In the spirit of trying new things in life, I am for the first time ever participating in a Christmas Blogger gift swap event. Christmas still seems like eons away, but I suppose it won’t be long before we put on our wooly hats and fret over what to gift our loved ones. I always prefer gifts that are just surprised throughout the year than having a stressed out significant other or friend try and find something around Christmas time just to meet a perceived societal obligation. How often has it happened that you think somewhere in April “my (girl)friend would love this”, only to lost for ideas around November. Why not just have Christmas in April in that case?

Having said that, the idea of getting to know a fellow blogger a bit better and then picking out a little something to brighten their gloomy December day, sounds like a lot of fun and a bit of a challenge! As an expat, and with a notoriously small amount of family I am close to, Christmas is both difficult as well as my favourite holiday. I know, that makes no sense. While it’s really not about the gifts, the idea of receiving something and that someone thought of you is heart warming during a time some of us may by feeling a bit lonely. The event is all about getting to know a fellow blogger and exchanging a few small presents. So it’s not a secret santa, even though it has some similarities.

Are you a blogger and do you want to participate as well? There is still time! The deadline to enter the swap is November 1st, with gifts dispatched by December 17th. Funny enough I am more excited about what I am going to give my fellow blogger than even being curious about what I might get back. But regardless of how Christmas pans out this year, I will be assured of one little package under my tree! There something quite warm and fuzzy about that feeling!

What are your gift giving traditions for the holidays? Are you starting to think about Christmas already or not even worried about it yet? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!