Comments on: The “Please Don’t Buy Me Any Stuff” Gift Guide http://blog.anniefox.com/2009/12/04/the-%e2%80%9cplease-don%e2%80%99t-buy-me-any-stuff%e2%80%9d-gift-guide/ Thoughts about teens, tweens, parenting and this adventure of living on Earth in the 21st century. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 23:44:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: Karen http://blog.anniefox.com/2009/12/04/the-%e2%80%9cplease-don%e2%80%99t-buy-me-any-stuff%e2%80%9d-gift-guide/comment-page-1/#comment-17952 Karen Fri, 24 Dec 2010 19:36:03 +0000 http://blog.anniefox.com/?p=2689#comment-17952 I love it! I come from a family where my parents only gave what they made - homemade goodies, fresh garden food, pottery (made by my mom), and money. My mother disliked commercialism. She also recalled her Depression Era-Christmas times of only receiving one present under the tree. My husband and I disagree each year on the philosophies of what to give our 5 children. The coupon idea, however, is a big hit! Thanks, Annie, for reminding us of the simplicity in "giving" for the holidays. Some of the best presents I've received didn't come from the store. I love it!

I come from a family where my parents only gave what they made – homemade goodies, fresh garden food, pottery (made by my mom), and money.

My mother disliked commercialism. She also recalled her Depression Era-Christmas times of only receiving one present under the tree. My husband and I disagree each year on the philosophies of what to give our 5 children. The coupon idea, however, is a big hit!

Thanks, Annie, for reminding us of the simplicity in “giving” for the holidays. Some of the best presents I’ve received didn’t come from the store.

]]> By: Alea http://blog.anniefox.com/2009/12/04/the-%e2%80%9cplease-don%e2%80%99t-buy-me-any-stuff%e2%80%9d-gift-guide/comment-page-1/#comment-17949 Alea Wed, 22 Dec 2010 18:02:04 +0000 http://blog.anniefox.com/?p=2689#comment-17949 I started a tradition in my family of giving to charitable organizations in people's names. For instance, my 10 year old cousin wanted a rabbit this year for his birthday which really isn't feasible considering the facts that we live in NYC and that his family already has a massive dog. Instead, I donated a trio of rabbits through Heifer International in his name. This holiday season, I've been either donating in peoples' names to or giving gifts from Indego Africa (a fantastic social enterprise that partners with women's artisan co-ops in Rwanda). I started a tradition in my family of giving to charitable organizations in people’s names. For instance, my 10 year old cousin wanted a rabbit this year for his birthday which really isn’t feasible considering the facts that we live in NYC and that his family already has a massive dog. Instead, I donated a trio of rabbits through Heifer International in his name.

This holiday season, I’ve been either donating in peoples’ names to or giving gifts from Indego Africa (a fantastic social enterprise that partners with women’s artisan co-ops in Rwanda).

]]> By: Laura http://blog.anniefox.com/2009/12/04/the-%e2%80%9cplease-don%e2%80%99t-buy-me-any-stuff%e2%80%9d-gift-guide/comment-page-1/#comment-12886 Laura Fri, 19 Feb 2010 02:03:34 +0000 http://blog.anniefox.com/?p=2689#comment-12886 I just read your 'Don't Buy Me Any Stuff' Gift Guide on the Dr. Laura website. Thank you! We had an opportunity to travel south (we live in Michigan) to Florida for the holidays with free lodging - a full 2 weeks in the sun, away from the commercialization (& cold) of Christmas. So, we, as a family, decided to have a 'no gifts' year & instead take a family vacation, spending time together, doing new & fun things together, creating memories that will last a lifetime. Though we offended some family members (we said we would not be giving this year & ask that we don't receive; we were using our holiday money for a family memory-making holiday vacation), we probably had one the the BEST holiday seasons ever! And my kids (12 & 7) agree. I am already looking for a way to do it again next year! I enjoyed the season SO much more - no stress! We still did some traditions: making cookies, listening to Christmas music, watching holiday movies, light decorating in the house, a holiday dinner with some family members, etc. but the stress of buying gifts for those who have everything, need nothing & don't appreciate it was gone! We took an iPod with us on the trip to listen to holiday music, & Santa made a stop for the kids in Florida (though on a MUCH lighter scale), & it was different, but special none the less. Christmas was just one day; we had 5 days before & 9 days after to enjoy ourselves & our family. I hope I can convince everyone (& I mean EVERYONE on both sides of the family) to do it again next year. The memories will last so much longer than the 'stuff' - & really, who remembers what they got last year anyway? But our children will remember & tell stories of the Christmas we spent in Florida forever. How nice it would be to have memories of many additional holidays with grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, etc. on vacation, spending time together, than one day opening 'stuff' that will be forgotten in the next year. So thank you for your letter - I knew what we did was right for us, & it's nice to hear that others have the same thoughts. I just read your ‘Don’t Buy Me Any Stuff’ Gift Guide on the
Dr. Laura website. Thank you! We had an opportunity to travel south (we live in Michigan) to Florida for the holidays with free lodging – a full 2 weeks in the sun, away from the commercialization (& cold) of Christmas. So, we, as a family, decided to have a ‘no gifts’ year & instead take a family vacation, spending time together, doing new & fun things together, creating memories that will last a lifetime. Though we offended some family members (we said we would not be giving this year & ask that we don’t receive; we were using our holiday money for a family memory-making holiday vacation), we probably had one the the BEST holiday seasons ever! And my kids (12 & 7) agree. I am already looking for a way to do it again next year! I enjoyed the season SO much more – no stress! We still did some traditions: making cookies, listening to Christmas music, watching holiday movies, light decorating in the house, a holiday dinner with some family members, etc. but the stress of buying gifts for those who have everything, need nothing & don’t appreciate it was gone! We took an iPod with us on the trip to listen to holiday music, & Santa made a stop for the kids in Florida (though on a MUCH lighter scale), & it was different, but special none the less.
Christmas was just one day; we had 5 days before & 9 days after to
enjoy ourselves & our family. I hope I can convince everyone (& I
mean EVERYONE on both sides of the family) to do it again next year.
The memories will last so much longer than the ‘stuff’ – & really, who remembers what they got last year anyway? But our children will remember & tell stories of the Christmas we spent in Florida forever. How nice it would be to have memories of many additional holidays with grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, etc. on vacation, spending time together, than one day opening ‘stuff’ that will be forgotten in the next year.
So thank you for your letter – I knew what we did was right for us, & it’s nice to hear that others have the same thoughts.

]]> By: Judith http://blog.anniefox.com/2009/12/04/the-%e2%80%9cplease-don%e2%80%99t-buy-me-any-stuff%e2%80%9d-gift-guide/comment-page-1/#comment-11298 Judith Sun, 06 Dec 2009 23:15:51 +0000 http://blog.anniefox.com/?p=2689#comment-11298 My dear Annie You have done it again, and the timing of course is perfect. I totally agree with you regarding gifts which come with empathy, compassion, thoughtfulness and one's time and love. They likely to be remembered and appreciated in the long run. Have a wonderful holiday season. Love Judith My dear Annie
You have done it again, and the timing of course is perfect.
I totally agree with you regarding gifts which come with empathy, compassion, thoughtfulness and one’s time and love.
They likely to be remembered and appreciated in the long run.
Have a wonderful holiday season.
Love
Judith

]]> By: uberVU - social comments http://blog.anniefox.com/2009/12/04/the-%e2%80%9cplease-don%e2%80%99t-buy-me-any-stuff%e2%80%9d-gift-guide/comment-page-1/#comment-11294 uberVU - social comments Sun, 06 Dec 2009 20:37:01 +0000 http://blog.anniefox.com/?p=2689#comment-11294 <strong>Social comments and analytics for this post...</strong> This post was mentioned on Twitter by MarjieKnudsen: Gifts difficult this year? The "Don't Buy Me Stuff Gift guide" is here! by @annie_fox http://bit.ly/680ekx #parenting #economy #holidays... Social comments and analytics for this post…

This post was mentioned on Twitter by MarjieKnudsen: Gifts difficult this year? The “Don’t Buy Me Stuff Gift guide” is here! by @annie_fox http://bit.ly/680ekx #parenting #economy #holidays…

]]> By: Joyce http://blog.anniefox.com/2009/12/04/the-%e2%80%9cplease-don%e2%80%99t-buy-me-any-stuff%e2%80%9d-gift-guide/comment-page-1/#comment-11292 Joyce Sun, 06 Dec 2009 17:12:22 +0000 http://blog.anniefox.com/?p=2689#comment-11292 Annie You are an inspiration. I think that I will offer this to my son and his wife who live in a tiny apartment. The grandkids however, will still get gifts. Annie You are an inspiration. I think that I will offer this to my son and his wife who live in a tiny apartment. The grandkids however, will still get gifts.

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