Raisie Speaks: 4 Gift Ideas for Bookworm Friends

Hey everybody! 

Do you have close friends who are bookworms? (Almost all of my friends from university are not just collectors but book hoarders! These are the hardcore, I-don’t-wanna-part-with-my-books-like-EVER-bookworms. Yeah I’m looking at you Ate K and J!) =p 

Do you often have trouble finding them a gift during the holidays? I’ve put together a gift guide to help you sort out the dilemma, chances are you can come up with something more affordable that is still just as cute, or this list can serve as inspiration for you to zero in on the best Christmas gift you can get your bookworm friends-after all, you know them well enough to gauge what it is that they really want. 

1. Elegant Bookmarks

Whether personalized or store-bought, it’s the thought that counts. You can give your bookworm friends something for them to put in between pages to replace those grocery receipts and even tissue paper as bookmarks. You can either

a.       Make them a personalized ribbon bookmark

b.      Buy them a magnetic bookmark

c.       Or get them a fancy shepherd’s hook bookmark

I'm a huge fan of Ma'am Yen's shepherd's hook bookmarks because they are just so memorable and very pretty. There are other designs like mermaids and dragonflies but I always pick up the dragons.

2. Statement Bookends

I just think that fun bookends can be great accents for any shelf and the kind of bookend you select can also reflect the genre of the books your friends are into. For example, a katana bookend will go well with any Asian Lit selection, this Lost Head in Book version can be good for Philo and other related genres. Could you guess what selection will suit the Falling Bookend? 

 

 Photo Source: Quirks

 3. Book Totes

This is more than just dual-purpose, it is also an essential. Any bookworm will definitely be grateful for a book tote that is exclusively used for weekend reads, notebooks and journals. Throw in a bunch of pens and highlighters as well as bookmarks and post-its for those favourite quotes. Want to go extreme? Include a tin of sugar cookies! This design definitely hits the spot! 

 Note: Look for materials that are durable, the straps should be able to support heavy weight especially if your bookworm prefers hardbound books. 

Photo Source: Love and Laundry Library Tote

4. Latest Releases From Their Favourite Authors

Some friends (who are huge fans of this or that author) might have eyes on the latest release and still might not have time to go to the bookstore, or may live too far away. Zamboanga needs more bookstores, I’ve heard this so many times. But if you happen to have an advantage, you might want to check out your friends' shelves and compare what they have or don't have. 

If you have the budget, you can get that final book of Sandman to complete the library, or get the latest Murakami flown in from Barnes and Noble (hand-carried, thank you very much) or the latest Stephen King that won't be released in the Philippines until after January 2015 but has been released in the US already. Hey, even your mother would appreciate a new cookbook for the holidays in the kitchen!

If there is anything I know about bookworms, it is the fact that they appreciate fun gifts or items that can protect their books for a long time, or even if you simply get them anything that can go on their shelves. 

What are you going to get your bookworm friends for the holidays? Here's a secret, I'm going to gift the dragon bookmark to someone really special! Clue: Year of the Dragon =)

On Fragrances: Love Potions by Armand Dupree-Tupperware Philippines

It’s been a while since I posted an On Fragrances post and I thought about doing one now that the holidays are nearing. I think that when a home is ready to receive friends and relatives over the course of the holidays, warm scents are usually what makes the atmosphere rather cozy. 

In all honesty I had to check twice to see if they were really decanters and not body perfumes. But then again, what’s the difference? 

Decanters are equally inspiring and refreshing fragrances for the home and other corners that need jazzing up scent-wise. They also make really nice decor and simply light up any room. Throw in some candles to warm up the place and boom, there’s picture- worthy corners in the home. 

To create an intimate atmosphere at home for the holiday season, Armand Dupree released three beautiful scents rightfully called Love Potions and I think they are great for Christmas season. 

The Love Potions are as follows:

Love Potion No. 1: Rose Garden-An oriental floral fragrance that captures the intimacy of lovers

Love Potion No. 2: Blue Mediterranean- A citrus floral fragrance that captures the warmth of excitement of paradise

Love Potion No. 3: Sahara Night- A gourmand musky fragrance that reminds you of sultry nights spent with a special someone

  

Pros

Here’s what I personally like about the decanters: 

• Affordable (Php 199 each-promo price) Regular Php 230
• Dual purpose-keeps closets and other corners of the house smelling good, also for the body
• Travel-friendly- 30ml decanters can easily fit any bag
• Giftable! –for friends who like scents for different corners of the home
•  Long-lasting scent- refresh as frequently as you like 

Cons

Here are some observations that don’t really make it for me:

• Scent is sometimes too overpowering
• Only three scents to choose from 
• Exclusively available from Tupperware dealers 

Conclusion

One of the love potions spilled on my hand when I was testing it and it stayed on for at least four hours even when I did so many things. It's dual purpose and very portable. I might show you a trick about how to use these to freshen up your closets and also to spruce up your guest rooms just in case you have friends and relatives staying over. 

My favorite among the three is Love Potion No. 2 Blue Mediterranean because it smells fresh, crisp and clean. I wasn't that into Love Potion No. 1 Rose Garden because I had high hopes for this, I was expecting a deep rose scent but just had the sweet notes floating- it was too sweet for my liking actually. Love Potion No. 3 has amber written all over its scent even if it doesn't intend to, and it makes for a good warming scent during cold evenings, but I am on the fence on this one. It all boils down to personal preference to be honest.

Do you have these decanters? Which one is your favorite? Leave a comment below! Have a good weekend!