Christmas 2011

[lucybelle]

Buying Christmas presents makes my stomach turn. It's like all the shop windows are literally screaming at me. I get panic attacks for real. I tried with the online shopping but it never gets over in time and it usually ends up being more expensive than I could afford really, with the shipping and customs.

I'm sick of it. I love giving presents, but this is such a major stress every year. So a few years ago I told my parents that I don't want any old crap we buy each other just for the sake of giving each other something. Since then we've been giving money to charity instead, in each other's name. Than makes everyone feel a lot better.

For him? I don't know really. It's usually something food related, since we're both obsessed with it <3 last year I brought him over a bottle of finest olive oil.

Consider the Heifer Foundation. You buy animals that get sent to struggling families in poor locations. My mom bought me (well a family) a goat for one Christmas. You can also buy chickens, cows, llamas, all sort of stuff. And they're all different prices, $20 for ducks, $500 for a cow.

https://www.heifer.org/give/give?msource=magento

[Malaga]

Buying Christmas presents makes my stomach turn. It's like all the shop windows are literally screaming at me. I get panic attacks for real. I tried with the online shopping but it never gets over in time and it usually ends up being more expensive than I could afford really, with the shipping and customs.

I'm sick of it. I love giving presents, but this is such a major stress every year. So a few years ago I told my parents that I don't want any old crap we buy each other just for the sake of giving each other something. Since then we've been giving money to charity instead, in each other's name. Than makes everyone feel a lot better.

For him? I don't know really. It's usually something food related, since we're both obsessed with it <3 last year I brought him over a bottle of finest olive oil.

I was planning on getting something LDR related, but the quality didn't impress me. I had to send it back. But I already found something else! My SO is a huge nerd, so I found something related to that. I would say what it is, but my SO is also on the forum and she's not allowed to know what it is - yet. I'm also going to send a box full of homemade cookies and some Christmas candy.

[Rosebud]

I have no idea what I'm doing this year which is pretty stupid since not too long ago at Disneyland when we were together I had so many ideas and they all seemed to have slipped my mind entirelu. It'll be the first time I send his family a gift and I think I'll send them a home-baked banana bread loaf and then three pink breast-cancer awareness pins (for his parents and brother). I had bought his mother a really nice silver bracelet but since I have yet to meet his family in person I'm afraid that's too personal and she won't really take to it so i'll probably wind up giving it to my sister instead as she seemed to really like it.

As for my actual boyfriend though? UUUUGH. I have NO idea I'll bake him something as I always do, probably cookies with some extra holiday candy, and last year I sent him an ornament with our names and the year written on it and I'd like to do that again, sort of make it a tradition type thing. He's difficult to shop for since he usually wants either books or games...but when he wants them, he buys them himself!

[SDPersona]

I have enough ideas for what to get my family and my boyfriend, but I am having trouble with what to get his family. I'm very certain that it should be handmade since I like crafting things and it would be unique.

My boyfriend is going to get a handmade iPad sleeve and a longitude/latitude necklace. For the women in his family (mother and his two sisters) I'm thinking about crafting either jewellery or household items like small cosmetic bag, musicplayer bag or a shopper. For the men (father and his brother-in-law) I might sew something like a cool garage apron or a noteboog bag. Can you tell I like to make practical things? In all honesty, I'd have to talk with my boyfriend first because I really don't know his family all that well even if they are super nice to me and seem to like me. If that seems like too much for the first time sending them christmas gifts, maybe it is enough sending them some sweets and a handwritten letter from me.

[Dziubka]

I'll be spending Christmas with my boyfriend and his family.
It's only the 2nd Christmas I spend away from my family, so I'm excited.

I have yet to buy presents but I already have rough ideas what I'm getting everyone.
- a personalized beer mug for his dad
- probably jewelry for his mum, but I'm considering this. I would like to get her another massage gift card (my boyfriend and I gave her one for mother's day and she loved it, so we might just do it again or maybe at another place), but I obviously have to make my boyfriend get it for me.

- my boyfriend... uh... The last two years I've given im calendars, so that's sort of a mini tradition. I can't decide whether it's getting boring or not, though. So I might just give him a calendar (maybe of the city in German he's going to move to in 2012) and something else.

I'm going to bring some marzipan and good chocolates for the rest of his family.

I'm going on a weekend trip with my mum in January to make up for not being together on Christmas, so that's our present to each other.

I don't know if I'm going to send something to my brother or my grandparents. Maybe just a card or a very small present.

[lucybelle]

It's my SO's and I's first Christmas together! I'm siked! But he'll probably be working all days except Christmas day, which he still might work.

But anyways, I got him a pair of Reef flip flops, they have a bottle opener on them which I think is sweeet. My dog chewed up his other pair of flip flops, so I got a new pair for him. But since I have to order them from the USA, my mom is bringing them down when she visits in a few weeks. So for actual Christmas day, I'll make him a card or something.

I don't expect to get anything from his family and I don't plan on giving anything either. I'll probably make some pies and cookies, that should be plenty.

What I'm most excited about is Christmas tchotchke (decorations!). Here in CR there are only 3 big holidays, Independence Day, Christmas and Easter. And each one starts after the last. Independence day is in September, so immediately following all the shops are full of Christmas stuff! I've been eyeing those sparkly lights and dancing santas for a long time now... Can't wait til my SO allows me to put some up!!!

[LilyChiba]

I've just sent off my first package to him. We've never sent either anything, not for bdays or holidays. And this wasn't even planned to be near christmas, I just wanted to send something. So I guess this will make up for all that, specially since in total it probably cost around $100ish to get it sorted. Lordy, $42 just in posting fees. I sent him today, a package of things. A ring I got for my 16th, LOTR ring lol. A hong kong $10 from my dad. A felt patch with my perfume on it (Estée Lauder woo.. girly). A USB with pictures I took, messages in sand in the beach of things I love about him and music he's either linked me to or reminds me of us. A new shirt I just bought specifically to wear before sending, with my deodorant sprayed on it, for my every day choice. Perfume is too expensive to waste haha. A plush toy (ironically that I got from Kohl's when I was in america for my first international holiday, before I knew him). And a 5 page letter with drawings of our rp chars. I enjoyed doing it to be honest and I hope that he likes it. He can be the tough type of guy, but he does have his really soft moments that normally only I or very close friends (when he is talking about me to them) get to see.

As for the rest of my family, which is only my sister, her bf and my mum... haven't really thought about what to get them. Probably anime stuff for the sis/bf and wine for my mum, or something like that.

[Haley53]

His birthday's on the 5th, so I was going to send a compilation of birthday and Christmas gifts to save on shipping (was planning on wrapping them in different themed papers). Given everything that's happened, I'm not sure we'll still be exchanging presents, or if he'll be in a stable enough place that I'll be able to send one, but what I have for him for his birthday/Christmas is: a book that's more or less a grower's guide to moustaches (inside joke), a huge chocolate penguin (he loves penguins), a penguin calendar, some sticky slugs from my school, I was going to record him a video and put that plus some music etc. on a USB stick, and a shirt with my scent on it. I was thinking of putting a few more silly things in there as well, but we'll see.

For my mother, I usually end up getting her things that she can enjoy in her bath (oh boy, that sounds a bit pervy, dunnit), things like soaps or candles or bath bubbles or bath bombs (which I brought her home from London) etc. I feel guilty for getting her what's essentially the same thing, or group/category of things, every year, but she's always telling my sister and I that that's what she would like and she can never have enough... Though I suppose I can't feel too guilty since she's the sort who takes insanely long baths after a hard day at work and oftentimes in the morning as well. It's where she does a lot of her grounding and meditations. I may get her some oils or incense this year instead, hm...

My sister's dreadfully hard to shop for and usually I'm not aware of what I want to get her until I see it. xD From Dublin, I brought her home a model horse kit, a horse figure, and a Littlest Pet Shop Chinchilla set. Despite her being 17, I usually bring her home toys, lol.

For everyone else, I'm not sure. I know I made and sent out about 40 Christmas cards last year to online friends, so I'll likely be doing that again this year as well, though I would like to find presents to send some of them. But again, like with my sister, generally something I don't/can't pre-plan. If it's something I end up making, inspiration usually hits at random, and if it's something I end up purchasing, most of the time, it's because I saw it and "had to."

[hxcbreakdance]

Well I know I'm getting my SOs parents a gift card to somewhere they like to eat because it's easier than buying them two separate gifts since I wouldn't really know what to get them! As for my SO I have a few ideas in mind, I know for sure that we are having a $20 limit because it makes it a little easier for both of us.

[ChibiFelicia]

I dont think buying joint presents for his family is cheap. My man and i do that. Although I basically choose stuff and he just goes along with it. Last year we bought his mum an SKII anti wrinkle cream and that essence stuff and a lip wrinkle pen thing (i initially didnt wanna buy it but he mentioned his mum wanted it...i really hope she didnt take it the wrong way, i mean shes in her 60's but looks 10 years younger well anyway she really liked it cause she doesnt spend that kinda money on stuff like that) and then i baked those cookies for his parents oh and he chose a pair of shoes for his dad. I aint good with what to buy for guys.

[snow_girl]

I have no idea what I am getting anyone. I told my family that me coming home in Jan would have to do since I haven't been working which they understand. Apparently my SOs mom said she would buy me a new coat for Christmas, which is super nice but coats aren't cheap and now I feel like I'm obligated to get his whole family something. Hopefully maybe my SO and I can go joint on gifts for his family.....or would that be too cheap?
Not sure what to get my SO yet, he seems to just buy what he wants when he wants it which makes it incredibly hard.

[ChibiFelicia]

I honestly dont know what to get him for christmas this year : ( ( i started a thread about this so i wont elaborate). As Engel said being able to spend christmas with him is all that matters xD

For the family "in laws" i'll prob do what i did last year and bake cookies/ a cake then buy some Lush (they love their solid shampoos) stuff for em. I unno we'll prob decide when i get over to his

[Engel]

i probably wont exchange big gifts this christmas, but we will spend it tpgether, and that is all that matters!

[DemonxOisin]

I´m spending Christmas with his family, and I do not know what to get them :/ Family "in laws" are scary o.o
I´m honestly tempted to bake cookies, but I was hoping to get them each something as well... (His mom, dad, and older sister. Any suggestions will be received with much love :P)
As for his Christmas present, this pair of shoes he likes, and then I´m going to nerd out on him with a bunch of cute little things.