Holiday gift giving: heart to heart

It is only the end of October, but the upcoming winter holiday season is already in many people's minds...
In my family, it has been decided that we will draw names this year.
I am not to keen on the idea, yet I am going along with it as the majority in my family have acquiesced.
I am still sentimental of heart; I can't help but think of my favorite childhood book: "Little Women"--and how even in difficult times they gave one another gifts for Christmas.

I think the holidays are а grөat timө to express to family and friends our appreciation of their рresence in our lives.

I see many people turning to the 'name drawing option' as a result of our present economy, yet I have always thought expensive gifts are totally unnecessary....and truly, how many of us really expect to receive something expensive from a family member?

I believe the holidays are not about how much we spend on a gift but about sharing our affection with one another.

This holds especially true for families like mine, where the majority of us live over 60 miles away from each other, meaning we don't gift one another for birthdays and other celebrations, thus the winter holidays a great time to not only tell one another we care, but also show it with a small token of love...especially a handmade gift!

Gift giving should be thoughtful and personal. If you put time and effort into your gift and are thinking about the recipient and what they’d like, your gift is likely to be appreciated.

I have always seen it as extra special when we give and receive handmade gifts.
Gift giving is not about the cost of something, but about the thought that goes into the gift.
The whole time I am making something for someone... I am thinking of them.
It is wonderful to see the sparkle in their eyes when they are pleased and excited with the gift they have received that I made with my own hands and love!

A gift is a gesture of "I think of you, I love you".


A gift does not need to be costly and you don't need to ba an artist to make a handmade gift. There are so many gifts one can make that truly show caring.
It takes nothing more than time and thoughtfulness to think about what someone on your gift list may like.

I once received a fantastic gift from my aunt: she gave me a large ziploc bag filled with mashed fresh basil. When I got home, I separated it into several snack size ziplocs and froze them... all winter long I made delicious meals with it, and each time -I thought of her!
There are so many options out there of things you can gift those on your list!

Gifts need not carry with them a hefty price tag, and one should not feel obliged to give...rather it should be a joy to show our loved ones we care.

It helps to know the person, have a feel for what turns them on, how they spend their leisure time, their latest hobbies, favorite music and movies. What is their favorite food? Do they need socks?...
*This is what is most important: get to know your family!

Some ideas for gift giving:


Does someone love the movies? Give them an IOU for a movie date with you (time is your best gift!)
Do they travel often? give them a "pick you up at the airport" pass.
Have kids? Babysitting coupon.
Animals: "pet sitting" coupon.
Busy people: wash your car coupon, mow your lawn, cook you dinner...etc!
Do you live somewhere fantastic that all want to visit? Why not give a "weekend stay at our place" coupon?
There are so many different things you can come up with, and you can make a certificate with collage or just print something out, stick in an envelope, place a ribbon and candy cane on it, and voile: a gift!

Other great gifts can be found here: (I love the bath salts recipe and may make these for gift giving this year!)

The holiday season is a time to show one another affection, appreciation and thoughtfulness. No matter what your religious affiliation (or lack thereof)- the winter holiday season is a time to let someone know they are special.
Gifts are a symbol of these thoughts.
In "The Gift of the Magi," that master of the American short story, O. Henry, tells us of a couple sacrificing their greatest treasures for each other:

He pawns his gold watch to buy her the hair adornment she long desired; she cuts and sells her hair to buy him a platinum fob for his watch.

Reduced to its economic elements, the transaction is a disaster. By risking everything, the couple lose everything. But, as O. Henry notes, mathematics gives us the wrong moral to the story. Our instincts know these are lucky people.