Pass It On

It's coming upon the gift giving season. Mother's Day, Father's Day, graduations and weddings loom and each beg for the perfectly selected gift.

In an age when it’s hip to re-use and recycle, re-gifting is also making a comeback, although not in the traditional “get rid of something you don’t want” sense. Today’s version of re-gifting consists of sharing or passing along something that’s meaningful to you. I'm especially happy to see this tradition return, as many of the decorative items in my home have been given to me as gifts or have been passed along from someone who knows I have a passion for decor. I would always rather have something that carries a story than something brand new.

While it takes no less time to choose, the perfectly selected re-gift can be more memorable and meaningful than something newly purchased. For instance:

• A bottle of wine from your cellar
• A piece of a collection that’s meaningful to you. When I got married, my mother-in-law’s sister gave me a beautiful gift: she added to the collection of teacups my mother had given to me over the years with a cup and saucer from her collection of flow blue china.
• A book that you’ve enjoyed. Write a passage in the front of the book about what you enjoyed, and pass it along to someone you think will like it.
• A plant or tree that you’ve nurtured. When my daughter Katie was born, a friend gave me a tiny Christmas cactus that was an offshoot of a plant she received when her last baby was born. Now I’m about to pass along an offshoot to one of my friends who just had a baby.
• Something someone’s admired. I once admired a friend’s enamel butterfly pin, and on my next birthday, she gave it to me as a gift.
• A stack of magazines on a topic of interest. A stack of vintage National Geographics is a perfect gift for a 10 year old boy.
• A Christmas ornament from your collection.
• A collection of letters and photos.
• Something from your family. My husband wears a lapis Polk family crest ring that will someday be passed onto our son, and I wear his grandmother’s diamond ring that will someday be passed onto one of our daughters.
• Something that feeds someone’s interest or talent. If you have an old manual typewriter, pass it on to someone who shows a talent for writing.

Practice with the upcoming gift giving season, then you'll be a pro when Christmas arrives.

Why Wait For Someone To Send You Flowers?

Like most women, I love flowers. Like most women with a house, a husband, a job, and three kids, I don't have time to spend arranging them. I've learned over the years to appreciate the beauty and simplicity of a bunch of dandelions in a jelly jar, or the functionality of a white pitcher in place of a crystal vase. I've even used an empty lemonade bottle for some leaves Katie collected on one of our nature walks.

Rather than waiting for someone to send you flowers, buy some for yourself. You can create a chic and simple arrangement that will make you and your family smile.

#9 Hostess Gifts that Everyone Loves

My Mom taught me never to show up at someone's house empty handed. Most of the year that's not a problem, since we don't go anywhere. During the holidays, though, we have a stash of good hostess gifts at the ready just in case. Our favorite is Williams-Sonoma's Fleur de Sel.

We typically order a case of it in October, and use it throughout the year as we visit friends, go to parties, or need little gifts for little occasions. It's so pretty, and such a nice extravagance that no one will ever guess you only spent $12.50.

Happy Birthday Jack

Friday was Jack's 12th birthday and we have reached a new phase of acquisition in the Furber house. We've transitioned from birthday gifts that are big and hard to store (think bikes, razors, train sets) to birthday gifts that are small and hard to keep track of (a green cell phone, a set of SkullCandy headphones, and a Larry Bird Celtics jersey.)

In the short term, I'm dreading the inevitable morning panic: "Mom, where did you put my cell phone?! It was right here under the sofa, next to my shoes and under the blanket! Aaaah! Why are you always moving my stuff?!!"

Aah, but in the long term, I can't help but fantasize about what I'm going to do with all that space. I estimate that I can fit about ten Larry Bird jerseys into the space a telescope takes, so I could probably take over Jack's entire closet and he might not even notice.

To any relatives reading Suburban Zen today: work with me. If you plan to give one of my children a gift, please make it small in size. In about 18 months, I think I can have all three of them sharing the same room and I'll finally have my workout room (see post Home Gym, 2009 Edition) or Jack, who's reading over my shoulder, suggests that JP and I could each have our own room.

Happy Birthday Jack. Move over -- I'm coming in with my yoga mat.

I Need A Birthday Present, Stat!

It seems like someone's always having a birthday or a baby. That presents two challenges: coming up with a present and wrapping it.

At the beginning of the year I like to stash some presents away in my cupboard so we're ready to party at a moment's notice. This year our picks are:
The Guinness Book of World Records for Jack's buddies

Recharging Stations for Andie's friends

Puffy Tea Sets for Katie's friends

And my favorite old standby for new moms, "Working Moms Rock" TShirts from honestbaby.com

Once my cupboard is re-stocked with presents, I stock up my arsenal of wrapping supplies. Nothing is worse than having a present with nothing to wrap it in. To keep it simple, I usually use newspaper, pages from magazines, brown kraft paper or tissue paper as the base. If I'm feeling fancy, I'll use a Williams-Sonoma floursack towel.

To spruce up my recycled base, I have a stash of pretty ribbons that I buy at my local craft store

And a few boxes of these pretty labels from Chronicle Publishing

Et, Voila.

From the moment Andie says "Oh, I forgot. Bridget's having her birthday party today" to wrapped present ready to go: about ten minutes.
I have to admit, though, that there are still some last minute requests that throw me. Like "Oh, I forgot. I need a pair of black movement pants (whatever those are) for this afternoon's theatre practice."