Chris and I decided we weren't going to do gifts this year. Before you decide I'm a Scrooge let me interject that Elsie was an exception, receiving one large gift from us, an IKEA play kitchen because she loves to pretend she's making dinner.
Don't get me wrong, I find Christmas spirit contagious and I really love to spoil the ones I love but I have to say that making this pact before the madness had begun made the holidays take on new meaning. There are far too many of us that get ourselves worked into a frenzy over gift giving. This year, Chris and I have made many attempts at simplifying our lives, downsizing our belongings, and trying to adopt a minimalist attitude. It's difficult to think about giving and receiving Christmas gifts when you've spent months pouring over which of your belongings you don't actually need. In the end Chris broke down and bought bottles of wine for our parents, locally brewed beer for the guys and Starbuck's cards for the girls. Yes we bent the rules a bit but it felt really good to give things that could be used up entirely rather than buying more stuff, we all have enough "stuff" don't we?
I hope that you and yours had a really wonderful Christmas this year.
Cultus Lake at Christmas time.
::: this photo was taken in the same location as last years Christmas photo.
Yes, it is! My rule this year was: books for everyone and small handmade things to give my heart and not only my money :)
ReplyDeleteYour blog is really nice (and your creations too)
This sounds perfect to me. K x
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I did the same for each other this Christmas -no gifts. We also opted out of our family gift exchange which has always seemed an extra burden for us as we end up having to post ours. New focus! No guilt, unnecessary anticipation, or meeting expectations.
ReplyDeletep.s. I enjoy your blog. Beautiful pictures.
Three cheers for simplicity! Good for you. I'm so impressed.
ReplyDeletehappy new year!
Daisy
I too am loving this post... It has made me think a lot about simplifying my life this year. Last year we didn't give gifts except to our boys... Only sent photos and hand made bookmarks and cards... This year we did buy gifts but it almost felt wrong to give in to all the hype an commercialism... Next year it's back to homemade and simple. As for the coming year I'm inspired to be simple. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteOh and my boys love the Ikea kitchen:)
I don't think you're a scrooge at all! My family stopped exchanging two years ago, and we all love and appreciate the holiday so much more!
ReplyDeleteI like how you have a picture of you looking down at the dock and a picture of Elsie also looking down in the post below.
ReplyDelete