PRESENT PERFECTION
The Style and Life of a Real Princess | By Dr. Princess Antonia Schaumburg-Lippe
It is so easy to let people know, that you
care about them. Select the right present
and create a magic moment.
I grew up in Austria, where presents are
very important. It is a small romantic
country with seven million residents. People
know each other and never forget a nice
surprise. There is a magical tradition called
the wish list. Everyone has a list of things
he or she likes. So it’s so much easier to
surprise your beloved ones. You select
gifts from such a wish list. Or you collect
information in a little diary - during the
entire year - thoughts and little remarks,
what gifts would bring joy throughout the
year. I simply love to buy a surprise gift, that
they hadn’t asked for at all. Pretty often I
spend days hunting for special gifts. You’ll
show them just how much you care, and
also what incredible insight you have into
their needs and interests. For me it isn’t
good enough to just simply handing it over.
I like to wrap it special and present my gift
with a touch of a fanfare. I also enjoy the
trojan horse packaging. Instead of handing
over a simple wrapped gift, you buy several
boxes and put them layer by layer all over
a gift. Or you could bundle your gift with
another activity you know she or he likes,
such as getting to see a favorite singer in
a concert. You can present a ticket or even
better dedicate time to get together or
even enjoy a fabulous luxurious day at a
spa or with a beloved one having breakfast
in bed at a nice romantic Inn. Trips are
always a great gift. It’s the reaction I like
and how they comment it: They always ask
how did you know? Surprises are simply the
best.
Do you prefer giving presents or receiving
presents? Just take a moment. Stop
reading and think about this question. Give
yourself a few minutes to think about.
I personally like both. One of the most
beneficial and valuable gifts we can give
ourselves in this world is allowing ourselves
to be surprised or being a creative giver.
My favorite people in this world to give
presents to are collectors. They make my
life so interesting. A collector knows all
about one special thing. When you are a
guest in his or her house, the time stops.
My first experience with a collector was an
old elegant business lady, wearing Chanel
from tip to toe, who collected ducks. She
“Humor, creativity and friendship is the biggest present ever.”
- Dr. Princess Antonia Schaumburg-Lippe
had wooden ducks, ducks on cups, ducks
on her T-Shirts, a duck shaped butter-knife,
even slippers with crystal ducks. At tee
time she served tea in a cup with ducks and
even her cookies looked like ducks. After
her invitation, I had a meeting in Munich. I
went out of a plane, jumped in a taxi and
had a little walk through the old town of
Munich in Germany. On the first corner I
saw a golden duck handbag. In the window
of the jeweler I saw a little silver ring with
a duck. I laughed loud and told my meeting
partner the story of my new experience.
Then a cool girlfriend of mine collects
elephants. Her entire winter garden looked
like Afrika. You could literally go on a safari
in her house.
I was even waiting for a living elephant
jumping out behind her old cherry tree
in her garden. Believe me, after a dinner
with her, you discover in your city more
elephants then you would have ever seen in
your life. Collectors create a new life in your
world because you recognize more than
you have ever seen. So finding presents
for them is a double jackpot. I know many
people who literally have no wishes. When
you ask them: What do you like? What
can I do for you? They always reply the
same answer: I have got all, I do not need
nothing. I am not sure if that is the truth.
I think everybody needs something. Maybe
love or spending time with friends. So I think
about them very carefully. What is their
favorite breakfast? Do they like brunch?
When was their last evening in cinema with
a big cup of popcorn and a bottle cola?
A walk in the park or having a hot
chocolate and a delicious marble cake. Or
simple listening to their dreams and stories.
Or ask them, from wich places they dream
in the world. You can look for articles in the
internet and present hem in a magic roll.
Another great gift is to write down all the
things you love about people and present
that in a handwritten letter. One of the
greatest ideas I learned from an aunt, is to
make a present for yourself.
Go in a chic boutique and buy your
favorite dress. Then get it wrapped in a
nice gift-paper and bring it home. Write a
little card and at a special moment in your
life celebrate yourself with this present. It
feels wonderful. When you like magazines
celebrate the new magazine in a special
way. Buy the magazine and take it with you
like a treasure in a specially nice bag. Visit
your favorite coffeeshop and enjoy a hot
cup of cappuccino or a strong espresso
and feel the paper, look at the cover and
open it carefully. A good magazine is like a
good friend, always here for you, and silent
when you need silence. I always take the
time to celebrate a new issue. These hours
makes me happy. They inspire me with good
vibrations.
Another amazing royal tip is a gift party.
You may be the king or the queen of the
gift-givers. You even may have hunted
through the streets for the ultimative gift
and than the shock you received an ugly
present you don’t like. So once a year
you should invite your ten best friends.
Everyone who visits your party has to
bring two presents wrapped in a really
nice paper. One present he or she really
loves and one present he or she doesn’t
like. Make a big mountain of parcels and
sit around them. Offer a delicious cake
and cocktails and than start with a dice.
Everybody who has the number six is
allowed to take two parcels. The party
is over when everybody has two parcels.
Then everybody has to unwrap them. I got
a snowball with a dancing angel. I loved