Christmas gift idea's

Holidays Forum

I thought that I would start this thread for people to get ideas for giving gifts. Maybe you're in a new relationship and you're not sure what to give that person! Maybe you don't know what to get for a friend, or a boss. Maybe you just want advice on a particular gift. So, that's what this thread is all about. Ask away and let's all pitch in and help each other out.

My husband is into the Medal of Honor games. Two new ones are coming out and I don't know which one to get him.

Well, if he wanders in this thread, maybe he will post the one he wants the most!!

Ha! Ron does not like the Holidays like I do. He will never visit this part of InReview. He doesn't even like Christmas Music.

Okay...then help me!

What about for a husband who has just about everything he needs and wants already. Ive got him movies he doesnt watch....Cd's he doesnt listen to (he listen to talk radio....whats that all about?)

Im at a loss this year. Ive gotten him football and hockey jersey's already....he has golf clubs, and everything associated with golf that he could ever want or need....I dont know what to do anymore.

he gets me the best gifts, and he packages them in about fifty different packages so I cant figure out if its really big or small. He gave me a ring one time that was in the biggest box Id ever seen....it consisted of about twenty different boxes inside....he gets a kick out of doing that....its humerous!

He puts so much imagination into buying things for me...and I give him the lamest stuff every year....I need something good this year....

HELP!

Here is my dilema. Most of the people in our family have had a very difficult year financially. So, they want to just give gifts to our kids. Do you think it would be o.k. if Damon and Nikki gave them a small present too?

I think that each individual family should be willing to talk about things, and state if they can or can't afford Christmas. I love the idea that Heidi's family came up with. We all put our names in a hat and each name is drawn out by one person. We buy that person a gift and that's it. And then, if you want to buy something for anyone else, that is totally optional. It worked out great last year and took off a lot of pressure that we were all feeling.

In my family, we talked about Christmas this year, and we just can't afford to buy everyone stuff. So, we're going really simple. We're making stuff for people, and the material to make the stockings was really cheap... like $1/yard. So, that helps out.

Mystic... your husband is in to sports, right?
Does he like to collect any sports memorbilia?
You could look into getting him a framed photo, signed by that person. On a plaque? Or something like that!!! I don't know... just a suggestion. It's really hard to buy for someone that has everything!!!

How about stocking stuffer ideas? I have a 36 year old boy , I mean husband-couldn't resist- and a 4 year old boy, and a 2 1/2 year old girl. I need ideas. I have a few animal figures from the zoo put away, but I am new at the whole stocking stuffing thing with the kids.

Well, this is just something that Heidi's family has done for years, and I love it. Christmas is NOT the same without it. Her grandmother started this tradition, and when she passed on 4 years ago, Heidi's mom continued this with the entire family.

She buys a bunch of tube socks. Takes one, and put the other in the very bottom, and then puts an orange in there. Then, she will fill it with different things... like, all the women get nice shavers every year, and refills, macadamia nuts, candy, and lots of other things. The men get pretty much the same things. And, she might put something specifically for each person in there also. It just depends. Anyway, it is NOT Christmas without getting our Christmas Sock!!!

For the kids, you can put all different things in their stocking, without spending a lot of money. You can put a pack of trading cards in Damon's stocking. You can put little girl toys, I'm talking the cheap ones, in Nikki's stocking. For Ron... well, I think that anything you give him will make him happy. You just have to think of something that would make him smile!!!

Thanks Kris. I think I will try to get Nikki a new Barbie outfit, and some cards for Damon, and of course, candy. Ron is the hard one, but he likes candy too.

Hey, do they make collector cards for International Soccer? Just a thought!

You know, they might, but you can't get that stuff here. I did get him World Cup cards way back in 94. I will figure something out. Heck, I will be out doing all my shopping right before Christmas this year.

Yikes ! We always got oranges too !

Though we all didn't live in citrus country which would only compound the confusion, this little story below, may pretty well explain the why oranges question.
........................

A Weekly Column
By Joseph Walker

CLOCKWORK CHRISTMAS ORANGE

It wasn't that I didn't like oranges.

I loved them. They were my favorite fruit (not counting the maraschino cherries Mom used to put in our Dr. Pepper on festive occasions). I just couldn't figure out what an orange was doing in the toe of my Christmas stocking every year.

I mean, we lived in citrus country. I knew a little bit about what it takes to grow oranges -- including a long, warm growing season, which I was pretty sure the North Pole didn't have. Nor could I remember any orange symbolism from the Bethlehem Christmas story, unless somebody slipped an orange in with the gold, frankincense and myrrh when I wasn't looking.

But every year, like clockwork, there was an orange in the toe of my stocking. And to tell you the truth, it bugged me a little. I mean, we had oranges all the time. We had orange trees in our backyard, for Pete's sake. What I really wanted in my stocking was candy, and that big old orange took up so much room that it decreased my annual Christmas candy haul by at least two cavities.

"It's Mom who puts them in there," my sister Kathy explained. "She wants to make sure we get something healthy along with all of the candy Santa brings."

"Besides," my sister Wanda Lynne added, "it looks better - all nice and smooth and round. If it was just candy in there, it would be all lumpy."

For years I accepted their explanation without questioning. Nutrition and aesthetics were the bottom line reasons for a lot of things around our house, from liver and onions for dinner to that yellow naughahyde couch in the front room.

Then one day Mom and I were talking about Christmas traditions. I told her how I . . . well, there's no kind way to say this . . . freaked out the previous Christmas because I had forgotten to buy some oranges. And I told her it was true: the stockings really DID look lumpy without that nice, smooth, round orange in the toe.

"Well, there's nothing wrong with a lumpy Christmas stocking," she said, smiling.

I was stunned. "But I thought that's why you always put oranges in our stockings?"
Mom laughed. "Heavens, no," she said.

"Then it was just so we'd have something healthy to eat, right?" I asked.

"Well, if it was, it didn't work," she said. "I don't think any of you ever ate your Christmas orange. You were too busy eating candy."

She had a point there. And suddenly, I didn't.

"So why DID you put the oranges in our stockings?" I asked.

"It's really very simple," she said. "When I was a little girl, things were hard. It was during the Depression, and even though my Dad always had a job, and we had food on our table, there wasn't a lot left over for Christmas presents and such.

"Still, every year we put out our stockings. And every year on Christmas morning, our stockings were filled with little candies and nuts, and some little present -- usually something my mother or father had made for us.
And in the toe there was always a sweet, juicy orange. For us, that was a wonderful treat. And so to me, it just isn't Christmas without an orange."

And somehow, it's the same for me. I didn't go through the Great Depression with Mom, and yes, I usually threw away my Christmas orange. But when my family comes down the stairs this Christmas morning, there will be an orange in every stocking toe.
Like always.

Like clockwork.

# # #

--- © Joseph Walker
http://www.sfpnn.com/joseph_walker1.htm

..........................

So ... it seems that the orange is a reminder that there are times when there is less than plenty; and somewhere there is someone who won't even have an orange on Christmas morning. Seems like a good thing to remember.

Ok, I'm putting together my Christmas Shopping list, I figured if I posted it, it might help others who need ideas for their lists. Maybe if some of you have the time you wouldn't mind posting yours? I'm still stumped on what to get a few people so if any of you have the time, I'd appreciate it. Thanks!

Mom & Stepdad - VHS Blue Collar Comedy Tour & Home Depot Giftcard

Dad - Diabetic Cookbook & another book yet undecided

Brother-in-law - Cigar set from Thompsoncigar.com; humidor & 28 cigars for $39.99

Niece & Nephew 3 & 4 yrs old - Plah-Doh activity sets

For my older Nephews, 13 & 15, I think I'm just getting them giftcards. I know it's impersonal, but at that age, I'd rather they just get something they want.

Brother & Sister-in-law - they make very little money, so I was thinking a nice greeting card and $200 in giftcards for target and walmart.

Now I'm just stumped on my sister, oldest brother & 2 nieces.
My sister is 38, stay at home mom, she runs a business from home makes personal greeting cards and poetry. Her husband makes a lot of money so I there's nothing really that she needs. (She stumps me every year!)

Oldest Brother - 40, homicide detective, single father, lives out of state.

Nieces - 8 & 10 yrs old - They're constantly into something different, first Pokemon, then Digiomon, then Harry Potter, then Lizzie Mcguire, then sailor moon, it's constantly changing! I want to get them some small giftcards for target of walmart, but I want to get them something else too, I just don't know what that should be.

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Oldbutafan.........


EXCELLENT POST!!!

Thats was really interesting and it certainly makes one think!

Chelktty here is my list of what I have left to buy-RON LOOK AWAY!

*Ron-Medal of Honor Breakthough. I still need to figure out what the kids will get him
*Sister-getting a homemade stained glass jewelry box with a fused glass pendant with her initial in it.
*Grandmas-working on their Calendars with pictures of the kids.
*Mom-wants a book on FDR & Bill O'Reilly's new book
*Brother-in-law #1-probably some sweat outfits. He needs them and likes them.
*Brother-in-law#2 history book, probably about WWII
*Nephew #1-business card holder out of stained glass, and this hat he wants-he is my hard to buy for guy
*Nephew #2-Family Guy DVD set
*Sister-in-laws boyfriend-drew him this year, so he gets a CD he really wants.

Chel, why not get a gift basket for your sister. Us stay at home mommies are not always good at pampering ourselves.

Thanks Sherry! I appreciate your help!

List ? hahahahahaha ... you must be kidding

Seriously, I used to do Christmas shopping lists, down to the budgeting and min/max amounts on each gift.
I gave upon them because the lists kept getting loooooonger and the budget went out the window.

Chel ... Honestly ... I hope you and fuscia don't mind my saying ... but I think you should contact fuscia privately and see she if she can help with the 38 year-old sis gift. One of those hand crafted business card holders or stained-glass boxes either for jewelry or perhaps her desk sounds so perfect.

Also, fuscia, not trying to complicate your life, but for your Dad, instead of a 2nd book -- with the diabetic cookbook, how about a basket with a bunch of appropriate sugar-free goodies and/or some of the necessary utensils and ingredients to do all the cooking ? Or instead of the 2nd book is there a magazine you can subscribe too ?

What I find easiest ... and here I go again ... is to go with a "themed" approach.

My late aunt used to order or buy a quantity of ladies and mens wallets, small handbags etc. She would then sort them out and each person on her list would get one. If she had time and ideas to supplement them, she would do do so ... if not, she would stuff them with currency or a check to kind of equal them out She also kept some extras around for unexpected guests and drop-ins. Nobody left empty handed.

I think this year I will do something similar, especially for a few hard-to-buys. Wallets, small handbags, small pretty boxes, vases and other "containers" that are easy to wrap nicely and that can be "stuffed". Will probably put gift-cards or phone cards instead of currency/check for some idividuals.

Just a funny aside, speaking of means of delivering currency and other "impersonal" type gifts.
Years ago I had a boss ... small firm ... who was a joker. He knew that a monetary bonus would be most appreciated so when Christmas came, I was shocked to receive a package instead of an envelope.

Inside I found a roll of pink bathroom tissue ... one of those that are individually wrapped. Being young, I was a little hurt as I thought it was sort of a pink slip ? He told me to open it up ... and what he had done was unrolled it and then re-rolled it and had insertes $ 250 ... all in singles !!!! Nutz !

Great ideas and I loved that pink toilet paper story. What a card your boss must have been. Very creative.

Okay... my list, but it's pretty short. The reason, most people are getting homemade stockings from us, and a framed photo that we do every year. Some are getting extra things. The stockings are specific for most... like my brother who is training to become a fire fighter... he's getting material with fire fighter stuff. Heidi's mom is getting fly fishing, others are getting their football teams, etc...

For both nephews, we're making blankets for them, with "Bob the Builder" on the material. We also got them some toys.

For my mom, we got her some Christmas dolls for her house. She loves Christmas decorations.

Heidi's mom... we got her this small cabinet for the bathroom, with a wood scene, trees, animals, etc...

For Heidi... I'm buying her a round trip ticket to fly back up north a couple weeks after we get back from xmas there, for her mom's surprise 50th bday. An emerald ring. A couple dvd's. And, I'm not sure what else. Have to wait and see.

For my pastor... she's a HUGE animal lover. Her and her partner have their house all done up with african stuff. When they've gone on trips there, they have taken wildlife pics... and they are framed and all over the house. We got them a HUGE frame with a couple wild cats on it.

And then, I got people at my work little trinkets... really small and cheap!!!

I am looking for some socks with the stuff on the bottom to keep you from slipping on Pergo floors. I want to put them in the kids stockings. Looks like I will be going to Old Navy and Walmart to find them.

Here in San Diego they are so hard to find. It gets cold at night here too. They have them for women, but for kids they are so hard to find. Thanks for the tip. I usually do get the good ones, they are just so hard to find this year.

Fuscia:

Great tips Marc, thank you. Ron is anxiously awaiting Breakthrough, so I guess Santa will have to get it for him. He plays on the PC and likes the sites where you play other people.
He has the Castle Wolfenstein and also has Spearhead for Medal of Honor.

Know someone with an "iffy" car ?

For those of us living in the midwest the winter cold can just create more problems ... like when you come out of the mall the car won't start.

Last week I learned I needed a new battery when following an appointment, I came out and the car wouldn't start ! There I was, (in the pouring rain) looking for somebody, willing to help me with a jump. Up walks a little lady in a purple jacket and hat with this little yellow box that's about the size of a small handbag. Pop the hood, she puts the leads on, turn the key and I'm saved ! It was a miracle

She had a little portable, rechargeable, jump-start kit. I called an auto supply store and they said they range in price from about $40-$100 depending on the size of the gel-cell battery. You can plug them into any ac outlet to re-charge.

I put it at the top of my Christmas list and Santa's helper found a $50-dollar number for $24 on Thanksgiving Friday ! This one also has a compressor, a light and some other bells and whistles ... so it's a little heavier than the one my purple angel had, but there are smaller ones.

I think it's a thoughtful gift for anyone who is out and about a lot in a car and/or anyone driving a car with questionable reliability regardless of the climate.

It may not sound like a very glamorous gift, but if/when the recipient needs it, they'll remember you love them

Just an idea.