All I Want For Christmas Is…Hope
2023 has been a rough year for a lot of people. For me, personally, the early part of this year was financially devastating. And every day since then has been a stressful climb back to some semblance of normalcy. In this economy, it’s a tough task. But maybe Christmas brings some hope for you this year!
I know I’m not the only one struggling this year. While some politicians will tout the jobs numbers as an indication that our economy is doing well, ask any regular American how they’re doing and you’ll get a different story.
For many, like myself, it takes more than one job to make ends meet these days. For most of us, grocery store trips are now a hair-raising voyage into inevitable dread at the cash register. Gas refills are a gloomy reminder that most of my excursions from home involve going to work. It’s downright depressing!
Focus On The Good
For Thanksgiving this year, I decided to focus on the good things going on in my little world. So imagine my surprise when putting up my Christmas tree, I found a glimmer of what has blossomed into full blown hope for the future! Something about reflecting on Christmases Past as we adorned the tree with ornaments from my mom’s childhood, my youth and my son’s baby chotchkie’s something came over me that I really wasn’t expecting! In the day-to-day grind it’s easy to lose sight of the bigger picture. It’s when we take a step back, take a deep breath and really focus on the good things that we start to see the good that CAN be.
Christmas Hope
Now I’m no Pollyanna. I didn’t develop a sudden magical power to change my circumstances. In fact, nothing physically has changed at all. But for the first time in a really long time I’m starting to feel the beginnings of possibilities for things that I haven’t let myself feel in decades. Maybe there’s some hope out there for us after all.
10 Unique Stocking Stuffers
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Stocking stuffers are so much fun! We often think that everyone needs a perfect gift. Maybe there is no one singular perfect gift; maybe the perfect gift is a bunch of small gifts. This is why stocking stuffers are one of the best parts of Christmas. Who wouldn’t want to receive a bunch of little gifts just for them?
The Legend of Christmas Stockings
Why are Christmas stockings and stocking stuffers a thing anyway? Smithsonian Magazine explains the legend dates back centuries to the early 1800’s. There was a widowed man with three daughters who was struggling financially. St. Nicholas caught wind of this and paid a visit to the family via their chimney. He left gold coins in the daughters’ stockings, which were hanging by the fire drying.
When the family woke up the next morning, the daughters couldn’t believe what they found. Their father was also relieved that his daughters now had the money to be eligible to wed.
Sure, it’s a good thing that most cultures don’t require a dowry anymore. However, it’s still cool that Christmas stockings still remain to this day.
Modern-Day Christmas Stockings
Nowadays, Christmas stockings are filled with a variety of gifts. They’re usually picked out specifically for that person. Of course, finding a bunch of small gifts can be challenging. Finding one gift for someone can be tough, so finding a number of gifts has the potential to be a nightmare.
Fortunately, this is why we’re here to help. Listed below are ten unique stocking stuffer ideas. They range from electronics to health and beauty products and everywhere in between. The gifts listed below have a variety of price points, so there should be something here for everyone’s budget. Keep scrolling for our ideas. Even if they aren’t just what you’re looking for, they may be helpful in leading you to what you really need.
Please note that items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time we published this list. Have an idea for a fun theme for a gift idea list you’d like us to create? Drop us a line at shopping@bbgi.com.
Michelle is the producer for the Austin Rhodes show afternoons from 3pm-6pm on WGAC. She's known and been friends with Austin since they were both starting out in their 20's. She's been in the Augusta market on News Talk, Top40, Country and Rock radio on morning shows, middays and afternoons for many years. You also may have heard her in Charleston SC, Columbia SC, Savannah GA and even Des Moines Iowa! Michelle likes to focus her stories on local history, local happenings and local animals in need. She loves spending time with her rescue dogs, her horses and listening to fun new music.
