Small gift bags filled with grooming essentials

Many people will be stressed this season due to the bad economy. I believe it maybe good for our family and friends not to be expecting lavish gifts every year. Buy small everyday essentials and put them in a festive bag. These can add up as well but it saves people from having to go to the store and buying them. Buy a nice box of scented soaps in a box from Marshalls or even a Big Lots Store and wrap them up in pretty tissue paper they sometimes come in boxes of three, add ladies or men's small disposable razor packs, also some trial size shampoo's, conditioner and some small toothpaste tubes with a new toothbrush. You would be surprised on how this can help someone who has to travel somewhere on short notice or just forgot to pick these items up at the market. Fill a small gift bag with smaller size cookies, a small brick of cheese, crackers and some small jars of apple or pumpkin butter. Many retail stores carry expensive brands but affordable and still yummy in smaller sizes.

Movie and Wellness bags

Many of our favorite folks will get a cold or flu during the winter time. Many times you will wake up with it or get up in the middle of the night with the coughing and sneezing. They will remember and be grateful for a gift bag containing a small box of tissues, trial sizes of cough syrup, Vicks vapor rub and some soothing cough drops. This can help them for a little bit so they do not have to go out in the cold to the drug store. You could also add some vitamin C and some aspirins.

How about some fun 'movie bags" add a new or favorite DVD they haven't bought yet. Add to this a large box or "Mike's and Icks," or Good and Plenty's. I have seen these boxes at Bed, Bath and Beyond and some super markets, not expensive of course as buying them at theaters. Add as well some good brand micro wave pop corn in "movie theater butter" flavor. Many large companies and government employers have benefit entertainment discounts on tickets for many of the movie theaters in your area. I bought eight tickets for twenty four dollars and two of those can be added to a bag. Teens and young adults will love to use these bags when payday isn't for another week or so.

Feel, smell and enjoy the festive lights that make the season bright!

I enjoy baking small bread loafs like pumpkin, cranberry, orange and nut breads which can be baked and frozen until the holidays. Bake some apples or pears with cinnamon, maple sugar and butter, topped with ice cream these fruits taste wonderful with juices flowing!" Today making your own jam's and jellies is not that time consuming or a big expense. Breath in the fruits and spices as you are preparing them, it warms the soul. I put good empty glass jars in the dishwasher and use them to put jams and jellies in. After washing, the labels usually come off pretty easily and you can find plenty of decorating supplies on sale or with discount coupon's at most craft stores.

If you have small children you might want to find an area near your home where many houses are brightly decorated. Make some hot cocoa to pour into a big thermos and give each child a mug that you can fill just a little at a time. I would do this a couple of hours after they have washed and put on their PJ's. Bundle them up in warm outerware and watch the sparkle in their eyes as their parents drive slowly through, enjoying the decorative lights at each home, big Santa’s, reindeer and brightly lit trees. This is while they are enjoying their hot cocoa. Have a contest for the kids to pick the best home decorations. When you get home you can just have them brush their teeth and hop into bed with thoughts of elfs, Santa and the magic of the holidays that are soon to come. There is hardly any expense for this event that the children will always remember it.

I try to take in everything warm and wonderful for this time of year we need it, the country needs this as well to compensate a maybe just a little. We have all had a tough year financially, weather wise and just the pure stress of the usually negative T.V. news. Try to enjoy these fast moving holidays. Joy and happiness to all!