Is it already night three?!?!
22 Dec 2011 4 Comments
Hey Everyone,
It’s been hectic so I’ve fallen down on writing my usual witty and insightful post weekly. But I’ve got to say the consumerism of this Chanukah/Christmas/Kwanza/Festivus season always inspires me to think outside the Walmart box. Here are some of my suggestions (just in time maybe!) for seasonal gifting with thought…
1. Gift your time: taking your sister to a concert means much more than a scented candle (no beef with those, but concerts are better). Another awesome example: Tash babysat her younger brother so her parents could have a night on the town with a bomb restaurant giftcard she gave them.
2. Make a donation to a charity they dig. Heifer International‘s one of my favorites because you can give the recipient a card with a picture of the animal you donated or helped to donate to a needy family and they can read why your gift made such a difference.
3. Give them something handmade, upcycled or second hand: extra points if you go all Martha-Stuart on it and paint glass jars or something! My mom made some incredible succulent wreaths for her friends – they look completely amazing. But if you’re not a craftster you can check out Etsy for vintage/handmade things made by individuals not corporations.
4. Buy stuff that’s altruistic in some way: organic, fair trade, made in the U.S., made locally, or from a small business. I like Etsy, Gaiam, Betabrand, and Ten Thousand Villages for those types of gifts.
Some of my favorite gift ideas include giving some feisty Feminist friends a subscription to bitch magazine and shopping locally for something a friend had been wanting for a long time. The bottom line is we don’t have to break the bank or give money to a big corporation we don’t like, we can give from the heart and get the joy that comes from giving a good gift to a dear friend or family member.
What’s the favorite gift you’ve ever given or received? What made the biggest impact for you?
Happy Holidays!!!!
Dec 22, 2011 @ 09:49:27
This is a great post! These are the sorts of gifts people really need and appreciate. I’ve been on a baking bender, so I made everyone in my office homemade cookies. Who doesn’t like those?!
Dec 23, 2011 @ 16:46:24
Hey Tasha yup fresh baked stuff is bomb! So much better than an impersonal gift of some kitchy plastic-y thing, I say.
Jan 01, 2012 @ 14:27:12
well i got scot a kitchy plastic ice cream maker, which is very consumerist but now we can use that to make people delish homemade ice cream! so hopefully im still giving back in a way
Jan 02, 2012 @ 11:25:19
Meh I think it’s a great present and not uber-consumerist. Plus I feel a little preachy when I get completely anti-Walmart…I consume with the best of ‘em. But it means a lot that you considered what he’d enjoy most and it’s something you guys can do together and make deliciousness for everyone around you to enjoy too. So, props, babe!