Anyone started Christmas shopping yet? What, Where and for who?

[brennicksmom]

This would be perfect for DS10! That probably sounds weird, but he loves cool, light-up things, and he gets obsessed about scents (any type--candles, air freshener, car clips...). He's a nut, but he's my nut!

It doesn't sound weird to me! That is what makes kids unique, things you wouldn't expect. My 14 yo son has about 40+ snow globes that he started collecting 7-8 years ago.

 

[DisneyMandC]

Alright, well you guys got me started! I've only bought one thing, but I've started looking at other items for people. I found a beautiful Harry Potter print for my best friend on Etsy last night and ordered that for her. We don't normally buy for each other, but we've been through a lot together the last year and she just started teaching and has a Harry Potter themed classroom! I also saw where Rodger and Hammerstein's Cinderella is coming to my city in March, so I'm planning on buying tickets to that for me and my mom once they go on sale since Cinderella is her favorite.

 

[MrsTurnerLovesDisney]

To offer some options I don't think I've seen for the ones with girls in the 11-14 range ARTS & CRAFTS!!

This was around the time I got hooked on scrap booking! Get a cute & colorful kit (hobby lobby & Michael's both usually run great deals on them) maybe a polaroid camera and lots of fun stickers and things.

Other kit options to explore
Jewelry Making
Soap Making
Candy Making
Small paints and canvas to do small paintings (think 8x10 or smaller)

Smaller gift ideas-nice gel pens, journals, pretty note pads, the coloring books for adults with all the flowers & patterns.
Card making accessories. Basically just go into any arts & craft or hobby store and let your mind run wild. Think neons, animal prints & glitter!

 

[DreamIsaWish]

I was at WalMart again this morning and found all the Disney Infinity figures down to $5. Of course the system is going away, but that means all the more that I need to stock up on the figures they may want before they're all gone.

I've also started a "box-o-doll-stuff" for my nieces. None of the official doll stuff, but tiny stuff that will go well with the American Girl dolls. Small notebooks and composition notebooks from Walgreen's (6 for $1). A miniature art set with easel, canvas, and tiny oil paints from Michael's (I think it was $2.50). Tiny 3-ring binders and filler paper from Staples ($2 for the binder and 50 cents for the filler paper). Tiny pens from last year's back to school clearance (since the notebooks are so cheap I won't feel bad if the dolls actually write in them, unlike if they were the real American Girl accessories). And I snagged the great AG book activity sets suggested on this thread a while ago (they're now up to $6 to $10 on Amazon but thanks to this thread I think I got $2.50 and $3.50). It takes some creativity to find all these items, but I think when it's all done it will be a nice box-o-stuff.

So, if anyone sees any other doll-sized stuff in the real world I'd love more ideas.

 

[100AcreWood]

You may think she has plenty of make up but does she? One never has too much! LOL You could get make up case and put in some polish and nail accessories.

You say she is not into clothes but how about jewelry? A Pandora or Chamilia bracelet would be a good thing because you can get a few charms and then add to it each year. Pandora has Disney charms they are expensive(35 to 70+each) and while Chamilia charms are the same price you can get good deals on their website. The other day they had a flash sale for 70% off and if you live anywhere near a Paper Store they had them 75%. I got a bracelet with a snowflake charm which sells for over a 100 for 23 for my niece. I like this because it solves the gift giving problem for a few years to come and provides memories for each charm. How about Alex and Ani charms? Check out what her friends are wearing and then go from there.

I have another suggestion, as the kids get older the gifts they want get smaller and more expensive. I would invest in a set of stacking boxes which would be hers alone kind of like a stocking. It's easier, you just put the gifts in the boxes and tie with a ribbon. Save boxes from year to year. First you have enough graduated boxes so that you can put for example, a charm that costs 70.00 in a large box make it look worthy of the price and it is so easy to fill them with gifts it cuts down on wrapping. This is the best idea and it disguises those little expensive gifts.
http://www.lang.com/home-decor-1/home-accessories/home-decor-accents/decorative-box-sets.html

Cute idea with the stacking boxes! My mom bought her a Pandora that I KNOW was more than she can afford and it sits in a box. It makes me a little upset since it was such a big gift. My dd isn't very girly so it's difficult to find jewelry she likes. Unless it's nerd/geek stuff like Harry Potter . But she has plenty of that stuff.

She also has one of the polaroid cameras and quickly tired of that after a few days. Thank you so much for your suggestions!

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

Cute idea with the stacking boxes! My mom bought her a Pandora that I KNOW was more than she can afford and it sits in a box. It makes me a little upset since it was such a big gift. My dd isn't very girly so it's difficult to find jewelry she likes. Unless it's nerd/geek stuff like Harry Potter . But she has plenty of that stuff.

She also has one of the polaroid cameras and quickly tired of that after a few days. Thank you so much for your suggestions!

I know at that age they are a pain but she will be happy to have a bracelet of memories when she gets older. I was the same way when I was little and now I had all my charms (no pandora at that time) taken off my baby bracelet and put on one that I wear frequently.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

I find that if you go to the outlet mall the weekend or two before a holiday week where they are supposed to have big sales you actually do better.
Went to mall on Sat and they had a sidewalk sale of sorts. Clarks the shoe people also do bags but I am guessing they do not have the allure of Coah or MK. They had beautiful hobo bags all leather with dust bag which retail for 179.00 got them for .....23.00!! I got two pewter and one black!! They will be birthday gifts for the upcoming year since Christmas is finished. LOL!!

 

[HHMcG]

I've started shopping and I'm thrilled to have found some things for my harder to buy for family members. Usually I am a bargain hunter and search for the absolutely cheapest price. But this year I've been good about buying things when I see them if it is a price I can live with. Saves the scramble to find something later.


When it was time to order my kids fall sports uniforms I order some personalized 'spirit wear' for my dad. He is the hardest to buy for (needs nothing) so I was thrilled. I'll still need to get him some beer and make some candy for him. But the original gift idea is done.

Ordered each of my teenage nieces these mermaid blankets I saw online. They weren't as awesome in person but still cute and will pair nicely with their main gift - amazon gift cards.

My kids want a hammock. I saw a deal during Amazon Prime Day that got me thinking, but I was too late and missed the deal. I just saw the same one on Amazon for close to the Prime Day price and bought it.

I got a couple stocking stuffers for the kids during Disney Store Friends and Family sale (tsum tsums and pins).

DD10 saw Nerf toy during Target's toy clearance that she really wanted. I bought it with her and told her it was for Christmas. This is the first time I've bought her gift in front of her. I wonder if it will ruin the excitement or be forgotten by then.

Each of my kids is getting a personalized fathead. I've been ordering one at a time when there is a sale, plus I have discounted gift cards to use. Need to stay on top of this so I can cross it off the list.


Even more exciting then the gifts I've bought is the fact that I have ideas for most of the people I need to buy for. That is usually the hardest part.

 

[MomToOne]

Joining in the discussion. I haven't started yet but my oldest is 14 and soo difficult to buy for. She doesn't love clothes yet, no longer wants toys. I never know what to buy her. She has plenty of make up. Maybe I will get some ideas .

I picked DD16 up some lenses for her cell phone camera this weekend - I have no idea if they are any good or not, or even if she'll like it, but it seemed like something teenagers would enjoy goofing around with. Since, you know, the only thing that REALLY matters in life is how many likes your latest Instragram pic gets I like to pick up a few surprises for DD that she never even thought of asking for - generally I do pretty good and she's thrilled with them, but sometimes I miss big time LOL

Here is the set I picked up: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0179JX8GC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1. It seemed to get as good or better reviews than other sets (they are all mixed on reviews honestly). They have a newer version with a more powerful macro lense for $20, but I figured this set was good enough for playing around.

 

[Hikergirl]

Cute idea with the stacking boxes! My mom bought her a Pandora that I KNOW was more than she can afford and it sits in a box. It makes me a little upset since it was such a big gift. My dd isn't very girly so it's difficult to find jewelry she likes. Unless it's nerd/geek stuff like Harry Potter . But she has plenty of that stuff.

She also has one of the polaroid cameras and quickly tired of that after a few days. Thank you so much for your suggestions!

I got my dd the Alice In Wonderland print a couple years ago and I'm probably going to get her this one this Christmas

http://www.spinelessclassics.net/harry-potter-and-the-sorcerer-s-stone-text-poster-282.htm

HHMcG, thank you for mentioning the spirit wear. It something I wouldn't have thought of and my dad is at everyone of ds's games so its a perfect idea!

 

[kristie73]

I have not started and I don't have many ideas. These kids have everything already. I have two boys ages 13 and 9, well the 13 year old will be 14 by Christmas. It's getting harder and harder. They have an Xbox, they have ipads, they have Nintendo 3DS. Last year we got them new laptops. Legos were still okay with them, but I haven't seen them do anything with that in awhile. The gifts are a few and more expensive now.

Joining in the discussion for ideas for tween and teen boys.

 

[TwoMisfits]

I have not started and I don't have many ideas. These kids have everything already. I have two boys ages 13 and 9, well the 13 year old will be 14 by Christmas. It's getting harder and harder. They have an Xbox, they have ipads, they have Nintendo 3DS. Last year we got them new laptops. Legos were still okay with them, but I haven't seen them do anything with that in awhile. The gifts are a few and more expensive now.

Joining in the discussion for ideas for tween and teen boys.

Since you have gamers, other than a new video game or two, I'd suggest gaming headsets (with chat features) for online gaming on the Xbox (if you don't have them)...I'd also suggest a "tie in" gift based on their video game likes.
If your kids love roleplaying video games (Zelda, Final Fantasy, Skyrim, the Witcher, etc), buy them a tabletop RPG set (like Dungeons and Dragons, Pathfinder, Call of Cthulu, or Mutants and Masterminds - depending on what type of RPG they like) and dice sets/dice bags, or buy them the Munchkin Board Game with some extra packs or the Pandemic board game (all of these are hits in that genre or all of the above. Dead of Winter fits here, too, but that game can be depressing and a bit much for a 9 year old.
If they like the sport video games (Madden, NBA 2016, etc), buy them the stuff to actually do the sport for real.
If they like supers video games, buy them some graphic novel compilations with their favorite supers included.
Etc, etc.

 

[BarbMike821]

We've been doing a ton of holiday shopping over the past few months since our disney trip is in January. We're doing SB's and any time we pick up a Disney GC there, we pick up one of our kids holiday gifts at the same time since we have the Red Card and need to eat into the 5% off savings to maximize the SB Target gc. Really we only have stocking stuffers left and each a "Big Gift" (loosely using that here and will likely wait until Kohl's Black Friday for that). Then, of course, gifts for my husband and I to exchange, but we agreed to go super conservative on that front this year.

I still need to get nieces and nephews, but all in all we're in really good shape.

 

[DisneyHardin]

I've just gotten a few things so far. I got the secretaries at work gorgeous scarves from Ann Taylor Loft on clearance for $2.99. I always do DH a filled to the brim stocking, so I found a couple ornaments for that (he puts of a Christmas tree in his man cave with all "manly" ornaments on it). DH wants to get his brother, my brother and my dad all Yeti cups for Christmas. Those are the same price everywhere, but I am planning the next time Kroger does 4X fuel points to get Cabela's gift cards that I can then use to buy the Yeti cups.

 

[brennicksmom]

My husband and I were in Costco on Sunday and they had 13L Stainless Steel mixing bowls for $4.97. They are HUGE! We bought 12 for gifts and one for us. We used ours already and it is really nice. We will use them for aunts and uncles and cousins. They will also be add on gifts for siblings and grandparents and 2 nieces that just got their own place/got engaged.

We also picked up under the cabinet puck type lights that are on timers and remotes for grandparent gift. ($18.99)

We weren't the only ones thinking the same thing. We saw 4 groups of people with them stacked in their carts.

 

[brennicksmom]

I've just gotten a few things so far. I got the secretaries at work gorgeous scarves from Ann Taylor Loft on clearance for $2.99. I always do DH a filled to the brim stocking, so I found a couple ornaments for that (he puts of a Christmas tree in his man cave with all "manly" ornaments on it). DH wants to get his brother, my brother and my dad all Yeti cups for Christmas. Those are the same price everywhere, but I am planning the next time Kroger does 4X fuel points to get Cabela's gift cards that I can then use to buy the Yeti cups.

Have you seen the ones from Walmart? The 30 ounce are $9.74 and are the same as Yeti, just less expensive. You could add a decal from Etsy on it and still save $ if you get those.

 

[brennicksmom]

I have not started and I don't have many ideas. These kids have everything already. I have two boys ages 13 and 9, well the 13 year old will be 14 by Christmas. It's getting harder and harder. They have an Xbox, they have ipads, they have Nintendo 3DS. Last year we got them new laptops. Legos were still okay with them, but I haven't seen them do anything with that in awhile. The gifts are a few and more expensive now.

Joining in the discussion for ideas for tween and teen boys.

My boys are 17 and 14 now. They do not ask for anything. It gets harder and harder to buy for them. Good luck. Neither of mine have touched their Xbox forever. They do game on the computers, so I am going to look for something related to that.

 

[rnorwo1]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01I9ISI12/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 They are due to be released this week. I ordered them on pre-order. I can't wait to see if they look this cool in real life!

Thanks, that does look really cool!

I am thinking that we may get all 3 of our boys a PS4 to share. Does anyone know what I can expect as far as deals? In terms of price, place, and timing? Or does the price always stay the same?

 

[QueenIsabella]

A few thoughts...

I like the idea of the knock-off Yeti cups. I have a Cricut and vinyl, I can make some shapes to put on each cup to make them unique. DH, in particular, would appreciate that.

For the PP with the gamers--now would be a good tie to shop for video chairs, if you're interested. They sit on the floor and can rock--some models have side pockets for remotes or controllers. I'm thinking they would be on sale now, for "back to school/college".

For the PP who was going to get her dad beer--some grocery stores let you purchase a mixed 6-pack for $10 or so, selecting from their fancier beers. I do this for DH for every holiday, pretty much--he appreciates the chance to sample, and the choices change by the seasons. I also do this for my BIL. One year, I even found BIL a wooden 6-pack holder with a bottle opener attached, that I put his fancy beers in (I forget where). But, for $10, you get a nice, appreciated gift, that's different each time. This works especially well if you're dealing with a cheapskate (DH, BIL, and I all fall in this category)--they wouldn't buy themselves the fancy beer, but they sure do enjoy drinking it.

 

[kristie73]

Thanks for the ideas @brennicksmom @TwoMisfits @QueenIsabella

They like Minecraft and Team Fortress 2 . They both like space and dinosaurs, science. We have some gaming chairs and headsets. We don't have the PS4, so that might be an option. Ugh. I'm not sure about the RPGs yet. I really hate all the shooter games too, but sadly they are playing. I've done a few gift searches for teen boys and keep coming up with pellet/air guns. I really don't want to go there. I'm fine with all the Nerf stuff.

I did see some nice dinosaur bone prints at World Market that my son may like in his room. I know it's probably not a fun play gift to open, but still. They were on sale, but not now. I should have bought them.
http://www.worldmarket.com/product/"t-rex+sketch"+by+the+studio.do?&from=fn

Husband will be hard to shop for as well.