less stuff, more coffee please...
I enjoy giving gifts. The gift wrapping and funny cards, the excitement of handing over the package, the look of surprise, the tension in the air as a gift is carefully unwrapped, and finally, seeing someone's face light up at their new goody.
Or not. Whatever.
Gift-giving has become boring and predictable. And tedious. I mean, if you've known someone for more than 3 years, you've probably already gifted them every type of item they like on several occasions. Purses, clothes, jewelry, books, candles, and then? It gets really boring, and no one ever wants to give the same type of gift twice. It's so much easier when you're in your tweens because you can exchange silly toy-ish items and it's hilarious. Then you grow up and Mars Mud is no longer an age-appropriate gift-item (yes, I was actually given this in my tweens, and I loved it, it was green).
This last little while has been pretty hectic gift-wise. Birthdays, bridal showers, weddings, convocations (mine too, magna cum laude, ahm!). And there's so much pressure to find the right gift in time for the occasion. Like for mom's birthday? And very shortly thereafter, Mother's Day? The whole family went nuts, trying to avoid giving her an umpteenth bottle of perfume or bubble bath. Bridal shower and wedding? Gift card, gift card. I'd love to tell you all about one of my best friend's hijacking my entire summer with her birthday, convocation, bridal shower, wedding, and her two other wedding-related parties. Oh yes, and she's moving away, so she's entitled to like 50 presents.
Generally, if I find something cute and funny, useful, and appropriate, I'll save it until an occasion, or just gift it, right then and there. But to try and find something original within a certain timeline and budget, all the while gambling on the potential likability/usability of the item? Yeah...
So I loved it when Mommy Dearest proposed on Mother's Day that we drastically reduce the gift giving within the family to once a year, at Eid Al Fitr, right after Ramadan. The routine would be a Secret Santa and a list of "wanted" items and its basically a gift package that should cover all the necessary holidays and/or surprise occasions including, but not limited to, birthdays, anniversaries, and designated holidays. Which is wonderful by me because I like to give others things that they need and will use in the near future, and I've been getting things I have no use for, and therefore end up shamelessly re-gifting them. Things like:
- Bubble Bath: It smells good, sure, but I have no time and no desire to spend an hour in the bathtub soaking in chemicals and artificial colours.
- Perfume: Okay, I do have use for this, but I'm not really a frequent user and I'm not interested in starting a collection.
- Purses: I'm picky about them, and I already have too many.
- Candles: Chemical-y.
Books are always welcomed!
Not that I care much for receiving gifts anyway, I'd rather celebrate an occasion with some good coffee and good conversation, two things you can never have enough of. Another gift is just another item I have to put away somewhere in my room, and we all know I'd rather just leave it a mess. You'd end up being an accomplice to the trashing my of room, you gift-giving freak.
