-By Lisa
Please don’t hate me for writing about the holidays already. I know it’s eons away and I certainly don't intend to contribute to the obsessive mass marketing of Christmas - which is exactly why I am writing about it now. If I don’t start thinking about the holidays early, I don’t have time to create handmade, meaningful items and I find myself on December 24th abandoning all of my values and good sense by going to the mall. Unacceptable.
So, here are my Top 10 favorite gifts to give. And if my family or friends are reading – read on if you have no desire to be surprised.
10. Knit dishcloths and soap - Because I am not a skilled knitter, I love making dishcloths/washcloths in these simple patterns. They are so easy and can be done without stitch counting or concentration or anything else that is hampered by a loud football game in the background. I’ve not ventured into soap making yet, but thankfully we have local folks who do a great job with that. I love Made by Mieka soaps, which are available on etsy.com or locally at the Charlottesville City Market and Rebecca's Natural Foods. Tie up a couple washcloths and a handmade soap with a little raffia and it’s too freaking adorable for words.
9. Pie in a jar - Katherine and I went to a meeting of Charlottesville bloggers, and the multi-talented social media guru Marijean Jaggers happened to bring a few of her amazing pies in a jar. I was the lucky recipient of a pecan version and I have been obsessed with them ever since. They travel much better than their full-sized equivalent and the best part? No need to share.

8. CSA gift certificate – it’s no surprise that I love food. Therefore, I love giving people food. If you live in C'ville, Horse and Buggy Produce offers gift certificates so you can try out their food co-op and get a huge variety of local, seasonal goodies. If you live elsewhere, Local Harvest can help you find a CSA in your area. Preserve local agriculture by supporting farmers and make sure your loved ones are eating well in the process!
7. Cookies – there is something so fun and festive about a simple cookie cut out in the shapes of candy canes and stockings. It’s a classic. You can't go wrong with America’s Test Kitchen Brown Sugar Cookies. They even hold up well when wrapped in wax paper, packed in a tin and Fed Ex-ed to the opposite coast.
6. Buckwheat heating pad - I made one of these for myself and now I've decided everybody needs one. It's fantastic piping hot out of the microwave and refreshing when it's been chilling in the freezer; perfect for a twisted ankle, cramps or just cold toes. It's soft and smells good and I swear it loves you back.
5. Handmade body scrubs- Winter inevitably means dry skin. Mix ¼ cup of organic sugar with 1 cup of coconut oil or olive oil. Add a couple drops of your favorite essential oil. I like to give the scrub in small jars wrapped in ribbon. These do a great job exfoliating and moisturizing -- saving those dry, mangled cuticles.
4. Photos – We have lots of photos digitally on our computers and phones, but we don’t often have pictures to hold in our hands anymore. Therefore, people tend to love receiving real, actual photographs. This doesn't require some cheesy Sears portrait session, just find a quirky photo that is meaningful, or ask a friend to come over and just take some quick family shots. I’ve done this for friends with great results. Digital photography can be easily fixed up on your computer, so you don't need to be Annie Leibovitz to get a good picture. Print at home, or check out Snapfish for prints that start at just 9 cents each. Second-hand stores often have a nice selection of photo frames.
3. Books – I still think that passing along a favorite book is one of the most meaningful gifts ever. If you are in C'ville, don’t forget about the Friends of the Library Book Sale November 13-20th at the Gordon Ave branch. They have an incredible collection of books for both kids and adults. They are inexpensive and you get to support a great cause at the same time. If you go, look for me - I'll be the one who's almost buried under the weight of her purchases.
2. Get outta town– I am a travel junkie. After years of trying to come up with significant and unique gifts for Husband who is the I Don’t Need Anything Guy– I realized that what we both enjoy most is traveling together. So, we gave up buying needless stuff and instead plan a trip every year as our gift to each other. The trips have been bigger or smaller, depending on money and circumstances, but it always ends up being much more satisfying than that year I bought him the hammock that never got used.
1. Heifer International- One way to beat the Christmas consumerism blues is to donate on the recipient’s behalf to a charity. One of my favorite charities is Heifer International. With the idea of a hand up, not a hand out, Heifer provides livestock and training to people in developing areas to create sustainable self-reliance. The recipient agrees to pass on the offspring of the animals to other folks in need. You can give anything from rabbits to a camel. What's a cooler gift than a camel?
Happy holiday prep to all, and remember the best way to stay sane this season - simplify, simplify, simplify.
For more from Lisa, check out www.justherejustnow.com
Recent Comments