I hope you had a wonderful time celebrating and you are now ready to win battles this year. Best wishes. I enjoyed the holiday break and rested well. It rained a few times and we loved it.
Months before Christmas (including birthdays), I ask my kids to make a list of three things they really wanted, with the understanding that only one will be bought. We decided to get them everything on their list because it was the last time they would receive gifts as they are getting too old for that. They will now receive a Christmas allowance, for things they really need.
My avid readers got lots and lots of books.
My daughter LEGO sets, but went gaga for the ultra-rare L.O.L. Surprise! Punk Boi and Lil Punk Boi dolls. She also got L.O.L. Surprise! Under Wraps Scribbles and Lil Scribbles. Her brother got her the L.O.L. Surprise! Rocker doll.
L.O.L. Surprise! Punk Boi and Lil Punk Boi.L.O.L. Surprise! Under Wraps Scribbles and Lil Scribbles.
It’s almost that time of year again when giving is on the rise and you want to give the best Holiday gift to your loved ones. I know there are so many stores/shops to check out (by all means, do, if you can and have the time). My advice to those of you who are planning to shop in-store is to start by checking the clearance section of your favorite stores, you just might find some hidden treasures.
I am compiling a list of Online Stores I absolutely trust and love for their amazing products and prices.
Yves Rocher. Are you looking for Skin Care, Body Care, Hair Care Products, Makeup, Fragrances? Then this website is for you. The best thing about Yves Rocher is that he created Botanical Beauty based on the treasures of the botanical world and its infinite potential. Also, you are rewarded each time you make a purchase. As of now, they offer free shipping on orders of $40 or more and you have the opportunity to choose one free gift amongst six that they are offering. I will be going for the Oriental Massage Oil, Elixir.
Oriental Massage Oil, Elixir.
Spiegel (Newport News – Spiegel). If you are looking for Women Clothing, Shoes and Accessories; then you might want to start here.
Dress: Ponté-Knit Sheath Dress with Ruched Detailing. Jacket: Signature Ponte Knit – Swing Jacket. Shoes: Lace-Up Oxford Platform Pump in Waxed Satin. Clutch: Oversize Clutch Handbag with Softly Pleated Front.
Save-on-crafts. Are you looking for a source to buy art and craft supplies? Then this is your destination. They have a huge selection of craft supplies, wedding/party supplies and they offer decoration ideas for pretty much all types of projects. They definitely got you covered.
Collections Etc. Another site similar to this one is The Lakeside Collection. They both carry a huge variety of items on Home Essentials, Garden Accessories, Men/Women clothing and accessories, unique gifts and so much more. I am fond of their unique selection of Solar Powered Lights.
Color Changing Solar Flower Garden Stakes . Green Glass Mosaic Solar Garden Stakes.
Gift Tree, Edible Arrangements (Gift Baskets).
You will find everything from Wine, Fruits, Gourmet, Cookie, Chocolate, Coffee & Tea, Flowers to Spa Essentials and much more. The whole family is pretty much covered.
Pier1 (Pier 1 Imports®). This is a unique and high quality gift store specialized in imported home furnishings and decorations. The store has beautiful finds.
Peacock Home Décor.1. Lane Boots Women’s ‘Tail Feather’ Cowboy Boots. 2. Peacock Handbag. 3. Peacock Purse.1. Peacock Jewelry Stand. 2. Peacock Napkins. 3. Peacock Swing.1. Peacock Pillow. 2. Peacock Paper Coaster Set. 3. Peacock Double Deck Playing Cards.
A good bottle of Wine. Do you have a Wine Lover on your list or are you a Wine Lover yourself?
Visit your Local Vintage Shop. Support Local Vendors and give the gift of remembrance to that one person on your list who is fond of ‘Old’ things (it could be jewelry, furniture, music instrument, painting, etc!)
Make your Own Gift. By now you should know exactly what everyone on your list likes. Some people enjoy hand made stuff from their loved ones (for keepsake). If you have someone like that on your list then think about hand writing a Poem or creating something beautiful with the supplies you already have on hand. Cook a delicious and healthy Meal. Bake cookies and pass them out to family and friends. Donate things you no longer need as long as they’ve been gently used (Books, Toys, Board Games, Clothes, Furniture, Toiletries, Non-Perishable Food, Money, etc!) If you are considering donating books or know someone who’s thinking about donating, check out this website.
GIVE YOUR TIME. Gifts are awesome. Truth is, however, that we simply don’t need them. Time, on the other hand, is much needed and we cannot reset. Be there for your loved ones and if you can’t be there physically, reach out somehow and let them know how much they mean to you. Let them know how much you love and appreciate them. Donate your time to the less fortunate. Make a difference by volunteering. Being a Universal Blood Donor, I will be donating some blood if it can help provide the gift of life and health to someone else.
One of the best things we truly enjoy to do in this Life is to give a little bit of our time to others. Sometimes we give too much and it’s fine too. We do not wait until someone calls for help to assist them; we offer to help. For instance, it breaks our hearts to see an elderly weeding or cutting down a tree. We know they are more than able to complete the task ahead of them; it’s just that ‘Compassionate Human Side’ of us which kicks in and urges us to act; to get up and reach out. Fighting it only makes it worse and leave us empty.
Most of the times, these individuals are reluctant to accept the help. When it comes to this, we barter for something (in our case that something never gets taken away). When at the end, they realized we tricked them, well, we all have a good laugh. We are always available to lend a hand and our help is always free. We strongly believe that helping someone should be free (of course, to some extend).
Last month after helping a neighbor remove the remainder of his tree stump, he surprised us with samples of beautiful Christmas Card collections and a gorgeous 2013 Boys TownTreasured Moments Wall Calendar. You see, he had to leave them in our mailbox because we politely made him understand that our help is free and he wanted to do something nice for us in return. That was quite a nice surprise and we thanked him.
Yesterday we had the opportunity to help out another neighbor clear the weeds in his front yard and organized his tools in the garage. I just got tired of seeing him sneezing and struggling to do the work himself. I cared less that he had a full house; I was more concerned about his allergies. He offered to pay which was a huge no-no for me, especially given the nature of the task. I said I would take a few branches of a Pine tree he had lying around (to use as plant border, see an example here). He agreed and we sealed the deal.
An hour later with a blistered finger, the job was complete. He was grateful and I was happy I could help.
Prior to leaving, I spotted what turned out to be a Vintage Wood Crate in his garage. As I began to inquire about the little treasure, he started moving his tools from the crate into an empty box and handed the crate over to me. How cool was that? In my state of gratitude I managed to let out a sincere thank you. The thing is, I have always wanted to own a Vintage Wood Crate and — oh, I still couldn’t believe that I was getting one.
Vintage Wooden Fruit and Vegetable Crate.
Here’s the slightly new and improved Vintage Wood Crate, serving now as storage for our Giveaways goodies. I cleaned it up, did a little sanding here and there and spray painted it. I used Brushed Metallic Satin Spray Paint Nickel for the crate and Brushed Metallic Satin Spray Paint Sparkling Canyon for the Tulip.
I was blessed to receive all these beautiful things because I gave of my time to assist someone else, freely.
Click here to learn about cleaning Wooden Antiques.
By JM Perez
