Christmas Shopping 2010

[amez]

We are thinking about doing the Harry and David gift baskets for some employees of my husbands. Last year we got $25 gift cards for dining out. However the few weeks before Christmas several of them mentioned how much they liked H and D and my husband thought he might try it this year. Do they have any sales or discounts near Christmas-we want to stick to the $20-$25 range.

Figment 1990- Glad you are here and love Christmas so much!!! LOL...sorry you are having knee trouble and no Disney trip...but yeah, Christmas is just as fun to plan for with little ones! As far as hard-to-buy-for-elderly family members,...I always recommend a Harry & Davids Fruit basket!!! Not just elderly people either! I get one for someone on my list every year. If you haven't seen them go to the website....fresh fruit, desserts, snacks...all in beautiful baskets or great boxes....I love just looking at them!
For your mom...geez...that's gonna take some thinking! Maybe a GC worth 2 or 3 hair appointments at the best/snazziest Salon around....hmm..we will all be thinking about this!!! My kids like Mario too, so maybe that would be fun for y'all...
Your little guy sounds precious! I love 5 Trees!!!!!

 

[Tink561]

My 4.5 year old (turn 5 in Jan) daughter will likely get the Playmobil Magic Castle. I have it and several sets that I purchased last fall. I think that will be her big thing.

I want to get all of my kids together the K'Nex Dumbo set. My older guys will enjoy putting it together and my daughter will love it!

My guys, 21, 18 and 17, will likely get clothes and money. Not much.

 

[timzagain]

It's nice to know that I am not the only "nut-job" who is thinking about Christmas now.

I try to buy gifts year round, so I have a few things set aside already - gifts for the relatives and close friends, as well as some stocking stuffers for my immediate family.

We tend to buy one "big" gift and a few smaller ones for each of our children, (ages 12, 18, 18 and 20). I have no idea what we'll be getting the three older ones. For DD12, we are considering a Nintendo Wii or maybe a digital camera. My preference is for the camera - one time purchase, none of the added expense (games, controllers etc) of the Wii.

Outside of that, I am pretty sure I will be buying her new clothes to replace the ones that she's rapidly outgrowing!

DD18 and DSD18 will probably get clothes too. DD18 has been eyeing some designer handbags, so I might do that if the price is right. Not sure about DSD yet - knowing her, she'll probably say, "Just give me money!"

I have promised myself that I will not buy any decorations this year...could be a problem, because my husband thinks I need a 12-step program for my Christmas decoration addiction!

 

[Paradise18]

I am hoping to get a start on my shopping when I head to FL in a couple of weeks. I live in Canada and hope to pick up some things that can be hard to find/slow to arrive here. My DD6 has taken an interest in Zoobles. DS11 is much more difficult to buy for. He really loves video games, but I would rather expand his interests beyond those. Happy shopping everyone.

 

[Tink901]

Thanks for starting this thread again this year! I am about 75% complete with my Christmas shopping. I am making a few items but will be complete with them by October the latest. I think for my older relatives who say they dont need anything-I will be sending them a gift basket from Wolfermans and maybe a restaurant certificate or one for a grocery store.

Thanks again!

Brenda

 

[MoniqueU]

Anyone else with older kids getting bummed about the holidays? There are no big ticket surpise things to get these kids, they have it all. My girls will be getting their gift cards in coach wallets, my son will get his somehow. The kids are each getting 2 gifts too open on Christmas Day to keep them occupied. i am at such a loss I don't even know what to put in their stockings? My girls are harder to buy for then my 17 year old son. Styles come and go and I think half the fun for one of my kids is returning stuff over and over. We have my MIL, Mom and oldest Dd's birthday all in Dec too so that makes it hard. I am just not feeling it this year.

 

[mdsouth]

This is why I love the DIS!

Lots of people out there who think like me. I am one that shops early,
year-round actually.

The main people I will buy for are my two kids

DS 14 and DD7. My DH and I buy something together that we both want or that the family will like. A few years ago it was the Wii and last year it was a flat screen tv.

A few years ago my brothers and sister and I decided to stop exchanging gifts.
It has worked out great for us. We still get together for Christmas and it is better since the focus is on celebrating Jesus's birth and family time together.


I am not sure what I will get DS14. I will have to wait awhile. We bought him a flip video camera last year.

For my DD7,
I actually have one toy for my DD that I bought before Christmas last year, a Lego house. I realized after I bought it that she wasn't quite ready for it. Since I got a great deal on it I just put it away for this year.

I also bought her a Zhu Zhu Pet add on - the Pizza Parlor. She saw the new city stuff on the box and commercials. Since she has played with them all year, and a lot lately, I went ahead and bought it this week when I saw it at Target.
I also bought the FurReal bunny playset (similar to Zhu Zhu Pets). She loves rabbits and I expect will love it. Again, it wasn't on sale, but they only had two and I don't want to have to be on the hunt for it later this season.

I have not heard of the Zoobles, so I will have to check them out. I might just buy one to have in case they are the new hot toy this season.

I, too, love to shop on BF just for the atmosphere. It is fun when you don't have to worry about finding any specific bargain.


I am looking forward to the season and sharing all the planning and anticipation with my DIS friends!

 

[mdsouth]

Anyone else with older kids getting bummed about the holidays? There are no big ticket surpise things to get these kids, they have it all. My girls will be getting their gift cards in coach wallets, my son will get his somehow. The kids are each getting 2 gifts too open on Christmas Day to keep them occupied. i am at such a loss I don't even know what to put in their stockings? My girls are harder to buy for then my 17 year old son. Styles come and go and I think half the fun for one of my kids is returning stuff over and over. We have my MIL, Mom and oldest Dd's birthday all in Dec too so that makes it hard. I am just not feeling it this year.

I know the feeling, we used to buy gifts for my nieces and nephews but our family stopped that a few years ago. Before we stopped exchanging gifts, my nieces were around 17 and 18. They had everything they wanted and so it was hard to buy for them. I hated to just give them money or a gift card since it doesn't seem to fun to open.

Now, my DS 14 is fast approaching this age.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

We are thinking about doing the Harry and David gift baskets for some employees of my husbands. Last year we got $25 gift cards for dining out. However the few weeks before Christmas several of them mentioned how much they liked H and D and my husband thought he might try it this year. Do they have any sales or discounts near Christmas-we want to stick to the $20-$25 range.

I am sure they have something in that price range! I usually do around $100 for our grandparents because 3 families went in on it and it was for both of them...so it evened out well!

My 4.5 year old (turn 5 in Jan) daughter will likely get the Playmobil Magic Castle. I have it and several sets that I purchased last fall. I think that will be her big thing.

I want to get all of my kids together the K'Nex Dumbo set. My older guys will enjoy putting it together and my daughter will love it!

My guys, 21, 18 and 17, will likely get clothes and money. Not much.

The Dumbo sounds great!!

It's nice to know that I am not the only "nut-job" who is thinking about Christmas now.

I try to buy gifts year round, so I have a few things set aside already - gifts for the relatives and close friends, as well as some stocking stuffers for my immediate family.

We tend to buy one "big" gift and a few smaller ones for each of our children, (ages 12, 18, 18 and 20). I have no idea what we'll be getting the three older ones. For DD12, we are considering a Nintendo Wii or maybe a digital camera. My preference is for the camera - one time purchase, none of the added expense (games, controllers etc) of the Wii.

Outside of that, I am pretty sure I will be buying her new clothes to replace the ones that she's rapidly outgrowing!

DD18 and DSD18 will probably get clothes too. DD18 has been eyeing some designer handbags, so I might do that if the price is right. Not sure about DSD yet - knowing her, she'll probably say, "Just give me money!"

I have promised myself that I will not buy any decorations this year...could be a problem, because my husband thinks I need a 12-step program for my Christmas decoration addiction!

That is hysterical!!!

I am hoping to get a start on my shopping when I head to FL in a couple of weeks. I live in Canada and hope to pick up some things that can be hard to find/slow to arrive here. My DD6 has taken an interest in Zoobles. DS11 is much more difficult to buy for. He really loves video games, but I would rather expand his interests beyond those. Happy shopping everyone.

Hope you find everything you are looking for!!!

Thanks for starting this thread again this year! I am about 75% complete with my Christmas shopping. I am making a few items but will be complete with them by October the latest. I think for my older relatives who say they dont need anything-I will be sending them a gift basket from Wolfermans and maybe a restaurant certificate or one for a grocery store.

Thanks again!

Brenda

Your Welcome!!! And wow!!! You are nearly finished! Way to go!

Anyone else with older kids getting bummed about the holidays? There are no big ticket surpise things to get these kids, they have it all. My girls will be getting their gift cards in coach wallets, my son will get his somehow. The kids are each getting 2 gifts too open on Christmas Day to keep them occupied. i am at such a loss I don't even know what to put in their stockings? My girls are harder to buy for then my 17 year old son. Styles come and go and I think half the fun for one of my kids is returning stuff over and over. We have my MIL, Mom and oldest Dd's birthday all in Dec too so that makes it hard. I am just not feeling it this year.

Yes, it does make me sad!!I don't like it...I miss them all being little bitty! My youngest is 7,...so she is not a baby anymore!

This is why I love the DIS!

Lots of people out there who think like me. I am one that shops early,
year-round actually.

The main people I will buy for are my two kids

DS 14 and DD7. My DH and I buy something together that we both want or that the family will like. A few years ago it was the Wii and last year it was a flat screen tv.

A few years ago my brothers and sister and I decided to stop exchanging gifts.
It has worked out great for us. We still get together for Christmas and it is better since the focus is on celebrating Jesus's birth and family time together.


I am not sure what I will get DS14. I will have to wait awhile. We bought him a flip video camera last year.

For my DD7,
I actually have one toy for my DD that I bought before Christmas last year, a Lego house. I realized after I bought it that she wasn't quite ready for it. Since I got a great deal on it I just put it away for this year.

I also bought her a Zhu Zhu Pet add on - the Pizza Parlor. She saw the new city stuff on the box and commercials. Since she has played with them all year, and a lot lately, I went ahead and bought it this week when I saw it at Target.
I also bought the FurReal bunny playset (similar to Zhu Zhu Pets). She loves rabbits and I expect will love it. Again, it wasn't on sale, but they only had two and I don't want to have to be on the hunt for it later this season.

I have not heard of the Zoobles, so I will have to check them out. I might just buy one to have in case they are the new hot toy this season.

I, too, love to shop on BF just for the atmosphere. It is fun when you don't have to worry about finding any specific bargain.


I am looking forward to the season and sharing all the planning and anticipation with my DIS friends!

It is fun and the ideas some of the ladies have are unbeatable!

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

I'm excited, I just decided to get MIL a membership to ancestry.com. She's mentioned wanting one before, but she thought it was too expensive. It is pricey, but I think I will go for a 6 month membership which will be more in my budget.

 

[Tink561]

Anyone else with older kids getting bummed about the holidays? There are no big ticket surpise things to get these kids, they have it all. My girls will be getting their gift cards in coach wallets, my son will get his somehow. The kids are each getting 2 gifts too open on Christmas Day to keep them occupied. i am at such a loss I don't even know what to put in their stockings? My girls are harder to buy for then my 17 year old son. Styles come and go and I think half the fun for one of my kids is returning stuff over and over. We have my MIL, Mom and oldest Dd's birthday all in Dec too so that makes it hard. I am just not feeling it this year.

I feel the same way with my sons. They are 17, 18 and 21. They just want money but it is so dull. Of course then they have to watch their little sister open her Santa goodies. In a way I feel bad for them but they don't care.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

I'm excited, I just decided to get MIL a membership to ancestry.com. She's mentioned wanting one before, but she thought it was too expensive. It is pricey, but I think I will go for a 6 month membership which will be more in my budget.

Oooohh...that's a Good Idea!!!

 

[Happy Mom2]

Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year.

This year I have a new problem... where to put the Christmas tree?! We have always put the tree (a slender 12' artifical) in the corner of our living room. Well, as I speak DH is painting the new builtins that are in that corner and all along the only free wall in our living room. Because of the height of the tree it can only go in the living room, which means it will have to go in front of our front door (makes me nervous in case of fire) or in front of our fireplace (not a big deal since I live in South Louisiana and only use it a couple times a year, but where would I put the stockings and wouldn't Santa knock the tree over when he comes down the chimney?). Any thoughts??

We also put up two small trees - one in each of the kids rooms. DD has a pink tree, and DS and has blue tree.

I haven't started any of my Christmas shopping, but I don't usually start til October. I do 95% of my shopping online. A couple years I did 100% online. It so much easier than fighting store crowds.

We are going to Disney during at the beginning of December so I have to be finished with all my shopping by then. We usually put the tree the weekend we will be gone, so I may put it up before Thanksgiving this year. It would be nice to come home to a fully decorated house, but I guess that will depend on how organized I am with packing and getting everything ready for Disney!!

 

[TiggerStac]

I'm glad I found this thread. Everyone thinks I'm crazy for starting already. I really haven't made a dent, but need to spread it out. I'm a SAHM now, so one income and we are going to WDW 12/3-12/11...so I need it done before then!

I have 3DS ages at xmas time 20 months, 1 month shy of 4 and 9. We buy for everyone and it gets to be a bit much. My family loves when I do pics of the kids, my parents get the ones from our photographer, but I'm probalby going to do sears package w/coupons etc and get frames for aunts/uncles and be done w/it. We get gifts for godparents, so w/3 kids, that's 6. With hubbys side of family, I really play it buy ear and buy gift cards at last second, we never know if we are even going to see them. Other than his dad, we do see him.

This is what I have so far: 2 $25 applebees gift certs (from cvs today, got my $10 ECB for purchasing $50 worth), Melissa and Doug puzzle for close family friend that we excange with. DS8's godmother I got her a boyds bear that has an angel saying on it.

Everytime I've gone to target my oldest has been with me so I can't go looking. I hate buying junk for the kids, we have sooo many toys and they get sooo many from my family it's crazy. I need to think of useful things to get them.

 

[Grendalynn]

 

[smillerguy]

I want to place an order on disney but I missed the 20% off code. Should I wait? Think it will come around again soon?

 

[Mndisneygirl]

I'll have to sub and catch up later! Just wanted to say Hi Shawna and I'm going to follow along! It still seems too soon for this!!

 

[neatokimmo]

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

 

[tikilyn]

Oh I love Christmas shopping. I have a DD 9 (will be 10 by xmas) and a DS7.

For DS I hit the target clearance sale or what was left of it. So far I picked up

2 battle strikers turbo tops starter pack 3.xx each
6 battle striker tops 1.24 each
1 legos set 10.00
1 dino toy that you control with a needle looking thing 5.00
1 remote control transula 10.00
still need to buy
dvds (black friday)
ps2 game (used from gamestop or black friday)
ds game
26" tv (black friday deal hopefully)
dvd player (black friday cheapy deal)

from Santa
Netbook 250.00 (trying to talk dh into giving him his netbook = free)
Starwars Imperial AT-At something or another 89.00

For DD9/10- she's hard to shop for. Doesn't play with dolls or toys in general.
So far I have picked up her Santa gift
Laptop 298.00 (walmart had it on special last week)
From mom and dad
26" tv (also black friday deal hopefully)
dvd play (black friday)
dvd's (black friday)
Ugg boots (online sale hopefully)
ds game
clothes
books
some other items, She makes it really hard to buy for her.So I'm looking at for ideas. Also her birthday is in early december too.

 

[bas71873]

I hate buying junk for the kids, we have sooo many toys and they get sooo many from my family it's crazy. I need to think of useful things to get them.

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!