5th Annual Christmas Shopping Thread

[100AcreWood]

This issue reminds me of my mom's family thirty years ago. One family decided to revolt against the rest because they couldn't afford to buy gifts for everyone. Then, they decided to exchange $10 only gifts, then people started exchanging $10 bills , finally someone said let's not exchange gifts. Then when they started having grandkids they wanted to bring it back and I was the first to say I will not participate! Family drama!

Anyway, I goofed and ordered the same thing twice. I thought I ordered something but then couldn't find the email for the order so I ordered it again and then realized I had ordered it on amazon and my dh gets all the emails for that so now I'm trying to cancel the second order. Clearly I'm under too much stress because I'm normally very organized.

 

[My2CrazyGirls]

Having a hard time coming up w ideas for my girls. One will turn 6 in December and the other will be 8 in the spring. They want those Dream Lites and I am getting them the Brave movie and new Tinker Bell movie. I will get them some crafty things. I am not sure what else to get! They are not giving me good ideas. They always say they want all that stuff on TV advertised on Disney Channel and Nick, but most of that stuff is crap.

Any ideas?

 

[Pesky]

Having a hard time coming up w ideas for my girls. One will turn 6 in December and the other will be 8 in the spring. They want those Dream Lites and I am getting them the Brave movie and new Tinker Bell movie. I will get them some crafty things. I am not sure what else to get! They are not giving me good ideas. They always say they want all that stuff on TV advertised on Disney Channel and Nick, but most of that stuff is crap.

Any ideas?

Any ideas re interests?
* PJs or clothes -- can't go wrong here
* slippers
* books
* 8 yr old, as you are getting brave, Airhunterz bow and arrow set (fake arrows)
* dolls? -- Barbie with some clothes or AG-type or Bitty Twins -type. DD wants the Bitty Twins and is 5 so might be about right
* sport stuff -- helmets (DD is getting a cat helmet), soccer ball, t-ball set, glove, scooter, etc.
* fairy garden stuff to plant outside or use outside in the spring

 

[bas71873]

So glad I'm not alone with the thinking that swapping gift cards is ridiculous. I see my inlaws and that side of the family MAYBE 6 times a year, and they only live 40 minutes away and are retired and relatively young (but that's a whole other story) so I don't get why they all even want to bother. Why not just eat, drink & be merry. Most years there's some crisis anyway and DH's sisters are too "broke" to buy anyone anything anyway, so I think this will be my last year participating in the nonsense. I think as I'm getting older, my patience for stupid crap like this is wearing thin!

 

[Aliceacc]

I'm very glad I've done so much of my shopping already.

I'll be able to be more generous with friends and coworkers who have lost so much in the hurricane.

 

[My2CrazyGirls]

Any ideas re interests?
* PJs or clothes -- can't go wrong here
* slippers
* books
* 8 yr old, as you are getting brave, Airhunterz bow and arrow set (fake arrows)
* dolls? -- Barbie with some clothes or AG-type or Bitty Twins -type. DD wants the Bitty Twins and is 5 so might be about right
* sport stuff -- helmets (DD is getting a cat helmet), soccer ball, t-ball set, glove, scooter, etc.
* fairy garden stuff to plant outside or use outside in the spring

Thanks! I was thinking about fairy garden sets. Can you do them inside or do you have to do them outside? I think they would like fun slippers. Not sure where to find good ones. They get PJ's and books Christmas Eve

 

[Pesky]

Thanks! I was thinking about fairy garden sets. Can you do them inside or do you have to do them outside? I think they would like fun slippers. Not sure where to find good ones. They get PJ's and books Christmas Eve

You could easily get a shallow bowl and plant indoors. Think baby tears and stuff like that. You can keep a small plant trimmed to be a tree. You can pick up stuff to go with it at craft stores (dollhouse furniture -- I got mini pumpkins, rabbits and turtles and frogs to go with the seasons) or some nurseries carry fairy garden stuff. Hearthsong has some fairy garden homes too.

From earlier in the thread Stompeez seem to be popular. I got DD some fancy looking slippers from Disney on sale. Kind of like these: http://www.disneystore.com/cinderella-slippers-for-girls/mp/1310634/1000222/ . I also got some from stride rite.

Also thought of this stuff that my nieces are into:
* calico critters -- Amazon had a 50% off sale on accessories and sets in early December last year.
* hexbugs
* cooking sets and aprons and such -- there are some great cookbooks for kids and kids' cooking stuff
* mini donut maker
* spa science kit
* sewing kit, loom kit
* write and illustrate your own book -- M&D has this great thing where they can write their own stories and illustrate too.

 

[taylor3297]

so funny -- my niece is 9 and same kind of problem with just not knowing what she wants! For her, consider:
* airhunterz bow and arrow set -- local toy store says they can't keep them in stock.
* craft stuff -- for my niece, I am deciding between the Scientific Explorer spa science or scientific explorer magic for wizards; there are felted animal kits, beginning sewing or knitting or crochet, potholder looms and so on. Even just pens and paper!
* hexbugs -- you can get nanobugs or other hexbugs
* puzzle
* books and music
* movies
* ipieces -- little pieces with a downloadable app to turn your iPad into a game (provided you have an iPad willing to be used for such a purpose)
* games
* sport/outdoor stuff
* tickets to an event

DS:
* switch n go dinos
* legos -- my 5YO nephew is OBSESSED with legos. They have some pretty fun collections now
* playmobil
* puzzles
* books, movies, music
* sport/outdoor stuff
* into trains still? lot of that stuff around
* lots of cool action playsets around too

Thank you! The archery set is a great idea! Also, my ds still loves dinos, so I am going to have to check those out.

 

[CopperWife]

I bought my niece those wooden letters at Hobby Lobby so she can put her name on her bedroom wall. I bought little tubes of paint, brushes, glitter, gem stones and glue. I put it all in a bucket/basket that I got from the Target dollar bin. It turned out cute - so I thought I would share because it was a cute present and I haven't seen that idea pop up anywhere yet.

 

[la79al]

For anyone that is crafty, I just saw clear plastic 'ball' ornaments at ACMoore for $1 a piece. I know before I could only find glass ones and with 2 little ones, that was just not going to happen!

 

[Cinderelly5507]

I bought my niece those wooden letters at Hobby Lobby so she can put her name on her bedroom wall. I bought little tubes of paint, brushes, glitter, gem stones and glue. I put it all in a bucket/basket that I got from the Target dollar bin. It turned out cute - so I thought I would share because it was a cute present and I haven't seen that idea pop up anywhere yet.

Cute idea!!

 

[Carol97]

I bought my niece those wooden letters at Hobby Lobby so she can put her name on her bedroom wall. I bought little tubes of paint, brushes, glitter, gem stones and glue. I put it all in a bucket/basket that I got from the Target dollar bin. It turned out cute - so I thought I would share because it was a cute present and I haven't seen that idea pop up anywhere yet.

Love this idea!!!! Little girls love doing crafts anyways.

 

[ehough]

As far as fairy gardens go- DD got this little dome for her bday in January. She loved it!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000Q41SP6

 

[bas71873]

I bought my niece those wooden letters at Hobby Lobby so she can put her name on her bedroom wall. I bought little tubes of paint, brushes, glitter, gem stones and glue. I put it all in a bucket/basket that I got from the Target dollar bin. It turned out cute - so I thought I would share because it was a cute present and I haven't seen that idea pop up anywhere yet.

Are the holes for hanging pre-drilled on the back?

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

So glad I'm not alone with the thinking that swapping gift cards is ridiculous. I see my inlaws and that side of the family MAYBE 6 times a year, and they only live 40 minutes away and are retired and relatively young (but that's a whole other story) so I don't get why they all even want to bother. Why not just eat, drink & be merry. Most years there's some crisis anyway and DH's sisters are too "broke" to buy anyone anything anyway, so I think this will be my last year participating in the nonsense. I think as I'm getting older, my patience for stupid crap like this is wearing thin!

I agree....me too!!!!

 

[DisneyMom5]

I just found my (adult sized) ds16 a really cool star wars shirt at Walmart...marked $8.97, but when they scanned it, it was $5. A nice little gift or stocking stuffer if anyone has a SW fan and needs one!

 

[wiigirl]

For anyone that is crafty, I just saw clear plastic 'ball' ornaments at ACMoore for $1 a piece. I know before I could only find glass ones and with 2 little ones, that was just not going to happen!

Cute idea!

 

[Mariellen102]

Does anyone know does the disneystore.com have a black friday sale or cyber monday sale regarding disney parks merchandise?! We are going to be in disney for christmas and would love to get a few things on sale prior to going lol bc i know down there it will not be on sale!!

 

[100AcreWood]

Completely done with one kid. When you buy an AG doll and a few outfits, the budget is gone fast!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Completely done with one kid. When you buy an AG doll and a few outfits, the budget is gone fast!

No Kidding! LOL!! My dd decided she didn't want any AG stuff this year,..kinda makes me sad, but she has a lot of stuff already and she is reaaaaaally wanting an Ipod,..so we are probably gonna be ordering that this week.. I will have to order some Legos and would like to time it so all of it will come in while we are gone and my mom can get it...she's housesitting...that would work out wonderfully!!!