# The Overflowing Sweatshirt Closet MMP **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** mmp\ **Created:** [November 23, 2015, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-overflowing-sweatshirt-closet-mmp/738348 "2015-11-23T09:35:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 16
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-overflowing-sweatshirt-closet-mmp/738348/301 "2015-11-29T15:41:20Z")
OK, Mumpers, your mission, whether you want it or not, is to give me some ideas for gifts for two kids (13-y/o boy and 11-y/o girl) who I don’t know. They’re our SIL’s grandkids and they’ll be at the inlaws’ for Christmas. \*\*FCD \*\*thinks we should have gifts for them. I don’t, but I lost the argument. We’ve only met their mother 3 or 4 times and I don’t recall the last time I saw her. She’s divorced, so I’m guessing these are pity gifts… Anyway, I know absolutely nothing about the kids - not even their names, let alone their likes. And I don’t want to spend more than $20 on each, preferably less. Yeah, I know, ho ho ho. I don’t even know what to do for my own daughter, let alone a couple of strangers. I’ve tried googling “gifts for teens” and stuff that isn’t ridiculously expensive seems too personal - like clothing or jewelry. I’m inclined to put a giant bag of M&Ms in a basket and be done with it. Any better ideas?? ho ho ho my ass… 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Sahirrnee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sahirrnee/32/13937_2.png) [@Sahirrnee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sahirrnee)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-overflowing-sweatshirt-closet-mmp/738348/302 "2015-11-29T15:56:03Z")
My grand niece is around 11. She likes crafts, so this year I got her a terrarium, and science kit ice cream maker, and a science kit for making special effects makeup. I got them all of amazon. They are about 15 dollars each. ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-overflowing-sweatshirt-closet-mmp/738348/303 "2015-11-29T16:00:58Z")
Sorry, **Moooom** , I’m having enough trouble coming up with gifts for the Rosebuds ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-overflowing-sweatshirt-closet-mmp/738348/304 "2015-11-29T16:13:11Z")
I like the idea of the ice cream maker. Potentially messy, but not as mean as a drum set. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-overflowing-sweatshirt-closet-mmp/738348/305 "2015-11-29T16:13:15Z")
I’d intended to stay down until 9, but a certain Siamese had other ideas. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-overflowing-sweatshirt-closet-mmp/738348/306 "2015-11-29T16:20:29Z")
**{{{{{Baker}}}}}** Up and doing something I rarely do; staying home and just being a heathen. Nice as a change. My big plan for today is to start working on Christmas Cards; sometimes I wish I liked less people or did so in the normal modern manner – Facebook. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sahirrnee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sahirrnee/32/13937_2.png) [@Sahirrnee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sahirrnee)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-overflowing-sweatshirt-closet-mmp/738348/307 "2015-11-29T18:01:12Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > I like the idea of the ice cream maker. Potentially messy, but not as mean as a drum set. 😃 I almost got one of those for the 2 year old. ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-overflowing-sweatshirt-closet-mmp/738348/308 "2015-11-29T18:32:09Z")
Howdy Y’all! Home from deheathenization (we almost had a full house this mornin’. Guess folks are all in the mood for Advent and its semi-repentency feelin’. :D) and N.O.L. We et at Booger King bein’ as we are such gourmands. **{{{Baker}}}** hope your mom is OK. **MOOOOOOM** I’d buy 'em twenty dollar gift cards from Tarjay or :eek:Wally\*World:eek: and be done with it since I’m a curmudgeon and a grumpy old man. YMMV however. I foresee nappage soonest. I feel tahrd! ---
**Author:** ![Buttercup\_Smith](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buttercup_smith/32/473_2.png) [@Buttercup\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buttercup_Smith)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-overflowing-sweatshirt-closet-mmp/738348/309 "2015-11-29T18:35:19Z")
**Mmoommmm**. Adult coloring books are big now and the girl may like that with some colored pencils. As for the 13 yo boy I got nothing. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-overflowing-sweatshirt-closet-mmp/738348/310 "2015-11-29T18:47:20Z")
\*\*sari \*\*- when my daughter was 2, **FCD** ’s brother gave her a drum. Lucky for us, she had the good sense to stab the drumstick thru the drum head, effectively killing it. \*\*Butters \*\*- my daughter gave one of those coloring books to her grandmother - she really enjoys it. But, yeah, no idea what to give to a 13-y/o boy. (No, not a 13-y/o girl. 😛 ) I vaguely recall when Christmas used to be fun. Now it’s just an annoyance in my life. Bah, humbug!! ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-overflowing-sweatshirt-closet-mmp/738348/311 "2015-11-29T19:54:23Z")
Anyone know where I can get some [piecaken](http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/26/living/piecaken-feat/index.html)? Mmmmmm, piecaken! ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-overflowing-sweatshirt-closet-mmp/738348/312 "2015-11-29T20:06:21Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > Anyone know where I can get some [piecaken](http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/26/living/piecaken-feat/index.html)? > Mmmmmm, piecaken! The OW spotted an article on that. She has plans to try making one and I have plans on field testing it once she does. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-overflowing-sweatshirt-closet-mmp/738348/313 "2015-11-29T20:39:54Z")
> [@kopek](#): > > The OW spotted an article on that. She has plans to try making one and I have plans on field testing it once she does. Nope, send that to me to field test, & you field test the [600lb Gorilla](http://www.600lbgorillas.com/) cookies. I’m not messing with no 600lb gorillas! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![TheSpeculationElucidation](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@TheSpeculationElucidation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheSpeculationElucidation)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-overflowing-sweatshirt-closet-mmp/738348/314 "2015-11-29T21:14:51Z")
**MMMmmmmoooooommmmm!!!** - I was going to say gift cards so they can pick out their own thing. When I had to get my younger cousin a gift, I got her a bunch of nail polish. But if you don’t know their interests, it could be a hit or miss. I’ve never met someone who didn’t like gift cards, though. 😉 Good luck! 15/16 hour shift done. I’m on the last leg and can barely keep my eyes open! I can’t wait to go home, sleep 6 hours, then come back and do it again. D: Tonight is my Friday, however, and the next two days I 100% plan on spending lounging around in sweatpants and lazily unpacking my belongings in the new place. I think I’ll buy some wine. I got to work last night at 10PM and walked in my client’s entryway to come face to face with a life-size Santa doll. It looks like [this](http://santa-claus-figures.com/image/Dancing-Singing-Life-Size-Interactive-SANTA-CLAUS-Sculpture-Christmas-Decoration-06-ndny.jpg). Scared me half to death. So I’m going about my business, cleaning the house while the clients are asleep, and I feel like the thing is watching me. So I covered it with my jacket. As soon as my jacket landed on it, it started SINGING and MOVING! Keep in mind, it’s a dark house, and completely silent, and this thing is 5’ tall and suddenly moves. I nearly died of fright. Finally my first half of my shift is over, and at 6AM I drive to my second house. I walk in the door and THERE’S ANOTHER ONE. I guess the company I work for bought one for each house. _Awesome._ The clients really like them, though, so that’s good. But I work graveyard and having them stare at me from the corner of my vision gives me the creeps! ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-overflowing-sweatshirt-closet-mmp/738348/315 "2015-11-29T22:22:53Z")
Thinking about a magnetic dart board for the boy and a decorate-yourself magnetic memo board for the girl… Not sure - I’ll sleep on it. Meanwhile, time to feed the dog and pack lunches for the week. \*\*\* MWAH!\*\*\* ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-overflowing-sweatshirt-closet-mmp/738348/316 "2015-11-29T23:09:12Z")
**nettie** , has your kitteh perfected the trademarked bladder jump to awaken you? 😛 **Moooom** , if you’re still looking for suggestions tor thr great niece and nephew, check the Klutz book line. They combine craft or science stuff with the book. There wil be more there for the girl, but they do have some gender neutral subjects. Breakfasts and lunches for next week are made and stuff is out to begin addressing xmas cards. So goes another week. ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-overflowing-sweatshirt-closet-mmp/738348/317 "2015-11-29T23:28:17Z")
I still say gift cards. They can spend 'em on whatever those young whippersnappers are into these days. I yanked a beastloaf outta da freezer for tomorrow night’s dindin. Don’t know what else may appear. I’m kinda carbed out what with TDay pigouts and all. Maybe steamed cabbage and green beans. Of course then, a fart fest will ensue. 😃 The big news from this afternoon/early evenin’ is I put the trash can down at the road for pickup tomorrow. Go Me! ---
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-overflowing-sweatshirt-closet-mmp/738348/318 "2015-11-30T00:06:30Z")
I worked, I walked Gordie, I napped. I’m making smoky ancho poke chops with sweet \*\*N.O.T.\*\*s ,and corn with fire roasted seranos. Being a rebel and drinking a [url=[http://beer.suregork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/founders\_breakfast\_stout-464x600.jpgbreakfast](http://beer.suregork.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/founders_breakfast_stout-464x600.jpgbreakfast) stout with dinner. > [@FairyChatMom](#): > > I’m inclined to put a giant bag of M&Ms in a basket and be done with it. Any better ideas?? ho ho ho my ass… 😛 Sounds good to me. > [@FairyChatMom](#): > > I like the idea of the ice cream maker. Potentially messy, but not as mean as a drum set. 😃 Well ,we do have a mini drum set at Rite-Aid.[/evil] {{{{ **Baker** }}}} ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-overflowing-sweatshirt-closet-mmp/738348/319 "2015-11-30T00:25:11Z")
> [@missred](#): > > **nettie** , has your kitteh perfected the trademarked bladder jump to awaken you? 😛 Please don’t give her ideas! The Siamese howls of outrage are quite bad enough. Back from deheathenating, must do homework soon. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-overflowing-sweatshirt-closet-mmp/738348/320 "2015-11-30T00:31:21Z")
My mom is okay now. She called me about an hour after I last posted in this thread. I visited her this afternoon and she did seem well. Mom says that at least when the migraine is over it’s _over_, without any lingering pain. I will see her tomorrow to run some errands with her, and will ask if she’s told her neurologist about how the headaches are coming back more often. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-overflowing-sweatshirt-closet-mmp/738348.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-overflowing-sweatshirt-closet-mmp/738348.md?page=17)