Story of My Life

Untitled Part 4

Hello Nobody,

Let's talk about Christmas and Presents!

I know the holiday is much more meaningful than presents. Its about the birth of Jesus and being with family. I know theres probably still a lot of people out there who are still christmas shopping (I know I am guilty of this one) So here's a few ideas on knowing what to get them!

1. Thoughtfulness

Think of this person and what they need or want. Think of what this person could need, maybe they're in a financial rut and could use some body health supplies? Perhaps this person has a favorite restaurant they love to go to? Get them a gift card and a souvenir with a note of a memory you two share at that place. Is this person going to college? Get them book vouchers, backpack, supplies, food gift cards, or even a college package of whatever it is they might need for school! They will appreciate it! (I know I would)

2. Who are you shopping for?

If they are tough to shop for ( I know mine are) then this is where the investigation begins! Stalk their Facebook (not creepily) see what they like and look for clues or inspiration on what they like. If you already have some idea then great! If not, keep looking. If that doesn't work, strike up a conversation with them. Ask subtle questions that don't give away what you're doing though. Find their interests, hobbies, likes, collections, etc. (Although I would hope that you would already know this) However, if you know that your friend/person is blunt and appreciates straightforwardness its always best to ask "Hey, what would you like for Christmas?" You can reword it. I honestly didn't want to do the last one cause it was for my best friend, but I really didn't know what to get her because of a situation she is in. She smiled at me and said, "you know, you're the first one to ask me that...thank you" she told me what she needed and bam. Done. However, just because they know what they're getting doesn't mean you can't have some fun with it! Take a look at number ___. (:

3. Finding the Gift

Once you have a better idea of what they need, want, or could use, its time to hit the stores! I suggest using apps such as; Flipp, Retailmenot, Groupon, and the store apps for the best deals! I put groupon on here because they have amazing deals on places, experiences, training, etc that could be used for a creative gift! My younger brother is 15 and wants to learn driving so I talked to my parents about it and bought him driving lessons! He can learn all the laws and road rules online. Take quizzes to test his knowledge and prepare him for his written test. Once he completes it and gets a good score, he gets a certificate in the mail that allows him to take his written test with the DMV. Pretty neat gift if I do say so myself, also a treat for me since once he learns I can have my mornings back and not have to drop him off at school hehe.

4. Wrap up

Finally, the wrap up of this blog, oh, and your gift of course! Everyone is always looking for the best way to present their gift, all the pretty paper and dazzle and so on. If that's your thing then great! No worries. However, if you're like me where you believe opening a present should be just as fun then keep on reading! I have some fun ideas on how to wrap your present with a bang and a blow....maybe not literally but you'll get it.

-Made with lots of glove

wrap up the present nice and neat...about 3 times with paper. Yup you read that right. This is a fun game I got from some friends of mine who do this every year. You give the person a pair of oven mitts and give them their present. They have to try to open their present with the gloves. Want to make it more fun? Have them try and do it under a minute! If you know two people who are competitive (and their presents aren't breakable) have them both race against each other. Maybe even give the winner a piece of candy or something? This always brings a lot of laughs, cheering, and some serious suspense. It's also a fun game for Christmas parties!

- Box of SURPRISE

For this one you can do multiple things. First, find a box that is way bigger than the present is. Second, fill it with something silly that they have to look through.

You can put in a bunch of cotton or left over Halloween web cotton to make it look like they're looking through snow. One year a cousin filled hers with tamale leaves (that was funny) Get creative and fill it with random things like that where they dig through to find their present!
As for me, this year I'm surprising a friend of mine with balloons. I'm wrapping it the day she comes over and filling the box with helium balloons to pop out at her when she opens her present!

-Make it personal

The wrapping doesn't have to be paper or in a box, if you want to get really creative make them something they can use. For smaller items you can make a jewelry box, dress up chest for the little ones, hunting knife holder? I don't know get crazy with it! For my other friend I'm using an old shoe box and using construction paper, stickers, and markers to make it look nice. On the inside I put pop up pictures of her favorite band members to pop up when she opens it! I'm working on making it more durable so she can use it for whatever she wants. Maybe a memory holder?

-Throw them off

You can make the items lighter or heavier than they're supposed to be. Say for example you got them a huge gift! What I did one year is I took the gift out of the box and put socks and a funny note with a simple not over exaggerated dare. Make it memorable, whether it is a kiss on the cheek for their loved one, a hug, saying a funny phrase so the elves would surrender his gift *cough cough* * Make it something funny and memorable! (: *Note: make sure someone is recording! Always nice to have something to look back to* Once they complete the task surrender their real present! It makes it that more precious. If the person is shy, this might not be the best one, or maybe make it something really simple and not embarrassing, remember, the person opening this gift is the one who is supposed to be enjoying it.

Another fun idea to throw them off is to pack the present in something unusual like this woman who wrapped up tickets for her dad and brother in a vegetable can. I'll leave a link.(once i find it)

I hope that this blog sparked some inspiration for gift ideas and gift wrapping! It can be used for pretty much any gift giving occasion!

I hope you all have a Merry Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, whatever it is that you celebrate, I hope that it is a happy one filled with lots of love and joy!

Remember,

Be the best you that you can be!

-Thatonegirl