This is the time of year I get a little rattled when folks start to tell me they have all their Christmas shopping done and have all their presents wrapped. I do not enjoy the fact that our local Garden Centre already has its Christmas lights on and last month I deeply resented the fact that long before Halloween the other big garden centre in town had rows and rows of Christmas stuff there just waiting to be bought. Stuff I beg to suggest no one really needs. I mean a 4ft stuffed reindeer would look kind of cool standing near our tree. Who am I kidding? Can anyone out there justify a stuffed reindeer, we are talking ornament, people, not even a cuddly toy.
Hey..I appear to be ranting. Let me stop and tell you some of my plans. The kids and I have already embarked on making our Christmas gifts for them to give family and friends. Now I run the risk of a "Mummy I have a secret. It is your birthday present and it is a green house. Me and Dad bought it and it is in the garage hiding. Don't tell Daddy" moment but they are promising to keep their secrets.
We have for the last couple of years in my family just bought one adult present each, name out a hat style. It works great and I would highly recommend it. We do buy everyone small things too tho. Last year all mine came out the charity shops and were varied and well received. (I honestly think they were all relieved!) This year I am going fairly traded for these gifts and quite a few other gifts too. It means presents may be smaller as they will cost a little more but these gift will come from a small business set up to support a family or a local area. I like that!
So...........
www.traidcraftshop.co.uk
www.createdgifts.co.uk
www.ethicalsuperstore.com
And I do not need to leave the house. Aaaah, that is shopping!
Now what about the one who has a "don't need it, don't want it, won't use it" attitude to things? A wee bit tricky. I was thinking maybe a luxury alpaca hot water bottle cover. He doesn't need it, certainly won't want it and has absolutely no use for it!!
My big debate this year tho is how to wrap. I loved my wrapping last year. Recycled brown paper, pine cones we collected and green and gold ribbon bought from a charity shop. The gifts looked just great. What to do this year? I have the paper but just how do I source ribbon or what else can I do?
Meal Plan • 6/20/16
8 years ago
3 comments:
1) how could you possibly say that you have no use for a 4 ft. reindeer ornament? wow, i thought i knew you...
2) i happen to know that mike has been pining away for anything alpaca, really. don't let him fool you.
3) twine with anything green or red you can find outside (like rosemary or lavender sprig-ten times better than some stinky ol' bow). paper from old books you don't want, don't need anymore.
4) seriously, no use for a 4 ft. reindeer? sigh.
~b
Who said I was talking about Mike?
I am away to think about the red/green thing!!
Ooh, I like Beth's idea of the rosemary and lavender. Yes, please. Also, I came across an idea in a "green" knitting book. Take old fabric (shirts, sheets, etc.) and cut into strips. Tie the strips together. Then, of course, the knitting book talked about knitting with finished product. but I think you could maybe braid it and use it as ribbon? I think it's perfectly okay to scour the charity shops for red and green (I just accidentally typed "greed"... hilarious) stuff to repurpose into ribbon.
Are you taking photos of the finished, wrapped presents? You'll need them for froog!!!
-the other b
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