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