Our 2017 Christmas Kringle: Office edition
- Czariina Mae E. Gaspar
- Dec 25, 2017
- 6 min read
Christmas is in the air! It’s the time of the year when folks tend to give extra appreciation to the meaning of giving and oh, receiving as well. To welcome the holiday season, my office-mates and I had our Kris Kringle which ran for five weeks starting November. We came up with a something-list and kicked off with a 100 budget adding 50 pesos after each week except for the final gift giving which had to be worth 500 PHP.
Before I start babbling about our special event, let’s have a quick trivia about the subject. Kris Kringle can also be termed as Secret Santa, Christ Kindl or as we call it in Philippines, Monito-Monita. It derived from a common Christian Tradition hence the varying names used to suit countries or locations of various beliefs. I am sharing with you the presents I gave and received in each week.
WEEK 1: Something you want for yourself
Budget: 100 PHP
What I gave and what I received
Statement socks @ 199 PHP
I was exceptionally unlucky during the first week of gift giving because it turned out an office-mate's name was doubled on the list and my name was not drawn at all. Of course, I had to be fine with it--Ugh the nerves Haha. I was asked to choose between the 200 PHP Starbucks gift check or the socks that I bought myself--I opted mine; I am not a coffee enthusiast. It was okay because we had to give our Kringle babies something we want for ourselves and I've been eyeing on procuring a pair of statement socks. I was always hesitant to do so because I had no idea when to use them. The bad luck turned out to be a “there’s-a-reason-for-everything” vibe since I was in dire need of them. I was scheduled to play soccer the following morning and I forgot to include my black long socks I used the prior week in my laundry basket. Talk about perfect timing! I also would like to give my boo a huge thanks for buying me a cool pair of soccer shoes.
WEEK 2: Something long and hard
Budget: 150
What I Gave:
NIVEA for Men Moisturizing Shaving Foam- 200 ML @219 PHP
I recall getting checked for my clustered headaches and allocated one hour while waiting for the lab results when I bought this so I had to get the first long and hard gift I could get. I totally forgot my Kringle baby does not shave at all. So I am issuing my apology! Haha I am still currently encouraging him to shave though.
What i received:
Dove Dry Shampoo @450-500 PHP
Again, I received nothing the precise day. There was a good reason behind it though. My monita who re-booked a cancelled flight to Singapore, was spending an amazing vacation with her children and husband there. My monita must have felt so bad of my misfortunes that she went way beyond the budget. I was ecstatic about trying this dry shampoo. I received the gift the next day. I’m not blessed with manageable hair and this product does help every time I want to revive its fragrance and freshness.
WEEK 3: Something Round
BUDGET: 200 PHP
What i gave:
Lock and Lock Circular Lunch Box @239 PHP
I prefer having girls as my Kringle baby than guys because it’s easier to find stuffs for them. Luckily I heard that this was requested so this is what I bought. My monito uses this everyday as his lunch pack.
What I received:
Nichido Powder Plus soft Beige Foundation @ 250PHP
Super grateful for this one. Have you ever been to a point when you have to wipe to the side of your foundation case because you’ve consumed almost everything at the center? I was at that certain brink and my Monita solved it that week.
WEEK 4: Something Big
Budget: 300 PHP
What I gave:
Crystal Make-up and Lipstick Display case @250 PHP
Small Mega box @75 PHP
I was eyeing to give my monita, who was the one who gave me the Nichido foundation the prior week, a violet storage box but the color was quite hard to find or must I say, nowhere to be found at the mall. She loves the shade of violet so I felt quite pressured. I was aware she was in the process of organizing her room and she's got a thing for lippies so my eyes immediately twinkled upon seeing this cute storage for cosmetics and lipstick. I’ve been dying to know if this item is available in Divisoria at a much cheaper price because I’ve seen a youtuber's Divisoria haul and she got a complete set for only 150-250 PHP. I guess I have to try going to Divisoria for a haul first! Maybe next year?
The cosmetics storage case was great but I was worried it wasn’t big enough for the category so I added a mega box to add more size to it. I am happy my Kringle Baby loved everything and her mom loves it too!
What I received:
Price : 300PHP
Forgot to take an actual photo because I used the box as my underwear storage. It looks like the photo below though mine is in orange and grey. My close pals know I have tons of panties and that week, I wanted to bring in a few storage boxes in my room to make things more organized. Will update this photo soon when i comeback from the province.
WEEK 5: Wish list
Budget: 500 PHP
What I gave:
Travel Basic Laptop Backpack
Original price: 999 PHP but got it at a great discount.
My Monito’s wishlist was either a size 8 sandals, watch, or a bomber jacket. I gave him none of this. Haha The sandals was vague, I doubted that there is good quality watch for 500 Php, and bomber jackets for men are way beyond price ceiling. So instead of giving my monito low quality stuffs , I gave him this great pick at a discounted price.
What I received:
Parisian sandals : 599 PHP
I am going to Coron, Palawan on February and I just wanted to have a comfortable sandal which I can wear on our town tour on the first day. Instead of allocating that to the budget, I opted to wish for it in our final Kringle. Luckily, unlike me, my monita was obedient enough to comply with my wish and I got it!
TIPS TO A FUN KRIS KRINGLE
Do bluffs! Bluffing people filled our gift giving with laughter. Although you have to sacrifice a bit of time and effort to pack your bluff gift, angry or funny reactions from your officemates and friends would make everything worth it.
Go beyond the price limit. Personally, I always go beyond the budget. Just in case my Monito/Monita doesn’t like my gift, at least they know they didn’t lose at all.
Set ample time for gift shopping. Weekends can be hectic with all the chores or work and of course, the necessary family time. It can also get a little tricky trying to pick out a gift that you would assume someone would love. Schedule it well or ask people to buy it for you if circumstances don’t permit it.
Appreciate whatever you receive. ALWAYS BE THANKFUL. If the gift was not what you expected, still show that every effort is valued.
Your wish list must be reasonable. Don’t ask for gifts that are way beyond budget. Christmas is a high money turnover season so be sensitive with your wish list. Do not also tell people that you’re willing to add this certain amount since your giver will most probably not ask you to.
Unless you have reasons, do not forget the schedule of your gift giving and do not leave your gift at home. Show people that you are putting the same effort as they are by not having the need to tell them that you would have to give the gift another day because you forgot it. It kills the excitement.
Keep your monita or monito’s name to yourself. Telling everyone who you’ve drawn is a No-no and a thrill killer. It also makes bluffing a lot harder. Sometimes, I joke about having drawn someone and giving an ugly gift and i enjoy it.
Kris kringle is a great way to bond and share some amazing memories with your friends. So that’s how mine went and I am very curious to know about yours. I'm sure there are plenty to receive these coming days! Comment down below to share your experience! Merry Christmas Everyone and Happy Holidays ! See you in the new year!
Lot's of love,
Comments