March 28, 2024, 01:43:44 AM

News:

"Welcome to WiseWomenUnite.com -- When adult children marry and leave home, life can sometimes get more complex instead of simpler.  Being a mother-in-law or daughter-in-law can be tough.  How do we extend love and support to our mothers-in-law, adult children, daughters-in-law, sons-in-law, and grandchildren without interfering?  What do we do when there are communication problems?  How can we ask for help when we need it without being a burden?  And how do our family members feel about these issues?  We invite you to join our free forum, read some posts... and when you're ready...share your challenges and wisdom."


Gift Ideas

Started by pam1, September 28, 2012, 08:16:29 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

0 Members and 2 Guests are viewing this topic.

pam1

It's getting to that time of year of gifts at holidays.  To take some of the stress away, I've been buying/shopping now.  (There are also a ton of birthdays surrounding the holidays too!)

And now I'm running out of ideas for people, so I thought we could start a thread for the holidays and cool gift ideas we've found.  I know last year we talked about how hard it is to buy for some people.

Anyway, my favorite I've found so far is a beer holster for my brother.  It looks like a pistol holster but it will hold a beer instead, he likes to play darts and pool, now he won't have to put down his beer!  LOL

What about you guys?  Any gifts you've given or received that you really liked?  All ideas welcome!



People throw rocks at things that shine - Taylor Swift

Pooh

Ha ha ha...we bought something similar to that at a craft fair last year for DH's best friend.  It was the beer holder plus a "skoal" can holder next to it!  He loved it!

One of my favorite gifts I received last year from a friend was a gift certificate from a local "paint your own pottery" place.  I love stuff like that but after thinking about it this year, I think I am going to buy several for friends and family this year.  You can buy them in different denominations and I figure if they pick out their own whatever and paint it, they can't blame me if they don't like it!
We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us. -
Joseph Campbell

luise.volta

20 - 30- 40 years ago when I was the age you guys are, I bought Christmas gifts all year long. I never went shopping for Christmas or Birthdays. I just spotted items that were perfect, and often for sale, through the year on my "wanderings." I got several gifts for each member of my extended family and just labeled who they were for and put them on my Christmas/Birthday shelf. Now, I just buy a single item for two of my sort of daughters, on line. (I am being penalized by Kirk and Sandy because the only way to get them to accept the iPad I got them two years ago and a vacation three years ago was to promise I would cease and desist "forever." I sneak them little things and pretend I don't remember but they are onto me and watchful! LOL!)

At their request I have put up a Wish List on Amazon which they sometimes use but not always. They also do Amazon and Audible.com gift certificates, now that I have a Kindle and a second iPod dedicated to books, only. Mostly I love visits, flowers and edible goodies.  :) If I'm given something for my home, a 400 sq. ft. postage stamp, I have to take something out to bring something in. New clothes are the same drill. No space without a purge. All of the above seems to work well for all of us. Sending love...
Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible. Dalai Lama

Pen

Thanks Pam, for reminding me that I need to start thinking about the holidays. I was trying to pretend it wasn't going to happen, lol.

This year I'm not going to ask DIL before purchasing DS's gift as her advice backfired on me (and him) last Christmas. After that fiasco I'm not very enthusiastic about trying to think of the perfect gift, but I'll come up w/something. Boring old gift cards, probably...since we don't see DS/DIL very often I have no idea what they want.

One of the best gifts I received from a friend was every book ever published by an author I loved. My friend scoured used book stores for months to put the set together. She put in a lot of time & effort, and I appreciated it very much.

I've given gift certs to http://www.blurb.com/ Everyone loves creating their own hardbound, high quality photo books. For friends & family who 'have everything' I give Heifer or Kiva gift certs. We also make gourmet foodie gifts - who doesn't love a no-clutter present?

Pooh, I would love to paint my own pottery & I'll bet DD & her friends would enjoy it too. Thanks for the great idea!
Respect ... is appreciation of the separateness of the other person, of the ways in which he or she is unique.
-- Annie Gottlieb

luise.volta

P - You mention books and it reminds me that Kirk Sandy published a book:

The Sacred Seven Steps: A Practical Guide to Peace & Freedom [Paperback]
Sandy Breckenridge (Author), Kirk Vandenberghe (Author), John Harricharan (Foreword)

When they didn't opt for a second printing, the book became very hard to come by. I did an Amazon search and found a few used copies and bought them for Christmas several years back. You should have seem their faces.
Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible. Dalai Lama

Pooh

You're welcome Pen and Luise, that's priceless!
We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us. -
Joseph Campbell

constantmargaret

Well, don't laugh. My mother is on a fixed income and is always apologizing for her gifts. "Nothing rich or rare," she always says. Well, recently she gave me a wooden back scratcher. And I love it. I have a bad shoulder so there's this spot on my back I can't reach, you know... I keep it right by my laptop. Best gift I've received in a while.

Sounds silly but when you gotta scratch, you gotta scratch.

Pen

Respect ... is appreciation of the separateness of the other person, of the ways in which he or she is unique.
-- Annie Gottlieb

pam1

Great ideas ladies!  Love the back scratcher, that's going on my list for Dad. 

I can come up with good ideas for people, but they are always so expensive, especially considering the amount of people I'm buying for.  Usually I resort to gag gifts lol.  And some of the people on my list are very picky about soaps, ornaments, and food that it leaves those types of traditional gift items out.  So, the quirkier the better it is for me.
People throw rocks at things that shine - Taylor Swift

Pen

Ya gotta know your giftee, though. Some people just don't get the humor :D
Respect ... is appreciation of the separateness of the other person, of the ways in which he or she is unique.
-- Annie Gottlieb

Pooh

Don't know if any of you buy something small for co-workers, girl's friends, etc. but I saw the cutest, inexpensive thing last night on my addiction that I am so doing this year.  We have several young girls in the family and also, I also try to do something for the girls at work here (about 12 of them).

This lady showed how to make your own lip gloss!  I found the little containers on a website for .36 each.  Then dollar tree has the little organza bags with a ribbon that come in a package of 6 for $1.  Big thing of generic vasoline is $2.50, koolaid is .10 a pack and I'm going to print some little round labels for the top, on stock paper I already have and glue them down on the lid.  So total cost for about 40 of these (2 per bag) is $26.60.  So 20 gifts for $1.33 each.  2 personlized lip glass in a little organza bag each.

All you do is melt the vasoline in the microwave, it turns to a liquid form, add the flavored koolaid, pour in the containers and let them set for a couple of hours.  It turns back to the consistancy of vasoline and takes on the color, smell and flavor of the koolaid.  They say it is the consistancy of like the carmex stuff.  So going to try this!
We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us. -
Joseph Campbell

pam1

Quote from: Pen on October 03, 2012, 04:36:40 PM
Ya gotta know your giftee, though. Some people just don't get the humor :D

Oh absolutely!  I learned my lesson on that one with DHs FOO.  No laughing matter there!

Pooh, that is the cutest gift.  I'm going to do that for DD and maybe some girlfriends. 

On another note, I found a local farm that is organic, antibiotic free that you can buy a pig or cow from.  I heard pork is going up as much as 75% by December.  Think I'm going to buy a pig for my entire side of the family, just one since you get a lot of meat from them.  This farm will do everything there, so no worries about the butcher and they will evenly package all the fresh pork chops and bacon!
People throw rocks at things that shine - Taylor Swift

Pen

Cute lip gloss idea, thanks Pooh. Perfect for DDD to make & give to her friends.

Pam, I like your pig idea too. We've been buying pigs from a local guy & the meat is fantastic. Your family will surely appreciate it. Mine is too far away, darn it.

;D Don't get mixed up and make pork-flavored lip gloss - eewww!
Respect ... is appreciation of the separateness of the other person, of the ways in which he or she is unique.
-- Annie Gottlieb

Doe

Quote from: pam1 on October 04, 2012, 07:36:41 AM
On another note, I found a local farm that is organic, antibiotic free that you can buy a pig or cow from.  I heard pork is going up as much as 75% by December.  Think I'm going to buy a pig for my entire side of the family, just one since you get a lot of meat from them. 

What a great idea! 

I made the mistake of meeting the pigs at our CSA after eating their brother at the annual barbeque.  They were so sweet and eager to visit, like dogs!  After that, I just couldn't buy meat from them.  Totally illogical, since I do love pig meat.  I just can't know them!

Pooh

Ha ha...I did the same thing with a cow one time!  My family always when I was young bought a whole cow from a local butcher guy.  Never thought much about it until my Grandpa took me with him one time and we went to pick out the cow.  I thought it was so cute and petted it and then found out what we were doing!!!

Here's the tins I found, but I didn't look around too much.  You might find some cheaper.

http://www.containerandpackaging.com/item/M515C
We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us. -
Joseph Campbell