Tuesday, April 1, 2025
Giving gifts is more than just exchanging presents. It’s also a powerful way to show connection, appreciation and love. Usually, the most memorable gifts are the ones that carry sentimental value. And that remind the recipient of special and share moments, and of course the unique bond between both.
Store-bought presents will always be nice, but they often lack personal touch. And personal touch makes a gift truly meaningful. And this is the moment for customized gifts to shine. You can be celebrating Mother’s Day, birthdays or even just a way to express gratitude. Personalized gifts will show thoughtfulness in a way generic item can’t. They’ll create a lasting connection between you and your loved one.
Personalized gifts and how they strengthen bonds
Customized gifts are not just about adding names or dates. They are all about creating something that is deeply personal. They can reflect memories, inside jokes and even messages that only you both understand. All of this is what makes them special.
When you are gifting personalized gifts, you are giving an experience and not only an item. A thoughtfully customized piece carries emotional connection, which will make the other person feel loved, valued and seen.
Brightening up spaces with a personal touch
Meaningful can go beyond fashion and into home décor. A good example of how a personalized item can add sentiment and warmth into a space is with custom night lights. They can be engraved with photos, quotes and names. And they’ll create a beautiful and functional piece, which is a daily reminder of love.
Mothers might cherish night lights that glow with a picture of their children. Spouses may like one that features a special date or a message. And unlike generic decorations, custom night lights will transform the room into more intimate and personal spaces.
The beauty of these gifts is that they are practical and also deeply emotional. When the light illuminates the room softly, it will bring comfort and remind the recipient of the bond you both share.
Wearable comfort that has personal meaning
If we want gifts that strengthen connections, clothes will always play an important tole. Perfect examples of gifts that combine sentimental value, style and warmth are custom embroidered hoodies. Instead of a regular sweatshirt, embroidery allows to add a personalized touch. You can add initials, important dates, even special phrases. All of these should hold meaning between you and the recipient.
Moms will love receiving hoodies that have their children’s name embroidered or with a message. It isn’t a piece of clothing anymore; it will be wearable reminder of the love that surrounds them.
The best about them is their versatility. They can be casually styled for everyday wear. Or they can be used as a cozy layer on chilly days. They can also be worn during relaxation moments. The recipient will always have a little piece of you with them, no matter where they wear it.
Celebrating love with thoughtful gifts
Special occasions, like Mother’s Day, give you the chance to go beyond traditional gifts and create something that is uniquely meaningful. For example, personalized Mother's Day gifts allow you to express your gratitude in a way that is unforgettable and deeply personal.
Instead of giving a standard present. You should consider customizing a gift that reflects the personality of your love one and all your cherished memories. You can give them clothing items, home décor or even scrapbooks with heartfelt messages. The effort you put into customization will make all the difference.
One of the most touching ways to personalize a gift for Mother’s Day is by incorporating elements of nostalgia. You can add a childhood drawing and turn it into embroidery. A letter engraved into jewelry. Even a voice message that is transformed into a soundwave into a blanket. All these little details will transform ordinary gift into something quite extraordinary.
Saturday, May 13, 2023
Saturday, May 13, 2017
In 2002, a Cebuana Joanna Christina Lizares-Co, 46, married to a Dabawenyo businessman Zosimo Co. She moved to Davao City in the same year and since then, Joanna has considered the city as her second home. The couple is blessed with two beautiful girls – Gianna Simone, 12, and Simmina Christina, 9.
A loving daughter that she is, she has remained in close touch with her family in Cebu even if it means regular visits to her father and siblings. On the average, she and her family travel to her hometown three times a year to bond with her brother and sister and friends. Her father passed away last December.
“I moved to Davao in 2002 and when I went home to Cebu, my time centered on my dad. Whenever my dad asked me to come home, I was there right away. Unfortunately, he passed away in December 2017, “.
“But I promised my brother and sister we’d continue to visit.” she said in an online interview.
Even it would mean being away from her Cebu family, her decision to join her loving and a very supportive husband in Davao City was just right and she never regretted it.
Although she admitted that her new base is somewhat “laid back” as compared to Cebu, this is what she likes most about living in Davao.
“It wasn’t so bad. I’m a homebody and my husband Sim made it quite easier. He had a lovely home and saw to it we would enjoy what Davao had to offer,” she said.
“Davao is where I have my two girls. I feel a sense of grounding here. Cebu may have been home to me, but this is where I want to stay for now.”
“My happy place is with my two girls and my husband,” she said.
HANDS ON MOM
As a Yoga instructor, Joanna has a tight schedule holding three to four classes a day. But this never affected her responsibility as a mother and a wife. She knows how to deal with this.
“I’m up at 5 a.m. Monday to Saturdays since my first yoga class is at 7 a.m. Some time after, I check if my girls are up for school. I teach 3-4 yoga classes spread out in the day so I get to go home in between classes or do my chores,” she said.
While at home, Joanna makes it a point to work on her other interests, spending an hour doing calligraphy, another hour practicing with watercolor or craftwork, another hour to write on her diary, journal, update her schedule.
“Dinnertime is with my husband and kids, where we talk about anything. I cap off the day reading. At around 10 p.m. I’m asleep. Weekends are with my girls and they have all my attention. We play board games, do arts and crafts, go to the mall, watch movies, and eat,” she said.
They also travel once a year, a kind of family bonding that revolves around her two girls. “We get to be more adventurous only when Sim and I travel on our own,” she said.
It’s full of laughter the way she describes her relationship with her family.
A CAREER WOMAN
It was in 2011 when Joanna started to practice yoga, which she describes as "a holistic approach to health, wellness, and mindfulness.”
She never expected to become a yoga teacher and just wanted to be good in it, basically the reason she took the Hatha Yoga teacher training program that was offered in Davao City in 2014. She is a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT200) with Yoga Alliance and she is accredited by the International Institute of Yogic Science. Her 200-hour training was conducted by Tatva Yoga International under Master Dev Kapil.
“This really just happened to fall on my lap…I simply wanted to do better in my yoga practice. But what do you know? I immediately got an offer to teach at Holiday Gym Davao so I took the opportunity. It has been three wonderful years being a yoga teacher,” she confidently said.
Joanna is grateful she was introduced to such practice, which she said help her improve her well-being, her outlook in life, promoting healthy living which has become her advocacy.
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| On Joanna: M&S Collection stipe Bardot top & cotton stretch 7/8 trousers. |
“Yoga introduced me to mindfulness. Just when I thought I perfected multitasking, I get shifted back to doing things one at a time. This mental practice of awareness and staying in the present moment has allowed me to even to manage my time better. There is a time for study, for hobbies, for work, for play, etc.,” she said.
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| Joanna wearing M&S Collection knot front top with treggings, cat eye sunglasses & navy bow pump. |
“In my personal experience, its getting people to understand that there are no quick fixes. We must allow the process to work and take place. If it is slow, it’s more lasting,” she stressed.
HER FASHION SENSE
Joanna isn’t the shopaholic type, but for arts and crafts, she is one, making it a weekly chore. “For clothes? Only when I need to and when the occasion calls for it,” she said.
She admitted to be a classic dresser and does not sacrifice function for form or style this why she loves shopping at Marks & Spencer because the selections fit her fashion style.
“You won’t find me jumping on the latest fashion just because it’s the trend. I have to like it a lot and be comfortable in it for me to wear,” she said.
What occupies her closet aside from, of course, yoga pieces? ”It’s shoes and bags! Stretch pants, white shirts, cardigans, day dresses, sleeveless tops, scarves and shawls,” she said.
And a piece of advise to women out there who want to feel they have a complete wardrobe in their closet, Joanna has this to say: It should contain white cotton button-down shirt, a little black dress, dark denim jeans, white shorts, knit tops, black pants, printed day dress, plain sheath dress, blazer, black pumps, neutral ballet flats, metallic evening shoes, scarves, black tote.
LIFE, LIVING IT WELL
The way things are going for Joanna only prove the possibility of just she living life to the fullest with focus on improving it as a career woman, a loving sister and a responsible wife and a mother. And this makes her a happy person.
“It is a happy, healthy life purposefully lived. At the end of my life, I would want to be able to say that with all the talents God has given me, I have multiplied it, and spent it well for the purpose given me. We only have one life, I do not wish otherwise but to live it full with my family,” she said
“I try to take care of my body, eat well, stay fit, and take time to meditate. I believe that if I take good care of myself (mind and body), I can take care of my family and others better, and be more effective in the things I do. I am not known to do things half-baked. I get into something because I am passionate about it. And when I am passionate in the things I do, I do well,” she concluded.
Fashion: Marks & Spencer 2017 Spring/Summer Collection available at Abreeza Mall & SM Lanang Premier
Photography: Wizbren Ang
Make-up & Styling: Otoy Mercado
Shot on location at Waterfront Insular Hotel, Davao.
Jinggoy Salvador
Marks & Spencer 2017 Spring/Summer Collection
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
Color Red have so many meanings whether cultures, beliefs or faith in different countries.
Each cultures has its own traditions, rituals and ways of expressing the RED COLOR.
In INDIA, red incites FEAR but for some others it is a DYNAMIC and CONSTANTLY breathing FIRE in the eyes of the beholder.
This is the color associated with their most revered goddesses in Hindu mythology - DURGA.
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| (C) PINTEREST |
In China, traditionally red is a bridal color. It is expansive, power, dynamic, good luck, celebration, and a long life.
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| (C) DHgate |
Red color is always associated with HAPPINESS and GOOD FORTUNE.
In Japan, color red is considered a life-giving color. And it is associated with female reproduction.
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| (C) WikiART |
We always do the stereotyping idea with colors, isn't it? That BLACK is BAD and WHITE is GOLD. That color PINK is for GIRLS and BLUE for the BOYS.
And for sure, RED is for SEXINESS regarding Women's clothing, styles and fashion.
In Western culture, red is associated with SEX, LOVE and DESIRE.
RED is more attractive if wears by woman.
Oh, that's right. Remember the movie of Julia Roberts, "Pretty Woman", she wears that long dramatic RED dress and Richard Gere reaction was so perfect.
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| (C) THE CELEBRITY DRESSES |
Science discover that RED is the color of sexual attraction. Studies shows that when women wear it, it enhances men's attractiveness towards the woman.
We will observe Mother's Day this month of May. The time we honor our dear mother, grand mother and great grand mother.
As a single mother, celebrating Mother's Day may mean that I have to initiate it alone together with my kids. Or maybe I have to go out for a date if there is one and have a romantic and non-sexual relationship(well that is special).
And to prepare for that big day, I must have prepare something that will help me entice my beauty and glam. So what will I wear depends also with my moods and characters.
According to what I've read, a woman can wear confidence in her feet wearing a high heel stiletto, or slip into a red colored dress with styles and attitude. It depends on moods you have.
For single mothers, hope these will also be a FASHION GUIDE on what to wear this Mother's Day.
Red comes a variety of shades from bright red to maroon, and to get that perfect tailored red dress have it customized and shoot by a tailored master in order to get the desired style and fit match your body.
A darker red dress looks great with fair complexion. Brighter red should be avoided.
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| V NECK Dark Red Bodycon Dress |
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| Fashion Style 2015 by Image Gold Club |
Aside from looking mysterious and stunning it also gives the wearer a healthy and sexy look in this color that will give you an evening date that is full of promising romantic together.
But if you hate wearing dresses and you love to match your red blouse or shirts to a pants, make sure you already washed your pair of black, dark blue or dark brown pants.
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| Red Blouse + Black Pants Red Maxi Chiffon Blouses With V Neck And Batwing Sleeve |
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| Red Shirt + Dark Brown Skinny Jeans + Black Blazer |
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| Red Filbert 3/4 Sleeve Popover Blouse from 41 Hawthorn + Black Pants or Dark Blue Pants |
Hey fellow single mom out there, don't be shy to wear red dresses, blouses or shirts this coming Mother's Day though February the month of love ended, it's not too late to indulge yourself and be seductive with the color RED.
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