Gift Giving

There was a recent debate in my family about gift giving this year. It is no secret that everyone is effected by the awful economy and money is tight all around. Everyone is pinching pennies in every way and Christmas is no exception. The debate started because the usual discussion of “what to do this year” came up.

Last year we did a yankee swap for the gift giving and the kids of the family got to pick a kid to buy for. Make them feel part of the process.

Let me just stop by saying, I do not care about the “gift” for Christmas. I care about the fun we have during the Yankee swap! It’s the time during the holiday that we are together and enjoying the moment.

The debate started with …
“Well do we want to just do the kids gift swap and the adults will just do nothing…”
I of course totally disagreed and said that we should just do the typical Yankee swap and if money was the issue then we would have a limit of $10.
Of course some people piped in with “You cant get anything with $10!”

The debate continued like this for quite some time!

I would like to say that I won that battle! We will be doing the yankee swap with a $40 limit… Not sure how $10 turned into $40 but I am not complaining!!

Do you have funny traditions or quirks that gets your family or friends in an uproar during this festive time of year??

by Jani

Valentines Xperience!

Looking for a unique gift to give to your special someone for Valentine's Day? Tired of giving or receiving the standard flowers, or chocolate. I have found the perfect gift for someone looking for something out of the ordinary. Xperience Days is a company specializing in Experience Gifts. What is an experience gift you ask. An experience gift is just as it sounds. You pay for your significant other to have an experience such as riding in a hot air balloon, or taking a gourmet culinary class, or for the real thrill seekers they even have sky diving, or flying in a fighter plane.

Yes, some of these experiences can be expensive but they do have an extensive list of gifts under $100 which in this tough economy is very important. They even provide the option of purchasing Xperience Days Dollars rather than purchasing a specific experience. So if you are out of ideas of what to buy your loved one or are tired of receiving the same old boring gifts from them drop a couple of hits leading them to the perfect Xperience.

By Sara

Your Best Gift?

What was the best gift you received this year? Share your favorite presents with us! Maybe it is something you are going to buy yourself with a holiday gift card or check. Let us know!

BAH HUM BUG

Dear Santa,

Every year I stress about Christmas. I know this is your time of year, but why does it have to be so dreadful for me. I can’t sleep; I can’t eat thinking about this Holiday and all it entails. Call me a grinch if you like, but why does Christmas have to be so stressful?

The biggest problem is money and having enough of it to buy presents for everyone, so after Thanksgiving I start budgeting and realize that there will never be enough money to go round so how about this year you leave a cash advance in my stocking for next year’s Christmas gifts ???

I hate Christmas shopping! Every year I say I’ll start shopping early, but every year I’m shopping up to the last minute fighting crazy traffic and waiting in 20 minute long check out lines…ugh!

What about all the thought that goes into buying Christmas gifts anyway? I like my gifts to be meaningful so I put a lot of thought into each one, maybe too much thought…? That could be why it takes me so long to get all that shopping done???

Once I actually finish the shopping, you can find me gift wrapping by the tree on Christmas Eve just before my family arrives for the pre-Christmas festivities. At this point I’m not only wrapping gifts, but I’m also cooking, cleaning, and getting dressed…multi tasking at its best!

Speaking of Christmas trees, every year I wonder if I should get a real tree or put up the fake one that I got from Walmart last year, lights included? Then I reminisce back to Christmas of 2005, when my real tree stayed up till the end January and every last pine needle feel to the ground as it was dragged through the living room, then the kitchen, then down the stairs till it finally reached the side walk. I guess I’ll go with the fake one again this year.

Since I decided to go with the fake tree, I now have to spend some time making it look real, adjusting and fluffing each branch to fill in the holes so no one sees the medal rod down the center holding the tree together. Then there’s decorating the tree. Is it just me or does every ornament have to be perfectly placed so they are equaled spaced apart from each other…well, that’s the way I like it anyway.

And there's the weight thing…how many pounds will it be this year? 5? 10? Oh well, there’s always New Years and that thing called a resolution – this year I resolve to lose all the weight I put on last year!

And my favorite part of Christmas (not!), would be the annoying Christmas music that radio stations love to play starting in late November…as if Christmas wasn’t bad enough. Now I have to be reminded of Christmas and all that stress every time I turn on the radio.

On a positive note, I get to spend time with my family and friends, and eat and drink a lot! That’s what I love about Christmas and that’s what’s most important in my eyes…grinch or not.

EM

My Favorite Holiday Gift

Candy canes, twinkling lights, and long lines for Santa Clause at the mall brings us back to all those childhood Christmas memories. Perhaps these hints that Christmas is coming to town have got you thinking about a special family memory or…maybe a favorite present! Well, cuddle up with a steaming cup of cocoa and I will tell you a story about my childhood.

Early (very early) on a snowy white Christmas morning, I awoke so excited to spend time with my family/presents. My alter tomboy ego had begged for a bike this year. I gathered my family and settled on the couch with my stocking. Family tradition requires that I wait for all red-eyed adults to drink coffee before opening the presents. I test my persuasion skills briefly to lure my father away from the coffeemaker. But, coffee beans and sugar cubes danced in his head. Tick tock and then the adults finally take their proper seats around the brimming tree. We open presents and I toss aside various gifts…Battleship, a paint set, Sea Monkeys.... all very cool, but not “the gift.” One last present remains under the tree measuring approx 14” X 14”. Now, I am no genius, but that’s no bike. I’m already prepared for disappointment as I dramatically tear away the wrapping paper. And behold a bike helmet. What does this mean? Either my parents think I’m accident-prone…or…maybe, they just forgot I don’t own a bike. The confused look on my face caused them to burst into wild laugher. My father disappeared for several minutes as I ponder what has them so happy about my apparent distress. Then, out of nowhere a gleaming green bike rolls up next to the tree! It was the best Christmas gift!

Tell me your favorite Christmas story!

By Jenny

Holiday Gift Giving

The holidays are almost here and you’ve got a job to do. Picking a gift that is just right can be the hardest chore on your to do list. So why not change it from being the hardest thing on the list to the most creative thing on your list? Here are some tips for creative holiday gift giving.

Listen to what they’re saying

Just by listening to the things your loved ones are saying can be a great way to get hints about the things they really want. Have a conversation with them and ask questions about the things they like or don’t like. Without coming right out and asking them what they want you can get a lot of really valuable information from them about the types of things they would like to receive.

Gifts for Mom

Mom can be the hardest one to buy for. What do you buy the woman who already has everything? Metrostyle has a great accessories section that has everything from scarves to sunglasses and what Mom wouldn’t like a designer inspired handbag?

Gifts for Her

This could be a sister, sister in law, friend, cousin or aunt. Why not fill up a fabulous handbag with all the goodies she likes? Fill it with candy, promises of free babysitting, gloves, books, make-up or gift cards! The possibilities are endless!

Gifts for the Student

Make life a little easier for your student this holiday. Fill a stylish handbag full of goodies as well as useful items. Throw in a gas card, a gift card to a local supermarket or some spending money for campus stuff. Throw in a metrostyle gift card so they can buy anything they choose. Toss in a belt, a bracelet or a pair of sunglasses.

Express your feelings
Use the holidays to express what you feel about friends and family. Make something special for them if you are good at some sort of craft. An excellent idea is to get together some old photos and compile them into a nicely decorated scrapbook. You can use almost any theme at all. Make up a book from the last holiday gathering to present to aunts or mothers. This is great for those relatives who live far away. Make up a book of special memories for a spouse or significant other. For teens make up a book of baby memories.

No matter what gift you choose to give always remember to cherish your time together. Gifts can be returned and replaced but friends and family are to be cherished always. And when in doubt go for a gift card and let them decide. Happy Holidays and happy shopping!

By Brooke