I am not falling for it. The shopping circus. I won’t do it. I won’t.
For the last 10 years or so, I would get this stress feeling deep in my chest. It hurts. It comes shortly before Thanksgiving. I get out my shopping list. I check off the names. many names. Many loved ones. I love them all. But each year, it seems the list is longer and longer.
I stop to wonder; do they really need my gift? Do I really need their gift? Just knowing each other is quite a gift. Do they feel the same stress as I feel? If they do, I don’t like that. I don’t want anyone to feel stress over getting me a gift. I really don’t need much. Perhaps something nipped and/or tucked? A brand spankin’ new Volvo? Jillian by my side from the biggest loser? A trip around the world in a hot air balloon.? YES.I NEED could use all those things…but, that's not going to happen.
So, I declared last year a “no gift Christmas.” It worked out really well. No gifts for the adults. Only for the kids. Which takes my shopping list from 29 to 7. easy peasy. I do feel a bit of guilt…it is hard NOT to buy something cute for my Mom ... But I will make up for it at birthdays. I think ‘our’ birthdays are more to celebrate gifts with. I think Jesus' birthday, is more to celebrate family and love…celebrate the real meaning of Christmas. Even if you are not a religious person, you must know why we have Christmas: It is a religious holiday.
BUT…
If I were to purchase gifts this year, I found a couple nuggets of goodness:
Such as this sweater for my Mom:
I Know she loves Santa…and Santa's with scary eyes are the best.
My Aunt Trisha and my Mom are besties…so they would have to plan a night out on the town when they can both wear their own special sweater. My Aunt loves Flamingos. This just screams “We are celebrating the birth of Christ, so get out your flamingos holding stockings!”
And for the Coach…won’t he look dashing in this sweater vest? The girls love saying: Sweater Vest. I think they would see their Dad in a whole new “light.”
I hope you don’t get caught up in the wrong side of this ‘season’…Christmas is supposed to be a day of celebration. Enjoy your life. Enjoy your family. Spread your love and blessings upon those who have none. (this does not always mean Monetary) And smile while you do it…you never know who is watching!!!
I love these vests what a fun post.
ReplyDelete.•:*¨¨*:•.Blessings*¨2 U 4¨**¨¨*the holidays .•:*¨¨*:•.
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I agree with it all!
ReplyDeletewell...not the sweater vest - men should not be tortured like that.
Happy Birthday to Jesus.
I could not agree more. We just give to the nieces/nephews. You laughing about hideous sweaters reminds me; whenever my brother give his kids (30's) cash, he includes a note that says "so you can choose your own striped turtleneck!!"
ReplyDeleteBy the way, blogger reading list is not showing my updated posts today
are you serious about those sweaters!! wow they crack me up!! awe every year i simply buy for my family, but i do send chrismas cards to everyone. i love christmas cards, and i can afford them plus the 44 cents. my list for mailing christmas cards has over 80 people friends and family, mostly friends. which reminds me this year i found an old box of christmas cards, i mean old like from the 50's they were grandmas i am going to mail those to some special people. i just love christmas. the kids still believe!!
ReplyDeleteI went shopping on Black Friday with Vol Fan's mom because she just loves the mayhem. Neither of us bought a single item:)
ReplyDeleteI know that stressed out feeling. We started a name exchange so each adult in the family only has one gift to worry about. It's way easier. But what a shame your family members have to forego those nifty sweaters!
ReplyDeleteWe got rid of the adults about 3 years ago...it was the best thing we every did!
ReplyDeletesandy toe
Wow, you really found the worst of the worst in Christmas sweaters!
ReplyDeleteA few years ago, I went to the family and pulled ourselves out of the exchange. That opened everyone up to say that they were really feeling the economic pinch as well and we turned it into a gag gift exchange which costs us nothing!
I couldn't agree more, BB. We've banished big gift giving a few years ago in favor of a nice family dinner, gifts for the kids and a gift exchange between adults (you pick one name and only have one gift to give, and you get one back). It's fun and relieves stress, guilt and our stretched finances.
ReplyDeleteHubby and I agreed to only do filled stockings this year and a few gifts up to an agreed budget, otherwise he feels like it's not Christmas. I will indulge, what can ya do?
But no big spending - we'll celebrate with love :)
well said! but no to the sweaters, no, no, no!
ReplyDelete:)
You are too funny and too sweet. You are so spot on with this. Many of us have way too much stuff already. It is Jesus' birthday and He doesn't ask for more then our hearts. Christmas is so much better when were focused on being together. XX Lori
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you've got the right idea.
ReplyDeleteI get nervous about not getting my blankets made in time to take to the Peds onc ward...or having enough gift cards to pass out to the moms. My own kids and grandkids get plenty, but this the cancer kids that warm my heart this time of year.
ReplyDeleteThis year Christmas will be a tad light around my family, the grandkids the only ones getting anything substantial.
ReplyDeleteThere are things I want as well, but I could get those any time of the year after business picks up.
We all need to remember the reason for the season.
I don't believe I can make you laugh the way you just made me laugh!!! It began, uncontrollably with The Flamingo Sweater and how it truly expresses the meaning of the holiday...and it went on from there....
ReplyDeleteThank you! I needed that!
One great thing about being in China is I feel no Christmas pressure, I just get to enjoy it in my own special way. We have dinner together on Christmas Eve, and enjoy each others' company. It's great! I don't miss the pressure.
ReplyDeleteThose sweaters are freakin' hilarious!!!
i am with you because of my situation this year, no adults for us, and doing the name exchange will work well. we are trying to make a few family picture calenders so what we do give will have been made with love. my grandson however will get a toy or two. good idea, cept for the sweaters... lmao!
ReplyDeletec
I totally agree. We opted out of one of the family 'check exchanges' because honestly, why don't we just call it even? It just felt sort of silly and we stopped doing it. Talk about liberated. But we do the kids and some immediates and that works out great for us.
ReplyDeletelast year the four of us drew names and set a limit and it was the best! We'll probably do the same thing this year - it's as if everyone is just kind of relieved. And as far as the economy goes, we do a pretty good job helping it along all year round, anyway.
ReplyDeleteThose Christmas sweaters and that vest are cracking me up! I'm tempted to get Greg one! And I agree w/ you on the Christmas presents! We just buy for the kids. And then I make homemade gifts for certain family members (baked bread, cookies, etc.)
ReplyDeleteYou would win prozes up here withthose sweaters! I won't say what KIND of prizes, but the college kids pay big bucks for "Christmas Sweaters" for the Sweater parties!
ReplyDeleteI like the new look of your blog! And good for you, for keeping Christmas the way it is meant to be: about Christ, and love. You are right. XO
ReplyDeleteI agree Christmas is about celebrating Jesus but I will shop for a few. I don't go overboard though we just can't afford it. I have gotten the kids to somewhat understand that they won't have a lot under the tree but they will have something. I do for for a cpl other people but we all have a limit of 5 to 10 dollars only. Last year I made everyone a variety of cookies. Anyway great post love the sweaters
ReplyDeleteHi There, I almost missed this one this week... Gads!!!!! I totally agree about gift-giving. My best friend spends boo-koos of cash on gifts for all of her family--and that just drives me crazy.. I keep asking her why she doesn't take that money and put it into missions somewhere --where it would do some good... George and I give to our grandchildren --and everyone else gets a Christmas letter and a Christmas CD --which we make. That is IT!!!!!
ReplyDeleteGeorge and I both have a few of those Christmas sweaters. We always pull them out on Christmas Eve or Day ---just for pictures!!!!! I do like some of them though... Am I showing my age????? ha ha
Hugs,
Betsy
Girl, I'm with you. We don't need all that stress. I declared no gifts for Christmas like you a few years ago but my family still buys so I have to also. Ugh! I love the funky sweaters. Too funny!
ReplyDeleteToo bad your cocktail party can't be an ugly sweater party... : ) that would be fun!
ReplyDeleteAfter seeing some of your sweater selections I think it's a good thing that you decreed 'no gift Christmas'! Would anyone really wear those sweaters?
ReplyDeleteokay, missy...that flamingo sweater? you get one for your mom, you better get two...or she and I? oh yeah...I will Indian leg wrestle her for that one.
ReplyDeletei'm just saying.
:-D