Sabado, Disyembre 16, 2017

Holiday Rushing

Last Saturday, I got my nails done and eyelashes permed. I had “me” time while my husband was thrilled to watch over our daughter all afternoon. I decided to take a stroll in the mall. It was such a bad idea considering it’s only a few weeks before Christmas day. The mall was packed. There were lots of people lining up to pay for their items bought, lots of people lining up in the dressing room, lots of people lining up in the bathroom, and when I left the salon it was full in a matter of 2 minutes. Everyone is rushing, Holiday rushing. I got a bit worried because I haven’t bought a single item on my Christmas presents list. So I decided to take a peek if the items I’m going to buy are still there. I felt relieved seeing it all still available. No one seemed to get the same items for Christmas as I will be after all, which is a good sign.  

Today, my post will be about getting through a holiday rush. Every year I tell myself not to shop in a rush which I always still do until now. But with the years gone by, it taught me a few strategies to ace the ultimate holiday rushing since it is the season of sharing.

My first tip is to list down everything. Make a Christmas presents list, their alternatives, places to go to, grocery shopping list, dates of parties to attend to, etc. It is important to be organize to consume lesser time in choosing which present to get for your loved ones, the same with grocery items to get. Also, always list down alternatives just in case you run out of the items on your list in order to decide easier which one to grab, leaving the mall not empty handed. Besides from the list of the items, I also list down where the items are bought, so you’ll be able to grab all the things you need within the same area.

My second tip is to go to unholy hours at the mall. Christmas season means extended mall hours. If you live nearby, or mall is accessible to your home, why not going to the mall at 7 o’clock in the evening or any time before 10pm or 11pm on a weekday and you’ll see the difference with shopping on a weekend.

My third tip is for the online shoppers. Make sure that you purchase items 2 weeks before Christmas since shipping takes longer on this very busy season. Also, to avoid returning the items, I make sure to be specific with the style, size and color of the items before checking out your shopping bag or cart. Also, I double check my shipping address and contact number to avoid unshipped items. The shipments are prone to errors when it is this busy.

My fourth tip is to give out gift certificates, vouchers or cold cash. This is the easiest and laziest way to ace that holiday rushing. You’ll need two things to get ready for this, money envelopes and crispy new bills. Another tip for this is to get your money changed in bank a few weeks before Christmas because believe it or not, banks ran out of new bills, too.

Now I leave you guys, with a photo a few years ago channeling White Christmas.





That is all for today’s post. On my next post, (Hopefully, I’d be able to post it before Christmas) I’ll be posting about gift wrapping and personalizing items.



Toodles!
Love, AnDi xx

Sabado, Disyembre 9, 2017

Christmas Outfit

On a very early Sunday morning before I drafted this post I watched “Pursuit of Happiness” with my husband. He fell asleep while I am still wide awake and finished the movie. I was having a lot of thoughts lately of work, my family and life in general. It seemed to keep me awake so I decided to start today earlier than the usual, just 2 hours earlier though.

I saw unwashed feeding bottles, our messy room, and felt my stomach rumbling for food. Instead of washing bottles, tidying our room up or grabbing a sandwich downstairs, I decided to open our closet and try on my outfit for Christmas day. Yes, I still look forward to dressing up for this very special season that I shop for it weeks or even months before. I always wanted to try it on but I haven’t seemed to get the chance to. And so, I wore this absolutely beautiful top and slip into this equally beautiful bottom. You’d have to wait for my Christmas outfit post to know and actually see it. I am no way spoiling you with this post. Ha! And then I looked at myself in the mirror, it looks exactly what I pictured it to be. I was in awe. My face was glowing with joy. After a few more minutes of staring at myself in the mirror, I finally decided to take it off already and carefully put it back hung in my closet. But then it struck me, I haven’t gotten anything for my New Years day outfit and the days ticking by, countdown getting closer and closer to Christmas and New Year. Oh no! So I opened my closet again looking at my clothes. I was thinking. Thinking of coming up with outfit my family hasn’t seen before. I had a light bulb moment.  I had this skirt that I haven’t used yet. I got it from my aunt’s old pile of clothes she hasn’t used in years. I decided to keep it because it was my size and I loved it. Then I looked at a dress my mom gave me that she hasn’t used yet. It was of same color but with a different shade. I decided to use the dress as a top and wore the skirt. It looked absolutely amazing how it worked too for me. I was again in awe. And from then on I tried every ensemble I could think of at that very moment.

I have lot of clothes that I never have worn because of reasons like impulse buying because of sale, ill-fitting because I refused to try it on, and clothes that I really loved but doesn’t have any existing wardrobe matching it. I already trimmed down my list of clothes never been used, pairing it with existing ones. I was truly amazed by the ensembles I have come up with. It was all on point. (Patting myself in the back.)

And with all these thoughts I had in mind, it made me realize a lot of things. Warning! The next few statements are quite melodramatic. Hahahaha! Please bear with my sentimental early morning self. I realized that in order to correct or change yourself for the better, you don’t actually always need to have new things. You have certain skills to begin with that you haven’t used yet, might as well expand your horizon by using them. I’ve gone through rough days at work the past few months and I will not be torn down by this minor bump. (Patting myself again in the back for being able to say it.

I also realized that my lil girl have grown so much already. Last Sunday, on the way home, she was talking non-stop, repeating words, calling me and her Dada, reciting every family member’s name, and random stuff like nanay, tatay, papay. Hahahaha! It was so fun to hear her being talkative and all. I feel so bless with my family. It makes me love weekends and holidays hundred times as more.

Also, I realized that I very much deserve a sandwich after all that mind boggling dressing up game. Ha! I can’t believe I actually pulled off inserting my PBJ sandwich at the end.

And as I made the draft of this post, I actually realized that I lack ootd pictures and Polyvore is quite a big help in making my blog posts lately. And I’m going to make use of it again for this post.  I want to share Christmas inspired outfits since it’s fast approaching and parties are here and there. Feast your eyes with sets I made with Polyvore. Spoiler Alert! I was inspired by the good old Christmas carol songs.

I have been caught up by the metallic pleated skirts and wrap dresses trend lately which explains the sets I made. I hope you enjoyed this post as much as I did.

That is all for this post. Please don't forget to drop by my polyvore account here. You might heart every set I made. Pun intended. *wink*

Toodles!
Love, AnDi xx