Holiday gift giving doesn’t have to be complicated or overly expensive. When considering presents for friends, teachers, neighbors or co-workers; I always strive to give heartfelt gifts. Consider S’more fun. This year we put together DIY S’mores Kits for people that we are thankful for. Our hope is that these simple holiday treats provide an opportunity for some stress-free family time. In the past, we have created several DIY gifts, movie night bowls, made ceramic trees to remind us of the simple things in life, or shared a homemade bottle of limoncello. Adding a pretty bow, a keepsake ornament, a customized tag, and a personalized note make the gift more special. We have made this super easy for you. We have everything you need to beautifully package your DIY gifts in our wrapping section. We regard community gifts as a small token of our appreciation. It’s a thoughtful and beautiful way to say, “Thank you! Thank you for being a part of our story. Thank you for all that you do.” This small gesture is meant to recognize the kind deeds, shared talent, or support people bestow on us throughout the year. Our best tip is to always prepare more gifts than you need and keep a few extra on hand for someone you may have overlooked. This tends to occur more frequently as we get older and busier! This year, after all of the packages were assembled, we had a fair amount of extra ingredients remaining, so we made a gift for our own guests. With the leftover ingredients, we packaged up individual servings. These extras will make s’more fun a little easier for us to serve fun treats on our back porch throughout the season.
Creative Time…
I consider myself a creative person, but certainly not an artist. I reserve that distinction for people with refined talent. However, when I open my kiln after a glaze firing and find pottery pieces that I am proud of, well, it certainly motivates me to spend more time creating. Unfortunately, December can be a difficult month to be creative. Creative time to “play” is not always easy to schedule. I have learned that I enjoy the holidays more when I am able to find quiet creative time to make something beautiful. This is my version of self-care. Give yourself the gift of time to do something that you truly enjoy. For me, creative time provides me with necessary balance. Ultimately, this time may enable you to enjoy the season more. Let’s face it, this can be a hectic, sometimes stressful, time of year. This is one strategy I use to “fill my own bucket.” It’s my secret for tackling the additional tasks we take on to make the holidays more enjoyable for our family and friends. When I have enough inventory, I like to hold a pottery sale. The proceeds from the sale always benefit a charity. We have donated to Toys for Tots, Stand Up To Cancer, and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Using my pottery to support these organizations is even more motivation to keep the creative spirit flowing. I hope you find inspiration in this post and find your own creative outlet, then use it to do good in this world