more gift ideas!

1. A recipe book with your favorite recipes for a neighbor

2. A photo album of the kids for the distant relatives

3. With the kids hand-paint some new pottery mugs or

4. dishes at a ceramics store

5. A memory book with photos, ticket stubs, etc. of things you’ve done together

6. Record an interview with grandparents on the history of their life to give the family

7. Build a raised garden bed for herbs or vegetables

8. A DVD of your life these days for that long-distance friend, take a tour of your town, house, job etc…

9. Paint or draw a picture
10. Scrabble board appreciation-arrange an old scrabble board of words that express memories and attributes of that special person. Glue the pieces down and put a picture hanger on the back for them to hang it up as art!

Here's a few inexpensive gift ideas...
1. Gourmet coffees with a personal coffee cup
2. Pound of pistachios
3. Child's artwork, framed
4. Journal with special inscription inside
5. Teacup with box of herbal tea
6. Deck of cards and book of card game rules
7. Homemade cocoa mix in a pretty jar
8. Collage of special photos
9. Gel pens and pretty stationary
10. Bottle of sparkling cider
11. Home baked bread, include recipe
12. Disposable camera or rolls of film
13. Basket filled with deli cheese and fruit
14. Craft supplies
15. Holiday serving bowl or platter
16. Pretty basket filled with special jams or mustards
17. Decorative napkins and napkin rings
18. Fancy chocolate bars tied with a ribbon
19. Gardening gloves with a plant or flower seeds
20. Photo album, hand decorated is even better
21. Makeup tote
22. Prepaid photo developing envelopes
23. Homemade cookie mix with instructions for baking
24. Variety of bread mixes
25. Special coffee cup filled with candy
26. Fancy magazines tied together with a pretty ribbon
27. Gourmet popcorn and flavored oil
28. Locally made barbeque or steak sauce with basting brush
29. Pancake or waffle mix and a bottle of real maple syrup
30. Movie theater gift certificates
31. Board games
32. Jar of sourwood or pure honey with biscuit mix
33. Note cards and book of stamps
34. Picture frames, buy them on sale!
35. Specialty cookbook
36. Pretty glass jar filled with candy
37. Collectible sports cards
38. Muffin mixes with muffin pan
39. Books, there are still a few for under $10
40. Set of dish towels and dish cloths
41. Nail polish kit
42. Pretty night shirt
43. Basket filled with kitchen gadgets
44. Video rental gift certificates
45. Pepper mill and fresh peppercorns
46. Handwritten copies of your favorite recipes
47. For the pets, gourmet dog biscuits or cat treats
48. Baking pans and supplies
49. Prepaid long distance phone cards
50. Small clock or radio
51. Pretty box for keepsakes
52. Colorful Post-It notepads
53. Address book
54. Christmas ornaments
55. Puzzles
56. Blank video or cassette tapes
57. Sewing supplies
58. Flashlight with batteries
59. Favorite quote embroidered on a nice handkerchief
60. Makeup brush set
61. Expensive socks, still under $10
62. Special soaps and bath puff
63. and don't forget my absolute favorite... home baked cookies!
Foolproof recipes are always welcome gifts. If you had time, you would make a little notebook and handwrite 20 of your favorites. Here's a speedier version: Pick one recipe, have your child write it on an index card, and package it with some of the ingredients. Give a play-clay recipe, for example, with a cookie cutter and balls of starter clay wrapped in plastic. Give a bubble recipe with glycerin and a wand, or pancake mix with the dry ingredients sifted into jars. Any recipe that starts with the words "Never-Fail Party _________" would be well-received in my house. I don't mean to hint.

1. Spend Only $4.98
It's simple: Each person can spend exactly $4.98 on a gift -- no more, no less. Givers can buy one present or several; the result just needs to add up to $4.98. To make the process even more fun, each person has to include receipts to prove the $4.98 purchase and share the story of how he or she reached the amount.

Try It
Go with $4.98 or agree on another modest dollar amount and let the treasure hunt begin. Some will hit the penny candy store while others will aim for a single larger gift. Either way, everyone brushes up on their math skills -- and no one breaks the bank.
2. Make a "Wish Jar"
Create your own wish jar for a best friend, spouse, or special sister, including in it what you see as their dreams and goals. Trust me, not only will the recipients be blown away by the time and thoughtfulness put into the gift, they'll feel seen, cared for, and appreciated for who they are.

3. Give Yourself
With time so precious these days, sometimes the gift of our attention is the best we can offer. If you're a massage therapist, for example, you might give the gift of touch to an aunt who's never had a foot massage. If organizing is your forte, help a friend reorganize her closets. Do you like to paint kitchen cabinets, cook pasta sauce, or shovel snow? These skills can all translate into great gifts.

Try It
A formal declaration makes this gift official. Put your intentions in writing, including any relevant details (like how many hours of babysitting, gardening, or basement clutter-clearing you're committing to). Then, gift wrap your invitation. In a day and age when most of us have too much stuff anyway, it's a great way to say "I want to help you live a good life."
5. Create a Book
Although the idea of writing a book may seem daunting, don't worry. It's actually much easier than it sounds -- especially when you think of a "book" as a collection of writings, special memories, quotes, photographs, even drawings. If you love to write, you'll fill the pages mostly with words. But even if you don't, your journal will tell the story of your affection for another, whether that unfolds in words, pictures, or a combination of both.

Try It
Purchase a beautiful journal, and over the next month or so, fill the pages with favorite anecdotes, poems, and stories of how the person touched your life. Some days you might fill more than one page; other days you might skip writing altogether. Let the ideas flow over time. When you do set aside time to write, allow yourself to connect with the love you feel for the person. If you start now, you should be able to fill a book in time for your holiday gathering -- and the recipient will cherish it for a lifetime.