Hey Mama! Isn't December the most joyful month of the year? There are the lights and decorations on the streets and stores, cheerful holiday music playing on the radio, and holiday parties to attend, December is indeed a month of giving, full of excitement and wonder.
As you get into the giving spirit, finding the perfect holiday gifts can be overwhelming. You try to be meaningful, all while saving money to buy the gift itself, then comes the shopping, the wrapping, the lists. If you are mailing gifts you add the packaging and postage!
We hate to be the one who say this, but the hard truth is that statistics on holiday-related stress show that up to 69 percent of people are stressed by the feeling of having a “lack of time,” 69 percent are stressed by perceiving a “lack of money,” and 51 percent are stressed out about the “pressure to give or get gifts.”
If your wish this year is to have a stress-free holiday, these 5 meaningful gift ideas could save you from the hustle bustle holiday shopping, and keep your sanity in place. With these ideas we hope you can truly enjoying this wonderful month by doing something that matters the most to you!
1. GIVE A GIFT OF EXPERIENCES.
When I asked my four year old where he went to with aunt MJ last year during Christmas time, he named all the things they did together. Clearly, those are memories that last! So when thinking of gift ideas, try these: tickets to a favorite show, a short trip, or a dance or cooking lesson that you can take together. These are gifts they will remember.
If you are on a budget, invite your loved one for a nice walk on the park (and hopefully on the snow day so you could really experience the beautiful winter season!). If they enjoy this kind of activity, bake and decorate a gingerbread house together, or just make a hot cocoa while watching favorite shows together. These simple pleasures with someone you love is more meaningful than random gift cards you need to pick under pressure.
2. GIVE A GIFT OF YOUR TIME.
We can buy things, but we can't buy time. These words really stick in my heart. Life happens fast: your children grow, friends move to different cities, you work hard. Give your time as a gift to someone you care. Take a friend who may be struggling out for tea, help your parents with their Christmas tree, pick up a friend's dry cleaning. If you know a mom who just have a newborn, offer your time to babysit, make them organic lactation tea, or help her with laundry or dishes and we guarantee that you will be the reason she smiles that day.
3. GIVE A GIFT OF YOUR CRAFT.
A handmade gift is a gift of love. If you are crafty, or even if you aren't and just like to make stuff, you can paint, photograph, or draw something meaningful to the receiver. If you love baking, bring cookies in a jar, make a homemade apple sauce using your grandma's recipe, or a box of handmade truffles! You can easily find how to make edible gifts from Pinterest. Have a foodies in your life? make a homemade puree in a glass jar, make almond butter from scratch, or a jar of cranberry sauce that can be used in so many different ways.
4. GIFT SOMETHING THAT KEEPS ON GIVING.
If you want to be a part of something bigger, there are so many opportunities out there for giving in a loved one's honor. It's an annual tradition for my husband's firehouse to visit Ronald McDonald House in Manhattan during Christmas time. They bring gifts to the children's who stay there, as Ronald Macdonald House is a temporary lodging and care for children battling cancer.
You can certainly make donations, or give gifts to charity, or organizations that align with your values as an act of giving.
In case you didn't know, Hey Mama Kitchen gives $1 for every online purchase you make to care.org, so giving is very dear to us as well.
5. GIVE SOMETHING USEFUL.
This gift idea goes to someone you know well. It could be your best friend who you talk to at least once a week, your parents, your spouse, or even your coworker who you work closely with everyday. Observe and see if there is anything useful they need. If your spouse loves a good coffee every morning, a gift of quality coffee could be a win. If your sister in law just had a baby, a subscription to our milk supply gift box would be the best choice!
Giving gifts doesn't have to be overwhelming, let alone stressful. We hope you are enjoying this wonderful month of December with full of happiness, joy, and gratitude.
Happy Holidays!
Caitlin & Selvia.