Oh, my.
Last year around this time I wrote about the stresses of the holiday season; and I mentioned that I liked to make some of the gifts I give. This year I would like to elaborate on that, and this is the right time to do it because gift-making takes some time. But, you say, who has time to make gifts with all the other tasks that need to be done? It's hard enough just to choose and buy the gifts.
Ah, but making a gift can be less stressful than buying one. Especially now, when many people already have everything they need; another sweater, candle, or bottle of bubble bath won't be exciting.
Get a Gift Together Throughout the Year
One way to beat the time-crunch problem is to accumulate the components of a gift throughout the year. For example, you can create a folder for funny stories you see and, at gift-giving time, assemble them into a booklet; either online or not. You can go from November to November, so that you can assemble the booklet at the beginning of December, before the last minute.
Making a Video
Or you can choose a topic that your recipient is interested in (and that you are, too!) and enjoy researching it and creating an informational video about it. I've done both of these and the recipients have said that this gift has been the highlight of their Christmas day. (I have a Mac and I've used Photobooth to record it and iMovie to edit it. Those without Macs can find analogous software by consulting AI. AI mentions Camtasia, among others, as a user-friendly platform.)
AI
If all this seems like too much, you can resort to AI. Here's an example:
AI in Action
Me: "I need a holiday gift for a relative who is a gifted cook. But I think he already has all the utensils one could think of. And he already has lots of cookbooks. I can't get him a cookbook because I wouldn't know whether he already has it. He is a vegetarian. What could I give him?"
ChatGPT:
"Here are some thoughtful gift ideas for your relative who is a gifted vegetarian cook, beyond utensils and cookbooks:
Ingredients and Consumables
- Exotic Spices or Spice Blends: Look for unique or hard-to-find spices like sumac, black garlic powder, za’atar, or freshly harvested saffron.
- Gourmet Olive Oils or Vinegars: Try infused oils (e.g., basil, truffle) or aged balsamic vinegars.
- Specialty Salts: Think Himalayan pink salt, smoked salt, or flavored salts.
- Uncommon Pulses or Grains: Heirloom beans, freekeh, or black rice might inspire new dishes.
Unique Cooking Accessories
- Fermentation Kit: Ideal for making homemade kimchi, sauerkraut, or yogurt.
- Artisan Servingware: A handcrafted wooden chopping board, ceramic mixing bowls, or a beautiful serving platter.
- High-Quality Storage Containers: For storing dried goods, like glass jars with airtight bamboo lids.
Personalized or Subscription-Based Gifts
- Vegetarian Subscription Box: Monthly deliveries of gourmet ingredients, snacks, or cooking kits.
- Custom Recipe Journal: For your relative to jot down their own creations.
- Personalized Apron or Chef’s Coat: Embroidered with their name or a fun quote about vegetarian cooking.
Experiences
- Cooking Class: A virtual or local workshop on a specific vegetarian cuisine or technique (e.g., vegan cheese-making, Indian vegetarian cooking).
- Farmers’ Market Gift Card: To pick up fresh, local produce.
- Membership to a Culinary Organization: Something like Slow Food International for a focus on sustainable, vegetarian-friendly cuisine.
Do any of these sound like a good fit? I’d be happy to refine the suggestions further!"
Perplexity
When using AI, I usually prefer Perplexity because when it answers, it gives the sources of its information in little boxes above the answer, so you can check its validity and also learn more. But for this particular request, ChatGPT did better.
Your Inner Guide
But if you have the time and inclination, making a gift is so much more meaningful, and so much more fun!!! Your Inner Guide will help you with that process, as mine has for me. If you don't yet have an Inner Guide, you can acquire one, for free, here:
