Baby Shopping: Loots From Our Favorite Brands

One of the things I am ecstatic about being pregnant is that I get to shop for our little peanut besides shopping for myself and hubby. There are so many cute things you'll find for your baby so anyone who has been in this situation may warn you to be cautious not to overspend especially at this time of the year where bazaars and sales are emerging from one place to another, one after the other. The question is, HOW CAN YOU RESIST NOT TO BUY A LOT? It's just so E-X-C-I-T-I-N-G. Lols.

As early as September, we got our little peanut his own travel system, via S&R Members' Treat Sale. A series of bargain hunting at a few malls and online stores pursued. We also went to Baclaran to gather tie sides and basic whites, some of the things the baby won't be wearing for too long as he will outgrow them fast. Last month, we attended the Mommy Mundo bazaar to scout a few things but ended up buying a couple of onesies and breastfeeding accessories for me. Also last month, we placed an order on Amazon.com to get our little peanut a few more onesies, breastpump for me and other baby essentials. And just this week (no thanks to port congestion), we finally got them in the mail! Here's a few sneak-peak:

{Our loots from Amazon.com}

Two Bazaars in One Day: Noel Bazaar and Trendsetter's Bazaar

Last Saturday, we were scheduled to go to the Filinvest Tent in Alabang to attend the Noel Bazaar and take a peak of what it has to offer. It has the staple goodies like clothes, food, novelty items and accessories. It did not take us two hours to finish wandering from booth to booth as there are few people to maneuver (hence, less "excuse me po" than usual) and the booths are well-organized.

{Clockwise from Left: Tickets for the Noel Bazaar Swings South (P50.00 entrance); tickets for the Trendsetter's Bazaar (Php 100.00); novelty items found in Trendsetter's Bazaar; creative event styling at the Noel Bazaar for photo op; and some Christmas decors found in Noel Bazaar}

Since we still have a few hours to spare, we decided to drive ourselves straight to the World Trade Center in Pasay City to attend the Trendsetter's Bazaar. We were a bit shock to find that the fair's ambiance is completely different from the calm and well-organized Noel Bazaar. The concessionaires were placed at the entrance so you had to watch out for the hungry and angry people who'd like to buy their food before you could even reach the ticket booth. As soon as you enter the hall, you'll find yourself in a sea of people cramming for the best bargain. It took us about five hours to finish shopping, which I can say is worth all the trouble especially when you're the type who loves bargain. Looking forward to more bazaars coming this year! :)

Tips on a Stress-free Christmas Shopping

The sweet high spirit melody of carols, traffic on the streets, and festive décor everywhere are reminders that the holidays are coming. And with it comes another excuse to hit the shoppinglandia. However, Christmas shopping has always been associated with last-minute panic buying. Although I don’t particularly enjoy the stress that comes with standing in long lines and braving the sea of other shoppers, I love being able to make my family and friends happy by giving them a gift. Here are a few pointers I do that makes my holiday shopping a little less stressful:

1. Start early and make a list. I usually scout for Christmas gifts by mid-October when old items are on sale and new stocks hit the malls. To plan my shopping, I make a list of people, write a corresponding gift that I knew they would have loved to get after their name and my allocated budget for each person or item.

2. Hit the bazaars. When I still can’t decide what to get for someone, a stroll through one of these will surely be a big help. The prices are not fixed so you can always haggle. A handful of them support different charities, too so I feel like I'm hitting two birds in one stone. I love spotting adorable novelty items and stuff you won’t see at the malls. There’s a string of bazaars happening until at the end of the month, so keep an eye out for great and affordable finds.

3. Generic or personalize? It's definitely personalize for family and relatives. I usually like to find out in advance what they like to make it more special. For all my kikay friends and sisters, I give beauty products, which by far the ones I enjoy hunting the most. To make it more personalized, stay clear from the pre-packed beauty items like bath creams or makeup combo. Get them individually while staying true to the receiver's color or scent of choice and toss it into a beautiful glamour box. It will surely melt their hearts out. For people you don’t personally know but that you'd still like to give to (Christmas is all about giving, you know...), a practical item is a good idea. Say for example, our messenger will most likely appreciate a quality face towel or the cheerful and friendly manong guard at our building will appreciate a thermal tumbler. I like to give snack-size food, too especially when I have time to bake. :)

Bazaar Escapade: Noel Bazaar 2013

Noel Bazaar, which is being held at the World Trade Center, features the best gift and personal items from select pool of merchants for the best shopping experience this holiday season. This fair features concessionaires ranging from fashion and beauty items, home decors, food, novelties, Christmas trimmings and other unique and affordable gift items for the upcoming holiday season and beyond. For this reason, it is one of the most awaited Christmas fairs every year. 

{Entrance signage}

The Noel Bazaar also features the Dingdong and Marian’s Celebrity Ukay-ukay, which will sell donated items by your favorite Kapuso celebrities. Proceeds of this project will benefit the Kapuso School Development (KSD), Unang Hakbang sa Kinabukasan (UHSK) and Give a Gift: Alay sa Batang Pinoy Christmas Projects of the GMA Kapuso Foundation.

SM Advantage Members' Exclusive: 1-Day Shoes and Bags Sale

If you're an SM Advantage member, be fashionably ready for this year's festivities without overspending. Just make sure to make this one day shoes and bags sale by SM Store.

Bayo Clothing: Get 20% Discount on All Items (Online Exclusive)

I've been a fan of Bayo since year 2000. I found their clothes comfortable, stylish and easy on the pocket. Most of their dresses are versatile and their collection grew from just clothes to bags, shoes and other accessories. 

Because Bayo is one of the popular local clothing brands, here's something for everyone to enjoy. They are giving out 20% discount for all items through their online store.

Happy shopping! :)