Santa’s Little Helpers

    Its that time of year, when the wallets get empty and you struggle to find the perfect gift for that special someone.  Every year its the same thing, you cant seem to find it under your budget. Christmas is all about being in the spirit. Once the houses get lit up and the pine tree is decorated, its on, your ready for the gifts, family visits, the cousins you see a few times a year and the xmas eggnog-mistletoe combo. Christmas should be about having a good time with the people you spend it with; when did christmas stop focusing on the happy warm smiles and big bear hugs?
    Everyday couples walk the streets holding hand and making goo-goo ga-ga faces, and it doesn't seem like big fancy gifts are necessary. Just having that person there in this time of year is special. Taking a trip up to the mountains and frolicking through the forrest is a memory; memories are a perfect gift in itself. Something special everyone can enjoy, is a scrapbook of memories. Spending a huge amount of money on a bracelet  of flowers or a fancy watch is not as valuable as time spent together by a fireplace, even if that fireplace is out doors at Long Beach town center.
    Then of course, there is family. this most important on the list, right? You have to double check and make sure you have EVERYONE accounted for, and if you don't it's a big scramble and rush to find something to throw in a gift bag. Make it easy on your self this year, and bake 4+ batches of 2 dollar brownie mix and make it fancy and festive by sprinkling  powdered sugar on the top. Its tasty and inexpensive, not to mention you get the benefits  of the batter. You can still jazz it up, if you put them on a paper plate. Wrap it in cellophane with a ribbon bow and a decorated homemade card. Everybody has the creative gifter in them, you just have to dig deep and pull out  your Martha Stewart-Betty Crocker side. Crack open your mixing bowl and make all the people on your list  a very special christmas batch of cookies is a personalized tin or bag. Cookies and brownies are the way to anyones heart and its sure to warm their spirits when paired with coco or cider. 
    This year when everyone is running through the isles spending way too much money, you'll rest easy knowing you did the better thing.

Reference sites for reciepes and gifts:

www.joyofbaking.com/ChristmasCookies.html

www.cooks.com/rec/search/0,1-0,home_made_christmas_treats,FF.html

familycrafts.about.com/od/giftstomake/tp/HomeMadeGiftIdeas.htm