Last year I did GREAT with Christmas shopping! The kids each got a Tablet and it was phenomenal!!! (They had lost their grandmother on Christmas Day the year before; I wanted to go a little overboard last Christmas.) And my husband and I had promised to go light-- too many friends needed help for us to spend a fortune on out "wants" instead of their "needs"-- but he LOVED the Keurig I managed to get for $60 (originally priced at $180 ). This year there aren't any "BIG" gifts. I got each of the kids a single share of Disney stock, I'm hoping they really like that. I placed the order before Disney stopped issuing actual certificates. So I'll pick up 3 binders, and start a family tradition of buying stock in companies you like... I figure they can get them as birthday gifts from this point onward. And I'm happy about the box I got the girls from www.IBBeautiful.com ... I'm planning to order a 3 month subscription for each of them, but wanted the single purchase box as well so they would have one under the tree. I think they'll love them!!!! Beyond that, I'm still searching for those gifts that have them running to text all their friends. Any ideas?
I got my parents a custom pillow and a custom snowmen decoration. I'm really excited about those. I'm getting BF a flask with the OSU alma mater on it. His roomie already decreed that it's very cool.
I have not bought any Christmas gifts yet for my family. I belong to a health/weight loss group in my town and every year we sponsor a needy family. They tell us the ages/sizes/hobbies of their kids and we buy things for them. I don't have kids but I think it's a lot of fun to buy items on these kids' wish lists. I've never met them and never will meet them but somehow knowing that they will have loads of gifts under the tree make it so worth it!
The only other kid I buy presents for is my nephew. Honestly, it's very difficult to buy things for him because he's an only child and has EVERYTHING. What do you buy a child who has everything?? He says thank you and I know he appreciates gifts but I definitely know these kids I've never met will appreciate the gifts I buy them even more because they don't have all the advantages that my nephew does.
Not sure how close you live to your nephew, but perhaps a nice Christmas gift from his aunt is that you take him out to lunch and then you both go shopping for a few toys for these needy children. He can help you pick them out. I think he may really enjoy that and you're giving him a life-long lesson in giving. Just an idea!
How old is he TeacherNY? I know what you mean though. Last year a bunch of us acted as Santa's Helpers for a coworker who lost everything in Sandy. We convinced her to give us the Christmas lists of her 2 young sons, and we each took an item off it. (Seriously, how do you explain to 2 young kids that Christmas has been cancelled by a hurricane? Or to trim down your list for this year when things had already been so hard on them?) Of course, each of us bought what we promised...and then some. We had such fun with that particular part of the shopping!! One idea that you may want to adapt is Elf on a Shelf. We got Jen's kids the book and elf but with a twist. This elf already had a name... her name was Faith. She wrote an inscription about how Santa had sent her a bit early to remind them to have faith in God, faith in their parents and faith in Santa. (The boys were worried that Santa might not find them in their new temporary housing.)
That would be SOO much fun! The only problem is that my sister in law is kind of weird...not sure she would go for the idea!!
Could you get him nephew-auntie tickets to see a show of some sort? Disney on Ice, the circus in March (that's when it's at the Nassau Colliseum and in NYC, not sure when it's really close to you.) Maybe a day in NYC to see the Museum of Natural History wit the dinosauer exhibit? Or the Harlem Globetrotters at the Garden in February?http://www.ticketmaster.com/artist/...20(More%20Family)_harlem%20globetrotters_7387 And why not invite him along with you when you shop, even if you think it won't go over as a gift?
Well, you won't know until you ask. "I'd like to take Michael out for lunch and spend the day with him. Maybe do a little bit of shopping. Also, consider this a gift to you... to free up your day to pamper yourself!"
I'm still searching for many "perfect" gifts, but I am excited to give my nephew a new bike because he's WAY too big for his current. He doesn't "want" one because he wants to keep his training wheels forever (he's about to turn EIGHT!) and has the attitude that if he tries something once and isn't perfect at it, he never wants to do it again. So it's going to be a funny gift-giving because it'll be the most expensive present that I've ever bought knowing full well that the person will hate it. Obviously I know that he'll love it in the long run.
I have barely started shopping, but I know what I am getting my husband (with a little advice from his boys' trip buddies) - a folding canoe. These are pricey, but when they have to portage the less weight the better, and they can take it on a float plane much cheaper when they do one of their remote get-aways.
Great thread idea, Alice!! I haven't bought these gifts, but I'm excited about buying them: daughter~a dirtbike. I know, I know... dad~a winter blanket for his horse (it's the only thing he's asked for)
My BF just got a new job where he'll be commuting into the city. I've started looking into messenger bags to find a nice one. I plan on filling it with gift cards to local eateries near his new job, train tickets, and a battery case for his phone since he'll be out of the house longer now.
PERFECT!! Some possible add-ins: - a small travel umbrella - a pair of fleece gloves - a subscription to a Newspaper or magazine he can read for his commute?
My parents & the boyfriend are the only ones I want/need to get gifts for. (Even my parents aren't expecting anything.) I have no idea what to get them yet.
I'm excited to give my dad his gift this year. At our state science conference I won a shark jaw, a huge fossilized shark tooth, and a lot of smaller shark teeth. They don't match the jaw is a blue, the tooth is a great white, and the bag is a mix, mostly sand and lemon. I bought a great frame and I'm going to mount the large tooth surrounded by some of the smaller in the middle of the jaw. My dad LOVES sharks. I can't wait for him to see it.
I'm looking to get a new briefcase for my fiance. But I have NO idea where to start looking. Any suggestions?
amakaye, I have bought briefcases at luggage stores and bookstores. My GS is 13, and I think we are getting him a trampoline. He likes to do things--so I will get him some how to books. He also loves to cook, so I will buy him a cookbook. I am giving a piggy banks filled with money to several other children in our family. I am getting one daughter a microwave, but have no idea for the other daughter. I never have any good ideas for my husband. He needs a new rototiller, but I have no idea what to choose.
Grammy, how about tickets to something? A play, a game, a show? Yesterday I ordered and printed up 5 tickets to see Disney on Ice in January. They're actually for the kids, but I'll probably give them to my husband, as right now it's the only gift I have for him. But in the past I've given him tickets to Broadway plays, to Islander games... He's in the Knights of Columbus, so a few years ago I got him an embroidered jacket with the KofC seal on it-- that was a huge hit. Last year we went light on gifts, but I got a great deal on a Keurig for him.
I'm looking forward to skipping gifts and going out of town instead. It's my favorite way to do the holidays!
My husband usually picks out a few tools that he wants from Home Depot. Other than that I just get him lots of stocking stuffers. He is pretty easy to buy for.
Are you finding any good bags? My husband wants one for Christmas, but I may end up having him pick it out. He's so picky.
Alice...I took a page from your play book and ordered from Vera Bradley last night. I covered my sister, all of my daughter's teachers (6), her best friend, my best friend, and her a special treat--plus lanyards for me and a teaching friend. For less than $83, I covered them all! Yeah me!!!!
I got my sister a cosmetic bag, flat iron case, and nail file from Thirty-One. My youngest brother is getting a duffel bag from Thirty-One. My oldest brother is getting the camo scentsy warmer and a camo tervis cup. My brother's girlfriend is getting a pink camo tervis cup. I still need to figure out something for my mom and my boyfriend.
This sounds perfect! I can't wait to do this! I'm thinking once my daughter is a little older, I can get by with taking her on trips instead of actual gifts. What a great deal!
I've done it with my mom a couple of times and it's such a wonderful way to spend time together and make memories. She's my favorite person to travel with.
