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Archive through December 05, 2003

The TVClubHouse: Archives: 2004 January - Arpil: The Best XMas Gift You've Ever Gotten!: Archive through December 05, 2003 users admin

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Luvmyjrt

Wednesday, November 26, 2003 - 12:36 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Since everyone is having a hard time thinking up what to get their spouse/SO's, how about a thread that will give each of us some ideas! It can be anything...........Guys, what would you like most this year and how 'bout us Gals? And, let's keep it clean!

Midlifer

Wednesday, November 26, 2003 - 12:40 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
But the thread says "...You've Ever Gotten"...that makes me reminisce....my BEST gift was my Barbie doll, back in 1960 something. I still have it.

Luvmyjrt

Wednesday, November 26, 2003 - 12:42 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Good point mid --- I'm really trying to come up with a creative gift for my husband. He's 40 and last year I got him his first drum set. He loved it! Something he's always wanted to do and still uses it daily (and takes lessons!) That will be a tough one to top!

Squaredsc

Wednesday, November 26, 2003 - 12:48 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
luv, do you want to know what the best gift is that we received or what we want? if it's the best gift ive gotten then i need to think on it.

Midlifer

Wednesday, November 26, 2003 - 12:48 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
You're right, Luv. I've thought about what I'll give my mom this year. She turned 80 in May, is from Germany. I'm giving her a small tape recorder, will ask her to tape memories of the War, living in Germany, growing up, etc. Then I'll type them up on my computer.

Luvmyjrt

Wednesday, November 26, 2003 - 1:13 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Good ideas all.........I want to know what to get my husband

Hippyt

Wednesday, November 26, 2003 - 1:32 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Here's a little article from MSN. I like the tickets idea,and the classes,like cooking classes or something.
10 gifts for people who hate ‘stuff’

advertisement


An unforgettable experience might be harder to wrap, but memories of great concerts, fantasies come true or good deeds done don't gather dust.

By Jennifer Mulrean

We all know them. Maybe you’re even one of them. Instead of the customary “yippee!” when ogling their holiday haul, they think, “Yikes! Where am I going to put all this stuff?”

Never fear: Plenty of gifts require no precious closet space. Probably the most flexible is the standard gift certificate or rechargeable gift card. This takes the pressure off you to find the Perfect Gift, but the serious anti-stuff contingent knows it’s usually just a way to delay the material acquisition. A stored-value credit card, such as the one from Visa, can be a good way around this because it can be used for many of the less materialistic merrymakers listed below.

If you're in the no-stuff camp, the trick is to get this list into the hands of your potential gift-givers.

The gift of experience
Just the ticket: With regular monthly budgets squeezed dry, it can feel like a Herculean task to wring any extras out of it -- just one of the reasons event tickets make great gifts. The better you know the recipients, the better your chances for picking an event that really hits home, whether the tickets are for their favorite sports team or band or for a play they’ve always wanted to see. And any ticket recipient can tell you it’s like getting a gift twice, once when you open it, and again when you actually use the tickets.Money 2004.
Smarter, faster and easier
than ever.



Try looking for events on any of the Citysearch sites for your town or at a tickets site, such as StubHub, Tickets.com, Ticketmaster or MSN Entertainment. If you’re unsure about picking an event, you can opt for a gift certificate to the theater or a stored-value credit card. And if you really feel the need to splurge, season tickets are sure to impress.

City lights, city passes: City passes get you into a number of museums and tourist attractions for one flat fee, often at a substantial discount to what the tickets would have cost a la carte. The combined price of admission for the six attractions included in the Seattle CityPass would normally cost $82, compared with the pass price of $42. It includes admission to the Space Needle and a harbor boat tour, among other things. The prices and choices vary from city to city; the San Francisco CityPass includes a seven-day cable car and municipal transportation pass, and the Southern California pass includes admission to some theme parks.

These are great if you have friends or relatives visiting for the holidays, or for people who are traveling to cities where the passes are available. The stateside version can be found at City Pass, but a number of European cities offer similar programs at EuropeanCityCards.com. Some of them have nice perks if you buy them ahead. You can add public transportation to the London Pass, for example, so long as you buy it before you actually get to London.

Explore classes and 'fantasy camps’: Any would-be Picassos or Fred Astaires on your gift list? How about wannabe astronauts (Space Camp) or race-car drivers (RacingSchools.com)? Foster their inner passions by treating them to a “fantasy camp” or local classes. Who knows, they may never take the plunge without the push.

The surprise factor can be hard to pull off with this one, unless you opt for a gift certificate to the school or arrange for private lessons that can be customized to their schedule. Check with community colleges, local dance and music studios, etc. in online yellow pages. For online classes in everything from poetry to astronomy, try Encarta’s eLearning Center.

Send them packing: Who doesn’t need a little R&R, especially after the holidays? Don’t have the cash to get them anywhere close to their destination? Give airline miles instead. You also can add to their existing travel plans by footing the bill for an unusual experience, such as a hot-air balloon ride over Africa or surfing lessons in Hawaii. Elderhostel also does a great job of packaging “educational adventure” trips for people 55 and older. They have about 10,000 programs a year.

Let them join the club: Sometimes, being a joiner has its perks. From reduced entrance fees to museums and parks, to special members-only events, make someone feel like an insider by giving him a membership. A few to consider: zoos, arts organizations, museums, outdoor groups, even AAA for a newly licensed teen if the family doesn’t already belong.

For fresh farm food, consider a membership to Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). CSA member dues support local farms. In return, many deliver fresh fruits and vegetables to members’ homes or open the farms for “you-pick” special events. (Additional information about CSA is available here.)

Gifts that keep giving
On the doorstep, month after month: Turn the page on magazine subscriptions. Instead, you could treat someone to year-round doorstep deposits of flowers, wine, beer or fresh fruits -- you name it and you probably can sign up for monthly deliveries. The cost can add up quickly if you’re aiming to provide a year’s subscription. But many sites allow for smaller commitments, such as three and six-month subscriptions. Some of the more unusual ones (for things that won’t pile up, of course) include cigars (Cigar of the Month Club), orchids (Red Envelope), cheesecake (Say it with Cheesecake!), bonsais (1800flowers.com), fresh breads (Williams-Sonoma) or a rotating selection of gourmet foods from iGourmet.com.

Another good fit: online subscriptions to publications or radio shows. At Audible.com you can get one audio book and one radio show or periodical per month for about $15 per month. Or, you can subscribe to particular shows -- a monthly subscription to NPR’s “Fresh Air” runs $12.95 a month, individual episodes cost about $2.

Fits of financial fun: The stock market isn’t quite the scary place it’s been for the last few years. Why not finance someone’s interest in investing with the gift of stocks or bonds? A gift in a toy or candy company, for example, can pique the interest of young investors.

You can invest low-dollar amounts through Sharebuilder.com or FolioFN. Oneshare.com will frame your stock certificate, but at $96 for one share of Walt Disney stock -- a whopping $73 above the recent stock price -- it’s more a luxury item than a smart investing move.

If you want to use any investments to help fund college savings, consider doing it through a 529 Plan. The plans allow almost anyone to set one up for almost anyone else. The recipient need not be a knee-high grandchild, though that would certainly give the money more time to grow. Earnings are tax-free, and you can invest in any state’s plan, no matter where you live. (Read more about 529 plans here: "The 5 best college savings plans".)

Give Grandma a goat: Maybe you have friends who are especially passionate about the environment or helping children. Make a charitable donation in their names and provide them with information on how “their” gifts are being used. Adopt “Nemo” at the National Aquarium in Baltimore or adopt a polar bear through the World Wildlife Fund. Heifer International has an online catalog of potential gifts to make to people in more than 48 countries around the world -- from cows ($500), goats ($120) and llamas ($150) to pigs ($120), geese ($20) and even bees ($30). The charity also allows you to purchase “shares” of many of the animals -- $10 for a share of a goat, or $50 for a cow share, for example. (Read up on how to tell good charities from bad, here: ePhilanthropyFoundation.org and "How to tell a good charity from a bad one.")


Something for Uncle Wilbur
Elegant edible gifts: We’re not talking about that gag-inducing fruitcake from the re-gifting hall of fame. Gourmet food sites cater to every culinary desire. Regional foods make especially fun gifts for anyone who’s moved away from home but still waxes nostalgic for the dishes they grew up on. Try fresh lobsters for transplanted New Englanders, brisket for Texans and crawdads for Louisianans. Keep in mind that shipping food can require some scheduling finesse. (Read more about it here: "It's in the mail: Your fancy holiday dinner.")

On the cutting edge: Buy a paper shredder. So this one doesn’t rank high for charm. And true, it will take up some square footage. But it also will help your clutter-phobic friends and family stay on top of the ever-growing piles of paper that wreak havoc with their filing systems. And because destroying sensitive documents is a smart way to protect financial privacy, the recipient will feel loved and protected.

Jagger

Wednesday, November 26, 2003 - 2:31 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I have given up giving and receiving gifts for the simple reason I never know what to get anyone. I've never really recieved any good gifts, other than those I have bought for myself, which include things like my big screen TV, surround sound system, vcr's, dvd players, mostly electronic things.

This year there will be none of the good stuff, I am re-doing my basement bathroom so that will be my Christmas present to myself, and an expensive one at that.

Lostintheglades

Wednesday, November 26, 2003 - 2:34 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I have had a horse in my life since I was 3. I even took my horse to college with me and found a place to keep her for free...all I had to do was handle the afternoon feedings and clean the stalls. Worked great. After DH and I were married, my horse got sick and had to be put down, we had kids and I was without a horse for about 5 years. We bought our first house when I was pregnant with DD #2. It came with 5 acres but being pregnant I really wasn't thinking about a horse. Sometime during the night, DH managed to have a horse he found for me delivered without my knowing. When I woke up, he handed me a box and there was a halter....I ran, 6 months pregnant as fast as I could go to find the most beautiful little Chestnut quarter horse mare. He even got the color right. I had not felt that much excitement on Christmas morning since I was a kid.

Luvmyjrt

Wednesday, November 26, 2003 - 2:39 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Good ideas everyone, keep them coming. (I want a horse!)

Amchess

Wednesday, November 26, 2003 - 3:13 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
The best gift I can remember is a beautiful doll when I was in the 1st grade. Then the neighbor girl nastily said "My doll is prettier than your doll". So I grabbed her doll and broke the head off and said "Not any more". This girl was so mean to me - she was my TORMENTOR! Well, her dad was a general and mine was a lowly colonel so you can imagine how much trouble I got in. But inside I wasn't sorry.


Since I just retired, I will be happy if I get some comfy clothes, like sweats, etc. to bum around in. I don't need perfume (especially after I bought myself Shalimar by Guerlain). I got my d-in-laws leather gloves, and they will last forever since I live in Florida. And money is always good for the rest of the bunch!

The paper shredder is an excellent idea. The cheap ones give out fast, so remember you get what you pay for!

Bobbie_552001

Wednesday, November 26, 2003 - 4:56 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I didn't even have to think about it...the very best gift I rec'd was a gold heart necklace that hangs on a very delicate chain. It hasn't been off of my neck since the day that I recieved it and everyday its a constant reminder of the very special man that gave it to me.

Max

Wednesday, November 26, 2003 - 5:10 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Best gift for me was when I was a kid. My bike had broken in the summer (it was a hand-me-down and it simply fell apart). I got up Christmas morning and headed to the kitchen for breakfast -- no gifts until afterwards in our house -- and right there next to the tree was a brand new, beautiful bicycle with my name on it. I was SO excited. I'll never forget that Christmas.

Best gift I ever gave my ex was for his 30th birthday. He was all upset about getting "old" (yeah, right), so I arranged to have his mom and siblings come to the house and decorate. They did the whole "over the hill" theme thing, complete with a cake with a headstone on it. While they were doing that, I picked him up from work and made him put on a blindfold. I took him to a storage place where I had stored a used arcade-size video game (it was his favorite one). I led him to the door and took off his blindfold. I had wrapped the door with a big bow. Gave him the key and he opened it up to see the video game. He was SO surprised and excited, it was really cool. He figured that was it, birthday was over and couldn't wait to get it home and plug it in and play the rest of the night.

When we got home, he was so busy figuring out how to get it in the house and where he was going to put it that he about jumped out of his shoes when everyone yelled "SURPRISE!"

It was a good day. :)

Pannie

Wednesday, November 26, 2003 - 11:50 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I once woke up Christmas morning and realized I was in Hawaii. ohhh sublime...

Lostintheglades

Thursday, November 27, 2003 - 6:51 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I am laughing so hard right now at Amchess tearing the dolls head off. I wanna go to Hawaii!

Happy T-day everyone!

Secretsmile

Thursday, November 27, 2003 - 7:42 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
In the same vein as what Hippy posted, several years ago, my brother got a coupon booklet of movie tickets for each of my kids ( 5 movies each , I think). They were thrilled and each year make plans to go Christmas night just the three of them. It's turned into their special tradition.

Another 'services' gift that I loved was when my siblings and I started driving and buying our own cars, my parents bought a year's membership to Triple A. I'm planning to give this to my kids this year. Now that I'm a parent I see that it was great for peace of mind knowing they can call a tow truck instead of being stranded or waking me up in the middle of the night.

The best gift I ever gave I think was last year to my husband, I gave him a series of golf lessons. He was so thrilled that he even called his brother that morning to brag and place bets on the next summer's golf games.

Squaredsc

Thursday, November 27, 2003 - 9:10 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
<trying this shade> ok i don't think ive gotten the best christmas gift yet. there were years when ive gotten some clothes that i loved or when i got super nintendo back in the 80's that i loved. but nothing as an adult i believe. but the best all around gift i got was my dog, angel. dh got him for me for valentines day about 3 yrs ago and i love him to death.

Lostintheglades

Thursday, November 27, 2003 - 9:23 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Awww...pets are great presents aren't they?

I guess the best gift I gave was to DH last year. He's always sketched and drawn but has wanted to try oils. Last year I bought him a complete set of oils, brushes, canvases and a few books. This has become his down time hobby when he's not working or golfing and his first painting had my DD's I amazed. You'd think he'd been painting his whole life.

Pamy

Thursday, November 27, 2003 - 12:47 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I always got one special Barbie each year from my Mom & Dad, I collect them and they have their own room in our house. When I am sad and missing my Mom and Dad I go up and 'play' in my Barbie room. I look at each doll and can remember the exact moment of getting it and it brings such happy memories.
My DH built all the shelves in the room and has continued the tradition of giving me dolls, along with my friends.
I have over 500 dolls and at a glance can remember who gave it to me and how special I felt when I opened it.

Tabbyking

Thursday, November 27, 2003 - 2:16 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
when i was in second grade, i got a little red spinning wheel from remco. i rushed home from school every day to spin away. when i had about 20 feet of long 'stuff', i coiled it and stitched it together and made a snow hat. i gave it to my cousin. i'm sure she never wore it, but oh well! i see those spinning wheels on eBay now and then...
one day,probably about a year after i got it, i came home from school and my mom had donated it to the goodwill or salvation army or something. that and a cream colored dress with roses on it that i absolutely loved. not sure why she gave them away when i still used them! i was upset for a long, long time!

Cancunkid

Thursday, November 27, 2003 - 2:43 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
My favorite Christmas as a kid I got a Strange Change machine....land of the lost from my brothers. It was such a cool dangerous toy from the 60's but I remember being soooo happy.

Best cool gift recently was actually my birthday but I have gotten two cases for friend for Christmas this year are Jones sodas with their favorite photos on the label. I am sure everyone is familiar with Jones Soda if not check their website jonessoda.com. You can order a case of sodas with a photo you submit to them on the whole case. I got one for a good friend that is the only good photo of the two of us in the Bahamas and one case for my boyfriend with his big prize fish catch. Both these people are going to think this is so cool because I loved the case I got. It is a very very unique and unusual item and as my Mom says if I can't eat it drink it or smoke it I don't need it. I always point out she really doesn't NEED to smoke!

Whoami

Friday, November 28, 2003 - 6:19 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Best Christmas gift I ever got was back in 1968 when I was 10 years old. I may have not realized how special that gift was when I was that age. But, at age 45, I know it was the best gift I could ever get, and is the only Christmas gift that is durable enough to still be a huge part of my life today.

The best gift I ever got was a little sister. TVCH member KTBB (aka little sis), is my best friend. You just can't do any better than that.

Tagurit

Friday, November 28, 2003 - 7:18 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I've been trying to figure out for the past day or so what my best present was....I gotta say that ever since my son was born almost 5 years ago it has to be to watch his face light up when he sees all the presents. Seeing him makes everything wonderful in the house/world for me. I am someone who likes to give than receive and am just happy with the little things in life.

Anyway, what I have started to do for my mom (about 5 years now) is to buy plants, trees, etc for her to plant around her house. That is how about 95% of her property has been landscaped. She loves it! I hate buying gifts that need to be dusted and want something that people will have and enjoy. It has turned out great for my mom and she tells me she wishes others (like my brother) would buy her plants than getting her things that will just clutter her closets.

Apriljo

Thursday, December 04, 2003 - 10:50 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Well lets see i think umm...either the nintindo (boy they were cool when i was little) or a karoke machine (thanks mom!) it was really fun singing along really loud (haha) it ended up breaking hmm..hope all the ugly noises coming out of it had nothing to do with that..but hey it was fun while it lasted.

Azriel

Friday, December 05, 2003 - 6:00 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
You're welcome, Apriljo. I was happy that I could get you the karioke machine that year. I always loved to hear you sing. You have a beautiful voice. I wish I hadn't had to buy the cheap crappy one that broke :)