No Angst Gift-Giving by Brenda Nixon

Searching for just the right gift? Does someone on your list seem to have everything already? Haven't a clue what to give? Then try a gift certificate! Almost every store, business, or trade offers holiday gift cards.

One Christmas we gave each of my daughters a gift certificate to a Christian bookstore. Another year, when my daughter was into crochet we gave her a certificate to a sewing store. My husband is happy to select his "man gift" when given a certificate to a hardware store, Low'es or Home Depot. Starbucks cards are welcomed anytime.

No need to get in a tizzy about what to give . . . just grab a gift certificate next time you're at the store.

Of course, a long-lasting, unique and welcomed gift - under $20 - is a signed copy of A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts. *wink* You can go to any of our websites and order your an autographed copy.


Brenda Nixon, www.BrendaNixon.com
Co-author, A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts

Best Gifts Under $25 for Men and Women - By Trish Berg

We exchange names on both sides of our extended families, and so shopping is simpler. Except that I always struggle with gifts for the men in our families.

But no longer. I have discovered that buying men a food related gift is always a great gift.

BEST GUY GIFT UNDER $25

For my brother-in-law, I once assembled a basket of goodies including pancake mix, fresh flavored syrups, muffin mixes, dip mixes, chips and salsa. He loved it! I included a manly apron and some great recipes, and piled everything in a great basket, and for less than $25, it was a huge hit!

At a loss for a guy's gift under $25 this Christmas? Try this: The Salsa of the Month Club. You could even get him some unique tortillas chips in a basket and all year, he will be reminded of your love.

Click here for more info on The Salsa of the Month.

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BEST GAL GIFT UNDER $25

I have discovered a fantastic, unique gift for the gals in your life. Handmade

jewelry from stones and wire. I found this gal, Jen Berly, at a local craft fair and bought a beautiful stone ring. I have had more compliments on that ring than any other piece of jewelry I own.

Her rings are around $20. She also carries beautiful necklaces and bracelets that are a little more expensive, but well worth the price.

Check out her collection. you can order online here.

Re: The Reindeer Problem

Dear Santa,

Let me express how very much I love having you visit each year. Your gifts and surprises have enriched my life and added joy to my Christmas celebration. But Santa, we really do need to talk about something. The reindeer.

Each year our roof gets a little weaker from all that weight landing up there. I wonder if a change in the diet and exercise program in the off season might lend to a leaner and more muscular team that would be a bit lighter in their step onto the roof?

And while we are mentioning diet, I have one other suggestion that would certainly make life easier on my husband who has to get up and clean the gutters each spring. The reindeer droppings are a bit of a nuisance when they clog up the downspouts. Perhaps a diet higher in fiber and more conducive to regularity might help.

As usual, we will be setting out the chocolate chip cookies and milk for you and of course, carrots for your team--high in fiber and nutrition and I understand that they are good for the eyes as well. Perhaps better eyesight will keep them from mistaking the satellite dish for a sled.

Looking forward with anticipation to your Christmas Eve visit. Hope all goes well for you and Mrs. Claus in the meantime. And hoping we can resolve these reindeer issues without hurting their feelings.

Sincerely
Karen

Dear Santa letter

Dear Santa,


I do have everything I need this Christmas, and I’ve been pretty good. No, not perfect, but haven’t committed any major crimes either.

One gift you could leave in my Christmas stocking this year is a big ol’ gift certificate for books, to a local bookstore, or an online store of your choice.

You are Santa so you know best.

If the gift certificate is huge, I can have the fun of selecting children’s books to give away. Does everyone love wandering the children’s books sections as much as I do? The illustrations are so captivating and the poetry so delectable.

With this humongous gift certificate in addition to children's books, I will buy books for me! Plus more for my church’s library, a local homeless shelter and other folks who need and welcome books.

So that is what I would enjoy, and if someone else needs that certificate more, please put it in their Christmas stocking this year, instead of in mine. I always find a way to buy and enjoy books.

Love, Terra

And It Smelled Nice, Too!

Not possessing a craft gene, posting about a homemade, inexpensive gift is like having a root canal with no anesthetic. Then I remembered a particular October when my husband was finishing his last year of graduate school. I had just given birth to Reese, our youngest, who was only 11 months behind his sister Molly. We pinched pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters—and, perhaps even a few pesos!

I borrowed an idea from a flea market and tried it at home. Here’s what I did.

I made fragrant door hangers and swags (to put above the fireplace) out of dried fruit and coat hangers. WHAT?!?!?! It’s simple—and you know it must be if I’m saying it.

Thinly slice oranges and apples and allow them to dry out on a cookie sheet lined with old newspaper. Flip them once or twice so they dry evenly.

Drill tiny holes in cinnamon sticks. “Thread” the dried fruit and cinnamon sticks onto the coat hanger to use in any size and shape you want. You could make a small wreath and add a raffia bow. My favorite size were door hangers because they didn’t require too much fruit. I made a loop at one end and speared the fruit and cinnamon sticks about 5-6 inches in length. Another loop at the bottom for the raffia bow and voila, you have yourself a beautiful, and oh-so-inexpensive, homemade gift. Spritz with apple jack fragrance to refresh the smell as needed. The one I made to put over my fireplace lasted several years! And I gave away a dozen or so to family members and friends.

Happy drying and threading!

Now what gifts can you suggest for the rest of us—crafty or not? We can always use new ideas in this department!

Santa Baby by Brenda Nixon

This week each of us co-authors on A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts is writing a letter to Santa. I don't know about you but I'll ask Santa for front row tickets to see a live performance of Il Divo. That won't happen.

Since I'm a speaker/author to parents, I will share tips for your children to write letters. They can then theirs to www.emailsanta.com and it's free!

Tip one:
Remind children to practice thankfulness; begin their letter with appreciating the stories and generosity of Santa. Whether Santa is real or not, it's good to teach kids to acknowledge others before putting out their hand in request.

Tip two:
Remind children that a letter to Santa is not a "to do" list. They can express their wants but that doesn't mean they'll get everything their little hearts desires (nor should they, as it sends the wrong life message).

Tip three:
Encourage children to be honest. Self-expression is therapeutic and often children can share their feelings better on paper - or to an imaginary friend - than to a live adult.

Tip four:
Assist tots who are too young to write. This experience must be fun for kids. If they're forced to sit and labor over their penmanship or in finding the right words, then they'll avoid it as work.

My two daughters occasionally wrote Santa letters. It gave my husband and I a sneak peek into their heart, while allowing us to be their first and most influential teachers.

Brenda Nixon, www.BrendaNixon.com
Co-author, A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts

Dear Santa - By Trish Berg

Dear Santa,

I know I am a little old to write to you, but even at 41, I feel like a kid inside at Christmas. So I decided to write to you and ask you for what I truly wanted this year.

So, Santa, would you please bring me a cappuccino machine. I just think having one would make me happy.

And if I could have a sweet cup of cappuccino in the mornings, I might be able to wake up without feeling grumpy that my alarm went off at 6 am.

And if I don't feel grumpy, then I am less likely to yell at my children when they can;t find their tennis shoes on gym day or forgot that they needed a special packed lunch for their field trip.

If I don't yell at my children in the mornings, they are more likely to concentrate and do well in school, paying attention to their teachers and remembering their homework assignments.

If they are more likely to remember their homework assignments, then my husband and I won;t have to harp on them about not getting their homework done and our evenings will go smoother.

If our evenings go more smoothly, then we can actually sit down and have a peaceful family dinner.

As we sit down to have a peaceful family dinner, our children will be more likely to open up about their day, sharing about the ups and downs about their lives, opening up their hearts.

As our children open up their hearts to us, we are more likely to know how we should best parent them and love them, all the while guiding them closer to God and His will for their lives.

And once the kiddos are all tucked into bed at night, I can lay my head on the pillow, and say a prayer of thanks to God for the blessings I have been given to be a wife and mom.

Then again, as much as I would love for you to bring me a cappuccino machine, maybe I can simply pray for God to make me the mom my children need me to be.

But the sweet cappuccino would be a nice touch, if you don't mind.

Sincerely, Trish

P.S. Yes, I have been a very good girl....well, most of the time :)

P.S.S. To EMAIL Santa for FREE with your kiddos, go to

www.EmailSanta.com You even get a response from Santa,

and can track his trek around the world on Christmas Eve.