Christmas 2024

New crackers (which means we’re probably pulling the ones we have now):

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Nothing says luxury like you’re very own…binder clip. :laugh:
 
We aren't giving gifts to each other anymore. At this point in our lives we either have everything we could want or need, or we just buy it. Three weeks ago it was a new car.

We adopt a family. This year a mom with 3 teenage boys from the local domestic violence shelter. We plan to deliver the gifts to the shelter on Thursday. Mom wanted a vacuum. Boys wanted scooters, Legos, art supplies, basketball, etc.
 
SilverSage said:
We aren't giving gifts to each other anymore. At this point in our lives we either have everything we could want or need, or we just buy it. Three weeks ago it was a new car.

We adopt a family. This year a mom with 3 teenage boys from the local domestic violence shelter. We plan to deliver the gifts to the shelter on Thursday. Mom wanted a vacuum. Boys wanted scooters, Legos, art supplies, basketball, etc.
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That is lovely.
 
TastyReuben said:
I see I have to share Tasty’s Patented Present Procurement Program with you.

Starting 1 Jan…and I know this is the hard part…actively listen to your wife. Doesn’t matter what’s going on, doesn’t matter if it’s day or night, just listen for any time she says something along the lines of “that’s nice,” or “oh, I like that,” or “I sure could use…”

Then, whenever she pops out with something like, “See that sploshing flange this fellow on the TV has? That’s nice,” or “What a lovely bunch of coconuts, I like that,” you get out your phone, open the Notes app or whatever it’s called, and you start a list called “Christmas 2025,” or whatever you like. Add it to that list.

All year long, you pay attention. You listen. Any time you hear one of those key phrases, you write it down what she’s admiring.

Could be anything…a t-shirt with a funny saying…a book…a weekend dinner-and-show getaway…a pair of socks…you listen and you write it down. No matter how big or how small, you write that 💩 down!

If you’ve been doing that, come September, you’ll have a list so long, you won’t have to spend more than 15 minutes narrowing it down to whatever it is you want to give.

What’s even better, it’s really like two gifts in one - one is the actual gift, of course, but the second gift is when she says, “Oh, a nice ring for my little pinky toe…how lovely!” - you can come back and say, “Yeah, I remember you admiring one of those when we were at that place back in June, what was it…Foot Farm… and you said you really liked them.”

“Oh, you really listen to me! You’re so sweet!” - that’s gift number 2. 😏
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Here's what happened last few times I've used my initiative.
I bought nice gold earrings for her.
Oh, silly you know my ear lobes closed years ago .
Most recent about 10 years ago I got a gold nugget from a customer of mine. I came back here to chch and took it to a jeweller and had a flash gold chain with the nugget on that. After wearing twice, oh, the gold is reacting with my skin. Gold nuggets here are 99 % pure.
Wtf..
I gave up then.

Russ
 
All the prezzies and stocking stuffers bought and wrapped, topped off with getting one of these:

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Gift cards bought and distributed for our “pre-Boxing Day” folks who help us out and provide a service, as well as a deluxe cookie tray from the German bakers for our pharmacy friends…everything is done!

Now it’s just concentrating on the food…
 
SilverSage said:
We aren't giving gifts to each other anymore. At this point in our lives we either have everything we could want or need, or we just buy it. Three weeks ago it was a new car.
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We are still giving each other gifts, it's just not the same way we used to do. I bought hubby a super-soft new houserobe and some new slippers, and I also bought him a big box of luxury foods (arrives flash frozen) that will arrive this Saturday. It has ground elk, lamb shanks, octopus tentacles, Chilean seabass (AKA Patagonian toothfish), jumbo sea scallops, and large lobster tails. I will be eating some of it of course, but it will be a pleasant surprise for him since several of those items can't be found in stores where we live and I get the pleasure of watching his face when he's eating what I have cooked for him!
SilverSage said:
We adopt a family. This year a mom with 3 teenage boys from the local domestic violence shelter. We plan to deliver the gifts to the shelter on Thursday. Mom wanted a vacuum. Boys wanted scooters, Legos, art supplies, basketball, etc.
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We did that with our kids when they were young and still living at home. It was a valuable lesson for them about giving to others. Such a nice thing to do!
 
karadekoolaid said:
Still got to buy some "surprise" presents for the wife.
I hate doing that. It means I have to trudge around terribly crowded shopping centres hoping something interesting will jump out and say "BUY ME!!"
That never happens. I'm not a worrier, but buying a present for my wife is like trying to please Kim Jong Un.
And I'm not the only one, just in case you wondered - everyone, family members, friends, acquaintances, say that she is notoriously difficult to buy for.
Maybe I'll get her a ferret, or a pet penguin.
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I know you were just kidding, but I know from experience how badly ferrets stink. They make horrible pets. I didn't own one, but I had a friend who did and as a result I didn't like going over there to visit.
 
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