It’s week 1 for the Filipino Mom Blog’s Fab Holiday Finds meme. Everyone is invited to join – just share your holiday shopping finds, whatever they may be. More on the mechanics here.
This year I decided to make orange my Christmas tree theme. So yesterday, when my sis, niece and I went on a Divisoria expedition, I got some orange poinsettias and orange tree balls. I love the prettifying effect they had on my tree.
I got the dozen eleven poinsettias for only Php250 (about USD5.00), and 16 12 orange Christmas balls for only Php180 (about USD3.65). Good bargains? Well, yeah. But not without a “price” to pay.
I thought I bought a dozen of the orange flowers, but when I was putting them on my tree last night, I found one of the stems was just a stem, with no flower on it! And some of the orange balls were broken as well. Grrrr.
But my husband – my ever level-headed technohub – told me it was a cheap price to pay for a valuable lesson learned. Isn’t he a sage? 
(Lesson # 585 on my Divisoria Shopping Manual: Never, never, never trust the vendors. Check quality and quantities yourself.)
The golden and silver pear-shaped balls with intricate silver lines, the tin blue angel and white snowman are my shopping finds from Dapitan flea market two years ago. Dapitan Street in Quezon City is a treasure trove for bargain hunters, especially during Christmas. Christmas decor overruns find their way there as early as September every year.
So there, my fab holiday finds for the week – my orange tree and a very valuable lesson that will last me a lifetime. 
What’s your fab find? Share it with us. Find other Fab Finders here.
Next week’s Fab holiday Find theme is white.
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Tags: Christmas, Divisoria, holidays, meme, Metro places, shopping finds
December 2nd, 2008 at 2:13 pm
tapang mo sis, pumunta ka pa ng divi this time of the year!! i’m sure ang daming tao. it’s a lovely tree and the color is so warm
December 2nd, 2008 at 4:22 pm
As always, nice sharing Chats. You have a great way of sharing your finds and the lessons that go with it.
As you know we do not decorate for the holidays but I miss these things din since my mom loves decorating our house then. Dalaga pa ako nun. 
December 2nd, 2008 at 4:54 pm
dibale, kahit 11 lang siya, mukha namang 12, maganda pa rin ang tree mo =)
December 2nd, 2008 at 7:53 pm
very interesting and beautiful color. i wish people would be nice this holidays but interestingly enough it’s when they get greedy the most. but your tree loks gorgeous nonetheless
December 2nd, 2008 at 8:24 pm
I will surely take note of that lesson you just shared. Thanks for that.
My Fab Find is posted here.
December 2nd, 2008 at 9:37 pm
Sorry about the ‘missing’ flower and broken Christmas balls. Your Christmas tree still looks wonderful. I like the color scheme you chose.
December 3rd, 2008 at 12:16 am
Oh my, My Christmas tree is orange-themed too. Will post a pic soon
December 3rd, 2008 at 7:42 am
That is a great tip, Chats. To think you went there at this time, aba, medyo delikado not just with the vendors but you-know-what.
Nice tree
A tip for you next year, put up the lights first before you put the decors so you can place the decors where they can be lighted and showcased best
December 3rd, 2008 at 10:24 am
It’s still a cheap find kahit na kulang. It is not only the skill of haggling is needed when you’re in Divi ‘no?
December 3rd, 2008 at 10:34 am
that’s a lovely and unique tree
and i love poinsettas!
December 3rd, 2008 at 5:46 pm
Thanks for that Divi tip! I will be sure to check each and every item as much as I can.
Oh, orange! How interesting! You’re the first I’ve encountered who’s chosen the color for the season, and it totally works!! Great creative mind you’ve got there!
December 3rd, 2008 at 7:56 pm
ok lang sis kahit kulang, maganda naman xmas tree nyo…btw, I agree with Cookie. tapang mo punta divi ha. di ko yata kaya yan, takot ako sa mataong lugar, he he he.
December 4th, 2008 at 9:08 am
hey pareho tayo orange themed tree!! actually mine is orange-gold-white themed tree. my decors are three years na and itching too be replaced. but budget is tight…..magdivisoria na lang tayong lahat. hehehe !!!!merry christmas in advance!!
December 8th, 2008 at 1:32 am
Maganda din pala ang orange. Hmmmm… next year naman orange haha!