What are some heartfelt Christmas gift ideas?

With all these global shipping delays, and with Christmas right around the corner, you might be struggling to find the perfect gifts for everyone on your list. To prevent you from seeming like the Grinch, or from having to put coal in the stockings of all your friends, relatives, and coworkers, we’ve come up with some unique gift ideas that won’t require any shipping at all! Don’t believe me, read for yourself:

Mason Jar Alcohol Infusion Kit 

You’ve probably seen these cute jars, filled with dried fruits, spices on Etsy, but did it ever occur to you that you could make one yourself? After all, it is just a mason jar full of herbs and dried fruit—you can buy all those items at your local health food store. All you need is a recipe and some creativity! 

Put dried cranberries, orange slices, cinnamon sticks, and brown sugar into a mason jar and ta da, you just made a hot toddy spirit infusion kit! You might want to add that special touch with a red ribbon around the top, and maybe even a handwritten label that reads, Just add whiskey!

Digital Jazz Album 

No one really uses CDs anymore, so why not gift those music lovers in your life a new digital Christmas album that is sure to knock their socks off? Not to mention, you certainly won’t have to worry about any shipping fees or delays. Just print off a picture of the album and put it in an envelope, or if you really want to be cheeky, wrap it in inside a box with a bunch of tissue paper! And maybe if you’re giving this gift to a significant other, you could invite he or she to slow dance with you to one of the songs—what’s more romantic than that?

You’re in luck because we have quite a few digital albums available in our store right now. Christmas Ain’t Like It Used To Be offers fresh, new and heartwarming holiday songs, along with the stellar vocals of Andromeda Turre; Lorca Hart Trio’s Colors of Jazz takes you on a whirlwind adventure through the rainbow, exploring the vibrancy of contemporary jazz; WJ3 All-Stars’ Lovers and Love Songs sweeps you away on a romantic journey through the ages; and Cryin’ In My Whiskey, featuring Janis Siegel and John Di Martino, is the perfect mix of jazz standards and country classics! You really can’t go wrong with any of these choices.

Personalized Coupons

Grab some card stock, markers, and stickers and make some adorable, personalized coupons that show your loved ones that you really care. Some ideas for coupons: Good for one free hug, one free cuddle, back massage, ice cream date… The options are endless! Just get creative. Oh, and if you really want to have some fun with it, you could even put expiration dates on the coupons—just be ready to redeem them all when the time comes!

Concert Tickets 

Experiences can be more valuable than any tangible object, so, this holiday season, gift your friends, family, and coworkers with an early Christmas gift: tickets to the album concert for Christmas Ain’t Like It Used To Be. 

On Friday, December 17th at 8pm, Akron will be hosting some of the best musicians in New York City on the Knight Stage at the Civic Center. You and your loved ones won’t want to miss this joyful celebration of Christmas, Hannukah and jazz! To purchase tickets, please see the link below:

https://www.akroncivic.com/shows/370

This post was written by Blog Editor, Jacqueline Knirnschild.

What are some new Christmas albums?

The classic Christmas tunes are popular for a reason—they evoke family memories, you know the lyrics by heart, and they’ve withstood the test of time—but sometimes the classics can dare I say it, become a bit repetitive, especially if the same station or soundtrack is on loop all day at your work! Sometimes, it’s nice to spice things up and open the genre to new albums. Because remember, all classic songs were at one time, new releases! It’s time to make some room around the open fire for new friends. 

Dolly Parton – Holly Dolly Christmas

Her first Christmas album in thirty years, Holly Dolly Christmas does not disappoint. With a majority of new, original tracks, and some traditional favorites mixed in as well, this album is as charming and optimistic as the country star we all know and love. Including duets with Michael Bublé, Jimmy Fallon, Willie Nelson, and featuring Miley Cyrus, Billy Ray Cyrus, Randy Parton, Holly Dolly Christmas keeps things exciting!

The song “Comin Home for Christmas,” which was released as a single in 2009, is particularly cozy and sweet, and sure to bring the family all together. Mama’s in the kitchen, Christmas on the stove, Daddy’s in the woodshed with ax and overcoat, everybody’s helpin’ to place and trim the tree…

Norah Jones – I Dream of Christmas

The wait for Norah Jones’s first full-length Christmas album was well worth it! Her velvety, crisp, and cool voice seems like it was just made for Christmas songs. These dreamy, elegant, and tranquil tracks offer a relaxed backdrop for family gatherings, dinner parties and cozying up by the fire. And with many originals, like “Christmas Calling” and “Christmas Glow,” you’re bound to discover a new favorite! 

Carrie Underwood – My Gift 

A somber, unadorned album, My Gift showcases Underwood’s voice and focuses on the religious underpinnings of the holiday. The slow, poignant songs create an atmosphere meant for deeper emotions and reflection. One of the tracks, “Little Drummer Boy,” even features the adorable vocals of Underwood’s eldest son, which speaks to the familial and spiritual themes of the album. But perhaps the most passionate and profound is “Let There Be Peace,” which was performed at this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. 

John Di Martino & Andromeda Turre – Christmas Ain’t Like It Used to Be

Last, but certainly not least, this jazz release truly reinvigorates the genre with a complete album of exclusively fresh and vibrant originals from some of the biggest stars in the industry—John Di Martino, Andromeda Turre, Wayne Escoffery, Lonnie Plaxico and Willie Jones III. Offering a lovely mixture of slow, touching songs, like “Star of Wonder;” upbeat, festive tracks like “Make December Stay;” and bluesy tunes like “Christmas Ain’t Like It Used to Be;” this album is extremely versatile and will fit any holiday moment, whether it be baking cookies, trimming the tree, or kissing beneath the mistletoe. 

Christmas Ain’t Like It Used to Be is available now in our store and on all major music platforms. And if you live in the northeast Ohio area, you’re in luck because these musicians will be coming to the Akron Civic Center to perform the album for one night only—December 17th at 8pm. To purchase tickets please see the link below: 

This post was written by Blog Editor, Jacqueline Knirnschild.