(no subject)
STEP ONE
Make a post (public, friendslocked, filtered...whatever you're comfortable with) to your LJ. (This year, it's popular to have it listed on your info page.) The post should contain your list of 10 holiday wishes. The wishes can be anything at all, from simple and fun ("I'd love a Snape/Hermione icon that's just for me") to medium ("I wish for _____ on DVD") to really big ("All I want for Christmas is a new car/computer/house/TV.") The important thing is, make sure these wishes are things you really, truly want.
If you wish for real possible things, make sure you include some sort of contact info in your post, whether it's your address or just your email address where Santa (or one of his elves) could get in touch with you.
Also, make sure you post some version of these guidelines in your LJ, or link to this post so that the holiday joy will spread.
STEP TWO
Surf around your friendslist (or friends' friends, or just random journals) to see who has posted their list. (That's why this year we suggest you list 'wish list' under your interests so folks may search.) And now here's the important part:
If you see a wish you can grant, and it's in your heart to do so, make someone's wish come true. Sometimes someone's trash is another's treasure, and if you have a leather jacket you don't want or a gift certificate you won't use--or even know where you could get someone's dream purebred Basset Hound for free--do it. Once a wish has been granted, it will be crossed off my list.
You needn't spend money on these wishes unless you want to. The point isn't to put people out, it's to provide everyone a chance to be someone else's holiday elf--to spread the joy. Gifts can be made anonymously or not--it's your call.
There are no rules with this project, no guarantees, and no strings attached. Just...wish, and it might come true. Give, and you might receive. And you'll have the joy of knowing you made someone's holiday special.
Step Three
My list:
1. Gift certificate(s) to Penzey's (www.penzeys.com) since I'm having to leave my entire spice/herb collection here in the UK. *sob*
2. Gift certificates to places that sell decent/nice/fashionable clothes (because, you know, that whole weight loss thing. Granted, I gained back 10 lb, but IT WILL GO AGAIN.) (and I specify decent/nice because my aunt already has me covered in terms of $2 tshirts and $5 pairs of trousers. :) )
3. Do something nice for someone random (friend, stranger, whatever) even if it's just something little like paying for a coffee or holding the door. Whatever.
4. Spend some time (an hour, a day) volunteering at a local charity/foodbank/shelter.
5. Good thoughts re: me getting into college. (And re: getting financial aid.)
6. Anything from any of the wishlists linked in my userinfo. (There's a couple of Amazon lists, and I forget what else.)
7. Fic is ALWAYS a good gift. :) SPN, SGA, popslash, um. I'm pretty easy. No het though. Het gives me hives.
8. Silk satin pillowcases. (I've got two and they're nearly worn to death- but my hair is SO MUCH HAPPIER with them.)
9. Jensen Ackles9. An underbust black PVC corset.
10. A new keyboard and a memory upgrade for a Fujitsu P2120 Lifebook. (Or, you know, a brand new small light laptop with a trackpoint style 'mouse' instead of a horrible trackpad from hell. But the keyboard and memory upgrade are rather more affordable. *g*)