Consumption
I figured that it was my duty as a blogger to have at least one post about consumption during the holidays.
I love Christmas. I love Charlie Brown and Mr. Heat Miser. I love Christmas trees, even though we were never allowed to have a real one (my mom blamed it on "allergies," although the reputedly allergic person was never named. Given that there were only four people in our house, it was a pretty obvious lie.) I even like how Christmas starts somewhere around Halloween these days.
Two things I hate, though, are a) shopping and b) having lots of stuff. So Christmas is tricky.
I also hate the word "consumption," because it implies that the stuff that you buy or receive is eventually going to go away. This is hardly ever the case, of course, as that stuff manages to take up more and more space in your house until you do what I always do -- move.
So when Christmas shopping for other people, I try and buy things that are actually going to be consumed. As in, they won't be around for more than 30 days, or can at least be poured down the sink.
There are the obvious consumable gifts like cookies, but generally people need more holiday cookies like they need an infected raccoon bite. So, here are some non-cookie consumable holiday gift ideas.
Stamps. Everyone uses them, nobody likes buying them.
RTA farecards. The idea being that if you've got them, you'll use them.
Meat. I rarely buy meat -- it always seems so expensive. So, give the luxurious gift of meat. At Badstuber & Sons (at the West Side Market), they've got cherry smoked kielbasa. Mmm. Mmmeat.
Gift certificates for groceries. They have 'em at Nature's Bin, available in any denomination.
Beer, wine, and spirits. It's expensive to have a well-stocked liquor cabinet, isn't it? Do that hard-to-buy-for person on your list a favor and get him a bottle of flavored vodka. Or, buy Grandma a nice bottle of amaretto to tip into her evening cocoa. Or, check out the wine and beer selection at Athens Pastries & Imported Foods. They've got wine from everywhere in the world. I also recommend all of the wines at Montezuma Winery in Seneca Falls, New York.
Coffee. In addition to holiday gift crates, Phoenix Coffee will also ship you the absolute freshest roast they have.
Tea. City Roast has a spicy Christmas tea right now. I recommend the tea selection at the Monastery - try the Heavenly Comfort (#110a).
Memberships. The best thing about memberships is that they are completely intangible -- no bottles to throw out, even. A Cleveland Cinemathèque membership is only $30!
What are your favorite low-impact gifts?
update: First aid kits. This was probably the best gift I ever received. I thought of it just now when I burned the heck out of my hand making brussels sprouts, of all things.
I love Christmas. I love Charlie Brown and Mr. Heat Miser. I love Christmas trees, even though we were never allowed to have a real one (my mom blamed it on "allergies," although the reputedly allergic person was never named. Given that there were only four people in our house, it was a pretty obvious lie.) I even like how Christmas starts somewhere around Halloween these days.
Two things I hate, though, are a) shopping and b) having lots of stuff. So Christmas is tricky.
I also hate the word "consumption," because it implies that the stuff that you buy or receive is eventually going to go away. This is hardly ever the case, of course, as that stuff manages to take up more and more space in your house until you do what I always do -- move.
So when Christmas shopping for other people, I try and buy things that are actually going to be consumed. As in, they won't be around for more than 30 days, or can at least be poured down the sink.
There are the obvious consumable gifts like cookies, but generally people need more holiday cookies like they need an infected raccoon bite. So, here are some non-cookie consumable holiday gift ideas.
Stamps. Everyone uses them, nobody likes buying them.
RTA farecards. The idea being that if you've got them, you'll use them.
Meat. I rarely buy meat -- it always seems so expensive. So, give the luxurious gift of meat. At Badstuber & Sons (at the West Side Market), they've got cherry smoked kielbasa. Mmm. Mmmeat.
Gift certificates for groceries. They have 'em at Nature's Bin, available in any denomination.
Beer, wine, and spirits. It's expensive to have a well-stocked liquor cabinet, isn't it? Do that hard-to-buy-for person on your list a favor and get him a bottle of flavored vodka. Or, buy Grandma a nice bottle of amaretto to tip into her evening cocoa. Or, check out the wine and beer selection at Athens Pastries & Imported Foods. They've got wine from everywhere in the world. I also recommend all of the wines at Montezuma Winery in Seneca Falls, New York.
Coffee. In addition to holiday gift crates, Phoenix Coffee will also ship you the absolute freshest roast they have.
Tea. City Roast has a spicy Christmas tea right now. I recommend the tea selection at the Monastery - try the Heavenly Comfort (#110a).
Memberships. The best thing about memberships is that they are completely intangible -- no bottles to throw out, even. A Cleveland Cinemathèque membership is only $30!
What are your favorite low-impact gifts?
update: First aid kits. This was probably the best gift I ever received. I thought of it just now when I burned the heck out of my hand making brussels sprouts, of all things.
posted by Christine at 4:28 PM
6 Comments:
Thank's for supporting the store (Nature's Bin) and putting us in your blog!
It's great to read about someone sharing the same sentiment of loving Christmas but hating the consumer/consumption that goes along with it.
Another idea would be to buy reusable (cloth) grocery bags. Not consumable, but still in line with - if you buy it, they'll use it (hopefully).
I've been a Nature's Bin fan for a long time...I worked there when I was in college, too.
Reusable bags - good idea! In fact, I still have an old string market bag that I got from the Bin about 15 years ago, still going strong...
I've been helping my neighbor — Bill Azman of Azman Meats - with their holiday sales. They've been getting orders for their famous Slovenian sausage (smoked with cherry wood) from all over the country. We even packed up a bunch of their smokies to send to area troops in Iraq. I mentioned this because Azman's will vac pack them and they'll last several weeks refrigerated that way. We're going to give smoked salami and zelodec (basically a lunchmeat size of the Slovenian sausage) as gifts for the guys. By the way, you'll have to stop in if you'd like to do the same. They've stopped taking orders. Over 300 for next week alone!
Actually City Roast coffee is a nectar of the gods.
Picturing soggy wrapping paper in people's frig's :-) But I love the idea
This year I'm giving my nieces and nephew a zoo pass. We always give my father-in-law a beef tenderloin - it's what he likes!
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