Dollar Store Christmas Challenge with Better Life Bags

Hi Honeybear Lane!  My name is Rebecca and I blog over at Better Life Bags.

I live in Detroit.  Yes, you read that right.  We MOVED to the Detroit area two years ago into an immigrant neighborhood.  You can read why here.

Life in Detroit is crazy.  From car break-ins.  To fires.  To homeless men living in our garage.

Oh, and I can’t forget the time they torn this down two feet from my bedroom window.
It never gets boring.

I escape the craziness {and the cold} by making and selling custom bags that you design.

{That’s right.  You design the bag and I sew it for you!  Super fun.}

It’s the people that we are able to help by designing and sewing bags together.

But today, I bring you a team or family bonding activity that is great for any time of year!
It’s cheap.
It’s easy.
And it’s a blast.

We like to call it:

Here are the rules:
1. Find yourself a dollar store.
2. Instruct your family or team that you can only spend $1 per person.
3. The gift needs to reflect that person in some way.

Then, you’re off to shop!
{but be sure to dodge your other family members so they don’t see your presents!}

When all presents are bought, go home, make some hot cocoa, then sit around and
gift your presents to everyone.

Wrapping is not necessary.
But, ugly Christmas sweaters are definitely a must.

When it’s time to play Santa, we like to have one person gift all of their gifts at once – explaining why they picked out that particular item for the recipient as they go.

It’s fun to see what items in the dollar store reminded someone of you.

Here were my presents with a small description of the why behind them.

This particular activity is a nice way to really encourage and build each other up by buying gifts that reflect the good qualities or things you admire in each other.

But, it’s also fun to do with close friends and family because of all the inside jokes or funny memories that will come out based on a dollar store gift.

And while my presents were more meaningful than funny, you can be sure there were
lots of laughs and gags.
Like the sparkly tights given to a certain young man who loves to sing Lady GaGa.
Or the pair of glasses that my son refused to take off.

While it may be too late for the Ugly Christmas Sweater version of this party (unless you have a big family get-together on Christmas Eve), it really can take on any theme for any occasion!

Thanks for having me Heidi!

Hopefully I’ll see you all over at Better Life Bags – the blog.
Or on Facebook.
Or browsing the shop.
I just want to see you!