Christmas shopping thread...

magenta321 · #1 09-30-2003, 09:20 PM

Have you started yet?

So far, I suck.

I bought some Barbies, a toy bike, and a bracelet so far...

My mom is going to get a Coach bag, I'm thinking...

That's as far as I've gotten.

I'm thinking I should take a day off from work and just go to the Palasaids mall and not leave until I get EVERYTHING done.

I don't want to be shopping in stores in December!!!

arianej · #2 09-30-2003, 10:27 PM

I've done a bit of shopping, but not much. My dad is getting a small smoker box to use with his grill, and some cherrywood chips. I found two microsuede down-filled throws at Big Lots for $10 each in dark blue and light blue for Erik's sisters, and they're very nice. Fleece throws are also on sale a lot beginning this time of year, and they make great gifts, too.

My MIL is getting a coffee-table type book full of gorgeous panoramic photographs of England ($5 on Borders' bargain table), as she is a raving Anglophile. Step-MIL is getting a gift box of spice mixes Penzey's . They're a great company, and have lovely gift boxes of various kinds , each gift box comes with whole nutmegs and bay leaves (free) to decorate the box. We're getting her the salad one, she and her family have recently started dieting and love salads. We already know she loves the creamy peppercorn dressing mix.

Since we try not to bankrupt ourselves for the holidays, I shop year round for appropriate things and stick them in the gift closet, and we usually don't go for very extravagant gifts, either. Honorary aunts and uncles usually get family gifts, and it's usually something edible. Last year, I baked up an assortment of cookies (old-fashioned gingersnaps, chocolate-dipped peanut butter cookies, chocolate ribbon cookies) and made several batches of fudge, packaged them up prettily along with some chocolate truffles from Trader Joe's and put them in gift bags for everyone. The edible gift baskets go over very well, my aunts and uncles don't need stuff to clutter the house with at this point in their lives.

Ariane

Magick1 · #3 09-30-2003, 11:13 PM

I am in shock, because I am pretty much done.

I am grabbing a little tid bit here and there as an afterthought. I never have done this much Christmas shopping before Halloween in my life!

And the greatest part, I got everything on sale.

magenta321 · #4 09-30-2003, 11:22 PM

You go girl!!!

So, what'dya get?

Magick1 · #5 09-30-2003, 11:32 PM

I've bought clothes, mostly for people, including my grandmother in Germany, some perfumes and bath/body type combinations, pretty boring stuff really.

But, it is what the family loves to get. (*Now, for my baby, I haven't gotten her anything. Grandma and grandpa on both sides will be spoiling her rotten, and we will watch to see what all they do, and we will get her anything "left out" after Christmas.)

**lynnzop**[$] · #6 10-01-2003, 01:00 PM

I need to check my box and back room. I have no clue where I'm at.

We have a holiday savings plan at work that I will cash in on at the end of October, so anything not purchased yet will come out of those funds.

This is also prime Birthday season in our family. There are only 5 birthdays (mine, Jer's, sister Les, neice K, BIL K) before October 5. Then it gets hot and heavy, with at least 5 per month.

Plus a graduation (college) and a couple of anniversaries between now and Christmas. I'd better keep a close eye on Margaret's shopping tips.

jenninca · #7 10-01-2003, 08:10 PM

Wedding photo enlargements for everyone!!!

Cindy
who realizes that this gift only works for one year but plans to get as much use out of it as possible

magenta321 · #8 10-16-2003, 07:44 AM

http://www.coach.com/shop/product_no...e=&easyask_id=

Mom is done! Stopped at Coach last night.

Grandma is done.

All kids are done.

My father actually told me what he wants already. I didn't buy it yet.

I'm about halfway done :dance: and it's not Halloween yet! Phew!

I think everything else I do will be online. Amazon.com here I come!

**conradd** · #9 10-16-2003, 04:04 PM

Shane wants a Sonicare toothbrush and a laptop.

It's nice to be an only child. He's the only big gift this year - everyone else is getting homemade somethings. Not sure what yet - I didn't get much canning done this summer.

I'm starting to collect stocking stuffers. I have almost enough for my mom's stocking, but I'm always amazed at how much I need for Shane's stocking.

arianej · #10 10-16-2003, 04:57 PM

I recently thought of something for my mother--always a tough person to shop for, because she hardly likes anything! Since we got our digital camera, we've been storing photos online at Shutterfly. First-time accounts get 15 free prints, you pay s/h (which is under $2) and the quality is very good. They let you organize your photos into albums with captions, stuff like that. Shutterfly also has a thing where you can order personalized calenders, either 12 month or 18 month with your own pictures in it.

My mother is a slave to her calender, she makes no appointments or committments without consulting it first, so this is a great gift she can use. We'll take pictures of our recent family trip to Malaysia and put it all together--shots of the food (which she adores), scenery, family, etc. Best of all, Shutterfly is currently running a 20% off deal on their calenders until Oct. 23rd. The 18 month calender now costs $20. This might be a good one for older relatives who have everything... pics of the kids and grandkids, family shots, etc. are a nice keepsake even after you're done with the calender.

A bookstore trip yielded a discounted blank journal with Badtz-Maru (some Sanrio character, a funny-looking penguin with a hilariously sulky expression) on it for my sister, who uses a lot of journals for her writing and is amused by such things. $7 after the discount, not bad. Still not sure what to get my brother and Erik's aunt.

Ariane

murasaki · #11 10-17-2003, 06:11 PM

I have one present for my husband (the big one) on its way. If I can find one of them, I have two of my best friend's presents. That's it. Nothing for family or other friends yet.

--naomi
who's starting to panic because she's usually more ahead of the game

**Prepoia**[$] · #12 10-17-2003, 08:54 PM

For the first time EVER, I have a gift bought before Christmas. I bought my nephew a zipped/hooded sweatshirt today. Yay me!

Sandy
Who has my dad's, mother's, husband's, one sister's, and one nephew's birthday coming up BEFORE Christmas

(Which is why I never have any pre-bought presents left at Christmas.