I asked the team, What’s one thing you are excited about giving this holiday season and one thing you’d love to get?
Cate
I do lean into experiences — my sister and I are going to a spa before Christmas, and I took my friend B to an indoor skydiving thing for their 61st birthday. For the niblings, I always give books, and sometimes practical things as long as they want them. When the older ones were little, I think one year I bought them a mini kayak, and another time bike helmets. Last year the 21 year old asked for a fancy rice cooker, and this year the 19 year old wants winter boots. She also had “LCBO gift card” on her list, so I think I am providing vodka along with the boots. Far cry from the rock painting kit I got for the young ones, lol.
Martha
We’ve scaled back a great deal over the last five years. High on our list for loved ones are special treats they may not give themselves— a fancy bar of chocolate, some really good soap, interesting cheese, exotic preserves. I’m hoping for a new fitness tracker as mine is starting to fall apart.
Sam
We’ve scaled back considerably too. The kids are all adults now, and they want big ticket items like snow tires and plane tickets. I still love filling Christmas stockings. I’m also looking forward to using my new snowshoes that I know are under the tree. Pretty much everyone at my house loves books, socks, and chocolate.
Christine
I’m part of a group project to create a stocking of fun activities for someone who is NOT expecting to get a stocking at all so I’m enjoying putting that together and looking forward to giving it to them. (We’re going to hide it at their house and message them on Xmas morning to let them know Santa has been there.
The thing I’d love to get is from me so I know it will happen – I am gifting myself LOTS of time to write, journal, and draw over the next two weeks. Yes, I can gift myself that at any time but Xmas is a really good time container for that gift.
Diane
Our family scaled back considerably on Christmas gifts this year. Minimalist was the gift I needed. The one I was most excited to give was a xylophone to my grandson for his first Christmas. It was delightful to see how excited he was to make lots of noise.
Tracy
We are all downsizing so gifts aren’t huge on my radar but I am always excited to give kids age-appropriate books and see their reactions when they start thumbing through the pages. My favourite so far this year is the book called the Imaginary Alphabet. It is so enchanting that we want to get one for ourselves.
Nicole
Honestly, I haven’t figured anything out yet this year and I will be excited when I do.
Catherine
This year I’m regifting, as it were, things from my house that I have too much of or that I just don’t need to friends who I think will use them and like them. So far, I’m happy with how it’s going– I feel a bit lighter, and it’s fun to give things I think someone will like that connects us through its history. Can’t divulge more details yet… Oh, and my family are all getting socks, too. Don’t tell them.
Nat
I’m looking forward to assembling my storage shelves in my office. I’m looking to make it into a creative space as well as my work from home spot.
I’m giving my eldest a knitted hood/cowl that I’m still making. Michel is getting Lord of the Rongs plates as he is decorating in response to all those commemorative plates I put up.
Elan
Due to my own financial constraints and life circumstances right now, I have told my family no gifts from me. I made the 20-something year-olds bracelets for their stockings. Instead of getting my partner a big gift, this month I am doing as much of the 30 days of romance calendar as I can. So, I am looking forward to not getting or giving anything for Christmas, and it is a relief in many ways. Oh, and I did pay for some new headshots for LinkedIn, so by Christmas I am excited to get those. To me from me.
