Great message GL.......if by "the giving and receiving of gifts" you mean gifts of the spirit, NOT material.

Rampant consumerism is partly what got us into this mess in the first place. I stopped believing that lie long ago.

Screw Hallmark, if and when I do "care enough to send the very best" then that very best is something I have made with my own talent, imagination and likely not costing a fraction of some store bought crap.


My Christmas tree will have candles (yes, real ones) and be sparsely decorated.

I will make a popcorn/cranberry string for the birds and decorate a tree in the yard.

Simplicity rocks!