#6: ephemeral gifts

We’re about to celebrate an anniversary around here (eight years! what sweet, romantic babies we were when we said “I do”) so pardon me, but I have gifting on the brain. I wouldn’t say gifting is my primary love language, but it’s up there, and I enjoy giving gifts even more than I enjoy receiving them.

Like many city dwellers (even those in small cities, like ours) we choose to live in smaller square footage in order to take advantage of a great location. But when there’s not much space to put things, what do you buy?

The best gifts, in my minimal-but-acquisitive opinion, are often the most ephemeral.

1. Shop local. One of my favorite types of gifts to give is something that was grown or made locally: flowers grown by a farmer just outside town, a tea blend made down the street, wines from a winery that I enjoy visiting. A gift that originates where you live is not only a lovely way to share your home with someone, it is also usually consumable in one way or another. Which is really the best of both worlds: something special that doesn’t take up space for longer than it takes to really enjoy it.
2. Think indulgently. Most people enjoy having a few nice things around. Not necessarily a lot of things (ahem) but nice things. And when it’s a nice version of something that you use everyday… well, that just feels downright indulgent. A luxurious pair of pajama pants instead of the ratty ones your brother has been wearing for a decade.  One really good knife for your friend who loves to camp. A fancy tea blend for the sister who always has store-brand English Breakfast in her pantry. Because while we may hesitate to indulge in a upgrade on our own, we love it when someone else does the treating.
3. Pampering welcome. A morning at the spa. A gift card to a favorite coffee shop. A pedicure (especially nice for an older relative who might have trouble bending down and seeing their own toes anymore). A professional coming to do a deep clean. Everyone needs a little pampering from time to time, and it doesn’t take up any space at all.
4. Encourage selfishness. Not to a ridiculous degree, of course. No one wants a Veruca Salt on their hands. But when someone gives me permission to be a little more selfish than usual, I never say no. A week without doing the dishes, a movie that no one agreed to see with me, or that unnecessary but lovely money plant I’ve been eyeing at the nursery are all guaranteed to make me smile. Tell your partner/roommate/parent “Why don’t you go upstairs and read while I take care of all the chores this afternoon,” and I guarantee they will go glassy-eyed with gratitude.
5. When in doubt… socks. Seriously, here me out on this. Maybe I’m weird here, but I think a really nice pair of socks is a gift to treasure. A cozy alpaca slipper, a pair to make me smile, a beautiful cashmere blend, a heavy-duty pair for outdoor adventures… I’m sure I’m not the only one out there who balks at spending $36 on a pair of socks for myself, even if they feel like heaven on your feet. But there’s no more wonderful gift than a little luxury you can wear on a daily basis. If you’re buying a gift for someone who has never branched out from the department store 12-pack, I can’t think of a lovelier gift than a truly beautiful pair of socks. (Bonus points if they look cute for a #socksunday post? Perhaps…)
6. Quality time/quality experiences. We gifted things during those five years of dating, but since we’ve been married, we’re far more likely to gift ourselves to a really nice dinner out (eating in restaurants is B.’s love language) or tickets to a movie we both want to see. This year, we’ll be treating ourselves to that time-honored parenting gift, cooking a nice dinner together after your offspring has gone to bed. But that doesn’t mean your quality time has to involve food. My in-laws have gifted us an annual membership to our local children’s museum for the past two years. I’ve gifted friends side-by-side pedicures and coffee dates. Whatever your recipient likes to do, treat them to that experience — even better if you’re available to give your time to do it with them. The nicest thing you can give someone, whether they are two or eighty-two, if often simply your time and attention.

What are your favorite ephemeral gifts?