I just thought I'd read my posts from last year and see if anything still applied. I've still not found a chess clock, but honestly I haven't looked for one either. I kind of forgot about it, but I still think it would be cool.
Thanks again to those who sent batteries and soap. I still like them and just like socks, these are items that I could probably use every year. (However, I don't need any white socks--only dark dress socks or opaque tights this year).
I did update the memory on the computer. Thanks Mike!
Thankfully I'm doing well on the exercise stuff. Kelli, I continue to appreciate the ear buds you got me. They are the best! Also, I still like the dress and it did help motivate me to be healthier. I'm sure that wasn't your intention, but it has served me quite well. And if you see any others at DI, let me know. A good portion of my wardrobe these days is a little bit too big.
So as for new ideas this year, most of them are house oriented. I was hoping with the move, I could turn over a new leaf and improve my homemaking skills. I could use some new rubber or silicon spatulas for the kitchen. Walmart has a very pretty line of red and black kitchen utensils. I also am in need of some good sized containers for staples like flour, sugar, rice, oatmeal. I don't want a 5 gallon bucket, more like ice cream bucket sized. We used a 5-quart ice cream bucket for five years and it was perfect. Unfortunately the lid cracked and they only sell ice cream in 4-gallon buckets now. I think the 4-gallon size may still work though, but please eat the ice cream and just send the bucket. These days eating dairy products is a very bad, bad thing to me. I do not like having stuff on my kitchen counters, so I don't need pretty containers, just functional ones. It's great if they can stack and/or have rectangular shapes so they can fit more efficiently in the cupboards. The exception would be that I need some kind of container to hold my overflow of large utensils. I love my larger kitchen, but I still lack a little drawer space. So just one pretty can or clay pottery or something to hold the spatulas, whisks, etc. could be helpful. This container would have to sit out, but all the others would be stored behind closed cabinets.
For the crafty folk, I've thought of making a cute half apron. You know, so I can wear it with my skirts and high heels while I vacuum and look so cute when my husband comes home from work. --Just kidding on the vacuuming part and high heels. I do think it would be fun to have some cute aprons though. I have a very nice functional bib one, so this would just be more for fun and entertaining.
As for other things about me. I don't listen to much music unless I find myself high strung and unable to sleep, then I pull out the mp3 player. I do enjoy the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and other things occasionally. Ask Mike for more details on the music. He knows more of what annoys me. I wish I read more, but have a hard time focusing on anything that requires much brain power. Mostly I read magazines or children's books or blogs. Normally the blog reading is in search of inspiration for sewing, scrapbooking, home decorating, or photography. My days are pretty routine filled with getting everyone fed, clothed, where they need to go, and keeping house. We live in a small town and I dislike spending money and driving, so I don't shop much, but do find joy in snagging a bargain when I decide to go on the hunt. I spend the most money at Kmart and Walmart and my favorite aisles for wishful shopping tend to be in the home section--organization items, curtains, frames/clocks/mirrors. I think about wanting to be a better writer, but haven't convinced myself it's worth the work. In the meantime you all suffer from my tendencies to be verbose.
hmm, now that I am nearing the end of this post I had another idea. Would you people ever like to make this gift exchange a "handmade or service items only" sort of exchange? Sewing items, photography, blog editing, math tutoring, writing books, baked goods, frozen meals, and so on--only limited by your imaginations. Please comment.
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5 comments:
The idea of limiting gifts to handmade items or services seems so nice in theory--who wouldn't want to support the idea of spending time on each other?--so it's hard to speak against it. However, I'm willing to volunteer to be the bad guy so that no one else has to be.
I just think it's too constraining. We have different situations as givers (different tradeoffs between time and money) and different tastes as recipients (some gifts that could not be handmade would delight the recipients), and I think we should leave ourselves as much freedom as possible to adapt to our various circumstances.
I would have to agree with Nathan. The idea is great and if I had that crafty touch I might feel more inclined, but alas I really lack in that area. :)
Brenna
Thanks guys for speaking up. I do understand that much depends on the giver and receiver in the situation. I guess I do have a soft spot though for handmade gifts. I think of the things that family members made:like the doll (and stuffed animal) beds Dad made for us when we were kids and all the things Mom has done over the years. I still use the Popeye quilt Spencer did for me. Of course there is the duck-bill platypus paperweight you gave me Nathan--I think it is on Mom's shelf.
I like the idea of homemade gifts but it's true that we all have different schedules and budgets. I think the blog has helped a lot to know what we can make or buy. I'd say, keep things the way they are for now. Eventually, when everyone is married, it might be fun to do family gifts. What do you think?
Elisa
I'm game for mixing up the tradition different years. One year a family gift. Another year it could be a homemade theme. The next year, books. I don't know--whatever just so everyone can find some fun.
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