Let's see your 2011 gift list/share ideas

[gottadance]

OK - so I'm starting to think about who's on my list this year and what they might get. Here's where I'm at - would love to hear what other people are thinking of for gifts this year!

Grams - No idea. She's 90, has everything, lives in sr living in FL, in pretty good health, but walks with a walker. I usually send her something token. Last year it was a plant a tree pin from the National Wildlife Federation - you buy the pin and they plant a tree. She seemed to like it.

Mom-age 69, retired 2 yrs, in FL- Maybe Chicago deep dish pizza -last yr sent her chicken pot pie from Harry & David - she LOVED those, but can't do them two years in a row. She has everything - can't think of anything she'd want. She doesn't have many hobbies. Likes birds - I sent her previously a bird bath, bird feeders. Likes animals - has 3 cats and a dog.

Dad, age 70, retired, married for 20 yrs, not in good health after stroke five years ago - blind; can't do much physically. Almost every year I send him a book on CD. He loves them and his wife enjoys them as well.

Single sis in L.A., 46, paralegal, mom to two adopted kids and also mentors their older sis - Hard to buy for her also. She always asks for the same thing - a gift certificate to this store where she shops for clothes; a giftcard to her manicure place. I used to be able to always get a great gift for her; for a while we stopped buying for each other because she was on a tight budget with the kids. But then we sort of missed exchanging gifts. I was thinking of getting her a vintage ring - she saw a couple that I bought and really liked them.

Older bro, recently divorced, 49, -had been estranged with him for years and recently reconciled. Haven't exchanged gifts in years, but I remember that he one time said how much he likes dipping sauces, so I thought maybe I'd send him one of those packages of several sauces. I also picked up a really nice Blackhawks keychain for free from my work - we're giving them away for a promo. Thought he might like it.

Younger bro - don't usually exchange gifts with him. He hates exchanging gifts, so he just brings some wine to Xmas dinner and buys gifts for my sis' kids.

Nieces - 26, 24, 22 - thinking of getting each of them the Ninja Master food processor, which I just got for myself and love. They run about $35. Haven't bought them gifts in a while (was estranged with them due to being estranged from bro) but not sure I want to set precedent of spending that much. Once I have a baby, as a single mom, $ will be tighter. Maybe something more in the $15-$20 range. Do you buy for nieces/nephews? My aunts used to buy for us when we were kids, then when we were older, they'd just put some money - like $10 - in an envelope. I could just send them gift cards.

Nephew - 19, plays college football, sports addict; Blackhawks keychain and some other sports thing.

For random gifts, I made a bunch of apple butter this fall, so I may give away a few jars of that - some to coworkers, the neighbors.

What is everyone else lining up? :?

[gottadance]

Also, forgot about bf's kids - college age, probably just give them a bag of food they can take back to school. Hot cocoa, etc.

[Christy Carol]

Since Im already done and gifts are opened I cant join in but I like reading everyone elses :-)

[scooterbugs25]

My neighbor is 84 and we have bought her a monthly fruit subscription.. She has everything so that will work out good for her!..

[gottadance]

That's a GREAT gift. I recently discovered that there are all sorts of monthly subscriptions you can give - check this out http://www.amazingclubs.com/varietyofthemonthclub.html?utm_source=GIFTSCOM&utm_medium=CPC&utm_campaign=AC-VARIETY&utm_content=PRODUCTAD&utm_term=VARIETY-3

[gottadance]

Just figured out what to give bf for Xmas: talking remote meat thermometer for grill http://www.gifts.com/search/product/Grill-Alert-Talking-Remote-Meat-Thermometer?ideaID=5762&prodID=119849

Plus maybe some grilling sauces or something. Whew - I was struggling with what to get him!

[Holidaycheer]

Nieces - 26, 24, 22 - thinking of getting each of them the Ninja Master food processor, which I just got for myself and love. They run about $35. Haven't bought them gifts in a while (was estranged with them due to being estranged from bro) but not sure I want to set precedent of spending that much. Once I have a baby, as a single mom, $ will be tighter. Maybe something more in the $15-$20 range. Do you buy for nieces/nephews? My aunts used to buy for us when we were kids, then when we were older, they'd just put some money - like $10 - in an envelope. I could just send them gift cards.


Might I suggest a $20 gift card to say Target or Best buy.
My aunts and uncles used to send us checks or gift cards and to a 22 year old a $20 best buy card is a great gift.:grinn: I don't know many people that can't find something at best buy:)

[Marshmallow World]

My granddaughter wants a remote control tarantula! :omg:YIKES!

[sdkluger]

My oldest kids want laptops or money toward laptops. The next two want their own mp3 players.

[gottadance]

Remote control tarantula! EEEEK!

I have an idea for my sis - a digital picture frame. She got one for my mom and said it was so cool, she'd love to have one for herself. So I'm thinking I'll get her one. Also, got grams a 2012 bird calendar and a little hummingbird teabag rest.

[gottadance]

My granddaughter wants a remote control tarantula! :omg:YIKES!

Your tarantula got into my dreams last night. Had a dream the bf and I were house shopping and this one yard was really wild and we saw a tarantula on the fence - which he killed. I was freaked out! LOL

[gottadance]

OK - I've got an even better idea for bf - a seat warmer. I was thinking about the meat thermometer - and I still might get him that also, but that is so seasonal because we only have grilling weather May-Sept. But the car seat warmer can be used Oct -May - and he's always cold and hates cold weather. Trying to find some consumer reviews on car seat warmers.

[gottadance]

Placed orders for three gifts today: seat warmer for bf, digital photo frame for sis and meat thermometer for bf. Gift ideas for mom still up in the air, although she now has mentioned she'd like some new pot/pans.

[Jinglebelle]

I have NO IDEA what to get for a my husbands step dads daughter and her daughter... :lol: follow all that? Anyway. They always attend Christmas at the in-laws, and I have no idea what to get them.
THey LOVE games and bowling. Aside from that I have no clue. We were thinking a togehter gift, but last year they got us each something individually, and actually put a lot of thought into each gift. ANy suggestions are welcomed!! I even asked the in-laws and they said if I figured out something to let them know, too!

[sdkluger]

How about going online to see if a bowling center near them has gift ideas to give them?


I have NO IDEA what to get for a my husbands step dads daughter and her daughter... :lol: follow all that? Anyway. They always attend Christmas at the in-laws, and I have no idea what to get them.
THey LOVE games and bowling. Aside from that I have no clue. We were thinking a togehter gift, but last year they got us each something individually, and actually put a lot of thought into each gift. ANy suggestions are welcomed!! I even asked the in-laws and they said if I figured out something to let them know, too!

[Jinglebelle]

:doh: That's perfect, Tim... can't believe none of us thought of that! :lol: :oops:

[gottadance]

How old are they?

[Jinglebelle]

The mother is about 55 and the daughter is 25.

[gottadance]

That's a BIG age difference. Why not get them each something different? I put together a gift bag for my bf's son who is 22 and his daughter who is 21. I got them each three packets of the specialty hot cocoa (you buy them individually in the store) and at Target this multi-colored popcorn - it was $3 - and then some toppings that were $2-$3 each - nacho cheese, mild cheddar, salt and vinegar. Cost me about $10-$12. You could make it bigger by adding crackerjack or other popcorn stuff. I had no idea there was this whole popcorn thing going on out there. But young people would likely enjoy it. Of course 25 year olds are just getting started in life, so they need everything - a set of bakeware - cupcake pans with a cupcake mix, mixing bowl or cupcake carrier (cupcakes are very hot these days); cookie cutters with a couple of baking sheets.

For the mom...hmmm...do they live near you? What about a service? I think most people would love a maid to come to their house and do some basic cleaning. Does she like wine? You could get her a bottle or two of wine with an awesome electronic opener or a wine sealer. I think anything that's a "treat" - something someone wouldn't normally spend the money on for themselves, is nice. A set of beautiful towels in a basic color - white - is always classic. How about a gift card to a local pizzeria so they could order a pizza on a cold winter night?

[gottadance]

Sitting here with the TC kitty...she's watching the screen...Last night I picked up some ornaments for my bf as a surprise early Xmas present. We're going to decorate the tree next weekend and it's my tree and ornaments, so I wanted him to feel like some of the ornaments are his. I got him: a clear glass-looking cross to represent his religion; a "J" for Jerry, a white glass snowman in a bears sweater (a pretty, tasteful ornament - some of these plastic football figurines we both agreed don't say "Christmas"); a c7 lightbulb ornament - since he mentioned he likes those as do I; a vanilla ice cream cone - since he likes plain vanilla ice cream and I tease him about it because to me it's so plain (I like the rich stuff with all the stuff mixed in it); and a snowman that says 2011 on the bottom and lights up (it's got a battery and you turn it on and the sparkles inside him move around). Here they are:

http://www.kohls.com/kohlsStore/landingpages/holidayhomedecor/decor/ornamentsbycollection/snowman/caption/PRD~920981/St+Nicholas+Square+Lighted+2011+Snowman+Ornament.j sp

http://www.kohls.com/kohlsStore/landingpages/holidayhomedecor/decor/ornamentsbycollection/sweettreats/PRD~864508/St+Nicholas+Square+Ice+Cream+Cone+Ornament.jsp

http://www.kohls.com/kohlsStore/crosssells/team/archives/deckthehalls/ornaments/nfl/PRD~889332/Chicago+Bears+Snowman+Ornament.jsp

http://www.kohls.com/kohlsStore/landingpages/holidayhomedecor/decor/ornamentsbycollection/nameletter/PRD~911718/St+Nicholas+Square+Candy+Cane+Monogram+Ornament.js p

And - I got a steal on these - they were on sale, plus I used some Kohl's cash and a lady in front of me gave me her 30 percent off coupon. I got all of these ornaments (Plus a glass one for me of a mama fox and a kit - one time I saw a mama fox and kit in my yard and it reminded me of that) and kitchen towels and bath towels for $31! :cheerz::cheerz::cheerz:

[Marshmallow World]

Your tarantula got into my dreams last night. Had a dream the bf and I were house shopping and this one yard was really wild and we saw a tarantula on the fence - which he killed. I was freaked out! LOL


LOL. ::lol:: But tarantulas don't bite; it's scorpions that you should fear.

[gottadance]

Thank God - mom gave me another idea. She said she wanted this one set of pans, but they are sold out even online; so now she suggested a baffle and bird feeder pole. She keeps hanging her bird feeders from a tree and the squirrels jump right on them. Love this because I'm a big bird nerd - love birdwatching and have about five feeders in my yard.