Taking Gifting to the Next Level

December is a special month for me, not only because it's the most wonderful time of the year but it's also my birthday month. Yup, I'm turning a year older again but the child in me never gets tired of Christmas and all the merry activities that goes with it. This year, let's all mingle and jingle, game?! 

Well, we all know Christmas won't be complete without gift giving and lots of presents! I think I've been nice this year so I want to reward myself with some treats... Hopefully Santa will also came across this post and grant my wish.  

I'm a self-confessed bookworm and with my numerous visit to National Bookstore, I've seen this Unplug Every Journal which is very interesting so I'm including it in my wishlist coz it's something that
​I need... digital detox! 
Look, even SM Supermalls recommends this book for their #SMWellnessWednesdays. 

1. Action Camera because I've been eyeing on a new one displayed at SM Cyberzone shops since summer after my almost 4 year old all-weather digicam died. With a new camera, I can document my travel and adventure as well as share more interesting video blogs on my YouTube Channel.
2. New Set of Stylish Dresses from SM Woman because I already lost weight after I've started my wellness journey a few months ago. 
3. BOOKS. BOOKS. Storybooks and lots of its! You'll know why if you keep reading...  ;-) 

My past time these days includes visiting @nbsalert to look for interesting books on sale! □□

A photo posted by Sole Searching Soul (@msappleallison) on Sep 28, 2015 at 5:18pm PDT

Christmas won't be the most wonderful time of the year if we just keep everything for ourselves. That's why this season is all about giving and exchanging gifts. This year, here's what I'm thinking to give my family and friends. 

Mama is very practical and health conscious so a fruit basket from SM Supermarket is always a good choice. She also likes to sleep a lot to keep her looking young so a new comfortable pillow will be great! 

For my fellow advocates and mentors, a mug that can make their day will be nice... what do you think?

My sister loves to travel just like me so a new handcarry luggage will be perfect. I'll also get one for me daddy but I think he'll be more thrilled to have one of those magic shoes which can instantly make him look taller. :-) 

My friends will most probably receive a copy of my limited edition postcards which were recently exhibited at the Prism Gallery in Makati. It's part of the Postcard Project exhibition running until December.

If you're also looking for simple gift, I hope you'll consider sending some love through postcards. Send a postcard, share the love! Any profit from the sales of my first ever Sole Searching Soul postcards will go to my annual gift giving activity in my community. For inquiries, contact me.

Are you also planning your gift list now? This simple guide might help you. 

HO! HO! HO! □ Excited to play Santa this #SeasonOfGifting and fill your giant Christmas sock with gifts for the whole family? □□ Swing by your favorite SM malls NOW to spot these gift-worthy picks for a #MerrySMChristmas2015! □□#EverythingsHere

A photo posted by SM Supermalls (@smsupermalls) on Nov 6, 2015 at 9:57pm PST

Christmas is not just about material things. Actually, more than gifts, I always believe that there's more to it. 

THROWBACK: The Spirit of Giving and Gift of Service
Almost 5 years ago, I celebrated my birthday with a twist. I felt that God blessed me in so many ways and it is only appropriate to extend the grace to other people especially to the children in my community. So there, with the support of my family, I played the genie part! 

I hosted a party in our backyard and invited some kids to celebrate with me on my 22nd birthday. Words spread out and it balloon to hundreds. For those 200+ kids (and some adults) life were dull and full of hardships, but for a day we made them feel light and happy... they experienced some fun and somehow showed them that God has his way of blessing them through others. My sister told me that it was the first time that most of the children saw a clown in real life and watched magic trick performances that close. More than celebrating my birthday, it was more of celebrating life's wonderful journey with them. And just before Christmas day, I sent a thank you card to all the children who attended the party and gave them a printed copy of their photo of with the clown. It was a simple gift to remind them that there's still joy and bliss in this world. Hopefully when they grow up, they'll remember to spread happiness to others too. 

My cousins and relatives also took part in that celebration by wearing different costumes. I'm blessed to have a family of givers! They always lend a hand and do their share in giving back to community. 

That was actually not the first time I opted for a more meaningful way to celebrate my birthday. As far as I remember, the last official birthday social party I had was when I was 7 year old. After that I took a different path... Even for my 18th birthday, instead of the usual grand debut, I spent that day on reach out activity in an evacuation center in Albay because they were heavily affected by Supertyphoon Reming. I extended my Gift of Service together with my school mates from Ateneo.

So you see, Christmas and birthday has always been a season of giving back for me. It's one of those special time of the year I got to share the fun to others especially to kids together with my family and friends. 

Growing up in the Bicol region, SM City Naga serves as our own little wonderland since it opened in 2009 especially during holiday season when the mall is full of decors. For most of us, we're very fortunate that we grew up and visited several SM Malls around the country, making it a "norm" but for some kids in our province, a simple visit to SM means a lot...
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So it was during one Christmas when my sister and I brought this little boy with us, to hang-out at SM Mall and be merry. Jeremy is one of the orphans in our barangay who became close to our family because of his bubbly personality. I've seen him a few times. Whenever I'm in our place and he sees me, he never fails to say hello. Years after our bonding at SM, he always remember the good times with us. Just recently my sister told me that Jeremy is now a teenager. 

VIDEO: GIVE BEARS OF JOY THIS CHRISTMAS

SHARE A BEAR and have a #MerrySMChristmas!

LET'S TAKE GIFTING TO THE NEXT LEVEL! Watch this #vBlog or visit www.solesearchingsoul.com to know how you and I can take gifting to the next level this year. <3<3 <3 <3 For more updates about this year’s “Merry SM Christmas” campaign, visit SM’s official Christmas microsite (https://www.smsupermalls.com/merrysmchristmas2015) and follow its official social media accounts at Facebook SM Supermalls, Twitter (https://twitter.com/smsupermalls), and Instagram (https://instagram.com/smsupermalls/); and get an insider access to all the fun happenings at SM Supermalls nationwide through Viber (http://chats.viber.com/SMsupermalls). Shoppers can actively share their holiday merriments inside the SM Supermalls by posting their photos on social media and adding the hashtag #MerrySMChristmas2015.”

Posted by Sole Searching Soul on Tuesday, November 10, 2015

This Season of Giving and Sharing,
​ I highly recommend you check out the SM Cares Bears of Joy campaign. Let's all take part in sharing the blessings and joy to others, especially to children and orphans!

SM Cares bears of joy

If you like stuffed toys like me, particularly teddy bears, why don't you consider the SM Bears of Joy? 

Taking Gifting to the Next Level through Storytelling

Whenever I go home, I am greeted by the kids in our community. Some of them are already teenagers and grown-ups who attended my 22nd birthday party which still remember the merry moments. They ask me when will I host another party because in the last few years we only had carolling and simple gift giving.  

So how will I give back this year?  

Earlier this year, we had a storytelling session in one of the public schools in Fairview and I witnessed how it inspired the kids to be imaginative, to think about their big dreams and believe on it. I hope to give that same experience to the children in my community in Bicol and maybe to an orphans at Gift of Love too together with the members of our BicolBloggers Group. 

After the #storytelling activity last weekend at West Fairview Elementary School as part of our 3rd ...

Posted by Sole Searching Soul on Wednesday, March 4, 2015

That’s why this year, I want to host a storytelling session in our backyard and give books to the children in the neighbourhood so that they’ll be inspired to pursue their wildest dreams too as they listen to stories and be encouraged to read more. 

Instead of throwing a children party with a clown or just giving some treats, I think a storytelling session will be more meaningful this Christmas. That's why I'm including set of various children storybooks in my holiday wishlist this year. Bookworm mode!!!

I believe that even small act of kindness and generosity can go along way… and if we start them young, maybe they'll grow with it. SM, can you help me make it happen and we'll all be merry? :wink:

 For more updates about this year’s “Merry SM Christmas” campaign,
visit SM Supermall's official Christmas microsite and follow its official social media accounts at Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.  Get an insider access to all the fun happenings at SM Supermalls nationwide through Viber Chat! 

SM Shoppers just like us can actively share your holiday merriments inside the SM Supermalls by posting your photos on social media.
Don't forget to add the hashtag #MerrySMChristmas2015.

Look, the elves are busy @smsupermalls for #MerrySMChristmas decors! #solesearchingsoul #pasko #seasonofgifting #MerrySMChristmas2015

A video posted by Sole Searching Soul (@msappleallison) on Oct 27, 2015 at 7:17pm PDT

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