly growing and a financial planning career, I'm sure the chocolate brands and vitamin products that I used to baby do not miss me even a bit.

I will try to review products that may or may not be part of my businesses, discuss common parenting issues and share little thoughts about anything worth our executive mommy time.

Fellow moms, welcome to the world of Fairy Moms!