Changes and Listening (holiday version)

 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!!