Oof. It has been a week! Hooray for Friday, and hooray to San for suggesting a “5 Things” theme for NaBloPoMo,
I picked up my library holds!
This podcast on “gifting better.”
On the latest episode of The Girl Next Door podcast, Kelsey and Erica talk about why gift giving seems so much harder nowadays, and give suggestions for doing it better. As always, it’s a fun episode.
And this gift guide!
Why are gift guides SO FUN! On the Happier podcast, Gretchen and Elizabeth have lots of gift ideas. I actually got two ideas from their list for things I want to give.
But I haven’t forgotten about Thanksgiving…
Julie shared a recipe for “Fall Bliss Salad” and I think we will make it for Thanksgiving dinner!
And, a concert.
Last night my daughter played in an all-county jazz band concert. Her main instruments are flute and piccolo, but she plays guitar in jazz band.
The kids all played great. Super fun night!
Happy Friday!
Do you consider yourself a “good” gift giver? Do you like buying gifts or does it stress you out?
Top photo by Arno Senoner on Unsplash
21 Responses
So cool that your daughter plays so many instruments! I played electric guitar briefly growing up and wish I had stuck with it!
I do enjoy buying gifts if I have an idea what the person would like, but otherwise it’s stressful trying to figure that out.
I’m afraid she’s going to let guitar go once she starts college, and will be saying the same thing- I wish I had stuck with it. Oh well- it’s hard to do everything!
What Ashely said! If I have a good idea then it’s a pleasure to give. Most of the time I don’t have good ideas and it’s stressful. I’ve got that Happier episode already downloaded, so I’ll check out the Girl Next Door episode as well.
Yes, they are both fun to listen to. And you may get some good ideas.
The Girls Next Door have been killing it lately! Their episodes have been so good. I loved the gift giving one. “Should we just Venmo each other?” That is what it feels like sometimes.
I will be curious to see if you like Small Things. I loved it so much but our reading doesn’t overlap often!
Wow, your daughter plays a lot of instruments. Do you as well? I know you play the trumpet but are there other instruments?
It’s funny because I also played the guitar when I was younger! I don’t play at all anymore.
Yes, I was laughing at the “should we just venmo each other”, and also when Kelsey admitted she’s already had an existential meltdown about gifts this year.
I loved Small Things Like These! I haven’t really gotten any gift buying done. I have random ideas floating in my head, and I’d probably be well served to write a few down before I forget them. I think I may try to carve out a little time in Philly, so I can order things I know we want while they are on sale.
Wow, Angie also plays Guitar? Dang your kids are so talented!
So I kind of hate gift guides TBH… but I am NOT A GIFT PERSON. And I’m luckily married to someone that is not a gift person. Our motto is “don’t buy us a gift and we won’t buy you one!” Lol. We are super fun, huh? We just don’t need much and I hate the onslaught of gifts into the house which makes the clutter worse. Gah. We asked for a lot of experience type of gifts for the boys, like museum and indoor playground gift cards. We’ll see if people comply…
I am not a good gift giver since I prefer to just not give gifts. I’d rather spend time with someone than exchange a physical object. But I recognize that my kids are still in a stage of life where they love gifts. Although Paul told us he really doesn’t care what he gets for Christmas and doesn’t really have anything he really wants. Maybe he is going to take after us!
Yes to all of the questions. I consider myself a good gift giver. I like to buy gifts AND it stresses me out. There’s nothing wrong with being full of contradictions, you know?
I love how much musical talent your family has! Congrats to Angie!
Yay for fun Christmas murder books!
I am NOT a good gift giver. I dither and dither and end up buying something in a panic that is never quite right.
I categorically REFUSE TO BELIEVE THIS. Your gift guides are ah-mazing!
I would say I’m medium. I usually come up with a few great gifts each year, and then other times it’s just dialed in (gift card to a coffee shop + a mug sort of thing).
I am not a gift giver outside of Christmas (I don’t give my parents gifts for Mother’s/Father’s day, don’t give my husband things for Valentine’s). But at Christmas I do really love giving gifts to my family. I like to buy things they’ll enjoy that also won’t just clutter our house and I would, once again, say I’m medium-ish in terms of my success rate.
Love the concert pictures. It looks like they are performing outside – is that the case? I suppose it could be if you’re in Florida. I do not consider myself a great gift giver, but I’ve known people who are and it always impresses me. I’ve knocked a few gifts out of the park, but that’s not my usual mode.
Yay for Friday is right! Good luck at the vet this weekend. I’ll be thinking of you!
I also loved that podcast and got good ideas. I also like to hear how people with literally unlimited income streams still struggle to think of good gifts to buy. Also! Your daughter is SO talented
I think I’m a pretty good gift giver! It does stress me out because I always want the gift I give to be the most PERFECT one ever, but I find it fun to scroll Etsy and such for gifts for people I love!
Also listened to the Girl Next Door episode and it was soo good!!! Gifts are tough. My mental baggage gets in a way around this time, always. I grew up poor, so we only got just one gift. Not two, not three, one. My husband grew up with his father giving him Sears catalogue and telling him to circle what he wanted. Completely different from my childhood.
Tony and I decided we are only getting each other stockings. No big gifts. Instead we may purchase a new couch for the den.
I’m going to be shallow as hell and just say that your daughter is beautiful! Clearly talented and hard working and smart, but her hair is #goals.
I like giving gifts, but sometimes I’d rather just not. I tried to get a friend to agree to stop, but she said HELL NO. Which if funny because she doesn’t really buy gifts for her husband even. Maybe since they don’t exchange, she wants to do some shopping?
I forgot to say, I hope you like the salad!
Weird, I commented (twice) and nothing showed up.
I like buying gifts but live in dread of the moment someone asks me what I would like. Like your daughter, my birthday is the week after Christmas, so there’s no time to think of new things to ask for. What I really want is a new kitchen and a trip to Paris. No?
I hope the salad is a hit!
5 Things theme to the rescue 😉
I love giving gifts generally, but sometimes it stresses me out when I just can’t think of anything someone wants… haha.