give a little bit

Tuesday, December 9, 2008
i have a love hate relationship with gift buying. i really enjoy giving them but i hate having to think up something creative to give my friends and family.

it may sound lame but i would much rather have someone tell me what they want and then i'll just go buy it - easy peasy. it also doesn't help the situation that i have to buy a lot of gifts for my ridiculously big fat greek family.

17 gifts total.

a little ridiculous huh? it is what it is though.

the tough thing is coming up with what to get people like my aunts and uncles (who have everything) on my budget. i mean, do they really need another silver tray or coffee table book? probably not.

so for christmas last year i gave my family something that they didn't even know they wanted.

a goat....


this goat was given figuratively not literally of course.

i found this wonderful organization called world vision that allowed me to purchase the goats through their online catalog. i purchased pigs as gifts too - i mean bacon, hello!


too much?

seriously though, you can give so much support to needy children around the world - school books, clean water, sheep, pigs, etc. if you are stuck without a gift idea during this holiday season i recommend checking out the goat option.

the best part aside from helping out those less fortunate, is seeing your family's face when they open the card saying that they got a goat for christmas.

priceless. my family couldn't stop laughing. here i am, one of the most selfish and materialistic people they know - giving back.

see, i do have a heart - i'm not that selfish and materialistic. go goat!

what's the strangest gift that you have ever given or received? (herpes doesn't count)


[editor's note: don't forget to enter my holiday giveaway!]

37 comments:

Maxie said...

If you want to give me a goat for christmas that's fine... but I want to keep the goat for myself.

I promise to send you cheese.

Chele said...

at least give them a picture frame so they can see their lovely goat everyday, you know as a part of the family

Jenn said...

Hahaha that's such an awesome idea. I'm really tight on cash this year and have been racking my brain trying to think of something thoughtful for the people who seem to have everything. I think my aunt could use a goat.

Matt said...

Thats a nice goat.

BTW, that herpes comment was great. Made my morning.

Nilsa said...

SEVENTEEN gifts? At what point does your family decide to do a grab bag sort of thing where you each grab one or two people's names and leave it at that? My god!

Melange said...

I asked for a goat on my 13th birthday. I swear. That would have been the best gift ever.

Kelly and José said...

Jose told me that he almost "bought" a constellation (or star or something) for our very first Christmas together and have it named after me -- he didn't end up doing it b/c he was afraid I'd think it's lame.

Actually, I think it's pretty sweet and creative gift idea*

-Kelly

Deutlich said...

I LOVE goats!! And pigs! AND COWS!

Kyla Bea said...

I really like the idea of buying a goat- it’s completely a tool to help get consumers dishing out, but it’s effective! I saw the catalog and it’s really interesting, especially because you can also donate to Canadian and US children as well. Good for you for giving!

Ashley said...

YOU ARE THE COOLEST.

I gave Mike a donation (to an organization that provides clean water in Africa) for our first anniversary. Because he always talks about wanting to be able to donate more.

He was so touched he got teared up.

Score.

LBluca77 said...

What about crabs? Does that count?

Fizzgig said...

I saw that on Oprah! It's a good gift, and it helps! One of my exes got me a cat when I had 5 cats already. I was pretty annoyed with it too. It also got pregnant. Eventually I found it a new home. Me too!

brookem said...

herpes doesn't count? how about the clap?

a goat. i f'king love it.

Allison M. said...

Oh look - little Alexa did good! Nice job.

Isn't 17 gifts a bit much?

Nicole said...

wow! a goat... i'd never have thought of that!

the weirdest thing i got given? a tea cosy. i mean, i'm FIFTEEN years old, what the hell am i meant to do with a tea cosy?

Mandy said...

LOL, that is awesome and woohoo for posting about a charity!

Dolce said...

That's an awesome idea!!! If you're interested in another, there is www.Keva.org

It's an non-profit that organizes small direct loans from people (like you and me) and gives them to small business owners and people in 3rd world countries to help expand their business and earn more money. The best part is the people PAY YOU BACK, so you can put the money returned into a new loan for someone else.

PH and I have been doing it for 2 years. It's incredible.

bethis said...

You should really top that this year and get them a real, live goat. Seriously, they will love it.

I've been thinking about doing something "giving back" this year too because with the economy in the crapper it just seems super shallow and stupid to go max out my credit cards on useless consumer goods. This goat idea is awesome, I am looking into it.

Marie said...

Big families need Secret Santas. Would help lots with the budget! This way you can buy more stuff for yourself.

Yes, I'm selfish.

Dr Zibbs said...

If someone ever gave me a goat I'd have sex with the person right then and there. If it was a not a dude that is.

EP said...

That's a really fantastic idea!
A goat for Christmas? Yes, please.

Tipp said...

Love you so much for this!

The Modern Gal said...

I seriously thought about doing the goat gift last year. I'm glad someone else did!

pistols at dawn said...

Herp- oh.

One year, my family got me 20 pairs of socks and wrapped them all individually. They laughed like hell every single time it'd be my turn to open a present - "I wonder what he got!"

Joy @ Big Time Fancy said...

HAhahahahhaa BEST GREEK FAMILY GIFT OF ALL TIME.

Jess said...

We got one of those as a wedding gift, because Torsten is obsessed with goats. It was accompanied by a stuffed goat. Torsten loved it.

Tokissthecook said...

I'm gonna second Joy on this one...yum.

sarah belle said...

okay, my girlfriend is totaaaallly getting a goat for christmas.

SHE. WILL. LOVE. IT.

LiLu said...

Weirdest gift I've ever gotten?

A boy in 4th grade gave me his mother's diamond bracelet. Without her knowing.

I can't believe I had to give that shiz back!

Alice said...

dude. my mom is IMPOSSIBLE, and perhaps i will now give her a goat. or a pig. AWESOME.

Bayjb said...

Shoot herpes don't count? My stepmom is the worst gift giver ever for me. I don't know how that is even possible. I found out today too from two friends that I'm difficult to buy for, which is BS because if they listened to what I talk about, they would have no issue buying for me.

Megan said...

My dad always complains that we should just save our money and not buy him anything because "[he has] everything [he needs]." simultaneously he has irritated me regularly for the past 7 years as to whether or not I was contributing money to my 401K. Last year I gave him a framed copy of my quarterly statement. The entire family thought it was hilarious, but my dad said it was the best gift he's ever gotten.

Megkathleen said...

This is a great idea - I might have to do it for my dad. He is absolutely impossible to shop for.

Katelin said...

a goat? that is definitely a new one and so awesome. the weirdest gift i've ever gotten i'd say was the black ninja warrior like bike that my dad got me when i was eight. i'm pretty sure he wished i was a boy sometimes.

Princess Pointful said...

I did that last year for my dad, too! Except I think I got him two chickens...

Idea #527 said...

I did that last year too with World Vision!

You should do what both sides of my large families started doing once we all got older. We do a gift exchange but make it like a game and you can steal someone's gift if you want. Once someone opens the last gift, it's done. We still buy for the kids but once you hit college, you're in the gift exchange. It's a really great idea because once you hit a certain age, you don't really have a lot of wants for Christmas.

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