running a little late gift guide, part 2

And here is part two of my last minute gift guide (and yes, I realize it's not last minute yet...but honestly, how many of you are actually done shopping already?) Hope you enjoy!

sources: one, two, three, four, fi-ve, six

sources: one, two, three, four, five, six, seven

sources: one, two, three, four, five

running a little late gift guide, part 1

Once I was old enough to kind of know what was going on (aka high school), my dad recruited me to help him shop for my mom for Christmas.  I think this arrangement ended up benefitting both of them - my dad didn't have to rack his brain thinking of presents and my mom (not to pat myself on the back too much) got much better presents.

While my mom got better presents, most of these shopping sprees still took place during the last hours stores are open before Christmas.  Many years LL Bean (open 24/7/365) saved our butts! I don't know what we would have done if we didn't live near Freeport.  I loved these shopping sprees with my dad.  Our energy was kept aloft by all of the other frenzied, last-minute shoppers who buzzed by us, making their rounds through the stores.  Next year, I'll be home for Christmas for the first time in 4 years and I can't wait to keep the tradition alive.

This last minute shopping thing has somehow stuck with me even though I'm normally a planner.  For the past few years I have found myself getting rush delivery and trying desperately to find the right thing at the last moment.  And so I bring you part one of my two part "running a little late" gift guide.  I hope it helps you to find the right gift for that special someone!

Sources: one, two, three, four, five, six

sources: one, two, three, four, five, six

sources: one, two, three, four, five

yummy gifts

If you're running low on cash or tired of pushing your way through crowded malls, here are a few ideas for some homemade gifts this winter.

cinnamon honey butter

divine caramel sauce

Peppermint Hot Fudge (and 40 other edible gift recipes!)

french market pull-aparts

The only hard part for me would be not eating all of these delicious things before I had the chance to give them away!

brown paper packages tied up with strings

Okay, not all of these packages are wrapped in brown paper, as my title would lead you to believe.  But many of them are.  Here are a few ideas to make sure the gifts under your tree look classic and gorgeous.

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via (includes a video tutorial for how to make that bow!)

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I have always loved wrapping presents.  At Christmas, I frequently wrapped all of the presents that weren't for me (sorry to call you out, Mom and Dad).  I liked to cut out snowmen from the backside of the wrapping paper (the white side) and paste them on top of packages.  I really enjoyed (and still enjoy) bows and other embellishments.  Wrapping, in my mind, relates to a good gift the same way scent relates to your enjoyment of food.  I can't wait to try some of these ideas this year.

kraft (not the mac and cheese kind)

Not too long ago, if you brought up Kraft, I would have thought of the stuff from the blue box.  But say it today, and a different image will come to my mind - that of a beautifully wrapped present.  I am currently so enamored with kraft paper that I am trying to come up with a way to justify buying and wrapping (!) lots and lots of gifts.

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Kraft paper is all natural and 100% biodegradable, aka you can compost it.  And it's pretty inexpensive.  So you can feel good about buying it and your bank account will like it too.  Who wants a present*?

*Disclaimer: Said "present" might just be an empty box wrapped in kraft paper.

image sources 1, 2, 3