I’m taking part in a girlfriend reconnaissance mission this weekend. A bunch of great friends and I are bravely going to start looking for Christmas presents. I’ve never started shopping this late before, but my year has been one that has been more-than-heavily-scheduled, and this was the first available weekend when several of the other women didn’t already have other plans. So, we strike out, armed with our debit cards and shopping lists. Before I go, I’m putting soup in the crockpot to have simmering and savory for hubby to eat while I’m gone, and ready for me to grab a bowlful when I stumble back through the door. Here’s a favorite of my family that your family might also enjoy–Sicilian Chicken Soup. Once the soup is cooking nicely Saturday morning, I’ll grab my car keys and head out to meet up with my friends. We’re expecting a successful mission, so Our Great 2015 Girlfriend Holiday Recon will get home in the evening worn out, laughed out, and probably maxed out on our budgets. But we plan on not having to do this again for 2015. There’s only so much fun one woman’s body can handle.

But no, I don’t think we’ll all necessarily be done with our gifts for the year.  I’ll be doing some additional online shopping (wonder if Santa does much of his shopping by clicking). I’ll also be doing some craftier gifting varieties, too. Here are a few of the ideas I’m already getting from websites:

• A Gift in a Tin: Christmas Baking Kits – where you can get the detail on the baking kit and also some sample pics of other terrific ideas like Cold Winter Kits and Spa Kits in a tin
• 15 Homemade Gifts that Aren’t Cheesy offers easy craft ideas that produce some really wonderful gifts
• and for my food giving gifts this year I’m giving Triple Chocolate Cheesecake with Oreo Crust–here’s the recipe to try with a warning that you may have to make many more than planned since pieces tend to disappear out of the family fridge when one is left unattended. Even when I label one with a sign that says “Do Not Eat This–It’s a Gift.”  Maybe I ought to start saying they’re “poisoned for authorial research” instead–Nah, my family would likely try a piece anyway. LOL

Finally, my gift to my readers this year is a group effort with some of my wonderful author girlfriends. I’ve talked about the Cozy Holiday Escapes anthology. It’s been on sale a week now at our special giftable price of 99 cents, and readers are giving back by posting wonderful reviews. If you’d like some light-mystery, character-driven stories to read when you put your feet up after this year’s Christmas tasks, we would love if you’d take a look at our anthology. It’s only available through the holiday season–then just like Santa and all the seasonal decorations it will disappear from sight. Click my Where to Buy My Books link for all the clickable links to all the booksellers. I’ve included a new Bodies of Art story “Seasonal Switches” as well as the Organized Mystery “Organized for Christmas Wishes.” Best of all, you might discover a new author to read or discover an old favorite.

So that’s my game plan for the weekend. How about you. Do you have a shopping/gifting strategy in place this year?