Thinking Outside the Box: Holiday Gift Ideas
November 24, 2009, by Group Post
Last year, Fifty is the New contributors and readers submitted unusual ideas for holiday giving. Because they’re wonderful and timeless, lean and green, we’ve republished them, and we invite you to share more of your own.
Prudence Baird
Two incredibly useful gifts for the holidays…these are great as reciprocals, too. You give one to me and I’ll match yours!
Your Girl Friday (or Saturday). On a day that works for both of us, I’ll show up at 9:00 a.m. at your home with your choice of caffeinated or decaf latte. You provide rubber gloves and I’ll provide my discerning judgment, unbiased reasoning and brute strength as we clean out your closets and organize your junk drawer(s). At the end of eight hours, I solemnly swear never to reveal what we did that day or what we found under your bed.
A Make-Up Spree. Make a date to have your friend’s make-up done—for free at the cosmetics counter of a posh department store or boutique vendor. When it’s all over, buy her the lipstick of her choice and surprise her with one of those little retractable brushes that will allow her to get the most out of her new gift when it’s down to the nub. Bring your camera for before-and-after snaps and celebrate afterwards at a hip espresso bar because she looks so fabulous.
Christie Healey
Teaching someone to read is a very special gift, check out Literacy Partners for more information on how to get involved.
Offer to take care of a friend’s pet during vacation because we all worry about our little furry pals and want to know that someone we love and trust is taking care of them when we go away.
Cathy Fischer
Send a subscription to an unusual magazine, one that the receiver would be interested in, but may not know about. I like these uncommon publications: The Week (international weekly news, bite-sized), Cooks Illustrated (for the food chemist, kitchen gadget guru and/or chef of the house) and Modernism (for 20th century design divas).
Heifer International helps children and families around the world receive training and animal gifts that help them become self-reliant. Honeybees are just $30; a trio of rabbits, $60; flocks of ducks, chicks and geese, only $20 each. For a bit more, you get water buffalo, llamas and other animals that provide families with resources they need. Kids and adults alike will be happy to know that bunnies and bees have been donated in their name.
Carine Fabius
Pick out a shelter kitty or dog for someone you know who is lonely, even if they have 50 reasons for not wanting one—they usually fall in love on the spot. Plus, if necessary, they can always give it back.
A homemade gift certificate for someone with young children that reads: A gift of quiet, personal time. Whenever you say, I’ll pick up the kids and treat them to lunch and an afternoon at the movies.
Connie Stetson
I can offer a lovely sunset picnic at the top of Sentinel Dome…I’ll do all the schlepping. You just show up. Cost: $35.00-$50.00. The View? Priceless.
Howzabout just making phone calls to friends who have drifted away?
Melissa A. Howden
Over the holidays special attention is always paid to the children in shelters; I suggest an event to take care of the women in shelters.
Gather together a group of your best gal pals for tea and cookies, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres (whatever your group pleasure). Ask each friend to bring two cosmetic items x 10, or whatever number you determine in advance. The items should include the practical: Tampax, and toothbrushes, and the luxurious: face cream and lip gloss. You can get as elaborate, or stay as simple, as you like. Then put together bags, baskets or boxes for the women, writing a personal note for each one. Go as a group to deliver your gifts to your local shelter. You will have had a meaningful gathering, and done something special for women who rarely get “Special”.
Trade a task. All of us have simple yet annoying household tasks we let go undone. This year, trade a friend: touching up the baseboards or caulking the tub. Trade a task and share the time.
Share your “out of the box” gift ideas below.
December 11th, 2008 at 9:22 am
How about The Overfunctioning Woman’s Handbook–Uncommon Sense to Deal With Impossible Jobs and Impossible People; great choice for the overfunctioner in your life…which may be you! It’s on Amazon or contact website.
December 11th, 2008 at 9:39 am
Well, brilliant co-bloggers all the suggestions are delightful. The breadth and depth of your “out of the box” gifts ideas come from a place of such warmth, kindness and harmonious spirit that I am overwhelmed at the company I am privileged to keep.
December 11th, 2008 at 11:06 am
What a creative and thought provoking website. I received the most wonderful gift last weekend. A group of my closest girlfriends from grammar school came together to our hometown, Los Angeles, for a reunion. We came from near and far: London, Chicago, Seattle, Humboldt, and Berkley. The reunion will shine as one of my greatest gifts this holiday season. The gift of friendship is truly the greatest gift of all. Thank you, my friends, for your friendship. Thank you Cathy for being you. HPAC
December 11th, 2008 at 11:48 am
Carine,
What a great idea! When are you coming by to pick up Ethan & Casey?
Pru
December 11th, 2008 at 11:55 am
Prudence,
Ditto on Your Girl Friday! How quickly can I get you back to Los Angeles to clean up my drawers? As indicated, I’ll be happy to spring for the rubber gloves.
Hardee Har Har
Rosemary
December 11th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
I have an annual gift I give my friends who are crazy busy during the holidays with their wonderful shoppe. I make their favorite salad dressing (my secret Caesar recipe) put it in a pretty jar, add pre-washed lettuce, croutons, and grated Parmesean. I also pick up a Whole Foods roasted chicken and put it all in a reusable, pretty eco-friendly shopping bag. It’s something they look forward to each year.
December 11th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Happy Birthday, Rosemary!
Can you believe it’s been 30 years since my boyfriend dragged you home from the UO beer garden to meet me? That was the best thing he ever did. Nonetheless, I would NEVER do your drawers. Are you kidding? You are the most organized person on the planet. We’d be done in 10 minutes. Let’s just go to a movie…we can still bring those rubber gloves. No one will dare sit near us if we flaunt them.
Pru
December 16th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
I love the “Your Girl Friday” idea! In 2006 after the release of my book (Whatever! A Baby Boomer’s Journey Into Middle Age), I held a series of Whatever! parties while on my book tour. It was a gift exchange of sorts–we gave away something we didn’t need anymore in an effort to move on with our lives. The stories I heard still have me laughing!!! I wanted to have one big holiday WHATEVER! party but haven’t gotten around to it yet.
December 17th, 2008 at 10:58 am
A great free, meaningful idea comes from StoryCorps, the largest nonprofit oral history project (as heard on NPR’s “Morning Edition”). Sit down with a family member or friend and listen to them! Ask questions you’ve always wanted to, and if you can, record the interview. The recording makes a great gift, especially when paired with Listening is an Act of Love, a paperback compilation of StoryCorps interviews. Find tips for interviewing and order the book at http://www.storycorps.net.
December 28th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
So many wonderful ideas for gifts that really mean something, thank you!
November 24th, 2009 at 10:13 am
wives/spouses of men: give us a day to let us just sit in a chair and answer no questions while we watch some history channel show about hitler’s mustache or whatever, then a nap in the chair, throw a ham sandwich and a beer in our vicinity when we wake up, then let us watch a meaningless football game without interruption, then another nap, then an empty plastic bottle discreetly placed by her feet, a clint eastwood or charles bronson movie, another nap, a tv dinner, hose us off, then put us to bed. works wonders.
November 24th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
For those of us who have friends or relations that have everything they could possibly need, here’s one solution. My friends own a shop and they work their tails off during the holidays. So every year I make a “dinner” that awaits them at their home (I get the keys). The dinner consists of their favorite, my homemade ceasar salad, the dressing with all the fixin’s; a roasted chicken from Whole Foods; a bottle of wine and chocolate or some other dessert. It’s a big hit and a big help, and I know they really appreciate it.
November 24th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Have pals over to watch “It’s A Wonderful Life”, “A Christmas Story”, “Holiday Inn”, or whatever reminds you of where your heart cockles reside. Everyone can bring a favorite holiday food, I’ll make the hot buttered rums. Happy Holidays one and all.
November 24th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
I love these ideas, missed this nifty list last time around so glad you put it up for 2009! Merry Merry!
November 24th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
Since all of these ideas are so lovely and selfless, let me add a 2009 suggestion that is totally selfish: Go to my website http://www.earthhenna.com and pick up a henna kit or a jagua kit! (Jagua is an Amazonian fruit that stains the skin blue/black just like a real tattoo, then fades away in two weeks.) Enjoy making beautiful designs on yourself and your friends or your kids! (For the artistically-challenged, don’t worry, the kits come with easy stencil transfers.) Or, also on the site are the fabulous new herbal, long-lasting lip dyes I discovered. This economy’s a bitch and I could use the business! Happy shopping!
December 5th, 2009 at 9:11 am
How cool, Carine, I am off toget my tat kit. Thank you.