Looking for some Christmas gift ideas for the ladies?

Yes, I realize it's not yet Thanksgiving and I'm making a post about Christmas gifts.  I've heard everwhere the cries for poor, poor Thanksgiving, who doesn't ever get a fair chance before being swept over by Christmas.  However, when you have a mom such as mine who begins asking for Christmas lists in August, and by this time of year is threatening to cancel Christmas if she DOESN'T GET THE DANG LISTS!, you kind of get in the mode of thinking about gifts.

Now, I don't consider myself to be too terribly materialistic, but who doesn't love opening gifts on Christmas?  The following are some things I consider to be right up at the top of the list of things I'd like to open up this year.  Maybe if you are looking for a gift for someone, these might give you some ideas.  Enjoy!

Personalized stacking rings with your kids' names on them.  Only $18 Right Here on Etsy!  Ohhh how I want these!

Fiestaware!  There is something so fun about these dishes.  I have some pieces in this color, Cinnamon, and also some in Evergreen.  I'd like some pieces in Chocolate too.  Love them.  These can vary in price, but you can sometimes find them at Kohl's on sale.

Vintage Pyrex.  I have a few pieces in the pattern of the bottom bowl.  I like the brown because it goes with my Fiestaware, and doesn't look too old fashioned.  There are about a bajillion patterns that you can find even though the good vintage ones have been out of production for a long time.  Thrift stores, garage sales and Craigslist are the places where I've had success in finding some.

Frye boots.  I'm quite certain I will never ever own a pair of these, but dang they are cool.  I would like to try and find a knock off pair around here for a fraction of the price though.  But I know they will have a fraction of the comfort, and last a fraction of the time the Frye's would.  I borrowed the above photo from http://www.shoes.com/, but you can find Frye's just about anywhere online.

Merrell shoe/boot/clog thingies.  For some reason I'm intrigued by these.  I can't decide if they are ugly or completely awesome.  I like how they are a bit dressy and would look really cute with jeans, but seem like they would be warm and comfortable.  Two things I'm constantly searching for in the bleachers at the hockey rink.  However at $120 (also at http://www.shoes.com/) chances of me owning a pair are probably slim to none.

Something handmade.  I adore handmade ornaments.  This glittery pinecone tutorial can be found here and would be a great project for the kids to do.  My mom always used to tell me that the home-made gifts were her favorite, and that's just another one of those things you really don't understand until you become a parent yourself.  You don't have to go and get all Martha fancy.  There are SO many easy peasy ideas out there if you look.  Here is a great site with 100 free ornament tutorials.  How fun!  Don't forget to put the year on anything handmade.

Gift Baskets. These can be so fun.  You can either order them from cool shops online like this one and have them delivered, or get creative (and save a crap load of money) and put them together yourself.  The possibilities are endless with these gift baskets.  You can get creative with the "basket" you put the items in also.  Use a stock pot to hold kitchen linens, utensils, recipes, and dried seasonings for a friend who likes to cook.  Fill a picnic basket with a bottle of wine and two wine glasses, along with other picnic supplies.  Put some baseball cards, a baseball, and a baseball glove in a hat of the recipient's favorite team, along with tickets to a game!  When I want to keep the budget down, I've put together hot chocolate baskets with a box of single serve Swiss Miss hot chocolate, a cute mug, and a small bottle of peppermint schnapps!

In my opinion, the more thought you put into your gifts, the more appreciated they are.  And although practical, everyone sitting in the living room on Christmas opening Target gift cards kind of takes the excitement out of it.  I don't know about you, but Target gift cards always get used on laundry soap and toilet paper (among other thing) and hardly ever on something fun for myself.  I'm not saying all gift cards are a bad idea, but if you decide to go that route, try to pick a more specialized place where the recipient won't be tempted to buy necessities for the family, and will get something fun for themselves.  For example, I'd love some picture frames and a gift card to an online photo printing site so I can start to print out some of the pictures I've been taking.

I hope to have some more ideas to share in the near future.  I think I've shown here that the moms of the households are much easier to buy something cool for than the dads and the pre-teen kids that only want $500 iPads.  Dang, I forgot to plant that money tree in my backyard last year!

Merry Christmas!

XOXOX

NH