I really like the whole Thanksgiving/Christmas/New Year/holiday season. I think the song rings true when it says it's "the most wonderful time of the year." Maybe that's a little too sentimental of me, but hey, I like it. I especially like my dancing Santa and watching Christmas movies. And the music.
Anyway, this may be an ongoing blog theme until Christmas, I don't know, but I want to say a little about my least favorite part of Christmas. Gifts. I love giving gifts, but at Christmas I, like most people with any good sense, get frustrated at the rampant consumerism. So I want to present you with what I think are good gifts and bad gifts. Feel free to add to my list.
Bad gifts--
The diamond "journey" necklace. I think this is a genius marketing ploy by the diamond industry. First they had the whole, three stone "past, present, future" thing, and then the "women's right hand ring," and now this. What a great way to convice you to buy 7 diamonds instead of one. I'm not a diamond girl, for several reasons practical and ethical. So I think this is a bad gift.
A Lexus. Have you seen these commercials? First of all, who buys a $50,ooo luxury car for their spouse at Christmas? I'd kill my husband if he bought a car, especially like that, without telling me.
Naming a star after someone. This is just pretty weird. If you're interesting in naming a star after someone, then let me also interest you in naming a tree in the amazon after your loved one, as well. Only $29.95, a deal found exclusively on the sojochick blog.
Good gifts--
Blood donation! Not only a good idea for the holiday season, but all year through. But this is the season to give. There may be a blog coming up about this, but I honestly feel like every person who is able should be donating regularly. You might be thinking, "this is a gift?" Sure! You can give in honor of someone who's received a transfusion, like, I don't know, maybe your favorite blogger. :)
Ten Thousand Villages -- a fair trade organization that lets you buy artisan work from around the world while paying the artists fair prices. Really beautiful things, too.
World Vision or Heifer International -- These groups let you buy things like a cow or a goat for a family who desperately needs it.
Art by the children of St. Jude's hospital-- What a precious gift one of these items would make! Not only are you supporting the kids, but also giving someone a reminder to pray for the children who make these things as well.
Good books. Good books are always a good gift. It'll make ya' smarter. :)
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I'm sure there are lots of other bad and good gifts. Any thoughts?
2 comments:
I LOVE Ten Thousand Villages! I discovered it here in Boston and I buy gifts there all the time. Way to promote!
OK, I agree that naming a star after someone could be kind of hokey but at the same time it doesn't have to be. Some friends of mine just recently lost their firstborn son at full term. In her blog she talks about how a friend of hers had a star named in memory of Gordon as a gift to them, That same person who had the star named also donated blood in memory of Gordon. I thought it was interesting that both showed up on your list, one as a good gift, and one as a bad one.
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