I’m sure I’m not the only one who is also not the smartest one to wait until 9 days before the big holiday to even start Christmas shopping. But hey, its totally fine to wait. Just as long as you know exactly where to go and what to get. Maybe some of you are just clueless on what to purchase for your close friends and family, we’ve all been there, so here are some suggestions that might help.
For your Mother: I don’t know about other Mothers, but mine thoroughly accepts creative, makeshift, and thoughtful gifts, from the heart of course. So if your feeling on the creative side, there are plenty of gift options.
- Get a pretty coffee mug and put fun Christmas stuff inside. chocolate covered spoons, hot chocolate, and tie it all up with ribbon.
- Make a personalized journal filled with cute little stories or inspirational quotes and adjectives that describe your mom. You can get fun paper or cloth to attach to the outside of a composition notebook then gather scrapbook accessories and decorate. (this idea could work for any gift receiver)
- One year I made my mom some corny coupons and a holder for them. I used the back pocket of some old jeans and decorated the outside and labeled it ‘coupons’. Then I attached some string to one corner so that it could hang on something. The coupons consisted of little tasks such as, a free car wash, ‘I promise to do the dishes for a week’, or ‘I’ll gladly do your laundry’. Believe me, after a while, you might forget about the coupon, but the mom will not.
- And if your feeling really generous this year, try and purchase and ticket to a show that is now playing on Broadway or a local theater.
For your Father:I really don’t think there a lot of cool gifts to make for your dad that he would appreciate as much as mom so lets try some cheap ideas.
- The Mr. Beer homemade beer making kit. This is such a fun gift to get for any of the men in your life (old enough to drink of course). If your dad is a big sports fan and just likes to hang out with Labatt, give him a chance to create his own foam.
- Maybe your dad is the big business man in your life. Always on the phone, always on the computer, and just completely out of tune from everything else. So shed some bills on a new blue tooth to encourage a hands-free discussion for your Father.
- Some other little knickknacks that he might like is a brand new tie, new briefcase, snazzy socks or get him the Eat Like a Man: The Only Cookbook a Man Will Ever Need book.
For your siblings:typically I would think that you don’t really need to go crazy on your siblings, but maybe get them something that they ask for that fits your budget. For my brother an I, I normally ask him for bags for school i.e. backpacks, Vera Bradley tote, new wallet, etc.
- Younger siblings, definitely get in on the popular toys or video games. I know a lot of the boys are crazed about Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, and the new Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.
- There are also a lot of fun board games to play with the whole family such as: apples to apples, connect 4 launchers, and bop it! Bounce.
When it comes to buying gifts for a spouse or a girlfriend or boyfriend, you have to find the hints that the other drops. It crawls up to more of a personal stage. For the guys, its normally boxers, a watch or something that they need. My personal favorite is cologne that you love. Buying for your girlfriends, guys, its usually a purse, nice jewelry, a build-a-bear or maybe a nice vacation! Whatever it might be, may the Christmas gifts of all sorts be genuine and from the heart this year.
Happy Shopping!