Holidaze - Last Minute Gift Ideas

By Tammie Thompson

'Tis the season to be jolly... head on up to the mountains for folly. That's my holiday spirit. Surrounded by Barbie and PlayStation, I can't help but wonder how to get my kids into the real holiday spirit. One that involves giving, sharing and quality family time.

How many shopping days until Christmas? I don't really care. No, I didn't start in August like my neighbor. I am just looking for a different approach to giving. Here are some ideas collected over time.

Are you crafty? Perhaps you can knit a hat or headband. Or make a specially designed frame for ski photos. Or start a pin collection for the wall (ours is 45 years old, thanks Mom and Dad). A collage of favorite ski photos or trail maps? (Now you can print those right off the web).

Adept in the kitchen? How about some cookies shaped like skiers? Snowboarders? Snowmen? Or how about your special recipe for spiked hot chocolate or hot buttered run? Fill a thermos and you've got a gift. The kids will enjoy their own thermos with a pack of marshmallows to throw in.

How about a gift certificate for a full day of skiing and lessons? How about a lesson from you? Get those non-skiers and boarders out there - make it fun and think of your gift as enhancing their lives.

Any romance left in your life? How about a midnight picnic for your honey - a full moon cross-country ski? Remember the brandy and throw in a rose for effect. Or a sleigh ride under the stars to the tune of sleigh bells...a ringing...

Get creative. Last Christmas I gave my son a handmade coupon book (OK I used ClickArt graphics) that had coupons for things like ice skating with Mom, hot chocolate break, candy bar, Monopoly night, special ski day with Mom, extra bedtime song, that type of thing. My husband got one too. I'll leave that to your imagination. Just take a little time to be creative and in the long run it will mean more than a new pair of shaped skis... well maybe.