The Gift Suggestion Thread

[fairfox]

Thanks again littleblacksheep - I think that is the one I am going to get him, it's my favourite too. And woe betide him if there is any picture other than me in there. Ha.

And, chonies - just to double-check, you mean just a one-letter thing? It's not really a monogram - they stamp it and they choose which typeface and colour (gold or silver stamp) goes best with the 'style'. Thanks for your comment. I did think to myself that 4 letters in a row would look weird and random.

[starskin]

I've procrastinated horribly in the Christmas gift department. For my family overseas I have a sort-of excuse. For the people that I know and like here, I don't. Anyway, I'm thinking of getting all my loved ones in the US gift cards. Specifically Target or Borders gift cards. They mail them to the recipient's address, right?
I know that's sort of cold and impersonal, and I'd love to get them each something unique and special, but I am terrible at shopping and this time of year makes me feel agoraphobic. Plus, shipping is abominably expensive.

Thoughts? Other suggestions?

[laconicchick]

I don't have any suggestions, but from what I know of shipping around Christmas, they will probably arrive after the date. I think the deadline for overseas Christmas shipping to arrive on time is something crazy like October (my mother has relatives in England that she sends gifts to). That may just be for packages, though. Or I could be totally off.

[dwanollah]

Okay, this is a toughie. My friend and I are doing the "adopt a child" gift program, and we have an 8 year old girl from Nairobi, Kenya. When asked what she wanted, she answered "clothes and food" but we can't send food overseas (although maybe we could get away with a couple candy thingies). I've looked into basic stats, and the literacy rate is high in Kenya, and the weather is hot. But other than that, I know nothing; my time in Africa was spent in Namibia, which is, der, totally different.

We've decided on school supplies, basic clothing, and probably some books, but does anyone have any other or specific suggestions? I was toying with the idea of one of the American Girls dolls, Addy... is that a good idea, or just culturally gross and insensitive? Has anyone been to Kenya or know more about the country than I do? Help!

[Britty]

Dwanollah, the only suggestion I have for specific clothes would be underwear. I can't speak for Kenya, but when a child is in need a lot of times clothes are hand-me-downs from older siblings or donations, and it is a big deal to have their own brand new underpants, undershirts, and socks.

I need some advice about a gift for my nephew. He turned 8 in August. We're not close with my husband's brothers family, but we will be there for Christmas this year. According to my MIL, he likes dinosaurs and Legos. I bought him a wooden model of a T-Rex. It's got lots of pieces, but you don't have to glue it or paint it. The box says 5+, but is this too young for an 8yr old? I thought it would be a good way to combine his interests, but since he doesn't do models now wouldn't be so complicated as to frustrate him with the process. I'm not terribly worried, but I just wanted some feedback. We used to spend a lot of time buying gifts and sending them, but never heard so much as a mention of the gift being received much less a thank you from the kids or parents.

[chonies]

Dwan, I think the Addy doll would be fine. I had originally typed out a long commentary on that sort of thing, but I think it's a very sweet gesture, and although there really might be some PoCo type theoretical issues, I think the child will see the doll, and not the sturm und drang behind the decision.

Then again, my experience with continental Africa is limited to a brief study-abroad in Ghana, and some professional experience with folk traditions among African immigrant communities.

Would shoes be appropriate?

Britty, I think the model sounds fine. Every so often I like to buy those sorts of models and I have a bit of challenge piecing them together myself. And I haven't been eight in a long time.

[Deleted]

Britty, I think the model would be fine. The 3=D puzzle Dad and I are working on is marked 12+ and our far-past-12-chronologically selves are quite occupied.

[india7]

Dwan, I'd go with socks, undies and basic clothes. Food wise - I wonder if you can send anything non-perishable? Sorry, I wish I knew where you could find guidlines.

[Deleted]

I finally thought of a gift for my father! I've spent hours over the past couple of days downloading stuff from Youtube for a DVD I'm burning entitled "Nostalgia Trip." Musical performances from Hullabaloo, Ready Steady Go, a vintage concert from Roy Orbison, even a hilarious RCA commercial from 1961 about a brand new remote for your TV! I also included some '50s shorts from MST3k. I'm really pleased because I think he'll get a kick out of it and it's FREE. I had some blank DVDs sitting here with nothing to put on them and voila.

I thought I'd share in case anyone was looking for a cheap gift idea. I used the link someone posted in the Everything You Needed to Know thread to download all the stuff from Youtube.

[starskin]

Woo I've gotten a good portion of my Christmas shopping done in the last 2 hours without setting foot outside. Ordered some Target giftcards for friends, a Lowe's giftcard for my Dad, a Bealls giftcard for my Mom and a donation to Heifer International for another friend. The rest of my friends/family want chocolate, so I'll have to physically buy and ship that. It won't get there till after Christmas but then again...Christmas doesn't technically end until January 6.