Hello to all. Thank you for being here today. Hope you are all doing well.
It is in the mid 40's this morning and the house is 68*. We should be getting to the low 70's today and all week and it looks to be a dry and sunny week. You won't hear me complain about that!!!
The daylight hours are getting shorter and shorter, and the year is getting closer to be over! It is so hard to believe that we are on the downward end of October. Just yesterday (it seems) we were saying how can it be September already?!!!
This morning when outside with the feeding frenzy of cats - the sunrise was so pretty. The sky was the prettiest shade of blue and there were just whisps and poofs of pink everywhere. God sure does beautiful work.
I got a notice yesterday for my December luncheon of old friends - Dec. 14. Then I realized that is less than 2 months away! So, I really got to thinking and well, the bad news is it is about 10 weeks until Christmas - around 64 days!
You all know that I am not a real traditional gift giver. I like doing things a little different. I try to make things a bit more personal and creative.
I mean seriously, anyone can go and buy just any assortment of "stuff". For the most part kiddos are into computers and gaming and well, I will not contribute. Besides that, I am not spending the money that all that takes! It is way too expensive.
Most adults have everything they need already. So just buying to be buying seems silly.
I know we all know people who do not appreciate the homemade gifts, and think that is cheap. I personally love something different or homemade - because a lot of time, love and THAT person is in it.
I love getting (and giving) food items. Different things, people may not do for themselves. I mean we all have to eat!
So let's look a little outside the box today - IT IS TIME TO GET BUSY!!!!
- Used book stores are a great place to shop. Find a subject they would like. Many used books look new and then the old classics are just beautiful books.
- Puzzles - I know many of you love puzzles - lots of people do. A gift that is used over time. Also think puzzle and word books
- Don't overlook the Aldi aisle of shame! They have tons of cute ideas (especially fun things for youngsters) for little money
- Sample size health & beauty products in a cute little basket or tote with a bath scrubby
- CVS - deals - you can get a lot of inexpensive things on those daily deals at CVS with their card and their coupons
- Warm socks (we all love warm feet) - maybe some hot chocolate mixes and a mug to go with it. Or for the right person some mulling spices, and a bottle of wine
- A pretty Christmas ornament - can be used year after year. Homemade or a pretty you buy. If you buy one - get a paint pen and write the year on it or a sentiment
- At yard sales or thrift stores - buy pretty single plates for gifting home baked goods or candies. They can keep the plate or pass on to someone else
- A cold/flu/cough kit - lozenges, herbal tea bags, small bottle of honey, tissues, Pepto, soup mix, etc.
- Garden and flower seeds - you can find at garden centers now - marked down. They will be good next spring - garden gloves, a trowel, bulb planter, etc. Get some paperwhite bulbs and a small planter to give - fun inside project. Amarylis bulbs.
- Kiddos - a little basket with a cute toothbrush, toothpaste, bubble bath, cute soaps, and fun sponge or scrubbies, etc.
- Think vintage - it is the new thing again. Many people are getting back into vintage everything - usually find at thrift stores. Older kitchens utensils, salt & pepper shakers, fabrics (for the sewer), hankies, bowls & baking items, cookbooks, etc.
Candles - scented or votives or melts are always a good gift. Everyone knows I love scented candles, and I always get a few to enjoy during the winter months - I think of the giver each time I use them.
Fire extinguishers are a great gift - you can now buy super easy to use ones and they are disposable after use. I have been gifted several and have them in various areas of the home. Also a fire blanket - that can be thrown over a fire to extinguish.
Anything that provides safety is good.
Gift cards are now available for everywhere - If you know someone having difficulties - this is a great gift - they can use for anything. Think about stores that have food and other goods - they can get what they need. Coffee lovers - a GC to their favorite coffee spot. You can buy Visa cards that can be used for anything. Amazon cards. The list goes on and on - and they can get exactly what they want or need.
I will give more ideas in the coming weeks, but this gives folks ideas on ways to get started and buy ahead. We all need to get motivated - even if we just gift to neighbors and friends or maybe an office gift or the teacher.
What unconventional gift would you like?
What unconventional gifts do you give?
Tis the season to get busy!!!!!!!
Have a fantastic day!!!!!!!!!!
I have started a gift list for the few in my circle. Food baskets with homemade goodies are my favorite - fudge, salsa, antipasta, cookies, soup mix. Cauliflower on the markdown cart was $1.99 a head yesterday (usually $4-5 each). I bought 2, blanched them. Now they're in the freezer for the day I make antipasta. Not unconventional but my favorite gift is a cheese basket or a GC to my favorite Italian Center.
ReplyDeleteGood for you - I love those kinds of gifts. As you know, I do food baskets as well. Some get specific items (pizza fixings, or spaghetti fixings) - some get an assortment of things.
DeleteI just love food gifts.
Your idea for yourself sounds perfect!
My brother-in-law loves to buy me a book for Christmas and always asks me what I would like. I often choose a more expensive book, that I wouldn't splash out on myself, but make it clear that I am very happy to accept a second-hand copy. As he is an ace bargain-hunter he gets a lot of fun out of the hunt.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter and her husband decided to give used books as wedding favours and took months to find books which they thought would be appreciated by each guest. They were a lovely surprise for the recipients and very well received.
I love the pine cone sunflowers. I think they would look very nice on a wreath to hang on the door.
That is so cool, fun for both of you!!!! He gets fun with the hunt and you get a read you want.
DeleteThat is a neat idea as wedding favors. I really like when people get so creative.
Wouldn't it? I think so too - and usually all you have to do is take a walk and you can tons of free pinecones. I thought that looked so cheerful. Now you have me thinking - I have a pinecone wreath that just has a large poinsettia on it - it may become a spring wreath now!
I am dreading Christmas this year. I have nothing at all in mind for anyone. :(
ReplyDeleteMaryB
Hopefully you will get some ideas from all of us soon. Remember GC's are always welcome for most people! That is easy.
DeleteI’m with you, Mary. BarbaraM
DeleteMy sister and I give each other several gifts for Christmas, mainly because we have always done it. As we grew older the gifts changed. A small pack of emery boards are wrapped, as is a 4 pack of toilet paper, a pound of coffee etc. It is the idea of having things to unwrap that look pretty under the tree, but will be consumed in some way or another.
ReplyDeleteLOVE IT! Very practical and fun! I have a nephew that really "knows" me and he is the same way - always a bargain hunter. He does that a lot - I get a package from him each year with all kinds of odds and ends he has collected just for me! It is fun and oh so useful!
DeleteWith my plans to travel south this year, Christmas is literally all wrapped up already. There are gifts for my daughter, grandson, and my brother and his family all wrapped and tucked in the closet. (My daughter knows where to find them). I'll pick up gift cards for my son and g/f in the city and take the Santa gifts for them and the pets with me. I'll tuck them away in my closet there and let the g/f know where they are.
ReplyDeleteWe're planning to do a video visit on Christmas morning so I can watch Eli open his gifts. Later in the day we'll connect with the son and g/f. It won't be a traditional Christmas, but I'm okay with that.
You go girl! You are ready and good to go - literally!
DeleteIt doesn't have to be 'traditional'. Things change and people change and traditions change - that is cool.
I love that everything will be tucked away until Christmas, and I love the video chat idea!
Hi Cheryl those are some great gift suggestions. I really enjoy getting used books. Especially if they are good older editions or are maybe out of print. One year I received a lovely book as a gift that was published in the 1960's. It was a diary of girl that grew up in the late 1800's and became a flapper during the 20's it was fascinating. I would never have been able to read it otherwise as it only had the printing. Have a lovely day ahead! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for giving a great example of why older and used books can be a delight!!! Some things just come around once, and if we don't get it used, we would never get to experience it.
DeleteSounds like a neat book to read.
You have a great one as well.
So on the Kroger bargain shelf a couple weeks ago I found 2 lb. bags of Carolina Gold rice that retails for $18 for $6. I would never buy rice that expensive but for $6 I thought it would make a nice foundational treat for a gift basket. I bought 4 for gifts. Now I have to think about what else to put in the baskets!
ReplyDeleteKroger has the best clearance by far, in my opinion. I always find great things. A few weeks ago when there, I found organic dried bananas for some stupid low price - and got several to add to the gift baskets. They are dated like late in 2027!
DeleteYou just can't pass that stuff up. I agree I would never pay the original price, but I sure will the clearance price! Oh gosh, you could any number of things for a nice gift. Maybe make it an oriental themed basket - sauces, soy sauce, dehydrated veggies, canned chicken, etc. Soup mixes, etc.
First, Go Rays!! My local baseball team (Tampa Bay Rays) has made it to the World Series!
ReplyDeleteCheryl, all good ideas. I like “thrifted” gifts and also consumables and plants. My one friend makes spiced pecans for all of us each year. One of my favorite Christmas gifts was an ornament of a cat in a Christmas stocking and my friend wrote my cat’s name on the stocking cuff. I only have a few people to buy gifts for at Christmas. One is hard because she also has a birthday Dec. 23 and she is the one who buys too many gifts for all of us. (We have asked her over and over to cut down on gifts but that is just her generous nature.)
Can I tell you something that “irks” me about gift giving. Someone who does not say thank you. In May I sent my cousin’s granddaughter a check for $200 and a nice card with a personal message for her wedding. (I know her and have met her new husband but I’m not close to them.) I was invited to the wedding (in New England) but did not attend. Five months later I’ve received no verbal or written thank you. (She did cash the check.) Really irks me. Reading online it seems that this is very common now with wedding gifts. My mom always taught me to thank people and I would never consider not doing so! I have not said anything to my cousin because he’d be embarrassed but I will remember this when I get an invitation to a baby shower in the future! Barbara M.
Congrats.
DeleteI will take any thrifted or consumable gift someone wants to give! Cute idea on the stocking and cat ornament.
Yep, I agree. A simple thank you card is not tough. Or a phone call or even a text. We were taught to always send thank you cards and I still do often. It is just rudeness in my opinion. I can't remember the last thank you card I got for a wedding. I did get one for a baby shower about a year ago - but only because we filled out the envelopes at the shower and the moms and grandmas are quite traditional - so I feel assured they were pressured to send them.
Oh dear. Almost the same thing happened to me with a wedding gift. Years ago I gave a money gift to the bride (she was a family member) and at the time it was difficult for me to find that money. Check was cashed at once, but never a word did I hear. When her sister married I didn't send as much. Never heard from that child either. I don't know what to think.
DeleteMaryB
Lots of good ideas! The cheese platter is really cute.
ReplyDeleteWe have one of those bars to put under the door handle. Never have had a problem here in 29 years but you just never know.
It is a gorgeous day! It's nice to keep the patio door open for Jacob to come and go as he pleases. The Farmer harvested our potatoes and one bucket had nothing in it at all. He hasn't done the sweet potatoes yet.
Our washer arrived this morning and the techs couldn't seem to turn off the hot water faucet and water went everywhere. They even got an extra shower. One of the fellows finally got it shut off but they refused to hook up the washer, saying that Home Depot doesn't allow them to hook up to "old plumbing." One of the guys said that they had spent enough time on it and were leaving, to let them know when the faucets were replaced and they would come back. The Farmer hooked up the hoses, no leaks and everything is as it should be. Did the quick wash and then I put a load of towels in. There is a timer that tells how much time is left on a cycle, which I missed with the last washer. Maytag really dropped the ball on the design of that model. Piece of junk. I guess Whirlpool bought Maytag and IMHO, the quality tanked. Anyway, got some cleanup done in the garage and sorted some things out. Have one more project to do but think I'll wait until later in the week. Need to catch up on laundry. Sure didn't relish the idea of schlepping to the laundromat.
Enjoy this lovely day! One more day without running the furnace!
I have never had a problem either, but being alone, one just likes a bit of extra safety.
DeleteIt is beautiful today. Good luck with all the potatoes.
I found the last time I bought an appliance, they techs had an excuse as to not do things that I was told they would do. BS in my opinion. Kind of glad to hear they got all wet!!!! LOL. Glad you got it all taken care of no thanks to them.
I would hate going to the laundry mat today - I have heard it is mighty expensive as well.
Love the weather!
This is exactly the kind of high-quality content I love finding online.
ReplyDelete