The world is a changing - mostly I think not for the good. That is my opinion. I don't like a lot of what I am seeing. SO many nasty people. SO much technology, which people are leaning on and not using their minds any more. SO many things being dissed.
I just find it all a bit disturbing. I guess maybe I am old fashioned - as I haven't changed with a lot of the world.
Yes, I blog - but this is like connecting with and talking to old friends.
I do watch some You Tube - for ideas and recipes. That is about it.
Yes, I have FB - but not liking it much any more. I loved the shut down the other day! Peace and quiet and no drama. I know I don't have to look - but it is kind of like a train wreck - you know you shouldn't look but you do! (Actually thinking about leaving most groups and getting rid of lots of people)!!
But that is it for me. No Instagram, no Twitter, no Tik-Tok, none of those other things.
I keep seeing all the shortage stories. I see the stories about all the cargo ships being stuck and not unloading.
I keep seeing the stories about Christmas will be different this year - if you don't shop NOW!
My response to Christmas - GOOD!!!! It needs to be different. Maybe we should be listening and reading between the lines!
We need to simplify and quit giving in to all the materialistic and commercial garbage we are spoon fed each and every day!
You know I am a homemade kind of gifter. Give it a thought this year. Make some changes. Simplify.
Think about changing things up a bit.
Here are a few ideas to think about and maybe start working on now.
FOOD - candies, fudge, cookies, sweet breads. Jams, jelly, salsa, syrups, mixes of all sorts, home made bread, a good meal - some of yours or ancestors recipes
Get crafty! Think about making up a basket of goodies. Can be a food basket with a theme. Movie night, pasta meal, pizza goodies, teas, candles and books, various soups, crackers/chips and dips, garden baskets - seeds/gloves/tools, a fisher mans basket or any other hobby, warm socks/a throw, etc.
Doesn't have to be just a basket - old lunch boxes, a bait bucket, a tote, mixing bowl, strainer, hamper, picnic basket, a mug, a pitcher, a cook pan, etc. There is no end to what you can use.
Get old leather coats at second hand stores and turn into new items. Maybe a handmade handbag or tote bag
Oil cloth or vinyl table cloths could become re-usable grocery bags or totes. You can even do this with vintage table cloths
Use old canning jars in new ways. You can turn them into mix jars or make darling crafts with them.
I just saw these in a magazine and thought how cute. It says they used a cream chalk paint. There is no limit to the neat things that could be made.
TOGETHERNESS - give a gift of being together and sharing moments. Maybe think of taking someone to a movie. A zoo day. A museum day. A craft lesson. A cooking lesson.
Simple things can be fun. Books are great for everyone. I love seeing people buying books for the little ones. They are sitting together and reading. I know 'tablets' are the thing for kids now - and they do learn - but to me it is a cheap baby sitter! I have watched the little neighbor girl use and operate a tablet since before age 1. I would love to see Momma sit and interact with her and read together and play together.
Places can provide many inexpensive books. Think used - why not? Thrift stores, yard sales, and used book stores, and even library sales. Dollar Tree has a ton of books for kids and activity books and they also have many different types of books for adults.
I found these cookbooks at the Dollar Tree. They had about 15 or more that were different. They aren't huge, but lots of neat ideas (maybe 70 pages). I got these to add to gift baskets of a couple young gals just learning! Would be great for single guys as well.Dollar stores also have tons of cute craft and holiday stuff. Lots of pics and baubles to pretty up a gift or package.
Stay local!!!! Give an experience or a gift from a local shop, vendor or crafter. You are helping your community - not a major already rich corporation.
There are so many ways to help a local business and give a wonderful gift or experience. I like the idea of gift certificates to even a local ethnic grocer - maybe something the recipient wouldn't have thought of and it would be a fun experience. Some might enjoy a local brewery experience.
We DO need to visit and help small business. It is so important to keep them going in these trying times. I don't understand why everyone keeps making Amazon bigger!!!!!!! I don't utilize it myself - never have.
So give it some thought. In this changing world - maybe we should be listening to what our hearts and minds feel. Maybe we are being nudged by a higher presence to get back to making the holiday what is MEANT to be!!!! A time of reflection, and time of thankfulness, a time of love, and a time of simplicity.
STOP THE COMMERCIAL MADNESS!!
Sometimes people find it hard to stop participating in traditional behavior; despite the fact that they are stressed out by the whole rigmarole. This is an opportunity to 'BE THE CHANGE'. Be the one to say 'NO MORE'. For me a birthday or a holiday is perfect celebrated at a table, together with loved ones. No gifts, no travel to far off beaches or whatever. Just a shared table of food and reminiscing and laughter. If we stop buying and the vendors go out of business selling stuff we did not need, where is the loss? They can try another job. We need to realize that we have enough already. Caring does not require a gift or flowers or anything else. Like why do charities get donations when someone dies? Why do funeral homes have options for floral arrangements, etc at the ready? Is it not enough to be sorrowful when someone dies? Must we measure sorrow by the donation or size of an arrangement? Stop putting a $ sign on emotions. Just stop participating in this monetizing of emotions.
ReplyDeleteI love it!!!!! I am with you - just spend some time with me - that is all I want. We do not need to make someone rich to CARE! We can care and love and enjoy each other for nothing,
DeleteThank you - I agree totally!
We stopped observing Christmas a few years ago. The orgy of conspicuous consumption at Husband's relatives' home was nauseating.
DeleteThere is actually a holiday for venting about stressful preparations for Christmas. No kidding! December 21 is Humbug Day. We usually celebrate with a (homemade) pizza and a sigh of relief that we are not caught up in that ratrace. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/humbug-day/
I can understand your stopping. When I see all the stuff people give it is crazy.
DeleteI did not know that about the 21st!!! That is hilarious. Guess everyone needs a day!
It can feel overwhelming at times, more often now than ever before. We're inundated daily with news intended to panic. Or enrage. Or (I'm finding) stoke feelings of hopelessness. Social media isn't any better, which is why I'm no longer on it aside from blogs I read.
ReplyDeleteExcellent ideas for Christmas gift giving, Cheryl. May I also suggest inexpensive items at holiday craft fairs? Crafters work all year to have enough to sell at the holidays. There are also table/display fees they have to pay, so income earned recoups costs as well as providing extra income at the 9often tight) end of the year.
You are so right. That is why I am going to be leaving some FB groups and get rid of some people. It is drama, drama, drama - panic - you must feel the panic.
DeleteMy thing is I DON'T!!!!! What will be, will be and my reading that crap isn't going to change a thing.
YES craft fairs are wonderful. Local people doing handmade things.
I think I know such group you speak of! I couldn’t agree more! Except for the fact that I like to keep an eye on this sort of behavior from other people. Is it irritating, absolutely, but I usually can find a like minded soul in the fray too! Thank you Cheryl for always being the voice of reason!
DeleteI heard that same thing the other day about Christmas will be different this year and my first thought was GOOD! Christmas to me is a season to celebrate with family and friends, not about gifts and stuff.
ReplyDeleteI am a little worried about a turkey shortage though. I still have yet to one in our local stores. Will we survive thanksgiving without one yes, but it would be missed.
Has anyone found a turkey recently?
Lori, I'm not sure where you are? It may vary according to area. This week's grocery sale fliers had one store offering BOGO on frozen turkey. I'm currently still in CA.
DeleteWell I am not worried about turkey - it really isn't time yet. I think we will see some - maybe not real cheap. I can fix anything and be happy. I have one in freezer from last year if I need it.
DeleteI could care less about gifts. Just being together is all I want and need.
Got a 3-lb boneless turkey breast last week at Aldi. It will be next year's Thanksgiving dinner. This year's was bought last year. I did read about the turkey shortage, though. Kinda makes you wonder if someone out there WANTS the public panic-buying.
DeleteGlad you got the breast. I may get one this year if I see one.
DeleteI have read that too - seems like a good marketing strategy to me! Who knows.
B1G1 on turkey! WOWZA. Never seen that before. I bet the price is up there though - to be able to do that!
DeleteI'm in Southern Illinois. I don't think I've ever seen a B1G1 sale on turkey.
DeleteI love when you speak about going for different. Good ideas here, which I plan to spread around
ReplyDeleteThank you. I have always gone by a different stroke than most! LOL
DeleteLove seeing you post!!! Hope you are well.
couldn't agree with you more. Christmas is overplayed, too commercial and not thinking about the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Hope we can all get back to that simple celebration.
ReplyDeleteI want simple and true meaning as well.
DeleteI am so done with materialistic garbage!
I think one of the issues is that people have co-opted (is that even a word?) Christmas. If you don't truly believe in the meaning of Christmas, then there is nothing meaningful other than the commercialization of the holiday, to make it like every other holiday.
ReplyDeleteI guess I never understood why people who didn't believe in the meaning - even celebrate. The gifts are representative of the gifts of the 3 Wise men.
DeleteWe don't gift on most other holidays.
I see what you are saying - I just never understood that.
I saw an online person talking about her Walmart had started putting out Christmas decor but it was not fully stocked because they didn’t yet have it all. She was alarmed but I thought “good!”
ReplyDeleteSeems we all have plenty of decor anyway and I’ve never seen the thrift stores have so much seasonal decor as they do until the last few years.
I’m trying to keep stocked up grocery items but other stuff- I don’t want it. I especially don’t want imported junk.
Crazy isn't it? I saw Christmas wrap & decor at the DT the other day. It's the first of October!!!!!
DeleteI am with you - need nothing to decorate or any of the other junk items they sell.
I am still stocking up on grocery items too - now and then. I think I am really good - but I just can't stop!!!! LOL
Amen! For years I've told my adult daughters that I will give to a charity of their choice and ask that they do the same for me. Christmas should be about making the world better for someone else.
ReplyDeleteLovely idea. If everyone did something kind for another - what a world it would be!
DeleteLike you unknown, I donate-- a water well through Compassion International every year. We do a gifting Christmas-my family is huge and we draw names so we each have 1 person. We make most gifts as I'm a quilter and hubster is a woodworker. Hubster and I stopped gifts years ago. That said, if we come up with an idea, we will do it but it is not expected.
DeleteThe growing hysteria over goods is crazy. I've heard people say the National Guard should be called up to get all those freighters off the ports in and goods distributed. Really? that's worthy of trained military personnel? Buying or lack of it is NOT a crisis.
Happy Friday everyone!
Elle that is cool. I have not heard of that organization. Hubs & I quite for ourselves years and years ago - we generally got what we wanted through the year.
DeleteI love the homemade goods.
Oh I agree. It has become a hysteria in some folks. Yes, our National Guard are highly trained and that is not what we need them for. It will all work out in time - we just have to be patient.
Appreciate all the different ideas! We bought a few gifts early for the grandkids as they are all under 5. But I would like a few things to wrap up for their parents, too! Like maybe a throw, warm socks and a DVD or book. I like your gift basket ideas, too! You mentioned a while back that you were going to share your meals in a jar recipes! Ex. for soups, etc. Please share those! I would love to make several of those for family and friends! The more ideas, the better!
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
I understand gifts for kids. I just hate when people over do it.
DeleteYou bet. I have a couple 'jar recipe' posts coming up. Those are always nice. We all need to eat! Fun to get something different.
I'm known for cancelling Christmas every year. I hate the commercialism. I've told my kids no more toys for the grandkids. We're going to have experiences. Time with each other is more important. Love your blog.
ReplyDeleteLove this. Yes, doing something fun together and experience they will remember.
DeleteI know a couple who buys anything and everything for their daughter and I asked one day - do you think she will remember those things when she is older? The zoo, farm, animals, fishing, camping - those are what she will remember.
Thank you so much for being here.
Time to put the brakes on commercialism! Did you hear that Dollar Tree is raising their prices? Still less expensive than other stores.
ReplyDeleteIt is only some stores and certain sections. They will still have all the dollar stuff but they are adding some new items for more.
DeleteFam. Dol. bought them out quite a while back. We have a Fam. Dol. up the road that has all their normal stuff and they have a Dol. Tree section!
That's why I love this blog!
ReplyDeleteLot's of wonderful ideas and positive
Conversations. I would love homemade gifts of bread,jams,pickles! I did a movie gift basket with old movies, chocolates, popcorn for an elderly hard to buy for relative and she loved it!
The only thing we really spend money on at Christmas is buying food to donate to the food bank. We also enjoy buying toys and clothes for children at shelters. It is what we really enjoy doing at Christmas. Most of us have more than we need. Sharing the season with others is what makes Christmas wonderful!
Love it. Food banks, shelters and kids in need - excellent ways to spend. Helping others. Years ago, hubs and I quite spending on each other - we bought what we wanted, when we wanted it - so it was kind of crazy. We spent the money doing something nice like you said.
DeleteIt sure makes you feel better about giving!
These are all good ideas.
ReplyDeleteThank you!!!! Have a great day!
DeleteP.S. Everything was benign with my niece, Shannon, thank you God! And thank you for your prayers, Cheryl. I love that we can share tips, ideas and prayers for each other here. --Elise
ReplyDeleteWONDERFUL! That is what I prayed for. I am so happy for her, her son and the family.
DeleteWe have a second family here!
Love this post Cheryl and I agree with your feelings about social media! As for the holidays, I mostly just buy gifts for my kids but they both have good jobs and have everything they need so I'm cutting the budget this year. I have used the chalk paint on mason jars and they turned out so cute. Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteAs they get older it is tough. I have a couple I have always bought for and like you said, they have jobs now and buy what they want. They are teens - so I want to do something, I guess they will get extra money to spend!
DeleteI have got to try the chalk paint - that looks so neat. Thanks
Have a great one.
We have stopped the adult gift exchanges...when my parents were alive, we did a fun "grab bag" Christmas night...it was hilarious and the treats in the brown bags were inexpensive. My grands are teens now (except for one) and it is hard to buy for them...you ask what they really want...they don't have ideas---they have everything! We give our adult kids $$, even tho they are financially fine. It was so fun buying for them as newlyweds as they needed a lot of things...even stamps! :) Those that come here for Christmas fly---so gift baskets wouldn't work...such a stressful dilemma!!
ReplyDeleteI so agree about the commercialism...it's actually depressing.
Maybe if you need to give them something they can transport - just give gift cards to fav restaurant or grocery.
DeleteIt gets hard - especially when everyone is adult and makes lots of money.
Kids always ask what I want - my answer - just come and be here! All I want. I make a meal and we catch up.
There was even a post the other day in a group I’m in on Facebook that there is going to be a book shortage too!!!! I actually laughed out loud!!!! Good, I thought! Buy used books! Use your device and download books! GO TO THE LIBRARY!!!!
ReplyDeleteSHORTAGE - the word of 2021!!!!!!!!
DeleteI am sick of hearing everything is going to be a shortage. Like you - I think buy used or look for substitutes.
People just can't think any more! LOL
I’ve read about the shortages too, but I don’t let it bother me. I buy my groceries once a month and if they don’t have something I need I can get a similar product instead. I was busy working on something the other day and didn’t even know Facebook was down until that evening. LOL There is always something to do around here that doesn’t involve technology. Great blog post, Cheryl.
ReplyDeleteI am the same way. Honestly I think this shortage "thing" is a marketing strategy myself. Scream shortages and people will pay any price you ask!!
DeleteIndeed there is always something to do - never seems to be a shortage there! LOL