I've finally finished wrapping gifts...well...almost. I've also had to slap myself a few times. I actually believe that I am "over" the commercialism of the Holidays, but the truth is, I felt guilty several times today that I didn't buy more for my neices/parents/sibling & wife/friends/garbage man. Sad, but true. Luckily, a few cuffs to my own head, and I seem to be snapping out of it.
My best friend and I are exchanging baking. She loves my Amish bread and Gingersnap cookies. I love her Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies and her Toffee Shortbread. This is the gift I'm most looking forward to. The real question is, why can't I do this with everyone? Exchange something homemade, or a service. Even my massage therapist offered to trade me today for some Reiki.
I would really like to do something about this for next year. Perhaps I'll send out cards just after Halloween, and let everyone know that I'm not buying gifts. That I would happily offer a Reiki session or cater a lunch, or bring baking.
Of course, next year I'll be the owner of a shop, and everyone will expect that I have no excuse not to buy presents. Well....at least I can buy them at cost!
Wishing you all a stress-free Christmas. I hope you have an abundance of good cheer!
PS - You may have noticed, I'm rather fond of these bunny comics. I do post the link on each one, just in case you want to check out Shoebox and their clever website.
9 comments:
Yeah, I feel conflicted about that aspect of Christmas myself. Personally, I would go the simple route, but those I celebrate with love old-fashioned excess. How can I deny them?
~all to easy to not get caught up in all the commercialism of christmas..if you were not brought up in any other way...sometimes changing old ways, habits can be a struggle. this year we did make a few gifts rather than buying...i think something made means far more than something you could buy...i like your idea and don't think you ever need to justify to family~friends store owner or not about the gifts you give...may they only receive with a humble open heart! if not its there own issue...wishing you a wonderfully magical holiday...brightest blessings~
I knew you would get everything done and on time! Kudos to you! I really like the idea of sending cards out early November on exchanging homemade items. Wishing you and your family a very Happy Holiday!
(((HUGS)))
Happy Holidays to you and yours. I've got two more to wrap, then I am finished. You would never believe I only started on Monday...and this morning I got all the Christmas food in so I am just about done.
Mary
This year has seen me starting to rethink the gift giving. The husband and I teamed up this year and made tree ornaments/ suncatchers to give to friends and family. Other than our handmade goodies our gift giving has been severely cut back and I'm more excited to see how our loved ones like what we've made.
I'm already thinking about what we can make for people next year and what we can make for the Peanut to put under the tree.
Happy Holidays and a brilliant New Year
Stopping in to wish you a wonderful, wonderful holiday season!! I will be around a lot more once the holidays are over with!
Lots of warm love and hugs and brightest blessings!
Michelle
Wishing you a wonderful Magical Christmas Holiday. Lindax
Love the bunny cartoon :)
I agree. I think it is a splendid idea to exchange baked goods or services. We gifted bottles of homemade blackberry wine. We had harvested the berries in the summer and had fermented them all fall. We then processed, bottled and labeled them. It came from the home and heart.
We had a family member ask us why we only bought one thing for our kids, as if that was so sad for the boys that we didn't buy more. We bought them an acoustic guitar (real one), the finger picks, the stand and two child's learning to play books. Hubby and I were really offended. Our boys had been asking for an instrument for a while and they really enjoyed the surprise this morning. Same family member bought them a crap load of toys and they are already bored with them.
It goes to show it is not the quantity or cost but quality. We put a lot of thought into our gifts but some of the ones we received were very commercial, if you know what I mean. Anyhow, I am getting long winded. I hope you had a nice Christmas and a blessed Yule.
Jessica
I wish I had a service to offer others. LOL
Ummm...are you interested in some Weight Watchers dishes? :D
I hope you had a wonderful holiday season.
Love you dearly!
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