Christmas 2011 shopping

[kayrosek]

So I'm really on a roll with my shopping now and I hope the lists don't change because that would totally mess me up.
Here's most of my list with what I've got in green, what I've got on layaway or have ordered and am waiting for in purple and what I need in red.
DH: RC Car, desktop rock garden, 3D puzzle for stocking, computer game (can't remember the name right now), Visa GC, Framed EGA print

DD14: Trivia book, Watercolor set, some SS's feather earrings Flip Video camera with case, sd card and mini tri pod (ordered),Selena Gomez outfit including purse and scarf (Layaway) Selena Gomez hat and gloves (Layaway) belly dancing hip scarf, some SS's, Taco Bell GC

DD12: Trivia Book, Clue game, some SS's, Mini donut maker Monster High Doll (Layaway) Evo or other android phone and protective screen cover, bottles of sprinkles to be packaged with donut maker, nail polish some SS's

DS11: Trivia Book, Quack Gammon , Most of his non edible SS's Cars 2 racetrack set, (Layaway) Mater lego set, (Layaway) Diary of a Wimpy Kid Book (Preorder) IPOD touch and case
For the past couple years we have "adopted" the neighbors kids for Christmas and got them at least a few Santa gifts plus the ones we get our kids to give them.

Neighbor's DS4: Motorized Thomas the Train Set Thomas DVD (Layaway)
NDS9: Ninjago Lego Set, (Layaway) Rescue Dobby HP Lego Set (Layaway)

 

[Stargazer]

I'm getting closer to being done, but hit a bit of a wall -- we'd planned on re-doing DD's room as a large chunk of her Christmas, but have decided that it would be better to wait and do it for her birthday (so we won't have to try to move all her furniture out and repaint during Christmas).

So, now I'm back to trying to find out what her "big" present from Santa needs to be.

That aside, I found a present today at Walmart for DD - Beverly Hills 1 & 2 blu-ray/DVD set for $25:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Beverly-Hills-Chihuahua-1-2-Vaule-Bundle-Blu-ray-DVD/17688102

Trying to figure out too if I want to go ahead and get a DSi XL now or wait -- there's a bundle @ Target that has Mario vs Donkey Kong with the system for $169 as a pre-order, but it doesn't have free shipping. I wonder if this will be available in stores?

 

[MapleGirl]

I'm doing well. I haven't started on DH yet. We haven't even talked about what we are getting each other. We are working on our finances and going to WDW in April so I'm going to lobby for light spouse gifts this year. For the rest of the family here is what I have so far: (things in () still need to be bought)

Mom: (DONE) Crate and Barrel Christmas Tree (she collects table-top Christmas trees), Autism and Animals Book, Pandora beads
Step-Father: (DONE) Silly sign for front of house, Joy of Cooking Chicken book
Dad: (DONE) Northwest Fire Spice, Pilsner glasses, bottle of basting oil, hunting vest​

BIL: Hawiian shirt, (video game or weight lifting accessory)
Step-Sister: Complete Paint Book, Art of Being a Woman, Kill Bill II, (jewelry or perfume... something girly)
Step-Mother: Dearly Beloved, Ardell Lash Grower, (Crocs)
MIL: Penzey’s Kind Heart spice gift box, (big bowl and fancy pasta)
FIL: (Home brewing kit)
SIL: (Penguin necklace and penguin socks)
Brother: (silly internet shirt)
Grandmother: I'm not sure what to get her yet, probably something with photographs from artscow.com​

I have a couple of gifts that don't have recipient's yet: Zombie Fluxx, Wizard of Oz on DVD, Dark Materials trilogy.

I will also buy fun silly gifts for my friends, a cute baby outfit for my just born 2nd cousin and some toys for Toys for Tots.

Hurray!!

 

[katie26]

This is the first year I've really tried to get a head start on Christmas shopping, and I can already tell that it's going to make a huge difference in my November & December budgets!

Already purchased:

Mom: silver-plated frame engraved with a few lyrics from her favorite song (Martina McBride's "In My Daughter's Eyes" - "In my daughter's eyes, I am a hero... I am strong and wise and I know no fear.") with a picture of me. Aww!

Dad: my Dad's thinking about opening a food-service business of some sort in the near future, so I got him a chef's coat custom-embroidered with his name.

Sister in law: she'll be about six months pregnant by Christmas, so I got her a gc for a pre-natal massage with a great masseuse near her who specializes in pre-natal massage.

Not yet purchased:

Boyfriend: I don't really know what to get him. He says he wants practical gifts this year, so I think I'm going to get him some nice socks and undies, a pair of pajamas and some slippers, but I definitely need something bigger, too. I know he wants a new messenger bag, but I'm worried he might buy himself one between now and Christmas so I'm holding off on that. He could also probably use some new shoes for work, but I don't want to guess at what he likes - I'd rather have him try them on first!

Friends: I like to give little gifts to my friends, so this year I'm going to be making homemade Bailey's Irish Cream and Kahlua and giving friends a small bottle of each. Looks the the Container Store has cute little decanters I can bottle them in, and I'll pick up some pretty ribbons to make them festive.

Totally stumped:

Brother: He is impossible to buy for. Always has been! He's in his mid-twenties, has a baby on the way, likes video games and poker. I hate to get something as impersonal as a gift card, but I also don't know what he has and doesn't have re: video games and poker. I was thinking of getting him either a Flip Cam (so he could take videos of the baby when it's born) but I don't know whether he even has one or not. I was also thinking maybe a felt poker table setup, but again - he might already have one. I should probably just call my sister in law and ask! (But if anyone has ideas, I'd love to hear them!)

 

[angierae]

Here are the people I need to buy for this year:

DD16
Orange aluminum water bottle (50% off when Borders closed)
Peanuts 2012 desk calendar (50% off when Borders closed)
Magnetic bookmarks (50% off when Borders closed)
Personalized Jack Skellington fleece throw ($9.60 Disneystore.com sale)

DH
WWII book (30% off when Borders closed)
Sherlock Holmes book (30% off when Borders closed)

(DONE) Stepdad
photo mug from Shutterfly (free, got a $20 credit when I ordered DD16's school pictures)
Photobook (buy 1 get 2 free deal through Snapfish this weekend) $10

MIL
Photobook (buy 1 get 2 free deal through Snapfish this weekend) $10

(DONE) Grandniece (1) $9.60 fleece throws through Disneystore sale
(DONE) Grandniece (3) $9.60 fleece throws through Disneystore sale

Cousin (14)

Other Cousin's teenage daughter

Other Cousin's teenage son

(DONE) Men's "Grab bag" gift - Desk calendar 50% off when borders closed
(DONE) Women's "Grab bag" gift - lotion set 50% off when borders closed

SIL
BIL


My cousin's kids will probably get giftcards since we don't see them very often (they live with their mother and we only see them at Christmas) and I have no idea what they'll want.

DD16 is probably getting her letter jacket as her "big" christmas gift

My husband is probably in charge of more gifts for his mom, and my BIL and SIL, but if I find a good deal on something I'll pick it up. I mostly just need to buy for DH and my 14 year old cousin (He's in the school band like my daughter so I'm thinking a gift certificate for his favorite music store)

 

[bas71873]

I'm getting really close to being done, but as usual, I have gone WAY overboard for DD. So easy to do with an only child and a mom who loves to shop! Oh well, I figure she's only going to believe in Santa for so long, so why not. Then she'll want nothing but clothes and techie gadgets and mom will be bummed . So I shop on!

 

[karice2]

Boyfriend: He could also probably use some new shoes for work, but I don't want to guess at what he likes - I'd rather have him try them on first!

My grandma used to always say, never buy a man shoes because he will walk right out of your life.

 

[gracie1]

My grandma used to always say, never buy a man shoes because he will walk right out of your life.

Love this

 

[katie26]

My grandma used to always say, never buy a man shoes because he will walk right out of your life.

Eeek! Really? I am totally superstitious about stuff like that (I've never given anyone a knife as a gift) so I'll have to reconsider. Lol!

 

[StephMK]

My grandma used to always say, never buy a man shoes because he will walk right out of your life.

Wow, if I'd known it was that easy, I can think of a few ex-BF that I should have just given shoes to!

 

[MAD4EEYORE]

Wow, if I'd known it was that easy, I can think of a few ex-BF that I should have just given shoes to!

That is so true!

 

[sl_underwood]

I'm late but I'm here! Started my shopping months ago but really havent got a whole lot yet. Did get both dd's clothes this weekend at Kohls. 6 sweaters and 2 pairs of slacks all for less than $80. Think I did pretty good. Other than that, I just have books and movies for them. Got all the neices and nephews covered, bought books, my trademark gift for them. my ds wants an iPad, and I am just not sure he is ready for one. He has autism and can be a bit rough on electronics. Thinking maybe an iPod Touch instead. My adult daughter will get the clothes I bought her and some money, a jewelry piece from her dad, and thats it. dd 14 has both birthday and Christmas in the same month and doesnt really want anything. No clue what to do for her. Did buy her clothes, movies, and I know she would like a few books. Will have to think of something else for her. Got her new boots for her birthday and clothes. Dh will get her jewelry for Christmas too. Any suggestions are welcome. She is not really into fashion, a total book worm, cross country star, and a bit of a tomboy.

 

[dreamin_disney]

We usually shop last miute for dd but this year I hope to be done with all x-mas shopping hopefully a week before x-mas. I hate beiing out in the crazy crowds . If it was up to me I'd be done shopping by nextweekend-lol!

DD saw a sequince zebra black and greyish x-mas stocking @ Ross. It was $12 i told her it was to much plus she already has the huge stocking she came home in from the hospital(Dec. baby). She also liked a photo album zebra book. I had dh go back to the store and get it-lol! I plan on hanging the stocking x-mas morning. 2 gifts down many more to go.

DD mentioned wanting a keyboard that lights up tolearn how to play. Then today she said nevermind. I want to get her a LED black wipe board. Only other thing she asked for were giftcards so she can shop.

It's kind of hard because she's a Dec. baby so I usually have to see what she gets then go from there

 

[arminnie]

My grandma used to always say, never buy a man shoes because he will walk right out of your life.

I love that!!! When I was a freshman in college (many decades ago) my boyfriend gave me a beautiful slip for Christmas. My grandmother told me that I shouldn't accept such a personal gift.

The funny part of the slip thing is that my boyfriend thought I was pretty well-endowed so bought me like a size 40 slip when a 34 was plenty big.

 

[libinatorsmom]

I have started shopping I have a handful of things bought - I am really looking for GREAT bargins... Like I found the 24 Edition of Clue board game regualaring 39.99 I bought for $1 each at Barnes and Noble Bargin Table... and other things like that... but I know the big money days are coming

 

[ariamac]

I started in September...

I bought a bunch of casserole dishes to etch for extended family... and funny thing was, I etched like 6 of them Friday night and then Saturday we went shopping and they had other caserole dishes 63% off!!! I almost pulled out my hair. I did manage to buy 6 at this price so that when it all balances out and I average how much I paid, I'm perfectly happy with how much each cost me. But would've been freakin' awesome if I got them all 63% off!!! *sigh*

For my sister I got:
Cupcake baking kit
Harry Potter Scarf from WWoHP
I can probably afford to spend another $20-30

For her birthday I got:
BBT, Yr 1 (saved quite a bit!!)
Lego Harry Potter PC Game ($5 only!!!)
Lego Harry Potter mini figures/magnets (these were on sale too!!)
A 'neurotic' journal
I was going for a while big bang theory/sheldon type of gift basket for her

BF:
1 TB external hard drive that was created inside an old school NES game, thought this was soooo cute, super geeky but I spent a fair amount on this
I stilll wanna spend another $200-$250... probably on Sweaters, maybe a nintendo DS 3D... we'll see

Mom:
No idea what to get her

Dad:
No idea what to get him besides coffee shop giftcards
His birthday is coming up soon and I have NO idea what to get him

 

[rszdtrvl]

It's kind of hard because she's a Dec. baby so I usually have to see what she gets then go from there

My son is a December baby too. He will be 15.

So far, between the 2 holidays I have gotten him :


The Heroes of Olympus, Book Two: The Son of Neptune
Clueless in the Kitchen: A Cookbook for Teens
Landmann USA 28240 Halo Fire Pit
Rocksmith, for PS3

He really wants a fire pit for the backyard, and is hard to shop for, so with DH's okay, we got him one. He needs AR books, so the Riordan book is perfect. He is a guitar player, so the Rocksmith game is perfect. And I think it is high time he learned to cook, so the cookbook.

Everything I have gotten him so far is from Amazon.com.

Still need to get him :

The Hangover 2
Hot Topic Gift Card
Amazon.com Gift Card
and possibly a new suitcase for his trip to NY next year

I am trying not to go overboard this year. It seems like every year I overshop.

For everyone else, I have no idea. Again, I am pretty budget minded this year and determined not to overshop.

 

[Desnik]

I have gotten a lot more done & only have a few more to buy for!!!
I have a long list of people I need to buy for so here is my list:

Kids:
My BFF's 4 kids, 3 boys, one girl who is my God daughter. The boys each got a Lego set & I got them buy one get one half off. For the girl, I didn't get her gift yet but will buy her an American Girl outfit for her Molly doll. So for this family on all 4 gifts I spent around $65

DNiece (2) Lego Duplo set $15
DCousin (10 yes, I have a 10 year old cousin lol) American Girl craft set $15
DCousin's daughter (2) Aqua Doodle sets $10
DNephew (18) Band T-shirt from Hot Topic $15
DCousin's daughter (15) Book she wanted $15
DCousin's daughter (15) lotion from B&BW (free) $15 iTunes card
DCousin's daughter (5) indoor cardboard place house that you can color $15
DCousin's son (5) indoor play tent with crawl through tunnels $15
DCousin's daughter (3) princess pop up indoor tent $15
DCousin's daughter (7) lipgloss set & craft kit $15
DNiece (10) ?? Might just get her an American Girl craft kit
DNephew (15) ??
DSis (19) book $15 & ???? I only exchange with this Dsis, my other sis we just buy gifts for each others kids. So I like to spend a little more on this siter also because she is like my kid, so I spoil her! lol

Adults:
My mom & her boyfriend: A CD they wanted $15 & a botlle of wine that I still need to purchase

My dad's girlfriend: Yankee Candle set $10 & ??
My dad: hardest person to shop for cause he has everything!! ???

Grandma: B&BW candle $10 & a Blu Ray movie she wanted $15

Grandpa: ???

DMIL & her girlfriend: ???

DAunt: Vera Bradley tech case (free) & Yankee Candle set $10

Bus driver: Yankee candle set $10
4 female teachers each are getting B&BW sets total cost $60
2 male teachers: ???

Our Kids:
DS (8): $15 iTunes card, $10 Petco card, $10 movie theater card. Harry Potter Castle add on Lego set, Lego City Camper, 3 small lego sets $1.19 each, Melissa & Doug hangman game $7, Vinylmation pin & magnet, $10, Nightmare b4 Xmas pin set $10, Candyland boardgame $5.
*Need to buy him a new iPod touch & a $20 Barnes & Noble card

DD (13): $20 iTunes card, $20 Petco card, $10 movie theater card, Toy Story 3 plush unicorn doll $4, 2 Vinylmation magnets $5, Vera Bradley Tech case free! Laptop computer $199
*Need to buy her a $20 Barnes & Noble card & Hollister card maybe $50

DH: All I got for him so far is the Steve Jobs book he wanted $24
Not sure what else to buy!!

Wow, writting this all out it seems like so much!! I am determined to get the rest of it done within the next 2 weeks! Oh, I have also wrapped all the gifts mentioned above lol!!!

 

[pigletto]

Desnik! I thought I had a lot of people to buy for!!! You win

I have 2 sets of parents, my kids, the kids I do daycare for (6), 4 seperate gift exchanges with family (we draw names), teachers (5) , sil, bil, and nephew and a few hostess gifts. So maybe 24 people in total? Oh.. forgot the bus drivers for the kids. 27. Yikes.

I've started on dd's and ds's gifts, have a gift for my mom and.... that's it. I really need to get the ball rolling!

 

[Spacepest]

I wasn't really planning on Xmas shopping this year. In short, I was physically disabled this summer, have medical and legal bills coming out the wazoo, and can only work part time as a result. (Thankfully the disability will be temporary). Xmas presents were not in the cards this year--if anything should get you a pass out of buying Xmas presents for a year, being stuck in a wheelchair during the holidays should be one of them.

However, my husband and I were going over our business accounts this morning...and just remembered that our company credit card has been racking up points that we can trade in for gift cards. ALOT of points. So we exchanged them all to order gift cards for our family members. Xmas is saved! (And who do I thank in this case? The Credit Card Fairy???)