Do you still have some Christmas gift shopping to do? I sure do. This may be hard to believe, but I actually enjoy doing my Christmas shopping in December instead of spreading out over the entire year, or getting it all done in November. Usually Jay and I will pick a day and finish up all of our shopping in a single day. Seems crazy, but it’s really quite fun.
If you’re like me and still have some shopping to do, then you’ll be happy to learn that over the next two weeks Jennifer and I will be putting together a series of gift idea blog posts. As always, we’d love to hear your ideas and thoughts! So please leave us a comment any time you’re inspired to do so.
One of my favorite ways to generate gift ideas is to think about gifts I would like to receive, or special gifts that I have received in the past. One of my very favorite gifts was my Cuisinart Food Processor from Jay. I love to cook and still get giddy when I pull out my Cuisinart. Another favorite, believe it or not, is the bread machine I got from my mother-in-law one of the very first Christmases that Jay and I spent together. We still use that bread machine, all these years later. So if you’ve heard that kitchen appliances are impersonal gifts, think again. For this girl, a kitchen appliance is one gift that will make my heart sing for years to come.
It isn’t all about cooking with me, however. I have other favorite gifts. One that pops to mind is the Lisa Leonard necklace my Dad gave me a couple of years ago for Christmas. I wear it nearly every single day, and since I love it so much, I’ve also given Lisa’s necklaces as gifts. Her jewelry is definitely heart-felt and personal—which I think is the essence of gift giving.
If you’re stuck for ideas for someone on your list, thinking about your favorite gift ever is a terrific way to generate some ideas. And it can make for some wonderful memories and stories, too. For example, I asked Jennifer today about her favorite Christmas gift ever, and this is what she said:
What’s the best Christmas gift I ever received? My answer to this is a bit atypical, because I didn’t actually receive the gift myself until 10 years later. See, when I was a little girl, I wrote a letter to Santa Claus asking him to bring my mom an amethyst ring. My parents were divorced, and I told Santa that my mom didn’t have someone to buy her jewelry. That Christmas morning, there was a package for my mom under the tree. She got that amethyst ring! When I turned 18, my mom gave the ring to me since I was old enough to have it, and as she said, I was the one who had asked for it after all. I cherish that ring because to me it encompasses what Christmas giving is all about – giving, joy, selflessness, magic, wonder, and most of all, love.
~Jen
I love that story. In fact, when Jennifer told it to me, it gave me goose bumps. (Which I love getting.) I’m also really inspired by what Jennifer wrote—that Christmas giving is about joy, selflessness, magic, wonder, and most of all, love. When you think of it that way, it really takes the pressure off of finding the “perfect gift,” doesn’t it? A gift that is heart-felt, and given joyfully with love, well that’s the best gift of all.
We’d love to hear your story. What’s the best gift you’ve ever received? Thanks so much for sharing!
I think the best Christmas gift I got was from my husband. I told him I wanted a small toolbox of my own – for the house and household projects. He works for Stanley Tools and is always getting ‘good deals’ on gifts for the guys in our family so I knew he could handle it. On Christmas morning I opened a beautifully wrapped box and found the most delightful, small red toolbox that was outfitted with every tool a girl could need. He had carefully chosen each tool, making sure it would fit my hand and do the job well. From his employee catalog he ordered a set of pastel-colored screwdrivers (in all the sizes I might need). They were a special employees-only promotion that never was sold in retail outlets. Nestled in among the tools was a bottle of my favorite (and signature) perfume! That gift keeps on giving – every time I reach for my little toolbox I smile and remember what a wonderful gift he gave.
~Adrienne~
Oh, Adrienne, I love that story! Your husband is a gem. 🙂 Thanks for sharing. ~ Aby
Abby,
I have two gifts that come to my mind. The first is my bicycle. My exhusband and I had been married for a little over a year and I wanted a new bike. I was also in love with the idea of Christmas and the “suprise” on Christmas morning when Santa has left you a gift. That year, after I went to bed, my husband put my brand new bike in front of the tree with a bow on it so that I would see it when I got up in the morning. It was magical and I still have that bike. The other is my Kitchen Aid stand mixer.
I also have to tell you about a gift that I am exicted about giving this year. My “niece” is eight and loves the Nancy Drew Mystery Books. So this year, I purchased her three books and have made her a “mystery” gift basket with the books, a fingerprinting ID kit, a flashlight, a notebook/pen to write her clues down in and a magnifying glass. So exicited to give this to her!
Love your bike story Jessica! And the Nancy Drew gift sounds fantastic! So fun to give a gift like that, isn’t it?
Aby