Starting early

So, last year I started our Christmas shopping early. I had 80% of it done by Thanksgiving. It was really nice just being able to sit at home and spend time with family later on in December when the rest of the world was out frantically buying last-minute gifts.

Ken and I have made a family commitment to downplay gifts on Christmas. We want Gardner to realize the real reason for the season, and so we try to implement less gifts but more "family traditions" than we used to. (Instead, we decided to start playing up birthdays really big.)

Our gift buying list has grown smaller recently because family members have adopted the same commitment....but there are still gifts to buy, and I love to buy them. Nothing makes me happier than purchasing individually tailored treasures for each person I care about.

I'm already starting my Christmas notebook....a Type-A binder full of calendars, gift lists, and weekly goals till January 1st. I have already started gift ideas, too, for each person we're buying for.

My challenge for you is this....I need ideas. I need you faithful readers to think for a minute and share with me some of the greatest (or most sentimental/thoughtful) gifts you've ever received, as well as some of the gifts you gave that were received the best by others.

3....2.....1.....GO.

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