GAH! (that's a favorite expression of mine when I'm overwhelmed and can't say $%#@!) Do you realize we have a little (and I mean minuscule amount of time if you are like me and haven't bought ANYTHING yet) over a month left before we tread through heaps of shredded wrapping paper and overstimulated/overindulged children? I have seriously NO IDEA what my game plan is for this Christmas. I'm still trying to figure out how to fit in a shower every day with the new little guy.
I mean, I kinda know what we are getting for the kids. I do know what I'm getting for the hubs, but the kids, they want everything and would be happy with the boxes they came in. My girls are fairly easy. Blondie wants a digital camera. Red wants clothes, which is a little more daunting since I'm the anti-woman woman and loathe clothes shopping. The boys like all things with wheels so that is fairly easy as well. It is just finding those "perfect" gifts for the people who I don't speak to on a daily basis. My in-laws for example. My step-mother who has everything she wants and no qualms about buying something for herself if it catches her eye. My dad just wants time and I have NO idea where the heck I'm getting that one from. See the above paragraph about showering.
What's your strategy for those hard to shop for people? Your service providers, teachers, and casual acquaintances? Me; I made coffee cozies and travel tissue holders, and for the people that I really like, aromatherapy therapy sets! I'll be stocking them in my Etsy and HC stores for Black Friday, as well as offering them up at a local Gift O'Faire.
I have no ideas. I am an SAHM and my husband's firm just announced a salary reduction. I will be frantically looking for ideas myself. Even just for my kids, much less 'The Extendeds'.
ReplyDeleteI'm soooo not the answer because we DO NOT BUY GIFTS for anyone except immediate family. Oh sure, we've been known to exchange a bottle of wine with friends, or a jar of homemade jelly for my mail lady, but casual acquaintances? I certainly don't have a budget that allows gift giving at that level. Although it could just be me. I do can and sew and will probably be making coffee-mug quilts this year for one or two friends, but seriously, as an unemployed gal the whole "casual acquaintances and service provider" segment has been out for some time. Our kids are adults, so no teachers, but we rarely gifted teachers either.
ReplyDeleteOut of curiosity, who exactly are service providers? (color me stupid I guess) :)
it may sound very small- but we use Dunkin Donuts gift cards as the go to gift. even a $5 or $10 one allows ppl to get at least one drink & treat. Put it in a nice card w. a note that they deserve a break, so take 15 and make a DD run. ppl love it
ReplyDeleteWe have a signature candy in my family that is our go-to gift for teachers, acquaintances, etc and maybe a little GC tied to it as well! Luckily, most that I buy for I am pretty good at coming up with ideas!
ReplyDeleteHmm, service providers would be your doctor, stylist, garbage man, postman, the people who treat you right that you have a pretty constant relationship with. We don't gift them all, but my ob/gyn is someone that hugs me, so she gets a token gift. My mailman lugs some pretty heavy boxes to and from my house when he could demand I pick them up or walk them into the actual office. Those are the random gift people. And I'm of thee opinion that I have an ability to create, so we don't buy these gifts either.
ReplyDeleteBTW, I'm LOVING all the new faces! I'll be heading your way to return the blog love.
So desu ne! Which sorta explains it: My mail chick gets fresh jam whenever I make it, I never see a stylist (i'm assuming that's hair and not the clothes I wear to fancy events, tee hee) and my garbage guy is somebody different every week, so he/she's outta luck. Oh. Doctor. Whatever... that's a once a year thing - she gets paid when I get a pap smear, that's enough humiliation for me. :)
ReplyDeleteSorry for being off-topic, I just am apparently a scrooge so I had no idea who I was supposed to buy gifts for!!! Glad to find you, I think it was through a police or anarchist blog ;)
I just do one gift for everyone outside of the immediate family. Everyone gets the same thing and if they don't like it, tough! lol. This year I managed to do it all for around $30! You can check out the results on my blog. :)
ReplyDeleteHi ya, thanks for stopping by and following my blog! I'm following you now! So not ready for Christmas. No one needs anything so I have no clue as to what to buy any of them. I wish I sewed. I love your coffee sleeves. I drink coffee like crazy and it would be nice not to use those cardboard sleeves. Great idea! 5 kiddos wow, how do you even have time to sew?
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to follow you and get to know you!
Megan
Michele, please share your signature candy.
ReplyDeleteI think I have an unusual relationship with my doctor. I have three boys 3 and under, so I've obviously seen her more often than once a year. Besides, she has a speculum and I'm pretty sure those could hurt if your doctor didn't get cookies and was taking his/her disappointment out on you!
Love your blog! Found you on blogfrog. I always have my son make something for people. Last year we made pot holders and my son painted them. His school's mascot is a cardinal so his teacher's pot holder had a cardinal painted on it. One grandma loves cats so she got a set of pot holders with cats. Everyone loves the personal touch!
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