I do enjoy coming up with unique and fresh ideas for gifts, finding everything, and wrapping it all nicely. I love shopping for wrapping paper and all the pretties for presents. And our family loves to do the one, almost impossible gift to open each year. I used super glue, 3 boxes, and twine reinforced packing tape one year for a single gift. Everyone laughs and truly takes delight in watching the battle wondering who's going to win, the gift receiver or the gift.
I also find myself each year, little by little, feeling less joyous. The vastly over-commercialized holiday season just kills it. I mean, they are advertising for Christmas three weeks before Halloween. Heck, I've even seen pre-Christmas sales in August. Please let us enjoy one holiday before you start another. I remember when waiting to shop for Christmas until December was no big deal and you could find what you needed without issue. Now if you don't have your shopping done by mid-October, you're screwed. Sad. It gets everyone so wrapped up in scrambling to get the bigger and better gift, the meaning in the gift seems to get lost. But that is what I love about my family soo much, there is no competition factor (which is huge as we all are uber competitive in nature). From a pack of Bic pens to a laptop to a box full of socks/underoos, it's all the same. I love that.
One thing I try to do each year is come up with at least one unique gift or card or anything that is specific to the receiver. This year for the Grandma's I designed their own stationary sets. Journals, post-it notes, pens, scratch pads, notecards with matching envelopes, envelope seals and it is all personalized with their names, Grandma & Granny. Many years ago I took a potato chip bag, cut it down the side, wiped it out and used it as stationary. I used a Sharpie and then laid paper towel over top so the marker wouldn't transfer when I folded it. My mother still sends letters from time to time on the inside of a potato chip bag. A couple of years ago my husband and I had banked all of our savings to buy our home so we had a very small budget. I made gift baskets. Homemade breads, muffins, and cookies. I crocheted sets of dishcloths to coordinate with the recipients home decor. I also included mixed nuts that I bought from the local candy store, Albanese. They are Willy Wonka on steroids. Love it. I also made dry, pre-mixed hot chocolate and soups in little mason jars.
Donating your time, items, money, or all of the above really keeps everything in perspective too. Next Saturday is a Christmas dinner for the families in my local community that are struggling. It's hosted by my daughter's high school and the students donate food items and their time. Every year my sister and I make hats and scarves for the families. We also try to adopt a family each year to supply them with groceries. Spending $15.00 on a toy that will literally make a child squeal with glee will make you melt. Give it a try. You will find yourself wanting to do it more and more.
So although the grinding commercial machine that mass produces come all, come now or you are going to lose out keeps on growing and churning, I know that like myself and my family, there are many who haven't lost what is considered the spirit of Christmas. That gives me hope that we will get back to the meat of the holidays...be thankful for who and what you have every day and know that what you want isn't necessarily what you need.
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