I’ve got the bulk of my Christmasing done, but a lot of work still to do. Most of my family is getting lap blankets, either fleece or quilted, and I’ve still got two to quilt and bind. One of them still needs to be marked, even.
My mom’s getting pajamas and something to be determined.
Dr.J’s getting a lump of coal and a bundle of switches.
The dogs are getting an assortment of treats and chews in their stockings, along with a big toy each. The cats tend to get a bunch of little toys they’ll promptly lose in inaccesible places and a container of Pounces.
My best friend from high school is getting an elephant cookie jar for her collection.
My college roomie (and Dr.J’s best friend from high school) will be getting Og knows what. I’m leaning toward a Bath and Body Works gift certificate, although what she really needs is a good swift kick in the butt and a job. (Long story, you don’t want to know.)
This is the one part of Christmas I really like: searching out gifts that really suit my admittedly quirky friends and family. I like to give them stuff that’s really “them”.
Let’s see:
sister: year-tickets to a lecture series she loves but won’t splurge on for herself. An autographed Janet Evanovich book (she’s a huge Stephanie Plum fan). Crosswords for her Palm. A “tree face” that spins off from one of her passions that’s now a family legend. (Years ago she fell in love with a large face-jug–her “ugly jug”–that she saw in a magazine. We wandered all over hell’s half acre in NC until we found the potter who made 'em, much to our mother’s disgust. It’s now a collector’s item but she still loves it just because it’s so funky.) The “tree face” is almost identical to her ugly jug.
BIL: chambered goose down pillows, because he has back and moblity problems. 6 month supply of country ham and bacon from a good smokehouse place to remind him of home.
best friend: a really pretty, delicate necklace and earrings with small blue crystals; an Irish tweed cap and a bottle of champagne.
assorted work friends: porcelain ornaments that open on hinges; little Godiva chocolates tucked inside.
I’m only buying for my husband, my parents, my brother and sister-in-law, and two friends. (I’m letting my husband buy for his parents…he knows better for them). My husband and I have a $50 limit on gifts this year, and I’m trying to find some meaningful items instead of just buying him DVDs, like I know he wants. However, he’s a What’s My Line geek - he LOVES the old, old shows and idolizes Bennett Cerf. I found both the original game in mint condition AND a Bennett Cerf business card on eBay - someone got ahold of Bennett Cerf’s business card from his original publishing company which turned into Random House - and if I can get both, I’ll be thrilled, and so will he. I’m going to take the business card and frame it for him.
For my parents, I bought my mom a pair of pajamas, and I’d like to find my dad golf balls with George W Bush’s face on them (hey, he’ll think it’s a good thing!). My brother and sister-in-law are getting something from Pier One (I know, we’re terrible, but we still have a gift certificate from our wedding for Pier One, and we don’t want anything from there, so I’m using it to buy them something). My friends will probably get journals, books, and anything else I can find for them that catches my eye.