Category Archives: Business Ideas

Pandemic Safe Christmas Gift Ideas

Hey moms, Christmas is fast approaching. Have you started listing down everything that you need for the holidays? There are tons of food and desserts to prepare, home décor to put up, and yes, gifts to wrap for loved ones and friends. All this hustle is happening in less than two months, such a short time for a mom who’s single-handedly doing chores and tidying up at home. With a list on hand, it will be easier to get everything done before Christmas.

Online shopping will be a breeze with a detailed gift list like whom to get these Rave Gear joggers this year. It’s going to be a lot of fun shopping from one online shop to another at the click of a mouse.

Care Package

Here’s a list of popular pandemic-safe gift ideas, commonly called care packages. What’s inside your care package depends on the personalities of your recipients. What are their interests or things they need to buy but are too busy to pick them up? So, your care package may contain canned food, cleaning wipes, tissues, disinfectant spray, toilet paper, cloth face mask (I love those from IEDM accessories).

Face Mask Combo with PM 2.5 Carbon Inserts. IEDM.com
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Puzzles

If you have a family member or friend who needs some emotional boost, you can give them jigsaw puzzles to keep their mind off their worries. Puzzles need not be expensive because you can create your design. There are also downloadable puzzles on the Internet.

Photo by Ross Sneddon on Unsplash

Matching Pjs

You’ll feel at ease if you know that your loved ones are comfortable at home. It’s fitting to give them matching pajamas (check out rave clothing if they want hoodies) or personalized coffee mugs if they love to drink coffee.

Image by candice_rose from Pixabay

Cookbook

A personalized apron, cookbook, or kitchen gadget is a perfect gift for someone who loves to be in the kitchen.

On the other hand, the sweet tooth would love to receive yummy treats, like cupcakes and home-baked goods.

Photo by Heather Ford on Unsplash

Photobook

If your grandparents are still around, I think they would also appreciate receiving customized photobooks of their grandchildren. They would surely love to look at old photographs of their grandkids to remember happy memories.

Photo by cottonbro from Pexels

Home Office Gift

For someone who has been working from home since the lockdown, you may want to help them liven up their workstation. You may start from these gift suggestions; wooden desk caddy, personalized planner and pen, custom calendar, motivational wall décor. The list is endless.

Photo by Domenico Loia on Unsplash

Plants

Your care package may also include organic seeds, flower grow kits, and plant instructions for those in your gift list who love growing plants and may have to turn their plant hobby into a business.

Photo by Eco Warrior Princess on Unsplash

This Christmas is a lot different from the past year’s celebration. We don’t have to be gloomy in this time of social distancing. We can always reach out to our loved ones through phone calls or video chats. Cheers!

Recycling for livelihood projects

I saw this announcement by Papemelroti on their Facebook page last year. I think the recycling program is on hold due to general community quarantine (GCQ). However, this is still worth sharing.

The purpose of which is to reduce, reuse and recycle items found in our homes to lessen the trash accumulating on our landfills and seas.

For any inquiries, please go to this page https://shop.papemelroti.com/pages/contact-us

Store locations https://shop.papemelroti.com/pages/locations

The following items are being accepted by the company for donations. They must be clean and in good condition for them to reuse the items for their livelihood projects.

• OLD EYE GLASS LENSES
• SCRABBLE TILES
• DOMINOES
• COMPUTER KEYBOARD
• TELEPHONE DIRECTORY
• CLEAN PLASTIC BAGS
• HARDBOUND BOOKS
• PLAYING CARDS
• OLD WATCHES
• BUBBLE WRAPPING

Only the items listed will be accepted – Papelmeroti

Do-it-yourself fabric face mask

About a month ago, health experts said face masks should be worn only when necessary (mag mask ka lang kung may ubo at sipon ka). But wearing a face mask has become a requirement when going out because of the health protocol.

The lack of supply in the market has driven many to make their face mask using different types of colorful fabric.

Image by Gabriele Lässer from Pixabay

I’ve discovered three ways to make a face mask through this website.

Here are a few DIY mask tips from Today.com:

DIY face mask supplies

Depending on your method, you might need some or all of the following:

  • Fabric
  • Scissors
  • Needle and thread
  • Sewing machine (if you have one)
  • Rubber band or elastics
  • Ruler

Fabric

  • The ideal fabric is tightly woven 100% cotton
  • Try to avoid anything with too much stretch
  • In a pinch, if you don’t have cotton, you can use pillowcases, tea towels, thick T-shirts or vacuum bags
  • Scarves and bandannas also work

How to make a mask with the fabric without sewing:

Jenny Chang-Rodriguez / TODAY
  1. Use a square scarf or a cut a large square out of a T-shirt (at least 20 inches by 20 inches).
  2. Fold two sides of the square in to meet each other in the middle then fold this in half lengthwise. You should be left with a long rectangle with the edges sandwiched inside.
  3. Grab two hair ties (or rubber bands) and pull one around each end of the long rectangle, roughly breaking the rectangle into thirds. (It should almost look like a candy wrapper.)
  4. Fold each outside third of fabric into the center.
  5. Pull the mask on by fitting the hair elastic around ears and making sure the end tails of fabric are against your face so the mask stays put.

How to make a face mask with fabric using needle and thread:

Jenny Chang-Rodriguez / TODAY
  1. Cut two pieces of fabric that are equally sized (measure your face to see how wide/long you need them to be).
  2. Take the two layers of your 100% cotton fabric or substitute. If you’re working with patterns, face the two sides together (like you’re making a sandwich).
  3. Place the elastic or ties (*see instructions below) in between the layers and sew them into the corner. For elastics, sew one at each end so it creates a loop on each side. For ties, use one piece at each corner so there are four total.
  4. Make three staggered pleats lengthwise on the mask, as if folding a paper fan. Then sew all the way around. This will make a rectangular mask.

How to make a face mask with fabric using a sewing machine:

Jenny Chang-Rodriguez / TODAY
  1. Cut four pieces of fabric that are equally sized (measure your face to see how wide/long you need them to be).
  2. Pair up two of the four pieces together so they are symmetrical. Sew the center seams (curved part that covers your nose) together. Repeat with the remaining two pieces.
  3. Get your ties ready (*see instructions below). Take one tie from the 11-inch piece and one from the 9.5-inch piece. The longer piece will go on the top of the mask (where it would touch your nose) and the shorter will go on the bottom.
  4. Place the two sewn pieces of fabric on top of each other (like a sandwich) so they’re symmetrical. Place ties on the corners of one side of the mask. They should meet the edge of the mask and then go inside of the mask.
  5. On the edge of the mask, you should see the following: one layer of mask, the ribbon/tie and another layer of mask. Sew the edges so they are all sewn together.
  6. Next, repeat this step for the other side with your remaining ties, making sure to pair ties up so they’re the same length and are symmetrical on both sides. Sew around the mask but keep one side open so you can turn the mask inside out.
  7. Turn it inside out and sew the gap closed.

How to make elastics for your mask:

  1. To make your elastics, you can use ribbon or more of the fabric you’re using for the mask.
  2. You will roughly need one 11-inch and one 9.5-inch long strip of fabric, both of which are 1 inch in width.
  3. Cut the two strips in half and place them aside (follow sewing instructions for the mask above).

I do not own the images and steps in doing the face mask.