Today the weather feels a bit fall-ish! Our highs are to be in the 70's. Of course that will only last a few days then the heat is back for a while.
We will lose about an hour and 15 minutes of daylight this month. The average temperatures will be getting cooler, and it will be time to start preparing the yards and gardens for the winter.
It is also the time that many of us start to REALLY think abut the upcoming holidays! I have picked up odds and ends over the past year, for Christmas baskets and I also give lots of home canned goodies. I love making cookies, candies and sweet breads as well.
Baking goods will really start going on sale in October and November. It will be time to stock up.
This year I will be cutting back a lot on gift giving. There are so many that I do not ever see during the year (or hear from), and I just see no reason to worry and fret about gifts for those folks. Gifts are going to be meaningful this year! My peace of mind will thank me!!!!!!
Do you start thinking about Christmas gifts and holiday dinners this early? Are you making any cute home made gifts?
Pass on your ideas to us. I think we might all like to shake it up a little with new ideas!!
These are cute little stocking stuffers for the kids. Packs of gum all decorated up. Sorry video does not work
Sounds like a good plan- we don't do lots of gift giving except for our grands. Most of the people in our circle truly don't need anything.
ReplyDeleteThose gum snowmen are so cute, I think my older grands would enjoy making them. I like the potholder, recipe and spatula idea. ❤️
Rhonda that is how it is here for the most part. Adults just don't need any thing so that is why I always give home canned goods. We all have to eat!!!!
DeleteThe younger kids that are like grands for us, will be my main goal.
Our Christmas is small too this year, even the children who are young adults with an income are trying to be frugal to save for their futures. They have all the kitchen stuff and clothes they need, we just try and save all year for time spent together which means weekends set aside and plane tickets home for California girl. It is nice now that they are older and understand that gifts are from the heart and not always from under the tree.
ReplyDeleteI like your potholders and the gum snowmen are very cute! Good idea to put gum in for stocking stuffers. Seems the stockings are more popular than the presents.
Our Christmas is small too this year, even the children who are young adults with an income are trying to be frugal to save for their futures. They have all the kitchen stuff and clothes they need, we just try and save all year for time spent together which means weekends set aside and plane tickets home for California girl. It is nice now that they are older and understand that gifts are from the heart and not always from under the tree.
ReplyDeleteI like your potholders and the gum snowmen are very cute! Good idea to put gum in for stocking stuffers. Seems the stockings are more popular than the presents.
Hi Ellen. You are so correct. I think as people get older they realize the true meaning of Christmas - and it ISN'T gifts.
DeleteI love that you put funds into "time" events. That is wonderful that you can spend time together even though there are many miles separating.
LOVE gifts like that.
The pot holders are cute. I really wish Christmas was not so commercial. I found some great bargins this year and prepare all year for Christmas. It is not that we spend a huge amount we just have a small income so I need to be creative. I think food gifts are some of the best gifts.
ReplyDeleteI love to receive them. The little gum snowmen are cute.
I will be making food gifts this year. I also have homemade vanilla and vanilla sugar for some baskets. I am doing baskets with homemade mixes in them decorations for the treats and and a recipe card. I think this will be a fun family activity and a great gift. I will try to remember that we are celebrating Jesus. I also make jewelry, so some will be receiving had crafted jewelry. I love Christmas and plan to enjoy
the season.
Blessings,
Patti
Hi Patti.
DeleteI so agree that we need to remember the reason behind the holiday. I too hope to have a non-stressful season, and relax and reflect.
Your gifts sound wonderful. The recipients will be lucky. I have always figured - we all have to eat - so why not give someone they may not get otherwise.
Love your ideas.
I love the potholders,etc. Will you share where you found the instructions?
ReplyDeleteI got this from Pinterest. I only copied the picture. I BAD!!! LOL
DeleteI am planning on figuring this out on my own. As soon as I do, I will post how I did them.
For the men I am giving little bags of several homemade. Meat rubs my husband and I got together. They will be inside an oven MIT from a dollar store.
ReplyDeleteFor the women I have homemade vanilla, crocheted dish cloths and kitchen towels and potholders from the dollar store.
For the young children I crocheted shoulder shrug sweaters and ornaments.
Hi Sandy,
DeleteWhat fun gift ideas. I love them! How lucky to be on your gift list.
I may have to borrow your idea on meat rubs - how cool!
Thanks for the ideas.
I love how we are all getting some new ideas!
I love your potholder gift idea -what a great teacher gift that would make! We only give to the people that are around too!
ReplyDeleteOh Vickie that is a great idea. Teacher. maybe office gift, elderly neighbor.......
DeleteThe list goes on and on!
Hi Cheryl...I too love the potholder and spatula idea. One of my girls in notorious for breaking her spatulas and needs new baking mitts every year because she uses them constantly and wears them out. :) I've been checking out the clearance racks at Walmart and found some really pretty earrings for a $1 a pair. I will be giving some of them away as gifts and may keep a pair for myself also. ;)
ReplyDeleteMy DIL Heather's mom came up with a great idea for Christmas next year. She thought it would be fun if the entire extended family went away together for a few days. We would only buy gifts for the little kids and save the money that we would have spent on gifts for everyone else to rent some condos and go do some fun winter activities. We'd bring food with us so we would not have to spend a bunch of money eating out.
Debbie, I have been watching clearance sales too. I have picked up little things for gift baskets. I even have purchased a few 'new' items at thrift stores.
DeleteI love the idea of a family destination trip! Memories last forever - gifts come and go.