Christmas comes but once a year and the joy of giving something unexpected is a perfect way to celebrate the magic of this whimsical holiday.
Here are some ‘Out of the Gift Box’ ideas to shake (up) the christmas tree.
Memories made of Music…
Music is a universal language around the world, a diverse rhythm of many cultures with ancient roots and modern sounds. According to science learning to play an instrument improves memory and innovative thinking, and music like mediation comes with many health benefits, elevating mood, relieving stress, encouraging movement, and inducing focus. Throughout history, many a wanderer has carried an instrument on their travels as a tool for relating to cultures, as a campfire campaign, as a comforting reminder of home, or as a way to capture the richness of an experience. So instead of a camera for christmas, give the gift of music.
Surprisingly small, your loved one won’t be expecting to unwrap the world’s most compact (full-sized) keyboard!
iRig KEYS PRO is significantly smaller than any other keyboard of its type (30% smaller), it’s also a whole lot lighter (20% lighter than it’s lightest competitor). When it comes to portability, there’s no comparison. It’s a super-compact, bus-powered, “plug and play” MIDI controller that you can use anytime and anywhere. Yet despite it’s small footprint, if offers full-size, velocity-sensitive keys, allowing for a realistic playing feel. With its 37-key (3-octave) keyboard, you can play legitimate two-handed parts.
If Bear Grylls were a Baker…
Part of Bear Grylls charm is his perfervid willingness to source and devour nourishing but not-so-appetising foods as a means to sustain himself in the wild. Different forms of insects are amongst the various delicacies the adventurer has made a meal of and for good reason, they are an abundant source of protein, healthy fats and micronutrients. Entomologists and scientists agree, the potential of insects as a sustainable food resource is worth exploring. But why wait, after all asian cultures have been serving deep friend arachnids, crickets and other creepy crawlies for centuries.
Baked goods are common place at christmas but none of your guests will be expecting cakes and cookies made of crickets!
If the visual or textural component of crunching on a cricket is what’s displacing your appetite, why not try baking or buying a batch of biscuits made of cricket flour? Bitty Foods disguise the key ingredient ‘ground-up crickets’ in a delicious and modern way.
Not you’re Average Joe…
Since we’re looking at surprising things to serve unsuspecting guests, how about brewing a beverage inspired by a yak. From Tibet to New York, coffee and culture collide to create a flavour-rich fusion that’s good for your brain. Despite its name, you won’t make Marvel’s A-List with a cup of Bulletproof coffee, but you might start getting A’s. Created by life-hacker Dave Asprey (aka: the Bulletproof Executive) this butter laden version of the world’s most popular beverage has it’s roots in Tibet, where Asprey on quest to decode the secrets of optimal living and performance discovered the delights of tea made from Yak butter.
Other cultures have mixed ghee and coconut fats with coffee too, but Asprey’s blend of toxin-free beans, grass-fed butter and coconut oil are proving a winner with foodies the world over. And, not just paleo advocates, but athletes, actors and of course executives, all enjoy the slow brew of black and gold. Asprey says, the performance enhancing effects of coffee are improved with the addition of the cognitive nourishing compounds in coconut oil and the satiating smooth body of the butter.
Your guests may expect egg nog but not a creamy cup of butter coffee!
I hope this has given you a taste of how to innovate the holiday season, here’s wishing you all a creative christmas full of unexpected surprises…
