Las mañanitas

Start your birthday with the tradition of “Las Mañanitas,” which translates to Little Mornings. You will wake up to a morning serenade at dawn. However, it isn’t just any song that gets sung for the serenade. It is most widely this birthday song. It is a song that expresses the beauty of the birthday morning and how much love the singer has for the birthday person. However, if getting woken up at dawn doesn’t sound like fun, you can have it sung at any time of the day. Many people choose to have it sung later in the day at their birthday party when blowing out the candles.  

Tres leches (three milks) cake

This delicious cake gets its name from the three types of milk used in its preparation. It starts with a special kind of sponge cake made with flour, sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Once it’s baked, the cake is soaked in three types of milk: evaporated, condensed, and cream or whole milk. The cake is then frosted with whipped cream. 

Traditionally, the cake would be white with white whipped cream. It might have fruit decorating it, such as coconut or strawberries. However, this has changed in modern times to give it bright colors and decorations. You could have a single-layer or multi-tired cake. There is a lot of flexibility in what the final cake looks like. The key is soaking the cake in three types of milk to make it tres leches. 

La mordida tradition

People tend to have strong feelings about this tradition. La Mordids translates to “little bite. ” The birthday person’s hands are tied behind their back. They must then take a bite of their birthday cake without using their hands or other assistance. While the person is taking their bike, the birthday party guests shout “Mor-di-da” as someone pushes the birthday person’s face into the cake. 

While this tradition is celebrated in Mexico, not everyone participates. It is typically something the birthday individual gets a say in. Unlike here in the States, where the birthday person is surprised by getting their face shoved into the cake. The Mexican version is supposed to be fun; everyone is in on the joke and up for a laugh. 

Piñatas

What’s a Mexican party without a pinata? You can buy one pre-made or make one yourself. Use paper mache and cardboard to make the hollow sculpture. They are typically fun shapes, like food, animals, or representative of something the birthday person loves. Inside the pinata, you can fill it with anything you want. Traditionally, it would be small toys and candy. However, you could do an adult version with mini liquor bottles, makeup samples, or snacks. 

To play, each partygoer gets blindfolded one at a time and gets a turn swinging a stick at the pinata. Everyone takes turns until the pinata breaks open and the contents pour out. 

Los regalos (birthday presents)

Birthday presents are just as common in Mexico as in the U.S. You give them wrapped in paper, and the birthday individual gets to open them. Giving money as a gift is less common in Mexico. People tend to focus on items the recipient could use or want. 

Large get-togethers

A hallmark of a Mexican get-together is the number of people in attendance. It is common for immediate family, aunts and uncles, grandparents, cousins, and anyone else available. There is an importance in spending time with family and those who love and care about you the most. While these aren’t formal events, you are expected to put some effort into what you wear. 

Mexican birthday traditions: food and music 

As with American birthday parties, there are plenty of drinks, food, and music. You may hear traditional Mariachi, banda, norteño, or more modern tunes played. People aren’t afraid to get up and dance to the tunes. 

For food, traditional dishes are served. These include sopapillas, tortillas, enchildas, salsa, taquitos, churros, and mole. In addition to the tres leches birthday cake, other desserts like flan or rice pudding may also be served. You will find everything from soda products to beer and tequila for drinks. With so many people in attendance, a feast accommodates everyone. 

Age-specific Mexico birthday traditions

Similar to a Sweet Sixteen party or the large party that happens when someone turns 21, there are specific “big birthdays” in Mexico. 

Presentación de tres años

This birthday tradition happens when someone has a child who is turning three. They celebrate with a “Presentación de Tres Años,” or a presentation to the community. The purpose of this extra special party is to celebrate and give thanks for the child’s good health. 

This Mexican birthday tradition is steeped in religion. It comes from the presentation of the Virgin Mary at three years old. Many people celebrate their baby’s third birthday by attending mass. The child gets dressed in fancy clothes and a priest provides a blessing. After the mass, the family attends a large birthday party with extended family and friends. 

La quinceañera

The most well-known age-specific birthday tradition is the quinceañera. Girls turning 15 will celebrate with an extra large party to signify their “coming of age.” A hallmark of this party is the over-the-top ball gown style dress that the birthday girl wears. Traditionally, they are pink or white. However, this has changed in modern times. The day typically starts in the morning with the birthday girl attending mass to pay homage to the Virgin Mary. 

Celebrate your next birthday with these Mexican birthday traditions 

Do something different for your birthday this year by embracing another culture. These Mexican birthday traditions are a fun way to experience and celebrate another culture. So fill out your Giftser wish list and start sending out the invites. You can enjoy a large party with plenty of food, tres leches cake, and a pinata.

The post A Taste of Mexico: Celebrating Birthdays the Mexican Way appeared first on Giftster and was written by Giftster.

Reflect on what you’ve learned 

A milestone birthday is the perfect time to reflect on everything you’ve learned over the past decade. This could be from attending school or life experience. Our lives are enriched by growing and learning. It can be easy to lose sight of this when we get wrapped up in everyday life. A milestone birthday is the perfect time to step back and recognize everything you’ve learned. You may be getting older, but you are also getting wiser. 

Practice gratitude 

A milestone birthday is the perfect time to think about the blessings in your life so far. Practice gratitude to be thankful for the positive things that have happened in your life. This could be the goals you’ve accomplished, wisdom gained, or memorable experiences. Focusing on the positive things in your life so far will help you establish a positive mindset for the next part of your life. 

Take a fresh start 

A milestone birthday is like one chapter of your life ending and another beginning. This is your opportunity to make a fresh start. Consider this your opportunity to finally take that class you’ve been meaning to. Or learn a new hobby that has always interested you. A milestone birthday is your chance to take action and make much-needed changes in your life. 

Don’t compare yourself to others 

We have a habit of comparing ourselves against how we think others are doing. With the rise of social media, this has become even more prevalent. You need to do your best not to do this. When posting on social media, people project the best parts of their lives or what they want others to see. It may seem like they have the perfect life and are always happy. This isn’t always the truth behind the posts. To protect your happiness, don’t compare yourself to what you think others have accomplished. Instead, focus on yourself and the positive things in your life. 

When planning your milestone celebration, think about what you want. Some people might love a huge birthday party with all of their friends and family. Others may prefer something more intimate and subdued. 

Embrace the adventure 

Life should be an adventure. You don’t know what tomorrow, next week, next month, or next year will hold. Embrace the unknown and look forward to the next chapter of your life with curiosity and excitement. A milestone birthday is the perfect time to plan an adventure. Take a trip to a location you’ve always wanted to visit. 

Celebrate your next milestone birthday with Giftster 

Whether your next milestone birthday is a 30th, 40, 50th, or 60th, Giftster can help you celebrate. Create a wish list for your friends and family. That way, you can embrace the next phase of your life with the love and support of those who know you best. 

The post How to Find Joy in Every Milestone Birthday appeared first on Giftster and was written by Giftster.

Give them something they want 

Giving a birthday gift should be about the recipient and what they want. When she gave him a candle, this girlfriend didn’t consider her boyfriend’s interests. To make matters worse, he spent significantly more on her birthday gift than she did on his. Things continued downhill when he told her to return the candle, and she told him she couldn’t. At this point, she admitted she took the candle from her mother’s house. 

Not what it looks like 

Sometimes, getting a gift that looks like one thing but is another can be cute. This works exceptionally well when you stick to a theme or topic the recipient is interested in. However, there is also a high risk of failure. This poor woman received what she thought was a camera lens. Only to then have to be told that the gift wasn’t a camera lens but a coffee mug. From the video, it looks like she isn’t thrilled with either idea. 

Gifts gone wrong: unusable gifts

Watch this son’s face go from pure excitement to confusion to amusement as he opens his gift. He loves to golf and was thrilled to get a new club. But his excitement quickly changed to confusion as he realized it was a left-handed club and he was not left-handed. He and his father then laughed together at realizing the club wasn’t right. 

Recipients fail too

A son gets a brand-new hoverboard as a gift. He immediately takes it into the backyard to ride it. Upon hitting a crack in the concrete, he falls. The hoverboard goes straight into the pool. You can hear the increasing desperation in his voice as he calls his parents. The hoverboard slowly sinks to the bottom of the pool. 

Take care when shipping gifts 

This woman felt the same excitement we all feel when we come home to a mystery package around our birthday. She excitedly opened what she thought was a thoughtful gift. It could have been if it was delivered correctly. Unfortunately, something went wrong. What started as an elegant bouquet turned into a box of petals and rotting stems. 

Read the fine print 

It’s happened to all of us at some point. You see an item online and buy it without reading the full description. It then arrives in the mail, and disappointment sets in. One woman thought she had a sweet gift idea of buying her boyfriend a watch case. Except when it arrived, it said “best dad of all time.” Her boyfriend is not a dad. Her failure wasn’t in the idea but in failing to read the fine print. The on-sale item she thought was a great deal was a Father’s Day promotion. 

Avoid a birthday fail and give a winning gift

Make sure everyone gets the gift they want for their birthday and every other occasion. Create a family group on Gifster so everyone in your family can create and share wish lists. With the ability to add items from anywhere, Gifster makes it simple to manage and share your wish list. Add your preferences for each item to ensure you get the exact size, color, and style that you want. Family members can then purchase items from the list and keep it a secret until they give the gift.

Happy gifting!

The post Birthday Bloopers: Hilarious Videos of Gifts Gone Wrong appeared first on Giftster and was written by Giftster.

Regifting mistakes to avoid

Only some gifts are suitable for regifting. Don’t repurpose these types of presents for someone else:

• Personalized gifts: Items customized with a name, initials, or photograph shouldn’t be given to someone else. Look for personalization in less obvious places, too, like a note written inside a book or a small engraving on a piece of jewelry.
• Handmade gifts: If the giver found out you’d regifted their handmade knit blanket or piece of art, they’re much more likely to be upset.
• Gifts you just want to get rid of: Everyone deserves a thoughtful present. Don’t make a pile of all the gifts you don’t want, then randomly wrap them and give them to others. 

Sometimes regifting is too risky. Don’t regift a present in these scenarios:

• Within a friend circle: People talk. There’s a chance you’re creating an awkward situation if the original gift-giver knows the new gift-receiver.
• When it would be noticeable that you aren’t using the gift: If Grandma gives your daughter an expensive dress but never sees her wearing it, she’s likely to ask questions. It’s better to use a gift like this once or twice.

Tips for successfully repurposing gifts

Think about the type of gifts that make you happiest to receive. The person who gives you the present has usually considered your likes and dislikes and chosen something you would enjoy. Here’s how to do the same with a “regift”:

• Regift new, unused items: Make sure anything you regift still has the tag, original packaging, and any manuals or accessories that came with it.
• Consider the gift carefully: Is it an item you don’t need or want, but you know it’s something the new recipient will love? Then regifting is a possibility!
• Take care when wrapping the present: You can make a repurposed present look special with creative wrapping or a beautiful bow. And don’t forget to add a card with a nice message inside.

Alternatives to regifting

Regifting is controversial because people expect you to put some time and effort into finding them the perfect present. (And this doesn’t usually involve checking the shelves in your basement.) 

Consider other ways of giving away presents you don’t want or need. You can donate them, offer them to someone as a “hand-me-down,” or use them in a white elephant gift exchange. Any of these options might feel more tactful.

You can also prevent unneeded and unwanted gifts. Create a wishlist using Giftster. Share it with your friends and relatives so they know exactly what you want. Encourage others to create wishlists, too, so you know they won’t be tempted to regift what you give them.

Happy regifting!

The post Regifting Etiquette: Here’s What You Need to Know  appeared first on Giftster and was written by Giftster.

Here are some tips for navigating gifts for your children and ensuring a cozier, happier holiday season for everyone.

Start a gift giving tradition of shared presents

A shared gift eliminates some jealousy and rivalry, especially if siblings can use it simultaneously. This strategy also benefits your bank account if you can purchase fewer big gifts.

Items to consider for a shared sibling gift include arts and crafts supplies, a doll house, a train table, a collection of LEGO, a family gym membership, sports equipment for the yard, or a family vacation. 

Choose similar stocking stuffers from Santa 

If your kids believe in Santa (or still enjoy Christmas morning stockings), you can stuff their stockings with similar presents. 

Pick a few inexpensive gifts your kids have requested and buy one for each. After all, even if little Anna doesn’t think she wants a new headband now, you know she’ll want one as soon as her big sister Elsa gets one from Santa. 

If you need some stocking stuffer ideas, check out Christmas Gift Prep 101.

Buy younger kids the same number of gifts 

We all understand that one expensive gift can equal five cheaper ones. But sometimes little kids value quantity over quality. They also get excited about big gifts. So what is Christoff going to think when he just gets one, small gift for Christmas and Sven gets several big ones?

If your budget allows, try to keep the “appearance” of gifts balanced. Add a few inexpensive gifts to raise numbers or wrap a smaller present in a big box.

Help your older kids create budget-friendly wishlists

As children get older, they begin to understand money and the value of a gift. Suddenly, a handful of cheap gifts doesn’t seem quite as exciting as it used to.

Fortunately, older kids can also understand spending limits. Use a wishlist maker like Giftster and help them add items that stay within a Healthy Holiday Shopping Budget. When siblings open (and compare) their presents on Christmas, they’ll know that the quality is the same.

It’s also harder to complain that “it’s not fair” when they receive the items they requested on their wishlists.

Teach gratitude and thankfulness during the season of gift giving

Comparing gifts, sibling rivalry, complaining, and whining might all be signs that your kids are kids. But it doesn’t hurt to integrate the art of being thankful into your holiday traditions. Try to participate in a few acts of kindness for others and model gratitude.

You can also encourage your kids to slow down on Christmas morning. Set aside time for them to play with and experience their new gifts with no other expectations: no sharing, no video calls, no traveling. They are almost guaranteed to be more appreciative.

Happy gifting!

The post “It’s Not Fair!” How to Handle Sibling Rivalry and Gift Giving  appeared first on Giftster and was written by Giftster.

While Thanksgiving often marks the beginning of the season of giving, presence is more important than presents.

Here are ways to make the most of quality time with family during Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Play games with your family

Encourage screen-free time with family games. Classic board games are fun for kids of all ages, and many inspire cooperation or friendly competition. If you don’t have many games tucked away in a closet, you can always play charades or Pictionary with your own supplies.

You can also lay out a puzzle or two for everyone to work on together. And if you’re willing to allow a little screen time, multi-player video games can get everyone involved.

Enjoy time with family outside

Fresh air always feels good, especially if you and your family have cooked your Thanksgiving meal in a warm kitchen. Grab a ball to toss or even go for a walk after dinner to help digest the turkey. Light a bonfire to roast some s’mores (if you need more dessert!)

If the weather isn’t cooperating, you can still get out of the house. Once it gets dark, load up a car or two and take a drive to look at holiday lights.

Volunteer your time to help others

As you and your family are considering what you’re thankful for, you can also think of some ways to volunteer your time to help other families in need.

In the days leading up to Thanksgiving, you could help cook a meal for a local organization that provides food to others. You can also ask your local food bank if you and your family could help assemble meal boxes or serve a Christmas dinner.

Don’t rush through dinner

To make the most of quality time with family on these major holidays, resist the urge to rush through dinner. It might be tempting to watch football, start cleaning up, or distract antsy children. But try to take advantage of the time when everyone is present together around the table.

As a bonus, the more slowly you eat, the less likely you will be to overeat and the more likely you will be to enjoy your food.

Engage others in conversation

It can be easy to make yourself busy during Thanksgiving and Christmas, whether you’re eating snacks, prepping dinner, or watching TV. This year, make it a personal challenge to engage each guest in conversation, for at least a few minutes. 

You can talk about work, school, friends, hobbies, or travel. After all, the gift of your presence is particularly powerful when you take the time to listen to and appreciate others.

If you’re feeling nervous about everyone being together, read our Holiday Survival Guide to Navigating Family Gatherings so you’re prepared to enjoy your quality time with loved ones.

Happy holidays!

The post How To Make the Most of Quality Time with Family During The Holidays appeared first on Giftster and was written by Giftster.

You might be wondering why “stressed shoppers,” “diminishing bank accounts,” and “too many shipping boxes to fit in the recycling bin” aren’t on that list. Because truthfully, the season of gift-giving comes with its drawbacks.

If you’re hoping to make holiday shopping more efficient and less expensive, here are some tips for tackling that long gift list.

1. Make lists of recipients and gift ideas 

Lists are a great organizational strategy to keep your holiday shopping more efficient and less expensive. 

While making the list of people to shop for, Don’t Forget These 10 People During Your Holiday Gift Shopping. Next, jot down what you plan to purchase for them if you know. Be sure to ask or check their online wish lists too for ideas guaranteed to be a slam dunk.

Use your lists to plan trips to stores that carry several items, and cross the names off once you’ve purchased their gifts. You should be able to minimize shopping trips, browsing time, and forgetful moments. 

2. Start planning early

If you wait until the last minute to purchase gifts, you’ll likely find empty shelves, higher prices, and lengthier shipping times. But if you start planning your gift-buying early, you can take advantage of seasonal sales.

Other benefits of early planning include spreading out your spending over several months and having more time to collect coupons.

If the holiday season is nearing, you can still do some planning to minimize your spending. Try comparison shopping to know which stores carry your gift list items for the least amount of money.

Black Friday sales start popping up well before Black Friday rolls around. Shopping online allows you to see which retailers are offering the best price.

3. Try making DIY gifts

Do-it-yourself gifts take longer than placing an online order, but they can be a smart way to save money.

If you don’t know how to make beautifully knitted scarves, don’t give up. There are still DIY gifts you can make. 

Here are some ideas:

• Cookies, salsa, jams, or other homemade goods
• Photo gifts (what grandparent can resist?)
• Bath bombs, soaps, or candles

Don’t forget that sometimes the best gift is your time. Offer free babysitting or housecleaning to a friend or relative who could use your help more than they could use an object.

4. Use holiday wish lists

Sometimes the most time-consuming part of holiday shopping is carefully choosing gifts for everyone on your list. Encourage your friends and relatives to create wishlists to make it easier to pick the perfect gift.

Giftster.com is a two-way, online gift registry anyone can use to make and share their holiday wish lists. It’s free to sign up, simple to add items from online retailers (or offline gifts too), and easy to avoid duplicate gifts. 

With a Giftster wishlist, you’ll pick the perfect gift, every time.

5. Organize gift exchanges to minimize your gift list

Are you purchasing gifts for everyone in your friend circle or all of the coworkers on your team? Consider organizing a gift exchange to save everyone time and money.

With a Secret Santa, everyone leaves with something, so your friends and coworkers will all be happy. And you’ll be even happier to know that Giftster’s Secret Santa Generator makes it easy to organize a gift exchange.

You can also consider a White Elephant gift exchange, which is less personalized but can be a lot more fun.

Happy gifting!

The post Long Gift List? 5 Tips to Shop More Efficiently and Save Money appeared first on Giftster and was written by Giftster.

If you’re like many shoppers, you want to get a head start on gift buying before the mad rush later. Retailers have released their holiday gift guides for 2023. And we have our guide to those gift guides, too.

There are dozens, if not hundreds, of holiday gift guides that appear online at this time of year. Our collection doesn’t list them all, but we do try to find helpful and unique ways to categorize the gift guides you might be looking for.

Take a look at our carefully curated holiday gift guide collection for 2023. We’ve focused on budget, trends, stocking stuffers and white elephants, and giving back.

Luxurious finds

If you’ve been saving up or love to splurge, you’ll enjoy these gift guides of high-end ideas.

Forbes: This list has an assortment of fun, luxurious, and thoughtful items for this holiday season that will please everyone from the tech-lover to the home chef. 

Town & Country: What do you give the woman who has everything? Take a look at these glamorous gifts that include jewelry, clothing, and beauty tech for the fashion-conscious woman.

Esquire: If your guy is always looking for the latest tech or finest whiskeys, Esquire’s gift guide will take all the guesswork out of shopping for him this holiday season.

New York Post: Check out these trendy toys that include everything from play kitchens to virtual reality headsets. These kids’ gifts are the best of the best.

Vogue: When you’re looking for items that are a step above the ordinary, Vogue has ideas for carefully chosen gifts.

GQ: Does your guy deserve the best? With this holiday gift guide from GQ, you’re sure to find a present that will spoil him this season.

Budget-friendly holiday gift guides

Many stores and online retailers make it easy to stay within your shopping budget. Use these convenient gift guides to manage purchases this season.

CNET: We love the range of items on CNET’s holiday gift guide, especially their ideas that are under $25.

Better Homes & Gardens: Every gift on this list is under $30, but still thoughtful, useful, and fun to open for the holidays. 

Today: You’ll love that this gift guide is organized by the recipient’s interest, so you can find the perfect budget item for tech lovers, beauty lovers, and kids.

Wirecutter: The New York Times Wirecutter magazine recommends gifts for babies and kids that fit within any budget.

Serious Eats: Kitchen tools and gadgets don’t have to break the bank. Here are budget-friendly gifts for cooks and food lovers.

Barnes & Noble: Books are inexpensive but almost universally appealing. You can search books by age, interest, and best-seller.

STEAM ideas

Science, technology, engineering, art, and math gifts are trendy and useful. Search these gift guides to find the perfect present for anyone who loves to tinker, create, or problem-solve.

LEGO: Search the iconic brick connector toys by recipient, collection, and interest. There is even a gift finder to help you narrow your search for the perfect LEGO gift.

Uncommon Goods: Uncommon Goods has a wonderful collection of experience gifts that includes “make your own” kits, puzzles, and interactive games.

Genius Lab Gear: Don’t overlook this amazing list of science gifts for teenagers. We think that many adults would love these gadgets and gizmos, too.

Taste of Home: Use this holiday gift guide to find the best present for makers and crafters on your shopping list.

Lowe’s: Ask anyone who grills, and they’ll say it’s an art form. Lowe’s has gifts for grill-masters, DIYers, and everything in between.

Care for yourself and others

Self-care will never go out of style, and neither will giving back to others. Here are the gifts that help others the most. If you’re looking for more ideas, check out Season of Giving: 10 Meaningful Ways to Give Back This Holiday.

Glamour: Find the perfect gift to help a new mom relax, pamper your BFF, or spoil your teenage daughter and her friends.

InStyle: This holiday gift guide is organized by function, including “better sleep,” “relaxation,” and “personal development.”

The Strategist: These gifts all benefit organizations fighting for the rights of others, and they’re also great presents for the people on your shopping list.

Reader’s Digest: Just scrolling through this holiday gift guide makes you feel good. There are over 40 items to choose from that benefit others.

Amazon: While this major online retailer is known for having almost everything, we appreciate their Unique Gifts category where you can shop small businesses, women-owned businesses, and black-owned businesses.

Oprah Daily: Many items in this holiday gift guide feel indulgent, and they also support important causes.

Today’s Parent: Use this gift guide to find kid-friendly presents that help fundations and organizations for children.

Stocking stuffers and white elephants

Throughout the holiday season, you might find yourself invited to a white elephant or stumped for stocking stuffer ideas. We’ve put together our own guides to these gift-giving situations. Read our guide to 15 Hilarious White Elephant Gift Ideas and Christmas Gift Prep 101 – Stocking Stuffers & Wrapping Tips. 

Find more gift guides for small and inexpensive stocking stuffers or witty and (maybe) useful white elephant gift exchanges below.

Real Simple: These white elephant-themed gifts are fun and clever, and the participants might even find them useful.

Men’s Health: If you’re heading to a white elephant gift exchange, you can’t go wrong with these creative and hilarious ideas. 

The Spruce: Don’t miss these goofy, wacky, and funny gift ideas for an entertaining white elephant gift exchange.

Good Housekeeping: Find 80 stocking stuffer ideas for your entire family in this holiday gift guide.

The Cut: Each stocking stuffer item on this list has a helpful title, such as “for the friend who works from home” and “for the person who loves spicy food.”

The Paper Source: Shop these cute and quirky stocking stuffers that include everything from candy to toys to socks. 

Visit giftster.com to create a Christmas wish list and to start a Secret Santa drawing for your holiday gift exchange. 

The post Giftster’s 2023 Holiday Gift Guide Collection appeared first on Giftster and was written by Giftster.

In the UK alone, consumers use 227,000 miles of wrapping paper each year.

Are you interested in giving less to the landfills this year? Here are some ideas for eco-friendly wrapping paper alternatives.

Stockings 

All of those stockings hung by the chimney with care are excellent eco-friendly gift wrap options. You don’t need wrapping paper for presents that fit in stockings, so to reduce waste make sure not to double up. 

On the topic of stockings, socks can be great wrapping options for small items like jewelry. Choose a cozy, holiday-themed pair for a useful, waste-free gift wrap.

E-mail 

You might be tempted to purchase gift cards and place them in holiday cards. But for an eco-friendly wrapping paper alternative, digitize them instead. 

Most stores have electronic gift cards or certificates that don’t use paper or plastic (and are harder to misplace). “Wrap” them up in an email and the recipient still gets to “open” them.

Furoshiki

Furoshiki are traditional Japanese fabric wrapping cloths. They are reusable, versatile, and creative. Once you’ve tried this gift-wrapping art, you’ll be amazed at how easy it is to wrap even the most oddly shaped present. 

Learn more about how to tie Furoshiki here, and all the gifts you give this year will be eco-friendly and beautiful.

Old papers

Do you get a newspaper delivered to your home? Are there unused road maps in your car? How many coloring book pages are on your refrigerator? 

Think of how fun and environmentally friendly it would be for a gift recipient to have a present wrapped in the Sunday comics, a map of a famous city, or a crayon drawing of a dinosaur.

Containers

If you think about the gift you’re giving, you might be able to come up with a corresponding “container,” like a box or jar, to put it in. They are incredibly versatile, which means the recipient of your gift is likely to reuse the container it’s “wrapped” in instead of throwing it away.

A few ideas might be candies or cookies in a tin or mason jar, books in a fabric tote bag, or spa items, wrapped in a towel, in a basket.

Just a bow (or no wrapping at all)

Potted plants, bottles of alcohol, or candles would look lovely with a simple ribbon or no wrapping. And while it might seem unconventional, according to AP News, “nearly two-thirds [of U.S. respondents] said they would happily receive gifts without wrapping.” 

If you want to be creative with just bows, here are 25 Ways to Wrap Ribbon and Bows on Gifts.

No matter which method you choose, we hope you and the recipients of your gifts are happier with these environmentally friendly options for gift wrap.

Happy gifting!

The post Eco-friendly Wrapping Paper Alternatives appeared first on Giftster and was written by Giftster.

Does this sound familiar?

Maybe if you live in a magazine or movie set.

For the rest of us, the holidays aren’t perfect. If you’re preparing for family gatherings this holiday season, here’s your survival guide to help you make it to the new year.

Manage your expectations

When you’re preparing to survive family gatherings during the holiday season, it’s important to manage your expectations. 

Do any of these relatives sound familiar?

The one who drinks too much. The one who makes judgmental comments about your life choices or parenting. The one who only wants to talk about sports. The one who makes everyone pose for hundreds of photographs. The one whose cooking is awful. The one with kids who never behave.

This list is not all-inclusive, but you get the idea.

Here’s the thing. If you go into your family gathering this year expecting these people to be different and for the experience to be better, you could be setting yourself up for disappointment.

After all, people rarely change. And you can’t control who they are or what they do.

What you can control are your expectations.

Expect your relatives to be exactly who they are and to act like they always have. Yes, things might be better this year. But they might not. And honestly, it’s fine if things aren’t perfect.

You can also control your behavior and boundaries. 

Avoid certain topics of conversation or certain relatives (if you can). While everyone else is yelling at the TV during the “big game,” read a book somewhere quiet if you want to. Don’t feel obligated to take a turn holding someone else’s baby.

Essentially, if you are realistic about what to expect and plan your behavior and boundaries accordingly, you have a much better chance of surviving the holidays.

Practice mindfulness and self-care during family gatherings

Even if you love every moment of family gatherings, you should take care not to overextend yourself. Traveling or hosting groups of people takes time, energy, and mental stamina.

Sometimes, though, there are relatives who are difficult to spend time with. Or gatherings tend to end up full of drama or tension. Maybe everyone is expected to participate in an activity, and you don’t really enjoy it, but you put on a happy face anyway.

Any of these situations can add to the stress of family gatherings over the holidays.

Practice mindfulness. Be aware of your heart rate rising or if you start to feel hot. Then, take some steps to calm down.

You might try:

• taking a few deep breaths
• stepping outside for a minute or two
• seeking out a relative whose presence is calming
• excusing yourself from an uncomfortable conversation
• drinking water or having a snack

Practice self-care. Just because you are with family over the holidays doesn’t mean you must ignore the things you enjoy. Maintain your familiar routines as much as you can, including exercise or a nighttime beauty routine.

Set and follow through with personal boundaries. Consider setting appropriate boundaries for yourself. Saying no to too many holiday parties or gatherings is completely okay. If you know they will only cause you to feel stressed and overwhelmed say no. You don’t need to have a reason other than you simply cannot make it. Give yourself permission to decline. You know yourself best and how much you can handle. Set boundaries and stick to them during the holidays and year-round.

Prepare your children (and your partner) to survive the holidays

If you have kids, they probably look forward to the holidays. However, children also like routines. When they are in strange places, eating strange food, and hanging around strange people, they might also start to act… strange.

Talk to them about what to expect in advance. Show them photographs of relatives they only see once or twice a year. Let them pack a bag of their favorite snacks, toys, books, or stuffed animals. Give in to screen time, because if watching a video on their tablet keeps them from having a tantrum or oversharing their teenage attitude, it’s a win for everyone. 

Also explain boundaries and expectations, such as “no phone during dinner” or “stay out of Grandma’s bedroom.”

Remember that your kids may not feel completely comfortable around extended family. You can teach them what to do if a relative asks for a hug or kiss and they don’t want to give one: “No, thank you. Can I have a high five instead?”

Don’t neglect to prepare your partner, too, especially if it’s their first time at one of your family gatherings. They should also know what to expect. Are there relatives to avoid if they’ve been drinking? Topics to never bring up? Traditions they’ll be asked to participate in?

When you’re going to your partner’s family gathering for the first time, ask the same questions so you know what you’re getting into and how best to manage.

Try to incorporate positive experiences

You can’t please everyone. Some people seem to want to be miserable. But you can certainly try to please most people. Here are some ways to incorporate positive experiences during family gatherings:

Change your outlook. Aim to notice something nice about each of your family members and compliment them. Looking for the positives can improve your mood, and compliments will help improve everyone else’s. You can also give back this holiday season and make the most of helping others.

Plan games and activities. Consider taking a walk with some relatives, especially since it feels nice to get some exercise outside. Other activities like games can promote family collaboration and fun competition.

Organize a gift exchange. It’s nice to receive gifts, but it’s also rewarding to give them. Gift-giving can create a “warm glow” effect. This feeling might be exactly what your family gathering needs this holiday season.

If you need some tips to keep gift-giving positive for everyone, here are some ideas:

• organize a Secret Santa gift exchange
• set a recommended amount to spend on gifts
• create and use wishlists for gift shopping

Giftster can help you with your gift-giving needs at your upcoming family gatherings. Let us help you survive the holidays with easy wishlists and Secret Santas. We’ll help you get the gifts right so you and your relatives can enjoy time together.

The post A Holiday Survival Guide To Navigating Family Gatherings appeared first on Giftster and was written by Giftster.