5th Annual Christmas Shopping Thread

[bas71873]

Originally Posted by 100AcreWood

Does she have a dollhouse? That's the big thing my dd wanted when she was 4.

About that age we got DD the Step2 dollhouse. Well worth the cost because it's sturdy, won't fall over and is good for doll house dolls and barbies. We still have it and every once in a while she wants us to drag it out of the attic to play with.

[bas71873]

Originally Posted by lyncecelia

i have to politely disagree...the three older kids of my fh's bunch have either an ipod touch or an ipad, the oldest has a laptop and the two girls share a computer in their room that is mainly used for netflix and youtube. As long as you set them up properly and teach safe internet usage it's good for them to have access to technology. In contrast, my younger sister (who we bought her first laptop last year at 13) can barely use a computer due to the lack of availability to one she had growing up (my parents also did the "only in the family room" thing, which my mom usually was on and didn't share it often) while my fdss11 can find his way easily around a computer...technology isn't a bad thing if the proper protocols and protections (like blockers on adult sites, internet rules, and random browser checks) are in place. Just my two cents.

Originally Posted by troane522

+1

+2

[Disney Mommy 3]

on the computer access thing...I agree that they need knowledge of computer skills,...it's the way of the future!! And the kids are all pretty good at it!! Heck, they have to show me stuff all the time! But, I do know that YouTube can have some pretty 'adult' links that pop up!!!
It's a parental decision and each set of parents are responsible for their children...
I am gonna step in here and say let's all drop this topic. We can discuss the best deals/bargains for any iTouch or Nano or whatever, but I don't want this getting out of hand~~not that you ladies will, but I would hate for the Mods to see a potential flare up and close our thread...it's too fun!!!! Back to shopping!!!

[hineshm]

Really trying to get most of my shopping done before November. I just picked up a Kavu purse for my niece on clearance for $15 at Academy. I also got my brother an LSU polo shirt from SAMS. Then went to Ulta and purchased my daughter Katy Perry perfume Purr and got a free rolling duffel. Whoo Hoo.

Still on the lookout for more deals!

[Priorityonecb]

What is everyone thinking of for 15/16 year old girls?? DD is being no help with a list, and already has a laptop, Ipod Touch and a Kindle Fire.

She has asked for two pairs of shoes, to apparently complete her "dream shoe collection". We are going to Orlando for Christmas, and I was considering giving her the Beluga Whale Interaction as a gift. She has already swam with dolphins, sea lions, sting rays and sharks...belugas would be fun I think to add to her list.

Just wondering what everyone else is buying for that age this year.

[lyncecelia]

If anyone has any teens who are Sims 3 players, there is a new expansion pack coming out November 13th (Sims 3 Seasons). I have it on my list but some teenagers might like it too!

ETA: If you are getting them the game to start with (as in they don't have it yet) you need to get Sims 3 plus whatever expansion packs you want to get them. The expansion packs won't work on their own unless they say "Sims 3 PLUS _____" like "Sims 3 PLUS Pets". If someone needs me to explain that in more detail just PM me and I will

[Pesky]

Originally Posted by Priorityonecb

What is everyone thinking of for 15/16 year old girls?? DD is being no help with a list, and already has a laptop, Ipod Touch and a Kindle Fire.

She has asked for two pairs of shoes, to apparently complete her "dream shoe collection". We are going to Orlando for Christmas, and I was considering giving her the Beluga Whale Interaction as a gift. She has already swam with dolphins, sea lions, sting rays and sharks...belugas would be fun I think to add to her list.

Just wondering what everyone else is buying for that age this year.

Gift cards. I am petrified to get anything else for my niece unless she requests! Last year she mentioned she need some new swim caps (she is on the swim team) and I found some fun ones. This year she is getting a key chain rubber band gun along with her big gift but I am arming the whole family -- easily predicting gift opening will devolve into a shoot-out.

[moonpie85]

<gasp!>

This may have already been shared, I'm too excited to look through previous posts lol

http://www.target.com/p/leapfrog-lea...t%20Target.com

[brendasol]

Originally Posted by moonpie85

<gasp!>

This may have already been shared, I'm too excited to look through previous posts lol

http://www.target.com/p/leapfrog-lea...t%20Target.com

This looks like it would be better for my 5 year old than a DS! Thanks

[luvmy3]

Wow, I can't believe this thread is back already!

Originally Posted by hineshm

Really trying to get most of my shopping done before November. I just picked up a Kavu purse for my niece on clearance for $15 at Academy. I also got my brother an LSU polo shirt from SAMS. Then went to Ulta and purchased my daughter Katy Perry perfume Purr and got a free rolling duffel. Whoo Hoo.

Still on the lookout for more deals!

Thanks for the info about the rolling duffel. I almost got my dd a Vera Bradley Weekender when they were on sale but I didn't. This deal is even better since she has asked for KP's perfume (I just can't remember which one!) and I always get her a bottle of perfume for Christmas.

Originally Posted by lyncecelia

If anyone has any teens who are Sims 3 players, there is a new expansion pack coming out November 13th (Sims 3 Seasons). I have it on my list but some teenagers might like it too!

My dd has already told me this is on her Christmas list.

I have a few things for my kids, but I think this year instead of getting a bunch of small item, they are each going to get one BIG gift and very few others. I do have a couple Lego sets and games for my dses. I also bought them new jackets (one a North Face and one a baseball team) but I'll probably give them those before Christmas.
I'm not sure what their big gifts will be, we were thinking of getting them each a mini-bike. If not that, maybe Lego Mindstorms for one of them, and some kind of tablet for the other. It depends on what they ask for the closer we get.
My dd wants a new cell phone. We don't do contracts, only pre-paid so her gift will be the phone, and a year's worth of service.

[100AcreWood]

For those with little dudes, I thought this looked really cool.


http://www.stackyourtrack.com/#chuggington[gallery1]/7/

[tina.tina]

My nephews and little brother all absolutely love the camping lanterns (with extra batteries) I've gotten them for birthdays & christmas through the years. They can play outside later or hide out in a tent inside.

I also found a headlight that would attach to a scooter or bike for my little brother and he loved it.

[Disney Mommy 3]

Originally Posted by tina.tina

My nephews and little brother all absolutely love the camping lanterns (with extra batteries) I've gotten them for birthdays & christmas through the years. They can play outside later or hide out in a tent inside.

I also found a headlight that would attach to a scooter or bike for my little brother and he loved it.

That's a great idea~ I love finding different kinds of gifts,something different from the everyday!

[kkmcan]

Thanks for the heads up on the Katy Perry perfume deal! I ordered it from Ulta just now. The other item my dd15 wanted was an overnight bag for when she spends the night at her cousins house. This was perfect! She wanted the KP perfume as well.

Thanks!

[miami305]

Curiosity got the best of me! . My kids aren't even allowed to think about Christmas until Thanksgiving, but hats off to all of you bargain hunters!

I relieved myself of much stress by instead buying my girls a lot of little things they like. Charm bracelets, necklaces and socks from Justice, new doll clothes, craft supplies, hair accessories,etc. All those little things make delightful gifts and they use them all year long. DH and I pick one big gift for each child. Shopping I soooooo much easier now.

The children use the iPad and computer daily. Both are in the living room. DD12 has a cellphone, but no internet. We periodically go through her text messages and photos. She is okay with it as we've discussed how you shouldn't have anything on a cell phone you don't want others to see. One of her friends was banned this Spring from using the computer. The girl created a blog page and listed everything she disliked other girls. Big tween drama! She became an instant pariah. So, yeah. Monitor the electronics.