| I have this Christmas time dream that I will | | | | Bring along some treats to snack on and tune |
| be able to buy a gift for every person I | | | | into a station with carols to enjoy as you |
| know. The reality is my money runs out long | | | | drive. If you want to have even more fun, |
| before my list of friends. I can get | | | | create a few awards for the Most Elegant, |
| something nice for my closest family, | | | | Funniest, and Biggest displays. Stop and |
| something small for a few more relatives and | | | | present them to the (surprised!) owners.A |
| close friends...and every year the list of | | | | night or two before Christmas, have a gift |
| people my generous brain comes up with still | | | | wrapping party. Set up a paper station, bow |
| has a long way to go. I am learning to put my | | | | station and tag station. Go to work like an |
| brain to work coming up with free experience | | | | assembly line, but don't forget break |
| gifts - basically an activity I can do with | | | | time!Take some young people (or young at |
| someone. I don't want to let the year go by | | | | heart) for an adventurous sledding trip. |
| without letting them know how much I love and | | | | Prepare hot chocolate or cider in thermoses |
| appreciate them.I start by creating special | | | | and head off for some big hills. When the |
| invitations (sometimes I send them by email) | | | | sledders get tired, start some competition |
| or a homemade gift certificate. With this I | | | | with a snowman contest.As your Christmas gift |
| like to include a short note letting this | | | | to someone, give your time to a cause that is |
| person know why I like them and how much they | | | | important to them. Visit a nursing home and |
| mean to me. Friends have told me they keep | | | | present some of the residents with homemade |
| these notes and treasure what I said about | | | | Christmas cards. Help sort and make food |
| them! If the activity is going to be before | | | | baskets for a food pantry. Work in a |
| Christmas, I try to get the time set up right | | | | Christmas wrap booth that benefits a charity. |
| away since things get so busy for most | | | | Volunteer as food servers at shelters that |
| people. If it is a gift certificate I am | | | | provide a Christmas dinner. This gift will |
| giving on Christmas day, I like to schedule | | | | not only bless the person you do it for, but |
| our activity for sometime in January, when | | | | also others who you don't even know yet and |
| things have calmed down a little and winter | | | | God, the one who cares most for the |
| boredom needs to be exterminated.If you are | | | | needy.Find out what free holiday performances |
| like me, with more friends than money or if | | | | or events are going on in your area such as a |
| you simply want to keep your Christmas less | | | | Handel's Messiah concert, school performance, |
| focused on material things, try some of these | | | | living nativity, etc. Pick up your friend and |
| fun experience gifts this year. I know you | | | | enjoy some cultural entertainment.Organize a |
| will enjoy the memories you make with the | | | | baking day with a one or two others, choosing |
| people you love!Set up a crafting time for | | | | recipes you already have ingredients for so |
| one or more children you know. Make a manger | | | | that all the others have to do is show up and |
| or winter scene out of homemade playdough or | | | | start mixing up a good time. You can put |
| clay. Make your own Christmas cards to send | | | | together plates or tins of treats to give to |
| to people. Collect pine branches and | | | | friends and neighbors or elderly people who |
| pinecones and make wreaths. Make and decorate | | | | can't manage holiday baking any more. This |
| stockings cut out of felt or fabric or even | | | | Christmas experience gift is for children, |
| old clothes. Go through your house collecting | | | | adults or whole families - just tailor your |
| items you no longer want and help the | | | | choices according to your group. Go to the |
| children turn these into presents to give. My | | | | library and check out a variety of Christmas |
| boys are like me - always wanting to give to | | | | stories. I especially like to get ones that |
| more people than they can buy for. They love | | | | tell about the Christmas traditions from |
| it when I help them make gifts. You can even | | | | other cultures. Invite everyone to join you |
| make Christmas gifts for their pets. You may | | | | at your home, a historical landmark specially |
| want to check out some idea books from the | | | | decorated for the holidays (you may need |
| library ahead of time or you can find | | | | prior approval) or even an outdoor setting if |
| extremely creative family craft ideas at for | | | | it is not too cold. Seat everyone as they |
| every season.Hold a holiday decorating party | | | | arrive and pass around snacks and punch or |
| with an old friend, a new neighbor family, an | | | | hot drinks. Read the Christmas stories aloud |
| elderly person living in a retirement center | | | | together, taking turns, if you want. Make |
| or anyone you want to share a fun time with. | | | | sure to "do the voices", as we used to tell |
| You can decorate one or both of your homes. | | | | my grandma!A Special Note: As I was writing |
| Haul out all the Christmas decorations you | | | | this, I realized that when you invite |
| have and together come up with fresh new ways | | | | children for one of these events, you may |
| to use them. If you don't have anything to | | | | also be giving a gift to the parents - some |
| start with, come up with your own | | | | free time to get things done or just relax |
| decorations. Make garlands out of loops of | | | | and enjoy the holidays. That's what I call a |
| colored paper or popcorn. Cut out snowflakes | | | | two-for-one special!Whoever you give to, be |
| and put them in the windows. Wrap a couple of | | | | sure to keep your activity simple and fun so |
| empty boxes and tie them with big bows. Other | | | | that you are not too stressed out. Enjoy |
| decorating items I like are: indoor Christmas | | | | creating a great Christmas experience |
| lights, sheet music of Christmas carols, | | | | gift!Melanie Farkas is the Holiday Gift Lady. |
| evergreen branches, mittens hung on a string, | | | | She has gift ideas from all over the world at |
| old Christmas cards and photos from past | | | | her website |
| holiday gatherings.Invite someone to go for a | | | | |
| Christmas drive to see the lights. Find out | | | | You can find many more Christmas gift ideas |
| ahead of time where the best neighborhoods | | | | there. |
| are for Christmas lights and decorations. | | | | |