Christmas Shopping Tips From A Pro

By Julie Shissler

One of the biggest stressors of the holiday season is shopping: food, decorations, party supplies, and the big one, gifts, take up time and energy. Here are a few ideas for a stress-less holiday season.

First: decide how much you want to spend.

Second: make a list of recipients, and keep it with you at all times. If you’ve spotted a perfect gift, pull out your list… voila! Aunt Margaret will absolutely love her new Willow Tree ornament… and you’re on your way. 

Third: start early. Waiting until the last minute to shop not only causes stress, and what you had in mind may already be gone, snapped up by another shopper. An early start helps you shop more effectively than waiting till zero hour, when the need to buy something – anything -- overshadows everything else.

Encourage children’s imagination with books such as Goodnight Moon or Very Hungry Caterpillar, soft toys, puzzles, board games, classics like Magic 8 Ball and Silly Putty, or crafts such as weaving looms, rubber stamping kits, and jewelry kits.  Treat single adults to food gifts, Burts Bees or Kiss My Face products, books about hobbies or interests, music cds, or snuggly sweatshirt blankets. 

Show Mom your love with a warm and cozy hat/scarf combo, or help her decorate the tree with pewter ornaments from House of Morgan, or blown glass ornaments from Loretta Eby and Yeti Glass. One thing is sure: Dad will love the Petzl E-lite; they last for ten years. Red and green Christmas socks are great stocking stuffers. Or spoil him with Colonel Littleton items from Lynnville, TN such as the leather I-Pad bag, Cedar Creek Pocketknife, or leather journal, just right for keeping up with important dates.

Pamper Grandpa with comfy slippers by Old Friends or Acorn, his favorite old-fashioned candies, and warm fleece jackets by Columbia and The North Face. For a special treat, tickle his taste buds with a breakfast basket filled with pancake mixes, syrup and or country ham!  Surprise Grandma with framed family photos, keepsake ornaments, and toasty slipper socks by Woolrich.  She’ll love the handmade herbal soaps from Rainwater Farm in Maryville, Tennessee; they’re made with rainwater and are gentle to folks with sensitive skin.

Food gifts are also great for teachers: A handwarmer mug stuffed with cocoa packets and peppermint sticks is a fun gift, as are jams and jellies. Nonfood gifts such as Burts Bees products or Christmas ornaments are also appreciated.  Outdoor lovers might enjoy Best Easy Day Hikes Great Smoky Mountain National Park or Wildflowers of the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains, both great books for those outdoor excursions.

A fun family gift could include the Whirley Pop popcorn popper, popcorn and seasonings... so much tastier than the microwaved kind. For personalized gifts, choose a container that reflects the person’s interests, such as a Lodge frying pan, pottery bowl, gardening tote… you get the idea. Fill with items the recipient will enjoy; Pear Butter, Cranberry Pecan Preserves, baking mixes, utensils, gardening tools, candy.  Put homemade treats in a container that becomes part of the gift. A spackleware bowl that arrives filled with holiday goodies will be used for years, and its giver remembered fondly.

Giving pets gifts is fun too, although they probably crave the turkey leftovers more than a new bowl or leash. They won’t turn up their furry noses at the Dogobie flying disk, AKC chew toys, or natural pet treats, or mind looking their best in a nifty collar from Bison Designs or Ruffwear.

The folks at Mast General Store will be glad to help you with your gift giving.