stuff

what to do about holiday gift-giving?

my friend christina, who has four boys, uses this rule: one thing to read, one thing you need, and one thing you want. this is simple and systematic, both of which i find appealing.

my friend caren says she and her little family are making identical gift baskets for all their friends and family this year, which means less pressure and more family time together crafting and baking.

aaron wants to only give and receive consumable items. (meaning, he wants people to give him red wine and tiramisu.) i have been baking a lot lately, which i know he appreciates.

what do you do?

my friend kristin sent me a link to this really interesting short video, the story of stuff. here's what the website says about the video:

From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It'll teach you something, it'll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever.

and caren alerted me to another video, the advent conspiracy. this is a really short video encouraging us to spend less money and more time with our family, and possibly to donate some of the money we're not spending to those who need it more.