Texas Living

Gift-Giving Made Easy

By Felicia Pinkney 12.3.14

The gift-giving season is upon us, and that probably means your to-do list is longer than Santa’s beard. With trees to trim, parties to attend, meals to prepare, and multiple gifts to buy, it helps to have a simple solution for at least one of your must-dos.

Mason jars to the rescue! Typically used for canning or preserves, mason jars have been the belle of the Ball since the late 1880s, and they’ve never gone out of style. They’re compact, reusable, and easy to assemble.

But here’s the best part: They’re a gift and a gift bag all in one. Your little elves can help make these holiday gifts for neighbors, teachers, classmates — even you.

For Kids

 

For Coffee Lovers

  • Rocky Road Brownies: Made with instant coffee, chocolate, and marshmallows, this treat will satisfy those who need a hefty dose of caffeine.
  • Pumpkin Spice Latte Sugar Scrub: This skin-softening gift combines coffee grounds with the delectable scent of pumpkin.

 

For Spa Lovers

  • Vanilla Brown Sugar Scrub: Buying vanilla and brown sugar for your holiday recipes? Grab a little extra to whip up a batch of gifts for friends who want a spa-at-home experience.
  • Peppermint Bath Salts: Everyone deserves a little holiday pampering. Help a friend decompress with this four-ingredient gift.

 

For Choc-o-holics

  • Hot Chocolate: This classic drink never gets old, and kids will enjoy decorating the jar to look like Rudolph.
  • French Vanilla Hot Cocoa: This isn’t your grandma’s cocoa! French vanilla pudding mix and powdered coffee creamer give it a new twist.
  • Oatmeal-Chocolate Chip Cookies: Oatmeal is considered a morning food, so why not have these for breakfast?

 

Speaking of Breakfast

  • Cinnamon Spice Muffins: Cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves — all the holiday flavors in one muffin. Yum!
  • Pecan Waffles: This ready-made breakfast mix gives your giftee a little more time to sleep in during the hectic holidays.