holiday gift pressure?

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chemo072
chemo072 Member Posts: 682
edited June 2014 in Life After Breast Cancer
holiday gift pressure?
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  • chemo072
    chemo072 Member Posts: 682
    edited November 2007

    Hi,  I'm feeling a bit of self-inflicted pressure to get people extra meaningful gifts this year because not only was cancer hard on me, but it was hard on all my family and friends, and they had to deal with the possibility that they may lose me, and so I'd like to give them meaningful gifts.....but, I'm just recovering from rads and exhausted, nevermind the havoc that cancer plays on finances. 

    So, my question for you all - how do you handle holidays?  My family & friends just want me to be happy, healthy and relaxed, but I know how things go and want them to feel cherished....

    help! ideas pls.

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  • roseg
    roseg Member Posts: 3,133
    edited November 2007

    When I had my surgery I received flowers, several times Cool

    I loved looking at them and I loved putting them in my house. Since then I have given flowers more frequently.  They are lovely, people don't usually buy them for themselves and they don't clutter up your life.

    If you are tired or less able to shop they can be ordered and delivered which is very helpful. 

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  • NoH8
    NoH8 Member Posts: 2,726
    edited November 2007

    Be careful sending flowers if the people have pets. I always ask people not to send me flowers or plants because my cats like to chomp on them and then I'm cleaning up cat puke with flower particles lol.

    If your loved ones are coffee or tea drinkers, a personalized mug might be nice. You can make them cheaply at http://www.cafepress.com/ and other personalized things if you're artsy. If you have a picture of you and the person, you can put that on the mug or do a t-shirt, bumper sticker etc.

    You can name a star for someone at http://www.starregistry.com/ .

    For me I always like to receive something that is personal-- like when someone says when I saw this I thought of you, or something meaningful of the relationship like a picture that is remniscent of a vacation we took together.

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  • sahalie
    sahalie Member Posts: 2,147
    edited November 2007

    I love receiving and giving flowers.

    I also have three pets and they have never bothered with any flowers or plants in my home.

    I'm all for sending a small holiday centerpiece. 

    They smell great and the recipient can enjoy it all through the holiday.

    LLBean has a great selection as do other catalogs. 

    Hope this helps. 

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  • Bren-2007
    Bren-2007 Member Posts: 6,241
    edited November 2007

    I like to find a special picture of the person, like my sister jumping her horse, and put it in a nice frame for her.  For my dad's b-day I had a candid pic that was taken of him with my grandson that he had never seen and I printed it up and found a nice frame for it.  Frames are usually pretty inexpensive.

    Just another little idea!

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  • iodine
    iodine Member Posts: 4,289
    edited November 2007

    I'm a flower girl and also have cats.  I love to send Star Gazer lillies.  The fragrance is amazing and can fill a room.

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  • NoH8
    NoH8 Member Posts: 2,726
    edited November 2007

    My cats must have oral fixations, because they even chomp on FAKE flowers/leaves. I had an indoor dried floral wreath on a door and they climbed up on a bookshelf to attack it.

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  • abbadoodles
    abbadoodles Member Posts: 2,618
    edited November 2007

    My cat loves plastic shopping bags. Cry If I leave any lying around, I hear her at night chewing on them.

    I vote for consumable gifts.  Anything from a favorite wine and cheese selection to fancy pastries.  You can buy locally or online for fuss-free delivery.  In fact, I was just saying to my husband that we should send his friend some Omaha's steaks.  I've received them in the past and they were wonderful.

    Tina

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  • badboob67
    badboob67 Member Posts: 2,780
    edited November 2007

    Amyam,

    Perhaps instead of shopping for the "meaningful" gifts, you could write each of those special people a personal letter expressing your appreciation for them. Perhaps you could then get multiples of the same gift such an ornament, paperweight, or something similar that is inscribed with the year. That way, whenever they see the item, they will remember your letter and how thankful you are for them. You might even think of having a photo of yourself taken to include in the card or letter. I have really lost my patience with the getting-and-spending mentality of the holiday seasons of late. Even though giving gifts is a way of expressing our appreciation--and it feels good to give--there is so much pressure. 

    Diane 

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  • NoH8
    NoH8 Member Posts: 2,726
    edited November 2007

    abba, one of my cats will eat anything plastic--I think he has pica Tongue out. He hasn't tried the shopping bags yet, he seems to prefer the crinkly plastic you can hear when you touch it. I try to keep everything out of the way, but am not always successful (I clean up a lot of cat puke).

    I love receiving gift cards (Victoria's secret ones to be exact), some people think they're not personal, but anyone who knows me knows that's what I like more than anything.

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  • myrenewal
    myrenewal Member Posts: 203
    edited November 2007

    QVC has a cool little sterling heart pendant if you want to give something sentimental - It has a light jingle and a poem to go with it about love and hearing the jingle. 

    http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/view.2/app.detail

    If you scroll through the pictures at the bottom, you can read the poem. 

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