Early Christmas presents

nottheonlydreamer44 · November 2010

Hello my loves! What a busy last few days (I told FBD this morning that I hadn't been online in like 2 days) I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and for all you Canadians; just a wonderful weekend so far.

FI and I went shopping from 2AM on Friday morning til about 7PM Friday night. I took a 5 hour nap. Haha. Anyway, we pretty much just bought each others presents and my Mom had me purchase 1 of my presents, too.

I got my Nikon camera, FI got a watch, and the two of us got DJ Hero from my Mom. My mom said no to "open it" because she wanted to wrap it but we totally took it out last night and played for about 5 hours. We took pictures and put it back in box just exactly the way it came. lol.

We bought some stuff for ourselves as well. So what did you buy this weekend? Did you find what you were looking for? What else do you want?

AudgiePodge · November 2010

I haven't bought anything. I doubt I will this weekend. DJ Hero sounds awesome. I really want to try it. Have you used your camera yet? I'm in the market for a new one.

leia1979 · November 2010

Sounds like fun Dreamer! I really don't like crowds, so I stayed away from the mall.

My mom and I went to a craft show yesterday, and I need to PIP my haul. I got these candle holders that look like red roses but are actually wood shavings! These people made kissing balls, too. I asked for their contact info in case I want to buy some ceremony decor from them. They made wreaths and trees out of the wood shavings, too.

I also got a cute blue and white hooded towel with bunny ears for my friend's baby shower in January.

[Deleted User] · November 2010

My mom and I went out shopping this morning - no lines this morning. We went to a craft store and got the beads and wire I needed (a friend of mine is helping me make necklaces as gifts for my BM's) all on sale, plus I could use the 20% off coupon on top of that. Sweet deal.

loves2shop4shoes · November 2010

For the first time in...well, ever, I stayed home on Black Friday. I watched tv and snuggled with FI most of the day. I even managed to get in a little studying for exams.

Sigh...I was thinking about the boots I would buy if I were out most of the day. Haha.

GreenPepperBurger · November 2010

I really want Glee Karaoke Revolution for the Wii. I'm such a dork.

loopy82 · November 2010

I went out shopping. I didn't wait in line for any of the stores to open. We headed out at about 6:00 AM. We never waited in any ridiculous lines. I was amazed. I didn't really get much shopping accomplished. I failed.

PaigeMcC · November 2010

I bought groceries. And a fleece blanket for my sister. And a sweater.

That is all.

nottheonlydreamer44 · November 2010

Hahah, you all made me laugh.

Loop, I am jealous you didn't wait in any lines!! Geez we did for sure.

@GPB - you are not a dork! We were in Best Buy and my Mom called me and asked, "whats one thing you really want for Christmas?" I said a North Face Coat and then looked over, saw DJ Hero 2 Party Bundle for Wii and changed my mind. I am also in desperate need of Just Dance 2 and SingStar (I don't watch Glee too much). We bought DefJam Rapstar and became obsessed with those types of games.

@Paige - that's productivity. Groceries rule.

@Leia, Angie and Shoes - I am all about the craft stuff (except I suck at it horribly) but all those things sound great (especially the kissing balls)! Shoes - I bought the most amazing Candies shoes x2 about 2 weeks ago. Ahhh-mazing!

@ Aud - I haven't used it yet. But I kid you not it took me like 4 weeks of comparing cameras for this purchase to happen. We actually bought 2 other ones, returned them and went and got the 3rd in the same day. I usually need about .25 seconds to decide but this was excrutiating for some reason. I'll let you know how the Nikon does on vacation in a week.

leia1979 · November 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_early-christmas-presents?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:74976e2d-0e9c-4605-ae1a-5e33df253a62Post:8805a1ec-7997-429d-9389-f575881b90e0">Re: Early Christmas presents</a>:
[QUOTE]I really want Glee Karaoke Revolution for the Wii. I'm such a dork.
Posted by GreenPepperBurger[/QUOTE]

I saw that on TV a couple weeks ago. I would totally get that if I had a Wii. But it's missing some of my favorite songs (like the whole Journey medley).

tafft1 · November 2010

Since holiday season has officially started you wont see much of me around - between working from 3:45am - noon on Friday then having dinner Friday night at FIL's house then having to be back to work at 7am and rinse and repeat 5 - 6 days a week..I barely have enough energy to log onto my computer. I hope everyone had a good holiday so far.

Hubby's birthday was Nov 19th so no early gifts for him , or me. We can wait

bethsmiles · November 2010

I'm trying to decide if I should get my brother a Christmas present. His birthday was Nov. 15 and I bought him the new COD game it was pretty expensive plus over-night shipping so he would have it ASAP made it close to $100. I thought about getting him something small but I have no idea what I would get him.

I don't know what to get BF either. The only person I know what I'm getting them for Christmas is my BFF. Ugh...Christmas shopping. I hate it - I wish it didn't coincide with the end of the semester. I don't have time for it!

Hazel_B · November 2010

I didn't do any Christmas shopping really, it was more planning. I ordered a suit for BF for Christmas. It was a heck of a production to get him to try on suits without me there. For some reason he wants to be surprised. So, he went in and tried on things to find a couple suits he liked the fit of and I went in later and picked out an outfit.

So, Wednesday or Thursday I get to go pick it up. He's getting a 3 piece navy suit with 2 ties and 2 shirts for his big Chritsmas gift this year. One tie goes with the purple shirt I got him but will also go with a pink shirt and a blue shirt. The other tie goes with the green shirt I got him but will also go with a blue shirt or a tan shirt. I'm pretty excited for him to see it, I hope that he likes it because he didn't give me any restrictions on what colours to stay away from.

CvilleClaire · November 2010

I think Loopy has the key to a perfect Black Friday...let the early birds stand in line over night and waltz in an hour after doors open. Brilliant!

The only person who does the Black Friday thing is my aunt, who is now in Iowa (she has lived everywhere). She got up at 1 AM to go out to Walmart for a Kitchen-Aid mixer. I can't believe she doesn't have one...she's in her 50s and all the women in my family have them (we're all big bakers). Oh well. She was thrilled with her "score."

We had a big day...went to Total Wine for a gift card for another aunt and then to the outlets for something for my future brother-in-law. FI (first time typing that) was ready for total defeat, so I drove. I dropped him at a store and then had a spot within 10 minutes.

We still have a few more people to get presents for. We try to be done by Thanksgiving so we can relax and enjoy the time between the holidays. I think we'll try to finish up today and then decorate this week.

babybchbum · November 2010

DH ended up with 18 video games.... for some reason we have problems passing up Gamestops buy 2 get 1 free deal. Thank fully his mom is going to write me a check so he can get a few more for christmas rather than me holding some until his birthday. i'm off to wrap some now.

calindi · November 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_early-christmas-presents?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:74976e2d-0e9c-4605-ae1a-5e33df253a62Post:76846b69-0332-4356-8416-a8e95e4624fb">Re: Early Christmas presents</a>:
[QUOTE]I'm trying to decide if I should get my brother a Christmas present. His birthday was Nov. 15 and I bought him the new COD game it was pretty expensive plus over-night shipping so he would have it ASAP made it close to $100. I thought about getting him something small but I have no idea what I would get him. I don't know what to get BF either. The only person I know what I'm getting them for Christmas is my BFF. Ugh...Christmas shopping. I hate it - I wish it didn't coincide with the end of the semester. I don't have time for it!
Posted by bethsmiles[/QUOTE]

Beth, please (from someone who has a birthday right before Christmas) don't punish your brother just because he's born near Christmas. You wouldn't skip a Christmas gift altogether if he was born in May - the idea would seem strange since it's so far apart. Consider it the same thing.

I'm not saying you have to buy him anything expensive, but even a movie for $10-12 would be something to unwrap.

For me, I planned on avoiding stores all together on Black Friday. I hate to shop in any circumstance, let alone holiday craziness. As it was, my grandparents gave us $100 to spend on something for our home, and we decided what we really wanted were two board games: Stratego and Axis & Allies (among other things - that was only $15 and $30 respectively). So we ventured out to a game store a few miles away, which was vacant and found Axis & Allies, and then went to Target which was next door, and there were surprisingly few lines. We got Stratego and a few other small Christmas gifts for family and friends (total was under $50).

Then we went home and played Axis & Allies for 6 hours and ate leftovers. He kicked my butt. We played again yesterday, and he killed me again.

tafft1 · November 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_early-christmas-presents?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:74976e2d-0e9c-4605-ae1a-5e33df253a62Post:069eb2bc-21fe-45e8-8e2a-3231161b8bde">Re: Early Christmas presents</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Early Christmas presents : <strong> Beth, please (from someone who has a birthday right before Christmas) don't punish your brother just because he's born near Christmas. You wouldn't skip a Christmas gift altogether if he was born in May - the idea would seem strange since it's so far apart. Consider it the same thing. I'm not saying you have to buy him anything expensive, but even a movie for $10-12 would be something to unwrap.</strong> For me, I planned on avoiding stores all together on Black Friday. I hate to shop in any circumstance, let alone holiday craziness. As it was, my grandparents gave us $100 to spend on something for our home, and we decided what we really wanted were two board games: Stratego and Axis & Allies (among other things - that was only $15 and $30 respectively). So we ventured out to a game store a few miles away, which was vacant and found Axis & Allies, and then went to Target which was next door, and there were surprisingly few lines. We got Stratego and a few other small Christmas gifts for family and friends (total was under $50). Then we went home and played Axis & Allies for 6 hours and ate leftovers. He kicked my butt. We played again yesterday, and he killed me again.
Posted by calindi[/QUOTE]

Not to nitpick but since when is Christmas just about gifts ? It never has been for me - and I am not religious either - I just don't see where this really is relevant or truthfully any of your buisness. Who says she is punishing him ? Many people are still struggling in today's economy - things arent cheap - it's hard at holidays sometimes for everyone to get everyone something especially when there are other people and occassions to consider. There are many people in my family over the years who were never able to afford/ or gave a gifts for holidays or birthdays but didn't mean they don't care. I am a firm believer in it isn't always necessary to buy someone things to celebrate with.

calindi · November 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_early-christmas-presents?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:74976e2d-0e9c-4605-ae1a-5e33df253a62Post:4316122d-f52b-4961-b5d8-3c8da0045a04">Re: Early Christmas presents</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Early Christmas presents : Not to nitpick but since when is Christmas just about gifts ? It never has been for me - and I am not religious either - I just don't see where this really is relevant or truthfully any of your buisness. Who says she is punishing him ? Many people are still struggling in today's economy - things arent cheap - it's hard at holidays sometimes for everyone to get everyone something especially when there are other people and occassions to consider. There are many people in my family over the years who were never able to afford/ or gave a gifts for holidays or birthdays but didn't mean they don't care. I am a firm believer in it isn't always necessary to buy someone things to celebrate with.
Posted by tafft1[/QUOTE]

Her justification for not getting him a gift is because she got him a big birthday present. I'm saying that people only seem to think this way about people who have birthdays in November/December. If someone has a birthday in May, they either buy something within a reasonable budget or they splurge if they choose to, but they don't use it to justify not buying a gift for Christmas.

If her reasons were that she couldn't afford gifts for her family so she was going to write them a nice card or something, then that's cool. If you notice, I said it doesn't have to be an expensive gift - she could wrap a bar of chocolate for all it matters. But if she's buying everyone else gifts for Christmas and justifies not buying one for him because she just bought him a birthday gift, that's punishing him for having a birthday near Christmas.

People who don't have birthdays right before/after Christmas don't typically realize how annoying/insulting this can be. I've dealt with it my whole life. You can choose to do one big and one smaller, but two separate gifts (if you're getting other people gifts for Christmas) is a must.

tafft1 · November 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_early-christmas-presents?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:74976e2d-0e9c-4605-ae1a-5e33df253a62Post:42794e73-4ded-477c-a472-82c6cc549d74">Re: Early Christmas presents</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Early Christmas presents : Her justification for not getting him a gift is because she got him a big birthday present. I'm saying that people only seem to think this way about people who have birthdays in November/December. If someone has a birthday in May, they either buy something within a reasonable budget or they splurge if they choose to, but they don't use it to justify not buying a gift for Christmas. If her reasons were that she couldn't afford gifts for her family so she was going to write them a nice card or something, then that's cool. If you notice, I said it doesn't have to be an expensive gift - she could wrap a bar of chocolate for all it matters. But if she's buying everyone else gifts for Christmas and justifies not buying one for him because she just bought him a birthday gift, that's punishing him for having a birthday near Christmas. People who don't have birthdays right before/after Christmas don't typically realize how annoying/insulting this can be. I've dealt with it my whole life. You can choose to do one big and one smaller, <strong>but two separate gifts (if you're getting other people gifts for Christmas) is a must.</strong>
Posted by calindi[/QUOTE]

No. It is NOT a must ( in my opinion). Sorry I will never agree with this. I do understand your point of view but simply understand my OPINION is different - it was not meant to try and persuade you or anyone but that last comment kind of bugs me. It's like saying just you being here isn't enough - you have to get me something. I don't care what the value of the item is..it still seems a bit grabby to me rather than being thankful for things that are not of any monetary value. This is the last I will say on the subject because again - it's a matter of opinion and I do feel it isn't any of mine or anyone else's business what happens - but I did feel the desire to express my feelings behind it.

leia1979 · November 2010

I think the importance of gifts varies from family to family. In my house, it's a big deal (except for my dad, who will just say "humbug"). My mom got FI a box of chocolates last year to give him something.

calindi · November 2010

I'll never say you have to buy gifts - I honestly could go without them altogether. I could ignore Christmas Day and be perfectly happy - Christmas Eve is a giant party with my family, and that's what I look forward to and value.

But if someone buys everyone else a gift except someone who has had a birthday recently, it's not fair and it will be hurtful to the person who was overlooked.

nottheonlydreamer44 · November 2010

I'm happy to see everyone seemed to find what, if anything, they were looking for over the weekend! Board games are freakin' awesome - BTW.

FWIW - I am also the dreaded "December baby" - (the 12th to be exact) and I'm used to it being kind of a toss up. When I was younger and gifts were the "norm" I always celebrated both days seperately.

These days (due to the economy and the fact that it really doesn't matter to me) I usually celebrate my birthday with dinner or something and then Christmas is its own day. We always get my mom a big gift and other than that I don't really care if I get anything (it's just a bonus that my mom suffers X-Mas guilt, lol).

I don't think it's an absolute that there has to be 2 presents for those people with birthdays close to christmas, if the family is doing presents, it's nice but not required. I'd much rather spend my birthday going out for drinks (that I will buy for myself) and dinner.and eating Christmas breakfast with my momma. To each their own.

heyimbren · November 2010

Dreamer, I agree with you. I think the important thing is that both the birthday and holiday are celebrated - however one may choose to celebrate. I don't have a problem wtih "doubling up" on bigger gift splurges. It's all the same to me. The only problem I'd see is if someone decided not to give a gift, for the sole reason that the birthday is too close to Christmas and they just wanted to ignore the birthday altogether. But that's just mean and I've never heard of that being done.

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