Christmas Shopping 2010

[81felgs]

DITTO TiggerStac. I am trying REALLY, REALLY hard this year to cut down on the junk toys too this year!

One thing I am going to do for DD, is a gift card tree. It is small holiday tree (I think I'm going to look for a really girly pink one) and it was decorated with different gift cards. For DD I'm thinking $5 to McDonald's, Chick-fil-A, Dairy Queen, and a then larger ones to Build-a-Bear (she's been dying to go), the movies (I've spent a fortune in seeing kid movies this summer...but it's been fun), Target, Justice (he new found love), maybe Claire's. I figure this "gift card tree" will become a Santa tradition for years to come!

I like your gift card idea. My DD is 3..and we have had Thursday playdates with two other girls for the past two years. So I'm going to use your idea and give all three girls $10 gift cards and then they can go shopping together when the weather is really crappy and there is nothing else to do. I can't wait to see them in Claire's picking out fun stuff.

 

[81felgs]

I have enough stuff for DD3 already I think, but I'm open to any suggestions!

I have:
Ariel Costume
the super fancy Ariel dress up shoes
My friend Aurora (not as big as American Girl but much larger than Barbie)
My friend MULAN! woot woot! (DD is Asian)
The deluxe Aurora with three extra gowns - barbie size
A Snow White and Cinderella in Barbie sizes
A mickey mouse clubhouse bank. It is really big and really cool, she'll flip!
A Silvermist Fairy hair fixing big head thing
A huge bucket of princess foam stickers for crafts
2 sets of little bracelets/necklaces
a singing microphone
various packs of stickers & tattoos
mickey mouse squirt guns
an Ariel bubble music playing, bubble wand thing
a Cinderella nightgown, the kind with sheer layers (her fav kind)
a new Minnie mouse stocking
15ish new Disney Ornaments from Disney.com's big after Christmas clearance sale last year
a big bag of beads for crafts
quite a few Disney tshirts for summer, 6 or 7?
A tinkerbell clock with the silver bells thingies on top
Ariel bedroom slippers
a turquoise dressy scarf for dress up play

DD spends most of her day dressed up, wearing those plastic high heel princess shoes. I've got a prissy little one

I love your ideas. Where did you get the bucket of princess foam stickers?

 

[81felgs]

Just found this thread and am LOVING it!

I wanted to add for all the Disney fans that need stocking stuffers that Target had some really cute Princess items in their dollar section (pencils, notebooks, cold packs, etc.) For 2.50 they also had princess and toy story lunch kits (snack container and drink holder) or sandwich keeper and water bottle. They were cute. My boys are 10 and 12 and would never go for them, but thought I would mention them.

Okay, what are some ideas for 10 and 12 year old boys?

For ds 12, I am thinking of some Aeropostle clothes (he has really gotten into Aero!)-- I have already gotten him an Aero hat, wallet, and boxers. He also likes legos and Star Wars (although he won't admit it to some) and enjoys reading. I thought about his big gift of buying a kindle, but don't know that it would interest him as much as the price justifies.

For ds 10, he is a bit harder. I will have to keep thinking on him!

Thanks for the info. My DD is a princess fan. I'll be stopping by Target tomorrow then.

 

[Perditamarie]

What's the big "it" gift this year? Not sure if Zoobles and squinkies and Legos are fabulous enough to be "it"....dont think I want to go the Ipod path yet. Sure miss those toddler days when just a big box was a hit!

 

[ryka]

I'm getting in on this. I love Christmas. This year we are only doing kids. No adults. Which makes me happy. There was to many adults to buy for. I just had a baby too so I get to but all those baby toys again.

I heard somewhere ( don't remember where) that sing-a-ma-jigs were going to be a hot toy this year. So I went out and got those already. I love these things.

 

[mickeymouseclubhouse]

Hello!

Am I the only one who buys toys for Christmas throughout the year and tucks them away in a closet and then forgets what I bought?

I have a bunch of stuff in the closet but I need to go through it and see what I bought so far

My 7 year old and 4 year old are big American girl fans so I have been picking up extra outfits and stuff as they go on sale. Their big gift from mom and dad is going to be Lanie's camper.

I did pick up a pack of Squinkies for DD4. We decided to get DD7 a DSi and DD4 a Leapster Explorer before our upcoming Disney trip so both will get some new games for their systems for Christmas.

I have more for DD7 right now so I need to buy some more things for DD4.Will love reading about what everyone is buying.

 

[ilovepete]

Hello!

Am I the only one who buys toys for Christmas throughout the year and tucks them away in a closet and then forgets what I bought?

I have a bunch of stuff in the closet but I need to go through it and see what I bought so far

My 7 year old and 4 year old are big American girl fans so I have been picking up extra outfits and stuff as they go on sale. Their big gift from mom and dad is going to be Lanie's camper.

I did pick up a pack of Squinkies for DD4. We decided to get DD7 a DSi and DD4 a Leapster Explorer before our upcoming Disney trip so both will get some new games for their systems for Christmas.

I have more for DD7 right now so I need to buy some more things for DD4.Will love reading about what everyone is buying.

No, I do that, too! I'll probably forget all this stuff by December haha.

 

[Becc1]

Hello!

Am I the only one who buys toys for Christmas throughout the year and tucks them away in a closet and then forgets what I bought?

I have a bunch of stuff in the closet but I need to go through it and see what I bought so far

My 7 year old and 4 year old are big American girl fans so I have been picking up extra outfits and stuff as they go on sale. Their big gift from mom and dad is going to be Lanie's camper.

I did pick up a pack of Squinkies for DD4. We decided to get DD7 a DSi and DD4 a Leapster Explorer before our upcoming Disney trip so both will get some new games for their systems for Christmas.

I have more for DD7 right now so I need to buy some more things for DD4.Will love reading about what everyone is buying.

I totally buy stuff and forget about it. I got so many stocking stuffers last year after Christmas that I don't even have to buy a thing for my younger ones. I also run into the problem of buying stuff and running out of hiding spaces, with 4 kids by the time Christmas comes around I have toys shoved in every closet in the house!

 

[mickeymouseclubhouse]

No, I do that, too! I'll probably forget all this stuff by December haha.

I totally buy stuff and forget about it. I got so many stocking stuffers last year after Christmas that I don't even have to buy a thing for my younger ones. I also run into the problem of buying stuff and running out of hiding spaces, with 4 kids by the time Christmas comes around I have toys shoved in every closet in the house!

I'm glad to know that I'm in good company, LOL

Luckily we haven't run out of hiding spaces yet and what's even funnier is that I have boxes of stuff hidden in plain sight....guess my girls have gotten used to seeing boxes laying around that have yet to be recycled, that we use for storing other items, etc, that they don't even notice the very large box with the camper in it, sitting in the corner of our living room

 

[GoHerd1028]

As a Disney Dad I am going to be in the minority on this thread, but I am sure that I will be able to gain some useful insight and ideas for gifts for my wife from you ladies!

 

[Becc1]

Lisa!!Glad you are joining in!!Well, that just stinks about the bonus!!! WOW! ...well, at least you can be making a list with the rest of us!! I have to suggest my younger sons favorite:LEGOS! We are Lego poor around here! Does he even like them? I know some kids really dont, but they are great for all kids--and when you day he's dev. delayed...that instantly popped into my mind! It really does give them something creative (even if they are not creative..they can follow the picture guides) and be proud of it..boosting their confidence and imagination..they have some awesome Lego sets nowadays!! You can get him some by age or interest...The Toy Story ones out right now are soo cute & they are not as intricate as some of the other sets,..so it would be easier for a beginner...
Does he like to color or draw? Does he like music? You could get him a CD player for his room and get disney cds & soundtracks from his favorite movies....hmm...we will have to think hard for him!!!

Thanks for the ideas, my 6 yr old is really into Legos, I'd love them to if I wasn't the one putting them together, lol. Ben, my 8 yr old, has very low tone in his hands (due to his CP) so he has a hard time with Legos, I bought him the larger Cars Megablocks last year and he likes those so maybe I'll look into getting him some bigger Legos, I saw some Thomas ones at Toys R Us last week that I think he would like. He does love music, I got him a MP3 player last Christmas and he got a few cd's that we downloaded on there, he doesn't listen to it very often though. Last week for his b-day I got him a Cars alarm clock with a radio in it which he loves. I also got him a Cars digital camera for his b-day which he likes alot too, I got the one that was for ages 3+ because it's alot sturdier and if he drops it, it holds up. I saw a video camera on Disney online I may look into for him since he likes the camera so much.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

As a Disney Dad I am going to be in the minority on this thread, but I am sure that I will be able to gain some useful insight and ideas for gifts for my wife from you ladies!

OOOOOHHHHH!!! Our first man!!! How cool!!! Well..give us some ideas what she loves or hates and we can maybe narrow it down a little for ya!!!

 

[sarahk0204]

I tend to overdo it, especiallly with my kids. One year they had 3 times as much stocking stuffers as stocking

I really need to be done early this year as we will be in WDW December 16-23. I have lots of sewing projects planned, and my work schedule is such that I have lots of free time in the mornings while my kids are in school. I like to make the nieces and nephews something (fleece mittens this year), as well as buy them each a book. I use my Borders coupons for this, so I buy one or two books per week. I also belong to a group that does a big Avon order as a fundraiser, so I usually get something for DD and the nieces from that.

Facebook is even helping with my shopping this year. Turns out that a guy I went to high school with has written several sports history books. My brothers are probably going to get books written by him.

I love the digital frame idea, and I'm going to steal it for my DF and DMIL.

I asked the kids (girl/boy twins age 6) what they wanted from Santa. DS wants Kung Zhu's, he will likely not change his mind. DD has no idea, and her choice will probably change 3 times before she settles on something

 

[GoHerd1028]

OOOOOHHHHH!!! Our first man!!! How cool!!! Well..give us some ideas what she loves or hates and we can maybe narrow it down a little for ya!!!

Thanks for the great welcome!!! Shari likes Coldwater Creek Clothing...snowmen ...she is a Martha Stewart and Paula Deen all rolled into 1 and I love rher that way!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Thanks for the great welcome!!! Shari likes Coldwater Creek Clothing...snowmen ...she is a Martha Stewart and Paula Deen all rolled into 1 and I love rher that way!

How sweet!!! Well...I have some Coldwater Creek stuff myself!! It is quality stuff! And I too love snowmen..they are just so cute!! Hmm...we will have to be thinking about suggestions- I am sure you will get lots and lots from all us ladies!!!

 

[polkadotsuitcase]

I was just baking something the other day (can't even remember what now!) and for one tiny second it suddenly felt like Christmas. I was so excited!

As the kids get older, it gets harder to find stuff for them, but this year I may be okay -- everyone seems to have hobbies or interests that will be fairly easy to find things for.

Question: With younger kids, it seems like what they like now might be "meh" by Christmas. I love to start shopping well ahead of time, but what do you do when you buy something that's hot (for them) now, but they've drifted away from by Christmas? Seems like older kids hold their interests longer, but for the younger ones...almost seems risky?

 

[jacksmomma]

Question: With younger kids, it seems like what they like now might be "meh" by Christmas. I love to start shopping well ahead of time, but what do you do when you buy something that's hot (for them) now, but they've drifted away from by Christmas? Seems like older kids hold their interests longer, but for the younger ones...almost seems risky?

For us, DS may stop talking about something, but when he unwraps it the excitement is there all over again. I got Monty T-Rex at the big after Christmas clearance at Target this past year for his birthday in July. He had stopped talking about it by then, but when he unwrapped it he was totally excited and ready to play with it again.

 

[bas71873]

For us, DS may stop talking about something, but when he unwraps it the excitement is there all over again. I got Monty T-Rex at the big after Christmas clearance at Target this past year for his birthday in July. He had stopped talking about it by then, but when he unwrapped it he was totally excited and ready to play with it again.

Ditto for my DD7. She just loves presents in general. I've often joked that I should just take $100 to the dollar store and buy and wrap 100 little things and she's been just as happy. I think the UNwrapping is part of the fun for her....and counting how many presents she has

 

[3princesses+aprince]

Well, we were in Target last night finishing up our school shopping and we took a stroll through the toy dept. Oh my! My kids want SO much! I finally said "ok, time to go"
I was supposed to start my christmas shopping last week, but have not really had the chance too. The kids go back to school tomorrow and i'll be running to walmart for our zoobles! I'm so excited! Now that our school shopping is all set, i'll have christmas toys to concentrate on!

 

[redandblue]

I heard somewhere ( don't remember where) that sing-a-ma-jigs were going to be a hot toy this year. So I went out and got those already. I love these things.

I bought two of these for my DS and DD. I thought DS might be a little old for them but the cashier talked me into it she also thought it was going to be the "it" toy this year.