The best gifts don’t come from stores.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

I don’t usually get up on a soap box, but with all this hoopla about Black Friday starting ON Thanksgiving this year, I’m getting increasingly irritated. & I feel like the holidays are losing their real meaning.

I suppose I’ll credit this shift in my thinking to motherhood too–as I used to be a major shopper. But things are different now. What matters to me is clear. & I’ve finally realized that what is important during the holidays cannot be found in a store.

Gifts are personal. The best gifts I’ve ever received are those bursting with personal significance. They don’t have a dollar value. They cannot be replaced. No one else has them. They were carefully thoughtfully made and given, and they mean the most to me.

It’s not about how much something costs. It’s about the thought, care & time that went into it, or finding it. This is the lesson I want to teach my babies.

So in the spirit of thoughtful giving, the majority of this year’s gifts are etsy finds, small business creations or handmade items. I’ve always tried to gift thoughtfully. & I’m determined not to let an ad tell me what I want, nor what I should buy for anyone else.

But back to this shopping on Thursday thing…whatever happened to enjoying our family during the holidays? With shopping & the anxiety surrounding “getting the best deal” creeping into our meaningful time together ON Thanksgiving, I can’t help but think this country’s priorities are seriously flawed.

I will not be part of black Friday. Or black Thursday.

But I will be crafting. ;) Starting with these…oh…and some barn doors that will be built & hung before the weekend is over. HOORAY!

 

Wishing you the best gift of all this season: time with your dearest family & friends, doing all of the things you enjoy doing…together. ;)

[sidenote: I spent well over an hour trying to share multiple projects I am planning to do, inspired by pinterest & wordpress is giving me the finger. Any of you have trouble embedding the html codes back to back to back? Found a solution? I'm ready to bang my head against the wall!]

Related Posts with Thumbnails
Posted in DIY projects, holidays & seasons, styleberryHOME

show hide 7 comments

Denae - Are you having trouble aligning the pictures you coded in? If so use a table with a diff pic for every cell. Its the only way to do it without going insane.

[Reply]

Gabi - I agree, I have been on my Soap box since September and the decorations for Christmas were out at Hobby Lobby but when we asked about Halloween they told us those would not be out till late October…I just looked at her with a blank face. I hate when people over look Halloween, Thanksgiving just to make a buck on Christmas. I have and will never participate in Black Friday and agree that Holidays should be spent with family and friends, not at a store. But some that is thier tradition, so if you are going shopping…just be super nice to those that are working that day…REMEMBER: they are having a much harder day then someone who can’t find their size in a shirt they want.

[Reply]

Susan - I totally agree. On a different tangent, have you seen the black Friday site bfads.net? Everytime I see it I say “beef ads dot net” in my head. LOL :D

[Reply]

Suki - Absolutely agree. The best gifts are handmade.

[Reply]

Meghan - I’m with you on this! I can’t believe, in the “spirit” of competition we’re at this point as a society where we’ve completely left behind the spirit of this time of year. You’ve read my mind and shared my thoughts exactly!

[Reply]

Kate - Thank you for getting on your soap box, even if it is a little one. I am tired of the Black Friday ads and commercials (even though they do make me laugh)and seeing people camp outside of the store in a tent for 2 weeks. Have a happy holiday with your family!

[Reply]

Mary - I am SO with you on this one Shawna. I am making nearly ALL gifts this year and I have a 2 month old baby. The only store bought items bought this year are those that are from… shhh Santa. Not that I did not try make some it, but I got caught. So if I can make homemade with an infant, anyone can do it even if it comes from Etsy. Enjoy the cooking and family time, I know I will!! Always Thankful!!

[Reply]

Your email is never published or shared. Required fields are marked *

*

*

There was an error submitting your comment. Please try again.

CommentLuv badge

© styleberryPHOTO, LLC | San Antonio, TX | ProPhoto Photographer Blog by NetRivet, Inc

G R A B   A   B U T T O N