Give a gift they won't regift

Greetings:

So what to do if you want to give a gift they won't re-gift? Or perhaps you just don't want to spend a lot of money or want to give something that has more meaning than just something you bought at the store. There are several ways to give something the other person will love and it won't break the bank.

First of all homemade is almost always appreciated. Cookies, candies and all kinds of treats are fun and yummy to receive during the holiday. You could make the persons favorite thing like a pan of homemade Lasagna or homemade meatballs either frozen or ready to be put in the freezer. That way when they prepare the meal they will think of you. Even better give them a coupon for one homemade meal made by you. My all time favorite gift I received from my mother was a box full on my favorite cookies, 100 of them to be exact. I looked forward to that every year.

You could also give the gift of your time. In a recent copy of Cheryl Richardson's ezine she talks about ways to give gifts without spending money. She suggest doing something for the person such as helping them get organized or finish a big project. One year for Christmas I gave my friends a weekend of babysitting. They had three girls and it was challenging to get away for a weekend with just the two of them sans the children. My friends still talks about that gift - it is one of their all time favorites.

Go for sentimental. One year my sister gave me a picture of her and I on a Disney Vacation. It was in a simple frame, my sister had printed the picture out on her printer so it didn't cost much to develop it, but I love that picture and have it sitting on my fireplace mantel to this day.

You don't have to spend a fortune, or really any money, to give a gift that the receiver will love and treasure. It just takes a little creativity and imagination.

Here's to taking action,

Rachelle

More on the art of regifting

Greetings:

I couldn't resist talking a tad more about regifting. There are things one should know when you venture to regift.

No doubt we have all received gifts that when we said “you really shouldn’t have” we really meant it. Not all gifts are going to be perfect, things we like or even anything we would want to keep. The most important thing to keep in mind is it is the thought that counts and that we can always regift when needed.

There are several ways to regift. The first way is to simply donate the gift to a charity. Just because the item is not something you would like to keep, doesn’t mean that someone else would not be able to use it. There have been a gift or two that I took to the Goodwill. One year I donated a Santa wind shock that lit up, a thoughtful gift from my father. My neighbors threaten to turn us into the homeowners association if I actually hung it up. And although I knew they were joking, it wasn’t anything I would use so I donated it knowing there would be a family thrilled to receive it.

The second way to regift is to pass the gift off to someone else. I was visiting my neighbors right after the holiday and the first thing I noticed when I walked into their home was a beautiful lime green fuzzy wool scarf. I adored it the minute I laid eyes on it, and told my neighbor how beautiful I thought it was. Her reply was that she was glad I liked it because she was going to give it to me. One of her clients had given it to her and it wasn’t anything she would wear. I was thrilled and my neighbor seemed pleased to be able to pass it along.

The third way to regift is the trickiest of all. That is to rewrap the gift and give it to someone else. If you choose to do this, there are a few steps that should be taken. First, write the name of the person who gave you the gift on a piece of paper and tape it to the gift. That way when you go to regift you won’t give it back to the person who gave it to you. You might think that would never happen but one year for Christmas I received a lovely angel wall hanging from my aunt, the same angel I had given her the year before. It is also wise not to give the gift to anyone that that person knows. I was at a party once when the hostess was wearing a lovely necklace and one of the other guest commented that she had given a necklace just like that to one of their mutual friends. The mutual friend that had regifted quickly commented that she had loved the necklace so much she had bought several as gifts herself. I knew that wasn’t true but didn’t say a word, but I did learn from the experience.

I know many people feel obligated to keep things that other people give them. Let go of that. You don’t have to keep something just because your favorite aunt or mother-in-law gave it to you. When you do that the gift quickly turns into clutter. This week go through your home and collect up all the gifts you have been given that you don’t want to keep. These could be things you received five years ago or last week. Whatever it is, if you don’t love it, use it or need it, get rid of it. By doing this you make space in your home for things you love, and the person you regift to receives something they will love and cherish.

Interestingly enough when I did research on regifting on google I came up with thousands of hits. Pretty good for a word that Webster says isn’t really a word. And there are actually websites that promote and help people regift. In addition here are some interesting facts about regifting.

Facts About Regifting

Nearly a third of shoppers (31%) have regifted at least one or more times. On average, those who do Regift have done so three times. Women are more likely to Regift than men (60% vs. 40%).

Shoppers with higher household incomes are more likely to Regift. Nearly two in five (39%) of those with household incomes of more than $75,000 say they Regift compared to nearly one in four (23%) of those who report household incomes of $25,000 or less.

Those past the Rockies are less likely to keep what they receive: 38% of consumers in the West admit to Regifting. This compares to consumers in the South (34%), Northeast (29%) and North Central states (21%). Source: American Express

Resource: Regifting, the gift that keeps on giving. Regift Network

Here's to taking action,

Rachelle

Regifting is part of the season’s traditions

Greetings:

Regifting isn’t new, what seems new to me is that so many people are admitting to doing it. In a recent survey 40% of the respondents said they regift. Regifting is so popular there is even a website, http://www.regiftable.com/, dedicated to everything regifting. I admit I have regifted a time or two myself, but there is a right way and a wrong way to regift. If you follow the rules regifting is a great way to pass along a gift that wasn’t right for you but will be great for someone else. If you don’t follow the rules for regifting you could find yourself in an embarrassing situation.

One Christmas I gave my Aunt a lovely holiday angel dressed is a quilt type dress with hearts on it. I thought this was the perfect gift for my Aunt because she loves angels, makes quilts and collects hearts. The following Christmas my Aunt sent me a gift box and one of the gifts was the Angel. She obviously forgot who gave it to her. This is the first rule of regifting, make sure you remember who the gift came from. You might even attach a note to the gift with the name of the person that gave it to you, this way you can avoid any embarrassing mishaps.

Only regift the item if you are sure the new receiver will love it. If you don’t want the gift and can’t think of anyone else that would love it, donate it to a local charity such as Goodwill. Someone will find a treasure they will adore and the charity benefits from the sale. Also only regift items that have not been used. This sounds like common sense but according to some of the articles I read on the regiftable website common sense isn’t so common.

When you receive a gift, what you do with it is up to you. If it is something you don't like, don't want, or don't need, don't feel obligated to keep it. If you can't return or exchange it, do the next best thing and regift it. This is the best form of recycling I know of. You can still appreciate the person who took the time to purchase the gift and feel good about being able to pass it along to someone who will be thrilled with it. It is a true win/win.


“What a lovely gift, suitable for regifting.” Anonymous

Here's to taking action,
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Rachelle

Stock up on thank you cards

Greetings:

Tis the season to receive gifts, dinner invitations and other nice gestures. Receiving is great and should be acknowledged with a thank you. Although a verbal thank you is nice and an email can suffice, I like the idea of sending a handwritten card to acknowledge the kindness of others.

Gratitude is one of the keys to happiness. Showing your gratitude to others helps to spread the joy and show appreciation for what others have done for you. One of the easiest ways to make sure you are always ready to show your gratitude and say thank you is to have a stack of cards on hand. These cards can actually be Thank You cards you purchased at the store, blank note cards or even just plain old writing paper. For those of you who are more ambitious you can make your own. Whatever you wish to use will do. By having what you need on hand when the time comes to send a thank you it won’t be a hassle and it there won’t be any delay.

Because this is the time of year when receiving is at its height, having cards in reserve will make getting those thank yous out easily and quickly. When would you send a thank you? During this time of year you will want to send thank you notes to friends and family for the wonderful gifts (include cookies and homemade treats), the host and hostess of the parties you attended and even the people that have helped you throughout the year such as your Mailman (or woman) or Gardner. This is a great time to show appreciate for all those people in your life that make it easier.

You might have so much fun doing this that you will want to make it a habit to do during the rest of the year too. Keeping cards at the ready will help make the task easier. You could even pre-stamp the envelopes so there will be no delay is saying how much the gift or kind gesture meant to you.

If you are unsure of how to write a thank you note I have a simple formula. Start with Dear (fill in the name). The first line of the thank you should tell the person what you are thanking them for. The next line should tell the person how you will use the gift or how much fun you had at the party. The third line should express your gratitude and appreciation. You can say more if you want but you don’t have to. Sign your name, put the card in the envelope, seal it, address it and let the Postman deliver your gratitude.

Example:

Dear Best Friend:

Thank you so much for the Cherry Red Saturn Convertible Sky sports car. I am having so much fun driving around town with the top down. This was such a thoughtful gift and I will think of you every time I speed down the highway with the wind whipping through my hair and the music playing.

Love and Kisses
Your Best Friend

Action to take today:

Today purchase a box of thank you cards and a book of stamps. This way you will be ready to send out your gratitude in a timely and stress free manner.


“What if you gave someone a gift, and they neglected to thank you for it--would you be likely to give them another? Life is the same way. In order to attract more of the blessings that life has to offer, you must truly appreciate what you already have.” Ralph Marston

Here's to taking action,

Rachelle

Give your favorite things

Greetings:

One thing I started doing several years ago, I stole the idea from Oprah, is I give people my favorite things. This might sound odd but sometimes I find it difficult to figure out what someone would like so I just give them something I like. It might be a favorite book, movie, food item or even beauty item. It is something that I just adore so as a way of introducing them to something new I give it as a gift.

So far everyone loves the idea. It actually might not be something they would of thought of but they love that I am sharing something I love with them. So far no one has returned any of my favorite things, or regifted them as far as I know, and in fact many of them continue to buy the product or give it as gifts themselves.

One of the gifts I will be giving this year is the DVD "The Greatest Game Ever Played." It is one of those movies that can change your life. It is inspiring and motivating.

You might consider giving a DVD of one of your favorite movies, a CD by your favorite recording artist or maybe a favorite recipe that is a family secret (until now).

By giving your favorite things you share a little of yourself with the special people on your list.

Here's to taking action,

Rachelle

Top Ten Ways to Avoid Being Less than Jolly During the Holiday Season

Greetings:

Here is my top ten ways for avoiding being less than Jolly during the Holiday Season, or how to stay sane at an insane time of year!

1. Make a plan and stick with it.

Write down on your calendar what needs to be done and by when. This will
keep you on track, as things become increasingly hectic.

2. Having a Hallmark Christmas would be wonderful, but let's be realistic.

More than likely not everything is going to turn out to be just the way you planned. Don't try to make everything perfect. Do the best you can, and let the rest go.

3. Not everything has to be homemade.

In today's world, some of the best goodies and treats can be found in your
supermarket. Decide which two or three cookies and candies you will make.
Select one day or evening to bake and make, box or freeze the goodies, and
call it done.

4. Make a budget and stick with it.

If you are one of those organized savers that opens a Holiday Club account at your local bank, all you have to do is go to the bank and pick up your money. If you are like the rest of us, decide how much you can take out of your current budget. If you plan on using credit cards, decide how much you will charge, and keep track. Remember that you do have to pay them back beginning in January.

5. Homemade cards are wonderful, but do you really have time?

Unless you began making your cards in June, forget it. Buying them will be
just fine. Including a handwritten note in each one is a nice touch; however, unless you started six months ago, let it go. I know many people disdain those form holiday letters, but they are better than receiving a card that is simply signed Don and Diane. Since holiday cards are the only time we hear from some people, including a holiday letter helps us keep in touch with our once-a-year friends.

6. You do not have to attend every holiday event.

Limit the number of holiday events you will attend. You simply don't have the
time to go to every single party, tree decorating event, and craft show that will be happening during this busy time of the year. Decide what you want to
attend, RSVP in advance, and enjoy.

7. If you are hosting a party or holiday dinner, don't try to cook it all.

If you are hosting a holiday event, consider having some, if not all, of it
catered. If that isn't in the budget this year, ask the guest to bring their
favorite dish to share. This way you will only have to provide some of the
food and will have the time and energy to enjoy your guest.

8. Ask for help.

You don't have to do everything. Get the family involved. Everything is more fun when done with others. Get help decorating the tree, baking the goodies, and addressing the cards.

9. Don't forget to take care of yourself.

The holidays are not the time to abandon your routine. Keep going to the gym, eating healthy foods, and taking time to relax. The holidays can be stressful and keeping up with our self-care will help to reduce the stress and allow us to enjoy the season.

10. Remember what the holidays are all about.

Beyond the gifts and glitter, this holiday is really about connecting with friends and family, and celebrating the love we have in our lives. Keep in mind what is important about this time of year. Celebrate the important things and relax in the joy of the season.

Here's to taking action,

Rachelle

Tis the Season to be Jolly

Greetings:


Tis the season to be jolly, unless of course you have way too much to do. The holidays come at such a bad time during the year, right in the middle of our lives. It isn’t like we can ditch all our other duties to deck the halls. Holiday chores are simply piled onto our already too hectic schedules. Sure Martha makes it look easy as she makes homemade hand carved reindeers, but don’t forget Martha has an entire staff to help her don her gay apparel.

The best way to guarantee that you will be singing fa la la la la during the holidays is to make a plan and stick with it. The first measure is to decide on a budget. If you are one of those super organized saving type of people, now is the time to go and pick up the Christmas club money from the bank that you have been making deposits into all year. If you are like the rest of us, decide how much you can take out of what you already have. If you are going to use credit cards, then make a deal with yourself only to charge so much. Remember, come January you will have to start paying them back. Do you really want to have the holidays haunt you all year long?

Not everything has to be homemade to create a wonderful heartfelt holiday. Decide what you will make, and what you will buy. Homemade Christmas cards are wonderful, but if you didn’t start making them back in June, forget it. Buying them will be just fine. If you want to include a family picture with the card, don’t forget you will need to get the picture in far enough in advance to have it reproduced. There have been holidays past when my holiday cards became New Years cards because I didn’t have my pictures done in time. In addition, forget about writing a personal note in each one of them. Nice, but again unless you started this months ago, you will not have time. Although I know many people disdain those form type holiday letters, it is better than hearing from someone once a year and all that is in the card is Love Dan and Donna. At least the letter gives you a clue as to what is going on and helps you keep up with your once a year friends.

Although Martha will be baking an international smörgåsbord of holiday treats, the Holidays will be just as sweet with just a few of your favorites. Decide which two to three types of cookies and candies you will make, schedule a day to bake, box or freeze the cookies, and call it done. You might also want to consider doing a cookie exchange with some friends.

Each person bakes several dozen of their favorite cookies and then exchanges what they make with several friends. That way everyone gets an array of cookies but only has to bake one kind. This is a wonderful way to keep things simple while enjoying wonderful treats and time with friends.

Keep in mind that although you are capable of doing a lot, you do not have to do it all by yourself. This is the time to get the entire family involved. Ask for help with everything from trimming the tree, baking the cookies, to wrapping the gifts. Instead of being in charge of making the entire holiday dinner, have everyone contribute his or her favorite dish. The holidays are about enjoying time with family and friends, not about being stressed out and exhausted.

This year plan to have a jolly holiday season by planning and being realistic about what you can do.

Here's to taking action,

Rachelle

How to survive the holidays at the office

Greetings:

The holidays can be a fun and frustrating time at work. There is so much to do, and on top of everything, here comes the holidays. Well do not despair, there are some ways you can make the holidays fun and festive without falling apart.

First, be reasonable. Do not take on more than you can handle. Learn to say no when you cannot or do not want to participate, donate, or coordinate. Saying no to things you do not want to do will leave more time for those things you do want to do.

You do not have to give a gift to everyone that works for the company. If gifts are given in the office, suggest a gift exchange where everyone picks a name and buys just one gift. Or perhaps even a Secret Santa drawing where no one knows who has whose name and gifts are given everyday for one to two weeks before Christmas. This can be a fun way to spread the cheer and create a festive mood. If you want to give gifts to the secretary’s, receptionist, people in the mailroom, or your team, make the gifts small tokens of your appreciation. Things such as homemade goodies and crafts, certificates for coffee at a favorite coffee shop, or even a small potted plant will be appreciated and not break the bank. If you want to give gifts to your customers or outside vendors, check and see what the policy and procedures are with your company and theirs. Some companies only allow small token gifts, while others will accept something worth a larger monetary amount. So not do disappoint or do something that is not politically correct, check first and give second.

Remember that although the majority of people in the United States celebrate Christmas, not everyone does. Be considerate of those that are celebrating other holidays or not celebrating at all. One way to create an atmosphere of mutual respect is to have a pot luck and ask everyone to share how they celebrate their holiday. If someone does not celebrate a holiday during this time of year, ask him or her to share a special occasion that they do celebrate. This way everyone will have a chance to share what is important to him or her and everyone will understand better what is important to members of their team. Once everyone has a better understanding of why somebody is doing what they do, it is easier to respect and appreciate the differences.

Things tend to slow down between Christmas and New Year’s. This can be a great time to do some chores around the office. Clean out files and bookcases. Refill calendars and catch up on correspondence and any backlog from the year. This can even be a great time to do some strategic planning for the New Year. What new projects would you like to work on, what career goals would be interesting to pursue this year, and how what would you like to see happen in the New Year that was missing in last year. Taking time to think about and plan what you want to happen in the New Year gives you a great frame work in which to turn those plans into actions.

With everything else you have to do at work, the Holidays can just be another thing to do. Or you can give yourself permission not to be caught up in all the hustle and bustle, do what you can do, and pace yourself. Keep in mind what the holidays are all about for you and simply enjoy the festive spirit that comes with the season.

Here's to taking action,

Rachelle

The tradition of a gratitude journal

Greetings:

You don't have to be born with a gratitude gene, you can learn to be grateful. One of the most powerful ways to foster gratitude is by keeping a gratitude journal. Oprah Winfrey has made keeping a gratitude journal popular however it actually is an old Quaker tradition. In these gratitude journals the Quaker's write down the little things they are grateful for, often things that go unnoticed. A beautiful sunrise, a sighting of a humming bird, special time spent with a friend. They focus on the gifts they are given and not the problems. Many write down inspirational quotes that help them stay focused on what is most important. The gratitude journal is a thank-you note to God. It is our way to sing praises, give thanks and transfer our gratitude from our minds to a written page. By writing down your gratitudes you give substance to what you are grateful for.

Start a gratitude journal today. It is really simple. In a notebook write down three to five things you are grateful for each day. I do my gratitude journal in the morning but you can do it in the evening or anytime you desire.

I love this practice because it keeps me focused on all the things in my life to be grateful for. By doing this it fosters an attitude of gratitude and there just seems to be more to be grateful for. Keep in mind that what you focus on expands!

Here's to taking action,

Rachelle