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]]>I also love the process of wrapping the Christmas gifts. I always wait until the house is clean because--let's be honest: everything is more enjoyable when the house is clean, am I right? Then, I'll put on a Christmas movie. (Most likely White Christmas or Christmas in Connecticut) to set the mood. Once that's all done, I lay out all of the needed tools, wrapping paper, ribbon, and gifts on the dining room table, and wrap away.
In the spirit of the gift-wrapping season, I've rounded up nine of my gift-wrapping must-haves. I hope they help you have a stress-free, organized, and enjoyable time wrapping your gifts early so that you can truly enjoy Christmas!
01. Kraft Paper: Use kraft paper to mix in with your more expensive (or hard to find) wrapping papers. It will make the other designs you use pop more and make the "look" stretch further. (I can't be the only one that tries to create a "vibe" with their wrapping paper line up, right?) Plus, a roll of Kraft paper is always good to have on hand around the holidays. We use it to cover the kids' tables for Friendsgiving and Christmas parties. Just give the kids a mason jar filled with crayons and let them get creative! (Bonus Tip: If you end up using your kraft paper to cover tables, make sure you get a roll that is 30" wide so it will cover the whole width of a standard folding table.)
02. Linen Ribbon: Raw linen ribbon is all the rage right now, but it can be expensive--way too expensive for wrapping a gift that will be torn open in a matter of seconds. Amazon to the rescue! There are plenty of options, but this one in particular comes in great colors and at a great price, too!
03. A Designated Gift Wrap Tool Box: This is a MUST for me. I love having all of the tape, scissors, ribbon, and gift tags all in one place. It's convenient, easy to move everything if you need to change wrapping locations, and just keeps everything neat and tidy in general. While I try to get most of the wrapping done in one sitting, there is always that random unexpected gift you need to wrap for your husband's boss or your kid's teacher... or the aunt you forgot. (Hey, it happens.) That being the case, I keep the gift wrap tool box in the guest room closet through the holiday season. Then, when the holiday season is over, the box gets stored with the Christmas decorations in the attic, ready for the next time around. Just doing this one little thing has saved me a lot of unnecessary stress.
04. Antique Brass Jingle Bells: I love putting an extra finishing touch on gifts with a gift topper. Rather than purchasing "official gift toppers" from the store, I opt to buy mini ornaments and/or jingle bells. They're cheaper and you end up getting a larger quantity in one purchase.
05. THE BEST Ribbon: While I was searching for linen ribbon on Amazon, I came across this. The amount of ribbon you get for the price is crazy good - so good that I was skeptical. When I got it in the mail, I immediately ordered another roll in black. It's THAT good. It makes your gifts look effortlessly put together and I love how you don't have to worry about bows getting crushed when you go to transport gifts to the in-laws.
06. Wood Gift Tags: These are so cute, inexpensive, and such a simple way to really amp up your wrapping game. In years past, I've had several people save theirs and use them for ornaments!
07. Mini Pinecone Tag Add-Ons: These little pinecones are another favorite to use as gift toppers. They give you a big bang for your buck, and it shows that you went the extra mile without spending too much time or money.
08. White Paint Marker: I feel like I've spent years looking for the best paint marker that will write on black paper and/or gift tags like No. 6. I think this one is the one! They're inexpensive, long-lasting, and I find that it works so much better than a typical chalk marker. Plus, chances are that the tags won't get used again, so you don't have to worry about it being able to come off.
09. Designated Gift Wrap Scissors: Right up there with having a designated gift wrap tool box, I love having designated scissors. You don't have to worry about them being dull or getting lost in the home office or kitchen junk drawer. The ones linked are my favorite for gift wrap cutting.
]]>01. Breakfast Board.
For the past several years, Greg and I have been getting together with the same group of friends every Tuesday night. We've done it all... tacos, spaghetti, pizza, sandwich trays, and various casseroles. But hands down, our favorite go-to group dinner is breakfast - or "brinner" as we call it. A breakfast board with pancakes (or waffles!) along with bacon, and sweet and savory toppings to choose from would for sure to be a crowd pleaser. Source: Completely Delicious.
02. Baked Potato Board.
Warm, fluffy, and cheesy baked potatoes on a chilly night always sounds like a good idea. Even the pickiest of eaters would be happy with this as a main course. Source: The Reluctant Entertainer.
03. Caramel Apple Charcuterie Board.
Skip the Christmas cookies and take a caramel apple board. This would be such a fun alternative to bring as a dessert for a get together! I mean, plus, there are apples, so it's healthy. Right? Source: Salted Harvest Creatives.
04. Holiday Leftovers Board.
For me personally, I prefer Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner leftovers over the actual meal. Anyone else with me!? Mix it up a little by taking the leftovers and making a fun leftover board - perfect for constructing that coveted leftover turkey sandwich. Source: The Reluctant Entertainer.
05. PB&J Board.
So what is the grace of the Gospel?
We are saved by grace alone. This is a gift of God, not a work of man. We are saved by God, not because we've worked hard enough or have been "good enough" to deserve it, but because he has single-handedly saved us from death. (Ephesians 2:1-10) Now, sit on that for a second and think about the enormous freedom that is in this... If we don't have to work to merit God's favor, then we are free in the truest and most complete sense of the word. No longer are we bound to our works and our goodness -- we're bound to Christ's works and Christ's goodness.
This freedom is so highly and completely free from any sense of self-righteousness that some have used it as a license to sin. If we're free from the law, why not do whatever we want? In fact, the grace that Paul teaches in Romans 5 releases Christians from the obligation of the law so much that he finds it necessary to address this very point in the following chapter. In Romans 6:1-2, he explains that those who have died to sin can no longer live in it.
The cost of the grace of God in the finished work of Jesus Christ is far more than we could ever pay, or even attempt to repay. The grace extended to us in the Gospel is not, and never has been, cheap. There is a cost for our sin, and the payment due is death. And yet, by the grace of God, Jesus has paid that very price for everyone who believes in him. A doctrine of cheap grace that preaches a life of sin fails to recognize the cost of sin. We cannot, without trampling underfoot the Son of God, think of the grace of God as cheap.
The grace of God in the finished work of Jesus Christ is something altogether more wonderful, more magnificent, and more joyful than any substitute. It is a costly grace given freely to all who believe. It is the pearl of great price. It's the treasure buried in a field. (Matthew 13:44-46) When we finally have our eyes opened to the grace that God extends in the Gospel, we cannot remain where we are. We forsake our sin in repentance and confession, and we cling to the greatest gift ever given: The Grace of God in Jesus Christ.
Next time you find yourself thinking or saying, "There's grace for that," consider what you're saying. Is the grace you extend shallow and shaky, barely holding onto the sand of a man-made gospel of cheap grace? Or is the grace you extend to your brother or sister in Christ rooted firmly upon the solid rock of Jesus Christ alone?
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