Huzza! I'm done! (Read 1019 times)

With the exception of stocking stuffers and little odds-n-ends I am DONE with my holiday shopping (and without entering a single brick-and-mortar store)! Now I just need to get around to doing cards and wrapping (usually I leave DH to do a lot of that, since I am a HORRIBLE gift wrapper). How is everyone else doing?

I like the idea of power converters...they would need those for things like laptops, Mp3 players, etc. Maybe some American specific things? I think peanut butter can be $$ and hard to find abroad. I really missed that in the UK when I was there 13+ years ago. Maybe buy the horse-lovin' mom some gift cards to stores she likes to shop at. And if you don't know of any specifically, I know Eryn/backroadrunner could give you some great advice. Or even just gift cards to favorite restaurants, since she doesn't sound like someone who likes to cook, LOL. I'm always relieved when I have my shopping done (of course, now I still have to get stuff wrapped and shipped, which is more work when so many family members are in all different places). When too much gets left to the last minute I find that the fun parts of the holidays seem to get lost and by the time I get a chance to breathe it's over and done and I feel like I missed out. k

The problem is she and my dad already eat out all the time, so a gift-certificate would just be for an budgeted expense. (Sort of like giving them a gift certificate for their electric bill, if you know what I mean.) And she likes shopping about as much as I do - translation, when I am in danger of going naked, I go to a store and if I find pants\skirts that fit, I buy them. (My dad, on the other hand, always loves a nice knife or wok - though they rarely get used, when he does cook, he appreciates them and we like to encourage him to cook when we are home because it is usually really yummy!) Shout out to Eryn - what kinds of stuff do you recommend???? What stores??? (Other than Lands End, LL Bean, and Eddie Bauer.) I was thinking of maybe getting her some of the nice long-sleeved tops which are capilene or tech or under armour or whatever they are - she can wear them riding and then she can take them skiing and get horse hair all over their hotel room. I dont know why it never comes off in the wash, yet when my stuff comes out of the drier it always has Sophie's white equine hair on it. My brother and his fiance are moving this month, so I was going to send them something in Boston before they leave. But I know they are enjoying packing about as much as we are enjoying shipping and shopping, so I dont want to add to their stress with anything bulky or heavy.

I like the idea of power converters...they would need those for things like laptops, Mp3 players, etc. Maybe some American specific things? I think peanut butter can be $$ and hard to find abroad. I really missed that in the UK when I was there 13+ years ago. Maybe buy the horse-lovin' mom some gift cards to stores she likes to shop at. And if you don't know of any specifically, I know Eryn/backroadrunner could give you some great advice. Or even just gift cards to favorite restaurants, since she doesn't sound like someone who likes to cook, LOL. I'm always relieved when I have my shopping done (of course, now I still have to get stuff wrapped and shipped, which is more work when so many family members are in all different places). When too much gets left to the last minute I find that the fun parts of the holidays seem to get lost and by the time I get a chance to breathe it's over and done and I feel like I missed out. k

Shout out to Eryn - what kinds of stuff do you recommend???? What stores??? (Other than Lands End, LL Bean, and Eddie Bauer.) I was thinking of maybe getting her some of the nice long-sleeved tops which are capilene or tech or under armour or whatever they are - she can wear them riding and then she can take them skiing and get horse hair all over their hotel room. I dont know why it never comes off in the wash, yet when my stuff comes out of the drier it always has Sophie's white equine hair on it.

Sounds just like cat hair! I ordered some shoe care products from this catalog a long time ago and they keep sending me their catalogs in the mail, even though I have no use for most of what they sell. Looks like good stuff for horse people, though.

Heh, have you met my sister...? She's a mess. 25 going on 15. I think my parents realized too late that by not expecting her to be responsible they helped turn her into a very immature adult. She even babytalks. Her boys have different fathers (not her boyfriend) and are only 14 months apart. Her placenta with her younger son also tested positive for BOTH barbituates AND speed. I still am amazed that the state didn't step in and take her sons away. My nephews are good little guys, but she doesn't do right by them. The eldest (5) has serious respiratory issues (she smoked while pregnant) and the youngest (4) has been diagnosed with moderate autism. She claims she didn't know she was pregnant with him...right down to going into labor with a 9# baby. She does dress them in the stuff I send, at least...I have seen them wearing Dane's old stuff and my mom always thanks me and tells me how much she likes the things I have sent--would be nice if my sister told me, though. It's not as if we never talk...man, she calls my cell phone at least 2x every day (I WISH we didn't have the same provider, then it would cost her minutes and she wouldn't be ringing me nearly as often to talk about what her next bad choice for the week will be...). She would be so much better off if she went to college and had to pay for it--at least then she might work hard and gain some self-respect. But living on the public dime is so much easier for her. Because her son has autism she also gets SSI payments on top of the standard support payments because she is a low-income single mom (and she could make SO much more. She works at a Perkins and is a good server--she could easily go more upscale and make a few hundred in tips every night). At least I can be proud of my brother. He's working on his master's degree in some sort of computer engineering. He is a major nerd (Northwestern grad) and works very hard. He's a fun guy (he's 30 and single, for any interested gals...and he runs, too) and I really enjoy shopping for him, since he sincerely appreciates the effort and thought. I wish I didn't have to ship his gifts to him, though...it would be so much more fun to be with him Christmas day. Next year is our year to be with my family for the holidays...last year we did it at my brother's home and had a riot with my son and my nephews under one roof. k

PS: Caller-ID on cell-phones is today's gift to screening calls and only talking to sisters\BF's\Exes\Parents when YOU feel like it! I bet if you answered your phone less you could "train" her to call less.

Ha, you'd think...she just leaves me voice mails...arghhh! Yeah, she is getting pretty good therapy for her youngest, but I think my parents are behind that, for the most part. Luckily they have a lot of background and interest in special ed, as my mom works in a disabled classroom (she's an RN) and my folks did some foster care work when I was little. For a couple of years my sister lived at home with the boys and my parents were helping to raise them. My sister moved a couple of hours away from them earlier this year and now my parents aren't able to take as active a role in helping, unfortunately. Sounds like you are finding some great gift ideas for your family! My hubby's family is easy, since they always make lists that include EXACTLY what they want (my family is starting to do this, too)...a good assortment of things, that way they are still surprised Christmas day. My MIL wanted flannel PJs from Victoria's Secret, since they come in longs (she and I are built like complete opposites, LOL) and she likes mine so much. The lists are kind of fun. We give them lists, too. I think it makes it easy on the gifter and the giftee--less likelihood of things needing to be exchanged, too. k

We need a tomato throwing emoticon. I haven't even started and I'm normally done by Thanksgiving!

Hey, I'm normally done with the bulk of it before Dec. 1, so I'm actually having a bad year! k

I think there's an ointment you can get for fungi.

Heh, I think it's like Lotrimin, or something...Hmmm, I should give that to him for Christmas. I wonder if he'd figure it out...? k