Let's Share Gift Ideas

Today I just had to laugh when I realized that I only have Christmas shopping done for one person so far - and that's a Great-Nephew. It sort of makes sense, since I do feel that Christmas is more for kids.

Anyhow, I'm in love with the gift I got him, so I thought I'd share. He's 8, and I got him a big coloring/drawing/activity book called Doodles: A Really Giant Coloring and Doodling Book. Each page has a different thought-provoking activity with lots of empty space for drawing or doodling.

Examples:
- The pictures on opposing pages are empty boxes and it says "Draw a present you'd like to get, then draw one you'd like to give."
- The pictures on opposing pages are of blank television sets, with one labeled News and the other labeled Weather. The pages say "It's time for the news." and "Now, it's time for the weather."
- Opposing pages show tiny music boxes with wind-up keys. "Here are two music boxes. Draw the song's they're playing."
-The pictures on opposing pages are of dogs. "These dogs look sad. Why?"

The book is under $14 at Amazon and is huge, sort of like a soft covered college textbook. I love that many of the activities can be shared, so a parent, sibling or friend can be drawing why their dog is sad at the same time you are. Best of all, I know his mom is not going to roll her eyes when he opens this gift.

http://www.amazon.com/Doodles-Really-Giant-Coloring-Doodling/dp/0811852504/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1287665197&sr=8-1

So post your good finds and deals here. We can help each other find great gift ideas.

The only person I have gotten anything for is MIL. I got her a tea-for-one pot with dancing fairies, and joined her in the "tea of the month club"from theteatable.com
http://www.theteatable.com/p/TOMC12/Tea+of+the+Month+Club+-+12+Shipments+%28Monthly%29

I have ideas for Xander, Bayley and dh...but nothing bought yet. Kristin and Josh get money or GC's, but I also do "stockings" for them. really a gift bag with stuff, snacks, keychains, the odd and unusual usually. Xander wants everything he sees on TV, whether it is a girl or boy toy he says MINE, and points at the TV. Yesterday he told me " Mawmaw, AHMART NOW!" after one commercial. Bayley needs a new MP3 player, hers did not survive it's trip thru the laundry. We are also considering a Cell phone for her, she has been doing really well in school so far, and once Softball season starts she will need it.

I like this idea!
Thanks Lori, I just put it in my cart, my daughter will love it!

I have no great ideas yet....

I love ____ of the Month Clubs! It's a great idea. I wish I could find something appropriate for my MIL. She drinks tea, but ONLY the cheapo bags of Red Rose or Lipton.

I love ___of the month clubs too. I keep hoping someone loves me enough to gift me with the Yankee Year of Fragrance....but it hasn't happened yet



I have the really bitchy SIL to buy for still for x-mas. I have no idea what to buy her at all, she's so darn picky. She doesn't like anything scented, is particular about what she likes and doesn't like. She was usually the one demanding gift cards...but I refuse to get her a gift card because of that fact. She's the one that bought me the "proverbial ugly Christmas sweater" something she would NEVER wear herself..what makes her think I would wear it? But I never complained, I graciously thanked her. I have to figure out a gift for this woman...it's going to take some thinking..

Regift her the sweater.

lol...I threw it away I think..or gave it to Salvation Army..shortly after..can't remember which..

Lori wrote:I love ____ of the Month Clubs! It's a great idea. I wish I could find something appropriate for my MIL. She drinks tea, but ONLY the cheapo bags of Red Rose or Lipton.

But maybe if she got a gift of Tea of the Month, she would be thrilled. For my everyday drinking, I drink Walmart black pekoe (which is every bit as good as Lipton)... but when I get a gift of tea from friends (hey, I actually do!), I always enjoy trying something new. My neighbor/friend was in FL last week at Disney World and brought me back a 3 tier canister of teas --a black Mad tea Party Blend (yum, it's good, black), a lemon honey camomile and a Earl Grey; 8 bags of each... So as a "cheap" tea drinker, we always enjoy when someone splurges and gives us something we might not buy.

KellyM wrote:I love ___of the month clubs too. I keep hoping someone loves me enough to gift me with the Yankee Year of Fragrance....but it hasn't happened yet



I have the really bitchy SIL to buy for still for x-mas. I have no idea what to buy her at all, she's so darn picky. She doesn't like anything scented, is particular about what she likes and doesn't like. She was usually the one demanding gift cards...but I refuse to get her a gift card because of that fact. She's the one that bought me the "proverbial ugly Christmas sweater" something she would NEVER wear herself..what makes her think I would wear it? But I never complained, I graciously thanked her. I have to figure out a gift for this woman...it's going to take some thinking..

Ugly sweater? Think regifting LOL Okay, I have to say, I do re-gift things I don't need/care for.. but fortunately because our Newcomer's Club holds a silent auction each year, I can give stuff to them and no body every knows LOL

Where were you all back in the late 90's, early 10's when I actually gave family gifts? Now days, it's strickly gift cards... teens, tweens, and younger, all have very specific tastes, and when you don't see them but once every 1-2 years, no way can I know what they like.

On the plus side, makes my Christmas shopping very easy... only have to buy for DH (which is a pain in the ass) and I bake for neighbors!

I gave MIL a great set of teas a few years back and found out that she regifted it. I know this because she regifted it to ME! Honest!

Lori wrote:I gave MIL a great set of teas a few years back and found out that she regifted it. I know this because she regifted it to ME! Honest!

LMAO Dee!!!!!

and so..being a smartass..I went to Amazon.com and typed in "gifts for bitchy people" and this is one of the items that came up...if only I could..

http://www.amazon.com/Ephemera-Bitchy-Unstable-Mystic-Kitchen/dp/B000UCUGJI/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1287978514&sr=8-2-fkmr1

LOL , I should get those for my bitch sister

Our family decided this Christmas, we would go old fashioned and make our gifts. I am just planning on doing chocolates and putting them in festive or usefull containers. Then baskets with various hoe made breads, jams and jellies. Trying to keep it simple on my part. Even going to scale down our Christmas dinner to make it less work.

Homemade is best! My SILs and I do that between us. Like Sue might give each family some pickled beets and Jill might make everyone an ornament. Last year I made vanilla to give to everyone.

Thinking of getting bitchy SIL this: (keep in mind that I already got a pair of fuzzy slippers, some fancy schmancy christmasy soft socks, a tiny jar candle all of which will be in a basket...those I paid next to nothing for..under a fiver for all of it. This is what I was thinking to round it out and that will make the total I spent no more than $20..

http://www.amazon.com/Reduce-Melaboo-Batter-Bowl-3-Piece/dp/B002D8SAWC/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=I286QH0XZQ913B&colid=D4XDADG9AIZH

Kelly, I think you're much too generous.... could you consider me being another SIL?

Sure....only if you don't insinuate that I don't know anything and don't tell my husband not to marry me...lol Bitchy SIL has done that and more in the past... If there werent consequences for being nasty and if I didn't believe in karma..she'd get a nice big piece of Christmas reindeer poop..

sounds like the perfect present --- for her! Me? I'll take that great basket you're putting together (she's a pig!)

and you still baby sit her child? someone must have sprinkled angel dust on you because you're just too sweet.

no the kid I babysit is one of the other SIL's kids.. my husband has 3 sisters...bitchy SIL (who lives downstate), SIL with bad, but slightly improved (atleast while they're here kids) and SIL who's schizophrenic (literally has schizophrenia) who lives in Canada. The schizophrenic sister is actually the one who makes the most sense....

Ohhh I am so far behind! We not only have Christmas coming but Katies bday is Nov 26... The ONLY things I have gotten are some "grandkids are great" magnetic frames that are pretty cool and we got Katie the Dragon movie that she loves.. I think there are one or two other things but I can't remember right now. (TOUGH day and evening!)

Oh Jesus Connie! I didn't get anything for my 5 yr old niece yet,and you just reminded me that her birthday is also in november,the 14th.Ugh! She loves barbie and Dora the explorer.I was thinking of getting her the barbie head that you can style her hair and stuff,I guess I'll get that for her birthday with a barbie movie,for christmas I have no idea what to get her.Decisions,decisons