Christmas Shopping '09

[amberg@eastlink.ca]

check out costco, i've seen olivia the pig book sets there from time to time. they also had some at walmart recently too. i love olivia the pig! we have one book in the house somewhere, i love it, dd isn't in to it...we're stuck on ariel right now!

Hi Everyone. This year I have a second baby and my husband will be home with the kids to get those get mid-week deals for me so my resolution for this Christmas/Hanukkah is to be done by mid-October!

I usually get done my shopping on Dec 24th about 10 minutes before the mall closes. And I have been known to stop for the occasional last minute gift card at our 24 hour CVS! So this thread is for me and I am going to need all the help I can get!!

I have 2 kids and husbands that I will be shopping for most on but a huge family I am shopping for as well. My DD just turned 3 is in into the princesses, crafts, and a huge Olivia the Pig fan. Unfortunately Olivia is mostly only available online but I am hoping more will be available now Nick Jr. has the cartoon. My DS is only 5 weeks so he won't get much but we will see.... My husband will be hard! I want to get him that Toys Story Mania Wii game since that was his favorite ride at WDW and that's should hold us over until my DS is old enough to take to WDW! My daughter informed me this evening that she wants to get him a Transformers shirt as well!!!

My hardest people to buy for are my 2 nephews, they are 18 and 14. Anyone that has boys this age, I welcome any suggestions!

 

[rainydayplay]

Thanks!! I think we would all love to see it!!!

Rainydayplay~ So glad you found us!!!That is too funny about your little girl!! I know my boys had the fisher price airport...they didn't play with it as much at 3 and 4 as they did at 5!! It was crazy!! I always stash my stuff unwrapped---just keep it in the bags from the store. I have a cabinet over my fridge...I have been putting stuff in it forever....i don't think they even realize that it opens!! That's really a great place once things do get wrapped too...keeps it from shifting and the paper doesn't rip. This house has a good attic too, so sometimes I just put it in dark garbage bags when I get home from shopping and stick it in the corner. My oldest son knows about the attic...but he would not dare look....he is like me....we LOVE suprises and would be sick if we found out what we were getting!! I do love Fisher Price stuff!!!!! We had the bus and the minivan!!!!
For your grandparents, have you looked at Harry and Davids? I don't know if you are familiar with them-they have the most awesome fruit baskets!!!! You can get any amount and in any price range. They also have chocolate and snax.....got that last year for my grandfather and his wife. He's 80 and doesnt want anything, he has it all!! He is very health consious and has always been a fruit lover....his wife of course went for the chocolate! Ha!!! They delivered it pretty quick too. You can pick a card on line and print your own message into it. It's very convenient!! If you want to they can just deliver it to you and you can give it, but I thought he would like the surprise....and I asked my mom and my uncle(It's their parents) and they went in with me and we got a pretty big one. I am definitely gonna do that again this year!!

As far as the Twinn doll--a friend of ours got her daughter one...it does kinda look like her, but it mostly looks like the mother! ha!!!

Harry & David's wouldn't work for my grandparents. (I'm a frequent shopper! And I was just at one last weekend!) There is a person who makes a fruit & nut basked for them every year. My grandmother has Alzheimer's, so she tends to "hide" it -- this year, she put it on the dining room table. They have a table in the kitchen that they eat at, and they barely go into the other room at all, so it sat in there forgotten until I retreived it a few weeks later and had to throw everything out. (ICK!) My grandfather might have eaten it...if he'd known where it was.

DD has the Little People Sweet Sounds Home, the playhouse, the grocery store (which speaks in Spanish & English), and the purple SUV/Van). Now, she's begging for more people, practically on a daily basis....stocking suffers? I will probably either get her the bus or the airplane -- Toys R Us did have both in her signature color (PINK!), so I have to find time to sneak in there without her when I have money. Maybe they will also have people?


Granddad likes to do woodworking (and does a great job, considering he's 87!), but if/when he needs something, he hops in his truck and goes to buy it. Granny likes Dalmations (she used to raise them and once had 10+ not puppies!) and birds. But, she doesn't need anything...and is a pack rat, so there's almost not room for anything.

My DD13 got a Twinn doll from her Grma when she was 3. We joke that it would more accurately be called "my cousin" as there is a family resemblance but it is far from being a twin. My best advice is to order early as it takes a while and then the first one they sent us was so far off that Grma sent it back. The second one at least had the correct eye and hair color.

All that being said, it was a hit with DD. She loved her and loved dressing like her. She recieved several matching outfits that Christmas and updates the next couple of years. She played with her a lot, named her Kimmie, and pretended that she was her little sister. My DD loved dolls and her Twinn was among the faves in her LARGE colection. She's now carefully packed away. (This is making me all misty eyed- thinking of my sweet doll playing little girl who is now a grown up 13 and away at camp- she's still just as sweet as can be!)

Chimed in on this question but I'm actually amazed that so many are Christmas shopping.

I may just have to go with a Twinn. I could deal with it looking like a cousin or like her mother (especially since DD looks so much like I did when I was her age, I tell everyone she's a clone. Some people give me funny looks for that, but I think it's a perfect explanation for her. My DD also tries very hard to add a sister to the family...effectively adopting every female friend as her "sister". Maybe a doll that looks like she could be part of the family would help there.

Two years ago, I bought her an original Cabbage Patch -- a $300 handmade doll that's as big as she was at the time. A Twinn sounds like a bargain!

 

[PrincessPeyton]

check out costco, i've seen olivia the pig book sets there from time to time. they also had some at walmart recently too. i love olivia the pig! we have one book in the house somewhere, i love it, dd isn't in to it...we're stuck on ariel right now!

We don't have a costco but they just opened a SUPER Walmart near us so I will check there! Thanks! We love Ariel as well in our house. Since my little girl has red hair, she is her favorite princess.

 

[amberg@eastlink.ca]

no problem!!! how cute, youre little girl has a princess just like her! thankfully i love ariel and had both movies when they came out forever ago...sadly they're both on vhs! lol

We don't have a costco but they just opened a SUPER Walmart near us so I will check there! Thanks! We love Ariel as well in our house. Since my little girl has red hair, she is her favorite princess.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Hi Everyone. This year I have a second baby and my husband will be home with the kids to get those get mid-week deals for me so my resolution for this Christmas/Hanukkah is to be done by mid-October!

I usually get done my shopping on Dec 24th about 10 minutes before the mall closes. And I have been known to stop for the occasional last minute gift card at our 24 hour CVS! So this thread is for me and I am going to need all the help I can get!!

I have 2 kids and husbands that I will be shopping for most on but a huge family I am shopping for as well. My DD just turned 3 is in into the princesses, crafts, and a huge Olivia the Pig fan. Unfortunately Olivia is mostly only available online but I am hoping more will be available now Nick Jr. has the cartoon. My DS is only 5 weeks so he won't get much but we will see.... My husband will be hard! I want to get him that Toys Story Mania Wii game since that was his favorite ride at WDW and that's should hold us over until my DS is old enough to take to WDW! My daughter informed me this evening that she wants to get him a Transformers shirt as well!!!

My hardest people to buy for are my 2 nephews, they are 18 and 14. Anyone that has boys this age, I welcome any suggestions!

Glad you found us! Hope we help you get motivated and finished in record time!!! does your hubby like to get massages? My husband does and he loves getting gift cards for one every chance he can!!! gift card buying is sooo awesome... I use to think it was lazy, but then I had kids!!! It's easier to shop that way for adults, and you can buy them with your kids standing there and know they probably aren't gonna be able to 'slip' the surprise!! Plus it's sooooo much faster!!! If he wouldn't like that , maybe a homemade gc booklet....your daughter could help, I have seen some that are really cute. you know, This Coupon Entitles you to....then whatever, a weekend without mowing the yard, or just to lay around and watch tv, or whatever....but you have to honor them when he gives it to ya!!!
As far as the nephews...do they buy their own clothes? If so, GC to your local mall. Or maybe a card for Itunes if they have an IPod? Or if they are into books, start them a series they may like, or again, a gift card to your bookstore... With a new tiny man to take care of, make it easy on yourself...set a goal to buy for one person in your family per week, or every 2nd week, whatever works... you should finish in plenty of time starting now, and you'll miss the holiday rush and you won't be stressed.
You are all doing sooooo good!!! Yay shoppers You are making me proud!!!!!

 

[PrincessPeyton]

no problem!!! how cute, youre little girl has a princess just like her! thankfully i love ariel and had both movies when they came out forever ago...sadly they're both on vhs! lol

We have tons of VHS for my daughter! Before her first WDW trip our local library was getting rid of alot of the Disney movies on VHS so my husband bought TONS. They still work so it works for us! She just doesn't understand the rewind concept.

Glad you found us! Hope we help you get motivated and finished in record time!!! does your hubby like to get massages? My husband does and he loves getting gift cards for one every chance he can!!! gift card buying is sooo awesome... I use to think it was lazy, but then I had kids!!! It's easier to shop that way for adults, and you can buy them with your kids standing there and know they probably aren't gonna be able to 'slip' the surprise!! Plus it's sooooo much faster!!! If he wouldn't like that , maybe a homemade gc booklet....your daughter could help, I have seen some that are really cute. you know, This Coupon Entitles you to....then whatever, a weekend without mowing the yard, or just to lay around and watch tv, or whatever....but you have to honor them when he gives it to ya!!!
As far as the nephews...do they buy their own clothes? If so, GC to your local mall. Or maybe a card for Itunes if they have an IPod? Or if they are into books, start them a series they may like, or again, a gift card to your bookstore... With a new tiny man to take care of, make it easy on yourself...set a goal to buy for one person in your family per week, or every 2nd week, whatever works... you should finish in plenty of time starting now, and you'll miss the holiday rush and you won't be stressed.
You are all doing sooooo good!!! Yay shoppers You are making me proud!!!!!

I love the massage idea! He actually got me a GC while I was pregnant so I know the perfect place. The last massage he had was before our wedding 6 years ago!
The first present on my list is Thomas the Tank Engine at AC Moore for my daughter. I have a coupon for 40% off an item so I only buy Thomas there and going to stop there tomorrow!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

We have tons of VHS for my daughter! Before her first WDW trip our local library was getting rid of alot of the Disney movies on VHS so my husband bought TONS. They still work so it works for us! She just doesn't understand the rewind concept.


I love the massage idea! He actually got me a GC while I was pregnant so I know the perfect place. The last massage he had was before our wedding 6 years ago!
The first present on my list is Thomas the Tank Engine at AC Moore for my daughter. I have a coupon for 40% off an item so I only buy Thomas there and going to stop there tomorrow!

Look at you!! You are motivated and shopping already!! Ha!!! Aren't discounts the best ever!!!!!

 

[tjcrabb]

I noticed that several people have children who love the fisherprice little people. Right now they are doing a 20% off their clearance sale. I happen to know that there are a couple of little people sets for 7.99 after the discount. All you have to do is add the toy to your cart and it will show the lower price. There are tons of other stuff too. I bought a couple of shake and go cars for about 3.99 after the discount. There are free shipping with a 50.00 purchase codes out there but if you put in code F27187 you get the summer adventure little people set for free. I dont think you can use multiple coupons though so you will have to figure out what is the better deal. They also have handy manny toys, dora, deigo etc.

http://www.fisher-price.com/fp.aspx?st=900000&e=storethumb&pcat=fps_on_sale_little_people Little People Sets

http://www.fisher-price.com/fp.aspx?st=900000&e=storethumb&pcat=fps_on_sale Entire sale

~Tricia

 

[Monny2AE]

Ruh Ro Raggy Don't be upset but I took a detour from Christmas shopping and did some back to school shopping to day!

DS picked out a Wall-E backpack from the Disney Store and we hit Target for the rest of the goodies. Now he's all set for kindergarten!

Don't worry I'm back on track with Christmas on the brain again now!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Ha! Of course, back to school shopping is a must!!! I know he is gonna be so cute with his little backpack!!! I was thinking this week about that. For some of our kids in Texas, they go back mid August...lots of schools are pushing it back to around the 24 or so, but even so, parents who only get paid twice a month only have 2 paychecks left to buy all that stuff!!!! I don't know about other public schools,but the ones around here have an unbelieveable list of stuff to buy!!!! It's crazy!!!! Plus, they have to get new clothes and shoes and all that...I just don't see how they expect so many families to get so much stuff!!!! Gone are the days of a new packpack,pencil and erasers, crayons, scissors and glue!!! Which is why so many of us shop for stuff for bdays and Christmas all year!!! It's too inconvenient to buy so much at once!!
Now..back to our Regularly Scheduled Program.....!!

 

[xanphylus]

Hello all! I am here to let you know that I am an early christmas shopaholic.

I am very far behind this year though- but glad I am, as DD8 just decided she does indeed want a bike after all (she has been saying for years now that she does not want a bike and doesn't care about learning to ride. This changed when she met the 10 year old girl down the street- who can ride a bike! ) So, all in all its good that I am late- usually I have all my major shopping done by now and hidden at my mothers in the "present room at nana's" that the kids are not allowed to enter!

DD is easy as pie to shop for! She loves everything and does not care if it expensive or cheap or clearance or whatever- she just loves a surprise. All I need to worry about is finding her a decent bike for a really good price.

DS1 really is easy, as he loves the paper and boxes as much as the presents in them!

DH is where it gets hard. He does need new underwear! I guess that can be part of it.... Merry Christmas huh? Undies! Gotta start thinking about his now- it might take til Christmas to decide!

Already got some toys for DS at Toys R Us- a light up baby's first screw driver and a dump truck. DD has a virtual treasure trove of gifts in my closet at all times! Little stuff I can pick up at incredibly low prices through the year gets thrown in and forgotten until Christmas when I unload the whole closet! The overflow goes for her birthday in Feb- works out great!!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Hello all! I am here to let you know that I am an early christmas shopaholic.

Ooohhh Yay!!Another one!!! We are proud of you!!! Like your idea of stashing at nana's house!!!Glad you are here!! Welcome to the Christmas shopping party!!!

 

[bas71873]

Don't want to hijack OP's thread, but I'm at a loss for Cmas shopping for DD6. She is not into anything electronic nor any video games, handheld playstations, etc. (which I am more than OK with) so anything like that is out. She LOVES little play animals and princess sets (pet shop, my little pony, etc) but we have it all, literally. We went to Toys R Us yesterday to spend a bday gift card and there is nothing new out there.

She loves to color but she's loaded up on that stuff, including a nice art desk. Santa brought a kareoke machine last year which was a big hit. She loves to dance and play dress up, but again, we have it all. She's not into baby dolls. She has the biggest imagination EVER and can play with her little disney and animal playsets for HOURS!

I'm just stumped. I''m considering a new bike, but honestly, she rather just be outside with her sidewalk chalk, hoola hoop, bat & ball.

Santa needs help

 

[PrincessPeyton]

Don't want to hijack OP's thread, but I'm at a loss for Cmas shopping for DD6. She is not into anything electronic nor any video games, handheld playstations, etc. (which I am more than OK with) so anything like that is out. She LOVES little play animals and princess sets (pet shop, my little pony, etc) but we have it all, literally. We went to Toys R Us yesterday to spend a bday gift card and there is nothing new out there.

She loves to color but she's loaded up on that stuff, including a nice art desk. Santa brought a kareoke machine last year which was a big hit. She loves to dance and play dress up, but again, we have it all. She's not into baby dolls. She has the biggest imagination EVER and can play with her little disney and animal playsets for HOURS!

I'm just stumped. I''m considering a new bike, but honestly, she rather just be outside with her sidewalk chalk, hoola hoop, bat & ball.

Santa needs help

Does she have the new 3D sidewalk chalk? My DD3 just got it for her birthday, she doesn't really get it but I think it's really cool! She also go Crayola Color Explosion for her birthday. She is too young for it but I think it would be perfect for a 6 yo. my DD3 is very into crafts/coloringd which I prefer over her getting toys!
Does she like movies? I am sure some new great ones will be out over the holidays!
Good Luck! Luckily since you are thinking about it now you will have plenty of time for inspiration!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Don't want to hijack OP's thread, but I'm at a loss for Cmas shopping for DD6. She is not into anything electronic nor any video games, handheld playstations, etc. (which I am more than OK with) so anything like that is out. She LOVES little play animals and princess sets (pet shop, my little pony, etc) but we have it all, literally. We went to Toys R Us yesterday to spend a bday gift card and there is nothing new out there.

She loves to color but she's loaded up on that stuff, including a nice art desk. Santa brought a kareoke machine last year which was a big hit. She loves to dance and play dress up, but again, we have it all. She's not into baby dolls. She has the biggest imagination EVER and can play with her little disney and animal playsets for HOURS!

I'm just stumped. I''m considering a new bike, but honestly, she rather just be outside with her sidewalk chalk, hoola hoop, bat & ball.

Santa needs help

Hi!!! You are not hijacking!! This is one reason I did this thread.. we can generate ideas, or see what works for other families and try it out!!! Wow!! A Challenge!!! Which I love Okay, let's think.....my dd is 6 also. She too liked the 'little' stuff for a while...Pet shop, Polly pocket. but, she informed me yesterday she really doesn't like Polly,just pet shop. She is really starting to play more with her American Girl stuff. She has a big doll,Elizabeth, and the baby. But, she too is into drawing. I just got her 2 cute little drawing books at B&N...she has just sat for hours drawing/coloring.
Does she like books? My kids have always loved our time when I sit down and read with them. If you think you may want to get her some, I can pm you a list of books that my dd really enjoys.
Have you seen the disney castle playset on the Disney shopping website? It's really cool... I think it's $75 --it opens and has some of the princes/princesses and little stuff inside. Also, dd thought for a while(then changed her mind) that she wanted the Loving Family dollhouse and little rooms/people that went with that. Would she like something like that?
Legos for girls..cd player for her room and some Disney cds? Puzzles? Does she like Fancy Nancy? We just started being interested in her. I love her!! She is soooo cute..she has quite an imagination as well!!
What about one of those disney princess,or Tink, heads that you can fix the hair?Any of the new Tink stuff? She's pretty tiny!!! they even have her little house --which I myself am in love with. Dd doesn't like it as much as me, but then again, I am a super Tink fan!!!
Well, we will be thinking of what you can do!! Ha!! How does any of this sound? Let us know!!

 

[robb01]

I've been doing a lot of shopping when amazon has good sales. Saved a lot of $$

 

[PrincessPeyton]

I've been doing a lot of shopping when amazon has good sales. Saved a lot of $$

I heart Amazon! I am hoping to start shopping early enough to take care of the bargains. Usually I am so late that I lose the bargain by having to get it express shipped to make it in time for the holiday!

 

[xanphylus]

Just to let everyone know- I was at Target the other day and they did their first markdowns on the toys! Its not a great discount, but the next end of summer markdowns should be soon. Its not just on outdoor stuff either its most of the toy dept. Some good stuff in boys, girls and most ages. I am waiting on the next markdown- but if you have some must buys, check it out now!

 

[Tink_fanatic]

Hey Everyone!

This year is going to be hard for me. My DD 5 wants an American Girl Doll (I'm completely lost on which one to get her, they are expensive too). I've already picked her up a Leapfrog Leapster 2. I have not gotten any games yet, waiting for them to dip below $20. And as of a week ago, she started talking about wanting to paint and stuff like that; so I figure a big container of Crayola products, an easel, and some paper.

My mom, she's hard to shop for because she doesn't like to shop. LOL. I know I will get her The Color Purple DVD (her favorite movie ever) and maybe some more of her body splash from Bath and Body Works. I don't know what else besides that.

My brother I will get some old Jean-Claude Van Damme movies, Pulp Fiction, and some stuff that's for him but really for his baby boy that is coming in September.

My dad is a total mind buster. Last year I got him a Miami Dolphins leather coat from HSN. He doesn't wear it. I don't even know where it is now, have not seen it since Christmas Day. So I hope I can get some suggestions from this board. I mean I'm really at a lost for it. He doesn't really like anything, it's just hard.

A have a few friends to buy for and their respective kids. I started actively shopping last month. Keeping my eye for deals and such. Oh, didn't read all the way thru the thread but if anyone is looking American Girl dolls, QVC is having a show for them on their Christmas in July Weekend. The show starts at 12:00 am on 7/25 so that means some thing that hour is going to be a TSV.

Sorry the post is so long, must be because of the late hour...

Anyone have any suggestions for what to get my dad? He like golf, but doesn't play (go figure). Loves the Miami Dolphins. Likes action movies but have shown no interest in what came out lately. I'm just at a lost, some help will be highly appreciated.

 

[bas71873]

Hi!!! You are not hijacking!! This is one reason I did this thread.. we can generate ideas, or see what works for other families and try it out!!! Wow!! A Challenge!!! Which I love Okay, let's think.....my dd is 6 also. She too liked the 'little' stuff for a while...Pet shop, Polly pocket. but, she informed me yesterday she really doesn't like Polly,just pet shop. She is really starting to play more with her American Girl stuff. She has a big doll,Elizabeth, and the baby. But, she too is into drawing. I just got her 2 cute little drawing books at B&N...she has just sat for hours drawing/coloring.
Does she like books? My kids have always loved our time when I sit down and read with them. If you think you may want to get her some, I can pm you a list of books that my dd really enjoys.
Have you seen the disney castle playset on the Disney shopping website? It's really cool... I think it's $75 --it opens and has some of the princes/princesses and little stuff inside. Also, dd thought for a while(then changed her mind) that she wanted the Loving Family dollhouse and little rooms/people that went with that. Would she like something like that?
Legos for girls..cd player for her room and some Disney cds? Puzzles? Does she like Fancy Nancy? We just started being interested in her. I love her!! She is soooo cute..she has quite an imagination as well!!
What about one of those disney princess,or Tink, heads that you can fix the hair?Any of the new Tink stuff? She's pretty tiny!!! they even have her little house --which I myself am in love with. Dd doesn't like it as much as me, but then again, I am a super Tink fan!!!
Well, we will be thinking of what you can do!! Ha!! How does any of this sound? Let us know!!

Unfortunately, my spoiled princess has all of this stuff. The castle was from Santa last year and I tell ya, the BEST $$ ever spent. She still plays with that. Would recommend that to anyone who's thinking about it.

We have the doll heads

Fancy Nancy. I may have to check her out. I think we have 1 book that she got at a freebie book fair. Have to do more exploring on her.

My daughter LOVES music, loves drama so I'm also thinking of taking her to a play somewhere too. We are about 1.5 hours from Wash, D.C., so I'm researching off broadway shows that may hit that area.

My thinking cap is ON