Gift-giving can be an ordeal. There are the easy ones: the wife who's been hinting at that dreamy Swarovski set, the mom who will accept anything because that's what mothers do, the son who wrote a cheat sheet for Santa. But what about the officemates who give you token cookies every Christmas party? What about those "hi friends." You're not sure of their names but they know you enough to say "hi" when you see each other. He always drops a friendly Facebook comment. She always brings you a magnet from whatever country she's been to.
These are the kind of people that leave you stumped every holiday season, but remember, when all else fails, these stores will rescue you from gift-giving woes.
1. Blue Magic
Blue Magic is heaven if you're looking for a stuffed version of every animal in a seven-year-old's world. This plush menagerie has palm-sized panda dolls, life-sized teddy bears, and unicorns of all sizes. It has also branched out to include cacti, leaves in test tubes, wicker purses, homeware, and rosaries, but of course, the plushies are the bestsellers. A favorite of '90s tweens, receiving a Blue Magic stuffed toy is a rite of passage that deserves to be brought to this century.
Interesting Finds:
Little Lucky Life-Size Bear Stuffed Toy (P5,199)
For your lonely acquaintance who needs a hug now and then.
Slime Poopie (P69)
Is it maple syrup? Is it poop? Is it slime? It can be anything you want it to be. And that's the beauty of this gift.
Shirley Unicorn Mug (P169)
For days when your coffee needs an extra dose of magic.
2. Tickles
This random gift shop has everything you need from large plushies to car stickers to magnets and pins—in short, the stuff that impersonal office gifts are made of!
Interesting Finds:
Fart Fines Coin Bank (P295)
Install this in the office as your gift to everyone. Farters must be punished.
Dormitos Pillow (P765)
Because Doritos was taken.
Drumstick Pillow (P995)
For the friend who watched Gamechangers but can't quite let go of meat just yet.
3. Papemelroti
If at some point in your life you wonder what could paper become if it's not paper? Papemelroti has the answer and more. This kitschy shop peddles paper in all its stages, shapes, and forms. Papemelroti is to paper as Blue Magic is to plush pandas.
Interesting Finds:
Naif Holy Family Nativity Set (P229)
There's no better nativity set than a paper nativity set.
Life Begins After Coffee Decoposter (P498)
Everyone's life story.
Lion Clock (P1,399)
We need to bring clocks back.
* This story originally appeared on Esquiremag.ph. Minor edits have been made by the Preview.ph editors.
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