I often have trouble with gift giving. For one thing I just kind of stink at picking out the perfect thing. And for a lot of my growing up years, money was tight, so if a gift was to be gotten, it had to be good, and it had to be EXACTLY what the person wanted and needed, and not just something to fill a gift bag. Also, not to be a scrooge, but I just think there's a lot of stuff in this world already, and if you live in a first world country you're really not hurting for much, so gift giving sometimes seems a little, I don't know, silly? So with all that overthinking of gift giving swirling around in my head, when it comes time to give birthday and Christmas presents, I often feel completely lost!
I love what our friend Greg got for his wife Megan, for her birthday. Something absolutely perfect for her, that she loved, that wasn't more stuff, and that she could share with her friends!
If you live in Utah, you've probably heard of Raw Melissa, or seen her tempting (but sinless!) treats in nicer grocery stores. Well, Megan and Greg have practiced a raw food diet on and off and Megan loves to cook, but has often lamented, "I wish someone were just here in my kitchen, so they could show me how to do it!". So Greg hired Melissa to come out to their house and show Megan, and a bunch of her girlfriends, how to make some of her amazing dishes! How's that for a perfect gift?!
I learn best from an actual person, rather than a book, so I loved having Melissa teach us right there in the kitchen. We all participated in the preparation and chatted about food, babies (I think there were three pregnant girls and two new babies there!), parenting, books, travel and everything in between.
We got to ask the chef as we went along, "Does this look right?" "Should this be thicker?" "Does this taste sweet enough?" What an experience!
And the food was AMAZING! Have you ever had her chocolate or key lime pie? Or the macaroons? Oh. My. Goodness. They are seriously amazing. Raw desserts are in a completely different category than regular desserts. I love how I don't feel all weighted down and sluggish after I eat them. (Here's my favorite raw fudge recipe.)
There was a yummy wild rice salad, curried cauliflower handrolls, mango chutney, key lime mousse and chocolate raspberry pie, with sparkling cider.
I'd like to make it a habit to give experiences more than objects when it comes time for gift giving, or at the very least give consumables. I once got my parents tickets to the theater for Christmas and it wasso fun because it was exciting for them to open, and then a few weeks later, exciting all over again when they got to use the tickets. And there was nothing to stash in the closet, or wonder where to display, or feel awkward about returning, etc. My only exception to the "no things" rule for gift giving is books. I'm too crazy about books and would always be thrilled with a book as a gift, so I assume the same is true for most people. What do you think? Do you like getting books or am I just a nerd?
If you could receive any experience as a gift what would it be? What experience would you love to give someone?
PS This would be my ultimate gift experience. (hint, hint Clay!)
PPS The gifts at the top with bows were ingredients used in the recipes and we each got to pick one to take home. Consumable, practical and definitely something we all wanted so we could recreate those amazing dishes!
