Holiday Gift Ideas

[rt1ky]

Along with traditional store-bought gifts I always try to get gifts that are eco-friendly, fair-trade or from a charity. Just to try and keep my head above the commercialism waters, so to speak. There are some local fair-trade stores around here so you may want to look around town before paying for shipping and handling. I also like local venders malls and craft fairs.


Here are some links.
www.ecomall.com
www.mercycorps.org/mercykits
www.tenthousandvillages.com
www.agreatergift.org
www.equalexchange.com

I try to remember the troops. I'm not sure if these sites are linked with
Canadian troops, but I'm sure there are some out there.
www.letssaythanks.com- This is a site where you can send a free postcard to the troops, on Xerox's dime.
www.treatsfortroops.com

[queenb]

I'm glad our family not only drew names but a list of preferred gifts this year--I pulled my neice who only wants a store gift card---easy one! But just for fun, I'm putting in an order at
http://www.fansofrealitytv.com/forums/stupid.com

for some cheap little gifts that will make everyone laugh even if they're thrown out by December 26... troll doll earrings for all the ladies, bacon print bandaids, flying pig hats, and I got enough for a joke for everyone, under $50

[hepcat]

Queenb, thanks for that link - those products are hilarious. Stay in Love Forever breath spray? Cute. Butt face soap and Che lip balm sound like awesome stuffing stuffers.

[Unklescott]

I love the dollar store for stocking stuffers. My grandkids look forward to my huge stockings stuffed with cheap crap every year.

[marybethp]

I'm a good listener. I pay attention to things people say and try to take it from there. Last year my Mom mentioned in passing that she had these beautifully personalized notecards from her friend and she used her last one. Ta DA! When she opened the gift, she couldn't believe she got more because she didn't even remember mentioning it.

I'm with Veruka. I like to personalize my gifts. The only trouble I have these days is for my pre-teen and teen nieces and nephews (we only buy for Godchildren, since there are 17 grandchildren altogether. TG!). They like money and gift cards. That's what they get. However, I hate that it's so impersonal - however when most of them barely mutter a "thanks", then I don't feel so bad!

[cricketeen]

When my husband was in high-school, his football team went all-metro and he won awards, scholarships, had a lot of articles written about him in the local paper, etc... I was thinking of taking his football jersey and having it framed, since it is just laying in a drawer. I doubt he will hang it up though, so I'm not sure it's worth doing?

[VeronicaBelle27]

Cricketeen, maybe a tabletop sort of shadowbox? Something he doesn't have to "hang"

[Unklescott]

I doubt he will hang it up though, so I'm not sure it's worth doing?

He just might if you did it for him. Maybe you could also take some of his other memorabilia and make a collage. I don't know of too many men who wouldn't dig that. Does he have any sports memorabillia hanging anywhere? Putting his own jersey in the middle of his favorite college/pro team stuff would be very cool. My buddy still had his helmet from high school and it was cool setting there with his other stuff in the rec room. When he passed away his family donated it to the alumni association and it's now displayed in the alumni house on campus.

[applesauce]

I have a gift suggestion for any runners or cyclists you may know. My husband runs, which is great. However, his dad died from a massive heart attack in his early 40's while out on a run. Plus mr.apple has had some issues of his own, along with his brother. It always worried me that mr.apple went running without any ID so I purchased him a ROAD ID tag. These tags come with the information you provide and can fit on a shoe or be worn around the arm. They are reasonably priced as well. I bought it at www.roadid.com and think it is a great stocking stuffer for someone you love.

[cricketeen]

Thanks for the ideas you two. I never thought to add anything to the frame . We do have some of the newspaper articles somewhere. I don't know if he saved his letter, I'm sure it's around, just gotta find it without asking him.