Oops! On Tuesday I said I would be back “tomorrow” with Christmas gifts, and it just didn’t happen. The day got so crazy, but all good things, including the Winter Jazz Band concert at our high school. I’ve seen this concert for so many years (first with my son, and now with Angie) and afterwards I couldn’t help lamenting that I only have one more. Sob! If you stick around reading this blog for another year, just know that I am going to be a MESS.
Anyway! This is definitely not a gift guide- I don’t have enough ideas for something like that. But I’m pretty happy with the things I’ve gotten so far. Starting with my son’s birthday (yes. BOTH my kids have December birthdays, WHAT WAS I THINKING).
After living his whole life until now in Florida and Texas, Paul is realizing that WINTERS UP NORTH ARE COLD. He requested these Bombas socks. Wow, they are expensive (which is why they’re a good gift- if they were cheap he would just buy them for himself) but I took advantage of the Black Friday 25% off sale. I also got him this chocolate passport from Trader Joe’s:
Other than that, we’ll go out for a nice birthday dinner and he says he’s happy with that. For Christmas he’s asking for some mundane things like razor blades, but he’ll also have a few surprises under the tree. I was going to get him an Aura frame, but then I found this very similar product for almost $100 less (again, with a Black Friday deal).
Now- I did get this on Amazon. Whenever possible, I’m avoiding Amazon but I couldn’t pass up the chance to save the money. This is a digital photo frame that can be loaded with hundreds of photos- I can send him photos and so can his girlfriend, and they’ll show up in his frame. I think he’ll like it!
For my daughter: the hippo plushie has arrived!
Also a blank comic book- she and her friend enjoy making snarky comics about their classmates (wait- should I be encouraging this?) I’m still planning to get her the sticker printer, but haven’t chosen one. They really vary in price! I don’t want a super expensive one, but I also don’t want one that just prints black and white. The pebble ice maker is still on my list (although that may be a birthday present). I’m also still waiting for her requests, which will probably include some clothes and makeup.
My husband has requested books (all obscure biographies of jazz musicians). I’m also getting him a water bottle so he’ll stop stealing mine (let’s not get into that) and a new coffee mug.
For myself- I have loaded my cart at AbeBooks! Here is what I want:
- I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes
- The Flanders Panel by Arturo Perez-Reverte
- The Keeper of Lost Causes by Jussi Adler-Olsen
- An Immense World by Ed Yong
- The Night She Died by Dorothy Simpson
Have you read any of these?
Do you have any great gift ideas this year?
Top photo by Kostiantyn Li on Unsplash
19 Responses
Sounds like a good haul! I have some concerns about Amazon, but I also have concerns about my time and being able to find things from other stores, so of course I use them. I just try to be mindful and to not get stupid stuff.
Photo frames are awesome. I have one in our living room and in my office. When Hubs got his new job and started working in a non-home office he asked for a photo frame so that he wouldn’t be away from our epic reel of dog and kid pix.
What is the saying…you can drive your husband to his own water bottle but you can’t make him not drink out of yours? I have dedicated water bottles/travel cups that I do not share with my family for that reason. I can’t trust them to put them back so they’ve got water bottles everytime they want them and I end up high and dry.
Haha… that’s a good saying! I try to segregate all my mugs and water bottles, but SOMEHOW they end up being “borrowed” anyway.
I love my Aura frame and what a fun gift for a college dorm room! I love it. I should ask for one for my office. I am going to try to build a 2026 that does not include shipments from Amazon. I use Prime because we Stream, but I really need to cut back on my shopping there. I need to plan an errand day every week and most of the stuff I can get in town and sometimes even cheaper!
Yes, with a little planning it’s easy to avoid Amazon… most of the time. There are a few things that are tricky though!
That blank comic book is so cool, Jenny. I’m stealing the idea for Nu! Thanks 🙂
Yes, it’s really fun!
My parents have a photo frame like that and they love it! It’s fun to look at all the photos from years past when I’m at their house.
I’m mostly trying to shop small/local this year. I’ve ordered a few gifts already but I need to figure out exactly what I’m getting my mom and sister, though I’m looking at Etsy for personalized things but I need to order soon to be able to get them in time for Christmas!
Yes, Etsy is great! You do have to be organized because unlike Amazon you can’t get things in two days (we’re so spoiled). You still have plenty of time though.
I think my parents would love a frame like this but, also, they are SO technologically awkward so I wonder how they would make out…? Maybe an idea for next year?
Living where I do, Amazon is almost a must for getting certain things. I mean, I could drive 1+ hours to try to source things in Halifax, but it’s not realistic or economical.
When I can, I buy local and I try to get as much as possible second-hand!! There are a lot of hills I could die on right now and Amazon will not be one of them.
That comic book looks so cool; I’ve added it to my gift ideas list for next year.
I think with all the secondhand things you buy, a few Amazon purchases are justified. And- if you got a digital frame for your parents you could set it up for them, and from then on I think it would be pretty easy.
Those are all great gift ideas! My boys are getting, respectively, a Garmin watch and backcountry camping gear. Expensive gifts but hey, it’s Christmas. My husband did all the shopping for those items, but I did buy each of them a clothing item. For my younger son who works outside, a really warm “shacket” and I love just saying the word “shacket.” My older son wanted a cardigan style sweater as he and his roommate like to save money by keeping their apartment cold in winter and hot in summer. So a sweater he shall have, bless his cheap heart. Winters up north are cold! Although I would say they are “cold” here and not COLD like when I lived in Calgary.
My husband is getting a variety of things from me – a sleeping pad for camping, books, puzzles, a giant box full of jars with different kinds of olives that I found in Costco – but the most fun thing is I found a cocktail shaker for his stocking. You turn it and it gives different recipes for cocktails. So really it’s a gift for me.
Ha ha… nice job on the cocktail shaker! Sounds like you’ll both appreciate that one. These are all great ideas- I think I want that giant box of olives!!!
I think you should consider planning a trip of sorts for your husband and you sometime after Angie has graduated. Gretchen Ruben recommended it. I can’t remember what she called it, but we have honeymoons when getting married and babymoons when we get pregnant – we should do something to mark the empty nest (or open door as GR refers to it).
Bombas are a great gift for us northerners! I love mine and my boys love them, too! Phil’s cousin tends to send us a box of them at Christmas!
Will’s birthday was yesterday so I did not really think through gifts until we got past that event. I have gotten the boys a gaming system called “Playground” which is a motion sensor game so they have to be up and moving to play. I asked Phil what else we should get them and he said – ‘haven’t you already gotten them quite a bit?” UM NO!! I mean the Playground system was $175 after all the discounts so it’s a pretty big gift. But they each need a few more things to open. I think Santa will get them a membership to the Science Museum since they loved it so much and it’s a museum all of us would enjoy. I need to figure out what else to get them, though… We are otherwise pretty much done with gifts for others. I got Phil a charging station for his iPhone which also charges an apple watch and airpods which are things he doesn’t own… but the price was reasonable. That will go in his stocking along with a new mouse for his laptop. Super exciting right? I also am going to get myself a water bottle for my stocking. Our stockings have been empty in years past since we usually don’t buy gifts for each other so I decided I will buy things for us to put in our stockings.
Amazon is terrible but where else are we supposed to shop? Most big box retailers are pretty problematic… I always feel like I have to put a disclaimer statement in posts where I mentioned shopping at Target. But I feel like Target is less bad than Walmart and it’s a local company that employs many people in my community!
I ordered our ornament for the year and our cards. That is the extent of the shopping I have done. I did buy some of the gifts for my Secret SANta swap partner, but I don’t have the whole thing and I’m running out of time to get that in the mail by San’s deadline! There’s so much to do and work is hectic right now with the end of the semester. Egads!
Sounds like you’re on it! Good be heard really great things about Bombas! And the digital photo frame is nice!
I haven’t really gotten anything other than a planner for Jon (he gets the same simple one very year and doesn’t even want to look at others LOL I wish that was me!)
Everything else needs to be online ordered because I am NOT shipping overseas.
great picks!
I wouldn’t be able to know what I want though. I would like to be surprised!
That hippo plush is adorable!
Bah on the December birthdays! (Mine is the day after your daughter’s)
Bombas are great socks, not only because they are warm but also because they are super comfy. I love them.
I got my husband the new Who box set, and my daughter is getting a soda stream. She drinks SO much seltzer water, I think this is going to help save the earth (yes, we recycle, but still!)
I’ve used Amazon for Christmas shopping this year. Not for most things, but sometimes, a deal is a deal. IDK, it’s all so complicated.
I have most of my Christmas shopping done! I’m really excited for my mom, as I got her a puzzle board and a new Kindle, and then HAD to get her a cute dachshund-themed cover for her Kindle (which will be “from” Chip and Lucy).