First you can stop with all the shopping, well most of it, and start making gifts that fit the lifestyle of everyone's heart that you are gifting to. Homemade gifts have a glow all about them. They let others know that it took your time, love, and energy to bring to them a gift that will outlast any store bought mechanical gift. It outlasts any bottle of perfume that in essence was probably not the right scent in the first place.

Then there are the edible gifts, yum yum! How about those chocolate covered strawberries! Or the turtles like you made years ago with the help of mom. Sure the fruitcake, that's an old one to fall back on. But not for me, thanks just the same, so don't get any ideas; Cookies, cakes, and candies always fit anyone's lifestyle! Go ahead be brave, bake it!

But wait we forgot the kids, hmmm, now this could be a tough one. Children's expectations are not anything close to how ours were when we were children growing up. It's sad to think but if you made them a plate of homemade cookies I think you'd get back a look of "Gee, is that all there is?" So what to do about this dilemma! Well, how about homemade doll clothes or that huge dollhouse made with real wood! Or that wooden wagon made with wooden wheels and hand painted! A table and chair set that would outlast any store bought one might work too. If we kept thinking I am sure there are many more things we could come up with. Of course there is one more thing that always makes the eyes of a child sparkle and that is a real alive frisky puppy! Yes and just think out of all the gifts you are giving why not give one that has a beating heart a happy home! Or on the more gentle side of alive there are the precious kittens that make a purrrrrfect gift!

These are just a few things that if you start thinking about in the middle of the year by the time November rolled around you'd be finished and ready for the Holiday feast that comes with the gifting. That too is a bit much these days. Why not keep it simple and let everyone snack and mingle! Eat when they want and keep it informal, well at least for the children. They are entirely too wrapped up in the spirit of the day to even think of making them sit and eat! Sitting down eating or should I say stuffing oneself only leads to an early night of heart burn and misery! Let it be and let them eat when and how they choose. Be a kid again and grab that piece of ham when walking by the table! Or how about that dessert first then the ham, yeah, now that sounds like fun!

I guess the whole idea I am trying to bring out here is that the Holidays seem to be losing their meaning by all of it being so commercialized these days! Why not take yourself out of this era we are in and bring back the era of gifts that we have to put a little of ourselves into. The Christmas trees seem to have taken on that era once again so why not the gifts that goes under the tree! One store bought item for anyone would suffice and let the rest be a surprise! Plus think of all the love wrapped up into one beautiful gift that the heart and hands helped to make so special!

Will any of this work? Maybe not but you know what they say, it's the thought that counts! But Ohh! Wait! One more and this is not out of the reality realm here! When was the last time you heard the sleigh bells ring? When was the last time you got a group of neighbors and family together and did the Christmas Caroling Scene? When was the last time you heard the clop, clop, clop of horse's hooves on pavement while riding in the sleigh? That long huh? Well, let's think long and hard this year about adding that to our agenda. Make that list of songs and then hit the door singing! Find that charity fundraiser that offers horse drawn sleigh rides and ride to your heart's content along with giving to a good cause! Sleigh bells ring, are you listening? Happy Holidays to all, God Bless and Good Night!