Paper Bag Stockings and Plastic Bag Wrapping: A Holiday to Remember
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- Published on Wednesday, 26 December 2012 08:02
Paper Bag Stockings and Plastic Bag Wrapping: A Holiday to Remember
By Shara Lawrence-Weiss, Mommy Perks
We are currently in the process of moving to a new home. My husband and I decided to go slim on gifts this year, with moving expenses coming our way. We chose to give gifts to the teens in our town, rather than buy presents for each other.
For our four kids, we opted to give them each a few small things, and nothing more. Last year we had a much larger Christmas and to be honest, I was displeased. My kids were over-indulged and they don’t remember a thing about it, now.
I was driving in the car with my daughter on Christmas Eve morning and she asked me about our stockings. I told her, “We already took them to the other house, honey.” She was sad about that so I thought quickly about something I could use as an alternative. I remembered the Trader Joes paper bags in my kitchen drawer: perfect!
When we got home, we worked together to make our own paper bag stockings using the paper sacks, scissors and a stapler.
It worked!
My gift wrap was packed away so we used plastic bags to wrap everything. I attached names to each bag using lined paper and a pen. I had the kids pick something out for each other, giving them a budget to work with. We also received a few little gifts from friends and family members, adding up to a very nice Christmas morning.
My children wanted a tree so they used a few items from around the house, to decorate - including hair clips from my bathroom drawer and crafts they had made at school, just before break.
After my kids were done opening their gifts my daughter said, “Well. We got everything we wanted.” They didn’t get much so it was great to hear her say that. They spent the morning playing with their new crafts, coloring and painting, playing old fashioned games, blowing bubbles and eating their sweets.
This was probably one of my favorite, least stressful Christmas mornings, thus far. Later on, we piled into the van and delivered a gift to another family, knowing they hadn't received anything at all. We were not focused on gifts for ourselves this year and that served us well.
Simple. Real. Memorable.
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Comments
I heart this! It reminds of a Christmas we had several years ago...when my kids were much younger...almos t exactly to a "T". We had just moved, finances were scarce, but we were all together and healthy. Our tree was decorated with a paper chain made by the kids, as well as some other homemade trinkets they threw on the tree, gifts were repurposed, second-hand (a thrift store typewriter), dollar store specials and discount items.
It was without question, one of my most favorite Christmases ever! I was just reminiscing about it with the kids last night!
Peace to you and yours!
Love the stockings!
Wendy =)
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