Post-Christmas Gift

Last Christmas, Arnel and i were too busy to shop for gifts.  Actually, we bought gifts for my dad and stepmom a few hours before our family dinner.  It was fast - so fast that we shopped at only 1 store, and spent only my 1-hour meal break from work. It was craaazy but not fun at all as i would have enjoyed going around the mall and torturing myself with deciding which items to buy.  To me, the walking around, pressure, budgeting and all that, are essential elements to a good shopping experience.  Really.

Well, anyway, back to my topic:  Post Christmas Gift.

As practical recessionistas, we opted to give each other Gift Certificates.  I thought it was a good idea because 1) it gives us freedom to choose what we want to receive, 2) it makes you look for something of how much it's worth and limit yourself to it, and 3) it makes you find something you really like but never realized you did.

And that's exactly what happened to me today.  I went to Red Dot, the only posh store in my small city, with my stepmom to look for something to buy with the GC.  We tried on tops from Plains and Prints, Havaianas, accessories and Anthology shoes but i did not find anything i really liked and probably would use everyday so i kept searching.

I honestly seldom buy my own fragrances as my friends and relatives abroad would give it to me for free.  Last Christmas i got 2 new bottles of EDT and perfume from Sheila (from the US) and Charity (from Saudi), respectively.  My Auntie Elma would give me colognes every time she travels abroad.  My brother would buy me local brands from time to time.  Carol, my best friend, also knows how i love to collect scents.  Lately i have been using Anna Sui Secret Wish Magic Romance and the classic Elizabeth Arden Green Tea.

But this time, i have fallen in love with my new EDT from Hayden Fragrances!  Really! You know, that line of fragrances by Hayden Kho, a local celebrity who was also my schoolmate at Med School in UST.  I was surprised they smelled this good!  I chose a scent that's fresh, floral, fruity, romantic.. actually, a little bit of everything i want in a scent.  Plus it came in a cute packaging.  Pure love! :)

Arnel does not know about this yet but i'm excited to let him know i did not just spend on yet another work top or accessory but on something i never knew i really really really liked until today.  

It's been 6 hours since i got this gift - well, technically it's not a "gift" because i was the one who chose and bought it - and i still can't stop smiling. :)

PS.

I think i might have overused the word "really" on this post.  What the hell.  I really really really love my new scent! :)