A Book Buying Guide for the Bookworms (and maybe even some Non-Bookish Folk) on your List this Holiday Season

Further to our gift card discussion, I thought I'd post a book buying guide for the fast-approaching holiday season. I personally love receiving books as gifts but for some reason I rarely get them in return! You'd think as an English major and bookish nerd people would automatically get me books but perhaps because I've read a lot of books they shy away from choosing one for me? In my opinion, there is nothing more personal than choosing a book for a loved one. If you don't know where to start - start here! Remember, there's this magical thing called a GIFT RECEIPT that you can stick in the cover of the book to ensure that if they have read it they can return the gift and choose something they haven't. I usually wait and confirm that the receiver hasn't read the book before writing a personal inscription in the cover.  The most recent book I received as a gift was Mindy Kaling's Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns). I loved this present as I would never have bought it myself but thoroughly enjoyed it and gained a newfound appreciation for Mindy Kaling (I was a clueless Office lover who didn't know she was a major writing force). The book isn't on my list but does come highly recommended, especially for a young woman or aspiring writer of any kind. Kaling is a talented, funny and, despite the title, confident woman to learn from and look up to!

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?

Here at WTD we like to support local bookshops and booksellers but in the guide I have posted images and links to Chapters/Indigo for your reference and discretion.

1.) For a Friend in a Rut – The  Glass Castle – Jeanette Walls

The Glass Castle

If you haven’t read the blog article I wrote after hearing author Jeanette Walls speak at a literary event, read it here. I am a huge fan of her work and my appreciation for The Glass Castle doubled, no, quadrupled after having the chance to meet her in person.  The Glass Castle  is the perfect book for a friend who is in a rut, as many of us twenty-somethings are, because it puts life into perspective while simultaneously providing an unapologetic sense of hope for the future.  Hope is important for many of us right now and this book is also funny, touching and thought provoking.

2.) For your Mother-in-Law – The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society – Mary Ann Shaffer

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

Have you read it? It’s great! I stole it off my mom’s shelf expecting something completely different based solely on my impression of the title but it’s a rich and rewarding read written in the epistolary form that has an upbeat sensibility that I appreciate in literature. Goodreads: “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society—born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island—boasts a charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all. Juliet [the protagonist] begins a remarkable correspondence with the society’s members, learning about their island, their taste in books, and the impact the recent German occupation has had on their lives. Captivated by their stories, she sets sail for Guernsey, and what she finds will change her forever”. Some reader reviewers on Good Reads find it a little hokey but I truly enjoyed the wholesome, good-feeling vibes Shaffer puts into her writing. In my opinion, it’s a perfect read for your MIL.

3.) For your Literary Friend – Half-Blood Blues - Esi Edugyan

Half Blood Blues

I realize that because this selection is for your literary friend they may have read this book, but if they’re a literary friend they’ve probably read a lot of books. It’s going to be kind of  a shot in the dark to choose something for them no matter what. When in doubt, scan their bookshelves next time you’re over and looking for missing titles. Interestingly, despite its widespread acclaim I’d say that Half-Blood Blues is a novel many of my literary friends haven’t read – and should! This book changed the way I read. It immediately became one of my all times favourites. Edugyan surprised me in many ways and Half-Blood Blues turned into a story I wasn’t expecting and, interestingly, needed to read at the time. Half-Blood Blues reveals a side of war I hadn’t experienced in history or literature and it entranced and enveloped me. Good Reads puts it beautifully: “the best-selling, award-winning Half-Blood Blues is an entrancing, electric story about jazz, race, love and loyalty, and the sacrifices we ask of ourselves, and demand of others, in the name of art”.

4.) For your Eccentrically Eclectic Friend - The Door – Margaret Atwood

The Door

Unfortunately, you can’t give poetry to just anyone in this day and age, but hopefully, like me, you have a friend that truly appreciates the poetic side of life. If they have an appreciation of poetry or Atwood The Door will be an excellent choice. Atwood turned me on to poetry in grade twelve with her poem You Fit into Me (if you haven’t read it – go read it right now) and I’ve loved her poetry (and poetry in general) ever since. I studied The Door in a seminar class with Dionne Brand (get jealous and stay that way – it was a life changing semester) and I highly recommend the collection. As Good Reads explains, The Door: “investigate[s] the mysterious writing of poetry itself, as well as the passage of time and our shared sense of mortality”. As I said, choose the receiver of this gift wisely and it could be the perfect present.

5.) For your Dad – In the Skin of a Lion – Michael Ondaatje 
 

In The Skin of a Lion

My dad’s a reader, but I challenge you to try this book out on yours even if he isn’t. Ondaatje is a true wordsmith and In the Skin of a Lion is enchanting because of the effortless use of storytelling and language.  In the Skin of a Lion is a captivating read because of Ondaatje's use of poetic language and the way the text compels the reader to “figure it out” from the very beginning. In The Skin of a Lion explains Toronto's unspoken past and combines history, mystery and adventure to explore the sinister underside involved in building Canada’s biggest city in the 1920s.  

6.) For Your Aunt or Uncle that you simply can’t Shop For – The Shipping News – Annie Proulx

The Shipping News begins with the slowly imploding life of Quoyle a newspaper press room worker from New York State who relocates to his ancestral home on the coast of Newfoundland with his two daughters after being deserted by his ex-wife Petal. The family’s relocation is the beginning of a mid-life turnaround that allows Quoyle to find his place in the world and what Goodreads calls his “struggle to reclaim his life”. I absolutely love books set on the coast and The Shipping News is possibly the best. A guaranteed crowd pleasing read for any family member you simply can’t shop for.

7.) For your Mom – Latitudes of Melt – Joan Clark

Latitudes of Melt

Okay, now I’m on a Newfoundland kick. Latitudes of Melt is one of my mom’s favourite "finds" aka she found in in my bookshelf. I studied this book in a Can lit course during my Undergrad. Written by the author of An Audience of Chairs, Latitudes of Melt is a mom-pleasing, character driven story about a baby, later re-named Aurora, who is found floating off the coast of Newfoundland after the Titanic sinks. She is adopted and raised by a family in Newfoundland and later raises her own family there. The book explores her entire life until old age when she is finally convinced that she should explore her origins and find out where she came from.

8.) For your Brother or Brother in Law – Homage to Catalonia – George Orwell

Homage to Catalonia

The only book my brother has ever read is 1984. Okay, that’s probably not true but it is the only book he has ever liked, and he only read it because his high school curriculum made him. My parents had two children and our strengths are literally split down the middle; I am an English major who loves reading, writing, art, yoga, animals and nature and my brother in an Engineer who excels in science and math and plays sports… for fun (if you can believe that). I have chosen Homage to Catalonia because of my brother’s lack luster reading resume (his only weak resume, I might add, the kid is a genius). He liked Orwell, I think, because Orwell catches readers off guard and captures their interest before they have a chance to put the book down. Even most non-readers have gotten through Animal Farm and have had to stop and think about it. That’s a pretty amazing feat considering Animal Farm is often read around grade ten when boys are possibly at their most boy-ish. Homage to Catalonia is a lesser known Orwell which depicts his experience in the Spanish Civil War where he served on the Aragon front for a hundred and fifteen days and was at one point shot through the throat in battle. In typical Orwell fashion he replies to the people who said he was the “lucky man to have survived being shot in the throat” that it would be “luckier not to have been shot at all”. This book is rich in history, and although it doesn’t showcase typical wartime action, the politics and strife are evident on every page and I promise the reader will learn a lot (I did!).  

9.) For your Friend who has Read All the Classics – Wide Sargasso Sea – Jean Rhys 

Wide Sargasso Sea

Give this book to someone who has read the classics, loves the Brontës and Austen, but also appreciates good contemporary fiction (like us!). Don’t give this book to a classics-snob (I’ve met several of them – it’s not attractive – why are they your friend, anyway?) because they will be an asshole about it. I re-read Jane Eyre before embarking on Wide Sargasso Sea and I loved the entire experience! It gave me a chance to re-fresh on one of my top-five favourite Classics of all time and gave me a breath of fresh air and a new perspective on the story. Rhys explores Antoinette Bertha Cosway, Mr. Rochester’s mysterious captive and “madwoman” in Jane Eyre and crafts a unique and compelling tale set in 1830s Jamaica.

10.) For Anyone - Longbourn - Jo Baker 

Longbourn

I admit, I haven't read Longbourn (yet) but I have already given it to one my best friends. It sounds wonderful, someone described it to be Downton Abbey-esque, so of course I know I'm going to like it. Like Wide Sargasso Sea Longbourn plays with the beloved, tried and true story of Pride and Prejudice. I recommend reading Pride and Prejudice first to refresh, just like I did with Wide Sargasso Sea. In fact, why not give P&P and Longbourn as a gift set? I'm going to go put Longbourn on my wish list now!

In closing, I urge you to give at least one book this holiday season! Use this book buying guide or think up your own (and if you do, make sure to share it with me!). Either way, I know that any book lover and maybe even the oddly non-bookish folk  in your life will appreciate the gesture and maybe even learn something new this holiday season!

Gotta book it,

JEM

To Gift Card or Not to Gift Card; that is my dilemma

So I’m just going to come out and say it, plain and simple: I hate gift cards. Ok, well that’s not entirely true. Perhaps I should specify: I hate gift cards as Christmas gifts, both giving and receiving. Not to say that I am so obstinate as to refuse to accept the free purchase this little piece of plastic represents, per se. But as far as my favourite things about the holidays go, gift cards are definitely not at the top of my list.

Why, you might ask? Do I have something against easy shopping? Do I despise allowing people to make their own choices (granted, a choice that is limited to a particular store or mall but a personal choice nonetheless)? Do I love standing in crowded store lines for that perfect gift item, only to find that it sold out three weeks ago? No, no I do not love these things. However, call me a traditionalist, but I like to think that a Christmas gift is less about just getting a gift, and more about the person you’re getting it for.

Personally, while I understand that sometimes getting a gift card to a popular store rids one of much of the dreaded shopping stress that inevitably accompanies holiday spirit, I am turned off by the genericness of it all. Having been a repeated culprit in gift card giving, I can speak to the fact that oftentimes I don’t even look around the store to see if there happens to be any actual item that seems appropriate or gift-worthy; instead, I run straight to the front cash, grab a little plastic rectangle and say “please put this much on this card.” And then I get the hell out of that store, quick in, quick out, just the way I like it. It also prevents me from having to shop ahead of time. Just two weeks ago I ran into a store to get my sister a gift card for her birthday. As it happens, I was supposed to meet her for dinner half hour later to give her said gift and as it happens she was coming out of that same store at the very moment I was walking into it. She just looked at me knowingly and said “you’re getting me a gift card, aren’t you?” Well didn’t I just feel like a shit.

I’m sure we all have those people on our shopping lists who, when asked what they would like for Christmas, always recommend gift cards often because they’re “easiest” or the person is too busy and stressed themselves to think of a specific item or two he/she has actually been wanting. But last time I checked, the spirit of gift giving is supposed to come from a heartfelt desire to give someone a token of your appreciation for them. It’s not supposed to be first and foremost “easy”. “Easy” implies obligation, and it’s that sense of “OMG I have to get this person a gift” which creates all the holiday stress in the first place: ironically, during what is supposed to be one of the more joyous times of the year. As a gift giver, I want to show my recipient that I know them, I listen to them and I care, and sometimes a gift card falls short of demonstrating that kind of affection.

Now I’m not saying that when I receive gift certificates I feel unloved or unappreciated. At the end of the day, taking time, any time, to get me a gift is a show of kindness. But it tickles me a deeper shade of pink when I receive a gift that’s a little more personal. Like two years ago, when my brother in law had me for Kris Kringle. I am often one of those annoying people who doesn’t necessarily want anything in particular for Christmas, making shopping for me pretty much impossible. But when I opened my gift, I was filled with such joy and awe. My BIL had gotten me a Pittsburgh Penguins jersey (my favourite hockey team); it was an item that I wouldn’t have even thought to ask for! The gift showed that he was paying attention to my interests, my hobbies…to me.  And it was his knowing what the perfect gift for me would be, that touched me more than the gift itself. 

I’m not an idealist, thinking that there’s a perfect gift out there for everyone on our lists, especially if you encounter Vague Veronicas like myself. But there are ways to make Christmas gifts more intimate, more personal, even if that means including a small token alongside a gift certificate to the local mall. Here are a few suggestions:

Ask around: If you’re buying for a sibling, consult your other siblings or that sibling’s friends for suggestions. For a significant other, ask his or her friends or family members for advice on things he/she may have picked out or mentioned on a recent shopping trip. Don’t be afraid to get help!

Listen: If you’re in conversation around the holidays with someone you need to buy for, listen closely for whether that person mentions anything they might be looking for or needing in the near future. Sometimes that person may even be purposely trying to provide you with hints or gift ideas, so it’s important to pay attention, especially when topics related to the holidays come up.

Take notice: If you happen to be visiting with someone on your gift giving list, take mental notes and snapshots of particular things they might have around the home, or particular styles or trends they might like wearing. Use that as a template for gift possibilities, and let your deduction skills guide you the rest of the way.

Add a little somethin’ somethin’: My brother is Home Depot obsessed, and I’m not about to go out and buy him a saw. So to accompany the yearly Home Depot gift card, I decided to purchase a nice, inexpensive frame and put a picture of us in it, since I’m pretty sure neither of us actually owns one (thanks for the picture, mom). I taped the gift card to the back of the frame. It’s a small token but more personal than “here is your plastic rectangle; go get a new tool.” Other times, I’ll write a poem and wrap the gift card in that, or consult a handy DIY list (like the one conveniently included by WTD) to find an easy, yet adorable idea to add on to a less personal item.

Arguably, the best gift you can give anyone is your time, a moment or two out of your busy life to slow down and appreciate one another: whether that be buying concert tickets for a night out, arranging a spa day, or even writing an IOU for a dinner date in the future, on you. The gift of spending time with the ones you love is the most inexpensive, yet the most invaluable, and one that you will never have to wait in line for.

For all other options, I’d recommend getting a gift receipt. Just in case.

Gotta book it,

JEM

More bookish gifts for your hard-to-buy-for list!

So if you haven't seen Part One of this insanely long gift idea list, start there.  If we still didn't meet your needs, proceed.  But be warned: these ideas are so awesome, you're probably going to want most of them for yourself.
1. DVD collection of their favourite classic (if a collection doesn't exist, assemble it for them.  A quick wiki search tells me there are at least four movie versions of Wuthering Heights and most are available individually on Ebay.)
2. More plants.  No, seriously.  No home or reading nook should be without greenery; they are beautiful and healthy for us and the planet.  IKEA has a great plant section (so does No Frills), with bangin' bonzai trees and marvelous money trees with those wicked twisty trunks.  Everyone, from your teenage brother to your upstairs neighbour, likes to be needed, and needs something to nurture.  It expands your scope; it makes your world a little bigger when a life form is relying on you.

3. Decorative birdcage.  'Cause it feels all Victorian and lovely.  Add some vintage keys for the complete effect.
4. This gorgeous scarf with a quotation on it.  DIY here.

Etsy

5. Fabulous lampshade with words on it.  Tutorial here.
6. Equally fabulous shower curtain with words on it.  Bonus points if you can find or make coordinating soap dispenser, towels and bath mat.  Because bathrooms get rejected a lot.
7. Unique brass cuff with quotation on it.  I received this one for Christmas last year and it's my favourite piece of jewelry.

Etsy

8. Penguin earrings.  Nuff said.  (Actually come to think of it, if Penguin cufflinks exist...)

Etsy.

9. Dog GPS.  OK, OK.  This isn't literary at all, but we had a scare the other day when Mister Monkey got lost...and ended up on the neighbour's porch a significant distance away.  A GPS that would alert me when he left the yard (set up using a "Geo fence") would've saved us an hour of searching and innumerable tears.  The BluTracker looks interesting, but isn't being mass produced for another few weeks...
10. Crock pot.  Because there are NOT enough hours in the day to go to work, write your blog, exercise, play with the dogs and read a book.  Something's gotta give.  Unless you can do a triple combo move and make dinner effortlesly in a slow cooker, while reading your book, while working out.  Bonus points if you write/etch a wicked literary quotation on the crock pot.
11. Thing-a-majiggy that holds books open: great for reading on the stationary bike or treadmill.  Amazon calls it the Flip Clip.
12. Membership to Audible.  Listening to books is really convenient.
13. Glass/ceramic/steel etcher for the wannabe craft maven.  There's one available at Lee Valley for less than $15.  And if it's Lee Valley, it's quality tested and the company is Canadian owned.
14. Penguin bookjacket postcards (boxed set of 100).  If you want to be really generous, include a roll of stamps.

From theguardian

16. Spoon rest: the quickest way to add some jazz to your kitchen.  Ask an Etsy or craft show artist if they can customize one for you.  Basically anyone with a kiln should be able to.  Or you can try that Pinterest craft where you write on it with Sharpie and bake it on.  What about "Please, sir, I want some more?"
17. Embroidered oven mitts or anything personalized... it's just more...well, you know.  Personal.  Wine glasses, pillow cases, dog collars, mailboxes, tablecloths... if it can be painted or sewed on, you or a professional can take that regular item and turn it into individual-tastic.
18. Etched cake cloche, DIY here.  Don't forget to follow us on Pinterest.
19. Not literary per se but so nifty I couldn't leave it out.  Slumped bottle cheese tray or candy dish.  These are so wicked!  We have one of each and everybody raves about them.  It's also a great way to upcycle.  They're available on Etsy but also should be available at your local Craft Fairs this holiday season.  If you live in the Ottawa area, Riverlights Stained Glassworks can make you one for about $25.  they currently have only Grey Goose bottles in stock, but you are allowed to provide your own bottle as well!  You can contact them via Facebook or at riverlights@rogers.com

This one is on Etsy

20. This Shakespearean t-shirt.  Short, bookish girls unite!

My Inner Grinch is Speaking Out

Holidays sometimes suck.  

It's not easy living up to the "most wonderful time of the year" reputation.  Between the crowded shops, the dwindling bank account and the lack of sunshine in miserable Ontarian winter, disappointment seems inevitable.  But here's hoping if we get our ranting out now-- if we let our inner Grinches grouch and grimace-- maybe they'll let up.

All the things I hate about Christmas from suckiest to shittiest (with the barftacular in between):

Money

Could there be a time of year that's tougher on the bank account?  I hate having to be stingy with friends and loved ones, but unless I start stripping to supplement my income (unlikely...I need to lose a few) there just isn't enough money to go around.  And DIYs aren't nearly as cheap as they claim to be.  By the time you gather all the supplies, you've spent as much as a regular old gift-- and half the time, when you DIY, people don't even appreciate it.
What's worse, I hate thinking that I may be the object of someone else's money stress.  To think that my strapped-for-cash Secret Santa is fretting away about what to buy me or how much to spend just makes me feel guilty-- and when I tell others not to buy for me and they don't listen-- then I feel unheard.

From dreamstime.com

Crowds

Ugh.  Christmas shopping.  The worst.  People are shitty.  Lineups are shitty.  Try to get a sale item, or make a coupon work, or tell a cashier she's overcharged, or to make a return are all incredibly shitty.  People seem to be at their most un-Christmasy whilst Christmas shopping.  They are stressed, rude, and pushy.  For awhile, I try to fight it.  I smile brightly, chat everyone up, and try to be generous ("No, you go ahead!")  But after awhile, the doldrums bring you down.  It's like walking through molasses with concrete blocks on your feet.  

People Who Don't Write Lists And Have December Birthdays

Father, you are the worst person on the face of the planet to shop for.  Are you even human?  Who doesn't write a Christmas list?!  I'd have an easier time shopping for Lady Gaga than for you (and she likes some wweeeeiirddd shit).  You don't make a list, you're incredibly picky, you continually buy the stuff you want or need for yourself, you already HAVE everything... and yet somehow I have to come up with two ideas in one month?!  I call shenanigans.  We're moving your birthday to June.

Sad Christmas Songs

WTF is wrong with musicians?!  Sad Christmas songs are The.Worst.  Do you know how many times I've teared up in the mall because "Where are you, Christmas" while its sappy lyrics has brought me to tears as I contemplate my lost childhood?  Countless.
Don't even get me started on "I'll Be Home for Christmas".  It made my mom burst into tears in the middle of IKEA last week.  Talk about shitty.  Nobody wants to be reminded of their dead loved ones at Christmas time.  We can do that on our own, thankyouverymuch.
If you like sad Christmas songs, you probably also like Nicholas Sparks.  You confuse me the way people who like horror movies and rollercoasters confuse me.  I do not like to pay to be terrified, nor do I someone to intentionally try to make me cry.  I'll do that on my own.
I'm going to start a petition that all sad Christmas song should be wiped from the archives: any DJ who plays them should be shot, and the singers who recorded them drawn and quartered.  Give me The Chipmunks' "Christmas Don't Be Late" any day over that tear-jerker about the shoes.

Christmas LEFT, Faith Hill.  It left because of you!

Winter

Worst and ugliest season ever.  No daylight.  No greenery.  Dangerous conditions for walking, jogging and driving means less exercise, less outdoors time and fucked up travel plans.  PEOPLE DIE FROM EXPOSURE.  Sure, you can skate or snowshoe every now and then-- but you can only handle a few hours MAX of skiing or snowman rolling before you have to go in and warm up.  The cold weather ruined yesterday's parade-- even my tough old dad couldn't stand the temperature and we had to bail before Santa's arrival.  Winter just doesn't compare to the endless days of summer when you're outside and barefoot from sunrise til midnight.
And what about winter gear? Unflattering, uncomfortable, expensive.  Doesn't do what it says.  Does not keep me warm.  And balaclavas make you look like a robber.  Also, who enjoys wearing a massive coat to keep warm outdoors, but then sweating buckets as soon as you step indoors?
I blame my ancestors for bringing us to this fucked up climate in the first place.

From cutestpaw.com

Absence

You know who's missing.  You'll always know.  It'll never be the same without them.  You spend all year patching the hole, and Christmas, with its twinkle lights and tinsel, blows it right open again.  It's enough to make you want to go missing too.

Gifts You Don't Want

Christmas is not about the gifts; we all know that.  So that's not to say an unwanted gift would ruin your Christmas.  It wouldn't.  You would still graciously hug the person, thank them, and enjoy your family/friend time.  But then what to do with it after?  Do you donate it?  Will it end up in a landfill?  Or do you let it clutter up your home?  How can you get that tacky sweater/knickknack/mug out of your home without offending the gift giver and being ungrateful?  And admit it: a tiny part of you is sad that the giver doesn't know you that well at all.

From bespoketraveler.files.wordepress.com

Don't even get me started on the baked goods.  How thoughtful.  How sweet (pun!)  Excellent, I was planning on gaining roughly 36 pounds right before New Years.  Thanks for your help with that.

Gifts You Can't Get

I don't really want new clothes or makeup.  Not in the same way that I want a job.  A job that I actually like, that uses my skills, and pays what I'm worth would be nice, but any old job would do.  Too bad Santa can't even score me an interview.
You know what else would be nice, Big Man, while we're compiling the list of Things You Won't Get Me This Year: an apartment.  It seems like a lot to ask, but after having lived on my own for six years, my parents' basement is getting kind of old.  I lived in shitty, cold, run-down buildings and had the best time of my life because it was mine.  My roommate and I made forts in the living room and shamelessly wasted hours watching TV before spending all-nighters at the library.  Now, I'm judged when I sleep in 'til 10.  My independence back would be nice.  Yes, I had to do groceries for myself and mop my own floor, but it was nice to be able to go wherever I wanted, whenever I wanted with whomever I wanted. Oh, and to not have 60 Minutes blasting throughout the whole house would be wonderful.  The looped soundtrack of never-ending lectures I could also do without.
Finally, bring my friends home.  We lived for years within two blocks of each other: just down the hall, just down the street and saw each other ALL THE TIME.  And then--POOF!  Grad caps, goodbyes, and now they're spread out from Toronto to Victoria and everywhere in between.  And even the close ones are almost unreachable: between hectic work schedules and literally not having enough money for the bus ride to go see them (let alone a beer, or a coffee, or contributing a couple bags of chips) my world has shrunk considerably.  Some come on, Santa.  Pony up.  I only want what was once mine.

Look at how wicked our apartment was!

How to create a basket for a silent auction this holiday season!

Ready for another DIY WTD-ers?

Tis the season for holiday gatherings; whether they are dinner parties, company get-togethers or charity events it feels nice to be able to create something that will make a difference this holiday season. Creating a basket for a silent auction is a fun, creative and unique way to represent your company/group/cause at an event! Alternatively, if you don't have a silent auction lined up this year you could create a basket as a gift this holiday season. Instead of buying a pre-made basket the company I work for decided to put me in charge of creating our own this year. Personally, I love doing this kind of thing; I love buying presents, wrapping and basically any and all crafty pursuits so I was thrilled. However, I will forewarn you that baskets are not inexpensive to put together. The cost of each item adds up and before you know it you've maxed out your budget! You want your basket to look as bountiful as possible to raise as much money as possible for whatever cause you’re donating the proceeds to. The last  thing you want is a sad, empty looking basket. Luckily, I've formulated some tips and tricks to help you out! Remember: combine “big” items to fill space with small extras like nice chocolates sprinkled throughout to create visual appea.

Step One: Set a Budget

Your budget and basket size can range from minimal to expansive! I recommend starting anywhere above $30 (once you factor in the price of the actual basket you realize that's pretty low). Our budget was $100. To be honest, I went a little over - I spent around $125 when it was all said and done. (Don't worry I didn't get in trouble!) Plan out your costs before you start - how much will you spend on the basket? The wrapping? Go shopping armed with your budget in mind and a list in hand to keep you focused.

Step Two: Know Your Audience

Yes, a basket filled with dollar store items is going to look full and be easier on your budget but will the attendees at the event want to bid of a basket of cheap-o junk? It depends on who your audience is. The event I'm working for is a year-end executive Christmas due, therefore I created a basket with as many high-end touches as I could to appeal to the people who will be there (think: lawyers, construction managers, engineers ect.) Adversely, if your event is geared towards people with less in their pocket they might be intimidated by an ultra-fancy basket and might not end up bidding because you scared them off. Note: there are places you can utilize the dollar store to your advantage; basket filling, cellophane and decorations can all be found there for a fraction of the cost.

Step Three: Choose a Theme

My “theme” was “Treat yourself this Holiday Season”. It’s a bit vague but I wanted to buy things people would enjoy and might not necessarily purchase for themselves. It ended up being a coffee/tea/snacking focused basket.  Other fun themes I found by searching the internet were; dogs (treats, toys, bags, and bowls), movie lover (popcorn bowl, gourmet popcorn, movies) spa/pampering (facemasks, cream, and loofa) the list goes on and on!

Step Four: Go Shopping

I bought all of my items in one shopping trip (with multiple stops of course). I had excellent luck at Home Outfitters and Home Sense. I was able to find gifty, gourmet items that are higher end than you’d find in the grocery store. The imported tea and “sipping chocolate” was a little more expensive than I’d hoped to spend but the beautiful tins they are packaged in add to the overall look I was going for. Some of my favourite finds included boxed truffles and Denby mugs for $5.99 (regular price ranges from $30-50). The baskets I bought at JYSK were labelled $16.99/ea but I ended up buying two and the total came to $19.99 for both at the counter. You have to love those kinds of surprises!

Step Five: Put it All Together

I put white packing paper in the bottom of the basket for padding. I bought glittery gold metallic shreds to put on top of the paper for finesse. I staged my items as nicely as possible before wrapping the whole thing in cellophane. (Helpful hint: you will need a lot more cellophane then you might think!) I put a Poinsettia with my bow for a little holiday spirit. 

Step Six: Make a Tag

It’s really helpful for the people at the auction to get a tally of what exactly is inside the basket. I made a small card on good paper listing my items. If it’s a charity event I wouldn’t include company information but if it’s a business-y, executive event you can throw in a business card and some company garb. 

My final list is as follows:

Treat Yourself This Holiday Season 

• 2 Denby Mugs
• Bodum French Press
• Bond Street Imported English Afternoon Tea
• Tea Timer
• Bellagio Sipping Chocolate Drink Mix
• Ethical Bean Lush Medium Dark Fair Trade Organic Coffee
• Boxed Monty Bojangles Truffles
• Ghirardelli Milk and White Chocolate Squares
• Lindt Lindor Chocolates
• Pop Corn Bowl
• Organic Microwave Popping Corn
• Swiss Chocolate Bar
• Company Ball Cap
  
  

Close-Up

 

The Finished Product!


Gotta book it! xxoxo JEM