I don’t really like what the Holiday Season has become, a commercial event. That’s probably why I stopped buying gifts years ago. I do not want to be part of this shopping madness. I literally hate shopping, so there is no way I’ll be in the stores during the month of December. I told my friends a long time ago not to give me gifts because buying stuff just to give a gift is not my thing. But if I see something I like for my family or friends, regardless of what time of year it is, I will get it for them and wish them Merry Christmas, even in June.
Some years I have worried that I did not get into the “spirit” when it was getting close to the 24th, but I have to tell you that I love to cook and prepare food to bring along where ever I go. So this year my new thing is flavored vodkas. In the past I made and have given away pink grapefruit vodka, which is lovely with grapefruit juice, tonic or as a chilled martini with just a splash of grapefruit juice. But since it is the “season”, I made a “hot healthy holiday” vodka.
In a beautiful glass jar with a spout, I placed some pomegranate seeds, fresh cranberries and a few habanero peppers!!! It looks really good on the counter next to the little fresh Rosemary Christmas tree. But even after just a few days I had to remove the peppers as the vodka was really “hot & spicy”. Anxious to have it chilled in a martini glass, maybe with just a little orange liqueur; the color is just this beautiful red.
But for those who love giving here are some gift ideas for the health conscious person: - Meditation CD
- Exercise video
- Exercise ball
- A scale that also measures body fat percentage
For your foodie friends, I suggest things that we wouldn’t buy for ourselves but would love to receive like a good extra virgin olive oil, delicious hazelnut or walnut oil, old Balsamic vinegar or flavored vinegars, Spanish paprika, exotic pepper or salt, a curry kit, a cool fresh pepper grinder, a BBQ spice kit or even a nice personalized coffee mug. If you prefer to make a foodie gift instead you could make your own seasoning salt mix, salad dressing or flavored nuts and if you have a good food processor you could make peanut butter and add some cinnamon or dark chocolate.
I believe the most important thing in giving is knowing the person you are giving to. How many times have you received candles or beauty products where you couldn’t stand the aroma? Here’s a hint: when you go to your friends house, pay attention to the candles they are burning, the “plug ins”, hand lotion and soap they are using and stick with that.
For the kids, I usually make rice krispy squares but I add green color and shape them into Xmas trees and then glue candy on as ornaments by using hot sugar or corn syrup. The kids are always happy to see those. But at the end they only eat the candy and the adults eat the tree!
- Josee
Labels: holiday ideas, Josee
|
