Five weeks to Christmas …. and counting! Even though most shops and big stores are decorated it still doesn’t feel like Christmas, maybe the year has gone by far too quickly and we’re only just recovering from last Christmas.
Still, it’s just around the corner, so do your best and prepare what you can beforehand and if finance is a problem, don’t borrow money to buy gifts, rather go small.
Family and friends who love you won’t bother at all and they’ll just be happy to spend some quality time with you over the festive season.
Home-baked gifts
Nearly everyone enjoys biscuits and cakes. Bake a few batches of cookies or shortbread, distribute them between wicker baskets lined with kitchen roll and wrap them in coloured cellophane, scrunch up at the top and tie with ribbon. These baskets will make delicious gifts for families, granny and grandpa or friends. Alternatively make an easy fruitcake recipe, when cooked and cooled put the cake on a silver cake board and wrap the same way as the biscuits.
Easy fruit cake
Ingredients
175g butter or margarine; 175g sugar; 3 eggs; 225g cake flour; 2 teaspoons baking powder; pinch salt; 2 tablespoons milk; grated rind of one orange; 75g cake mix.
Method
Cream butter and sugar together until pale and fluffy, add eggs one at a time beating well after each addition. Add grated orange rind and fold in the dry ingredients, adding fruit mix last.
Turn the mixture into a greased 20c square cake tin lined with greaseproof paper. Bake in a moderate oven (180c for about 45 minutes. Test to see if it’s cooked in the middle by inserting a knitting needle or sharp knife. Turn the cake out on to a wire rack. When the cake is cold you can either gift wrap it straightaway or wrap in tinfoil and keep in a tin for a few days until you are visiting the person the cake is for.
Advent calendars
Young children love advent calendars, where they get to have a sweet treat every day of December before Christmas Day. I remember my two children used to hurry out of bed so they could have a chocolate and see how many more days to Christmas Day. You can buy the cardboard varieties at Clicks, Pick n Pay, Checkers and Woolies.
Woolies also sell Advent Calendars which you can keep for year after year, just re-filling the pockets or drawers with chocolates or sweets. I also spotted a really lovely red felt Father Christmas advent calendar at Mr Price Home. For R149.99 it’s not bad and all you have to do is fill the pockets with sweets or chocolates. This will make a delightful pre-Christmas gift for your grandchildren and one they can enjoy year after year.
If you are creative, why don’t you make one out of material or felt, sewing on 25 little pockets which you’ll fill with sweets.
Gift ideas
Mr Price Home really does sell some lovely gifts, mainly for kiddies or women, not much for men, and most are very reasonably priced.
Children – assorted fluffy toys, puzzles and books; cute self-adhesive wall stickers from R49.99; creative fun art case R69.99, as well as bright duvet
covers and curtains to match, and other accessories, such as lamps.
For women – and all under R100 – Time and Again five satin padded coat hangers R79.99; Lemon grass home fragrance diffuser R79.99; Scented drawer liners (varied fragrances) R39.99; Aloe in fusion Orange and Honey foam bath R39.99 and vanilla fragranced sachets (three pack) R25.99.
Mr Price Home also has a wide range of gifts for pets, if that’s what tickles your fancy!
Gifts for men
CNA, Pick n Pay and Dis-Chem – Hi Life Experiences (vouchers), valid for six months from date of purchase. Choose from Romance, Indulgence and Adventure. I’m sure most men would like an adventure voucher. There are lots to choose from but the Horseback Game Ride for one at R279 and Experience the thrill of sliding through the forest, for two and a half hours R499, sound great. Under “Indulgence” – Breakfast for two at Ludwig’s Roses R189 would
make a lovely gift for your parents. @Home Living has a great cooler bag with collapsible seat R169 as well as an assortment of cocktail making goodies and at Woolies you can choose from small gadgets and torches.
That’s it for this week. More gift ideas next week, as well as ‘how to make up a Christmas menu’. Shop till you drop.
Julie
