Do you remember when Christmas changed for you? As a child, I remember feeling like Christmas Eve was the hardest night of the year to endure. I was so excited to find out what I was getting the next morning that I could barely close my eyes. Morning would come and I would be awake long before I was allowed to leave my room. When the time came, I would run downstairs and marvel at how my stockings overflowed and how the gifts below the tree had magically multiplied. My anticipation grew until the very last present had been opened. I felt all the love and the joy that my parents intended as they chose gifts for me.
Things changed while I was a teenager. For a few years during that time, Christmas was just kind of a let down. I had all of that anticipation left over from my childhood but I had grown out of simple material satisfaction. I was hoping for that rush I felt when I received gifts as a child, but I just couldn’t get to that place anymore.
As I matured, Christmas began to transform. Christmas stopped being about 8am – 12pm December 25th and started being about the moments that lead up to that day. I found Christmas in the preparation and in the family togetherness and in the solemn religious rituals. And I found Christmas in the gift giving.
I still think about the gifts under the tree. I still sit and stare at them in anticipation for Christmas morning. But my excitement radiates not from the parcels addressed to me, but from the ones given by me instead. My heart races as loved ones decide what gift to open. I try to maintain composure when all I really want to do is thrust my chosen present into their eager hands.
Christmas is still all about the gifts for me – the gift giving.
I can’t help but want to give the best gifts. I want my gifts to stand out. I want my gifts to scream: THIS IS AWESOME! LOOK HOW MUCH LAURA LOVES YOU!!!!!
It can be hard to find something that is memorable and unique and full of character.
If you are like me, you probably have people in your life that you want to wow with a gift. And it can just be so darn hard to find the perfect one.
For these people, I would like to suggest NOVICA.
NOVICA is one of the leading fair trade artisan websites. In collaboration with National Geographic, it uses the Internet to allow you to shop local, globally. They empower global artisans and give shoppers access to unique, hard-to-find items at great value. I have been all over the site, and I am impressed by the variety of items to purchase and price ranges. I have found many items which appeal to my tastes and I am certainly coveting a few items.
I will be gifting a unique, artisan crafted piece from NOVICA this holiday season, but forgive me for not revealing what it is. If you still need help shopping, I highly recommend NOVICA. They sell home decor, jewelry, apparel, and so much more. If you’re stuck without a gift for someone still, you can browse their Gifts by Personality page, or find Romantic Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, and Spiritual Gifts. They also have a great guide to tell you what items can be delivered before Christmas (this page seems to be created based on how long it would take to ship to America. It is not a reliable tool if you’re looking to ship to Canada).
NOVICA is being added to the 2012 Holiday Gift Guide because you will be able to find a beautiful, handcrafted, unique gift that will help global artisans while impressing friends and family.
Because I think this is such a worthy venture, I am giving away a $50 gift certificate to NOVICA. (Please note that by the time the giveaway is finished, there will not be enough time to use the gift certificate for Christmas gifts.) Use the rafflecopter app below to enter. You only need to do the “Leave a Comment” entry option, but there are other entry options if you would like to increase your chances. Giveaway open worldwide (or at least wherever NOVICA ships).
The small print: Novica sent me gift card to use and I decided to share some of that gift card with you. As always, my opinions are never bought.
I’m enjoying reading your blogs and what a neat idea, will definitely be browsing this sight. I do enjoy giving gifts but for us this year it’s what can we make that someone can use/enjoy. So far it’s going well… a bit behind but we will be done for christmas in time.
Fun! What great site..awesome variety :)
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I guess to specifically answer the question… would be the ones that are homemade. they have taken time and effort to get them done and mean that much more to me and hopefully the person getting the gift.
I love receiving homemade gifts. Something that someone put a lot of thought into and it shows!
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What a treasure trove of beautiful wares! I’m always looking for unique gifts and NOVICA definitely has many!
I’d have to say the best gift I ever gave was my old dollhouse given to my daughters. They both love it, and we share so many memories together!
Stephanie Potter recently posted..Taste of Heaven
This was such a beautiful post, Laura! I too remember the “let down” as a teenager, especially with my only sibling being so much older than I am, christmas morning was often just my parents and I. But I remember one year coming home from university and finding out that my grandmother had fallen ill and wouldn’t be able to attend the christmas eve service…..my best friend at the time, who had never stepped foot in a church, arrived at my house on christmas eve to take me to the service!! I always remember how that felt and the love I felt and thats really when christmas changed for me. I too am OVERLY excited to GIVE!!! I ordered special treats from my dad’s home country to remind him of christmas as a child this year, prepared a date night basket for my sister/brother in law complete with movies gc, dinner gc, makeup, jewelry etc., bath toys for my niece….this year shopping was hard for my mom!! But I can’t wait for christmas morning to see everyone else open their gifts!! I hope christmas is so much fun for you this year, I can’t wait to have a little one around to add to the excitement!
Hmm…best Christmas gift given – that’s tough. I’m really excited to give my brother his gift this year: his apartment needed some punches of colour and I got his an AWESOME custom-made piece of artwork.
Since I always try to buy as many Christmas gifts super early…this gift card would be put to good use right away.
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I discovered Novica a few months ago and it’s awesome!
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This is an unfair question – I have no idea! I think I have contributed to some great presents! Also, I got Dave something AWESOME for Christmas (I can’t write what it is) – but just got an email that it is on backorder, so probably won’t get it by Christmas – booo :(
I took out a whole couple of paragraphs in here about how competitive you are around Christmas time and how because of that I try to give gifts that stand up to yours. But it was getting too wordy so I took it out.
But your comment makes me feel better that my present for you and Dave won’t be here in time for Christmas.
Also, I want to know what Dave is getting.
Laura recently posted..The Best Giver – a NOVICA Giveaway
Yay! So excited to discover another great way to shop online! Thanks Laura!
The scrapbook I gave my husband when we were dating because it was something I put a lot of love and time in!
the best present i gave was a $100 Walmart giftcard. A friend was going through a hard time and it really helped her family out alot. She was so grateful
My bf went and bought me an iPhone for no reason at all :)
My best present when I was 9, was Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gable. I consider it the best present ever, because that book fostered my love for books.
I gave my mom a kitchenaid mixer. She was so excited she started to cry….she has wanted one for so long.
Ashley H recently posted..Hershey’s Simple Pleasures Coupon + Rite Aid Deal
the best present I have ever given was a gift of my time to the elderly in my area
a photobook of our vacation to my hubby……….he was overwhelmed with the fun captured in it. debbie jackson
djackson1958 at hotmail dot com
A scrapbook I made my mom :)
That would be an airplane ticket so my sister could spend Christmas with me
A surprise last minute trip was the best gift I have given. Surprised my boyfriend a few years ago and we spent the holidays in sunny Mexico!
When I was a child my grandfather handmade me a dollhouse. He put so much work into it, and I loved it.
I helped build my nephew a treehosue :-)
The best present I gave was a skirt to my daughter, that I had sewn myself. She loved it!
Just checked out the website. Wow. Such beautiful things! Definitely adding it to my list of online stores.
The best present I’ve given was probably a quilt that I made for my sister – because it took a lot of time and effort! :)
Hmmmm I think the best gift I have ever given always feels like they are the smallest things. I feel great joy in taking time to pick out a gift for the toy drive and I honestly feel like it is the “best” gift given in the season. I love that this year my son was old enough to pick it out :-)
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