The Grinch hung out downtown a few years back.
Someone years ago lifted up the Saturday after Thanksgiving to be Small Business Saturday, an effort to drive more Christmas shopping to local and indepently owned business. I'm trying to do more of my shopping in general this way, and Christmas shopping gives lot's of opportunities. This, along with thrifting if done in masses, maybe we can reduce the massive corporate footprint. I've got some ideas I'm looking for.
Shopping and Gift Giving
My version of Blogmas will start Wednesday and one is lined up on gift giving and reducing both my spending and contribution to gluttony. Today, I'd like a few stocking stuffers for my kids ( yes they're adults but I still do stockings and likely always will) and for my MIL to go with the group gifts. I was given some lovely things for my birthday by siblings from local businesses from family like handmade pot holders, unique jam, and a necklace. I'd never buy my MIL jewelry, but might find other useful things made or sold in small stores today. I'm not sure of our route today but my daughter and I will cover a lot of ground.
Decorating
This is the weekend and week I decorate for the season. I won't go all out but enough to let visitors or passer bys know I like the season. I've got a tiny tree I'm putting in my office. Working from home gives me liberty to do such, though no one cared at the office if kept in our own space and didn't linger into the hallways. It's not the decorations or the time it takes to put them up that give me pause. It's lugging things in and out if the garage. It's a task that is not for the faint of heart. I finally labelled all the bins to help me out- I can't believe it took me 25 years to do that! I'll have a tree, my mantel, the village, and my books in a basket. There will be the traditional drunk Santa display with my dozens posed and hanging amongst my bar chest and wine bottle area.
If we don't get the tree decorated by the time the kid goes back, I'll just put lights on and we'll finish off when the semester is done and she's home for break. It's looking at the ornaments with others as they go on that makes decorating the tree special. At night, I'm just happy to enjoy plugging in the lights. When I say night, I mean 4:00 in the afternoon. Pup, after a first sniff around and look, really ignores the decorations. I feel for you that juggle holidays and cats.
Balance
Partially as she helped me navigate my empty-nest syndrome, two years ago my older daughter and I started participating in Christmas stuff, shopping, and viewing displays, tastings too early and felt a bit " done" by the week leading up to Christmas. Last year it all was just odd. The college kid didn't go back on campus after Thanksgiving break as they tried to mitigate the spread on campus after students and staff were home, so we spent a lot of nights trying to feel and do Christmasy things to keep spirits up. It's still odd this year with precautions needed as positive Covid numbers are peaking, and hospitals full. Add to that that all of us are work swamped so planning extra festivities isn't an easy thing. Curling up on the couch is after I shut the computer down. This rambling paragraph is just to say, I hope I find a balance in a little Christmas cheer, enjoy the change of season, but don't put it have too many expectations.
It's time to get moving this Saturday. DH is off but he'll be left to his own amusements. Maybe he'll carry all my bins into the house for me while we're out. I'll have to look at Sunday's meal option list, but am leaning towards tuna hotdish or spaghetti Bolognese for supper. I promised a curry to my daughter as well. What's up on your Saturday?
Happy belated Birthday! Our small business Saturday is next week and I always look forward to it.
ReplyDeleteWe have a lot of local food options in our area and since the cost of food is continuing to rise, we are doing food baskets for most on our list this year. Because they are produced locally and no shipping is involved, the prices have remained about the same. I noticed bacon at the grocery store has almost doubled yet bacon from a local farmer has remained the same price.
I like supporting local farmers and cottage industries. Plus, I don't like buying "stuff" just to have something to give. Everyone enjoys food gifts.
I hope you enjoy your Saturday!!
Well right after posting this comment my husband came in to ask when we were leaving to go downtown for small business Saturday. I don't know why I thought it was next Saturday here. lol
DeleteI thought it was a national movement to counter Black Friday, but that perhaps your community did it a bit different. I'm doing a snack box for my nephew- all things he can throw in his backpack for snacking when snowboarding. He'll get cash too, but he's in need of nothing.
DeleteNick & M carried the tree & one bin in, & we put up the decorations yesterday. We keep things really small (a tree with decorations & lights, & a mantel decoration), given that we're out of town for the actual holiday. It does look really festive when it's up & I enjoy the lights so much.
ReplyDeleteNick handles attic duty, so it was reasonably painless. We still have the outdoor lights to finish today.
My ambition is waning as we try and fit an urgent care visit in today. I will see how much I get done this weekend.
DeleteI think that's a genius idea to advocate for small businesses. I'm sure this year more than most they could use all the custom the get!
ReplyDeleteFound a new gourmet popcorn store. It will be my new favorite treat. We seemed to find food gifts today.
DeleteChristmas has changed significantly over the years. We do not buy gifts for each other or for most family members. We ask that they buy for others or themselves or donate to their favorite charity. We have 4 cats, so no Christmas tree anymore (not really any where to put it either) and a very few unbreakable decorations put out. It's less stressful that way and safer for the furry felines. I will send a check to my son and grandson for them to share with their families to purchase whatever their needs may be. I watch Christmas movies when it gets closer to the holiday and play Christmas music when I'm here alone and my husband is at work. He does not like Christmas. He has accommodated me through the years but he thinks it causes more sadness than joy because of the differences between the haves and the have- nots. With the last couple of years being how they have been and no real change in the foreseeable future, it is more poignant than ever. We both see this everyday and we aren't even looking for it. We avoid the news channels and try to ignore the next breaking news of the new coronavirus. And still, most of us are trying to stay as positive and optimistic as possible. Inside I still try my best to feel and show the joy of Christmas and hope others will be able to do the same. Ranee (MN)
ReplyDeleteI can understand your husband's thoughts. I'd like to think more about the intended spirit of Christmas and leave commercialism behind. I like to experience the wonder, but should really appreciate that year round.
DeleteOur small business Saturday was going out to a taco place nearby. I got steak tacos in a crispy chewy shell, delicious! The only shopping I did this weekend was buying my daughter a laptop for school. I even sent her to the mall with my credit card and she didn’t get a thing. We just have enough “stuff”. Daughter and boyfriend went downtown to watch our high school play in the championship and WIN!!!! First time we’ve ever done it, so very exciting. As an alum, I couldn’t be prouder :) Off to bed in a few minutes, I’m beat. Still one more one day of work tomorrow. We also got a little snow today, first of the season. The nice kind that melts on the road and looks like a snow globe in the sky. JoAnn
ReplyDeleteA little dash of snow would be nice. It's do incredibly gray. Other than the smell, it was nice to see the rich black if the soil turned over- it will freeze up but it was at least some contrast. What kind of computer did your daughter get? We semi splurged with ours before college and got a MacBook Air. 2.5 years so far and going strong. They used to say laptop life is three years, but I don't know if true anymore. I'm hoping she can eek it out another year and 1/2.
DeleteI spent the day flying! 7 plus hours but I’m home now. I visited my son and soon to be DIL in San Francisco for the week. We had a nice visit and I lost 5 pounds due to walking up and down the hills and no snacking. They are both fitness ‘freaks’ lol and I’m a plump going on 75 year old sedentary gal. I did get my share of wine- we went to Sonoma one day- and Greek, Indian and Thai food plus the traditional turkey dinner. I made the gravy and mashed potatoes snd son did the rest. I’ve been looking for a place that will mail my 2 brothers in Iowa some homemade goodies. There are lots on Etsy but I’m a little leery of sending untested goods. I refuse to buy Hickory Farms or similar because they’re large companies. Anyone have links to small home-based businesses they’ve used before? Thanks in advance. Today will be REST and then back to work tomorrow, I plan on getting a Covid test before I visit any clients. I had one in SF a few days after I arrived. Nan
ReplyDeleteThat's a long stretch and good on you for coming home lighter! My goal is to weigh myself and do the pants test with a certain pair of jeans. The target is the scale doesn't go up and the pants fit comfortably in January 1. I'm not sure if any company. I used Swiss Colony, but it's not local, so ease won out.
DeleteSmall Business Saturday is a lovely idea. I think nit must be a thing eher,too - it might explain the flurry of sales I had yesterday! xxx
ReplyDeleteIt's a nice push back to Black Friday ridiculousness. I bet your sales might be good Monday as well as folks flock to Cyber shopping because of course we need to be told how to shop, therefore cyber Monday began.
DeleteThis year I want to patronize small businesses as much as possible.
ReplyDelete