Christmas Gift Ideas!

Hey everyone! Welcome to Black Friday week! :) Last year, I had some requests to share ideas for gifts, but it was already so close to the Christmas season that I didn't have time to really give it the thought I wanted to. This year I worked ahead! I've been compiling this list for most of the year. Hope you find some fun ideas. I've tried to make it broad in subject matter and in price range, because I know the budgets and people you shop for are probably quite varied!

For Those Who Have Everything:
* New Pictures. Parents, grandparents, and others who have everything they need always want updated family photos for their frames. Hire a photographer {or barter with a friend who happens to be good at taking pictures} and give new family photos for Christmas. And if you really want to score with parents/grandparents, offer a photo session itself as a gift for the whole extended family.
* Photo Books. If you like to scrapbook {digital books do count!!} and have time to do so, put together a little photo book of the family gatherings, special parties, or even just snapshots of daily life.{Bonus: Picaboo, the site I use to make ALL our photo books, is running a 12 days of Christmas special right now with new deals every single day. Shutterfly, the site I use upon occasion for other photo gifts, usually runs a lot of sales around this time of year. Actually most photo sites do, so check out your favorites!}
* Photo Calendar. I promise not every gift on this list will involve pictures, but they do tend to make great gift components! You can make photo calendars on various sites online, and most sites let you add birthdays, anniversaries and other important days right into the calendar before it's printed. And if you hobby in photography, use your own beautiful pictures of scenery {or whatever you photograph} to make calendars for friends who might enjoy that more than people pictures.
* A Day Out. If you need a gift for someone who doesn't have the need or room for more stuff, offer the gift of your time. Plan a special outing for you {or your family} with your recipient. A meal out, a movie, a play, some shopping...whatever would bring joy. You do the driving and the paying for whatever the day entails. Memory-making can be a wonderful gift!
* A Donation In Their Name. Not everyone would embrace this, but for those who have it all and would rather give to someone in need, offer a donation to an organization they love and let them know you helped in their name. {And if they are ridiculously opposed to recognition, you can keep it anonymous to the organization, but at least let the person know the funds went to a good cause!}

Jewelry.
 * Origami Owl. Hands down, the most complimented piece of jewelry I wear is an Origami Owl locket my mother-in-law gave me a couple of years ago for my birthday. It goes with everything, dressy or casual, and she filled it with charms representing what she sees in me, which was as much of a gift as the locket itself. {This is a consultant-based company, so you'll need to find one to order.}
* MudLove. Based in Indiana, this company makes unique pottery jewelry and donates some of the proceeds of each sale toward clean water projects in Africa. I own 4 pieces of MudLove jewelry and one of their mugs, and I love them. Plus, you know, it's for a great cause!

 Warm Fuzzies: 
* Electric Throw. I know, I know. Everyone buys a throw blanket for a gift when they don't know what else to get. But a couple of years ago, my mother-in-law got me this Sunbeam electric throw blanket, and I adore it. {Although the price is high online, you can usually find this in a store on a good sale. I've looked.} It's a must-have for cold people or cold climates - or couples who cannot agree on temperature. The cold half can use this!
* Scarf with Pockets. A few years ago, I happened upon one of these in a store and bought it for a friend. She told me last winter it was one of the best gifts I ever gave her. Who knew? The link above is to an Etsy shop that I just sort of found, so I have no knowledge of the seller, but it gives you an idea of what I'm talking about. {If you are crafty, you can make it yourself!} The scarf is long and warm with big pockets at the end, so you can slip your phone or keys into it or just keep your hands warm while you're out! Great for teachers who have recess duty, crossing guards, outlet mall shoppers, those with dogs who have to go out, etc!
* Coffee Cozie. A couple of years ago, my sister gave me a crocheted coffee cozie {because, well, DUH!} and it has been one of the best gifts! I keep it in my purse at all times and use it as an extra insulator when the cardboard wraps are not enough, and I always use it with frappes, because they don't give you a wrap for that, and those things sweat! I also wrap my spare camera lens in it when I have to carry it in my purse and it has no protection Great little gift! {Link is to an Etsy shop I found - no knowledge of seller.}

For the Kids:
* Snowman Kit. You can make your own version of this if you don't want to purchase one, but this is fun for kids in snowy climates: a snowman kit! All you do is add snow! A fun little non-electronic gift to get kids out and having fun when the snow comes! {Kids in warm climates can use it on sand snowmen!}
* Road Trip Binder/Bag. I blogged about this a while back, but this is a fun idea for making something for kids to play with in the car {whether on long trips or shorter runs} that doesn't involve a movie or electronics. It can also be fairly cost-effective if you're on a budget. 
* Quality Books. I am OBVIOUSLY a huge reader and when I was a kid, 90% of my Christmas list every year was books. True story. There are many options for quality books you can gift, but I'll use this opportunity to put in a shameless plug for my RIDICULOUSLY talented friend, Brent Vernon, who has written and illustrated some kids' books. I love them! {Says the overgrown child.}


Food:
* Introduce a new place. Sure, people love to get gift cards to their standard favorite places, and offering that to them shows that you pay attention to what they enjoy. But if you have uncovered a new place, especially if it's a little local dive, that you think someone might love, give them a reason to go! Offer a gift card along with a suggestion or two of what you love there. {Ryan's step-mom did this for my birthday when I moved to Kokomo...her favorites at all the local coffee shops, and gift cards to each one. BEST GIFT.}
* Meals on wheels. If you're buying for someone who is older or can't drive or is facing an upcoming surgery or anything along those lines, research what sorts of food delivery/meals on wheels options are available and give a gift card to that. It will be highly practical and well-loved. This is also great for people who are nervous Nellies about winter driving {ME!!!}, because I hear we're in for a fun winter in the Midwest!
* Food of the month coupon. If you are good at baking, why not give a gift to someone that allows them to enjoy your treats year round? Gift them {fill in the blank} along with a note that they can expect a refill every month on the 25th or something along those lines. It also gives you a great excuse to see them regularly!
* Box of pantry staples. When I was single, my mom always gave me a big box of pantry staples at Christmas. Bag of flour, some chocolate chips, single serving pasta kits, laundry detergent...just a smattering of things she'd pick up throughout the year on sales to give to me. It was a HUGE help in the winter months of big bills. This is a great idea for a college student, single person, or anyone struggling to make ends meet.

Subscriptions or Services:
*Amazon Prime. This might be over your budget, but if you're buying a big gift for someone, I hear this is a great idea. My sister actually received this as a gift and loved it. In addition to fast, free shipping, she has access to all kinds of goodies she didn't have before. {This also works well as a gift for the people who have everything and don't need more clutter...but they like to shop on Amazon for regular-need purchases.}
*Bulk Store Membership/Gift Card. We received a gift card to Costco earlier this year, and since we don't have a membership there, the gift card was our ticket in the door. It was so handy to be able to get some things we needed in bigger quantities. If you know someone enjoys shopping at a membership bulk item store like Costco or Sam's, gifting that fee would be great! {Note: Ryan also found a KILLER deal for a Sam's membership through Groupon. So don't think that such things are out of your budget even if they are on a regular basis. Groupon can really come through!}
*Housecleaning. Whether your recipient is a new parent, about to have surgery, travels a lot, or just deserves a break, gifting a service like this can be a sweet respite from mundane work! Or along the same lines...paying for some snow removal, lawn care, or other such help can be a big treat or a big financial relief!
* Massages and manicures. Whether it's something they already do regularly or something you want to treat them to, getting a gift card for a haircut, a massage, a manicure, or some other form of pampering is a great idea.

And Last, But Not Least...
I'm not a fan of tooting my own horn, but I am really thankful to have had the opportunity to publish two books (so far) in my lifetime, and I happen to think they would make great gifts!

* My Advent devotional, His Advent: Still His Greatest Gift turns six years old this year, and I love it that so many of my friends and family continue to use it as a family reading every year. And many have given it to their friends and family for Christmas gifts. It's written as a daily reading for December, and you still have almost 10 days before December arrives, so if you want to purchase it soon, it should arrive in time to begin on December 1!  {Kindle and Paperback editions are available on Amazon.}
* And my brand new book that just released this year, Be Still: Learning to Know He is God, is another book that can be used as a daily reading or can be read straight through as a story. I am excited about this little book and the impact it's been making on the people who have shared their reading experiences with me. It's available on Amazon in both Kindle and paperback, and if you're local, I have several copies that I could get to you directly to save you shipping!



Those are my ideas! Hope you've found something that sparks a little help for you, but please feel free to add your own ideas in the comments! {Whether they are gifts you received that were creative and useful or gifts you gave that you want to share....tell us!}