It's December 23rd. Your egg nog is nogging, your cards are trekked off to the post office (or swept into a drawer *whistling* not that I'd know anything about that) the tree is shining, the presents are wrapped and ....oh, crap.
You've forgotten someone. Or maybe thought of someone you'd like to gift, like your mail person. Or that nice couple that just moved in down the hall.
But do you really have to brave the shops again? Or can you make something?
Ladies and Gentlemen, you can. Really. And in time for Christmas, too!
Can you bake? Cookies or Nuts and Bolts mix wrapped in a nice tin are a heartfelt gift that's sure to be appreciated. If you have a young baker in the house, decorated Christmas cookies are always welcome. (This does require that you let your kids make a mess with sparkles and jimmies and candy, though. Not a good idea for the faint at heart.)
Do they look like wine drinkers? Wrap a bow around a bottle, add a corkscrew or two glasses, and presto! A present!
I bake bread. People are always amazed to get a loaf of yeasty goodness, especially if you make a bread wreath or some other nice shape.
People often make the mistake that gifts need to be big. Or complicated. Or both. Not true - many times the nicest things we're given are small. A few cookies on a pretty plate. A gift box with some bubble bath and a few magazines.
Can you sew? I can't either. I can, though, make x's with thread. Take a look at this snowman scarf:
I bought a plain white scarf. Cross-stitched the eyes and carrot nose, and just for fun, added orange to the tassels, all with cross-stitch thread. It took me an hour and a half, most of it spent doing the orange trim. It was easy! And I think the giftee will get a kick out of it.
Do you knit or crochet? Lion Yarns has a few last last minute things to make....try this page, or this.
If you need a last minute gift for a playdate, try reindeer food. Take a mixing bowl, add oatmeal, glitter, colored sugar, fake gems, colored cereal, whatever.... and mix together. Dole out in plastic zip bags and add a note. There are many reindeer poems on the internet, most of them run along the lines of : Sprinkle this on your lawn tonight, the moon will make it sparkle bright. Santa's reindeer are on their way, they'll see the glow and stop to play!
Maybe you don't need a material gift anyway. One of the best things you can give to a person is time. Make a dinner and take it over. Do a last-minute sweep of the toy room and donate some to a charity. Toys For Tots (although they use new, unwrapped toys) is facing a critical shortage this year. Really listen to your friends. Give back massages. Buy the coffee this time. Take a friend's rambunctious youngster and let her sleep for awhile.
Remember, Christmas isn't about money. It's about heart.
Happy Christmas and Merry Holidays to you all. I'll see you next year!!
Hey, my head is always nogging - especially this time of year. And the reindeer food idea - that is so cute, I must try it with Gigi tomorrow night. Merry Christmas :)
Posted by: katie ~ motherbumper | December 23, 2008 at 03:31 PM
I love your site. It's so nice to see other people working to help other stay at home parents. I'm the author of the Ultimate Guide for Stay At Home Parents and I would love to submit an article for your site. I have an idea for a continuing column as well (but we can discuss that at another time).
If that sounds interesting to you, please contact me at: robertkoger123@gmail.com
Posted by: Robert Koger | December 29, 2008 at 11:34 AM