Have you started your Christmas shopping yet?

[LittlePuffyTail]

Being Black Friday South of the border, a lot of you are probably out shopping now!

I HATE Christmas crowds so I always try to do my shopping early. I usually start early November and just buy a few things at a time.

Everyone usually has someone difficult on their list so sometimes it helps to see what other people are buying. What sort of things have you bought for Christmas this year?

Ricky made it really easy on me this year. Usually we set a budget and buy each other a few little gifts but this year I’m just getting him one big gift. This collectible Freddy Krueger glove thing. He’s a horror movie freak. I’m ordering it online so that saves me from a lot of store hopping. Yipeee! 

For my Mom, I’m cross-stitching a pillow with horses to go with her horse-themed living room. I also bought her a Bearington Bear which she collects (I collect the Bearington Bunnies! ) and a West Highland Terrier ornament for her tree.

For my nephew who is 2 I got a gigantic plush Triceratops. And my nieces, who are 7 and 9, I got each an art kit with paints and stuff and I’m going to buy them something else to go with it, not sure what yet.

That only leaves my sister, Ricky’s 2 sisters (they are always the hardest) and my grandparents.

The bunnies are going to get willow baskets filled with surprises and my cats I always make catnip plushies. Winnie is getting a pretty new halter and a bag of treats she’s only allowed to eat at Christmas time.

It’s hard to beleive it’s only a month away. We just got 20cm though so it feels a bit more Christmasy. I don’t decorate till the 1st though. Saturday is our gigantic annual Christmas craft sale and Christmas parade.

[Beka27]

I went to Walmart last night. It was crazy. Stood in line for 3 hours but we scored two 40 inch tvs. So while it was insane, it definitely worked out! Those are the big gifts for the kids, so I feel like I have a good start!

[Stickerbunny]

Yikes Beka, last time I went to a wal-mart black friday sale it was so crazy, some like 6ft tall buff weight lifter type guy was ELBOWING women in the face to get to the TVs. My grandmother made us go to get her a TV, but we vowed to never go again – we caught some employee coming out of the stocking warehouse with a pallet of them and got it before she put it in place and ran. lol You are brave to go into that crowd.

I don’t celebrate, so I don’t have christmas shopping to do. Though, I may use it as an excuse to get the bunnies or bird something…

[mocha200]

Went Black Friday shopping last nigh ( just woke up from my nap and I didn’t get anything. I helped my friends grab their stuff before people took it. I couldn’t get anything because I just bought $70 from the Binkybunny store ( woops, once I start I can’t stop!) and yesterday I ordered a a $300 dollar camera ( If was on sale because of black Friday, It used to be around $400-$500. So now I have no money left for Christmas shopping :/ Going to have to figure out what to do about that.

[BinkyBunny]

 I avoid getting on the road at all during these next four days.   I do like LittlePuffyTail and try and shop early for some things.  I normally gradually make a list of gifts that I know my friends/family would like (based on comments about stuff they have made throughout the year), and then when it gets a bit closer to Christmas and they haven’t bought it for themselves, I will then have an easy go-to list, and I can buy it during times that are not crowded or even better yet, get it online.  

I actually used to like Christmas Shopping, but it’s really just too crowded for me now. I must be gettin’ old.  I don’t have the patience to battle the freeway, then circle around and around for parking, OR even if take Bart and Muni (the public trains — subway), then I squeeze in with everyone else who also is trying to shove in with theiir packages, and then if you are not lucky enough to get a seat, you have to hold on to the bar or handle with one hand while you carry all your stuff with the other and balance. (which isn’t that hard when you everyone is leaning on each other.) And of course, that is after you waited in a line that has at least 20 people in front of you.  10 + years ago, I considered it a fun adventure, but now that “adventure” has run its course with me.  (though  I can absolutely see why people do enjoy it — it can also be a social fun thing to do with friends and family)

So even though Steve and I avoid the shopping in the mobs, we do like to go into the city a few times during the holiday season, and just hang out  and watch all the hubbub going on at Union Square in San Francisco. They always have an iceskating rink in the middle, Huge Christmas Tree and Holiday decorations, Christmas lights and displays are up,  It’s very pretty, (epecially in the evenings), and so it’s great to just go over there without any shopping agenda, have a hot chocolate and just be part of it without the rush and anxiety.

Happy Shopping!  Whatever way you prefer!

[longhairmike]

i already packed up all these orders since yesterday afternoon… as much as i like the business,, it been an asskicking every day this week.

[Malp_15]

I like to go shopping early too! For me it’s mostly that I am a HUGE Christmas but, so anything I can do to start Christmas early I will . I usually buy my parents one thing each and then fill a stocking. And I usually buy those giving gifts for my grandparents, because they have pretty much everything they need/want. If you don’t know what those are, you can go though almost any charity (I usually go with Plan Canada or the BC SPCA) and you buy, say like a chicken for a family or school supplies for a kid somewhere. With the SPCA, they have a pay for one night + for a certain animals at a shelter or for veterinary bills. And they send a card to the person who you donated for explaining it, etc. For my stocking stuffers, and other small things me and a friend go to Walmart and Superstore once they start their open 24 hours Christmas hours. I get shopping rage when it gets insanely busy at 1am there is usually only a couple people in the store

So far this year I’m pretty behind. I have a raincheck for a personal humidifier for my mom that was sold out. Hopefully it comes in soon! And I got this specially made Christmas ball with a cat painted on it for a friend/client that I housesit for. She used to own a cat rescu in my town, but stopped a couple of years ago and she kept her favourite/unadoptable 9 cats. She just had to put down one of them yesterday, because he had cancer and we found a large tumor on his heart. It was very sad The ball looks like Polar, so I hope she likes it!

[LBJ10]

I had to work, so not much shopping. I do have some things stashed though. I got my mom the final missing piece for her Willow Tree nativity set. I’m not sure what else I will get for her since I got such a good deal on that. I bought some coffees that I will probably give to someone, not sure who yet. I have stuff for my niece (hat, t-shirt, board game), but can’t find much for my nephew. He is at a difficult age to buy for at the moment. He’s 2, but some toys seem to “baby” and other say ages 3 and up. Wow, I didn’t buy much did I? I still have to figure out what to get my mother-in-law, father-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, brother, and my dad. Yikes! Any suggestions? It seems like it gets harder and harder every year because you start running out of ideas.

[Sarita]

Longhairmike, what kind of business do you have?

I don’t buy anyone presents anymore so I don’t have to shop – enjoy this alot!

[LoveChaCha]

I sure have.

Yesterday was Black Friday, and I volunteered to work early at my job. My job opened at 5 am, and I was scheduled from 5:30 am – 10:30 am. I went early to work – 5 am. I picked up a pair of socks for myself (name brand socks all half off!), 2 little things for my coworkers. We have a joke about My Little Pony, so I bought them the small Pony playsets, hahaha.

After work, I ran errands with my dad, and my friend picked me up at noon. We went shopping at the mall.

I’m doing my shopping slowly but surely. I’m going to buy some wrapping tomorrow. Wrapping is my most favorite thing to do!!

I asked the BF for fingerless gloves.

[longhairmike]

OMG, how did you lose your fingers?

[bunnyfriend]

I wish I had started shopping earlier!

[bwild]

Posted By longhairmike on 11/26/2011 11:25 AM
OMG, how did you lose your fingers?

 

ahahaha

[kamdynandsunshinesmom]

I already but my bunnies there gifts and they are using them as we speak!

[LittlePuffyTail]

Chacha must have bitten her fingers off. Those Diva bunnies…

[Monkeybun]

lol mike!

Brit, have you nudged him towards the site of a certain person we know of that maybe knits?

[LoveChaCha]

I should

[Elrohwen]

No Black Friday shopping for me – I hate crowds! I’ll gladly pay full price for something if I can avoid fighting through crowds of people and waiting in line – I’m weird like that.

I got DH a chainsaw for Xmas. We picked it out last weekend (after he researched it forever) and he’s been playing with it in the woods. I guess I should get some ribbon to tie around it so I can at least put it under the tree. I might also get him a surprise – he has a big cast iron bell we picked up at a yard sale, but it didn’t come with the cradle part. I finally found a place that will make them (didn’t have any luck finding one on ebay) so I might order it. Our bell looks like this (this bell is also missing the cradle, which is the part that lets you attach it to a pole): http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Antique-3-Cast-Iron-Ranch-Farm-School-Bell-Cradle-/00/$%28KGrHqIOKpME4vNRi6QDBOMyzzLgD!~~0_35.JPG

For my parents and his family we agreed on a low limit (I was ok with $40, but they wanted $10 – I think it’s silly since everybody will go over, but whatever). I still don’t have lists for everybody though, so I can’t really buy anything yet. My parents are impossible to buy for – they hate random stuff that can become “clutter”, but they buy themselves everything they want. Hopefully I can order everything online once I get some lists!

Our old apartment was literally a mile from the mall, so it was easy to pop in and grab something and run out. Our current house is at least 20 min away (from a different mall), so I never go. I don’t know where any of the stores are in this new mall (I don’t even know which stores are there for the most part - I think they’re lacking some of my favs like JCrew and Pottery Barn), so it’s harder to park in the right spot and run in and out.

[LBJ10]

I’m at the mall all the time, but that’s because I work there. LOL
I don’t venture out into the mall that much though. I usually just go home when I get off and don’t linger too long. I think I’m going to buy some things online this year too. If I can find it on Amazon that would be great cause I have free 2-day shipping with Prime (I have a student account).

[Kate Monster]

My mom, my grandma, and my boyfriend’s step mom will be getting things I’ve made, as it turns out there isn’t a whole lot to crochet for the men that’s also fun to do. Though my boyfriend’s dad is going to get some ugly gag gift socks, lol. All of my other shopping comes from Amazon.

[Elrohwen]

KateMonster – one year my SIL knitted a beer cozy for DH (it was brown with football lacings, so it didn’t look too girly). That might be something the men would enjoy! Actually, DH has never used it, but I liked it and hope she’ll make me one someday (one that doesn’t look like a football)

[LBJ10]

Hehe, men don’t like crocheted stuff very much. I saw them crocheting a manly vest on TV once. Looked really complicated. Or maybe it was knitting. Hmm..

[longhairmike]

2 words: AMAZON PRIME,,,

 

or better yet: PLANE TICKETS, since all my family is stuck in the chicago area while its 77 here…

[Tipsy Bunny]

ooo this is a fun post!

Well for Tipsy, everyday is Christmas!! But of course she will get extra stuff that day… I am thinking a new harness, one from sweden, I just have to contact them to order it… they are a little slow in checking emails.
Mom – probably a manicure
Dad – new barware, he loves is Old Fashioneds!
Brother in law + sister – retro and vintage childrens books for when they start having children! I already got them The Gas We Pass (we loved that book when we were growing up) and Henny Penny. And a naughty book for fun… Go The bleep To Sleep, narrated by Samuel L Jackson on youtube.
Sister – A magazine subscription to Martha Stewart cooking… oh lordy.
Her boyfriend – cute christmas sweaters for his adorable french bulldog whom loves and calls her his daughter and tells her “daddy’s home!” after work
my boyfriend – a new wardrobe! Graphic tees? Please! Button down shirts with a sweater and a newsboy hat, no more silly sweatershirts and beanies!

I think I am getting some wonderful new Eddie Bauer clothes! ahh yeah so excited! And I asked for some cute vintage rabbit figurines to put on my desk to cuten up my apartment!

[kinggoblin]

I went black friday shopping – but at 2 pm in the afternoon when all the nuts were sleeping after their night of camping and mad dashes to stores. I got some good stuff for our apartment and I did all my christmas shopping, I just need to ship the presents. I got my dog stuff on black friday too – I let her have her presents early, a new collar + stuffed animal. The rabbits christmas came today and I gave it to him – some nice chew sticks soaked in blueberry & cranberry juice, pine cones, hay & of course the box! He loves the box the most I think – the sticks are second.

[Author]

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