the silly season
yes, it's started, much to my dismay. Carols playing in stores, pre Christmas sales, crowds of people wherever you go * buy this, buy that*
- talk of Christmas shopping on blogs....
which got me thinking about how we all rush around at this time of year,
buying way too much
is it called the silly season because we all become ridiculously silly in regards to our gift buying frenzy?
the 3 kings of the Orient bought gifts to the infant Jesus that were special to them.
Frankincense and myrrh have healing properties so were for good health which is way more important than anything that you can buy in a store
& gold honoured the infant as a King.
All gifts were from the heart.
so -
isn't it sensible to give gifts that are a specialty of the giver?
someone who likes to cook can give home bottled beetroot * jam or pickles * cookies or Christmas fruit cake.
Or someone who loves to sew can create things during the year to be put away in a gift drawer or trunk in readiness for Christmas - spreading the work over a few months.
I know that not everyone would like to receive things like this but simple, gifts from the heart are so much more loving than a fridge or stereo system.
I usually do my shopping, then go into the city and see all the gorgeous bits n pieces that are bought out at this time of year & end up buying way too much.
so this year * I am going to try my hardest to not get caught up in the craziness and buy or make one simple gift for each of the people on my list - personalize it with a collage card & make Christmas what it should be - a time spent with those that are important to you.
posted by Miss Robyn | 10:23 am
10 Comments:
Oh, how this strikes a chord within me! I used to be The Queen of Christmas! I hand made gifts ALL year long - paintings, cross stitch, this and thats - and then I BOUGHT more stuff for the same people. One gift was not enough, everyone in my family - nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, in-laws, etc. - had to receive 2 or 3 at least. I stressed like a mad woman. If my gifts were not done and wrapped by Thanksgiving Day, I felt like a hopeless failure.
Then.....I got real. Now, I only gift to my sister and her hubby, my daughter, and my guy. He never wants anything...makes that one easy. The kiddo prefers I give her gift certificates / vouchers so she can pick her own clothes and accessories after they go on sale. I generally "shop" all year and store items in my big gift box (nothing special like Alison's....just a big, old cardboard box - I am just not very scrumptious anymore). I frequent tag sales and flea markets all year and have such a wonderful treasure of gifts to share with my sister's family and even my daughter and BF. Some are vintage, some are practical, some are unspoken wishes, some are just silly-goofy and love-filled. But I have the best time doing it and now...finally....Christmas is fun.
Remember the reason for the season.....
So well said and so true at that! Many Christmas' ago my Mum was about the age I am now, and had spent so much time, money and effort to have everything oh so right for that one day of the year...Christmas Eve arrived and with it one of the worst cyclones to hit our home town. Christmas day dawned, and it looked as if a bomb had hit Australia's most northern city...we lost everything, but Thankfully not our lives...since that fateful Christmas 31 years ago, my darling Mum's outlook changed forever.
Thats a very good idea ms*robyn. I had thought of collage cards also. (what fun). And, a handmade gift for each would be just so special!
Hi! You left a comment on my Praise Her in the Gates blog...
I have 'moved' into a new blog and a new website.
The muffin (and many other recipes) will be uploaded over the weekend (Lord willing) and lots of other things are there for the reading too.
My new blog address is http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/womenofsimplicity
My new website is the same name...www.womenofsimplicity.com
I hope you'll visit!
Thanks and Blessings to you and your familiy!
Joyfully His,
Carla Klimuk
Robyn, How true. We are keeping things simple but full of fun this year. Baking days with the kids. A few gifts, staying with in a budget. A few handmade items. And lots of Love.
Well said! I love the 'feeling' of christmas, but I can't stand the mad rush beforehand, it is manic. I have done a good portion of the 'important' present shopping - now it is all left to go into town week by week and shop finally :-) We have Fenwicks here, a department store, and their window display is fantastic. It changes every year, housing a selection of music, moving mannequins and scenery - it is something very Vintage-fantastic!
link here
Ms. Robyn, that is so true! Our family is large with the inlaws and grandchildren so we find a different way each year to celebrate Christmas. The most important thing is we get our weekend together. Its the one time of year we are all in one place and having fun... presents are secondary. This year they are secondhand or homemade. All of us agree on that and are having fun with it.
Couldnt'agree with you more, we're on a really tight budget this year so I was relieved when Dh's family all said they weren't doing a gift swap this year, sort of took the pressure off...
Me too - I'm going to make as much as I can. I am a thoughtful gift buyer and usually go way over the top, but this year it's not going to be about the dollar value, it's going to be about the love and time I've put into each gift. If anyone doesn't like it, too bad!
I have always had a problem with overspending at Christmas ~ I guess I am a sucker for all that Holiday stuff!! This year will be different ~ definitely more focus on family and friends than gifts,which is how it should be...
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