MERRY CHRISTmas to all my readers!

By the time you read this, you would have already opened your gifts last night on Christmas Eve. And in today’s column, I would like to talk about the art of re-gifting. In one of my barkada parties this week, our good friend, Jessica Guevara, suggested that we all bring a white elephant gift. White Elephant gifts are gifts that are normally lying around the house-maybe you have been gifted with a dress that is a size too small for you, or something that you have no use for. White elephant gifts are also stuffs that you know someone else might make use of. This year, the White elephant game or Yankee Swap seems to be very popular. Although it is meant to entertain, the game has been this year’s talk of the town.

Art of regifting

I believe there is nothing wrong with re-gifting as long as proper care has been done to re-gift and as long as you know that the receiver will enjoy it more than you. You do not regift with the original card, obviously. I was only able to accept this concept recently when one of my best friends, Miriam Quiambao, asked if I wanted her perfume. She opened it and it did not suit her. This opened my eyes that it was okay to regift and also to actually give away things that might have been opened already but the gifter would like to pass to someone else as not to waste the item. However, I think we are more open to this idea if the exchange is happening between very good friends.

What to do with corporate giveaways

This is tricky. I have a few planners from different banks that I obviously will not get to use because I will be sticking to one planner. I think planners are okay to give to someone else. I would personally ask the person if the person is interested in the gift. My dilemma lies in gifts that are so useful but I am embarrassed to give away. Case in point-I have a really useful HSBC toiletry bag that the bank gave in one press conference. I would have loved to give it to a friend who loves traveling as much as I do but that logo at the bottom left is stopping me from doing so. Globe also has this very useful giveaway that stows away your shoes and a suit bag that one can use when traveling. Again, it does say “Globe” in it-thus, I haven’t given it away at all even if I don’t use suits. I also have a New World hotel credit card holder that is made with the finest leather which has been with me. I just had an epiphany. I will just raffle these off to my Sun.Star and blog (imwanderwoman.blogspot.com) readers. I just might be surprised that people will be interested in these stuffs that are lying around my house.

Tastefully done gifts

One of the best gifts this year would have to be from one of my good friends Michelle Fontelera. She gifted me with this beautiful magenta and turquoise box with room fragrance, linen spray and scent diffuser. It is gorgeous and really useful. It is so nice that I do not want to use it! I always love food and getting cakes, ensaymadas from Joey and Julie Uy, Carmen’s Best ice cream, food for the gods, butterscotch cookies from Czarina and Jofe Syquia, apple cinnamon bread from Farms Best artisan breads, and goodies from Kenner Chua of SM made me smile. I cannot mention all of you because this will be like a three page column. I also have several books from Camile Basa, Jessica Guevara, and Ruffa Gutierrez that I appreciate because of the learning I get from these. Jewelry, clothes, accessories will always tickle a girl’s heart- I loved receiving Ricky Toledo and Chito Vijandre’s elegant gold and crystal earrings which remind me disco, Katz Montealegre’s gold cuff, and my brother Royce and sis-in-law Sansan’s beautiful Indian inspired earrings from Mi Amore Moda. Miriam Q also gifted me with gold earrings made with Madagascar stone. Christmas came early for me when Josie Go of Karimadon, Finina Tugade of Chocolate Clothing, Siya Daryani made me a muse for their wonderful creations. Karimadon’s long jersey dresses, which are wrinkle free will definitely be on my luggage as I travel this 2012. Another favorite of mine is the yearly gift of Joel and Cheese Ong-the gift would always come with a card that sums up how the Ongs spent the year and is filled with good wishes to the recipient. To end this column, I quote what they wrote on their 2011 Christmas card: “Certain of the fact that each child, each parent, each human being is created distinct, exceptional and one-of-a-kind, we are reminded that the best way to reflect the gifts of light to us is actively maximizing our talents, multiply our blessings and share them with the people we touch. At the end of the day, we will be judged not by what we have but by what we have done to make the best use of what we have been given. Because you are our nearest and dearest friends and family, may we send to you this Christmas the gifts of DISCERNMENT and CONFIDENCE, so you may know your own talents clearly and have the confidence, fearlessness and faith to run with them. It’s your time to shine next year! May you shine brightly in 2012 so the heavens will see and be dazzled with your brilliance!”

Let’s be friends on twitter, add me @iamheiding. Happy Holidays everyone!

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