Christmas Wrapped

This is the time of year I always get completely blindsided by a person or twenty in my life who is deserving of some sort of holiday gift but I’ve forgotten completely about.

Of course I don’t want them to know I’ve forgotten completely about them.

“Oh your gift! I totally left it at home, darn…I can’t believe it, I mean it was just sitting on the front table and I walked right out the door without it.”

(I know, I know. I’ve just outed myself, haven’t I.)

One year it was my beloved dry cleaner, a jubilant little rolly-polly Korean lady who used to look with mock disapproval at my miniskirts and declare, “This skirt? Too short. I make longer.” One year it was a tree-trimming party guest who thought he’d show up with three friends. Just, you know, for fun. (And, presumably free food.)

Often it’s a local shop owner or a forgotten staff member in my building or the girl who washes my hair at the salon. But generally it’s a collection of neighbors and acquaintances who have, entirely unexpectedly, gotten me a gift.

Which is why now, I always keep a bunch of extra goodies on hand around the holidays, wrapped and ready to go.

The basic rules of thumb for emergency gifts: 1. Not too expensive 2. Not too personal 3. Something you can use yourself should it go unused.

 

My favorites:

-Boxes of gourmet teas with a nice tea ball (adding a little something extra always makes the gift seem more thoughtfully considered)

-A set of coasters wrapped in festive ribbon. Seriously, the ribbon makes all the difference.

-A big christmas cookie cutter tied with ribbon and attached to your favorite cookie recipe

-Pretty ornaments – Buy a multi-pack and then individually wrap them in nice tissue and place in a small gift bag. This is definitely one you can use yourself or in subsequent years if they don’t go used this time around.

-An oversized mug with a packet of gourmet hot chocolate tucked inside

-A pack of scented guest soaps or nicely packaged hand lotion – make sure they’re not too cheap; cheap ones tend to be stinky. And get a few more manly scents like eucalyptus so that you’re not stuck giving your cousin Joe some lavender thingie.

-Little pads with a small box of crayons or glitter pens for kids

-A single homemade gingerbread man or big Christmas star – especially nice if you can add the initial of the recipient in frosting

-Jugs o’ hooch (Never underestimate the happiness of a recipient upon receiving a bottle of wine or aperitif)

Are these gifts fairly generic? Of course. That’s what makes them emergency gifts. Which is why wrapping, ribbons, and cards matter; keep a bunch of teeny gift cards around and a nice calligraphy pen and consider yourself ready for nearly any gift-giving emergency.