thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Dec 17, 2013 20:52:22 GMT -5
What gifts - past or present - are/were you really proud of? Something you knew would be meaningful. Something you knew the other person would love. Something clever that made the holiday a little special. What was it, and who did you give it to?
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sarcasticgirl
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Post by sarcasticgirl on Dec 17, 2013 21:24:07 GMT -5
I have a friend who is a massage therapist and just opened her own practice. Another friend had mentioned that she needed to schedule a massage with the first friend. So I bought friend 2 a gift card from friend 1. Friend 2 loves her gift and friend 1 gets business!
I once made my MIL cry with a photo calendar I made for her.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using proboards
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Timberwolf
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Post by Timberwolf on Dec 17, 2013 22:39:20 GMT -5
I made my DIL a quilt for her birthday this year. She and my step son moved to Seattle earlier in the year and we were both missing one another a lot. I made it in the same style as one they had on their bed right after they got married (they lived with us for a few months after they were married).
My DIL was so suprised she said she cried when she saw it, too.
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Apple
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Post by Apple on Dec 17, 2013 23:02:36 GMT -5
Batman soap for my nephew.
I had bought his some for his birthday the year before, and he loved it. It was just foaming soap, but it came in a Batman container. Anyway, my brother and SIL had been looking all over for it and couldn't find any, so for Christmas, I bought the last three that the store had and gave them to him for Christmas. My sister, who was visiting them that year, said that when he opened it, he started jumping up and down and gave all the soaps a big hug. Of course, they told him it was from my OTHER sister, but still, probably the most appreciated gift I've ever given.
Other than that, a couple small gifts I put a lot of thought into made a few people cry, but I can't remember what a single one was.
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ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ
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Post by ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ on Dec 17, 2013 23:10:51 GMT -5
A crocheted afghan I made for my sweet SIL who was dealing with Cancer. She used to lie on the sofa wrapped in it after her Chemo treatments. It helped her relax (it was in her favorite colors - white & blue).
It brought her comfort, and me too, knowing she loved it so much.
Their house was done mainly in those colors, any my brother still has my hand-crocheted afghan draped over his sofa in her memory - even though he's moved on.
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tcu2003
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Post by tcu2003 on Dec 18, 2013 0:14:58 GMT -5
A scrapbook for my Grandma's 80th birthday. I secretly got pics from the stages of her life, and created it. She loved it - I got to watch her open it and go through, and I loved watching her face as she flipped to each new page. I had so much fun making the album, and even more fun giving it because Grandma was so excited. She died a couple of years later, so my mom now has the album - but I'll definitely be getting that one back some day.
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Sunnyday
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Post by Sunnyday on Dec 18, 2013 0:23:50 GMT -5
This year, we're pretty proud of our gifts. We decided to give "experiences" instead of useless crap.
It was more expensive, but we felt strongly about it.
We hope that they get the hint or the idea catches on. I'm really tired of all the crap that people gets us. Most of it ends up in the re-gift box or straight to charity.
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steph08
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Post by steph08 on Dec 18, 2013 5:30:02 GMT -5
For my dad's birthday this year, we got him an Exotic Driving experience. He said he always wanted a Lamborghini, so he got to drive one. (Well, he got the flu and couldn't do it, but we rescheduled for this February).
I made my brother a scrapbook of our Europe trip. I just got it in the mail last night and it looks great.
I am pretty sure my mom (and maybe my dad too) will cry at their Christmas present this year - their first grandchild (that they don't know about yet).
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milee
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Post by milee on Dec 18, 2013 6:41:28 GMT -5
Funny you should ask, but I'm in the middle of making my traditional Christmas gift for my women's sailing group. Each year, we do a Christmas party where everyone brings a wrapped gift, each person draws a number, picks a gift and then can keep what they got or exchange for something someone drew earlier. A few years ago, one of the women had sent around an email talking about crazy things friends do and with the picture below attached. I made a scarf like that to give at the Christmas exchange and it was the most popular item - it was stolen 6 times and then worn home by a doc's wife who was going to wear it to their office party that night.
So, every year, I make the traditional Christmas "friend" scarf for our group. Still takes the new women by surprise...
loyalkng.com/2009/03/08/japanese-ladies-styling-boob-scarf-nsfw-lulz/
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marvholly
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Post by marvholly on Dec 18, 2013 6:52:22 GMT -5
this is the 3rd year I am giving the grandkids magazine subscriptions for Christmas. It was the suggestion of DD2 (2nd grade teacher). Not only is there NO extra toy clutter but they have something to look forward to every month/2 ALL year.
Since they will be older next year I am thinking about changing the magazines they will get then.
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Jake 48
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keeping the faith
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Post by Jake 48 on Dec 18, 2013 7:03:43 GMT -5
While DW and I were on vacation she fell in love with this painting of blue hydrangeas in a Nantucket basket (her wedding flowers) at one of the galleries we visited. DW won't spend money , so I contacted the gallery after we were home and got it for her for Christmas last year. This is now what I'm doing for this year, spending money on quality photos or giclee and the framing.
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alabamagal
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Post by alabamagal on Dec 18, 2013 9:48:04 GMT -5
this is the 3rd year I am giving the grandkids magazine subscriptions for Christmas. It was the suggestion of DD2 (2nd grade teacher). Not only is there NO extra toy clutter but they have something to look forward to every month/2 ALL year. Since they will be older next year I am thinking about changing the magazines they will get then. To Playboy Or am I dating myself because I'm not sure that is still around.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2013 9:51:41 GMT -5
When the kids were younger I had silhouettes made and framed for the grandparents. I thought it was a nice twist on the traditional holiday picture.
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Dec 18, 2013 9:57:45 GMT -5
My grandmother really liked the digital photo frame I gave her a couple years ago. I uploaded photos going all the way back to when her and my grandfather were dating.
DH really liked the canvas 8 x10 I had made last year. One is of him and Gwen, the other is a wedding photo. This year I finally composed all our wedding photos into an album.
She won't appreciate it fully now but I'm very proud of the storybook I made Gwen this year. I carted a tiny sock monkey with me on vacation and we took photos of him doing the same things we were doing. I created a photobook and wrote a story about his adventures with his friend Gwen.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2013 10:00:40 GMT -5
Last year I gave GW1 and LGW a trip to Disney World. I feel especially good about taking LGW. I don't think she is going to have too many trips like that and she really loved it.
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sheilaincali
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Post by sheilaincali on Dec 18, 2013 10:02:04 GMT -5
For DH- One year I took a framing class so I would be able to frame pictures and artwork. I found his dad's old medals and certificates from his days in the Marine Corps. He passed away when DH was 5 years old, while he was in the Marine Corps he was highly decorated and his name is mentioned on documentaries and in books from time to time. Anyway- I framed them up for DH in fancy individual frames. They look very professionally done. DH was so shocked he was speechless. They have hung in every house we have lived in since then. For Dh's 40th this year I snuck all of his ratty old Frat t-shirts out of the house and sent them to Honeylioness (WIR poster) and she made them into a quilt for him. His granny had made him one when he graduated high school and always wanted to have one made from his college days. He loved it. My dad- is very hard to shop for but some years I hit it out of the park. This year I found the truck that matches the 1970's Tonka Ready mix truck that was the first toy he bought when my older brother was born. All of us kids played with in and it sits on the shelf in his office. He mentioned a few months ago that he wished he had the matching truck. The other day he said he saw a shirt he wished he had bought last time he was in Palm Springs. It said "Papa- The man, the myth, the legend" since all the grandkids call him Papa. I found it on line and ordered it along with some special business cards to give out to his friends (trust me this will be a big hit) that used the same logo but with his name, address, phone number, email etc on it. He has the eccentric group of guys that he has breakfast with every Saturday. They will get a big kick out of his new business cards. Mom- last year I got copies of everyone's high school graduate photo (or current school photo for the grandkids) and their wedding photos and made her a family tree in a shadow box. It has a tree branch in there and I edited all the photos to be black and white. They hang off the tree branches. She really liked that. I stole the idea from pinterest. If you are interested it looks similar to this: www.flickr.com/photos/anjijohnston/4280339589/in/faves-28757002@N03/
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2013 10:07:20 GMT -5
For my father's 80th birthday celebration I created a slideshow from old family pictures everyone supplied. DH did a lot of PhotoShop work on the originals. We played it at the party we had for him and then I sent out the pictures on CDs. Very little $$ involved, but lots of love and great memories.
DH and I rarely get each other anything at Christmas but a couple of weeks ago we were talking about the cast-iron skillets his previous GF had taken with her when they broke up. DH had bought them at a craft fair from the guy who made them. He's a great cook and would use them, and I found a set on e-Bay, made in the 1950s in Erie, PA. (Triple win: made in USA, recycled, and my great-grandmother and her sister used to work as domestic servants in the household of the Griswolds, who owned the factory.) They needed a little cleaning up (DH bought himself a new drill with an appropriate abrasive pad!) and will have to be re-seasoned, but I was really happy to find them. I can't wait till he makes corn bread in them!
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milee
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Post by milee on Dec 18, 2013 11:09:34 GMT -5
My sister got my family all Nerd theme t-shirts this year and they are really funny. She did a great job getting ones that showed she knew not only what geeks we were but all our inside jokes.
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cktc
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Post by cktc on Dec 18, 2013 11:12:27 GMT -5
My SO had a set of drinking glasses with the logo from his unit in Iraq, all but one broke so I snapped a photo of it and had a new set laser printed.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2013 11:26:38 GMT -5
Years ago, adults in my family drew names for Christmas. I got my uncle and knew exactly what to get him.......Trans Siberian Orchestra tickets for him and my aunt. I was planning to go also, but their oldest son wanted to go more. So, I got them out of the house early and sent their son with my roommates (who were sitting in the same row) as a surprise while I babysat their younger boys.
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Sunnyday
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Post by Sunnyday on Dec 18, 2013 11:52:57 GMT -5
Interesting to note that the gifts that are really appreciated and memorable are the ones that are:
1)Extremely personal; 2)Require labor on the gift giver (making scrapbooks, etc..); or 3)Experiences.
I just wish people would do more of this stuff instead of all the useless crap that people exchange every year.
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sheilaincali
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Post by sheilaincali on Dec 18, 2013 12:15:10 GMT -5
Interesting to note that the gifts that are really appreciated and memorable are the ones that are: 1)Extremely personal; 2)Require labor on the gift giver (making scrapbooks, etc..); or 3)Experiences. I just wish people would do more of this stuff instead of all the useless crap that people exchange every year. Don't get my wrong- The Boy flipped out over his PS3 when we got him that a few years ago but for the most part I try to find things that are very specific to the recipient. I don't like to just give someone random stuff. I like to make sure it's something that they want, will enjoy and will either use or display. I think next year I'm going to shift more to the experiences than the physical gifts but I feel bad because my nieces and nephews are all pretty young (2 in jr high but the rest are 3rd grade and younger) and they really like the presents so I may do a book and an experience so they have something to open.
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whoami
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Post by whoami on Dec 18, 2013 12:24:37 GMT -5
My angel tree gifts. I never pick the ones who want things I wouldn't even buy my own kids.
This year they had kids who siblings are being treated for cancer. They are asking for things like shoes (and not $150 Nikes) or Christmas dinner. I ended up buying enough clothes for a week, a coat, 2 pairs of shoes, socks, a couple toys, Christmas candy, a couple toiletry items etc.
Today I'm picking up a couple tags off the angel tree at the local pet store I shop at. They are supporting an animal rescue I also support with an angel tree featuring their pups.
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sheilaincali
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Post by sheilaincali on Dec 18, 2013 12:56:38 GMT -5
I feel bad because this year I was just so disillusioned about the whole holiday and charities that I haven't done much of anything. I tried to find a family to adopt but wasn't able to- I called several organizations and they told me it was too much hassle on their part and to just buy an Angel Tree gift if I wanted to help out.
It probably makes me a horrible person but I don't like buying Angel Tree gifts for adults. I'm sorry I think things like that need to be focus more on kids and the elderly. I'm not buying "blinged out jeans" for a 27 year old woman. I went to every single Angel Tree location in our city and tried to find cards requesting realistic gifts and I couldn't find a single one. For one thing I only found cards for adults. I'm sorry I am not buying someone "snowmobiling gear". If you can afford the snowmobile, gas and insurance then you can afford to buy your own damn gloves and goggles.
It was very disappointing. The Blinged out Jeans and Snowmobiling Gear were two actual Angel Tree gift requests that I found. No one asked for a book, no one asked for mittens, boots, slippers, etc. They all wanted very specific (and expensive) items. Name brand jeans, shoes, iPods, iPhones, electronics, hunting and fishing gear, snowmobiling gear, etc.
whoami- I admire what you did- very kind of you.
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justme
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Post by justme on Dec 18, 2013 13:15:23 GMT -5
When I was young I made poems for everyone in the family and then sent it out to each family - it originally started out as a gift to grandma, but then realized I should sent it to others in the family too.
A few years ago my mom was getting on me about not caring or something, so I snuck out a lot of photos of her and my dad (and hoped she wouldn't go through the albums and notice) and then photoshopped them into a photo collage and printed out an 8/10 version of it. Still sits in the bedroom.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2013 14:02:09 GMT -5
Interesting to note that the gifts that are really appreciated and memorable are the ones that are: 1)Extremely personal; 2)Require labor on the gift giver (making scrapbooks, etc..); or 3)Experiences. I started sending out Christmas cards with handwritten letters the first year I was on my own. It was a way to keep in contact with friends and family who had scattered. I still do. Many of the original recipients have died, but I've added a few more over the years. I think I sent out 20+ this year. Every year a few of them tell me how much they look forward to my letter. Last night we got a note from DH's half-sister who said that she'd shared it with her friends and neighbors (whom we don't know) and someone said it was "a hoot". Not sure what that was about, but we did include a page of photos that included DH showing off a plate of steak tartare in Paris and some from DS' wedding. I really enjoy this- it's more time than money and doesn't involve scouring the malls for stuff people don't need.
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973beachbum
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Post by 973beachbum on Dec 18, 2013 14:03:10 GMT -5
My mom is in her 80's and lives in Phoenix now but grew up in New Bedford, Mass. This year I got her some Portuguese sausage shipped to her from them. Thruthfully it would have almost been cheaper to pay someone there to make it for her in her own kitchen for what it cost to ship it across country. But I knew she would really love having that food that was exactly what she had eaten as a child and there is no place in Pheonx that has that exact version of it and I know she will love it.
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Gardening Grandma
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Post by Gardening Grandma on Dec 18, 2013 14:29:41 GMT -5
It wasn't a Christmas gift, but it was our 20th anniversary (Jan 1). We don't normally exchange anniversary gifts, but that year I made a book using Shutterfly titled "20 years together" and had photos of the two of us going back to when we were dating.
DH is not overly emotional, but he got tears in his eyes.
For Christmas, every year since they were born, I've given each grandchild an ornament with their name and year written on the bottom with a sharpie. Recently I've been told, they love those ornaments; they'll pick one up to see if it is theirs before hanging it on the tree.
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Dec 18, 2013 14:37:26 GMT -5
Recently I've been told, they love those ornaments; they'll pick one up to see if it is theirs before hanging it on the tree
My grandma did that for awhile. I currently have three in my collection that we found cleaning out my grandma's house. I'm not sure what happened to the others. I started the tradition with Gwen. Every year I get her a hand carved ornament of either a bear or snowman holding the letter G from a vendor at the Iowa State Fair and I date it on the back. Last year I bought myself a letter A. It was our five year anniversary and that's supposed to be "wood". DH had no clue so I picked out my own gift.
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flamingo
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Post by flamingo on Dec 18, 2013 14:41:15 GMT -5
For his birthday a couple years ago, I got my DH a bobble head of himself. I found a website that could send a picture to and they copied not only his face, but also the clothes he was wearing! So it's him, in his favorite outfit. It's very cool, and he's managed to keep it and not break it throughout 3 moves!
Mostly, I just try to pay attention all year as people point things out to me, and then I will buy it for them as a gift when I need a gift. I hate getting crappy cheapy items because the gift giver couldn't be bothered to put any thought into the holiday, so I really try to avoid giving them.
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