Whew, the weekend is over and it was a whirlwind. Shows, dinner, Susan Komen race, shopping, more shopping, gardening, more dinner, church, brunch, more gardening, more shopping, walks, and more dinner! I'm exhausted! I love Mother's Day, and since this is only my second, I love this holiday! It's truly not a day but more of a weekend. All about women and what they want. Plus you get presents. Bonus! This year I got new running shoes, the multi chopper from William Sonoma, flowers, chocolates, and a beautiful scarf. Great way to start off May- kind of.
You know how, at Christmas, there is always that estranged, kind of crazy relative you didn't buy present for and, come the big day, you are unwrapping their gift to you and you can see in their eye they know you didn't get them anything? If you can sympathize, this is how I felt yesterday. Granted, I did buy my sister-in-law a gift sine she is about to become a mommy, but I forgot to put it all together and bring it to her house where the gift giving was happening. Billy was in charge of his mom's so she got hers, but sure enough, as I was tearing up over the heart felt card and pulling the most perfect, pink scarf out of the silver Nordstrom's box, I could see in her eye she knew I forgot. I apologized and told her I would get it to her soon, but talk about guilt! I went out this afternoon and picked up a few more goodies to throw in just because of it. Then it hit me, my gift drawer! This is why I am feeling guilty! If I had remembered to keep my gifts for others in my drawer I wouldn't have forgotten!
The gift drawer, for those of you who do no know, is a genius concept I like to pretend I invented. It is a cleared out dresser drawer, or closet shelf, or empty basket where you put gifts for others inside. These gifts are bought year round for individuals or people in general and follow very simple rules. If you follow these rules, you will never be in the first scenario of Christmas time but you may also be able to avoid the second scenario I was just in. The benefits of this drawer are massive, but to summarize why I like it: I never have to "run out really quickly" to buy a last minute present for some one, if I feel a present is to small or lacking something I can just add in a little something, come Christmas time I am only spending a little bit of money rounding out a persons present, and, best of all, it saves oodles of money and time!
What rules do I have to abide by when starting and stocking my gift drawer, you ask? Well, here are my rules:
1. It has to be a great price. Hands down, number one rule.
2. While you are out shopping, anywhere, look with your Christmas list in mind. Do you have an aunt who loves fancy bath soaps or a sister who is hooked on old books? If you find your self at a garage sale and there is a box of books or at a specialty store and it has a section smelling like French lavender and cucumbers, check out the sale section and buy a few things. Go home and throw it in your drawer.
3. Keep in mind other holidays and occasions as well. If you just shop for Christmas stuff you are going to end up with unusable gifts for other holidays that require gift giving. Any sale section in any store is a good place to look. Soap, ornaments, table decorations, books, and candles are great, general gifts for almost any occasion.
4. Keep it small. Remember, this is a small space you are dedicating, and if you buy a person a great chair you saw at an antique shop you will have no where to store it. This type of large gift you need to give early with a side note that it is for the closest upcoming or just passed holiday. And believe me, people will not remember that. Save the big gestures for the big day and load up on the little stuff you can store before hand.
5. Shop sales after holidays and plan to store for a LONG time. I buy scents I know people like and brands people covet after the holidays when it is on super sale and then store it for a year. When I give it to them they are shocked and excited about the product (and the amount it usually costs). Voila! You have just won the gift giving game!
6. Save you tissue paper, gift bags, gift boxes, and if you're good, your old wrapping paper and plan to reuse. This fabulous gift drawer will do you know good if you have nothing to wrap it in! You show up with a bunch of stuff thrown in a grocery bag, people will know you forgot! By saving the stuff others have given you it saves you time, money, and dignity. keep it near or in your drawer and you're good to go at any occasion.
Those 6 rules will save you a thousand times over. Don't forget rule number one and don't forget to have fun! There is something so great about buying gifts for others, and when you do it all year and save a bundle doing it, you will get that feeling all year long (Plus, it keeps you thinking about Christmas all year, which isn't so bad either!)
Happy stocking ! Have you ever been in a similar situation like above? Tell me about it!
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