I have to say that this place is undoubtedly a slice of heaven for anybody's who's remotely artsy…read moreor has the slightest penchant for arts and crafts. It caught my eye because it's colorful, attractive and whimsical. I stepped inside the place and found a wide assortment of stationery, invitations (wedding and fill in invitations), gift tags, different types of cards, notepads, photo cards, notebooks, ticklers, and planners. My personal favorite are the personalized cards as they are so darn classy and tasteful. I enjoy writing people random notes, thank you notes, gift notes, and these really fulfill that purpose. I've attached a photograph here of some of the cards these guys have made for me. I'm so pleased and can't wait to put in another order when they run out!

I took me quite a while to place the correct categories for this place, as there seems to be no…read morecategory called "CUTE THINGS YOU DON'T NEED BUT WILL BUY ANYWAY". Yelp, get on it! I'm a sucker for anything that has animals on it (NOT their skin! Ditch fur and leather, please!). Or polkadots. Or vegetables. Or fruits...Or all! This place is for every girl who likes "kawaii" things --BUT of course, that wouldn't be appropriate to say because this store hails from Korea, so instead, say "gwi-yeo-wo-yo"! Are you celebrating someone's birthday soon? If so, this place has the cutest little party hats (of course, with animals!) to top your dear celebrant's head with, greeting cards, party "gear", and other colorful festive things! If you're a sock collector, then this is the place to get cute silly socks! Pretty notebooks that are too cute to write on? Check! Mushroom lamp? Check! And if you have not outgrown your sticker addiction, they have soft, "pillow-y" ones that are just ~squeeee~! Koreans really know how to make things murderously cute! Take my money!

If you're like me who likes random stuff, you would love this store! Artbox is more than just a…read morestationery shop. Sure, they have really cute paper products like notebooks, planners, stationery and even greeting cards, but they also have other cute stuff like accessories, printed paper bags, birthday candles and hats, clothes, socks, etc. Artbox is a Korean store, and we all know Koreans are pioneers for cutesy stuff! Artbox is the perfect store for you if: A) You're looking for unique notebooks / planners B) Collect pens C) A fan of Korean products Or D) all of the above! You'll surely enjoy ogling at what Artbox offers. And because their prices are very affordable, I wouldn't be surprised if you walk out of the store with a purchase! After multiple visits from this store, I have yet to walk out empty handed. Don't say I didn't warn you!

This is one of my favorite bookstores in the Philippines. I love the aesthetic inside and how it…read morewas laid out especially when they have photo of a woman create with books. It was also bonus that my book, Bridging the Confidence, was available at this location. Definitely a must go if you love book stores.

Bookstore -- more than books! (MANILA Philippines)…read more My two daughters would absolutely love this bookstore if we had one in the U.S. My 10-year old niece who resides in the Philippines introduced me to this store when I told her that I was looking for Sonny Angel merchandise for my adult daughter at home who loves this stuff. Not only did they have them but they had so many different kinds of Pop Mart blind box merchandise meaning you do not know which figure you will receive until you buy one and open the box. The bookstore also carries a good selection of Manga books series which my other daughter would be excited to see. For Yuko Shimizu fans... they sell the mural shirts here too. After all the searching for the Sonny Angel merch I was glad to find them in this bookstore and surprised my child with the plush. Customer service was excellent, they were very friendly and helpful. Great prices! The bookstore is located in the Mitsukoshi BGC in Taguig Metro Manila. Review #3294

Lots of cute and good finds! Definitely a cool place to give gifts for kids / teens and even adults…read morewith a sense of humor or a creative side. I highly suggest giving quirky mugs of different designs for coffee/tea drinkers, and DIY projects for the kids at heart. School supplies look trendy with similar graphic designs one can find in Tumblr / Pinterest or similar social media sites. Downside to the shop is their limit in stock (store is small), and the items can be expensive. :( Overall, Typo is the place to give quality and fun gifts to friends and loved ones with a personal touch.

Paper Stone is a newly opened kiosk in Glorietta 3. This company is originally from Singapore and…read moreit sells different paper products, stationery, bags, mugs, and pens. From the looks of the place, one could tell that the main target customers of the store are young students. Even so, some of the items being sold can be great gifts to older folks. Here's a little secret. Whenever I go to National Bookstore or Powerbooks, I buy a notebook while my wife buys pens. We don't really intend to collect these things but it's like an addiction for us. Besides, we just appreciate good pens and paper products. So when we passed by the Paper Stone kiosk for the first time, we naturally felt compelled to buy something. I wasn't able to find a notebook that suits me because most of the designs on display are either too bright or too girly for my taste. As for my wife, she got a pack of three fancy pens for PHP 89.00. It's not bad considering she intends to give the pens to her niece.

I've been passing by Tie Me Up Buttercup every time I use the restroom near Banana Republic in…read moreGreenbelt 5, but I don't really pay much attention to it because I never really felt the need to buy ribbons or gift wrappers. That's my wife's job. All that changed one January evening when, as I was on my way to meet my wife in a steak restaurant on the far end of the hall, I suddenly remembered that my gift for our wedding anniversary wasn't even wrapped up yet. It's bad enough that earlier in the day I almost forgot to buy something for my wife. I would only feel worse if I didn't present my gift to her in a traditional manner. Good thing, when I got out of the nearby restroom I saw Tie Me Up Buttercup. Colorful gift wrappers were no longer my problem. Also, I realized that the kiosk didn't only offer ribbons and gift wrappers, they also have various greeting cards, party decorations, and stationery for everyone--kids, moms, dads and even grandparents. I decided to add to my purchases a big greeting card with the word WIFE in big letters on it. The paper products that they sell are made of high quality materials and the designs are a feast for the eyes. Just be prepared to shell out big bucks when buying from this store. Yes, it is just a small kiosk, but their items are a bit pricey.

I have never seen a store with so many writing paraphernalia! Seriously, this is a writer's…read moreparadise. In the last couple of years, I've gone from handwriting to the old-fashioned (read: not electronic) typewriter and finally to a laptop. I've been trying to recreate the art of hand-writing everything from love letters to my daughter to postcards. I don't get to do this often for lack of a good pen to write with. When I came across Scribe, I was overjoyed! Fountain pens, ball point, brush pens, quills and ink jars and so much more. It's been years since I've had a Parker Pen with my name on it. Scribe made me want to get one - and of course, I did. Oh, and they've got some beautiful notebooks and journals, too. This store helps rediscover a lost art and maybe even start me on the path to Calligraphy since they do have the materials for it.

Calligraphy has been such a big trend in Manila now! Left and right you will see so many…read morecalligraphy workshops by so many artists. You will also see stores that add calligraphy related merchandise in their stores! Scribe is actually one of those stores that opened up when the calligraphy trend was just starting. But they they don't just sell calligraphy stuff (they're just really known of that). I went on a shopping spree here once because I even so pretty magnet boards! They've got pretty notebooks as well! One thing I love here is the collection of brush pens! Although I get bummed out most of the time because they don't usually have stock anymore of the basic colors like black. For some reason, someone is just always hoarding (I think)! For some reason also, I end getting someone here (even if I don't need)! So for the calligraphy lovers like me, check this store out!

I can't begin to describe how cute The Paper Stone is. And no, I don't mean it's in any way ugly…read moreyet appealing. Appealing yes, but by no means is it ugly! I loved browsing the shop and asking about every single product they had. They offer a wide range of stationery, from magazine holders, to pens, to gift wrappers, to journals! They may be a bit pricey though, which breaks my heart because they all have such adorable designs! The stickers are my favorite. I remember spending around 15 minutes (or more) just looking at every sticker design they had, trying to choose which to purchase. (I settled with cute bunnies). For those, like me, who can't resist cute things, you'll probably spend the same amount of time I did browsing their collection. The Paper Stone is a good place to buy gift items for your girlfriends, or your nieces. Trust me, boys.

Cute items and this is the store I never fail to visit whenever I'm at UP Town Center but the sales…read moreassistants are too clingy! I wish they'd give shoppers more personal space.

Call it hoarding or just plain obsessed, but I have this strange habit of collecting gift boxes,…read moreanimal-themed wrapping paper, and cheeky greeting cards months before the occasion arrives. I do this so I won't have to rush putting a thoughtful gift together on the day itself. Mother's Day? No problem, here's the card. Friend's birthday? I have just the right bag. Happy graduation day? Already signed. Tie Me Up Buttercup sees right into the desires of my decorating-happy soul, and boy, am I thankful. This gift shop lured me in with its stylish calligraphy, dainty collection of pop-up greeting cards, vibrant ready-made boxes, embossed wrapping papers, and decorative accessories, all of which will no doubt make a charming personal impression on a loved one. On my first visit I couldn't even leave the shop without purchasing two gift bags that read "a hug in a bag" and "I found this and thought of you." What I love most about Tie Me Up Buttercup is they know it's not just the thought that matters in gift-giving. It's the entire package.

Deovir is an artist's heaven…read more This could actually be my only statement and it would pretty much sum up Deovir. They have so many items available for use of artists which cannot be found in bookstores. Being the premiere art supply store, they have a wide range of products, from brushes, paints, paper, pencils, etcetera. This goes for even supporting materials such as thinners, binding mediums, and other art-related needs. Being not so familiar with and not comfortable in exploring painting mediums, I recently called them to ask for advice as to what I can use for an upcoming project. I needed to use a paint that would adhere well to textile, will be permanent despite washing, but needs to likewise have the correct consistency for brush calligraphy. With a short discussion of my options, I knew what I needed and even had my orders prepared already for payment and pick-up. Indeed, it pays to go to a specialized shop for, well, special art needs.

For me, a trip to Deovir is always entertaining. I've been known to stay for more than an hour…read moreinside the small space, just browsing through different art and craft materials without a specific agenda in mind and thinking about the creative possibilities. There are canvasses of all sizes ready to be spread with acrylics, oils, watercolors, pastels, etc. There are reasonably-priced, artist grade brushes. There are craft foams, polymer clays, charcoals, and a lot more. If there is something that I need for a craft or a project, I immediately look for it in Deovir. And I get a sinking feeling if I cannot find it in their shelves, because that means that I am unlikely to find it anywhere else locally. The staff are very helpful, and they know what they are talking about. There was this time when I was assembling a painting kit as a gift, and a friendly salesperson gladly discussed the comparative pros and cons of acrylic and oil, and why the former might be better suited for a novice than the latter. Seriously, I look for excuses to visit this store even though I know that it's not good for my wallet. They also have an online shop but sadly, the online inventory is very limited.