Thursday, July 17, 2008

Everyday I get closer to it

Dear Friends and Family [and others that I'm otherwise compelled to give to]:

Advent Conspiracy begins tomorrow night!



Yes. Joanne and I are doing it together and we're bringing as many people on our more-love-less-spending ark as possible.

The bad news is some of you will be irritated with me. And still some more will be really irritated with me. Because I'm going to try my darndest not to buy anymore retail gifts. My goal is for every gift I give to have my heart in it and it's going to help someone.

The good news is I'm a trained artist and craft-skilled person, so your gifts should be pretty cool. If all I had was data entry skills, you'd probably have reason to be alarmed. And even while you might be irritated, some people will get clean water and other's will get some goats and chickens.

We're going to have advent conspiracy brainstorming/gift making sessions 2x a month.
(And yes, anyone who wants to help make AIDS/HIV patient scarves, please come and help!)

I'm already thinking of all of the things I'm going to have to change. Wrapping will have to change, trips to Target will have to change, what supplies I buy will have to change.

Gifts for the kids will be hardest of all, but we made a dollhouse last year right? I mean that worked out, I guess. I'm going to try to keep on that vein. I mean, they love the boxes best of all, right? Maybe they'll get a mountain of cardboard boxes, haha.

I'm just going to have to take a deep breath and start thinking deeper...

p.s. this movie is great

5 comments:

SaraMarie said...

I think this is a fabulous idea. However, I am "craft-and-bake challenged" so I need to improvise. I think flea markets and yard sales are great ideas for gifts, especially toys and clothes for little ones. And homemade CDs are a great idea too. Many churches hold craft fairs and bazaars. See, thinking outside the (retail) bag is easy!!! =)

P.S. That movie is great!

P.P.S. Peter often wraps gifts with the comic section from the newspaper!

Sam said...

Does this mean the reincarnation of that penguin painting that got stolen? Because if it is...I'm all in! And I can give you guys some cheesecakes or...something...I dunno...all I've got is baking.

Unknown said...

so, are you going to be that aunt like the one in "A Christmas Story" where the boys get the bunny pajamas? I'll alert the girls.
I'm joking you know. I think your idea is a great one. Good luck.

Charlie said...

Yes, that's exactly the kind of aunt I'll be. :)
Scout and Brooke will be afraid to open my present, for hear it will be another hello-kitty-toaster-cozie.

Unknown said...

lol...to your comment back....
and, I just watched the movie you linked in this post....pretty good and interesting, and I laughed out loud a few times.