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Keep The Heart In Giving Gifts This Christmas

by Filed Under: Christmas, Sponsored Post

What’s the best Christmas gift you’ve ever received? For me, it’s easy. When I was nine, after months and months of begging my parents for a dog, writing Santa countless pleading letters, and creating long lists of dog name ideas in my journal, it was Christmas Day. Despite my parent’s resistance, I still ran down the stairs on Christmas morning (after the obligatory siblings-on-the-stairs photo, of course), hoping to hear a puppy whimper or bark. The only thing I heard, though, was the Christmas music streaming through our wall-mounted speakers and my younger brother and sister tearing through their gifts. I had known deep down that I wasn’t going to get a dog; my parents had been clear that it wasn’t the right time for our family. And because I’m a self-proclaimed “optimistic realist,” I simply moved on, happily opening up boxes of joy that were wrapped in all the same paper. 

I was just about finished with opening my gifts when I noticed a little bag with a tag that read “Sorry I couldn’t get you the real thing…” Inside was an adorable stuffed puppy, an apricot color, with little black eyes–I named him Scooter, and he went everywhere with me. Seriously, I fell asleep holding scooter until I was 22 years old. He came with me to summer camp, to sleepovers, on trips, to college, when I studied abroad–everywhere. Truly he was, at the time, a better gift than a real dog because he could travel with me as I grew up and moved, and I could stuff him into dozens of suitcases and cart him with me across the globe. I don’t hold on to a lot of things, but I’ll always keep my Scooter. In fact, when I got my long-awaited real life puppy Charley two years ago, my heart burst when he would find Scooter in my bed and cuddle him, even though Scooter has become ragged, worn-out, and matted after so many years of love.

No matter that Scooter was very inexpensive, he’s easily the best Christmas gift I’ve ever received. The heart behind him was one of empathy and kindness, which made me love him all the more. I often think about Scooter when I’m shopping for the people I love around Christmastime. What can I get them that will speak to their hearts? How can I show that I care about them and know them through a gift? I love contemplating these questions because I greatly enjoy giving gifts. Really, is there a better feeling than watching someone you love open up a gift, full of gratitude and delight? I could shop for gifts every day of the year if my wallet would allow it! That’s why I’m partnering up with JCPenney this Christmas season to help you find gifts that the people you love will love (and they’re calling it gift toasting–how fun is that?!). It can be hard to find something for everyone, and it can also be time-consuming and expensive. But it doesn’t have to be! Today, I’ll share four sets of gift ideas for the people you’re buying for this holiday season–it doesn’t get easier than this!

Gifts For The Sweet Treat Baker

Gifts For The Sweet Treat Baker | Blairblogs.com

  1. KitchenAid® 5-Speed Hand Mixer
  2. KitchenAid® Artisan® 5-qt. Stand Mixer
  3. KitchenAid® 5-pc. Nonstick Bakeware Set 
  4. OXO Good Grips® Cookie Press
  5. Wooden Soldier Cupcake Nutcracker

Gifts For The Fitness Fanatic

Gifts For The Fitness Fanatic | Blairblogs.com

  1. Nike® Flex Trainer 5 Womens Training Shoes
  2. NutriBullet® Pro 900 Series Bullet Blender
  3. Nike® Funnel Club Hoodie
  4. Armitron® Pro-Sport Womens Watch 
  5. iFit® Active® Band

Gifts For The Host With The Most

Gifts For The Host With The Most | Blairblogs.com

  1. Woodwick Candle Set
  2. Keurig Coffee Brewer
  3. Whiteware 3-Tiered Server
  4. Wine Enthusiast® Silent 12-Bottle Wine Refrigerator
  5. JCPenney Home™ Velvet Plush Throw

 Gifts For The Little Ones

Gifts For The Little Ones | Blairblogs.com

 

For more ideas you can visit JCPenney on their website and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Youtube, and Google+!

 There you have it–some great gift ideas for the people you love! Riley and I have been shopping little by little for the past few weeks, and every time we come home with that perfect gift, I am overjoyed! Because, in the end, it’s not about more-more-more but about the heart behind the gifts you wrap up (meaningful-meaningful-meaningful if you will!). Happy shopping this season and make sure you head over to JCPenney and check out their great holiday gift selection!

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Oh, and just to sweeten the holiday season, JCPenney is giving away a $100 gift card! To enter, comment below with the best gift you’ve ever received and one gift that you can’t wait to give to someone you love this year! All comments will automatically be entered to win! Happy heartfelt gift giving–’tis the season!

Entry Instructions:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

1. Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post

2. Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post

3. Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post

4. For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older (or nineteen (19) years of age or older in Alabama and Nebraska). Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 2 business days to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 12/10/2015 – 12/31/2015

Be sure to visit JCPenney’s brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!

 

Comments

  1. Claire says

    Best gift I’ve ever received: my sweet puppy Scottie, when I was eight years old
    What I’m most excited to give this year: beautiful hand-crafted planet lollipops or merlot-infused coffee for my wine-and-coffee-loving-dad

  2. hprice94 says

    Blair, I just wanted to say how much your blog means to me. I’m 21, seriously dating and feel like I’m slowly moving towards the point you are in life and your blog is so encouraging for me to read! It’s been my favorite study break all this week at college during finals! Thank you so much for being a light for Christ for me and other girls!

    The best Christmas gift I ever received was my blond, puppy-baby Brinkley. She makes me laugh and is the best welcome-homer every after a long time away at college! This year, I’m excited to give my boyfriend the wallet I had made for him. It’s got his initials engraved on it and wings ont he sides like the Van Halen symbol (his favorite band)!

  5. Julie Wood says

    The best gift I ever received was my engagement ring that my husband gave me on Christmas Day and it was hung on the tree for me to find, and I am giving my sister a Keurig and k-cups for the Holidays.

  7. Beth A says

    Best gift I ever received: a ferrett, that my
    Mom surprised me with! She kept it a secret for three months, and if you know my mom, that’s pretty impressive.

    A gift that I cannot wait to give are Bombas socks- who give one-for-one to people experiencing homelessness!

  9. Mary Carmen (@mami2jcn) says

    The best gift I ever got was a positive pregnancy test after trying to conceive for a year and a half. I’m looking forward to giving my 3 older kids snow globes with pictures of their grandparents in them.

    mami2jcn at gmail dot com

  11. Natalie says

    The best gift I ever received was a new car from my dad! I am SO excited to be giving my brother a personalized photo blanket of pictures of his dog for Christmas!

  13. Mary Riker says

    I am #2 of 9 children. Growing up, Christmas was always about the little ones. But Christmas 2001 was one I will never forget….
    It was my freshman of college and my mom was 31 weeks pregnant with #9! I came home for the weekend to play with the little ones and do some laundry. Sunday, 12/9, mama woke in labor. We always attended the births as it is viewed as a family event in our family. That morning, mama and papa left and we told them we would come up in a bit after they got settled and the 2 little ones were settled at the sitters. Little did we know life was about to change forever as my baby brother, John David, was not meant for this life… We had his funeral and buried his tiny 3 pound body just 3 days later.
    That Christmas, a group of woman wanted to adopt our family for Christmas. Everything and anything we asked for, they purchased. That year, their kindness allowed all of us to put our broken hearts aside for a few hours and smile, real happy smiles. They allowed us to celebrate the day and have the biggest Christmas any of us had ever had…

    This year, my kiddos, aged 10, 8, and 6, are adopting my brother mother-in-law for Christmas. She has early onset Alzheimer’s and is in the final stage. Even though we are 600 miles away from them, we are going to gather everything she loves, paint a few pictures, and send it to her. While she might not know who we are or why we are sending it, my kiddos know that they are doing something very special and very important.

  14. Krysten says

    I can’t wait to give my dad our entry into a scavenger hunt race for 2016! We’ve done one for the past 3 years, taking photos at different locations throughout the city. I’m so glad I found one again this year, we’ve had so much fun in the past. I’m also equally excited about mom’s gift. I’m making her a menu board with seven clips labeled Monday through Sunday so that she can easily plan for the week (:

  16. natasha lamoreux says

    The best gift I have ever received was my Kitchenaid mixer and Im most excited to give my daughter a new tennis racket for Christmas.

  17. tcarolinep says

    The best gift I’ve ever received is a handmade dresser, one gift that I can’t wait to give the hard to find tea set to my mom this year!
    tcarolinep at gmail dot com

  19. Jess says

    The best gift I ever received was my violin! My birthday is the 22nd so I always grumble at combined birthday and Christmas gifts. When I saw an, albeit large, package wrapped in half birthday half Christmas paper I knew I wasn’t getting a Christmas gift! But when I opened it, that was totally fine with me. 🙂

    Merry Christmas!Thanks for sharing your authentic, honest, optimistic outlook on life with us.

  20. Kelly D says

    The best give I ever received was my Keurig coffee machine. I use it every day. I am looking forward to giving my daughter the Pokemon set she was asking for.

  22. Madeline says

    Tough one. I’d have to say the best gift I ever received was some beautiful jewelry from my hubby. I’m looking forward to giving our child a Wii U this year.
    maddiembrubaker {at} gmail [dot] com

  24. raggammuffin says

    my favorite gift was when my dad gave me my first camera when i was in high school. i can’t wait to give my son the new disney infinity. he’s been asking for it all year.

  26. Stephanie Phelps says

    The best gift I ever received was the beautiful ring my husband had made for me with my boys input!

  30. Erika says

    I can’t think of a best gift for myself, but I am very excited to give my son a wooden train set this year.

    chambanachik(at)gmail(dot)dom

  31. rachel says

    An American Girl doll that I had prayed for when I was six years old (long story, but it really was a miracle that I got one!) and a dollhouse for my little girl

  34. laurajacobson says

    Oh the best I received, was a grandmothers bracelet. I treasure it dearly!!! This year…I am most excited to give my grandson a garbage truck…that I took to our local garbage company and they put stickers on and added his name to the door. So excited!
    landfjacobson @ charter. net

  36. Tina says

    I received a handmade photo album from hubby, best gift ever and I can’t wait to give my hubby a gopro this year!

  38. Amy Tong says

    The best gift I’ve ever received was a digital picture frame from my in-laws years ago when they first came out. Love seeing the baby pictures of my kids. I can’t wait to give my MIL some skin care products to pamper her this year.

    amy [at] utry [dot] it

  42. gina m (wild orchid) says

    best gift I received was a macbook from my husband, and the best gift I gave was a bass guitar to him that he loves to play.

    Thanks for the chance to win!

    wildorchid985 AT gmail DOT com

  46. LAMusing says

    I can’t wait to give mom the ultra soft zip up robe that I know she will flip over! Beat gift I ever got – a bucket of fried shrimp. Long story 🙂

  47. Norma says

    A favorite gift I received was a necklace my husband gave me. Looking forward to giving my daughter a kindle!

  52. James Robert says

    The gifts I enjoy are the ones my children make at church. They are beautiful and personal. This year I enjoyed giving my daughter her musical keyboard she so much wanted and talked about daily.

  54. shelly peterson says

    The best gift I received was framed professional photos of my kids together. I am looking forward to giving my son an icoffee machine.
    cshell090869 at aol dot com

  55. shelly peterson says

    The best gift I received was framed professional pictures of all my kids. I am looking forward to giving my son an icoffee machine.
    cshell090869 at aol dot com

  59. jalapenomamamn says

    The best gift I received was a most fantastic picture of the grand kids.
    I treasure it!
    And I will be giving a BluRay DVD player to a special family.
    I’m really excited about that.
    thank you

    barbara dot montyj at gmail dot com

  61. Cynthia C says

    My memorable gift was the bike I got for Christmas when I was seven. I gave my nieces a doll house this Christmas and they loved it.

  62. Denise L says

    The best gift I’ve ever received is a Kitchenaid mixer. It’s the gift that keeps on giving! I’m excited to give my son a soccer jersey from his favorite team this year. He loves sports!

  64. Elle says

    I am excited to give my Mother a pair of earrings I bought her and the best gift I ever received was a pearl necklace.

  66. Kerry says

    Best gift I ever got was my beautiful daughter that was born this year. And we bought my hubby a canvas picture of our family and I can’t wait to give it to him.

  70. Deb Ford says

    Best gift I ever got was my engagement ring and I couldn’t wait to give my husband a great watch this year

  71. Emily N. says

    The best gift I’ve ever received was a Vitamix and one gift that I couldn’t wait to give to someone this year was clothing.

  79. willitara says

    One year had been particularly devastating for me financially. I had a storage locker that I lost due to lack of funds to pay for it. I didn’t know but my son bought the contents before it went to auction and sold the things he knew I really didn’t need but surprised me with the things that had the most value both financially and sentimentally.
    I was most excited to give my great granddaughter a cradle for her baby doll.

  85. Janice Cooper says

    The best gift I ever received was a vacation to Maui for 2 weeks and I was excited to give my mom a Fitbit Charge for Christmas.

  87. Birdiebee says

    The best gift I have ever received is a diamond engagement ring and I gave a Kindle Fire to my granddaughter for Christmas who loved the gift.

  89. Tarissa says

    My favorite gift I think was the year my parents got my brother and I a trampoline — we couldn’t believe our luck! This year, I couldn’t wait for my mom to open up 2 new pairs of warm pajamas… she has been hinting at how she really wanted to replace her old ones, and she was super happy with the new pjs!
    pixelberrypie at yahoo dot com

  92. Annette says

    The best gift I ever received was my lost cat; my neighbor showed up on Christmas morning with my cat in his arms. That was over 10 years ago and my cat is still with me.

    The gift I’m most looking forward to giving is skin care to my friend who loves the stuff.

  94. Ellie Wright says

    The best gift I’ve received was an engagement ring on Christmas Eve 1981. My favorite gift i gave this year was a woven blanket to my daughter-in-law with my granddaughter’s picture on it.

  96. Jeffrey says

    The best gift I’ve ever received was a stretch guy when I was about 8 years old, I loved that thing! I’m looking forward to giving my mom a stand mixer this year, she’s just getting to weak to use the hand mixer to make her famous cookies!

  102. angie says

    Best gift ever: my partner surprised me by re-sizing my engagement ring behind my back. I had not been able to wear it for years!
    Best gift I gave this year: commercial grade string lights to my partner. He was SO surprised and his jaw literally dropped open! hahaha it was GREAT!

  106. Debbie B says

    i think my best gift i’ve received would be my ipad air and the best i’ve given was a grill to my daughter and her fiance

  109. Kathryn C says

    #SweepstakesEntry- comment

    the best present I ever rec’d was when my parents bought me my first car- I like to give homemade gift baskets of treats to friends and family and I usually toss in a gift card to a favorite store or restaurant

    Kathryn C
    [email protected]

  110. FAITH J. says

    THE BEST GIFT I EVER RECEIVED? MY ENGAGEMENT RING ON XMAS DAY. THE BEST GIFT I PLAN TO GIVE THIS YEAR? I PICTURE OF MY AND THE HUBBY BLOW UP ON OUR WEDDING DAY WRAPPED IN GIFT WRAP AND TOPPED WITH A BOW!

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