Tis the season to stress out over thank-you gifts
This is the time of year when most of us like to express appreciation to those folks in our lives who’ve made our lives a little easier. It’s a kind and altruistic motivation that quickly turns into a big ball of stress because it can be really difficult to pick out things that say “thank you” and will be truly appreciated by the recipient and don’t cost too much. This is made all the more complicated by the fact that often we’re giving to people we don’t know that well outside of school/work/daycare.
Do not panic! I promise we can get you through it. In fact, I’ll just be lazy and refer you back to the post I wrote last year on this very topic.
But I also got an email on this topic, so let’s talk about it some more; I know Danielle can’t be the only one who’s struggling with this or a similar issue. read more…
Always timely
Another last-minute gift idea—a watch! It’s… always timely! (Okay, clearly I should not be allowed out on the internet when I’ve taken Sudafed. That was a ridiculously bad joke, even for me. I apologize.)
Did you know that Overstock has free shipping on thousands of items right now, and that all of them are guaranteed to deliver in time for Christmas if you order by December 20th? Just look for the special “Ships Free” symbol and then kiss your stress goodbye. In addition, they’re doing extra markdowns on most of their watches during this promotion.
The Swiss Legend watches are an additional 20% off. (I like these ones with the giant numbers. Makes a great gift for the nearsighted loved one!)
The Stuhrling watches are an additional 15% off. (There are some very cool-looking skeleton watches in this collection. Skeleton as in “see the innards of the watch,” not as in “decorated with skulls.”)
And the luxury watches are an additional 10% off. (Hey, these are expensive. I’d pick from the other two groups, personally, but you’d certainly get brownie points for one of these.)
Happy timekeeping!
In case yours burned out on cookies
As a red-blooded American female who likes to bake things I shouldn’t be eating, I of course possess a deep and abiding lust towards KitchenAid stand mixers. Someday I shall have one, my pretties. Someday. (Translation: Someday the inferior stand mixer which my husband brought to this marriage will die, and then I can buy one.)
If I was hesitating due to price alone, I’d probably be sorely tempted by this 9-speed KitchenAid hand mixer, instead. It’s marked down to just $39.99 (68% off). There’s no picture, but the mixer looks like this except in this color.
Unfortunately, I have a working hand mixer, too. Darnit.
Under a buck gets it there in time
Still shopping? Today (December 18th, 2007) only, buy anything at SmartBargains and $.99 shipping will get it there for Christmas, guaranteed.
Of course, if you’re still scrambling for Christmas gifts, consider yourself duly lashed with a wet noodle. Have I taught you nothing? Sheesh.
These dolls make my ovaries hurt
Seriously, if you can look at these Madame Alexandar dolls
Your mom told you not to, but she was wrong
I get questions about what GPS unit to buy more than I get questions about just about anything else. While I would love to believe this is because I appear to be omniscient, I think it has more to do with the fact that 1) I rave about my GPS constantly, and 2) GPS units have finally come down in price enough that most people can afford them if they want one.
The answer I emailed to someone this morning is really the only answer I have: Read the reviews. I find it difficult to tell someone “You want feature XYZ” when XYZ may be important to me but meaningless to you. And I don’t know about you, but there are lots of things I’m sure I’d love if my GPS did, but I certainly wouldn’t have paid extra for them. A lot of it is personal preference, is my point. Do your research and decide what’s important to you, and then start pricing them out.
That said, the Magellan Maestro 3100 is on sale today at Amazon for $129.99. That’s $20 cheaper than Target’s sale price (plus free shipping) and from the reviews it looks like a solid choice. Is it the latest and greatest? No. Will it get the job done? Probably. Have a look if you’re in the market for one, and take the time to go over the features and read what people have to say. I know we tell our kids not to do things “just because everyone else is doing it,” but checking out the opinion of the masses isn’t always a bad thing.
(When you think about it, the greatest thing that online shopping has given us is not the ability to buy gifts in our jammies, but the ability to tap into so much consumer feedback in such an easy way. Even when I’m not making my actual purchase at Amazon, I always hop over there to read reviews.)
Fly fly fly
Most remote-controlled plane toys are expensive, and all I can think when I see them is that it must be painful to see all of that money get stuck in a tree or crash on the pavement. I’m pragmatic like that.
But at $5 a pop, I’d be willing to try ’em out. Check out the Tyco remote-controlled planes
Ummmmm. . .
Words fail me.
Because, you know, I saw the title of this and thought maybe it was going to be for teens, but everything is pink and plastic (ice cream cone shaped containers!) and the target age is 6-10.
Because your six-year-old needs shimmer body powder.
Toys for the big boys
If you’re in the market for an iPod Touch (ooooh… shiny!), the 8 GB Touch is currently $269.99 and the 16 GB Touch is currently $368.99 at Amazon. Both come with free shipping and $5 of free Amazon MP3 downloads (which is sort of amusing, because I’m not sure you can use the Amazon format on an iPod).
For reference, these cost $299 and $399 (plus shipping) on the Apple site.
Also, you’re welcome, because it was my finally succumbing and buying my very first iPod that caused them to come out with a whole new version the next week. Of course.
There’s still time to get it
On the one hand, I sort of dislike the deals that reward you for waiting so long to do your shopping. On the other hand, you may as well take advantage, you know? So if you’re wanting something from ShopPBS now’s the time, because orders of $60+ get free three-day shipping so that you’ll have it in time for Christmas.
They have lots of great documentaries. As well as a full array of products (skin care? coffee? huh?) wherein your purchase helps support public television. And despite my deep affection for TLC and Food Network, PBS will always be my one true love.
(I’m sorry. Was that too much information?)
|
|
|
|
|
