sheilaincali
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Post by sheilaincali on Dec 18, 2013 15:16:57 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. Will you please share the website that you got the bobble head from? That is something that both my DH and DS would flip over. Too late to get it done this year but those would be great Valentine's presents or Birthday gifts. Thanks |
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Phoenix84
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Post by Phoenix84 on Dec 18, 2013 17:12:04 GMT -5
Well, as I posted on another thread a little while back, one year I tried to get my mom a mop for Christmas. As you might imagine, that didn't go over so well. As payback, they got me a mop for Christmas. I learned at a tender young age that you NEVER purchase a woman cleaning or cooking supplies for Christmas unless she specifically asks for it.
I still get ribbed about it, almost 20 years later. I'm not really proud of it per se, but it was memorable.
Other than that, nothing comes to mind. |
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flamingo
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Post by flamingo on Dec 18, 2013 19:45:35 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. Will you please share the website that you got the bobble head from? That is something that both my DH and DS would flip over. Too late to get it done this year but those would be great Valentine's presents or Birthday gifts. Thanks I used webobble.com. They sent me a proof and i didn't like it, thought they could get closer, told them so, and they did. It is truly amazing how good it looks. It was kinda pricey, but soooooo worth it! |
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flamingo
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Post by flamingo on Dec 18, 2013 19:48:44 GMT -5
Well, as I posted on another thread a little while back, one year I tried to get my mom a mop for Christmas. As you might imagine, that didn't go over so well. As payback, they got me a mop for Christmas. I learned at a tender young age that you NEVER purchase a woman cleaning or cooking supplies for Christmas unless she specifically asks for it.
I still get ribbed about it, almost 20 years later. I'm not really proud of it per se, but it was memorable.
Other than that, nothing comes to mind. One of the best gifts I ever got was an iron from my DH (then boyfriend). I asked for it, and had to practically beg him for it, but I still use it. Seriously, it was an awesome gift- practical, not dollar store crap, something I use regularly. I would have been just as, or more, excited if he had surprised me with it. I know, I'm boring. But the iron is bright pink  |
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The Home 6
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Location: Bourbon Country
Favorite Drink: Wine. With a wine chaser.
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Post by The Home 6 on Dec 18, 2013 21:23:03 GMT -5
One year for Christmas, a bunch of my cousins and I all chipped in and bought a paver in my grandfather's memory at the National Infantry Museum as a gift for my grandmother. It came with a smaller replica that she is able to keep at her house (since, y'know, her house is several states away from the museum). Then for each of my cousins' birthdays, I went out and made a rubbing of the paver for them.
Another year I made a quilt for each soldier in my husband's unit in Afghanistan. Small unit, only 20 guys or so. But OMG, were they surprised.
This year, I made a "Dr. Who" scarf for my brother. I made a hat for my Dad that is similar to one he had years ago that we used to put on top of the snowman every year.
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marvholly
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Post by marvholly on Dec 19, 2013 7:22:50 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. I have no clue if Playboy still exists but I think NOT. However, I don't think the grands would be quite ready for that. Only 1 might be a good enough reader since they are 6 months, going on 5, going on 5, going on 6 and 8.5 (the reader). |
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milee
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Post by milee on Dec 19, 2013 9:06:37 GMT -5
To Playboy Or am I dating myself because I'm not sure that is still around. I have no clue if Playboy still exists but I think NOT. However, I don't think the grands would be quite ready for that. Only 1 might be a good enough reader since they are 6 months, going on 5, going on 5, going on 6 and 8.5 (the reader). No worries, I'm sure reading is not required. Even though the traditional line was "I only subscribe for the articles."  |
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marvholly
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Post by marvholly on Dec 20, 2013 7:06:54 GMT -5
However, the boys are going on 5 and going on 6 so NOT into the pix yet.
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raeoflyte
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Post by raeoflyte on Dec 20, 2013 8:34:58 GMT -5
I try to do an annual photo album each year. I make ours and then customize one for my folks and the in-laws. Didn't get finished this year, so next year will hopefully have 2.
This year we did family photos for the in laws and ordered a large wrapped canvas of the group for them.
I also ordered a canvas of sil's favorite wedding picture for them. They haven't printed any so I'm excited to give that to them.
Sent from my ADR6410LVW using proboards
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finnime
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Be kind. Everyone you meet is fighting a great battle.
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Post by finnime on Dec 22, 2013 8:45:55 GMT -5
My DD at age 5 wanted to get her grandfather a Christmas gift. He was then a senior VP at a large insurance company, planning his retirement to be a year later. DD found in a hardware store a doorknob tag depicted a menacing convict in prison stripes. Caption was "Warning: Occupant is a lifer with nothing left to lose."
FIL loved it, and had it on his office door for the next 2 1/2 years before he left. (The company kept giving him big piles of moola to stay on.)
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Formerly SK
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Post by Formerly SK on Dec 22, 2013 9:23:03 GMT -5
I'm super excited to give my gift to MIL this year. It's a nicely framed copy of an essay my 8yo autistic son wrote for Thanksgiving this year: "I am thankful for my family. I'm thankful for Grampy because he's my hero of course. I love Grammy because she's so nice and I'll feel badly without her. I'm thankful for my mom because without her then I wouldn't have been born. I love my cousin and my sister for the same thing: it's because without them I wouldn't have someone to play with at home. I'm thankful for my dad because without my dad then my Grammy won't be in my family of course. Same thing with my Uncle Johnny. There's a lot of reasons why I like my family." She's going to bawl her eyes out. OTOH, he's only thankful for me because I gave birth to him, not that I'm the greatest mom on the planet? WTF?   |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2013 17:53:41 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. My DIL is doing a variation of this. She posted on FB that she was looking for a board book about a little red wagon. It was a very specific board book, but I've forgotten the title. Everywhere online it seemed to now be a collector's item for $150+. She wanted it because it was her two oldest sons' favorite book. However, they loved it so much that they destroyed it. Now her third son is getting a little red wagon. So she wanted to duplicate the format of the book with pictures of him, but she needed the book. I found a used copy on Half.com for about $10 including shipping. We were taking a chance on the condition, but she said it was in fantastic shape. The person obviously didn't know what they had, (It wasn't worth $150 obviously, but she could have probably priced it at $25 and gotten someone to buy it for sentimental reasons.) It was a win for me! I like finding the right thing. |
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mamasita99
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Post by mamasita99 on Dec 22, 2013 19:39:05 GMT -5
Kitchen tongs. My youngest DD gave her dad a set of kitchen tongs last year. She remembered that he wished he had a pair while he was cooking one evening. When she was out shopping with me one day she spotted a pair and right then took out her money to buy them. She was so excited to get that gift for her dad, she was certain it was the best gift ever! I will never forget how proud she was of her gift when he opened it. He really did think it was the most thoughtful thing ever! |
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Malarky
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Post by Malarky on Dec 22, 2013 20:06:21 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. A note about the kids ornaments. DS is 19, DD is 16. I'm gonna cry the day I have to give over the ornaments that I, or someone else gave them. Every single one of them tells a story. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2013 21:24:16 GMT -5
I would have to say I gave a gift of my time to someone to do a specific task for them. Their response was overwhelming.
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cael
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Post by cael on Dec 22, 2013 21:50:47 GMT -5
Sweater I made for DH last year, sweater I made for my niece this year can't wait to give it to her! |
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toomuchreality
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Post by toomuchreality on Dec 23, 2013 7:24:06 GMT -5
My daughter knitted a sweater for my ferret 2 years ago. Impressive! About 15 years ago, she made me a quilt- All little squares sewn together, with a border of fabric on the outside edge, then hand tied. I love that thing! It's not something I would ever make myself. Last year she knitted slippers with leather bottoms for her sister and I. The thing that makes mine so special is, one is about 4 inches shorter than the other. It's unique! This year I am giving 'sleeping bags' to my grand-dogs, that match my daughter's bedding. I hope they love them! I'm sure my daughter will. When my oldest was in high school, she took her little sister (11 yrs younger), and got a necklace made for me, with 2 stick figures and their names on it. I still have and love it! The first year Cabbage Patch dolls were out, my mom was afraid one of the grandkids wouldn't get one. So she made one out of fabric. It is surprisingly similar. It turned out that all the little girls did get a cabbage patch doll for Christmas, so my mom kept the doll on her bed. Before she passed away, she confided to me that no one wanted her baby. It nearly broke my heart! I told her that we all would love to have her baby! I keep it on my bed now. I l♥ve my family.  My friends too!  |
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