Christmas

I read a few posts here regarding Christmas. It will be here before you know it. I have decided that there will be NO clothing presents this year with exception of PJ's and socks. What do you have in mind for your hard to get for gift recipients?. I am going to gift DD#3 with an ottoman for her home office. Other than that, I have no other ideas. For my neighbors and some special co-workers, it will be hand crafted Christmas ornaments and/or consumables. P.S. I truly understand and celebrate "THE TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS." :-)

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A shiny, new purple bike for my daughter as per her request. The old one is too small for her now. Thanks for posting @Madetoshop since I wrote this one sentence in about 5 minutes and I am still thinking what the heck I am going to do for others. Time to make a list. I'll just keep coming here and update it

We consulted with the families to get some guidance for the grandchildren. Last week we bought presents, and as of yesterday they've all been shipped to California thanks to USPS shops :-) The adults will be harder, unless we just get them Amazon gift cards as we have in the past.

I have never been this ahead of the Christmas game. It feels weird.

Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt

I know. Halloween hasn't come up yet.

@KathyG wrote:

I have never been this ahead of the Christmas game. It feels weird.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton

Usually, by this time I have whinged at least a few times about Christmas stuff in July and before Halloween. This year, I am wondering about supply chain issues. Perhaps, at this time in history, it is a good idea to sell Christmas stuff before Halloween arrives because Christmas stuff might not arrive... terrible thought! Bad, bad thought!

Bach is not noise, Madam. (Robert, in Two's Company)

I’m always an early starter for all occasions. Certainly this year, more so, with so many supply chain issues. Last year, I did DIY throws. I bought fleece materials from Hobby Lobby. Put two complimentary pieces back to back, cut and tied the borders to combine. No sewing involved.

I need ideas to get inspired for this year!

I'm an experience giver. I have done NBA games, Museums, craft sessions, bouncy houses, build a bear, and escape rooms. The recipients are 6-23. This year the overwhelming ask has been to do an escape room again, so I need to plan that.

@Mert. I would love the blanket! How many did you make? Years ago, DD's friend was selling felt scarves. They were single felt with fringed cut ends. She hand sewed heart appliques on them. I bought a few and gifted them to coworkers young daughters. I so look forward to seeing them every year and watching them grow up.

We are going to create lavender sachets bundled in sets of two tied with ribbon. I will break out the sewing machine. I have a dozen clear glass ornaments that I did not use last year. Going to make embellished, personalized ornaments as well. Going to make a trip to Michael's and Hobby Lobby to purchase fabric, tulle, poly-fill, lavender essential oil, ribbon, deco's, etc. I wish I had a Cricut at times like this. Craft night will be scheduled late Nov. after Thanksgiving. Consumables will either be candied pecans and/or chocolate pretzels. EASY.

I made five. They were time consuming, but this time last year, I was staying in most of the time. The only sewing I do is threading a needle and sewing on a button. So, the throws were right up my alley. There were so many patterns to choose from to make them more personal. Color blocked, kitty cats, an NFL team, snowy woods, and the celestial one was my favorite.

@Madetoshop wrote:

@Mert. I would love the blanket! How many did you make? Years ago, DD's friend was selling felt scarves. They were single felt with fringed cut ends. She hand sewed heart appliques on them. I bought a few and gifted them to coworkers young daughters. I so look forward to seeing them every year and watching them grow up.

For people who like toys, get a kick out of kids, and/or hope for world peace or at least Worldwide Proper Policing:

[www.wmbfnews.com]

If you are also leery of links, just look for Constable Kurt and toys and New Zealand... and have hope that toys can lead to teachable moments and all-around good work. Santa would probably place all these people on the Nice List, eh?

Bach is not noise, Madam. (Robert, in Two's Company)

We are going to gift #2 with a subscription to "Hello Fresh." She wants to cook more. I am confident her beau is game and we are all eager guests as well. We are confident she will enjoy this. :-) We are going to get our beloved two year POMSKI pooch a new comfy bed, blanket and toy(s), LOL. I told DD's I was going to buy him shoes as well. Don't think he'll wear them but he should! I am tired of wiping/cleaning his paws as well as yelling for others to do so as well when he returns from outdoors. Wearing shoes moreover will protect him street/ground hazards and germs. Who's doggie loves wearing shoes? Please comment and let me know of your experience.

December 25: Chinese food and a movie. One day the pandemic will be over, and the movies will be in a cinema again.

I wholly reject the idea of gift-give for occasions. Year round, If I encounter the right gift for a particular person - a rare book, unique piece of art, or tickets to show or lecture, for example - I purchase it and give it then remembering always that friendship and love are equal on each of 365 (or 366) days each year. No day is more important than any other. I believe that mass-produced things - clothing, knickknacks, gift certificates, & etc - reduce gift-giving and relationships to trivial transactional interactions.

Movies have been in the Cinemas for months. We saw the Eternals and absolutely loved it

Christmas is not an ordinary day to us. Neither is a birthday, holiday, anniversary or any other day that holds special meaning. Enjoy!

@Madetoshop wrote:

Movies have been in the Cinemas for months.

Unfortunately, I am currently in an area with nearly no masking, a low vaccination rate, and high infection incidence.

I just ordered a beanie hat with LED light and a diary for things you can't remember for husband.

@Madetoshop: Please know that the produce in the kits might be fresh for only one or two days. Check the kits and be ready to cook soon or to substitute if something in the kit is not usable. Otherwise, the kits are just plain fun. Cooking with fig jam! With Vinegars! With bread crumbs and cheeses! There are many others, but I did not sample all available kits...

Bach is not noise, Madam. (Robert, in Two's Company)

My Christmas present to myself will be an iRobot Roomba. Buying a monitor and cordless mouse for hard to get DD. Now to get sweets, socks and lip balms for stockings.

I gave photo frame holiday cards. One picture is a deer laying the snow out back of my apartment and the other is a snowy field out back. I gave my Aunt a nice red blanket with white snowflakes from Amazon, my other aunt I gave a $25 Burpee gift card and a $25 Amazon gift card. I gave my cousin Adirondack life calendar. I bought myself an Epson all in one.

We have no movie theatre in this town. bah humbug

Just found a compilation of hometown spoofs of 'A Visit from Saint Nicholas' and was so impressed by the stand-alone and woven use of language, cultures, themes, and humor that I was inspired to make one for where I live now. Someone else has done the covid-era parodies, so I am free to play up the unique, wonderful, goofy, and other notable qualities of my new place. Fear not. I will not share it here. I will just have many hours of free fun playing with the ideas.

*eta* Santa will always wear a red suit, even if it is a fully lined, waterproof thing worn over longjohns, and even his red hat must be glued to his head or held in place with bobby pins due to frequent high winds. This is unchangeable. Take that, Disney.

Bach is not noise, Madam. (Robert, in Two's Company)

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/17/2021 03:23AM by Shop-et-al.

I haven't gone to a movie theater since the Regal Theater movie shops stopped. I hear that Regal was sold to an overseas company and is no longer shopped but not sure. I used to love to take the afternoon off from work, grab lunch, and do a matinee. Then the shops stopped and then the covid came and all the theaters shut down. Now they are open again but I haven't gone yet.

Cineworld, a UK movie theater chain, bought Regal in 2017.

@roflwofl wrote:

I haven't gone to a movie theater since the Regal Theater movie shops stopped. I hear that Regal was sold to an overseas company and is no longer shopped but not sure. I used to love to take the afternoon off from work, grab lunch, and do a matinee. Then the shops stopped and then the covid came and all the theaters shut down. Now they are open again but I haven't gone yet.

Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008

My Christmas menu will consist of a lasagna, meatballs, sausage, garlic bread, stuffed mushrooms and broccoli. Have to make a pot roast with chicken, potatoes, celery and carrots for the people who will not eat any meat item except chicken. Will do it in the slow cooker. Pies and cakes for dessert. Champagne and wine. For New Year's we are catering in from Moe's. Happy time everyone.

We got a huge basket of goodies from wine.com, courtesy husband's company. Yesterday, they sent a big bottle of Single Malt Whiskey too. We are not whiskey ppl..all we drink is brandy, but we'll try.

I never check the orders and returns on our Amazon account, but I did yesterday. Oops!! So, my husband is getting me the latest Danielle Steele Novel along with a vanity bag

As a family we decided to only give gifts to the children. I sent those presents mid-November, then picked up more shops in late November and used them to send a small edible gift for each of the households. Bought Hubby a couple of bicycling accessories from the list he gave me. Youngest son will get some queso and tortilla chips.

Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt

I am making Russian salmon pie for Christmas and stuffed cabbage Christmas eve. I got fresh dill to go in the cabbage rolls today!! MY grandmother on my father's side is from Russia.

I'm doing something different this year. No roast turkey or ham. lol

Among a variety of classical Christmas collections on Youtube, I found the 1998 Christmas in Vienna program. This is as lovely as the New Years programs from Vienna. (By now, you have guessed that I will want the New Years program on New Years Evening.)

Bach is not noise, Madam. (Robert, in Two's Company)

Got a text from Youngest Son with a heads up that he had (as he put it) 'very very slight cough-like symptoms, a tingle in the back of his throat, and an itchy nose.' I suggested a Covid test might be in order.

Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt

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Christmas

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