Thinkin' 'bout Christmas

..it'll be here before you know it.

Published on August 16, 2005 By dharmagrl In Misc

it's that time of year again. Time to start thinking about Christmas gifts.

Yes, I know that it's mid-August. Yes, I realize that Christmas is 4 months away. No, I'm not insane.

My family lives in England, and if I want their box of goodies to get there in time for December 25th (which isn't actually Christs Birthday btw, but actually a pagan holiday that the Christians just commandeered) I have to start thinking about what to get them now because I'll have to mail it off in October. One year I left mailing until Thanksgiving and their parcel arrived just after New Year's day. (The British Postal Service isn't well known for their precision and punctuality.)

I'm at a total loss as to what to get my folks this year. Last year I hand-made a couple of their gifts and they really liked that...so I think that this year I'll do the same thing. I think that my mom would get a kick out of the fox scarf that I just learned how to knit, and I'm thinking that an Aran cabled hat would be great for my dad...but apart from that I have not a freakin' clue as to what to buy. I'm pretty limited...can't get anything that's too heavy or the shipping costs will be more than the gifts were! Can't get anything too fragile because, as I said, the Royal Mail tends to be heavy handed. Can't send certain food stuffs because of the customs regulations.

Last year, in addition to the hand made items, I sent my mom a cross stitch kit (they're scarce and expensive in the UK) and my dad a couple of books about the history of the American West. I'm thinking that this year I might stick with that formula. I think too that I'm going to have the kids create a gift basket of coffee for them, with a bunch of those Millstone one-pot packs in assorted flavors, a couple of big packs of colombian and some flavored creamers. That shouldn't add too much to the overall weight...

*sigh* I like Christmas shopping for my folks, but....it's a bit depressing to be thinking about it when it's still 90 degrees out!

Comments (Page 1)

greywar

on Aug 16, 2005

Gift ideas are a major pain... recently I have taken to buying people a night out at a place that they would never treat themselves to. I have no clue what that might be for your parents in England though...

dharmagrl

on Aug 16, 2005

Gift ideas are a major pain... recently I have taken to buying people a night out at a place that they would never treat themselves to.

That's what we're doing for our friends down the street when he comes back from Baghdad.

I'd like to do that for my folks, but dad has a hard time getting around and can't do stairs...so that's a no go.

I think that I'm going to go see what kind of food stuffs I can legally send and put together a 'taste of America' food basket for them. Oooh, and I could add a cook cook of traditional American recipes for mum...she'd like that, I think!

Thanks, greywar! You inadvertently set me off on a train of thought that might just lead to mum and dad's christmas presents this year!

Texas Wahine

on Aug 16, 2005

I'm lucky that the mail to the mainland from Hawaii isn't too expensive and usually runs 3 - 5 days for delivery, but if I want to be able to afford to send stuff, I probably should start shopping now and space the purchases out.

I think the coffee basket is a very cool idea, and the other gifts sound great as well. It's difficult to give gifts when you want to do something unique and personal. It's easy to give something clichéd, but to actually hit on something that someone will know you picked out just for them is difficult.

I think the handmade stuff is particularly special, dharma.

I love gift-giving, and I like to put a lot of thought into what I give. A couple of recent gifts I'm pretty proud of are a basket of 50's candy for my mom (the decade she was born in), ordered online, and a Boston t-shirt for my dad (also bought online). And I LOVE giving framed photos and stuff with the kids hand prints or drawings on them.

It would be easy (and much cheaper) to just give everyone a Hawaiian key chain or something, but like you, I really want to give something special.

greywar

on Aug 16, 2005

You inadvertently set me off

pleased to be inadvertently helpful:)

HC1240

on Aug 16, 2005

"an Aran cabled hat would be great for my dad"

Do you have a pattern off the net, Dharma? Or did you create it? I'm knitting an Aran sweater now... would LOVE to make a hat to go with. Could you send me the pattern? Also... have a friend who is just learning to knit. I was wondering if you had an EASY sweater pattern that I could give her. I want to try and teach her, but my own skills aren't that advanced yet, so it's gotta be simple.

Thanks!

I want to get ahead of the game with Christmas shopping too. I always wait, and then spend the weeks just prior to Christmas all stressed out and anxious. Each year I say, "NEXT year, I'm going to start in August" and I never do. You've inspired me. Thanks!

just john

on Aug 16, 2005

There is a website Linkwhere your children can upload their artwork and have it printed on anything from coasters to ceramic tiles to T-shirts.

My nephew has his artwork there and my mom always loves whatever we get her from there.

dharmagrl

on Aug 16, 2005

It's difficult to give gifts when you want to do something unique and personal. It's easy to give something clichéd, but to actually hit on something that someone will know you picked out just for them is difficult.

Exactly. I could send them stuff with The Arch on it and they'd be satisfied, but I really want to give them stuff that will be special to them...which is where the handmade things come in.

pleased to be inadvertently helpful:)

You have that effect on me

Do you have a pattern off the net, Dharma? Or did you create it?

I got it off the net.

I was wondering if you had an EASY sweater pattern that I could give her.

I do, actually.....I have a couple that would work for her. The sweater I posted a pic of yesterday is a simple stockingette stitch. If she knows how to increase, decrease, knit and purl she'll be able to make that. If you send me your email address I'll send you the links (dharmagirl69@gmail.com is my email addy)

My nephew has his artwork there and my mom always loves whatever we get her from there

We did that a couple of years ago with some of the kids pictures. We had them put on coffee cups...mum still has them, and apparently she thinks they're too nice to use so she's had them in her display cabinet!

Moderateman

on Aug 16, 2005

I spend most the year shopping for gifts for my friends, although I do not celebrate Christmas, most everyone I know does.

Makes for much better gifts and much less strain on the emotions doing it this way.

Dr Guy

on Aug 16, 2005

Having worked in Retail, I will just say you are 2 weeks early. Retailers start the changeover for Christmas after School starts, but even tho there are no hoHos or snow, they have their product line lined up by Sept 1st!

Dr Guy

on Aug 16, 2005

although I do not celebrate Christmas, most everyone I know does.

A Jewish Rabbi I use to baby sit for did. Santa, A Christmas tree and presents. No Jesus. I still maintain it is not only for the relgious (Falwell will get me for this one!), it is for the message.

peace on earth and goodwill to all men.

Texas Wahine

on Aug 16, 2005

Dr.Guy: Even when I WAS religious, Christmas was always a secular celebration at my house.

Santa and a tree and gifts and the whole "peace on earth and goodwill toward men" is something that we can all share, regardless of faith or belief system.

Plus, the kids really dig it. Hehe.

Shovelheat

on Aug 16, 2005

Christmas day is also my son's birthday. Heh, I can tell you where I was on Christmas day 1990! I told him we came close to naming him Leon because that spells Noel backwards. He tells me he is so glad we didn't...

Thanks for reminding me, I need the time to think up TWO gifts ya know!

Dr Guy

on Aug 16, 2005

Plus, the kids really dig it. Hehe.

he had 4. They did not seem to mind Chunaka AND Christmas.

JillUser

on Aug 16, 2005

Believe it or not I have already been doing some Christmas shopping online. I have decided that I need to get something as soon as I think of the idea because if I merely make note of the idea, I will have lost the note and will be dry of ideas come November. This year I order the item, put a note on it as to whom it is for and deposit it in a tote I have in a secret hiding place. I should have more time for wrapping, decorating and baking this year.

I have also begun saving coffee creamer containers for the kids to make snowmen out of. I have a couple of crafts I am slowly gathering materials for and plan to do a cookie decorating day with their cousin again this year. They had a blast last year. I made several dozen cut out cookies, three different colors of frosting along with chocolate and sprinkles galore. They each had a pie pan to put the cookie in and frost and sprinkle away. Very easy clean up that way.

I love the holidays!

dharmagrl

on Aug 16, 2005

Makes for much better gifts and much less strain on the emotions doing it this way.

That's very true. I detest Christmas shopping in packed stores, everyone trying to get their gifts all at once....ick.

Having worked in Retail, I will just say you are 2 weeks early.

There's Halloween candy on display at the BX this week. Halloween. Already.

No Jesus. I still maintain it is not only for the relgious (Falwell will get me for this one!), it is for the message.

Falwell's an ignoramus, and if he comes after you you can call me to come and kick his sanctimonious homophobic rear.

Santa and a tree and gifts and the whole "peace on earth and goodwill toward men" is something that we can all share, regardless of faith or belief system.

Amen to that, sistah.

Thanks for reminding me, I need the time to think up TWO gifts ya know!

Ooh, that's right.....one for his birthday and one for Christmas!

Oh, I can believe it. I have a top secret hidey-hole too, and I start stashing things in it around mid September. Our kids change their minds so much that we usually hold off on buying their main gift until Thanksgiving, but the stocking stuffers we pick up early.

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