It’s been a year since you promised your hungry wallet and bloodshot eyes that you would be proactive and avoid future vacation failures by planning ahead and avoiding the non-stop shopping frenzy. If the idea of a quiet and comfortable vacation still sets your heart on twitter, now is the time to start compiling a list of great Christmas gift ideas to show your loved ones your devotion throughout the year. Here are 21 ideas to get you started:
1. Give your best friend a ticket to attend an afternoon Christmas movie marathon and go outside. Bring a cookie or cupcake decorating kit and ingredients to make a batch of chubby red velvet Santas.
2. No collection of book lovers is complete without a special edition of a Christmas classic, like Charles Dickens. A Christmas Carol or Margery Williams The velvet rabbit.
3. Tell your pajama-loving friend (you know, the one who eats Hot Pockets for dinner every night) that she can attend her own cooking demonstration at home in bunny slippers if she wants.
4. Show your crafty niece how to use her tactile skills to make clothespins handmade dolls. Pack a stocking with old-fashioned clothespins, a few spools of embroidery thread, a pre-teen glue gun, and a fine-tipped Sharpie.
5. A countertop composter, which can be anything from an “official” home bin to a large airtight jar, is a useful gift for the city-living environmentalist whose New Year’s resolution is to start a small one. yard.
6. Bring the vacation host and hostess a basket of fresh ingredients to make Bloody Marys or Mojitos and you may be invited to attend a cocktail hour at their Aspen chalet.
7. Pledge to spend more Sunday afternoons watching classic movies with your parents if they promise to use a one-year Netflix membership to explore new movie genres.
8. Your spouse was probably too busy, uh, studying to think about buying a distinguished-looking cup of coffee from their college bookstore. On Christmas morning, give your loved one a cup of coffee and take a few minutes to reminisce about their favorite vacation home from school.
9. Give your tooth-obsessed co-worker a miniature Christmas tree decorated with fancy toothpaste samples, natural dental floss, and an adorable suction cup toothbrush cover.
10. Modern sushi plate sets do double duty as tasting plates. Pick a few different patterns and keep them on hand as emergency gifts.
11. A dainty pickle garnish is always a hit, especially if your second cousin’s kids are eager to play a game while the adults talk turkey.
12. Permanently improve your boss’s mood with an insulated mug and removable coffee press. Pair it with a rich and sassy bean bag and replace morning grumpies with a little extra energy.
13. It’s too early for a puppy, but your animal-obsessed kids can practice owning a pet with a pig or bull cow from the Adopt-a-Farm-Animal Project.
14. Your faithful babysitter will be delighted with a decorative tin filled with S’mores ingredients, especially if you suggest that she teach the children in front of the fireplace while changing the baby’s diaper.
15. Fill a sturdy basket with luxury items that college students in your book club can’t afford. It’s amazing how decadent organic conditioners and shaving creams can feel after a night of cramming in the library.
16. Before decorating the tree, spend a snowy afternoon with the kids customizing a box of simple decorations with a pack of paint markers, a shaker of multi-colored glitter, and a roll of cheery ribbon to replace those drab metal hangers.
17. In case your family’s new driver complains about a monogrammed duffel bag full of jumper cables, a digital tire gauge, and a first aid kit, add a coveted new CD just in case.
18. Get a beautiful photo of your aunt and uncle’s favorite vacation spot. Commission a local artist to create an original painting based on the scene.
19. It is the season to help your child’s teacher prepare for the long run before Spring Break. A versatile job board is a must for anyone whose sanity depends on the organization.
20. If your brother or sister has always wanted to just get on a plane and leave, a nautical map of their possible favorite destination would look lovely near the front door.
21. Help your parents get through those forgetful senior moments with chalkboards or chalkboard stickers that they can use to remind them of recipes, family events, and easy-to-miss deadlines. They might even remember how much they enjoy writing little love notes to each other.
Once you have a sizable list in front of you, taking the time to enjoy a cup or two of hot chocolate won’t feel like a luxury, but rather a reward for keeping your promise. Now that you have the blueprints for a season of generous giving and open afternoons, you’re on your way to becoming the rare party lover you once aspired to be. In fact, you might even want to have a few friends, whip up a batch of homemade eggnog, and host a little gift wrapping party, just for fun.