Monday, December 22, 2008

Oprah's List of Favorite Things 2008

By Tasha Miller

This year's secret is out about Oprah's Favorite Things 2008, which aired on November 26th. The show this year was very different from past year's shows where the audience received several thousands of dollars in gifts.

The primary focus of this years Oprah's Favorite Things 2008 was to show you how you can get through the holiday season without spending a ton of money. Oprah was very wise to do a show like this considering the financial state that the country is in and showing people some creative options to purchasing gifts and giving gifts that are more heartfelt.

The 2008 Oprah's Favorite Things show was a mix of ideas for gifts, such as a Gratitude Box. Oprah says she started this tradition with her employees and friends years ago and to this day is something she still does. For as little as $2 you can make your own Gratitude box, depending on how simple or fancy you want to go and place heartfelt notes inside to the person you are giving it to. Can you imagine what a lovely gift this would be for someone to receive and reading words from the heart and how special that will make them feel.

Holiday Music Hits, Oprah not only supplied you with a downloadable pdf to make a CD cover but you were able to download her personal holiday favorite songs from her website, that included Faith Hill, "Joy to the World", Tony Bennett, "I'll be Home for Christmas", Il Divo, "O Holy Night", Josh Groban, "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear", Brian McKnight, "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year", Harry Connick Jr., "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" and Aretha Franklin, "Silent Night".

Another great gift idea from the Oprah's Favorite Things 2008 show was a Treasure Box. They cost about $12 and inside you can put numerous keepsakes for your family, friends and children. You can buy some file folders and put them in there and date or tag them however you like. Inside the folders place special photos, report card, awards, anything you can think of that would mean something to that person. Start one for your best friend and then maybe they will add to the box and on different occasions you can give them something else to add to their Treasure Box.

Who doesn't like hot chocolate ... You can make Holiday Chocolate Cones for next to nothing and give as gifts to not just children. You can find recipes on the internet to make your own hot chocolate mixture and then add marshmallows and top off with chocolate chips. You can find piping bags or candy bags at your local craft store to put these in and tie with a nice ribbon.

Other ideas can be to have a Swap party which can be themed, such as for children's gifts, cookie swaps etc. Anything you can think of. Everyone brings a gift and leaves with a gift. Also if you are a person that loves to make homemade goodies you can make up Gift Baskets with things from your garden such as homemade tomato sauce, applesauce, or fill your Gift basket with a bunch of homemade goodies like cookies, peanut brittle and add in some of the Holiday Chocolate cones anything thing you want and this makes such a great gift. Just another great idea from Oprah's Favorite Things 2008 that won't cost you a lot of money.

This year's Oprah's Favorite Things 2008 includes a book that she has fallen in love with. It is written by David Wroblewski, "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle". A wonderful novel about a boy who was born mute, speaking only in sign. This is a recommended read with Oprah's book club.

Still looking for other options for gifts, then you may want to look at Oprah's Favorite Things 2008 list where there are several more items by price range. Starting at under $25 and going up to $100. And don't forget Oprah's All Time Favorite Things, which is a list of her personal favorites from past years. Enjoy this Holiday Season without breaking the bank. - 15634

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