It’s that time of year and Christmas season is once again sneaking up on us. My kids are older now, far past the age when I could buy them toys or games (although one of them has kids of their own now, so I guess I’ll be spending at least some time in line at the toy store), and every year I found buying their gifts a little more challenging. However, last year was different. I finally clued in to the idea of sending Gift Baskets to the kids instead of spending hours trudging through the mall looking for things that they really didn’t need. I simply logged onto 1-800flowers.com and I was able to choose from a huge variety of baskets, including fresh Fruit Baskets, as well as everything from bright Christmas floral displays to decorative Plants.
Going this route makes sense on so many levels. I don’t need to deal with the whole mall experience. I really don’t see anything Christmassy about fighting for a parking spot, walking through slush and, sweating in my winter coat in a store that’s way too hot because it’s crowded with shoppers, picking through shelves that have been completely torn apart by people searching for bargains, then standing in line to wait to pay for the purchase. Using a Flower Delivery company instead is much simpler. My kids’ spouses buy them everything they really need or want and I don’t see them every day, so I can’t keep up with what sports team they’e following or whether they want new golf clubs. When I opt for Gift Baskets, everyone in the house wins. My oldest son has a real sweet tooth and I ordered him a basket stuffed full of premium Godiva chocolates. He loved it and there were enough treats in there to keep him munching for weeks. Not only that, but his wife enjoyed it too, which is more than you could say for buying him a new putter. My youngest moved into a new house last summer, so I went online and ordered him and his wife a selection of decorative Plants. They really appreciated it- I think I sent a Bonsai, a Money Tree plant and a Martha Stewart Petite Hydrangea (to add a splash of color). There’s nothing like fresh Plants to brighten up a new home, especially one that isn’t quite furnished yet. My middle son and his partner are health nuts, so I used the Flower Delivery people to send them each Fruit Baskets. One got a Ripe River Harvest Gift Basket with apples, pears, oranges and a pineapple as well as an assortment of cheeses and sweets (it’s the holidays, they need to lighten up a bit). The other received a Grande Fruit Grove Picnic Gift Basket.
I kind of hope they return the favor this year. Not that I don’t appreciate the pajamas, but I wouldn’t mind one of those Gift Baskets myself.