Minimalist Christmas Gift Ideas PRACTICAL & USEFUL! (Simple Christmas 2019)
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- Опубликовано: 20 ноя 2019
- Today we're sharing our favorite Christmas and Holiday gift ideas! Most are practical and consumable, my favorites!! We'd love to hear your favorite gift ideas, too!
P R O D U C T S M E N T I O N E D
☕ Sweet & Spicy Tea by Good Earth (also available at most Walmarts, Targets & other grocery stores!): amzn.to/2DFo6ur
🧴Mrs. Meyers Multi-Surface Cleaners & Room Fresheners (available at Target or online through Grove.co) grove.pxf.io/c/1408357/485594/8442
📚 Cards were all from the Dollar Tree (most were 2 for $1)
🖼️ Photo Canvasses for Kids, see how I made them here: • ❤️ Special Christmas G...
🥮 Bundt Cake Basket Recipe Card Printable & Gift Tag: www.ithinkwecouldbefriends.co...
🧁 Cupcake Gift Basket Idea & Book: www.ithinkwecouldbefriends.co...
💁♀️ Diana's Hair & Face Products:
Bedroom Hair Texture Hairspray amzn.to/34cmFiG
Boldify Shampoo *not currently available on Amazon
Acure Facial Scrub amzn.to/2OF2hjI
Acure Facial Cleanser amzn.to/2D6hgO6
🛋️ Pillow Covers amzn.to/2pEcTGP
📘 Cook Once Eat All Week amzn.to/33aSeI4
📕 Promises of God Storybook Bible amzn.to/37qOfdV
📒 One Line A Day Journal (forgot to mention this, but think its cool!) amzn.to/35mG8x3
💇♀️ Halo Full Shine Invisible Hair Extensions amzn.to/2D3oO3Z (Diana has the 14" Color 4 Medium, I have a 12" Balayage Color 2 Fading To 3 and 27 and I trimmed about an inch off of it :)
👕 The shirt Dawn is wearing (Miselon Womens Waffle Knit Twist Knot Tops Long Sleeve Crochet Lace Shirt Blouse) amzn.to/2XCzBf9
BOOK RECOMMENDATION: The Minimalist Home amzn.to/2GPO0hM
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Mother's Day 2006 our mother gave my adult brother and I (I was 56 that year) each a recipe book of our favorite recipes from our childhood. She handwrote all the recipes cards. She passed away in 2011. Of all the gifts she had ever given me this is by far my favorite and most cherished.
you rock
How sweet. I love this.
I know a lot of people think of gift cards as impersonal, but as a retired person on a more fixed income I love letting people know I would appreciate them. It means a dinner out that I'm not directly paying for or a Target or Grocery card helps with getting those every day needs. One of my favorites was one from Home Depot which I used to buy my spring plants. I just find them more helpful for my current life style and it takes the guess work out for the giver. Easy to mail too!
Marcia Casperson I never looked at it this way, thank you. When giving a gift card you could add a small item like garden gloves with home depot.
I love giving them!
Yes! Well said!!
I love getting gift cards!!!
My sister is a single mom and an avid reader. She always asks for gift card to walmart/barnes & noble or amazon. That way she can buy what she and her son need, or treat herself to a book with out breaking her budget. I usually tuck it into a small gift, something she has mentioned or a favorite treat. That way she has more than just an envelope to open, but its still what she asked for :)
My nephew is very into technology, and I am not, so I always ask him where to get him a gift card to help buy whatever is on his wish list each year and give it to him w his favorite candy bar.
For those on a limited budget, or w limited space, sometimes a gift card is the most loving personal gift you can give them.
One year when money was especially tight we gave everyone helper for a day coupons. We cooked, cleaned, dropped of dry cleaning, picked up kids from school did the grocery run, painted a bedroom etc. Anything the person needed help with for a few hours on a dedicated day or something we could do so they didn't and could take a little "me" time for themselves. I even did this for my co workers and became their "file fairy" for an hour, complete with fairy wings, and filed all their backlogged paperwork for them. Each year everyone has expressed how much they love it and ask me when the the fairy will make it's appearance again.
I love this idea!!!!!
Love this!
What an awesome idea! 💕💕
these are great ideas!!
Your time is the best gift. ❤
As a former teacher- we love getting a set of thank you cards or blank cards, we write lots of cards!
allysyoutube me too!!
Consumables are the best!
We have requested family gifts instead of individual gifts.... family memberships to the zoo, trampoline parks, etc. Our son is young and loves these places but we can’t afford to take him often or ever! So this is a gift for him but we benefit financially! My parents love the idea too so it’s a win win for family.
My mother is 85 & hard to buy for...she has all she could want. This year I'm going to pay for her hair appointments for a year & package the certificate with a bottle of her fav shampoo.
Vicki Lamerson wow excellent idea!!!
That’s a lovely idea!!
That's a fantastic idea n I'd be willing to bet that she'll love it💜
That is awesome. I was just thinking I love to get pedicures mainly to sit and relax in the massage chair but feel guilty spending the money so to me a gift certificate for some type of pampering would be awesome.
What a great idea! Very thoughtful.
All year I collect Christmas fabric from thrift stores and make reusable Christmas gift bags in different sizes and give them as sets
GREAT IDEA GIRL! I've never heard of that. It's a unique way of saving money + planet and what an awesome gift to receive!
OMG, handmade reusable gift bags for Christmas or anytime is fantastic! I love it! I might not want to give them away. Or, I'd use them for my children's gifts + ask for them back.
My sisters and I also make fabric gift bags. Everybody loves them and it sure makes the clean up easier.
As a pre-teenager, I would always get toiletries and hygiene products in a big stocking from extended family and I hated it. UNTIL I grew up into my mid/late teens and realized how good the stuff was. And how getting so much of it and using it wisely could make it last so long that I wouldn’t run out until the next year’s stocking! As an adult, I would love for someone to just give me a stocking of shampoo and conditioner and deodorant and stuff that’s boring to have to buy yourself 😂
Gifts I give my son’s teachers is a meal in a basket. I would buy spaghetti, sauce, cheese, and Italian music that would go with the meal. They loved it since they work so hard and don’t have to worry about a meal that day.
The music is a really nice touch!
Thanks for reminding us of the point of gift giving: to honor someone you care about or appreciate it. Not about accumulation of stuff!
I had a friend last year give me nice hand soap. She knew that I am trying to become a minimalist, so she didn't want to get me more stuff to clutter my home. I loved the gift, and just knowing that she had listened to my needs was fantastic.
A favorite teen gift is a 6-pack carton of a person's favorite sodas- remove the center soda from each side & fill that spot with large candy bars. You can also slide a pack of microwave popcorn & packs of gum beside the sodas. Tie a big bow on the carton handle to make it festive.
A friend of mine started making pottery this year and I wanted to support her new business, so I commissioned handmade mugs from her and am making coffee/tea baskets for some family. I love gifts that are personal and help someone else too! Double the blessing!
Great idea!!!!!!! My friends a massage therapist! Maybe ill do that!
Just make sure they drink coffee or tea. I hate both and I don’t like alcohol either. Every time I receive a coffee, tea or wine basket I’m like “Really? Do they not KNOW me at all?” A friend of mine mentioned once how her aunt always gave her diabetic daughter boxed candy when it is well known in the family her medical diagnosis.
I'm a teacher and I looooove binder clips! Every time I can reach for a nice clip that I know will actually hold a thick stack and stay put it gives me joy. To make them cute on the cheep use washi tape, but we love them plain too :)
I will add this to my kids’ teacher gifts!
When I was a teacher, I would have loved to receive classroom supplies like glue sticks and magic markers. I bought lots at the beginning of every school year, but I could never afford enough to get through the entire year. The best gift I ever got though was a letter from a mother that described how I had had a positive impact on her daughter's life. Precious.
Toilet paper and paper towels. Not kidding. My grandparents started this as a joke, but people loved it. They kept it up until they both passed.
Sabrina Wilhelm - Totally with you! We always give everyone a bale of Costco toilet paper for a house warming present - it’s funny but really appreciated!
I would not be mad about this 😂
This is a favorite Dirty Santa gift at one of our parties. One year someone included a small bottle of Poopori. You would have thought it was GOLD!
What a neat “tradition”!!!
Just here to say, this comment really held up well for 2020. 🤣
For my friends with younger children homemade sugar cookie dough and icing so they can make cookies with them. I have also given freezer meals to busy moms. And a jar of homemade soup and bread or muffins on a cold winter day!
Colleen Cornett As a mom of two tots, I love your ideas!!
Sounds lovely!
I agree, the gift of a meal or treat you dont have to make is amazing
Canned soup is a gift treasured by moms!
Freezer meals! Love this what bv a fun idea!
As an ex-teacher, my all time favorite Christmas gifts were from our PTA. They coordinated and gave each teacher a file box of: tissues, hand sanitizer, pencils, loose leaf paper decorated by the kids in my class. I still use the boxes to hold supplies.... So nice to be supported!
We've done laundry baskets filled with detergent, paper towels, dish liquid, toilet paper, etc. Also, we have a few mechanics in our family who really appreciated a bucket filled with shop towels, hand cleaner, various car fluids, etc.
Wow, that would be a great idea. I would love to get something like this.
Love this idea!!!
Love this idea! It would also be a great gift for a wedding, baby, house warming or college student! So versatile ☺
That is actually what one of my sisters asked for as wedding gifts! Its great for college kids, young couple starting out, single parents, those on limited incomes..... and so easy to do! :)
Great idea! I usually make my own cleaners, but you could totally make them and include the recipes and ingredients, like any other gift basket!
I have a friend from Bible study that has a coffee shop that supports woman who are trying to restore their lives from human trafficking. I love supporting her and them and brining awareness to all the friends and family who get the bag of coffee.
We ask people to give gift cards to our kids for movies, restaurants, or swimming. The kids enjoy the activity with less clutter in the house. Hope you have a great night!
amy stafki Do they actually listen to you? I’ve tried, but people still buy my son big, messy, uninspired presents. 🤦🏼♀️ We appreciate the thought, but I’ll never understand why people insist on spending money on things my son will only play with for a few days. 🤷🏼♀️ Why not ask me what he’d enjoy?
@@ambermac77 yep, same here. I might as well have said nothing to them :(.
@@jvance6 It took some stern and pointed conversations, and I'll admit some hurt feelings on the grandmothers parts by our request to significantly scale back gifts. But this year each set of grandparents is only giving our daughter 4gifts. And they actually asked what to get her!! Our hope is that they will go down to 1 gift each, but since it was about 10 each last year, I am celebrating this as a victory!!! They still dont understand why we would choose to be minimal, but they are finally starting to accept it. Sometimes you just have to keep saying it.
@@ambermac77 We have the same issue, especially with certain (ahem) in-laws. They literally come with garbage bags full of presents. And not the kitchen size, we're talking lawn and leaf bags lol
@@ambermac77 it took a few years but they finally started. We donate all the extra stuff to charity for the ones that do go overboard. I make sure to send pictures to the people showing them how much they enjoy their gift to the movie or swimming bowling etc. It makes everyone happy and feel more involved
We ask the grandparents to give gift cards to our kids for gas and groceries since they are in college. We usually make cookies and breads for our neighbors. Sometimes we do fruit baskets.
One of my go to gifts for hard to buy for family and friends is to buy them a gift certificate to get their vehicle detailed. It’s a little pricey usually $100 but always a big hit.
Stacey Thar Wow! That’s a really thoughtful gift!
I would love that!
I am making a set of four 2-cup containers of different homemade soups that I will give to an elderly friend along with homemade bread. As I make soup for my own family, I am setting aside her portion and freezing it, so I can gift them to her when we see her at Thanksgiving. She will have 4-6 homemade meals ready to use. Elderly people really appreciate gifts of homemade meals, and I think singles would too.
You are the sweetest everrr!!!!!! 💗💗💗
@@laurenchayazahavamusic9973 And you are so kind!
That’s awesome. I make homemade banana bread, chocolate chip cookies and mint chocolate brownies and wrap them with a bow on top to give to my neighbors.
I have also started giving experiences as gifts to create memories instead of material gifts that eventually go by the wayside for the most part. Memories will last a lifetime!
I’m not sure about it...I have been gifting experiences lately, however, I know I treasure the actual physical gifts I receive. They remind me of the people in my life and the times we spent together...I am grateful for those gifts and I love giving meaningful gifts, too
"It was a gift. It was wrapped with a bow. I loved it." YES! :) Love this!!
I like giving movie passes. It is a fun night out that feels like a treat when someone else paid for it 😊
I make homemade soap, jams, or apple butter to give to family and friends. It doesn't takes much time or money to make a large enough batch for everyone.
My Mom was a genius at Christmas gift-giving. One thing she did was mark one of our Christmas gifts as a January First gift. We received it on Christmas day but had to put it back under the tree for a week. This gave us something to look forward to, so there wasn't quite the big let-down of, "Is that all?" on Christmas morning. It wasn't the gift that we most wanted, but it was a little something that would make us smile, and it was a new thing for the New Year. It really helped us kids to keep thing in perspective.
I enjoy all your videos but when you get together the video is extra special. Love these great ideas. Just wanted to tell you something you two have such a beautiful spirit about you and you make me smile when I see you to together. Thanks again for these great ideas
That means a lot Rebekah 🥰
One year I made a small photo album cookbook for our young adult daughter with a photo and recipe from each grandparent (with her as a child), some close friends and fave recipes. Turned out so well I photocopied it so I have one too.
Love that idea, You can incorporate there favorite recipes.
Yes. It was fun to include old photos. You could also do one of “Christmases past” photos with favorite family recipes.
I typically do that as a wedding shower gift. All my easy favorites in one book. People love it.
I gave my niece for her college graduation gift, homemade laundry soap & homemade fabric soften. Went to Goodwill & found a big jar to put the soap in, a container to put the soften in, measuring cups & a laundry basket, she loved it!!!
I love how honest and cute Diana is about being a gift person!
Zita Sőregi Me too! And basically that she’s thrilled with anything that’s wrapped with a bow-it doesn’t have to be something big. It’s the idea of someone giving her a present that makes her happy. 😊
I love how honest and cute Dawn is about not being a gift person! I'm not a gift person and people get mad at me about it.
Me too. My lunch bunch always buy gifts for Christmas and birthdays. I hate it.
Great video! One of the gifts I am so excited to give my kids this year is a fort kit! I am going to purchase a nylon laundry basket that zips on the top and fill it with blankets that they can use for forts whenever they choose. This way, they can have their own and not use the house blankets and hear mom grip about washing them after. ;) I may throw in one of those pop up led lanterns we have been seeing. I think they are going to love it!
I think so, too
As kids, my siblings and I loved making forts! We used old sheets, clothespins, and some ropes my parents got from home depot. Lots of good memories!
We have folks who shovel our driveway in the winter and cut the grass in the summer, for Christmas I give them a gift card to a coffee place as I assume when they are out working on peoples driveway in the cold they would like a coffee or hot chocolate and to know we appreciate all they do for us. It is also nice to give a small box of baked goods with the card if it is for a friend.
For my Mom who is 90, I gave her a years subscription to our local theatre which I take her to each play. It gives us time together and a chance for her to get out. I also give my Mom Gift Certificate to get her hair done.
My mil is always awesome with her gifts. My hubby and I get a bag each with socks, soaps, a furnace filter, hubby gets some sort of new tool or a fancy brush for removing snow from his truck. I get lotions, lip balms, nail polish etc. Then as a couple we get a gc for a restuarnt to have a night out. I get my fil slippers every year cause his wear out. We get him a bag of goodies like Hershey's kisses. My mil gets hand knitted socks on every occasion cause that's her request. Shes diabetic and her feet are constantly cold. She also gets the big pkg of trident gum from Costco. We like to give gifts that get used. We all have enough stuff and I'm in the middle of culling the mass of things. My immediate family (hubby and adult daughter) are doing stocking stuffers. I have my daughter. Hubby has me. We do stuff like socks, snacks, tangerines, toothbrushes and paste.
@@notavailable5911 ty for the idea 💡
For our closest neighbors, I made up little gift baskets that cost about $15 each... they are little brown berry baskets from Amazon (about $1/ea), and I put a simple $5.50 Bath & Body Works wallplug and 2 different wallflower bottles (on sale for $3.25 each when bought in 2-packs online) in each. I used my $10 off coupon, too. I'll grab some cellophane bags and wrap 'em up and call 'er done! Love the practical, consumable gifts! ...especially when they smell yummy!
Home Depot sells the cutest "Rosemary Christmas Tree" (around $10) shaped like a tree, so beautiful and useful to always have fresh rosemary for the cooks in your life!! My mother planted hers last year and its huge now!! I add a beautiful ribbon around the container and maybe a handwritten Rosemary Chicken recipe to it!
Not a comment re: gifts; I already did that on another video. But did want to say how much fun it is each and every time I watch you two ladies; you really brighten my day....and that's a wonderful gift to give anyone! Thank you! : )
Thank you so much!!! ♥️♥️
That means a lot ❤️
you said what I was trying to say so well!
I agree! I'm Australian and live half a world away but adore watching you ladies!
For my daughters' daycare teachers, they have multiple teachers each, I would put together little holiday/winter care packages: mini hand sanitizer, mini hand lotion, chapstick, small pack of tissues, some little chocolates and a $5-$10 gift card to DD or Target (both are right near the school). I could buy the trial size in the bargain section or in bulk and divide them to keep costs down. Always got great feedback from them. PS, I love your channel and have gotten so much inspiration from it. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and lives with us!
Someone from our church gave us pancake mix and syrup one year which we made with our kids on Christmas morning. I loved how I didn't have to shop or plan for a special meal.
I like that idea. I also like that there wasn’t a mixing bowl, whisk, and measuring cups with it. That looks cute as a gift basket, but honestly, most people ALREADY have the kitchen supplies they need and like, unless they are college kids just starting out.
Dawn, I checked out a book at the library about minimalist homes yesterday and all I could think while reading it was, “if Dawn wrote a book, it would be so much more practical, useful, and fun than this one.” I think there’s a market for you there if you ever decide to write a book!
Dawn and Diane, I really love you guys and agree with the above statement, you are so cheerful and I am glad that Tom is so cheerful also. Good Job!
I’m a year late but my child loves getting activities for her birthday and Christmas. My parents will often ask her what she’d like to do next semester and she’ll tell them she’d love to go to swimming practice, take horse riding lessons, learn material arts or whatever she has her heart set on, and they’ll pay for it. They’ll often wrap some sort of complementary equipment to put under the tree (like a bathing suit, riding helmet or such). We’re always so grateful because I’m a student and our money flow isn’t great at the moment, and this helps us keep our daughter busy and happy.
Cute Video ♡. I miss my twin sister. She was a teacher. We lost her to breast cancer at 35 years old. What a blessing you can share your lives and love together. Thank you for sharing. God Bless.
I like to thrift items also for Christmas gifts and I crochet so I like to make a small gift that helps our environment, such a facial pads for makeup or skin care, facial cloth, bar soap bag, etc. I make coupons for my grandchildren with activities they call Nana and we do, such as bowling, swimming, baking together, a movie night, sleep over, etc. I like give something to wear, something to read, something to create (a craft idea) and something to play (creative play such as blocks, lego, etc).
Couple favorites:
I did a movie night baskets for our bus driver and teacher. Popcorn, a flavor shaker and a gift card for redbox. ❤
And I love shopping local and buying yummy jams and crackers.
And of course, a pretty bottle of wine is always well received.
Last year I gave my niece and nephew gift cards for locally-owned shops that supported their interests at the time. My niece was into art and my nephew into robotics, but the real gift was a day out with one on one time. I wanted them to have the experience of walking into a shop and browsing instead of purchasing online since I think it sparks the imagination and gets them asking questions. "What is this for?" Then each got to choose a place to go for lunch. The one on one time was really special for all of us, and I got to learn a lot about them and show appreciation for their individual spirits.
As a homeschooling mom I look for ways to incorporate educational gifts into Christmas. I have started purchasing the original American Girl cookbooks (you can still find new copies) and plan to start purchasing ingredients to go with the cookbooks that I purchase for future holidays. It teaches them history and cooking and provides time together in the kitchen for mommy and daughter.
Jennifer Childress wow! Thanks! No idea they had history in them!
Yes, they have tidbits of history. The Molly cookbook, for example, has recipes that list recipes that include the vegetables that would have been grown in the Victory Gardens so many people grew during World War 11. I love them!
I'm like you Diana, I LOVE everything about Christmas and giving gifts. I lovr blessing others and watching their reactions when they open their gifts... thats probably the best part about it for me besides the fun of shopping for the gifts too!
My husband is like Dawn and I have to be sneaky and take note when he sees something he likes so I can get him stuff he will actually want and use, otherwise he won't make a want list.
My husband works in publishing, so we always give books. I also like games and puzzles as gifts, as long as you are willing to pass them along! I think this year I will give more consumables as well, like food, beauty items, etc. We are giving our daughter, who is excited about baking, a new stand mixer😀
I've been downsizing, again, after moving to a very small house 4 years ago. I donated car loads of useful clothes and household items in my journey to not be weighed down by "stuff". While cleaning out my tee shirt drawer, I got a bright idea to make pillows out of them as Christmas gifts for family. They have special meaning of a place we traveled to or the high school my grown children attended etc.. I freed up valuable dresser space and will have a special gift to give this Christmas. Love your channel! Happy Thanksgiving!
I'm giving my friend a perennial flowering plant for her birthday. I got it at a local garden shop and was drawn to it because it was a color I know she loves, then when I got closer, I saw bumblebees and butterflies on it, which I loved and I know she will love, too. I put a little bird statue with a little candle in it bc she also loves birds. It can stay on there or go on a table in her patio. She is not a minimalist, but I think she'll appreciate that it wont be clutter in her home. I love this gift because I think it is thoughtful of what she likes, too.
Thank you for your cheery videos! I watch with my kids sometimes! Today the twins were chatty I told them this is my class & told them I wanted to listen to my teachers! Love you two! You always brighten my day!
We made dates with our nieces they get to chose an activity and we take them out for lunch or dinner too. Their choice, without siblings.
I tend to buy a nice chocolate bar for my mom and it's such a perfect gift. Instead of her regular chocolates, she gets something really special to try out and enjoy. Spending just $5-7 on one nicer bar makes such a huge difference in the quality.
Before I got married & had kids, my top love language was gifts, and it’s still #3 so this topic is right up my alley. My dad & I always bought each other electronics. So whatever we happen to need replaced during a holiday, we order the exact one they want. I am all for practical gifts, like consumables as Dawn recommends. :)
When I was a kid my mom felt the unwrapping was the best part so she wrapped everything we might be needing like socks, underwear, school supplies. So there was lots under the tree and lots to unwrap but most was consumable and/or necessary. I continue this with my kids.
We have 13 in our immediate family. I bought 7 matching female bathrobes and 6 matching male bathrobes from a company that donates a decent-sized portion of each sale to shelter animals. Win-win.
My favorite gift is to give a movie night; popcorn, favorite beverage, movie box candy and a movie or redbox giftcard. Or a spa basket is often appreciated.
I suggest things to our parents like Piano lessons, children’s museums, Your Story Hour cds, indoor water park passes, zoo tickets, magazine subscriptions for kids. Things that are a fun day or things that continue to give throughout the year.
I have an incredible homemade taco seasoning recipe I use instead of the kind that comes in the box. (Tastes the same without all the preservatives!) So one year I bought all the spices in bulk then mixed a huge batch and filled some jars to give as a gift.
That sounds amazing! We love our taco seasoning, but are tryjng to cut down on chemicals in our food . I will have to find a good recipe! It would also survive mailing to out of state family! :)
Please share your recipe! I've been looking for a good one.
Please share!
Merry Christmas Dawn & Diana and families. It is 4:45 am, I am having a sleepless night, my dad is in hospice and I am so sad, and not having an easy time of it, so I purposely came on to utube so you gals can cheer me up... i shop early for family but I still need to buy a few gifts for mail carrier, hairdresser , etc so you gave me some great ideas, plus your contagious laughter helped me more then you know... ❤️
My heart goes out to you Christine
Carey Massey, thank you so much for your kind words, I am going thru the motions, trying to get everything done, so I won’t have to deal with any of it, after my Dad goes home, the only thing that helps is knowing my Mom is waiting for him.... god bless you Carey ❤️
I like the idea of a beautiful towel to wrap gifts in. I try to get rid of wrapping paper. In my family we have some beautiful cloth gift sacks with nice patterns. We use them for birthdays. The kids are fine with it.
One Christmas my inlaws decided that we would give each other selfmade gifts. I am pretty good at crocheting and can make jewelry, but that is personal. I didn't want to give stuff that people don't like. I wanted stuff that you can use and then it's gone. We made soap with vanilla scent and coffee grinds. We melted old candle stumps and used an old Pringles case to make candles, also with used coffee grinds. It looked beautiful and smelled nice. The couple we made it for really liked it. The kids helped to make the presents.
Thanks for the videos!
I'm from the Netherlands and live in Germany and am in the process of decluttering my house.
Don't laugh at this... one year I gave my two best friends new quality cookie sheets and they were so happy to get them. I probably included something with it like parchment paper or a spatula etc. By the way...This was a great video, Dawn and Diana. I liked all the ideas.
This is a great idea. My cookie sheets are so beat up! I would love a gift like that!
@@meganrichardson6471 This is exactly what my two friends said Lol!
Awesome idea! Nordicware is excellent and Made In The USA! Sometimes Costco has a deal on 3 of them for about $20, which is perfect.
for teachers last year i went to the dollar store and bought brownie mix, cooke mix and popcorn. I then made different themed baskets. like movie night i put a fun drink, popcorn, candy. for the brownie one i put a pot holder, spatula, brownie mix and fun drink. the teachers loved it. for the cookie one i added cookie cutters and it all came from the dollar tree. I have 4 kids.
I'm with Diana on this one. I love everything about Christmas. Giving (and receiving) gifts especially. It doesn't have to be expensive, just personal and meaningful.
My favorite gift for service people in my life is always "flat and green" ... A $20 bill for our trash man, postman, recycling pickup guy, etc. We always make sure to hand it to them personally and the look of gratitude and disbelief on their faces is worth every penny so we're thinking next year we should give them each more.
My cleaning person gets a double payment in December.
As a family, we decided not to do birthday gifts anymore. Instead, we do birthday “experiences.” So if it’s your birthday, other family members get together and secretly plan an outing that you would enjoy. As a family, we have done a variety of outings, like distillery tours, cooking class, craft class where we carved wooden spoons, hikes, camping and/or picnics...the list goes on. So the birthday gift has become making a memory. It’s fantastic!
Love your videos! I minimalized Christmas years ago. Our gift to our Pastor & his wife, along with my mom tickets to Handel's Messiah performance. Tickets are only $20 and it is an amazing high quality performance. We look forward to it each year. Our Pastor and his wife were Music Ministers before he became our Pastor, so music is very special to him. This is our 5th year! Experiences are the gift!
Traditions: One thing we give our grandchildren are pomegranates every year and pumpkins for fall (pumpkins largest to smallest - oldest gets the largest). They expect it every year and my daughter likes that it is consumable. Hope that when they become adults they will think of Grandma whenever they see pomegranates.
Traditions and Experiences
A craft box is great for kids. An assortment of Construction paper, crayons, glue, fun foam, pipe cleaners, popsicle sticks, Pom Pom balls, scissors, buttons, white paper lunch bags, paint set, etc. in a plastic bin with a lid. It’s amazing what kids will come up with on their own.
My mother had a tradition for my sister and me when I was a child. Every year we got an engraved, silver bell ornament. My godmother does the same with White House ornaments. I think it's a wonderful idea.
one of my favorite things to receive is my very own box of chocolates (that I don't have to share). Even a small godiva box is such a treat because it's something i would never buy for myself.
I like getting special chocolates you wouldn't ordinarily buy in my stocking!
I used to buy chocolate cordial cherries and a pack of Bic pencils every Christmas for my big brother (he's 15 years older than me so he got a kick out of getting a present from his kid sis 😂).
I love taking pictures of flowers and landscapes and of course have a million of them. So this year I made birthday cards from them and calendars. Now I can share my photos with my friends and relatives instead of leaving them on my computer or phone.
I love the consumables idea- packaging things people would buy anyways like greeting cards. Great idea. I think I’ll get some from local artists and put them together as a gift!
Each year I tell my mum that she doesn't need to get me a gift and I'd rather get together and she cooks something nice (she's a cook and only does those eloborate meals at home for special occasions). Since my birthday is on Christmas it just makes sense to have the Christmas meal together, but I view her cooking as a gift. She still ends up giving me things, they are often a hit and miss, but those meals and the time together mean so much more to me.
I just love it when you both start laughing at the same time! It cracks me up! 😊
This video was so much fun!!
Lol, "jar candles" We all now know how Dawn thinks about those! 😂
😂 I thought the same thing!
Happy to share some of my favorite "recognition" gifts! A bag of muffin or cookie mix (I love the idea of wrapping it in a kitchen towel!) or home baked cookies, banana bread, or brownies; a "Day off from Dishes" kit with paper plates, napkins, and plastic utensils; hand soap (I get the 6 for $15 or something like at Bath and Body Works) and a hand towel; good old trusty gift card with a hand written note.
That Sweet and Spicy tea is THE BEST! No sweetener required. Comes in herbal and caffeinated versions. Smells heavenly. It's my absolute favorite and what a great idea to give as a gift...why have I never thought of that?!
Lol dawn you crack me up because you can tell your lowest love language is gifts, I assume your highest are quality time and maybe acts of service. But it seems like Tom's (at least with the kids) and Diana's (with everyone lol) top one is gifts. There's a balance between minimalism and everyone's love tanks feeling full (in expressing and receiving). I'm glad you shared some practical and consumable gift ideas. They are great! I'll be making my kids a canvas photo too!
Oh, you're really close!! Words of affirmation and quality time 👍♥️
Very astute post, Michelle 🥰❤️🎁🎄
@@DianaKokku thank you, I had to look up what that meant 😂. Congrats on your pregnancy, you are the happiest pregnant woman I ever saw lol
One of my favorites gifts one year was a big basket of things like shampoos, body wash, snacks and CHEESE....I’m talking big block of Kraft cheddar LOL. I was over the moon excited...I love cheese haha!!
My father in law loves cheese so each year we give him a large assortment and a few other snacks for his birthday. The smile on his face every time is priceless!
Thank you so much for this!! The gift baskets are a wonderful idea!! My parents ALWAYS say that they don't want us (their 3 grown children and 8 grandchildren) to spend our money on gifts for them because there's nothing they need or want besides a wonderful family day on Christmas, but we would feel horrible if we did not honor the most wonderful parents in the world on this most blessed day. Yes, I do hear the irony in that statement; we DO want to honor their wishes. None of us are strapped for cash by any means, so that's not the problem. We've tried to be as imaginative as possible, but to be honest, gift baskets never crossed any of our minds! I can't think why. Who doesn't love a beautiful gift basket?? The possibilities are endless. God bless both of you!
You'll be happy to know that my daughter was the first to go minimalist; she went full on, HARD, and is so much happier. My parents are getting on in years, 86 and 81, and Mom has been getting stuff out of their house for about 3 years now. Not exactly the same, but she says she doesn't want us to have to deal with a bunch of "odds and ends" when the time comes. She says it's wonderful to get all that clutter out of the house. I have decided that I cannot let my house run me any more; I want my time back and I don't want to have to scramble around cleaning up every time someone calls to say they're coming over. I'm a collector; I have 7 sets of dishes, and love them all, so this will be hard. But I have been watching your videos for days, and have already started in my kitchen. (It feels wonderful!) My house is about 4000sqft, and is the one where we all gather on holidays, birthdays, etc. So I have all the tableware, flatware, silver, glasses, etc. for everyone. I could serve 100 people tomorrow. But our world has changed, and I don't see that happening soon. So I talked it over with my husband, and we are going to keep 12 plates, saucers, and bowls in the cupboards, 18 more of each stored in my closet, and eBay the rest. He was doubtful about keeping so few until I explained what you said about "if you only have a small number of plates, pots, and glasses, you won't have that pile of dirty dishes on the side of the sink waiting to be washed." (paraphrasing) That sold him! Lol
Thank you (both) for making what seemed before like an insurmountable task now seem like something that I can not only do, but do in chunks of time. I don't have to do the whole house in a weekend. I'll be saying special prayers of thanks for you. ❤❤
Just seeing this. Thanks for sharimg some great ideas. One year we got an older aunt a big box of assorted cards, a nice pen and a roll of stamps. She had always been a "card sender" but it became more difficult for her to get out and shop as she got older. (With 15 nieces & nephews she sent a lot of cards.)
She was thrilled.
I sometimes give donations in my friends' names to causes they care about. Some may think this is a sneaky non-gift, but when someone doesn't need or want more "stuff", this is a good way to honor that wish and still honor the person. I'm thrilled to see others give support to things I'm passionate about.
I bought frames, some new, some second hand and paint if you want. Then put in a free printable Bible verse or saying on stock paper and you can change out for the seasons.
Trader Joe’s has really cute greeting cards for 99c, and lots of fun consumable treats for teachers and coworkers.
1 can Betty Crocker frosting + 1 can PB melt together in the microwave or on the stove for a minute, let it set in the fridge, makes SUCH GOOD FUDGE! People always ask for my recipe and then they are so excited to try it themselves because it's SO EASY!
I love the Bundt cake gift idea! Dawn I think Diana might want more hairspray, hint hint! 😉
I love practical gifts and I try to think of what the recipient might like and I buy tracks and attach them to gifts as a way to share the gospel.
Happy Holidays to you all!
I love getting and giving postage stamps for Christmas!! 🎄🎄
I like to hand knit dish and face clothes. I get dollar store bags and watch for the bath and body works hand soap sale. I make extras and one for our family xmas afternoon party host. They come in so handy esp when someone gives you a gift and you didnt know they wanted to. If I have left overs at season end I donate them to charity or senior home.
We’ve done microwaveable corn bags (or you could do rice bags). Just a couple stitches in some fabric & fill with feed corn. People LOVE them & they’re so cheap & easy. And it’s nice to get something besides sugary treats. ❤️
That face scrub from acure is EVERYTHING!
Because of the digital age, I find that older grandparents and younger children love prints of photos or a small album. We made a photo calendar for grandma in Europe and it was a huge hit, even for the customs officer who wanted to see every picture and hear every story for she let grandma take her calendar home lol I recently just printed some photos for my 6yr old who found an old photo album and has been begging to fill it. I also printed extra of him and his older brother having fun. They have been struggling to get along and I hope that having these cheerful photos on the bulletin board in their room will remind them of how much they really love each other
Costco has a great set of hand soaps right now. 4 great sized in amber glass jars with a cute label. They're $10 for a set of 4. I divided those up and bundled them up. Practical and inexpensive!
I’m not a gift person either so I’m thankful for the ideas in the video and comments below. Now I feel I can put together some creative gifts for teachers and others.
I love love love the idea of greeting cards in a box!
I enjoy making personalized gift baskets, similar to the ones youve shown. I pick up items here and there throughout the year with certain people in mind. Face masks, chopsticks etc. Its fun and practical. Thanks for sharing such wonderful ideas!
Over the last 10 year I have asked my mum to give me cards or wrapping paper for a Xmas as a gift. I just give these cheap cards but lovely cards weekly to other to try and make people happy. I have given the lady across the road a card just to tell her her garden looks nice or someone to say I am sad to hear the loss of a family pet. I thank my mum everytime I hand out a card.
Thanks ladies! Great video! For our kids teachers we get a calico reusable washing bag that the kids decorate and fill it with festive food they can share. They can share it on Christmas day, as snacks on a road trip or pick something out as a last minute gift for someone else. Their teachers loved it last year!
I give a lot of movie gift cards to friends and family. Everyone loves them!
These are all such wonderful ideas! I think that pillow covers are GREAT! I've noticed that as we've scaled down on toys, my kids will get creative with pillows in the living area. They are easy to put away and we use them for extra floor seating, as well. This means they get dirty faster, but if you have covers, they can be washed!
Time for me to FINALLY try the bundt cake recipe!