5th Annual Christmas Shopping Thread

[brendasol]

We have a cooking competition each year with my immediate family at Christmastime. The winner gets their name put on the Santa trophy!

Last year we picked the name of a country out of a hat and had to prepare a dish from that country. The year before it was simply "desserts". This year it is "something with apples".

Does anyone have a killer recipe with apples in it?

 

[Elmck]

If you have kids are grandkids still into toys you might want to check out the Target toy clearance. A lot for 70% off today. I got quite a few things.

 

[Deffenm]

I am heading there after work. I have several near me so I am trying to determine which one to hit first.

 

[ilovepete]

Well thanks to the Target Toy clearance, I can now say I am officially done with Christmas shopping, yay!

All I have to do is make the calendars with the pictures in them and I'm good.

 

[jacksmomma]

I got a decent start today. I hit several Targets and came away with birthday presents for my nieces and nephew, as well as a decent start on my son's Christmas.

 

[Lil'Mermaid75]

If you have kids are grandkids still into toys you might want to check out the Target toy clearance. A lot for 70% off today. I got quite a few things.

Thanks for this tip! I hit one of my local Targets and can finally say I have started my Christmas shopping! Grabbed a couple items for my nephew. DS9 will be difficult this year -he doesn't need / want a bunch of stuff. It's just pinpointing that one big gift and maybe a few small things. But YEAH! First gifts bought!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

My list is HUGE for Christmas....would love gift ideas for in-laws!!!!!

I've not heard of Zingo, but we love the game Farkle for family gatherings!

Farkle is the best!! LOL!!! I loooove that game! In-laws,...well, could you tell us a little about them? Are they picky and crabby, or just have everything they need and you are stumped.or both. It is always soooo hard!!!

We have a cooking competition each year with my immediate family at Christmastime. The winner gets their name put on the Santa trophy!

Last year we picked the name of a country out of a hat and had to prepare a dish from that country. The year before it was simply "desserts". This year it is "something with apples".

Does anyone have a killer recipe with apples in it?

I don't, but I am anxious to see what recipes you get!

Well thanks to the Target Toy clearance, I can now say I am officially done with Christmas shopping, yay!

All I have to do is make the calendars with the pictures in them and I'm good.

You totally rock!!! just for you!!!

I got a decent start today. I hit several Targets and came away with birthday presents for my nieces and nephew, as well as a decent start on my son's Christmas.

Way to go!!! I am so proud of all of you!!!

 

[brendasol]

My in-laws are EXTREMELY picky. MIL likes antiques and her dog, FIL isn't very active but likes plants and his computer. My BIL and SIL (in 40's) don't have any children and are the type of people who buy the best of everything, they don't need or want anything.

We aren't very close to this side of the family. They all live within 5 miles of us, and we only see them a couple times a year.....Christmas is one of the times they want to see us.

We give them framed photos of the children every year, but I would like to find something else nice for each of them.

Any suggestions?

 

[starwatcher]

Hope you all don't mind if I join you, but this thread is great!!! I have a 3 year old dd, she'll be 4 by the time Christmas rolls around, and I have no idea where to start. I am going to really try to cut down on gifts this year as well because I always buy way to much. My problem is that I love the shopping, the wrapping, and the decorating, but when the time comes to put it all away after Christmas, I literally want to rip my hair out We have one big gift that we know were getting dd, so that will only leave a few small things to buy like a few toys and movies, but still, i'm lost on where to start this year.

I have been on the petit jury for the past 4 months and even though I wasnt' thrilled to be picked to do it, I have earned a nice sum of "extra money" that I am going to take along with us on our trip to disney and hopefully pick up a few Christmas gifts while i'm there..considering it would go toward holiday shopping anyway

I wanted to add that dd's birthday is November 5th, so ontop of holiday shopping, i've got to get motivated for her birthday as well.

wow my dd will be 4 nov 3 this year and i have no idea for xmas or her birthday yet

 

[lyncecelia]

If anyone is looking for Just Dance 3 for Christmas, it's on sale for 9.99 on Amazon right now (75% off!). The 9.99 price is only for the Wii one.

Just thought someone would appreciate the heads up!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0053BG26C/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

 

[BDLSGAL]

I am really loving this thread! Everyone has been giving great tips and love the sharing of sales! So glad BDL found this thread and told me about it (even if he would prefer to shop on Christmas eve)!

 

[fanoftigger]

The extended family on my mom's side quit buying for each other several years ago. We all kick in $$ and find a local family or organization that means something to someone in the family and buy for them.

That same group also does a $5 Dirty Santa gift exchange at Christmas dinner for fun. And my generation (the cousins) draw names so that our kids buy a $10-15 gift for one of the other kids.

Then my immediate family (mom/stepdad,sis,bro,stepsis, stepbro) also adopts a family and buys gifts & food for them instead of exchanging gifts.

On DH's side we draw names and have a $75 limit.

We buy gifts for my niece (6) and nephew (9) and our great-nephew (3). And we have a son who will be 1, so we will buy a few things for him. DH and I also exchange gifts, but set a $$ limit.

I buy Christmas ornaments for my mom, sis, niece, nephew and son each year (one of my traditions, my mom started it when I was a kid). They actually all love it....I didn't get my sis one once and she was really upset.

I bought the ornaments during Hallmark's ornament premiere, so that's done. I bought a game and a toy for great-nephew today at 75% off at Target. I bought my niece princess pj's during Disney's big sale recently, still plan to get her a doll or toy.

Oh, I forgot the stockings (which can get expensive!). We each have a stocking at my mom's (I LOVE my stocking) which is too much for her to fill, so we each buy a little something to go in each person's stocking. It's fun for the adults. The women are so easy, the men not so much. I have things for the women already purchased as well.

Also 8 birthdays between now and Christmas! Started on those as well.

 

[brendasol]

Hit the sale at Target....yay! Thanks for the sale tip, got a few things purchased!

 

[prayx]

Went to the Disney outlets today and scored some deals. I started my shopping!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

My in-laws are EXTREMELY picky. MIL likes antiques and her dog, FIL isn't very active but likes plants and his computer. My BIL and SIL (in 40's) don't have any children and are the type of people who buy the best of everything, they don't need or want anything.

We aren't very close to this side of the family. They all live within 5 miles of us, and we only see them a couple times a year.....Christmas is one of the times they want to see us.

We give them framed photos of the children every year, but I would like to find something else nice for each of them.

Any suggestions?

well dang!!! They are hard!!!! I will have to be thinking on this one...hhhmmmmm....well, maybe someone will have a brainstorm and help us out! LOL!! I will seriously be giving this some thought....

 

[BDL]

My in-laws are EXTREMELY picky. MIL likes antiques and her dog, FIL isn't very active but likes plants and his computer. My BIL and SIL (in 40's) don't have any children and are the type of people who buy the best of everything, they don't need or want anything.

We aren't very close to this side of the family. They all live within 5 miles of us, and we only see them a couple times a year.....Christmas is one of the times they want to see us.

We give them framed photos of the children every year, but I would like to find something else nice for each of them.

Any suggestions?

MIL - You can get her a couch pillow that has an embroidered picture of the breed of dog that she has

FIL - Amazon gift card that he can order software for his PC or Home Depot gift card to get stuff to take care of his plants

BIL and SIL - Make a donation in their names to their favorite charity

 

[fanoftigger]

brendasol - could you do something like a photo book? Maybe gather some fun family photos through the years...either old ones with the in-laws or just your family. Load to Shutterfly or one of those sites (might have to scan first) and create the book. I use Shutterfly and I know they run lots of photo book specials as we get closer to Christmas.

One of my friends gives her in-laws a photo book of their annual joint family vacation every year and they love it.

I'm thinking of creating one for my 90 year old Grandma of some of her old family pictures.

Or maybe you can find a special, nice Christmas ornament for each of them?

 

[brendasol]

well dang!!! They are hard!!!! I will have to be thinking on this one...hhhmmmmm....well, maybe someone will have a brainstorm and help us out! LOL!! I will seriously be giving this some thought....

Thanks....yeah, I need some good ideas here.

My DD gave me a good idea for my SIL. A pedicure kit (sandals to wear),OPI holiday polish set, and gift certificate for a pedicure!

 

[brendasol]

brendasol - could you do something like a photo book? Maybe gather some fun family photos through the years...either old ones with the in-laws or just your family. Load to Shutterfly or one of those sites (might have to scan first) and create the book. I use Shutterfly and I know they run lots of photo book specials as we get closer to Christmas.

One of my friends gives her in-laws a photo book of their annual joint family vacation every year and they love it.

I'm thinking of creating one for my 90 year old Grandma of some of her old family pictures.

Or maybe you can find a special, nice Christmas ornament for each of them?

They don't always put up a Christmas tree (scrooges), so ornaments won't really work...I thought of that because I LOVE Hallmark ornaments!

I like the idea of a photo book! That would be great for my family! We are a BIG, close family and have TONS of pictures. Maybe even a photo quilt, or the picture frames that take a camera card. Have you ever used one of those? I wonder if they work well.

 

[brendasol]

MIL - You can get her a couch pillow that has an embroidered picture of the breed of dog that she has

FIL - Amazon gift card that he can order software for his PC or Home Depot gift card to get stuff to take care of his plants

BIL and SIL - Make a donation in their names to their favorite charity

Great ideas! They have a weimaraner, and it's her baby....the couch pillow is PERFECT!

I never would have thought of an Amazon card, and he does like home depot. Maybe we can buy him a small holiday plant and wrap the gift card, then put it under the plant....like a little Christmas tree with a present under it!??

Thank you to everyone who's been posting ideas! They are ALL a great help! I came to the right place!