Christmas Shopping 2010

[Ephany]

It looks like everyone is making good progress, including me finally I got dd pretty much done, I am just waiting for Target to put the Kindle on display so I can compare it to the Nook.

Staples will also be carrying the Kindle starting this fall, but I'm not sure of the exact date. If you have a store in your area, you might call and see?

 

[southern_redhead]

So what is on people's list for the g-parents? I always do a homemade something from the kids for all the g-parents and it's different every year. We're going on the 13th Christmas w/ kids and honestly I'm out of ideas! I was thinking maybe homemade snow globes but really that's not something each kid can make and it's not really age appropriate for the younger ones.

My mom heads out of the country by the end of Oct and won't be back until late spring so I want to have the kids finish their gifts, wrap them and make sure Nana has them to bring with her overseas. I really can't fail on this mission because she's going to be all alone w/o anyone for Christmas and that just sucks.

So any ideas?? Pretty please!

I have done some homemade gifts before. One that I did that my MIL and mom loved was to paint a flower pot (I did the lower part light blue and the upper part purple) then used a different color paint for each kid, painted their hand, and had them put a handprint on the body of the pot. Then I used a sharpie and wrote (for Mother's Day but you could do a Christmas saying) "Happy Mother's Day" on one side and "We love our _____" (Nana, Memaw) on the other side. I also wrote the kids name beside their handprint.

Another idea, probably more practical for someone traveling, is to buy a large canvas tote bag and tape off equal squares or rectangles so each kid has a "block" then let them decorate and sign their block.

Last year I gave a group shot of the kids on the beach, I framed it to match the various houses. For just two presents maybe you could take some current pics of the kids and load them onto a small digital frame. We have too many divorced and remarried grandparents so we couldn't afford that LOL

 

[MNTwinsMom]

So what is on people's list for the g-parents? I always do a homemade something from the kids for all the g-parents and it's different every year. We're going on the 13th Christmas w/ kids and honestly I'm out of ideas! I was thinking maybe homemade snow globes but really that's not something each kid can make and it's not really age appropriate for the younger ones.

My mom heads out of the country by the end of Oct and won't be back until late spring so I want to have the kids finish their gifts, wrap them and make sure Nana has them to bring with her overseas. I really can't fail on this mission because she's going to be all alone w/o anyone for Christmas and that just sucks.

So any ideas?? Pretty please!

You've had to do this 13 years, so you've probably done all of these already, but here's a few ideas we've made for the grandparents:

- As PP suggested, digital frame loaded with pics

- Every year we made a shutterfly calendar for my Mom. I get pics from my siblings and my moms computer so she gets a good mix. I put a collage on each page so it takes about 50+ pics to make the calendar. You can also personalize the dates to add birthdays

- A mug with a picture of the kids on it along with gourmet coffee or hot cocoa.

- A photo book with pics of grandkids or a recent trip. We had a family reunion trip this year so I made my MIL a book with pics from the trip. YOu can scrapbook this or make a digital book.

- If you have a make your own pottery place in your town you can take the kids to paint pottery. If the kids are younger you can do handprints. If older have them paint something.

Hope that helps! Good Luck!

 

[delmar411]

Thanks to you both for the ideas! You've gotten my creative juices flowing and I think I definitely will do the digital frame filled with pics just from me and DH and maybe older DD can work on a personalized photo calendar for Nana, she's got her own camera and computer so she can put it all together on her own...she's almost 13 that's something a computer savvy kid should be able to do right?

I was thinking younger DS (4.5) could possibly do something like this, http://familycrafts.about.com/od/giftsforanyone/a/huggiftbox.htm , he's not into arts and crafts too much but he does love to glue things and he's a major snuggle bunny. I would do it with a wooden box so it would be sturdy enough for traveling.

That's all I've gotten so far. LOL 2 down and 2 to go.

 

[Maggie Ann]

My DD asked for a children karaoke machine for either her birthday or Christmas. I didn't get a chance to research at work today and will go on line when I get home. Just wondering if anyone as purchased one that they would recommend. Not sure where she got this idea. Just hope that there is something out there and that the price is not out of control. Any suggestions? Thanks.

 

[rszdtrvl]

I just ordered my son his BIG BIG BIG Christmas gift today :

Dell Latitude D630 Core 2 Duo 2Ghz 2GB 320GB DVD/CDRW WIFI Laptop (Refurbished)

From Overstock.com.

I had my techie brother help me out finding out which type would be best and be a good deal. This one got the A-ok, and I don't think we will be able to beat the price, even on Black Friday.

After $15 off code from retailmenot.com it was less than $350 shipped.

He is going to go into high school next year, and DH has been wanting to get him his own computer for a while now.

Just birthday shopping (his birthday is also in December) and a few small things for Christmas for him and I am done!! At least for him. We still have family to shop for.

But the big present is on it's way and I am .

 

[northriver]

Suggestions for "guy" gifts:

dental tools - from Duluth Trading company, $35. All the guys in my family seemed to like them, not sure what they'll use them for, but the look cool...

tire repair kit - from Gemplers around $60 I think, you hope you never need it but it is sure nice to have if you do, especially for people who travel in remote places.

Gemplers actually has lots of really cool tools for gardeing, automotive repair, you name it.

titanium drill bits

Klein tools, expensive and worth every penny. I inherited 1,000 cheap screw drivers from my father and gladly I'd trade them all in for half a dozen Klein's!

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

I just ordered my son his BIG BIG BIG Christmas gift today :

Dell Latitude D630 Core 2 Duo 2Ghz 2GB 320GB DVD/CDRW WIFI Laptop (Refurbished)

From Overstock.com.

I had my techie brother help me out finding out which type would be best and be a good deal. This one got the A-ok, and I don't think we will be able to beat the price, even on Black Friday.

After $15 off code from retailmenot.com it was less than $350 shipped.

He is going to go into high school next year, and DH has been wanting to get him his own computer for a while now.

Just birthday shopping (his birthday is also in December) and a few small things for Christmas for him and I am done!! At least for him. We still have family to shop for.

But the big present is on it's way and I am .

Thank-you so much for posting this!! I need to buy two of these and totally forgot about overstock, I just went and looked and they have some great prices. And I can't believe I didn't think of looking there, we bought Dh's laptop from them over 3 years ago, it's been to Iraq and back and is still running great (although our "D" key has fallen off ).

 

[McKelly]

Okay, so I told my kids to start thinking about what they want for Christmas this year and to write it down in case grandparents, etc. ask, I can tell them. My DS8 can only think of two things he wants: his latest favorite book series AND a 40% off code from Disney so we can stay at the Polynesian next year!! I told him that would be difficult for people to get for him (for lack of anything better to say) and he told me "That's OK, I am going to ask Santa for it!" - How am I going to swing that one?!?! LOL!

Keeping my fingers crossed though! If I remember correctly I received an E-mail with a 40% code for most of the following year, last Fall....hopefully I will this year too!!

 

[rszdtrvl]

Okay, so I told my kids to start thinking about what they want for Christmas this year and to write it down in case grandparents, etc. ask, I can tell them. My DS8 can only think of two things he wants: his latest favorite book series AND a 40% off code from Disney so we can stay at the Polynesian next year!! I told him that would be difficult for people to get for him (for lack of anything better to say) and he told me "That's OK, I am going to ask Santa for it!" - How am I going to swing that one?!?! LOL!

Keeping my fingers crossed though! If I remember correctly I received an E-mail with a 40% code for most of the following year, last Fall....hopefully I will this year too!!

I went to Amazon.com and showed my son the "Wish List" button. I told him that when he is browsing and sees something he would like to have for the holidays or save up his money for to click that button on the page. That way I have some sort of idea what to get him, and it is all right there and can't be lost!

 

[alexensmom]

For anyone with younger preteens, I dont know if it was mentioned here, but Michaels has American Girl scrapbook and craft items. I just saw them and wished they had them a couple years ago. My DD doesnt play with hers like she used too, but I probably will get her the gift cards she can design herself. They have great things for stocking stuffers too.

 

[PixieDustPrincess05]

Hi Everyone!

I too began Christmas shopping way earlier than normal this year. I think it is really because of the economy- there seem to be alot more stores putting deals out earlier just to get the business- and I am not opposed to that believe me!!!!

So..... I was at Kmart a few weeks ago and they had Wizards of Waverly place barbie dolls for $4- which I picked up for my niece. I thought that was such a great "disney" bargain.

I have also picked up a few things for my ds4 from Toys R Us for Christmas- they include

The Leapster explorer, Leapster Explorer charging station, Toy Story Cartridge for LE, Mr. Pencil Cartridge for LE, a Shrek V Reader Cartridge for the V reader he is getting for his bday in 2 weeks, Toy Story Imaginext Dump Truck, and Toy Story Imaginext Buzz light year space ship.

I plan on also getting him the Imaginext Toy Story Junk Yard as well, and whatever other bargains I can get from now to Christmas.

Happy Shopping

 

[northriver]

Ok, I stayed up WAY too late the other night reading through this whole thread! I've started my list and stopped TRU over lunch and bought my youngest the ZhuZhu board game, 2pks of Squinkies and the Squinkie gumball set.

I feel awful spending so much more on my teenage son than I do on my 5yr old daughter, but she really does not need any more! She is the youngest of 5 grandkids and has inherited every toy known to man.

I do need suggestions for stocking stuffers for teenagers, if anyone has suggestions. I'm looking for REALLY inexpensive items. My son has some expensive hobbies and and long wish list of very expensive items, so I don't want to spend a fortune just filling the stocking in addition to the high priced gifts. My only idea so far is Camo print bandaids!

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

Ok, I stayed up WAY too late the other night reading through this whole thread! I've started my list and stopped TRU over lunch and bought my youngest the ZhuZhu board game, 2pks of Squinkies and the Squinkie gumball set.

I feel awful spending so much more on my teenage son than I do on my 5yr old daughter, but she really does not need any more! She is the youngest of 5 grandkids and has inherited every toy known to man.

I do need suggestions for stocking stuffers for teenagers, if anyone has suggestions. I'm looking for REALLY inexpensive items. My son has some expensive hobbies and and long wish list of very expensive items, so I don't want to spend a fortune just filling the stocking in addition to the high priced gifts. My only idea so far is Camo print bandaids!

Some ideas for a teen stocking:
flashlight/flashlight keychain
body wash
razor/blades
toothbrush
gum/candy
special snacks like slim jims
wallet
screwdriver
gloves

If he's driving:
license plate frame
air freshener
antenna topper

 

[scrapquitler]

Staples will also be carrying the Kindle starting this fall, but I'm not sure of the exact date. If you have a store in your area, you might call and see?

I saw an e-reader at Staples yesterday...I think it was the Kobo.

 

[jacksmomma]

I do need suggestions for stocking stuffers for teenagers, if anyone has suggestions. I'm looking for REALLY inexpensive items. My son has some expensive hobbies and and long wish list of very expensive items, so I don't want to spend a fortune just filling the stocking in addition to the high priced gifts. My only idea so far is Camo print bandaids!

Teen stockings are my favorite! If you have a TJ Maxx or Marshall's near you go there and browse. They always have all sorts of gadgets for both girls and boys and they are dirt cheap! I have filled stocking with:

gourmet candies
chocolate covered coffee beans
digital photo frame key chains
knit hats of all sorts
fun mouse pads/cooling pads
skins for laptops or phones
inexpensive saucer type sleds (Though that didn't fit in the stocking, the stocking fit in it! )
trivia books
mind teaser puzzles
microwave cookbooks
mug cake cookbooks and supplies from the dollar tree

 

[kinntj]

I ordered Christmas lights and silicone ties from QVC last Saturday. I couldn't pass up the ladybug night light that shows stars on the ceiling. It even comes with a guide for constellations and shuts off after so many minutes (I think 45). My DD will love that!

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

I saw those squinkies @ Target last week (just a display ONLY in a case) they did not have any, I think they were doing inventory so they will probably be out soon.
Someone tell me about them, how are they sold, how much? I think DD would enjoy them, she likes tiny things, we have a whole wipes container filled with small little items. When we go to Disney we always buy BAGS of those little collector series bags that have 3 characters in them.
Thanks!

 

[Graciesmom77]

My Toys R Us had Squinkies today and they were 10.99 for 16. My girls think they are cute, but with a 1 year old in the house, it just seems like a choking hazard.

I got some shopping done today.

For my nephew 3, Chuck the Truck Stunt Park. I price matched at Target to TRU, TRU was out, and with the coupon in the paper I got it for 19.99, usually 39.99!

For my neice I got a strawberry shortcake doll with outfits, normally 19.99 and with the sale and coupon I got it for 5.00!!!!

My Nephew I got a Guess Who I Am? game for 5.00.

This year I am getting my girls teachers some class room games for when they have indoor recess, so I picked up another Guess Who I Am? game for one teacher.

I got DD9 a Monoploy U Build with coupon and sale for 10.99.

I got the BOGO free Littlest Pet Shop Pets for a stocking stuffer.

I finally feel like I am on my way!

 

[CrzyDisneyFamily]

HI everyone! Just wondering if any of you had some ideas for me... I am due to deliver our first baby on Dec 19th (the first grandchild as well) and we are moving into a bigger place (with a bigger rent) this weekend...so I'm wondering what I can do for Christmas this year that won't break the bank? We are trying to save for when I'll be off with the baby as my job doesn't have paid maternity leave. Looking for gift ideas for the grandparents and my hubby. Thanks!