Holiday Preparation Ideas for Mommies
It's that time of the year once again that we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
They say that Filipinos celebrate Christmas the longest because we already start preparing for this season as early as September. While there are other holidays before Christmas, we already start having that Christmas vibe as soon as the -ber months start. We already start to think of gifts to buy for our loved ones, inaanaks, officemates, and friends. We already start to plan on what to do during the Christmas school break. We already start plotting the Christmas party schedules on our calendars. We even start planning for the menu that we will prepare for the Noche Buena and Media Noche. There are so many things on our holiday to-do list that most of the time, we get overwhelmed by all the things that we need to accomplish so that we will be able to have the most wonderful holiday experience with our family and friends.
Now that we are living in a fast-paced world, there are cases that we do things on the last minute. I must admit that by just thinking about this coming holidays, I get already get tired, haha. This year, Christmas is a bit different because my mom is here, weee! I have already plotted activities for us to also enjoy her short visit and to spend quality time together.
I was able to come up with some hacks that you can also try as you prepare for the coming holidays. I have been doing this since I became a mom and truly, it made my relationship with my son more special.
1. Have a Christmas project. My son and I always wrap gifts together. He is the one in charge of writing on the gift tags. In addition to that, my son and I also decorate the house together. Ever since our Christmas tree broke down years ago, I am 'forced' to think of creative ideas to have that Christmas mood in our home. This year, I've used old CDs to make a Christmas tree.
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| Kib painting on gift wrappers |
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| Kib writing on gift tags |
2. Go to Christmas-themed places. When I was young, my parents would always bring us to Cubao to watch the COD Christmas display and go to theme parks like Star City or Boom na Boom. I also like to maintain that tradition with my son, so we go to different places around the metro to see different Christmas-themed installations, like the one in Ayala Triangle and Greenhills Shopping Center (however, I just learned that the one in Greenhills Shopping Center is not present this year). There are still lots of places to see like the Policarpio St. in Mandaluyong City and the Christmas House in Fillinvest, Antipolo. Going to these places during the holiday season will keep the Christmas spirit alive because you know that you can only see them during Christmas season.
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| Christmas House in Filinvest East Homes in Cainta |
3. Give gifts to your child's ninongs and ninangs. Let us teach our children that ninongs and ninangs are like their parents, so it's only appropriate to also give them gifts during Christmas too. It doesn't need to be expensive; a small token is enough. Gift-giving should not be a one-way street.
4. Plan your menu in advance. Food can be costly during the holidays, so it's better to prepare ahead to time so that you will know what food you can buy in advance. It'll also save you money for buying these in advance and you will save time queueing for long hours during the holiday season. You can stock up on food that has longer shelf life on your pantry so that you will also have something to prepare for your guests without rushing to the grocery to buy the ingredients.
5. Avoid going on an out-of-town trip. Yes, you read it right. While Christmas season is the best time to spend some quality time with your loved ones, other people also think the same thing too! Local tourist spots can be soooo crowded and the traffic on highways are terrible. There is also a possibility that your flight schedule will be also delayed. Hotel rates during this season can also be high.
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| Flight delays in Kalibo from our New Year vacation in 2012 |
Going back to my Tip Number One, apart from having a Christmas project, it's a tradition by most families to decorate their houses for the holidays to really set up the mood. We put up Christmas trees, Christmas lights, parols, and even play Christmas songs every now and then so that we would really feel the importance of this holiday season in our lives. Some families even put up a Christmas village if they have enough space at home. Not only that, some families really dress up their house for Christmas! Curtains, throw pillows, table cloth, table napkins, plates, etc. all have themes they really spend so much for the Christmas decors.
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| Our previous Christmas decoration |
Speaking of themes, you can use a Christmas-themed kitchen towels to spruce up the holiday feels in your kitchen!
Sanicare, the premier brand in providing hygienic care, always comes up with special Christmas-themed kitchen towels yearly. In addition, they will also release specially-designed Christmas boxes called Liwanag Christmas Boxes this year. The boxes were designed by Alex Eduque, the founder of MovEd. The boxes' designs were centered on the parols and stars because for Alex, the parols are symbolic representation that evoke a notion of promise and unification. It also transcends social classes and lights up all Filipino
homes. On the other hand, the stars in the boxes' design are a constant reminder that we share the same sky and despite the stark differences and circumstances in all corners of the world, that each one of us has a star shining brightly within.
What makes Sanicare different from other kitchen towel brands is because of its moisture locking technology. It doesn't easily break when wet and it can absorb excess oil from fried food. We use Sanicare at home and I can really attest to its absorbency, toughness, and softness. It is also budget-friendly, you will get your money's worth by not spending so much on hygienic care in your home.
I have good news for you! Want to win four (4) all-day Dreamplay tickets and lunch buffet at The Cafe at the Hyatt in City of Dreams Manila for your family? Check out Sanicare's Starry Bright Promo! Check the mechanics below:
1. Contestants need to post a creative photo on their respective Facebook accounts featuring the Sanicare Facial Tissue Liwanag Series Box.
2. Photo must include a caption that starts with the phrase, “My Christmas is extra bright this year because ____!” and must tag 3 other friends. Use the hashtags
#SanicareLiwanagSeries #Sanicare #SCPA on their post. Make sure that the post is set to Public.
3. Once posted, the contestant must go to the Sanicare PH Facebook promo post and click the link provided in order to submit the entry.
4. The promo will run from November 22 to January 01, 2018. Deadline of submission is on January 01 at 6pm.
5. Winners will be announced on January 15, 2018 on the Sanicare PH Facebook Page. The grand prize winner will be given four (4) all day passes to Dream Play and Lunch buffet for four (4) at The Café at the Hyatt City of Dreams Manila. Ten (10) consolation prize winners will also be chosen to each receive a 2,000 peso Sodexo Gift Certificate from Sanicare.
To know more about the promo, please visit the Sanicare PH Facebook Page and Instagram (@sanicare_ph).
There are still lots of ways to celebrate the holidays! I just shared with you what I do and it really helped me to have a wonderful holiday with my unico hijo. What about you, what Christmas traditions do you have with your family?
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