A Barbie Carol: what I learned on Christmas past

Christmas is a good time for reflection. A time to think back on the year that was and begin mapping out the year to be.

Out with the old, in with the new.

It’s also the time when you really test out your present giving skills, and after running the gauntlet of present unwrapping, here’s what I learned from this year’s christmas that I will apply to present buying and giving for the rest of the year…

If you like Barbie’s outfit, chances are your 3 year old won’t. The moral of the story after the jump…

A tale of two Barbie's. Photography by Eclectic Kate

After much trepidation, I have entered the era of Barbie. I’m really on the fence with Barbie, while I appreciate she is one of the many phases a girl goes through (myself included) I haven’t wanted to shove it down my daughter’s throat either. However with preschool and ballet classes, comes Barbie and therefore my justification was that if her outfit is acceptable and if we can guarantee some diversity in looks and ethnicity, then Barbie is welcome.

So much like a vampire, I invited Barbie into my home.

While Christmas shopping, I found a Barbie that I really loved. Great outfit, no annoying gimmicks and she had a 60’s minimal vibe going on, she looked pretty cool… to me.

My Barbie was one of the first presents my daughter opened, and the reaction was a crinkled-up nose as she moved on to the next gift. No words, she just cast Barbie aside. While every other present was unwrapped, de-boxed and played with, 60’s minimal Barbie stood, hands on hips, smiling knowingly from her clear prison.

I felt bad. Bad for Barbie, for bringing her into a home where she wouldn’t be played with. Bad for my daughter, for not caving in and buying her a glittery, pink doll. The moral of the story here is: Buy/make/create presents that the receiver will want, not what you think they should want!

Lucky for my daughter, her G. Grandma Rosie (great-grandmother), who with 3 great-grandchildren, 16 grandchildren and 7 children of her own, has much more present experience/knowing/apitutde than I do, bought her an awesome Barbie, who wears a bikini and drives a pink convertible.

The “don’t panic, it’s Christmas” guide to last minute gifts

My gorgeous niece Ruby, panicking. Photo by Kylie Jacobsen

The week before Christmas is usually the week where I run out of Christmas steam, I’m running out of good present ideas and the budget is getting tighter.

I blame this week for the plethora of gift-pack cosmetics, socks and singing Christmas kitchiness, because if you’re shopping this week, chances are you’re pretty over it, delusional and lost for ideas.

On top of that it is the week where you get gifts from people that you had no prior gift-giving relationship with… the random kid at preschool you’ve never heard of or the neighbour who moved in last week.

Cue another trip to the shops.

Therefore here is my guide to simple, inexpensive and thoughtful last minute gifts, that are available almost anywhere and that will hopefully save your sanity.

For the kids who have everything:

1. ART & CRAFT: My general rule for kids is they can never have too many books, art & craft or outdoor toys. Most $2 stores have a great selection of canvases, paints, glitter glue, crayons and pencils. Present them in a box or basket so that you’re also providing a storage solution. A trip to the thrift store may also uncover excess art supplies, still in packets and good quality used baskets.
2. BOOKS: Books are also an easily accessible gift, you can pick up good quality used books at thrift shops or new ones at the supermarket. The books to avoid are ones that come from movies or cartoon shows, from experience they’re either too wordy for the age group they’re marketed at or worse, they’re poorly written. The exception to this rule is for kids who never read… these books are good to at least get them interested in story time.
3. OUTDOOR TOYS: Outdoor toys and in particular water toys are great for holiday entertainment and get kids out of the house and burning off some energy. There’s nothing better than a water fight, so water pistols, water balloons, bath toys and anything that connects up to the hose are great for summer. Water & kids must always be accompanied by adult supervision. A simple gift could be a jar full of water balloons and ‘Just Add Water’ written on a sticky label across the jar.

For the adult you don’t know what to buy:

1. RECIPE CARDS: Think of 3-5 of your favourite dinners, type out the recipe for each and get them printed on A5 pieces of card. Present cards wrapped with a ribbon and a tag that reads, “Dinner ideas for 2012”. Go the extra mile by thinking of clever names for your dishes i.e. ‘One Dish Wonder‘, ‘Cupboard is bare spaghetti‘. You could do the same with cookie recipes and present with a few assorted cookie cutter shapes. If you really suck at cooking, that is what the internet is for, go to www.taste.com.au and cut & paste a few recipes.
2. INSTANT HERB GARDEN: Most supermarkets now sell small pots of parsley and basil. Purchase one or even three small pots of herbs and replant them in a more decorative planters available at hardwares, garden centres and department stores like Target, Kmart and Big W. Label pots with permanent marker or purchase garden labels which stick into the soil. Tie a simple bow around the pot rather than trying to wrap a living thing!
3. THE BEST WAY TO GIFT DECORATIVE SOAPS: Scented soaps on their own may seem a little lame (personally I love soap!) however by teaming it with a small decorative dish and a set of white hand towels, it becomes a more thoughtful gift. This is a great host gift if you are staying with someone over the holidays. Try and buy the nicest soap you can afford and/or something in either an interesting shape or with pretty packaging. The dish can be found at thrift stores or even a small blue and white china soup bowl. My tip is to not buy an actual soap dish, they’re always ugly and practical looking. Hand towels for the bathroom are always, excuse the pun, handy. Unless you can afford striped Missoni hand towels, stick to plain white as colours fade  & tend to look raggedy much quicker.

Orangespiration

Vintage Scarves

Last week Pantone announced their “Colour of the Year” …and the winner was Tangerine Tango.

Im not sure what other colours were in the running, or how said colours felt about losing, but Tangerine Tango sounds like a bad 2 4 1 cocktail. I do think the actual shade of orange that Tangerine Tango represents is a great colour. Think vermillion and you’re pretty close.

Here is some orangespiration in honour of the colour of the year…

Blocks

Just a hint of orange

Orange to Yellow to Green

Today's fruit

Poppy

All photo’s credited to Eclectic Kate