Tag Archives: christmas presents

Did You Go Overboard with Gifts?

Now that the gift wrap is off and the gifts are spread around under the Christmas tree, there might be a sense that you went a little bit overboard. If it isn’t the sheer number of gifts, perhaps it is the credit card bill or the drain on your bank account that tells you that  you might have done a little too much. For me, it is usually the couple of extra gifts that I have left in the closet, too embarrassed or overwhelmed to bring them out. Ah, isn’t it so easy to be Santa these days. Still, it … Continue reading →

Would You Buy Your Kid a Barack Obama Doll?

Remember the stampedes that ensued when the original Tickle Me Elmo hit the shelves back in 1996? Thousands of parents pushed, shoved and pummeled their way through toy stores to get their hands on the furry red monster. Back then Sesame Street’s most famous resident was the hottest toy around. Elmo was hands-down a mass marketers’ dream come true. But this is 2008 and Elmo (even the newest version) has been upstaged by a truly historic presence. According to reports, the new Barack Obama action figure is flying off store shelves. The 14-inch plastic version of Obama is dressed in … Continue reading →

What to Do in Awkward Gift Giving Situations

No matter how we prepare for Christmas, sometimes we find ourselves in awkward gift giving situations. Take for example, the time that you neighbor brought over some Christmas cookies and you had nothing to give back. Or, the time that you gave a gift and got greeted with a “Oh, I didn’t know we were exchanging gifts this year.” Or how about when your child received a gift from a well-meaning friend or relative and blurted out a rude “I don’t want this.” Well, there are some gracious ways to deal with these situations. Your neighbor brings you a gift … Continue reading →

The Early Christmas Present: Trouble for Murphy, Mr. Meow and Tabby

Because Wayne returned to his old job with the old hours (i.e. long and frequent), he knew he wasn’t going to have time for Christmas shopping. So last Sunday we went to Best Buy to get me a new digital camera: a Canon PowerShot SD 1000. Wow, is it slick! It’s my first digital camera so I have a bit of a learning curve to overcome, but who cares? That’s half the fun. Besides, it does a bunch of neat things my film camera couldn’t do –like take movies with sound! I haven’t had all that much time to play … Continue reading →

Heirloom Holiday Gifts

This holiday season is presenting some real opportunities, despite the less optimistic appearance of the gift giving season in some regards. The opportunities for getting back to basics, giving simple toys as gifts, is one of those opportunities. Handmade gifts that may well become heirloom pieces is another. Create beautiful elements to go with existing toys. A patchwork quilt or handmade doll furniture are items that can be passed from generation to generation. Baby doll clothes or hand stitched outfits for Barbie may well inspire you to explore your inner fashion designer, while at the same time giving your little … Continue reading →

Shopping Day Savings Passes

Did you know that you can walk into a large retail department store and save 10 to 30 percent just by asking. You won’t need to bring any coupons with you or know the manager personally. You can save this money thanks to a little known phenomena known as the Shopping Day Savings Pass. What is a Shopping Day Savings Pass? A pass can be used just like a coupon. It can be used throughout the entire day with as many purchases as you would like to make. So, if you want to buy shoes, you can use your pass … Continue reading →