There was just so much shared the evening of my last interview with Maddie and Leslie that I just have to tag one last post. We talked a lot about gifts; receiving gifts, giving gifts, making gifts, all of it! I’m a gifts person so this was right up my alley. In my heart, I am the Leslie Knope of gift giving. It’s a true delight to give a good gift. Gift giving is like the ultimate creative challenge and I love it. I know for some the idea of giving gifts brings a lot of dread and uncertainty. This post is for you, friends. The following is a list of gift ideas for friends and neighbors. A rule of thumb that we all agreed on when it comes to giving and receiving gifts from neighbors is, think of creative consumables. No one wants more random trinkets, knick-knacks or strange pieces of art…unless they DO, and then girl, make sure you buy something for them on every family vacation!

Much love and happy gift giving!

Maddie, Leslie & Sarah

Gifts you can make

· A meal with all the fixings! Even include disposable plates and cups so nothing needs to be returned to you.

· Fresh Bread

· Produce from your garden

· A herb basket

· Seedlings and starters from your garden to theirs

· Jellies & jams

· Pickled goods

· Bouquet of greenery from trees or bushes on your property

· Bouquet of flowers

· Bouquet of gift cards. Heck! A bouquet of anything!

· Pay it forward gifts (like Boo Baskets!)

· Fire pit bundle: Firewood, lighter, kindling even throw in s’more ingredients!

· Busy Boxes for kids with one-time use items inside

· Neighborhood scavenger hunt challenge

Gift ideas for new neighbors

· Cleaning supply box full of paper towels, disposable wipes, sprays, etc.

· Bread, wine and salt with a little note: "Bread, that this house may never know hunger. Salt, that life may always have flavor. And wine, that joy and prosperity may reign forever." – It’s a Wonderful Life

· Gift cards for dinner out. Maybe your favorite place in your neighborhood

· Disposable plates, napkins, cups, etc. so you don’t have to worry about cleaning up meals in the middle of moving

· Gift card to local greenhouse or garden shop for future landscaping projects

· Coffee & Tea

· Wine & Beer

· A stationary bundle with envelopes, special paper, pens and stamps to stay in contact with their people.

· A welcome card with your names and address (maybe even phone numbers), because let’s be honest, both parties will forget first and last names immediately.

· Act of service gift: What skills or tools can you offer or share? Perhaps you notice they don’t have a lawn mower, so give them their first cut.

Gifts on the cheap

The Dollar Store has a surprisingly large amount of very inexpensive small gift options, gift bags and wrapping options, AND balloons. Who doesn’t love balloons?

· Candles

· Crafts for kids

· Snack basket

· Candy basket

· Disposable paper ware

· BALLOONS!

Target’s ‘Dollar Spot’ that area you pass upon entering the store always has the best current items that brighten up any home. I have to resist temptation every time I walk by it! Yikes!

I think the important thing to remember is that the actual gift does not matter as much as we think it does. It’s the act of giving that counts. If I’ve learned anything from years of observing my mom and many others give and receive gifts, it’s that a gift is a small gesture that simply says, “I see you and I want you to know that I care.” It’s the act of giving that matters. The sacrifice of giving always matters regardless of what that thing is or how much it costs.