today i am thankful for the seasons we have. not that i love the winter around here, but i love the change of seasons...there is just something about watching nature do it's thing that is just so beautiful!
the winter weather has me in the mood for the holidays now and i just read a wonderful blog post on gift giving and we are adapting the idea this year with the girls. I am finding it harder to buy gifts this year for them, which i didn't think would be the case. but, they either want so much or they have no idea what they want. so these simple ideas are taken from the simple mom blog...check out her blog, it has some great ideas. and will go into more details on this simple gift giving philosophy....
Our new gift giving philosophy....
- something they WANT
- something they NEED
- something to WEAR
- something to READ
Two additional things that we are adding for this year are, but the list could go on and simple mom has a lot of other great buckets, find them here.
- something to WATCH
- something to CREATE
does your family have any gift giving traditions? i would love to hear them, because if there is one thing i am big on it is traditions!
happy monday!
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I follow the simple gift giving philosophy, too! It works perfectly!!!
ReplyDeleteOne that I grew up with, but haven't been able to duplicate with the gaggle: my mom would buy two identical ornaments each year. One would go on her tree, and the other went into a keepsake box for me. When I moved out, I had years of special ornaments ready for my tree :)
We don't...oh wait we do have one. I let the girls open one gift on Christmas eve and it's new jammies. Then they look all cute Christmas morning for pics. Love that simple little gift recipe. I need to print that out:)
ReplyDeleteLook at that snow! We had a frost here this morning and that was enough to get me into the holiday spirit. I can't imagine snow this early though! I guess you guys are used to it. My husband and I were just talking yesterday how Minneapolis/St. Paul is always on the top of the list of "happiest people." I guess the snow doesn't get you guys down!
ReplyDeleteWe really don't have any traditions yet but I want to start making some. We do go to my mom's for Christmas Eve dinner and then I cook a big breakfast Christmas morning. Might have known that our tradition would revolve around food!
We've done that form of gift-giving for the past several years as well. I have so loved the results of very content children knowing exactly waht to expect.
ReplyDeleteMakes it easier on the shopping task too!
~h
I've heard that before - my Mom does it! And then my Dad goes out and buys, buys, buys in the want category. Santa was always good to us! ;) Thanks for the reminder about it! As far as our traditions go... now that we are grown up we give eachother each a gift and spoil my nephew. :) Gorgeous picture too - wish we got snow every once in a while!
ReplyDeleteOne present opened on Christmas Eve....and it's always new pj's.
ReplyDeleteLOVE the snow...you've got me in the mood for Christmas with that picture!
I love your philosophy and will most likely borrow it for our house! :) And check out that snow! Amazing! PS: Email coming your way soon.
ReplyDeleteI love this idea! Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea! And we are loving our MN snow as well. :)
ReplyDeleteWe've adopted the three gift idea because baby Jesus got 3 gifts from the wisemen. I've heard of it taken even further and broken down into what type of gifts those should be based on what the wisemen actually gave (frankincense was the practical gift, etc...) I'll save that part for when they are older and can better understand.
We also open new pj's Christmas Eve and I have a little santa bag that's monogrammed for our family from Pottery Barn kids. I bought the small size so it can't get out of control. This is the bag that Santa fills with unwrapped presents for all the kids. Nothing is specific to one child. Things like a new movie, game or play-doh are in there. Santa stores the bag in my closet the rest of the year and we leave it out Christmas Eve with his plate of cookies and carrots for the reindeer. Little food treats are left in their stockings too.
I love that we aren't overwhelmed by tons of presents and wrapping paper Christmas morning. and this year I'm taking my kids to the Dollar store to buy one thing for each of their siblings (and mom and dad too).
love, love, love this idea! I have an 11 yr old and have had *the* hardest time deciding what to get her and truth be told, she hasn't asked for that much but I have this insane notion to buy her more! So, I'm totally gonna try this out! Thanks for sharing! : )
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