It’s the Christmas Season and if you’re anything like us, you’re ½ way to being “ready” for Santa to come sliding down the chimney. While we personally enjoy time spent with family and friends celebrating the holidays, for many people it can also be a bit overwhelming. When you count the number of people who may have made it on to your “NICE” list, and the number of gifts you’d like to buy, you may discover that the dollar figure has climbed higher than expected. This year specifically, with the cost of almost every consumable good increasing, we think it’s important to take a step back and embrace the opportunity of sharing the season with family and friends in a more simplified way.
Here are a few gift ideas that can make the holidays bright and cheery without breaking the bank.
1. Who doesn’t love home baked goods? In our family, there’s one specific triple layer chocolate and caramel cookie, that if not present on the dessert table would mean 22 very sad faces. These cookies are such a favorite that our uncle takes a few off the tray and as soon as he arrives to the party and hides them for himself. So, if you’re at all handy with a bowl and wooden spoon then why not give it a try! I encourage you to bake your family favorite and make extra for a yummy treat to place under the tree.
2. Say cheese. Now that everyone has a camera quite literally in their hand most of the day, taking photos has never been easier. So, get creative by setting up a spot in your home specifically for taking photos during the party. You can use a few props like plastic icicle’s, snowflakes, Santa hats and reindeer ears (Dollar store is great for these items). Then welcome each of your guests to step up and say cheese. After the party is over, send copies of the photos to everyone. Truly, with all the filters available the photo ops are endless, so get silly, have fun and share the memories.
3. Consider re-gifting, second hand purchasing, or passing on legacy items. With so much waste going into our landfills, and the population becoming more ECO conscious, the trend of sharing what we already own is becoming more popular. We all have items that have sat in closets unused, so if you have a particular someone in your circle that you know would actually use it, then pass it on. Nowhere is there a written Christmas Code of Conduct that says you have to buy new, or that the love you have for friends and family is measured by the price-tag on the gift. This year our family has also included shopping on platforms like Sherwood Park buy/sell or Facebook Marketplace. These platforms offer some great deals on new / gently used items and also feature many of our local artisans who we also love to support!
4. It’s a Labor of Love, and It’s Free? Yes Please! Get crafty with colored paper, glue and glitter, or use your favorite digital program to create gift certificates (Canva is a great app). You could offer to cook a meal and provide babysitting to family members with little ones, shovel the snow (if it comes this year) for older members who may find the work a bit more taxing, or auto detailing for your partner. Since the needs in every family are different, consider how/when/where a personal act of generosity would be helpful and put it to paper.
Here’s to wishing you a holiday filled with warm hugs, shared laughter and much joy as you celebrate the season with your family and friends. Merry Christmas! OH, and chocolate caramel cookies, we can’t forget the cookies LOL. Click here for the recipe!
Merry Christmas!
Sincerly,
The Rosts