4 Gift Ideas: One Size Fits All

We've got a short little break from the Spread the Christmas Joy posts to take a second to think about GIFTS! I love giving gifts and really enjoy thinking through what to get my friends and family. You all know I'm part of the Adventure in Odyssey club and I've got some awesome news from them as well as 4 gift ideas from me below. Let me know what you think!

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Holiday to-do lists often become longer and longer as we get closer to Christmas. From holiday parties to host, Christmas pajamas to coordinate, family pictures, gifts to buy, travel plans to finalize, and more, the joy of the season can often be lost in the midst of the hustle and bustle.

Adventures in Odyssey and Odyssey Adventure Club have you covered. Karen Ehman and Glynnis Whitwer, authors of Everyday Confetti, share ideas and tips for simplifying and taking the stress out of the holidays. Pointing to the real reason for the season, they offer ideas to help you keep Christ at the center. Click here for a free broadcast download to learn how to simplify and de-stress your holiday season.

Speaking of de-stressing, let me help you out with your last-minute gift shopping. One of my top recommendations: the Odyssey Adventure Club (OAC) because it offers free content for everyone, including an Advent calendar, a broadcast download with tips to create a memorable Christmas, AIO cutouts and Christmas stocking stuffer cards. Membership to the OAC costs just $9.99 a month — or even less if parents make a six-month or one-year commitment. Enrollment provides more than enough content to keep kids engaged throughout the year:

• Access to exclusive content and first looks at books and select Radio Theatre dramas.
• On-the-go access to the OAC app for both iOS and Android users.
• 24/7 streaming access to nearly 800 AIO episodes.
• A new, members-only AIO episode every month.
• A subscription to Adventures in Odyssey Clubhouse Magazine, and more.

To learn more about the Odyssey Adventure Club, visit www.oaclub.org, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

4 Gift Ideas: One Size Fits All

1. Get creative

I am a big fan of thinking out side the box - you all know that here on the blog! One of the ways I do that for gift giving comes in the form of "gifts of the year". Now, I don't do this all the time or for every person, but it has come in handy multiple times in the past for me. What is this? Well, inspiration usually comes from searching Pinterest (yes, I'm one of those crafty people) and then finding something that I think my friends will like across the board. One year it was homemade sugar scrubs, the next year it was personalized silver necklaces, and so on. It helps to simplify things and pick one gift that can be customized for each person. Actually, giving the gift of Adventures in Odyssey to friends might be the perfect "one size fits all" gift!

Here are links to my Orange Vanilla Sugar Scrub & Sweet Brown Sugar Scrub

2. Get crafty

Yep, here's where Pinterest comes in again. I love making gifts. Rather than spending a bunch of money on things, I'll often try and make things that are useful and/or memorable. If you're a first-time crafter, make sure you pick something do-able, but otherwise, have fun! Enjoy the process. I guarantee that it will mean more because you put time into it!

Here's a "how-to" to make the scarf picture: Spoken Scarf
 

3. Get out

We tend to think of gifts in the way of items, but some gifts--like the gift of time--can be even more valuable. Think about that special someone you're getting a gift for and consider how you can "get out" with them. Maybe it's a nature hike, a sports game, or a museum that they've wanted to go to. Include some fun items related to the location or that can be used on the day and you've got a great gift! These types of gifts are perfect for best friends, spouses, children, or other family members! And hey, if you find yourself on a drive, you could listen to an Adventures in Odyssey episode along the way.

4. Get sentimental

My last gift idea make take a little more thought than the others. I find that gifts that hold special meaning are the best kind. They don't have to cost a lot to mean a lot. Think about the person you are giving a gift to. What is special about them to you? What things have you gone through together? What sticks out through the years (or time you've known them)? These things are the best things to build a great gift on. And don't limit yourself to one gift. Maybe it's a bunch of small gifts that combine to create a memory collage of you and that person. Either way, you know that the thought you've put into the gift will mean more than anything else.

What about you? Got any gift ideas to add here? I'd love to hear about them in the comments below.