Karen Foley
Lynn Raye Harris
Ellen Hartman
Diana Holquist
Samantha Hunter
Shirley Jump
Dee Tenorio
Jeannie Watt
Here Comes Santa Claus
I LOVE December! I love the anticipation, the fun, the preparation. I love baking and decorating and crafting and even, pity the people around me, singing carols. Its just a magical time - probably, as my husband will readily attest, because I'm a kid at heart. My favorite thing about this time of year, hands down, are the presents. Oh, not getting them (well, yeah, I do like that part) but giving them. Making them, thinking of that perfect something that will make someone smile. There is something extra wonderful about that, huh?
My youngest daughter is a Build-A-Bear addict. Every birthday, every event, every dollar she gets, she wants to spend it at Build-a-Bear (my oldest feels the same way about the MAC store, go figure). This year, she's been so impatient to get to the store, but we had no real reason to attend. No holiday, no celebration, nada. She'd cajole, she'd beg, she'd nag, but, well... its so close to the holidays I try not to let the kids buy themselves goodies until after they see what Santa brings (there is nothing more frustrating than finding the perfect gift and the lil dickens buying it for themselves two weeks before their birthday or Christmas). But... her aunt and uncle were going and asked to bring her. Since B-A-B really wasn't on my shopping list, I gave in. And yes, of course she came home with a bear. The cutest bear I've seen, with eyebrows and the snarkiest cute look on his lil face. Oh, he's defnitely a he, too. He's a soldier bear. He's dressed in camo with army boots and everything... and he's a present for her Daddy.
She'd wanted to surprise me, but it turns out she's been planning this gift for her dad since summer. She saw the outfit online, checked out each and every animal until she found the perfect one and set her heart on that as her gift to him. She took all her bear money and bought it herself.
It made me proud :-) And it got me thinking. What's YOUR favorite gift. The one that meant the most to you -could be from childhood or your adult years, but whats the one gift that was the most heartfelt and special... that you gave to someone else?
Mine was a bowl made of popcicle sticks. I remember making it in class for my mom. I remember carefully glueing each stick - I worked so hard on that bowl. And for the next ten, fifteen years, my mom served rolls in it. Sticks would fall off, she'd glue them back on. I think it eventually disintegrated :-D But I was so proud of that bowl and felt good inside every time she used it.
How about you? Was your favorite gift ever one you made or one you bought? Sharsies, I'd love to hear about it!
»
Giving
Tawny, I love Christmas too. I volunteer at the non-profit PTA "store" set up at the elementary school every year. The PTA takes $1K and stocks hundreds of small gifts so that the children can go shopping for their loved ones all by themselves. The gift selections are huge, and range from 50 cents to $3, so also very affordable. You can't imagine how touching it is to see these kids trying to choose the perfect gift for their mom or dad or sibling. Or how happy they are when they finally find it. We're also a very "crafty" family, and we've always encouraged handmade gifts. My favorite is a pair of pastel drawings done by my girls when they were 8 and 11; each did a bouquet of flowers. I had them matted and framed and they hang in my bedroom. The favorite thing I ever gave...a small wooden box that I handpainted with a folk art sailing scene and gave to my mom. It took me over a month to paint it, transferring the pattern, layering in the colors, and doing the final distressing and antiquing. It sits on a chest in her entryway and is one of the first things you see when you enter her home. She's had friends ask if I'd do one for them, but I tell them it's definitely a one-of-a-kind, created just for my mom.
My favorite gift was
My favorite gift was actually one I received for Valentine's Day. My husband (then boyfriend) gave me a jewelry box cos he knew that I kept all of my jewelry in a small plastic box. I just thought that was so sweet because he actually noticed it was something I needed and probably would've never bought for myself.
I love Christmas too. Giving and receiving gifts, putting up the decorations and tree (we did that this weekend), and making cookies. This year I vow not to let it stress me out! LOL
Great topic Tawny.
~ Karen Erickson
http://karenwritesromance.com
Wow
Gotta love a man who is that observant and caring, Karen :-D
I love it all too, and I'm trying really hard to find a way to juggle my commitments and my holiday fun so the stress is minimal :-) Tonight, for instance, I figured I could watch HEROES and wrap gifts at the same time... fun and fun LOL. But mostly, listmaking helps alot ;-)
painting
I'm envious of anyone who can paint, Karen! I'll bet that box is gorgeous, and having seen the amount of work my aunt puts into her tole painted pieces (of which I have... NONE! ack) I can understand the one-of-a-kind aspect :-) And really, that makes it even more special, doesn't it?
What a lovely store idea for the school kids! I think there is something so empowering to a child to choose just the right gift, to put that much thought and consideration into someone else. Its a great life-lesson :-) And go you and the PTA for making it so easy for them!
What a great topic Tawny!
A couple came to mind right away...
I gave Mike a some luggage for Christmas one year, and it may not sound very romantic, but it was meaningful to me, because early in our relationship I was having severe separation anxiety every time he had to travel for work, which was often, and I wasn't handling it well. At one point, when I saw how stressful this was for him, I realized I had to change my attitude, and I did, and so I bought him some new luggage to make his travel more convenient, but also to let him know I was okay with it, which meant a lot to him, too.
Once, my son wanted these absolutely awful pants -- we argued about them because I just couldn't stand the idea of him wearing them, but I realized this was his thing, and we bought them -- he was SO happy. Of all the things we ever gave him, that sticks with me for some reason. He actually hugged me for those pants, and he was sixteen, so hugs weren't frequent. :)
I'm giving my niece a handmade quilt for her home this year, and I know this means a lot to her, which makes me very happy -- it's nice to know someone really values the things you make for them.
We usually bought gifts for families posted in our workplaces, and one year I remember having a nice time picking out a nice set of pots and pans for a single mom with four children -- since I like to cook, I know having a nice set of pans is a huge thing. I enjoy thinking that she was suprised by such a nice set, and hope she got a lot of use out of them...
Sam
GREAT gift
Sam, your gift of luggage really hit me as such a wonderful loving gift. I laughed, though, about the pants for your son :-D Thats too funny. And wow on the wonderful pots & pans- its those gifts from the heart, the ones that you put the extra love and care into, that really touch people and make a difference.
Christmas Memories
I agree with Sam—what an excellent topic.
My most memorable gift was the $0.14 snow globe that my brother gave me when he was eight years old. The reason I got a snow globe was because he spent the Christmas money Dad had given him to purchase gifts on himself, and all he had left was a quarter. The folks had a talk with him on Christmas day, and I swore revenge--but somehow the revenge plan faded and I still have the snow globe thirty some years later. I get it out every Christmas even though it is almost fluidless. It still makes me smile.
Jeannie
LOL
Jeannie, I'm giggling over your waterless snowglobe. I wonder if there is some way to add fluid back in? I have one that was a wedding gift that is, well, just sad now :-D
Isn't it funny the gifts that stick with us. And how they might have been less-than-ideal at the time but suddenly mean so much to us years later.
Christmas is also my
Christmas is also my favorite time of the year I love red and green I love Christmas carols I love the excitement.
Definitely!
Me Too, Beth, me too :-)
What a fun post, Tawny!
I love reading about everyone's favorite gifts--this is such a lovely generous time of year!
My favorite gift to have given was when I took my father-in-law's family album, scanned all the photos, and printed, trimmed, mounted, and made a copy of the album for him and each of his six siblings. They were so happy to each have one for themselves. I keep meaning to do the same for my own dad, but have only gotten as far as the scanning.
Otherwise, I'm a terrible gift-giver under pressure--I enjoy those times when I see something and know that someone would enjoy it, so I buy it then, but having to shop for gifts for Christmas is strangely difficult... Still this is a wonderful time of year!
WONDERFUL
Fedora, the album sounds like a wonderful gift! I love those type of things, they just say so much about the continuity of love and the connection of family.
I have a friend who shops all year long. By Halloween, she had everything wrapped and ready go to. I still like her, though :-)
I love Christmas too
I love the holiday, and can't wait for it to start. I'm one of those people who starts decorating the second I put the turkey away :-)
My favorite Christmas gift was a hope chest my husband made me when we were engaged. He worked every night on it in my father's basement. I had no idea he was even doing it--and I was living at home then :-). He filled it with gifts, and totally surprised me that Christmas morning. It was SO romantic and so wonderful.
One of our most memorable Christmases, though, was our most poor. We had NO money and had a true Charlie Brown Christmas tree that was so tiny and so pitiful, we could only hang a dozen ornaments on it (he cut it down with a hacksaw, LOL, because we lived in an apartment and had NO money to buy a tree). We gave each other only things we needed, things that would have been on the grocery list anyway, but it was still sweet and cute.
Shirley
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author
Available NOW: MIRACLE ON CHRISTMAS EVE (Harlequin Romance) and REALLY SOMETHING another Hot Romantic Comedy from Zebra Books
www.shirleyjump.com or read “Eating my Words”
SWEET memories
Shirley, isn't it those special times that stick with us, the holidays that really do come down to it being all about love.
I'm with you on starting the holiday ASAP. We flipped our Thanksgiving this year to celebrate on Friday and I was actually antsy over it because the tree should have been up and decorated!! This entire season is wonderful fun. We usually do family craft projects, collecting for the charities and huge cookie parties. We don't, however, go caroling... the neighbors are very grateful.
Awww
Tawny, that story had my eyes welling *g* Yes, I'm a big old emotional mess - especially around the Holidays ;-) What a sweetie your daughter is!
My favorite gift I gave my mom would be a ceramic goose *g* I was probably 16 or 17 and wanted to give her something handmade. My friend's mother took cermaics class and she helped me paint the goose (in blue country motif - I think that thing even had a bonnet) and then took it to her class to have it glazed or fired or whatever you do to painted ceramic :-) My mom loved it! My favorite gift I gave my dad was a few years ago when my sister and I made copies of old pictures and put them in a collage frame. He really seemed pleased.
I love picking out presents for other people. I always get a kick out of finding that "perfect" present *g*
Great post!!
Gooses
Beth, what fun. I'd love to see the ceramic goose! :-) I used to do ceramics... what a fun gift for your mom.
glad to make you tear up, too ;-)
Pasta Plate
Does anyone remember pasting pasta on a paper plate to make a gift for mom? We would spray paint the pasta so that they would be colorful and then make some silly pattern and glue it on the plate. I was not artistic so I think I just made a face with the pasta pieces.
Pasta Art
Jane - YES!!! I do remember those! I recall making a wreath one year, too :-D Green pasta and a few that were spray painted gold and silver.
hmm... might have just come up with another project for the kids :-D
Great gifts everyone!
I love giving, plain and simple. Let's see...two gifts immediately come to mind.
One was for my DH, back before he was my hubby. He had a Jeep Cherokee that he liked to take off-roading. There was a specific part that he wanted. He had the "poor man's" version, wanted the real ones, but never came out and said he wanted them . (Yes, there actually was a big difference!) I tracked down the correct version, ordered them and had them under the tree for him. I will never forget the look on his face when he opened that box and realized what they were! He was so tickled!
The other was more recently. A friend had been having a rough time, including losing a baby. So, for her birthday, I took her to lunch. Something just for her. It still makes me smile when I think of how happy she was to have someone (other then her DH) do something nice just for her!
ME TOO
I love the gift giving, too, Cathy. I'll bet your husband did too, that year you got him that part, huh?
And what a wonderful gift for your friend! I was talking to my SIL tonight, who was lamenting that for the holidays she tends to get gifts at work for things like spa days and such instead of pratical gift certificates to places like Target that she could use for the whole family. It made me realize (during my lecture to her *g*) that its hard to give ourselves that "me" time - which is what makes a gift of it extra wonderful special. Especially when its something like lunch that is shared with someone you care about.
My oldest son made me a
My oldest son made me a spoon rest when he was in the first grade. It was made out of clay and lumpy and crooked, but I used it for years until it got broken.
Lumpy love
Estella, that sounds like such a sweet present - and a well loved one!!
Hi Tawny
I love your story about the popcicle bowl. I think that we all have a story like that one, from when we were school children. I made a trivet out of popcicle sticks for my mother, and my kids made refrigerator magnets for me, out of construction paper.
My favorite gift is one that my sons friend makes me each Christmas. He makes me a homemade Christmas card. He puts pictures on it from events throughout the year. He writes a special message in it that has only special meaning to me. I always look forward to his card each year. It's a gift that is made with love, and I think that is what Christmas is all about.
I wish you and your family, all the best things that Christmas brings, and a New Year filled with all that you wish for.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS! Mads:)
great topic!
I love reading everyone's comments. Isn't giving great!
My husband and I went to see the movie "You've Got Mail" on our first date in Dec. of 98. So for our first Valentine's Day together I bought a plain white photo box and put city scape stickers all around the sides of the box (the movie is set in NYC) and put You've Got Mail on the top, then I put in 30 Valentine Cards (enough for the whole month) I was so nervous giving it to him because I thought he would think it was too silly. But he loved it, and after we got married he brought the box to the house and he showed it to me. He had saved and put every love letter, birthday card, etc. that I had given to him while we were dating in it. It still makes me cry thinking about it! LOL
It started out as a gift to him, and ended up years later being a gift to me! It meant so much to me that he saved all the letters and cards!
Two of the best gifts I have ever received came from my husband this year. Photography is my favorite hobby. In August for my birthday he had a lady we work with (who is very crafty) make me a purse with a photo that I had taken on the purse. It turned out beautiful!!!! It was such a surprise and meant the world to me. Here is a photo of the purse. http://flickr.com/photos/riverside_dreamer/1157654760/
Then a few weeks ago for no special occasion he bought me a new digital camera, with the money he had been saving to buy himself a new TV. I don't think I've ever cried so much!!! It was the most special thing anyone has ever done for me. I asked him why he did it, and he said he was so proud of my photography and he wanted me to be able to keep taking photos and getting even better at it and learning more. I never really had anyone in my life that believed in me before I met him. I love him so much!!!!!!!