Forget The Most Popular Christmas Gifts!

You know how it goes. The ads start around Halloween. Retailers and toy makers try to use that time to work kids into a frenzy about the newest toy craze or electronic "must have" gifts for Xmas. I guess I've seen it for so many years that I've just become immune to it. Or maybe it's just easier now that my kids are grown and I don't cave into the pressure!

I still absolutely love shopping for Christmas. But now I have the luxury of actually putting some thought into the gifts I buy. It gives me so much pleasure to carefully consider the personality and the needs of the people I buy gifts for. And when it comes to my kids I have as much fun buying for them now as I did when they were just toddlers.

Trying to come up with creative Christmas gifts takes a little thinking outside the box (i.e. boob tube.) Just consider for a moment that giving a gift of a model plane could result in hours of time spent with Dad creating a realistic jumbo jet. It might even lead to a lifelong hobby. And, more importantly, those times spent with the helping hand of a parent could lead to wonderful talks and great memories.

Or consider the gift of musical instrument. While it may not be as big a hit on Christmas morning as a "super duper whiz bang bad guy blaster gun" it just might end up opening a whole new world for a young child after the batteries have died and the plastic pieces have broken on the "blaster gun."

An especially nice idea I've come across this year is something called a Friendship Stone. It's a treasured keepsake that keeps us connected with others who have touched our lives. Carrying the stone is like getting a special hug from the person who gave it to you whenever you feel the need. Like friendship it is something of yourself you can give to someone special, whether it's an old friend or a new friend. It brings us back to basics and emphasizes what is truly important -- the people in our lives! And this gift gives back by helping the people of South Africa where the stones come from.

I know everyone leads busy lives and sometimes it's just easier to grab those things on someone's "wish list." But when I slow down and give it a little thought I always find that it makes shopping for those gifts for Xmas a little more enjoyable. And sometimes I hit a homerun and pick something that actually outshines that "super duper whiz bang bad guy blaster gun."

Check out all of our creative gift ideas at SantasBestGifts.com