Homemade Christmas- What do You Think?

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Hello all, DH's family will all be travelling from Houston to Chicago for Christmas this year to celebrate his Great Grandfather's 100th birthday. Much to their horror, we have told them that we're unable to make the trip. The whole family dislikes our decision to homestead and lead a frugal lifestyle, and they're big shoppers, so CHrstmas is always overdone when we celebrate with them. Anyway, I've been trying to figure out what homemade presents to give them, befcause I'm not giving in and doing the mall-mania this year, no matter WHAT! I think I've hit on a good idea. I'm going to bake several different types of quick breads and muffins and make a batch of dry waffle/pancake mix, make flavored syrups, flavored coffee and creamers, etc. and send them a Christmas breakfast present, big enough for the whole family. ( I'm also sending Grampa B 100 brownie squares for his 100th birthday, since he's a chocolate and nut freak!) I've already told the family that I'm doing homemade presents this year, and haven't gotten a bang-up response, but I think this might be okay. OPinions? Criticisms? Suggestions? I can't wait to hear what you think *G*

-- Kristin, in C. Alabama (positivekharma@aol.com), December 13, 2000

Answers

Kristin, I think your idea sounds wonderful, I would love to get a present like that. Im not doing a lot of buying this year either, my kids are grown and out on their own for the first time and I have a lady that lives with me who I like to buy for, she is very frugle to but Im having a hard time thinking of some- thing for her that I dont have to spend alot of money on. I work 40hrs a week so I dont have time on my side to do something homemade. Any suggestions for her would be greatly appreciated. Good luck with your family Kristin. Roxanne

-- Roxanne (hmstdlady@webtv.net), December 13, 2000.

Roxanne, Thanks for the good wishes. Does your friend have any interests/hobbies that you know about? Maybe you could give her a day trip or seminar etc. for her present. For instance, give her a card with a message in it, saying this is good for one trip to (wherever) and you could go together and make a day of it. That is, if you could do it on a non-working day for you. Or maybe you could cook her favorite meal, etc. on a day that works for both of you. A lot of people appreciate gifts that give your time and efforts more than your money, and your friend might really enjoy something like this. Good Luck!

-- Kristin, in C. Alabama (positivekharma@aol.com), December 13, 2000.

How about a new robe or slippers .One year Mom wanted socks so igave her 20 pairs .Thermals ,new sweats anything she wouldn't buy for her self.

-- Patty (fodfarms@slic.com), December 13, 2000.

Kristen,

I think your idea is great. I also do a mostly homemade Christmas, it all started 6 years ago when my husband and I got together and I needed gifts for his family and it is quite large. I also didn't kn owtheir interests. We were also on a very tight budget. So I decided to give a goodie gift box. In it is usually two different types cookies and maybe a sweet bread of some sort, also a mini jar or two of jam. It all depends what has done well in the garden and what I have a surplus of. I try to do my Christmas around a new theme every year so I stay on the lookout throughout the year for ideas to go with it. For all the neices and nephews I try to do something that is mass produced. I usually can keep my costs down pretty well by being very creative with my packaging. I also do the same thing for my family, I just need to make sure it is easy and not too heavy to mail. We have four kids so I am always on a holiday budget. I also try to go through my stockpile of craft supplies to use what I have. I never really know if his family really likes everything, don't always see everyone for Christmas. They are not always very appreciative because I work at being creative on a budget. Even though they don't have a bunch of money either they would all rather be doing other things. The only way I THINK that I can tell that they like it is because we are starting to get gift baskets also. Not with homemade goodies yet, but I guess their is always hope. Good Luck and Happy Holidays.

Toni in Idaho (fourseasonsfarm@sandpoint.net

-- Toni Carey (fourseasonsfarm@sandpoint.net), December 13, 2000.


You all have wonderful ideas. I myself believe that the majority of people have somehow lost the true value of gift giving with Christmas. I knew people who thought that they had to buy THE most expensive gifts to 'satisfy' their own consciousness. And if they didn't receive such in return, they'd kinda smile and look at you like "is this it?" The past two Christmas's have been 'lean' ones, so I gave presents accordingly to each person. For example, my mom. She loves Snickers bars, and yet she rarely buys any for herself. So I went to the bulk warehouse and bought her a case of 48 regular sized Snickers. Needless to say she was VERY suprised and she was able to enjoy her favorite candy. They lasted her for nine months. And for her fiance, I bought him his favorite cookies, Fig Newtons in a double pack. They weren't all that expensive yet I knew they were valued gifts for they enjoyed them so very much. As for this year, I will probably bakes breads and muffins. Though I thought I'd also give some 'gifts in a jar' I found through this site. I wish more people would realize the true value of giving, it's not about the price tag, but the heart and soul of the person giving. carter, c.

-- carter, c. (elin7@hotmail.com), December 14, 2000.


I doubt your husband's family will appreciate how much time and money$$$-(food gifts are not normally cheap), you put into those great gifts you have in mind. Isn't a gift something that comes from the heart, otherwise, isn't it an obligation? Other than adding a dried flower or two or something similar, I think your ideas are terrific, good for you. What's better than homemade, do-it-yourself, hey I did it stuff? Blessings to you.

-- Cindy (atilrthehony_1@yahoo.com), December 14, 2000.

I think more people should get away from the commercialism that many feel an obligation to indulge in during this time of year. Some of the gifts I've given have been "home made", and people just loved them. Whenever I've given food as a gift, I've put it in a decorated container. Glued some fabric and lace to a big plastic ice-cream container. I've seen this saved in one home as a handy holder for little miscellaneous items. I keep an eye out for plain sweat shirts on sale. Used some of my parents favourite little pictures and got some of those T-shirt transfers that you can iron on, made them up a couple of sweatshirts. They just loved them. One thing that goes over well, if you can sew, is a decorated notepad holder. I have a folded star pattern, the holder backdrop is decorated like a flower stem with leaves, the folded star hot pad is the flower. Made one of these for my aunt in Switzerland, she has it hanging in her kitchen, she told me 2 people who visited her wanted to buy it from her. Notepad holders don't have to be sewn, they can be crafted in many different ways. Letter mail holders the same way. I find that if you make the gift useful as well as decorative, people appreciate it more.

I come from a family who doesn't believe in this big commercial gift-giving/getting nonsense. You get something for those close to you, kids/parents, something that they would really like. Keep it simple. If your family can't see the true meaning of the Christmas celebration, then they're missing out in more ways than one.

-- Chelsea (rmbehr@istar.ca), December 14, 2000.


Kristin, We did the home baked goods and handcrafted quilts this year. When we boxed them, we found decorative season containers made of plastic, cardboard and tin at the dollar tree, general dollar store and family dollar store in various sizes. Non of them cost more than $5 and had classical styled Christmas scenes (kinda like norman rockwell or the nostalgic coca cola ones).

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), December 14, 2000.

I think a "homemade" Christmas is the best kind!!!

I tromped through our north Alabama woods on the Sunday morning we had an inch of snow about three weeks ago and made photos of a small log cabin/playhouse that my older brother and my late-grandfather built in the mid 1940's. Then I made four enlargements of that and I'm going to get frames and give that to my (grown) kids as part of their Christmas.

As for relatives that have to "put on the dog," I don't have an easy answer to that. You have to follow your own heart. Your homestead and your husband and kids are your REAL immediate family now and as long as ya'll can live at peace and be happy on your homestead, try to ignore whatever anybody else says or thinks! Believe me, I know personally that is hard!!!! Suzy in 'Bama

-- Suzy in 'Bama (slgt@yahoo.com), December 14, 2000.


Two years ago, my daughter and son-in-law gave her teenage brother a gift he still talks about. A plastic trash can filled with soda pop and his favorite snacks for movie watching. He asked for the same thing last year and was dissapointed when he didn't recieve it. So, this year I'm giving him a gift certificate for a new 'anime' video and a basket of goodies to eat. I really love recieving and putting together gift baskets. I love the idea of favorite cookies or candy. When my oldest brother turned 14, my parents bought him a large display box of his favorite candy bar. Boy, were the rest of us jealous!

-- Cheryl (bramblecottage@hotmail.com), December 14, 2000.


Good for you,I too like homemade gifts one year I made stockings from scraps of material and tied goodies onto a piece of twine and they were a hit, I make mittens for the kids or small quilted items or jams and homemade breads or puppychow in a cute tin is good too. but you are right that some people are greedy and want big bucks! My response is that lets not forget the real reason we celebrate,Jesus's birthday!! Merry Christmas everyone!!!

-- Julie (nelson3@bright.net), December 14, 2000.

"And the Grinch, with his grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling: "How could it be so? "It came without ribbons! It came without tags! It came without packages, boxes or bags!" And he puzzled and puzzled, till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't thought of before! "Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store. "Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!"

-- Chelsea (rmbehr@istar.ca), December 15, 2000.

Hi, we're having a "lean" xmas too but I don't mind because we're saving for our driveway (we just bought 2.1 acres in Talking Rock, Ga) and breaking ground is all I'm thinking about. So doing the big xmas thing isn't on my list of things to do. I got my grandmother about 10 novels (we're both big readers - so I subscribed to one of those book of month clubs and picked all the books out for her and she loved them - we have our xmas at Thanksgiving because of the distance). Then for my husband's brother I am doing a coffee basket, with whole beans, small creamers, a xmas mug, and a coffee grinder - cost under $25.00. For my mother in law, she use to paint but hasn't in a while so I went online and got her painting supplies at a discount place - new paints, brushes and canvas and also got her a how to video - for about $50.00 (more than I planned but she is so sweet and selfless it was worth it).

My husband is getting a book on fixing up Chevy trucks and a calendar of Chevy trucks. Kids are getting small gift certificates. I'm staying out of the malls and we're closer to getting the driveway which will be something we use everyday!

-- Nancy Mills (nancymills_98@yahoo.com), December 17, 2000.


IN DIGRESSION, thought this was a sad story but on the topic and much to be learned from it. We joined relatives this year for Thanksgiving, after a long time not seeing them--they all live on east coast and we're in Texas. Anyway, we believe they're caught up in the "storm". Guess they thought that since we would be together that we MUST, for the first time in 28 years, exchange "gifts". My husband and I were surprized that they all came in one day with pkg's wrapped for us and our grown daughters and son-in-law. Anyway, at the risk of sounding tacky--ALL the gifts were broken (and mended) or, quite apparently, used. My husband and I were so shocked to be getting the gifts (I'm sure they were convinced of this.)and are still wondering, and hoping, that it might have been a practical joke. Their children were disappointed (and said so in various ways) that we didn't bring gifts for them. If it wasn't a practical joke, I can't imagine why they put themselves through that. They didn't have the money to spend and we spent all ours on transportation to get there. I feel so bad if only because I think they gave us things that they, probably, still needed. It made us feel so-o uncomfortable and it's such a bad memory, I wish I could forget that it happened. I've given away (they'll never know) all of it because I didn't want to be reminded of the thought that they felt they HAD to give away something they needed. I know you think I should have kept something because "it's the thought" but it was not a thought that they should have been forced into. It was clearly NOT a comfortable situation--for anyone.

-- distraught (zumende@aol.com), December 20, 2000.

I've been giving a "homemade Christmas" for years to my large family of 5 sisters and brothers. Here are some ideas for you... Gift package of pork from our recently slaughter hog. One whole chicken dressed, from our flock. Jars for homemade jams and jellies. Baskets (picked up from rummage sales) of homemade soaps. Lap quilts. Decorative pillows. Family cookbook, this went over best but was 6 months in the doing! Done on the computer, copied on blue paper with a laminated cover and ring bound. Several asked for extra copies for friends, which I didn't have, but a nice compliment. Envelopes with homemade coupons to do something special for them. For me that is wallpapering or decorative painting, but could be babysitting, etc. This year I'm doing 1x10 and 1x12 boards with a wallpaper border pasted on top with a row of horseshoe nails (box of 100 $6) on the bottom for hanging things. Coated with several layers of interior/ exterior oil varnish. The boards are between 20" and 3'--stained scraps. Most good wallpaper stores will give you samples 2 to 3' long (length of repeat). You can tailor these to the interests and decor of the people involved, just like the pillows. I ususally just set out the gifts and let them pick, first come first serve! I like to give useful items that I would enjoy getting... Plus their is no squabbling or hurt feelings because everything is fair! Merry Christmas All!

-- Bev Sandlin (storm@rconnect.com), December 20, 2000.


Great post Chelsea! One christmass hubby and I gave gifts from our garden. canned things and dried herbs [ we also coped out and included small store bought things]we had a blast putting the baskets together and we enjoyed christmass more that year.I was a secret santa to a old man for years, used to drop off on xmass night a basket with teas jerky gloves or socks ect [ he lived in a decreped house on edge of town and my friend and i thought the house was vacent tell we saw him come out one day, one light on at night]he must have sold the house because its all fixed and someone else lives there now. That was the highlight of my christmass[ used to drive by the next day to make sure he got them]Did that for 5 years and now xmass seems a little flat.

-- kathy h (ckhart55@earthlink.net), December 20, 2000.

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