Christmas cards and uncluttering gift ideas

A little less than 10 years ago, I had to answer that annual question that some people love to answer and other people hate to answer: what do you want for your birthday? I fall in the latter category.

I've always felt very fortunate to have all that I need in life at a given day, and as an apartment dweller, space is always at a premium. I decided to ask for an "experience", big or small. Something that wasn't a "thing." The idea wasn't well received. My sister took the challenge and got me two books: "Short Escapes Near New York City" and "Short Bike Rides in and around New York City". While books are technically things, the spirit of the idea was there. DW and I recently used one of them on a trip to Shelter Island and Mystic, CT.

That brings me this great series of Christmas season posts from Unclutterer: consumable gift giving.

2007 Unclutterer Gift Giving Guide:
(Contents, with direct links to the featured parts)

• Focus for the guide
• Charitable giving
• Buying for children
• Ultimate generosity
• Consumable giving
• Experience giving
• Online giving

I really like the ideas of consumable giving (things that we need, will be used up and then don't take up space), though the idea of making them "gift-worthy" requires a little creativity.

And if you've got x-acto blades lying around your house, here are some great card ideas, via lifehacker: DIY Christmas Cards [lifehacker]
The evergreen card whispers in my ear: "I look easy, but you're going to pull your hair out trying to make one that looks as elegant as me." Game on, Mr. Douglas fir... Game on.