Giving and Receiving Guide to Holidays without the Hype!

It’s that time of year again! Thanksgiving was early in Canada and late in the US, so I managed to do both, which was fun.

And here we are racing into the Holiday Season with fears of H1N1 flu, monetary recessions and the obligatory ‘never enough time’.

With that in mind, I wanted to remind you of the reason for the season. Whatever religious or spiritual path you walk its time to slow down and celebrate with family and friends.

Giving and Receiving without the HYPE!

As I mentioned I managed a double bout of ‘gratefulness’ with Thanksgiving but I still like to think of this time of year being the ‘big event’ for celebrating the good in our lives.

To do this we really don’t have to spend a lot of money.

It’s taking time to be with family, friends and loved ones that count. And of course, our gift giving doesn’t have to cost a small fortune when we remember that.

That said, I do like both aspects: the giving and the receiving. So, I’m sharing with you a few ways I make the holidays special without buying into a lot of commercial hype.

This Fall I was traveling with my husband and he suggested it was time to do some things just for the fun of it. (Truth be told, I can be a workaholic—but then I love what I do!) I realized it had been years since I’d pulled out some knitting.

In fact, so many years that he was shocked to find out that I actually can knit! Something home-made that you can wear is always a lovely and thoughtful gift.

But, there’s not much time?

How about knitting a few Jacqueline’s Favorite Hats? They knit up very easily and quickly in one or two evenings in front of the TV with a good movie! Knit an extra couple and donate them to a charity: a local Mission or School will always be able to find a home for them. Not only will your loved ones enjoy their gifts but you will have the pleasure of knowing you’ve helped some others receive something personal.

As an Aromatherapist I have always enjoyed making blends with essential oils. This year I’m busy making Emma’s Bathing Beauty Bombes. Her secret is to make them in little muffin tins then you don’t have to worry about sticking the two halves together to make a round one. A favorite is a sea-shell shape she found a few years ago. This year I found some fruit shapes which are lots of fun.

And I will be making a few extra for me—because bathing with bath bombs is like taking a bath in champagne—and it makes me feel absolutely fabulous!

Kids love them too:

Try a little Mandarin or Tangerine essential oil in your kiddies’ bath bombs and enjoy the smell, happy kids and then the sleepiness that follows!

If you feel a little more adventurous try our Herbal Salves recipes. A reminder of the summer in the mid-winter is wonderful. There are lots of recipes on the SchoolofCT site too for Massage Oil blends—check them out!

And don’t forget that entertaining doesn’t have to come from a shop either. I love receiving home-made cookies and candies as it’s not part of my family’s traditions. Each year I receive some biscotti from an Italian girl-friend and another friend gives me a small plate of her cardamom shortbreads. Yum!

Don’t forget to serve my Aromatherapy Holiday Punch at your gatherings, or make a little for yourself as a treat! And try this recipe for the chocoholics on your list.

The best way to celebrate is to share.

Share your time by getting together with others and making gifts and goodies. Share your love by gifting home-made gifts and share with those less fortunate by making extras. Perhaps you have a neighbor who would enjoy some home-made cookies or a gift of a lovingly made hat? Think about how you can share and be the gift this Holiday Season. So please go ahead and share this newsletter and all our recipes and ideas—use the forward button at the bottom of the page.

On a final note, let your Christmas be as green as possible—this year I’m festooning a lovely little cedar tree just beside my deck with popcorn and cranberry garlands thread on left-over knitting yarn! The birds love it and I have a feeling the tree prefers them to being draped with lights.

Let me know what you and your family and friends do to contribute to a Happy Holiday Season.

Merry Christmas and Keep Well,
Big Love,
Jacqueline Fairbrass
Founder, School of Complementary Therapies

PS No time for any of this? My MP3s make a great Christmas Gift—the type that keeps giving all year. Or how about a course for someone special? Order early to make sure they arrive on time. Cheers!