It’s not too early to think about Christmas presents!
Especially for kids. Or those who want to be kids, even if only for one day a year.
So what are some of the most innovative, unusual gadgets/gimmicks/toys around, especially affordable ones, for kids of all ages? What are you planning to get for someone? Post links to them here, and let’s compare shopping lists.
The stuff doesn’t have to be practical, but should at least be fun.
I had a chance to demo one and it was really neat. Instead of having to lug heavy library books to and from when I travel, I can just load a few books into the Reader. It would be so awesome!!
These are what I most want and of course not all but one or two would be cool.
Little House on the Prairie Seasons four through nine. I had them all once but I sold them when we were very low on funds and I really want them all again.
My Mom is getting a bracket to raise he bedroom TV off her dresser.
My sister-in-law (who I have in the Christmas lottery) is getting a bird feeder.
Everyone else gets bacon salt.
I would like a Sony reader, but the poor reviews on Amazon have put me off. I like the technology, but I suspect the Sony version is not yet ready for prime time.
I’m getting a flash-memory based mp3 player for my wife, so she can listen to audiobooks. And I’m getting a new digital camera. That’s as far into our Xmas gift plans as we’ve got.
It’s really odd having arrived at a place in my life where there really isn’t much I need anymore!
My wife said something a while back about “If we had a big screen TV, we could get a Wii!” I didn’t really see the logic there but I’m not going to argue with her. Of course, our current entertainment center won’t hold a big screen TV so we’d need a new TV cabinet too. Hmmm, this could be an expensive Christmas!
TV Eyes 3-D Glasses: Watch any movie in 3-D
BioShock
New EEL SKIN Leather Bifold Mens Wallet Credit Card Black
Special Topics in Calamity Physics
The Testament of Gideon Mack
Heart-Shaped Box: A Novel
Desolation Boulevard
For others? Mostly knitting. I already bought the yarn and am working my way through the list (purse just needs to be felted and button added, hat needs to be finished, then mittens knitted and finger puppets for my son and all his friends crocheted and 3 tea cozies, with tea).
For myself? I asked for yarn, or a new mp3 player for just my audiobooks that I got addicted to lately. Easy way to keep up my reading while I knit.
I want to get the women on my list gift-certificates to a local paint-your-own-pottery place, so we can all go together and make a party of it. I don’t know about the men yet. The kids…well, whatever. Toys for the boys, and clothes for the girl, prolly. She’s a little old for toys at 12. The teens’ll prolly get money and a gift of some sort.
Husband - don’t know.
Mom - Most likely something from Tastes of Chicago
Brother and SIL - Bacon Salt and Goose Island Christmas Ale.
Son - don’t know.
Some coworkers - cookies or chutney or chocolate sauce or something - I’ll make it. I have two dozen small ball jars my husband got from a client who was getting rid of them that are asking to be filled with some holiday goodness. Since I won’t have to buy the jars, this seems the cheapest way to go. And when it comes to coworkers, I’m all about the “cheap.”
Neighbors - see “some coworkers.”
Misc. friends - See “some coworkers” and “neighbors”.
Person in in-law families Secret Santa - most likely Bacon Salt depending on who I get.
Nephew/nieces - nieces money, nephew don’t know yet.
