I'm Giving a Llama for Christmas

Source: clawsondesigns.com via Megan on Pinterest

Since I can't sing AT ALL, I'm trying to find other ways to spread some Christmas cheer this year.

I love giving presents...finding just the right gift for friends and family.

I'm thinking of getting my friend, Leontien, a llama.

She's a dairy farmer but she loves llamas. Not really sure what the story is behind her adoration for these long-necked spitting machines, but she does.

Unfortunately, I'm not quite sure how to wrap a llama or if it would even fit into the trunk of my Corolla.

Just think of the spit I'd have to clean up...yuck!

So, I went to Heifer International's website and to see about buying a llama for a family in need.

Source: secure1.heifer.org via Megan on Pinterest

Once in a while when I can't decide what to give someone, I'll look into making a donation in their honor. I struggle with this because I want to be sure the gift is to an organization/cause that they support or believe in. (Remember Will's gift of a polar bear or whale to his friend's little girl...I don't want to be that gift giver.)

As a farmer who works hard to care for her animals, I think Leontien will appreciate the gift to Heifer International.

As a lover of llamas, I think she will love that a woman somewhere in the world is receiving a llama in her honor.

I love Heifer's mission, strategy and their history.

Heifer’s mission is…
To work with communities to end hunger and poverty and to care for the Earth.

Heifer's strategy is…To “Pass on the Gift.” As people share their animals’ offspring with others – along with their knowledge, resources, and skills – an expanding network of hope, dignity, and self-reliance is created that reaches around the globe.

Heifer’s History
This simple idea of giving families a source of food rather than short-term relief caught on and has continued for over 65 years. Today, millions of families in 128 countries have been given the gifts of self-reliance and hope.

Check out their FAQ page if you want to know more. (Yes, some of the animals given are eaten by the family...but not llamas.)

What kind of nontraditional gifts are you giving this Christmas?  I'd love to hear about them!

Look What I Got in the Mail

I participated in my first blog gift swap recently. 

I LOVE to shop for gifts and REALLY love to shop for a bunch of little things to put together. Unfortunately, I forgot to snap a photo of the gifts I sent to my blogging gift swap partner. 

However, here's what the lovely Randa over at About Life (be sure to check out her blog...someone is getting married soon) sent to me.

Dark chocolate espresso snack mix, dark chocolate Godiva chocolates...can you tell I emphasized my love of dark chocolate in my "favorite things" list?

Thanks to Meg over at Life of Meg for hosting the Fall Frenzy Blog Gift Swap. It was great fun.

Christmas Shopping at the Truck Stop

A Moose Mug, a Slap Chop or Dental Floss?

A couple years ago, my sisters and I (there are four of us) decided to quit buying gifts for each other for our birthdays and just go out to dinner once a year. We were basically giving each other gift cards so it wasn't like we were missing out on the perfect gift. It also forces us to find the time to get together JUST the four of us at least once a year. It's been a fun event so far.

We try to pick a restaurant or style of cooking that we might not normally select...like sushi or a tapas bar.  I'm lobbying for Greek food next year! My favorite Greek place is reopening soon after a devastating fire earlier this year. Can't wait to go, order some saganaki (flaming cheese) and yell "Opa!"

What does this all have to do with moose mugs and dental floss? Not much but I'm building to it. Stay with me!

At the same time my sisters and I stopped exchanging birthday gifts, we also changed up our Christmas gift giving routine. We bought some giant stockings...

OK, maybe not that big but they are much larger than the average Christmas stocking. We then drew names and had to buy gifts for the sister we drew. The rules were simple:

• Gifts had to fit into the stocking.
• No gift cards worth more than $10.
• Couldn't spend more than $50.
• No telling who you drew!

We've had fun with that over the last couple of years but we still fell into the trap of buying exactly what the person wanted...a new black belt, slippers or socks. This year we wanted to try something a little more fun and not so structured.

After MONTHS of thinking about it, we finally settled on each buying five gifts ranging in price from $10-15 each. Then we'll do a gift swap. I'm not sure what it's called...I think there are a variety of names for the concept. Basically, someone will start by choosing a gift. Then the next person can take the gift already open or choose another gift. Then the next person can choose to open or steal...you see where I'm going with this?

I think it will be fun. I bought five gifts that I would enjoy receiving (I can't say what they are because I THINK some of my sisters read my blog!) in case I get "stuck" with them. But I guess I can give a hint. Can you say lawn ornament...

Boy, I still haven't gotten to the point of this post, huh? Hang on...

When I was telling some coworkers about our gift exchange, we got to brainstorming (we love to brainstorm in my office) other "themed" gift exchange ideas. Here are a few we came up with:

Items from "classic" Christmas movies
The objective here would be to pick a movie and give gifts that were either featured in the movie or items that have become iconic because of the movie.

Anyone know what movies inspired these ideas...

Yep, A Christmas Story...a classic set in Indiana! I actually saw this leg lamp at my local Walgreens last week!

How about these?

 

Did you say...

Another classic!

As Seen on TV items

We've all seen those infomercials featuring the next great product that we can't live without. There are even whole stores dedicated to these products. Personally, I love looking at the endcap at my local CVS store where some of these products are prominently displayed.

This gift exchange is all about these products, like...

I have to admit that I've picked up one or two of these in my time but there are SO many to choose from that a gift exchange devoted to these products could yield some great fun. One that I personally have been tempted to buy is...

If only for the awesome infomercial remix that I saw late one night. Miss it? No worries, I found it on YouTube for you. Check it out at the end of this post!

Restaurant Gift Cards

This one is tame compared to the first two ideas.

Everyone simply brings a gift card to their favorite restaurant (for a pre-determined amount) and the cards are chosen, stolen and kept.

Used but Still Useful

A co-worker and her family chose to do this one for Christmas this year. Each person chooses something they already have around the house that they may not want anymore but that still has a use. I thought this was a very clever idea. Real Simple magazine even did a post about "new uses for old things" that could be used as inspiration for this exchange.

I love the idea of an old cast iron skillet as a recipe card holder...

Or a gift box as a cupcake holder...

Or even dental floss as a cheese slicer (see I tied into the blog title eventually!)...



I think this last exchange is quirky and fun. Now, my coworker and her family added one more step. In addition to bringing their "used but useful" gift, each person is also to bring $10 cash to donate to a pre-determined charity. This year it is a school in Africa where my coworker's sister taught earlier this year.

I LOVE the idea! It truly is a season of giving when you think of those less fortunate than you and do something to help them. There's nothing stopping you from having a bit of fun while doing that.

Do you have any fun gift exchange ideas? I'd love to hear them.

Now, I'm off to start my gift wrapping...anyone know an easy way to wrap a flamingo?

Almost forgot...here's the Slap Chop Infomercial Remix!