The Gift Of Giving ♥

It's November and we all know what that means ~ ~ Christmas is just around the corner!

This is the time I complete my gift list, frantically run around town scouring gifts, and trying to get everything done.

But this year, I promised myself to do everything early.

Last October, I already bought the containers that I needed for my Christmas presents, and ribbons & materials for the gift-wrapping.

So far, so good.

You really have to start early...as it can really get crazy.

There are so many people to give ~ ~ employees, extended family, your godson/goddaughter ('ihado'/'ihada'), your kids' teachers, the household staff, the newspaper delivery guy, the men who collect your trash, your massage therapist or 'masahista' (we have a licensed one who regularly comes to the house every week), your 'manicurista', the security guards in your village/subdivision, and so on and so forth ~ not to mention close friends and family.

Gift-giving in our family has always been a tradition.

And for me, it has almost always been food-related. ☺

This year, I plan to give Brownies, Chocolate Crinkle Cookies, or Chocolate Cupcakes I will bake myself... ☺

I'm also thinking of giving 'healthy' gifts from the "EchoStore" (ECHO stands for Environment and Community Hope Organization)~which sells local products~natural, organic, recyclable and earth friendly.

Incidentally, it was at the Marriott Hotel in Cebu where I first 'encountered' these wonderful ECHO products.

They have an outlet there.

I was able to buy "Ilog Ni Maria" organic products and was happy about it.

During my recent trip to Manila, I was also able to go to their Serendra store and another good product I bought was their "Coco Naturale", a 'sugar substitute' ~ it's sugar extracted from coconut.

It is very good for diabetics.

I bought some for beloved hubby.♥

Gifts shouldn't be that expensive...as what is often said ~ "it's the thought that counts".

Gifts are a 'token' of our affection for the ones we love...♥

For me, it is even better if our gifts are a 'labor of love' ~ like for instance, something we did ourselves ~ like a cake we baked or a pasta dish we lovingly prepared. ♥

Wine is also a good choice for the wine lovers in our list.

I remember one Christmas, when I gave all our neighbors and close friends a basket of delicious native "Ibos" ("Suman") with a big pack of Muscovado sugar ~ my husband was quite amused and found my gift idea 'something new for a change'. ☺

(A relative who is very good in making "Ibos", was the one I requested to make for me.

We bought the ingredients together~'pilit'/glutinous rice, coconut milk, etc.) ☺

It's 40 days to go before Christmas.
My family and I won't be spending our Christmas in town
but I sure am looking forward to a more meaningful Christmas. ☺

I can't wait to send out our presents, especially to our cutie-pie grandson Pao-Pao & little 'ihados'/'ihadas'.

Christmas, after all, IS for children. ♥

~SAL ♥

Love and light,

SAL ♥