The Ultimate Christmas Checklist – How to get ready for Christmas?

As a kid, I’ve always loved Christmas! My family will assemble a mini Christmas tree at home and leave the gifts we’ve received from family and friends around the tree. On Christmas day, we will have a family lunch together before opening up our presents excitedly. This is also the part I anticipate the most every Christmas. Now that I’m all grown-up, it’s my turn to shower my parents and my little nephews and nieces with Christmas gifts and there’s no better way to get ready for Christmas than with HSBC credit cards.

1. Get Party-Ready – Start your beauty preparations with L’Occitane

Christmas time is the perfect excuse to doll yourself up for a good time out with friends. There are so many beauty products around but I only trust products made using natural ingredients as my skin is quite sensitive. L’Occitane uses more than 300 ingredients of natural origin in its production process. The textures and fragrances are inspired by the land of Provence and follow a strict formulation charter to guarantee quality and efficiency, while respecting people and the environment. Personally, I like knowing what I’m using and is proud to support a company who keeps the values of respect and authenticity at heart.

This Christmas, L’Occitane offers sensorial gift sets for men and women to suit your Christmas shopping list – from festive Christmas baubles with 3 charming products inside priced at $20 to an Advent Calendar with 24 surprising delights inside at only $79. Besides pampering yourself, if you’re looking for a beauty product to impress your loved one this Christmas, why not surprise them with L’Occitane?

HSBC credit cardholders receive a complimentary shampoo and conditioner travel set with a minimum spend of $160. This limited offer is valid from 18 November to 31 December 2016 at all L’Occitane boutiques (except Takashimaya Department store) and while stock lasts.

Address: There are various outlets island-wide in Singapore so check out http://sg.loccitane.com for more details on each outlet.

2. Shop for Christmas Gifts and enjoy the festivities at Forum The Shopping Mall

There’s something for everyone this Christmas at Forum The Shopping Mall. Soak in the festivities along Orchard Road as the street lights up this Christmas while enjoying shopping privileges with your HSBC credit card at Forum.

Little ones can find excitement at The Secret Garden of Enchantment Interactive Experience between 1pm and 6pm from 9 to 20 December 2016 (except 12 December). While your kids enjoy a magical Christmas surrounded by imaginary fairies and garden nymphs, and overcoming obstacles to emerge victorious in the interactive experience, not only do you get to shop but also be rewarded with gifts ranging from Christmas ornaments to insulated bags and many more.

Ladies, for ultimate pampering, there is a 90-minutes OPI signature hot wax hand & feet spa treatment priced at $158 at the OPI Centre. This sounds very tempting and I’m looking forward to making a date with my girlfriends just to prep ourselves for Christmas parties! For the men who frequent the gym and for those who require supplements, you get 15% off regular-priced items at GNC (excluding food stuff and selected items). This is such a good deal and I’ve planned to drop by to get some health supplements for my elderly parents. For kids who may deserve yet another toy to their collection, HSBC credit cardholders get 15% off Kyosho regular-priced items at Toykar. I think this would be the perfect place to find a gift for my nephews and nieces. Besides these, there are many other shopping and also dining privileges at Forum for HSBC credit cardholders.

What’s more, charge a minimum of $500 to your HSBC credit card at Forum to redeem a $50 Forum voucher. Plus, redeem a Samsonite Hanging Toiletry Kit worth $65 when you charge an additional $800. You’ll enjoy complimentary parking on Saturdays and Sundays with a minimum charge of $50 in a single receipt. Gifts are limited so head over to Forum today!

3. Plan a Christmas Celebration with your loved ones at Manhattan Bar

Inspired by the Golden Age of cocktails and fine drinking, Manhattan Bar brings back in time to the glamorous, elegant and sophisticated moments of old New York. This majestic hotel bar serves artisanal spirits and classic cocktails, meticulously crafted from the world’s first in-hotel rickhouse. If you’re staying for the night and prefer “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” to “Moulin Rouge”, there’s also a Sunday cocktail brunch available.

Try your hand at mixology by building your own Bloody Mary cocktail in the Ingredients Room. Choose from fresh ingredients and herbs, as well as a selection of homemade spices that include a Bak Kwa-flavoured powder, for a truly unique experience with the classic cocktail. Wines and beer are also available so remember to enquire with the server for the day’s selection. And to go along with your handcrafted cocktail, slurp up the fine selection of succulent, freshly-shucked American bivalves at the Oyster Bar before moving on to the small plates of seafood delights such as lobster ceviche, Maine lobsters and shrimp cocktails.

Christmas is also about feasting so look forward to pairing the alcohol with a sweet surprise. A must when you visit the Rickhouse is Manhattan’s Baked Alaska – chocolate mousse filled with orange curd, feuilletine and meringue, drizzled with aged rum from the bar’s signature American oak barrels. The dessert counter offers a wider selection of sweets including the Classic Apple Pie, Black & White Cookies, Apple Cake Pops, Caramel Banana Cream Pie, an assortment of Cronuts and plenty more. This Christmas, it’ll be a unique experience to grab a bunch of friends or business associates and dress up in old Hollywood glamour for a brunch date or a night of drinks and bar bites at Manhattan.

HSBC credit cardholders enjoy complimentary free-flow champagne for Sunday Cocktail Brunch, valid every Sunday from now till 18 December 2016. Do note that prior reservations are required.

4. Cook Up a Christmas Feast with Fresh Groceries from Isetan

Personally, I prefer spending quality time with my loved ones during Christmas and enjoy whipping up a good feast at home every year. Usually, I’ll just head to the nearest supermarket to grab some groceries after work but Christmas is the time to savour good food cooked with quality ingredients which makes Isetan Supermarket my number one choice for quality ingredients.

Looking through the wide window panels, you’ll notice the servers preparing the meat, seafood and even sushi so you can be assured of the products’ freshness. I’m a bread-lover so I can never resist stepping out of Johan Paris Bakery empty-handed. The tantalizing scent of freshly baked bread is simply irresistible. There are even products from Hokkaido, Kyushu and Okinawa during Isetan’s Japanese Fairs where you’ll be able to sample authentic Japanese cuisine that have never been seen in any other supermarket shelves in Singapore.

Besides purchasing groceries, you can also dine-in at Isetan Scotts Supermarket at their very own WA-Dining, Dashi Bar and Kaku-Uchi Sake Bar. WA-Dining offers a wide range of Bento sets prepared freshly in Isetan Scotts’ private kitchen. Dashi Bar serves delicious udon, soba and miso soup while Kaku-Uchi Sake Bar offers a premium sake range including Honjozo, Junmai Ginjo and Junmai Daiginjo. You can take a break at Yaoya Fruit Juice Bar if you’re feeling thirsty after grocery shopping or have a sweet treat from Châteraisé.

HSBC credit cardholders can redeem a complimentary golf umbrella with a minimum spend of $150. You can also redeem $5 rebate vouchers on selected weekends with every $100 charged to your HSBC credit card. This promotion lasts from 11 November to 31 December 2016 at all Isetan stores.

Address: There are various outlets island-wide in Singapore so check https://www.isetan.com.sg/about-isetan for more details on each outlet.
Website: https://www.isetan.com.sg/

HSBC Christmas Festive Promotion

What’s more, with HSBC’s Christmas Festive Promotion, there are now more reasons to celebrate Christmas! Make this festive season even merrier with a sumptuous feast when you spend on your HSBC credit card, and share the joy this Christmas with a memorable get-together. Simply be the first 2,000 cardholders to charge a minimum of $3,000 from now till 30 November to redeem a Christmas Festive Hamper worth over $120. Plus, for every $500 charged to your HSBC credit card in December, redeem a $10 CapitaVoucher up to $50 worth per cardholder. Terms and conditions apply for all promotions herein. Visit www.hsbc.com.sg/promos for more details. HSBC would like to wish all a very Merry Christmas!

This post is brought to you in partnership with HSBC Credit Cards.