Holiday Shopping Safety

I keep touting the benefits of shopping online during the holidays, mostly because I am a lazy shopper (unlike during my teen years), but there are also many safety benefits as well. Every year around this time, you can see reports on your local news channel about unsuspecting men and women being robbed of their Christmas wishes in some mall parking lot. Of course you go down the checklist of all the Christmas shopping dos and don'ts because, alas, you still have some major shopping to do. Here are some common tips for safe shopping:

1. shop in the daytime
2. if you must shop after dark, park in a well-lit area
   
3. shop with a friend
4. if alone, avoid being off to yourself and keep closer to a crowd
5. notice if someone bumps into you
   
6. be aware of your surroundings
7. avoid dark or empty areas
   
8. keep your keys where you can easily reach them
9. carry as little as possible, perhaps leaving your handbag at home
10. don't walk to your car carrying big items that can block your view
    
11. don't carry a lot of cash, credit or debit cards are better if kept in your front pockets
12. leave the kids with a sitter so you're not distracted
13. don't fiddle around when getting in your car; get in and lock the doors immediately

And for those of you who like to shop a little and then stash your items in the car while you go back for more, think again. That's a big no-no. Most safety experts will tell you that there are people watching for people like you and they will be more than happy to relieve you of your Christmas goodies.

You may be hoping that your car's comprehensive insurance policy covers property theft but it may not. Most car insurance policies likely won't cover theft of merchandise from your car because, typically, comprehensive car insurance coverage only covers the theft of the car and car parts, not items stored inside. Property theft is more common to home insurance policies and is not necessarily included under your car insurance policy. It may be a good idea to take a look at your policy papers or give your car insurance company a call to find out what their policy is. And with rates as competitive as they are these days, it wouldn't hurt to get a new car insurance quote either.

If online shopping isn't for you, please be the safest you can be when you're out shopping for the holidays, or any time really. Nothing can make you lose your Christmas cheer faster than some old Scrooge waiting to get your something, for nothing.

Did you take the Handmade Pledge?

I did! See.

But so far, I've elected not to buy anything at all. Mostly out of perfectionistic procrastination. What? You didn't know that procrastinators are really perfectionists?

Well anyway, BuyHandmade.org gives us some good reasons for giving handmade gifts this holiday season. Even NY Times has caught wind of this grassroots movement. Of course, I don't need to be convinced. Last year, in October I bought a box of 40 handmade soaps off Ebay and gave them as Christmas presents. I finally had enough presents to give to people I usually can only afford to give cards to. As I've mentioned before, my family has decided to make a switch from giving each other individual gifts in favor of family-oriented gifts such as museum memberships and things that will afford our family an experience to remember such as play tickets and digital cameras given with the intent to do photography projects together. Of course, the grandparents will give whatever they want to whoever they want and we won't deny them this. For giving to those outside our household, we are working toward making our own gifts, from decoupaged photo frames to homemade pasta and BBQ sauce a la Chef Curtis (no, not from Food Network, from my hubby Curtis). Alternatively, if we find ourselves feeling less than crafty, we will opt to buy handmade or buy a craft so the recipient can make something by hand.

Here are the reasons BuyHandmade.org says to join our club:

Buying Handmade makes for better gift-giving.

The giver of a handmade gift has avoided the parking lots and long lines of the big chain stores in favor of something more meaningful. If the giver has purchased the gift, s/he feels the satisfaction of supporting an artist or crafter directly. The recipient of the handmade gift receives something that is one-of-a-kind, and made with care and attention that can
be seen and touched. It is the result of skill and craftsmanship that is absent in the world of large-scale manufacturing.

Buying handmade is better for people.

The ascendancy of chain store culture and global manufacturing has left us dressing, furnishing, and decorating alike. We are encouraged to be consumers, not producers, of our own culture. Our ties to the local and human sources of our goods have been lost. Buying handmade helps us reconnect.

Buying handmade is better for the environment.

The accumulating environmental effects of mass production are a major cause of global warming and the poisoning of our air, water and soil. Every item you make or purchase from a small-scale independent artist or crafter strikes a small blow to the forces of mass production.

I wholeheartedly agree. I will admit that my heart sinks when I find out a gift-giver speed-shopped through Walmart on Christmas Eve, Birthday Eve, or Anniversary Eve. (For my daughter's last birthday, I registered at Target but because everyone we invited to the party shopped on the day before, the registry didn't show that 3 people bought her the same exact pair of shoes.) I have however worked to look past all this into the hearts of the gift-givers while still encouraging them to come around to my way a bit. I've been using the recent toy recalls as a foot-in-the-door to get my parents and inlaws to consider buying from my favorite children's stores. Nothing like a touch of fear to teach Grandma some new tricks eh?

breakfast for (little) champions

Christmas Craft Try #2

Now that I have all this felt leftover from last night's project, I'm on a mission to make some play food! After consulting numerous webpages all across the world, I'm now armed with my own homemade patterns and some fabric scissors. All I need is the right thread and I think I'll be on my way. Take a look at these awesome sites I ran across today. They are my inspiration!

felt food pictured is from no assembly required's Etsy store

A Different Kind of Odd by Lanna
Etsy's wonderful assortment of crafty folks
this Japanese site that's going to keep me busy for years

There's crocheted and knitted food too that I can't help drooling over. My friend Steph over at Adventures in Babywearing and And She Knits is an avid knitter and encouraged me with some good suggestions for how to get started. I also found some patterns for sale at Etsy. That's my project for 2008, to learn to knit and/or crochet a few (albeit, one-dimensional) toys like these here. I've even roped some local mamas into making some toys to donate next Christmas! We'll begin after the new year and I guess I'll be posting here about our progress. I'm so psyched!

Martha's way

Christmas Craft Try #1

I'm going to give this stocking craft by Martha a try tonight. My stepdaughter needs a sock craft for school tomorrow so I just bought a couple yards of white felt, some colored felt sheets, and a bit of fabric glue from the store. It looks simple enough for even me to do so we'll see what happens.

the Season for Giving

Now is the time to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas and how I'm living up to the values I say I believe in. For me, that means focusing on the birth of Christ and spending time with my family. To reinforce those ideas, my husband and I have agreed to forgo giving each other and the kids individual presents this year in favor of more family-oriented gifts. Even though last year we opted for arts and crafts gifts almost exclusively, which was nice, this year we will take it a bit further and buy only items that promote family activity and interaction and that we can enjoy all throughout the new year. I'm thinking things like board games and museum memberships. I've wanted memberships as gifts for years but it seems to have taken us a while to get here. Now that Zoë is 2 and understands everything we say and do, I feel much more compelled to get going in this direction than before. I don't want her to get in the habit of the Christmas "gimmes." No, we'll save birthdays for that!

We began our Season of Giving by cleaning out many of her old toys they weekend after Thanksgiving. I explained to her that Thanksgiving is for saying "thank you" to those we love and that we say thank you to God by giving all the "lonely" toys she doesn't play with to other kids without toys. And now I've been explaining to her that Christmas is to celebrate Jesus' birthday. Whenever we see a Christmas tree with presents, I tell her those are for Baby Jesus and she bursts into the Happy Birthday song!

As for the rest of the family, the plan is to make gifts to give this year. That way we each have hands-on involvement in the making of others' gifts, which promotes the family bonding thing I'm working on. That's been the plan every year for a couple years but we always fall short, lose time, and end up buying a bunch of half-arsed stuff at the last minute. My biggest pet-peeve. But anyway, that's the plan. And like a lot of my plans, this one is lacking creativity & skill. I loathe tacky hand-made gifts and since Zoë is only two, tacky is about all she can make right now. I suppose my parents would love it anyway, but I still cringe at the thought. My husband will probably be making his world famous spaghetti sauce but I have nothing up my sleeve. My goal this week is to browse as many craft sites as possible and post about the ones I deem worthy of giving this year. Do you have an idea for me? Let me know!

Something for everyone on your list

Are you just NOT cut out for waking up at 4am to make it to the department store for the big Holiday sale? Who does that anyway? Well, not me. When it comes to shopping, I'd much rather sit in my pj's at my computer and let my fingers do all the work. If you're like me, you have a score of websites bookmarked (AND in a folder called "Shopping") on your computer.

I've vowed to make as many of my gifts this year as possible. But when ambition exceeds skill, I'm no fool. I head right over to one of the many stores listed below because I know I can always find something unique, useful, or handmade. With gifts for everyone on your list, Punkin Pockets is where you can find quality stores at your fingertips! Happy Holidays!

Online shopping tip: I never pay shipping AND sales tax unless the item I'm considering buying is only available online.

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Baby Carriers
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EarthyBirthyMama :: Natural products for baby and family
Mom4Life :: Products for the journey ahead
Punkin Pockets :: Stylish baby slings and baby wear CLEARANCE PRICES!

Books
Alibris :: Over 60 million used, new, rare and out-of-print books!

Children's Apparel
BabyStyle :: The best for your belly, baby, and booming new family
Dimples and Dandelions :: A chic children's boutique
DuckDuck Goose :: A children's boutique & FREE shipping on all orders over $60
Kee-Ka :: Eco-chic apparel and gifts for the littlest and most significant people in your life
Modern Seed :: Fresh and innovative furniture, fashion, design for kids
Pink Olive Boutique :: A graceful assortment of baby, gift, and getaway items
Tea Collection :: Fashion for little citizens of the world

Cloth Diapers
EarthyBirthyMama :: Natural products for baby and family
Nurtured Family :: Your source for cloth diapers, baby slings, nursing bras and more

Decor
Craftsbury Kids :: A breath of fresh air in a gadget-filled world
Modern Seed :: Fresh and innovative furniture, fashion, design for kids

Eco-friendly
BabyStyle :: The best for your belly, baby, and booming new family
Earth Mama Angel Baby :: Gifts from the earth for your gift from heaven
EarthyBirthyMama :: Natural products for baby and family
ReusableBags.com :: Better bags for a better planet and more
Kee-Ka :: Eco-chic apparel and gifts for the littlest and most significant people in your life

Health & Beauty
MamaMio :: Deluxe pampering for supermamas
Mom4Life :: Products for the journey ahead
Native Remedies :: The Natural Choice for herbal & homeopathic remedies
Smallflower.com :: For bath, body, and home

Maternity & Women's Apparel
BabyStyle :: The best for your belly, baby, and booming new family
Earth Mama Angel Baby :: Gifts from the earth for your gift from heaven
EarthyBirthyMama :: Natural products for baby and family
MamaMio :: Deluxe pampering for supermamas
Mom4Life :: Products for the journey ahead
Skirt Spot :: An uncommon store for women's skirts

Office & Stationery
See Jane Work :: The destination for office style and organization
Tiny Prints :: Fresh, Modern Holiday Cards, Announcements and Invitations!

Playthings
Craftsbury Kids :: A breath of fresh air in a gadget-filled world
HearthSong :: Toys you feel good about giving
Magic Cabin :: A delightfully simple assortment of heirloom quality, all-natural playthings
Three Sisters Toys - Toys for true creative play, toy tips by age, and ideas on setting up your child's playspace.

A Day of Deals!

Visit Craftsbury Kids and save on a terrific selection of toys, books, and accessories during their Thanksgiving Weekend Sale! Also, special introductory prices on new items, and a complimentary gift when you order any one of their new handmade heirloom sleds. Sale lasts 2 days only (November 23 + 24). Take advantage of these great deals while they last!

For all you snow bunnies out there, take a look here at Craftsbury Kids' fabulous new line of heirloom wooden sleds and wagons-perfect holiday gifts!

Don't forget you can save on shipping! Free shipping for orders over $40 when you enter code "HOLFS" at checkout! (exp 12/12). And free shipping on orders over $50 too!

Check your Punkin Pockets again soon for more great Black Friday deals!