December 15, 2014

Last Minute Shopping Joys & Woes

Here we are, down to the wire as they would say.   I'm not sure what that means but it sounds pretty serious.  I won't even remind you of the dwindling number of shopping days until Christmas because you are either a) one of those souls whose shopping list is pretty much a sheet full of scratched out, checked off notations long before the eve of "Black Friday", or b) are of the group of those that just reminding you that the final 240 hours and soon to be 216 hours and then to be 192 hours is now ticking away can set you into a panic that is akin to realizing that today is your mother's birthday and you have completely forgotten that fact.

The trick to being a last minute shopper is to make it appear that you have spent days and weeks in thoughtful contemplation, pouring over gift catalogs  for new and interesting items, perusing store aisles for that one perfect item, not settling for just ho-hum in the quest to match the one true gift with every person on your gift list.

For those of you who might not be quite on their toes about Christmas gift shopping,  there are still plenty of nice gifts out there for you to pick up for all of those special people on your list (and aren't they all special if they're on your list, after all?)  

My advice? Think practical.  In this case, there's not much time to go any other direction.   And don't cut corners on the presentation - gift wrap your present in the most elegant fashion possible.  If you can't manage that yourself then hire the job out.  It will make all the difference in the world and show that you do, indeed, truly care.

Here are my top suggestions for last minute Christmas gifts.  

1)  A couple new strings of Christmas lights - because surely the ones that were put up on Thanksgiving have already lost half of their illumination, (I suspect they're set on a timer to destruct after "x" number of days.)  They'll appreciate your thoughtfulness and I'll bet by buying them this near to Christmas you'll even get them at a great price.

2)  A calendar.  You should make sure it is for the new year (one time I purchased a calendar at a mall kiosk at what I thought was a great sales price....turns out it was a current year closeout not the new year's model).  It's the gift that keeps on giving day after day after day....

3)  Sign your loved one up for a class or new activity.  The possibilities here are endless.  There's yoga, oil painting, karate, sky diving, bungee jumping, bull riding, etc.  You get the picture.  If it's something you'd love to do, why not share that passion with someone else.  

4)  Chocolate.  Because it always fits.

5)  A "get-out-of-jail-free" card.  You never know when this might come in handy.  Include contact information to reach you in case of emergency, a pre-paid phone card (because chances are a quarter won't cut it if you're incarcerated these days), and the number of your favorite bail bond person.

6)  Time.  Not much explanation needed here.  Perhaps the most precious gift you can give someone.

7)  A smile and kind word.  Again, you can just about afford to give everyone person you ever meet this gift.  And it means so much.  Hey, and returns are always welcome when you give a smile.

8)  Scotch tape because, hey, it's not pretty when you run out of tape during a late night wrapping session and they will appreciate the fact that you are thinking ahead for them in preparation for next year.

9)  A book.  Any book.  One with pictures or one without.  Doesn't matter. Better yet, get them a library card - it's free and it keeps giving.....for a lifetime.

10)  A notebook.  And a pen.  Because at some point we all just have to start making that "bucket list" and unless you write these things down, well it's not truly a list.