Hour Gifts

My mom came up with the “hour gift” idea when I was 12. At first I absolutely hated the idea. But with time, it’s grown to be one of my favorite holiday memories. And now it’s a tradition for my own little family. Maybe it could help slow down the Christmas craziness at your house, too. The … More Hour Gifts

Souvenirs

Now that vacation season is in full swing, what kind of souvenirs do you buy on a trip? Do you wander the trinket shops, aimlessly looking for something that strikes your fancy (grumbling husband in tow)? What if souvenirs could be part of the adventure of your vacation, like a quest for a specific piece … More Souvenirs

Delayed Gratification

Does your Christmas morning devolve into a flurry of wrapping paper with gifts tossed into a heap? Do you leave family gatherings with no idea of who gave anyone what? I have a theory: We open gifts too fast to enjoy them! In our race to get each other more more MORE, we appreciate everything less less … More Delayed Gratification

Guessing Game Gift Tags

Top off the perfect gift with the perfect gift tag — something that doesn’t just say “To” and “From,” but recognizes those things that make your recipient so gift-worthy. You can make a game out of it, too …

Holiday Birthdays

The holidays can get confusing if your birthday (or the birthday of someone you love)  falls in the middle of them. I consider myself somewhat of an expert on this, since I’ve had a Christmas Eve birthday for, oh, 30 odd years or so. People with a holiday birthdays grow up with a love-hate relationship with … More Holiday Birthdays

Present Treasure Hunt

Ah, the present treasure hunt. Brings back fond memories of me and my sister, scribbling notes to each other with scented gel pens, racing around the house in paper crowns. All you need is a pen, bits of paper, a gift, and a little imagination. (It’s particularly handy if you have a gift too big … More Present Treasure Hunt

Holiday Gift Ideas

There’s no getting around it. The holidays are in full effect, and that means it’s gift time. Most people dread it, but you really don’t have to. What if, instead of throwing money at the problem this year, we put our hearts into it? Included below are a slew of ideas to get your brain … More Holiday Gift Ideas

Hostess Gift Ideas

If there were a spokeswomen for hostess gifts, I’d be a contender. Anyone who’s ever hosted anything knows that, after putting so much thought and work into doing something for others, it’s heartwarming to have a little gesture of acknowledgment in return. Whether you use one of these ideas or (even better) come up with … More Hostess Gift Ideas