1.The Notebook: Before I even think about buying or
wrapping someone’s present, first I have to know what it is! A couple years ago, I started
carrying a little notebook in my purse around Christmas time, to keep a running
list of who I had bought for, who I hadn’t, what I had spent on them, etc. I’m sure many of you do this, too! But after Christmas, I decided to keep the
notebook in my purse for further use---whenever I think of something that a
friend or family member might like, or maybe I see it at the store and decide
to wait for it to go on sale, or better yet, when he or she mentions something
that they would like to have, I pull out my little notebook and make a note of
it! It’s such an easy thing to do, and
you can customize it to your own plans (i.e. maybe you don’t need to keep track
of how much you spent, but maybe you do
need to keep track of the name of that tool that your husband keeps mentioning
that he would like to have…)
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3. The Universal
Gifts: In addition to the “planned”
gifts, my shelf also has some unassigned gifts.
These are things that I pick up from time to time at the store, maybe on
the clearance rack or an impulse buy in the check-out lane. Basically, these are items that I bought
without a recipient in mind, but they actually turn out to be quite handy! (For
example, if there’s a candle on sale for a couple bucks, or maybe a little
stationery set, or a good-looking book/journal…) You never know when you may
need to take a gift with you for someone, and if you have a few of these things
stashed away, it will definitely be
worth it!
4. Wrap it Up: The final step. But not always the easiest! You’ve found that cute little outfit that you
bought for the baby shower, and you run to your gift closet to wrap it up
quick. But wait. You realize that all
you have is Christmas wrapping paper, all of your gift bags are for weddings or
birthdays, and you are completely out of tissue paper. How do we avoid this
dilemma? After reading an article about gift-wrapping recently, I’ve realized
that just a few small steps can really help you feel more organized and more
prepared for upcoming events:
--The
Basics: Keep a separate pair of
scissors, a roll of tape, and some pens nearby
(or in) your gift closet).
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--Color
Scheme: This was something I hadn’t
considered until reading a home magazine lately. If you
keep all of your supplies (paper, ribbon, bags, tags, etc.) in the same color
scheme , or pattern,
then you don’t have to worry about wrapping at the last minute and ending up
with an old easter
bunny bag with a Christmas tag stuck on the side of it.
I know it may seem silly to go into so much detail about
gifts, gift wrap, etc. The reason I wanted
to write this post is this: I think that
gift-giving is becoming somewhat of a lost art.
People are sending birthday emails instead of cards in the mail, or
sending virtual birthday cakes and balloons on Facebook. This is all fun, too, but I really do cherish
the importance of a good gift. And in my opinion, the definition of a good gift does not mean how much money
someone spent on it. I really do agree with the old saying, “it’s the thought
that counts”. I absolutely LOVE to buy
gifts for my friends and family…I get so much joy out of looking through the
aisle for things they may like! And for
me, it’s even better when I find the gift well in advance, and I know that it’s
sitting on the shelf, waiting for them to open it! J (Plus, if I can get it at a
bargain price, it’s just that much more exciting…and did you know that the
Dollar Store has some of the cutest gift wrap and bags? Plus they have big
packs of tissue paper in all different colors…for a dollar!)
So, tell me…what are your thoughts on gift-giving? Do you
love it or hate it? What are some of
your tips for staying sane while preparing all the gifts that we give to our
loved ones? And, if you’re brave enough,
please share your thoughts on “re-gifting”. I always love to hear what people
think about that!
I love gift giving! I have to make sure I plan ahead thought. I do not enjoy it nearly as much if I wait until the last minute and am forced to find something the person would like (or I hope they would). I try to get gifts early so I can be sure to find just the right thing.
ReplyDeleteI also love sending cards, and finding the perfect one. I've started to buy cards when I see one that would be great for someone, instead of waiting until I need it. I just file it away in my little card organizer box and hope I remember it's there when I need it. :)
I don't think there's anything wrong with re-gifting! I can't remember ever doing it myself, but if I received something I knew I wouldn't use and thought someone else would really like it, I think I'd go for it!
thanks for your input, lisa! Glad to know there are more gift-giving-lovers out there! Especially your comment about the greeting card aisle...i have to try really hard to keep myself away from there! :)
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