Well, the obvious answer is a hat from my shop, but that's beside the point in this particular post.
I love giving gifts. I get so excited about giving them that I have to talk myself out of giving them immediately. Getting gifts is swell too. We all have things we want. New salad bowls, new jewelry, new sheets, new gadgets. It's okay to want things, and it's okay to give and receive gifts. But sometimes I think the holiday season makes people forget that there are many wonderful ways to be generous. Here are a few suggestions:
Very Sage's Non-Traditional Holiday Gift Guide (2011 Edition)
1. Let's start out with a big "duh." A unique, high-quality handmade item makes a wonderful gift. Whether you made it yourself or found something perfect at a craft fair or on Etsy, rock on.
2. Food presents. The first time I gave my friend Sara my peanut butter bon-bons she said "oh my...you have ARRIVED." Of course, make sure your food present is appropriate to the recipient's dietary restrictions. If you are giving goodies to someone you don't know very well, it's nice to wrap different things separately within the package and note important ingredients. This also gives you a chance to make cute labels with silly names like "Gluten-Free Coconut Snowflake Extravaganzas."
On a related note, do you have a great family holiday recipe that could use dusting off? Make it as a present. Every year my mom reminisces about her grandmother's Christmas cookies and laments not having time to make them. My boyfriend and I banished her from the kitchen on Christmas Eve Day and made a huge batch of cookies using the original splotchy index card recipe. It was a little hard to understand what Mom was saying through all those cookie crumbs, but we're pretty sure she loved it -- both the cookies and the idea of restarting a family tradition.
3. Old stuff. I don't get why antiques and vintage goods get all the glory, while regular old used items are uncool until they've had more time to age. Sometimes you really find the perfect gift in a flea market or thrift store. Does that beautiful coffee table book deserve any less respect because you got it at a stoop sale? Is that funky glass candy dish any less gift-worthy because you found it at the Goodwill? Of course you'll want to check your find for stains, mysterious odors, and all the usual practical stuff. Of course, that's something you often have to do with brand new items at some stores (ahem, Brooklyn Target).
4. Memories. When I graduated from college my grandfather gave me a little book of memories. It was something my parents had found in a bookstore, with a different question on each page. I learned so much about him from that little book, and it prompted some great conversations. You don't need to be elderly to share your memories, and it doesn't have to be a full on memoir. Consider writing a letter about the first time you and your loved one met, or a meaningful moment in your relationship. Too many to choose from? Write a bunch of memories on slips of paper and stuff them in a pretty box. It's like a reverse fortune cookie -- every time your loved one pulls out a piece of paper, he or she gets to relive something that you two shared.
5. The Two-Person Book Club. We're all busy people with lots of things to do. There are people we want to talk to more often, there are books we want to read, and it never feels like there's enough time for either of those things. Enter the two-person book club. It has all the benefits of a real book club (exposure to new books, intellectual stimulation, great conversation) and none of the drawbacks (pressure to read quickly, scheduling difficulties, that lady who only picks romance novels). Since it's just the two of you, you can pick the books you want to read and meet by phone or in person whenever it is convenient. It gives you an added incentive to keep in touch and lets you learn new and interesting things about your reading partner.
6. Charitable Giving. Perhaps more than any of the gifts on this list, this one needs to be tailored to the recipient's special interests and values. It's best to research where your money actually goes, how the organization acknowledges gifts (i.e. if their card could spoil the surprise), and whether the organization's mission and actions are in line with your friend's beliefs. Just to get you thinking, here are a few that I like:
Charity:Water helps to bring clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations: http://www.charitywater.org/
Bideawee is a New York-area animal rescue and veterinary facility that rescues animals from kill shelters and finds them loving homes: http://www.bideawee.org/index.php
Heifer International provides livestock and training to families all over the world, helping entire communities to improve their nutrition and their lives: http://www.heifer.org/homeview
Have you made it this far? I applaud you. Happy giving!
