Is there a “one size pleases all” gift?
Dearest ones, I need your help today.
Bre writes:
Dear Oh-Wise-And-Beautiful One,
Help! My very large family did away with gift giving among adults about 10 years ago. We played around with Pollyannas, but ultimately settled on a gift auction. Everyone has to produce a $50 gift and then we go around and draw from the pile, occasionally “stealing” from one another. The challenge is, all of my bright ideas (DVD players, George Forman Grills, gift baskets, etc.) have been done over and over again ad nauseum… it’s getting hard to find something great! So I need your brilliant help to locate “the perfect gift” – one that will appeal to men and women, young and old, and come in under $50. I’m a desperate woman!
I’m not sure what the boundaries of “young and old” are, so this one has me rather stumped. I discussed some ideas here which are perhaps not as broadly appealing (for example, you don’t need to be bringing a wine basket to an event where the little cousins will be participating). It’s not glamorous or particularly exciting, but the best “suitable for everyone” gift I can think of is an Amazon gift certificate
Readers, hit me (and Bre) with your ideas, please.
Don’t go monkeyless
So, do you remember the flying, screaming monkey? Did you get yourself one (or six)? No?
Don’t worry, now you can get one for free! Just go to Stupid.com and buy $20 worth of stuff. When you check out, type MONKEY in the promo code box, and they’ll include a flying monkey for free. Free monkey!
Coupon code expires November 22nd, 2006. And don’t blame me if you get grossed out by the stuff on that site; I think most of it is hilarious. Blame Gwen, who sent me the deal. Er, I mean, thank Gwen! Thanks, Gwen!
Free shipping, one week only
Now through November 12th, 2006, receive free shipping on every order at Liz Claiborne. No coupon code needed.
I think their regular prices are ridiculous, but there are some reasonably-priced items in the sale section. Liz also has excellent customer service, as I mentioned once before.
I loves me some PBS
I am announcing and embracing my geekdom: I love PBS. I love the specials, and the weirder and the more obscure, the better. And right now through November 11th, you can buy any two items and get the third half off
at the PBS.org store. (Be sure to check the Overstock section
!)
These make awesome gifts for hard-to-buy-for relatives, by the way. Many a crotchety uncle has been soothed by Masterpiece Theatre, is all I’m saying.
Takes a lickin’ and keeps on shoppin’
Oh, wait. That’s me.
But Timex watches take a lickin’ and keep on tickin’, I think. My mistake.
I’m in stocking-stuffer mode, as it’s the last thing I generally take care of before the holidays. I was just browsing some things at Amazon and saw that they have many adorable Timex kids’ watches
Of course, if you need a watch for an adult, there’s that as well (though a bit harder to find). I’m not a huge fan of pink, but the price is certainly right on this one
(Maybe I’ll just get myself a kids’ watch. I kinda dig these frogs
Save on your Disney order
Now through November 8th, take 25% off your total order at Disney with coupon code MERRY25. Some restrictions apply (like—as someone noticed before—video games are excluded).
Be sure to check the outlet for deals, too. If you’re willing to buy ahead, there’s quite a bit of Summer stuff marked way down, and then you can take another 25% off of that.
Ultimate makeup case
Check out this deal: Ulta is offering their “Blockbuster” makeup set for just $24.99! What a great gift for a teenager or, heck, anyone who’s into makeup. Four case colors to choose from.
The ULTA Holiday 2006 Color Collection includes 18 Lip Colors, 4 Lip Glosses, 33 Eyeshadows, 4 Cheek Colors, 2 Shimmer Powders, 4 Nail Lacquers, Concealer, Lip Pencils, Brow Pencils, Eye Pencils, Brushes, Applicators. Collection is presented in a suede train case. Black case is faux leather.
Try coupon code 61561 for $5 off your $10+ order, and it looks like you automatically get free shipping on orders over $50.
Just don’t show this to my daughter, because she’ll insist she needs one.
Tis the season. . . for sickness
I don’t mean to be a downer, but those colds and flus are on their way. (In our case, they’ve already arrived. Could someone please teach my 6-year-old to blow his nose instead of just snorking all that snot back up? Thanks.)
What can you do to stop them? Nothing! What can you do to prepare? Well, you can take $10 off of your $29+ order of qualifying Vicks, ProTec, and Kaz Products
They’ve got a lovely array of thermometers, heating pads, and humidifiers. Trust me: you’re going to need them sooner than you think.
Fun free fonts
Check out the little listbox on the lower left for free fonts. Available in both Mac and PC formats.
Thanks, Mar!
To iPod or not to iPod. . .
… that is actually not the question.
Because unless you’re buying for a child under 10 or someone you don’t like very much, if you want an MP3 player, you want an iPod.
No, the question is which iPod. And the Apple Refurbished Store has a ton of options in stock. When you can get a Shuffle for as low as $29, you start to understand why the question isn’t whether you should go iPod, but which iPod to get.
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