I’ve been so focused on my Christmas gift guides and sourcing bits and bobs for all sorts of other people, little people, manly people, sisterly people…that I forgot about me! Not a bad way to be. This year I actually struggled to come up with some things that I would like to see under the tree just for me, I would honestly be happy to not get a thing but just spend the time with our family, giving and sharing and laughing. That’s worth so much more.
But, out there somewhere in my family ranks…I do have a KK, who may be looking for ideas for me, or may have already bought my gift, in which case this is aimed at you Matthew James! Yeah right. In our family my siblings and our partners run a kris kringle, drawn and adjudicated by my mum (aka Mrs Claus), $50 limit, and we can’t get our husband/wife as our KK. In Matt’s family there are no presents at all, except I buy things for the three kids because I’m me, but often they don’t get much from mum/dad/mumma/opa/santa. When Matt was growing up he’d get things like a box of cereal in his stocking, that’s just how they roll. We do a round-robin type kris kringle game though (usually held on Boxing Day as Matt’s mum doesn’t like a big present bonanza in one day). The game involves a lot of stealing of others gifts and can get heated. The general rule is that each person brings three things – they must be either handmade, free, from the op shop or a charity (those goats and chickens from Oxfam have been popular in years past). This year for instance we’re going to bring some baked treats, some crocheted cotton dishcloths, some eggs from our hens, bags of sheep poo from the shearing shed for people’s gardens and a bag of barley from the silos for people’s chooks! It’s so much fun seeing what other people have on offer, reflective of their own lives. Last year I scored a massage from our niece Laura!
What are the gift giving rules in your family?
Ironing board cover | Sewing book | Tablecloth | Belt | Blanket | Shirt | Earrings | Whisk | Nail polish | Scales | Herbs
An assortment of something I want, something I need, something to wear, something to read. Always a good philosophy to go by…
:: I’d love some more Japanese children’s sewing books, am in desperate need of a new whisk (and am trying to banish all my plastic cooking utensils), and I think it’s about time I grew up and got some digital scales in my kitchen arsenal.
:: About 90% of the time we have a tablecloth on our kitchen table, I’ve never been a tablecloth user but am a bit pedantic about protecting my great-grandparents gorgeous oak table. I only have one good tablecloth I like though, polka dots would be nice.
:: For the wardrobe, a classic white shirt, I’ve been eyeing off Country Road and RM Williams one’s for years. This cheaper version will do too. New years resolution to have nicer nails, gold and mint could help. A nice tan belt to go with my white shirt and jeans. Dangly sparkly earrings to wear to a few weddings we have coming up.
:: My herbs are in a dismal state, some have gone to seed, some have been decimated by darn snails. Replenishment is needed.
:: Of a winter’s evening our couch is adorned by a highly unattractive thermal blanket my brother got out of an ambulance when he broke his leg thirty + years ago – a nice navy knit blanket would be a good replacement.
:: My sewing room would appreciate a new ironing board cover, which are hard to find unless you’re into granny florals or modern geometrics. Somewhere in between with this one.
What are you hoping to find under the Christmas tree this year?
Is your husband as hopeless as mine at buying you a gift?
Got a to-do-before-Christmas list as long as your arm like me?
nathalia says
This list looks like it could have been created by me, I really need a simple white shirt in my wardrobe. And I hope my darling farmer decides it is time I get some jewellery under the tree. I wish my christmas list was as long as my arm but I cannot say it is, living on the other side of the planet from my “real” family makes it a lot shorter. We still have things to do but not much at all since all the women in my man’s family are decidedly structured between themselves in their christmas preparation, I probably only will have to provide some gluten free christmas puddings that I will be the only one eating!
Alli @ Ducks on the dam says
Great list! I am still trying to work out what to get the MOTH – it was his birthday on Sunday so my energy goes there until it that is finished. I love the blanket idea – we have several on our couch. One from Scotland that was an egagement pressie from my BFF as she was living there at the time, one from the Geelong wool mills and one my mum spun and knitted which is very special. Love the bling too xx
Emma says
Ooooh your blankets sound lovely! My great-aunt who was a bit of a champion bought us a beautiful mohair blanket for our wedding, which she was too frail to attend, she then died whilst we were on our honeymoon. It’s beautiful, but a rich red/maroon so lives on our spare bed rather than in the lounge with all our blue/taupe/white things.