All Things Yule/Christmas

I still have no clue what i'm getting most people gift wise. I wish people would just tell me what they want instead of making me guess. Think this year's a gift card year for most on my list.

Yeah, I have no clue what to get anyone either. I don't even know if I can afford to get presents for everyone that I should be getting em for. Maybe I'll just make stuff.... that would mean I'd need some ambition here though.

squeakychewtoy wrote:

Yeah, I have no clue what to get anyone either. I don't even know if I can afford to get presents for everyone that I should be getting em for. Maybe I'll just make stuff.... that would mean I'd need some ambition here though.

*poke* *poke* for ambition!!! Anything works really one year I did this whole candle thing where I made candles ...or there is the basket ideas <I like that one ) just a dvd some pop corn and place it in a basket with a clear cello wrap with a pretty bow.

I wanted to give everyone a heads up that if you tend to give gift cards
around the holidays, you need to be careful that the cards will be
honored after the holidays. Stores that are planning to close after
Christmas are still selling the cards through the holidays even though
the cards will be worthless January 1. There is no law preventing them
from doing this. On the contrary, it is referred to as 'Bankrupcy
Planning). Below is a partial list of stores that you need to be
cautious about.


Circuit City (filed Chapter 11)
Ann Taylor- 117 stores nationwide closing
Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug ,and Catherine's to close 150 stores nationwide
Eddie Bauer to close stores 27 stores and more after January
Cache will close all stores
Talbots closing down specialty stores
J. Jill closing all stores (owned by Talbots)
Pacific Sunwear (also owned by Talbots)
GAP closing 85 stores
Footlocker closing 140 stores more to close after January
Wickes Furniture closing down
Levitz closing down remaining stores
Bombay closing remaining stores
Zales closing down 82 stores and 105 after January
Whitehall closing all stores
Piercing Pagoda closing all stores
Disney closing 98 stores and will close more after January.
Home Depot closing 15 stores 1 in NJ ( New Brunswick )
Macys to close 9 stores after January
Linens and Things closing all stores
Movie Galley Closing all stores
Pep Boys Closing 33 stores
Sprint/Nextel closing 133 stores
JC Penney closing a number of stores after January
Ethan Allen closing down 12 stores.
Wilson Leather closing down all stores
Sharper Image closing down all stores
K B Toys closing 356 stores
Lowes to close down some stores
Dillard's to close some stores

WOW that is a good heads up. Thanks Ravengrim.

Wow, Movie Gallery is closing the remainder of their stores? Guess I'll steer away from the Gift Cards and go straight for the clearance DVDs & games.
Thanks for the heads up - am actually surprised by a few stores on that list...

"Merry Christmas... you've just been laid off." Man, those poor employees... hopefully not all of them are just kicking them to the curb...

These is some hints for you all for Christmas since I am more handy with present ideas for people that saves me a buck or two to spend on my love ones for Christmas. Now I know some people are not how we say “glue gun or needle and thread” handy. I admit some of these ideas will make you think different when you do them. Just a thought on my part trying to help people out on this Christmas for saving themselves the hassle of running around and trying to find that “perfect gift”


Grab bag ; This one is good if you have that friend that you have know forever. Get a gift bag and fill it with both of your favorite candy …this can be candy necklaces , ring pops, nerds the list can go on and on. Make a mix CD of both of your favorite songs that you both like . This can be songs that you sang on the radio in the car together , or silly songs , theme songs from movie. The list is endless. You can even go so far as to include a movie that you both saw together ( I did one for a friend and included the candy that we both ate at the movies and included the movie Edward Scissor hands and put a bag of micro popcorn in the bag also. Place in a gift bag get creative with the tissue paper and get a really nice bow and poof you have a present for about $15. Most of the candy you can get from the Dollar stores and micro popcorn we all have in our pantries.

Older Book; I like this one and it’s a nice idea for someone that maybe has a love for poetry or sonnets or have that favorite childhood fable that they love. You can go to any used book store and pick up a really nice book for cheap. I recommend a shirt box for this and tissue paper to wrap up the book. ( the shirt box fit’s the books really well. )


Jewelry ; I know you all are thinking “wait that is too $$$” its not really when it comes down to it. I really like to give out lockets as gifts and you can get a pack of 3 lockets at the local craft, bead store for about 5 dollars. You can also get charms also to use at a pendent . Get some really nice velvet ribbon and place the locket on the ribbon (all lockets come with a circle hoop for attaching to chain necklaces) you can get creative and do several different colors of velvet of just plain satin ribbon. This idea will cost you the most about $3 dollars a locket and the looks are expensive looking.

Mp3 player and I pod socks; this is where you get the glue gun out. Lol get the funkiest socks you can find (most part maybe 8 dollars ) glue guns at the dollar store and they sell the glue sticks also. Turn the sock inside out and trace with a marker (washable markers are the best they do not bleed through) Take the two pieces apart and on the right side of the sock glue the edges (glue right on the edge if you take it too far in you will get a holder with three funny looking flaps LOL ) place the other sock right side facing the other right side on top of each other then wait for it to dry then turn the sock right side out …you can use some really weird socks for this (those fluffy house socks , the top of striped tube socks , monkey socks the list is endless)


Cookie mixes; this is where baking is not a required art. LOL You can whip up a homemade cookie mix omitting the wet ingredients or buy those little bags at the store when they are on sale for a dollars a piece. Place the mix in one holiday ziplock and tie with a bow .Type out the what to add to the mix and what temp to bake at and how long to bake the cookies on the computer with a nice font and place all in a pot holder from the dollar store making sure to place the “how to’s” in also with the pot holder.LOL this can cost you less then five dollars if you do it correctly.


For that special couple; get a nice bottle of wine (yes this can be expensive) or some non alcoholic cider. Get two nice wine glasses (also from dollar store) place in a basket with some tissue paper and maybe include a candle or two or three. Lol (you can also change this up with adding a movie and some popcorn and maybe some favorite soda.

I hope some of these ideas help.

ravengrim wrote:

I wanted to give everyone a heads up that if you tend to give gift cards
around the holidays, you need to be careful that the cards will be
honored after the holidays. Stores that are planning to close after
Christmas are still selling the cards through the holidays even though
the cards will be worthless January 1. There is no law preventing them
from doing this. On the contrary, it is referred to as 'Bankrupcy
Planning). Below is a partial list of stores that you need to be
cautious about.


Circuit City (filed Chapter 11)
Ann Taylor- 117 stores nationwide closing
Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug ,and Catherine's to close 150 stores nationwide
Eddie Bauer to close stores 27 stores and more after January
Cache will close all stores
Talbots closing down specialty stores
J. Jill closing all stores (owned by Talbots)
Pacific Sunwear (also owned by Talbots)
GAP closing 85 stores
Footlocker closing 140 stores more to close after January
Wickes Furniture closing down
Levitz closing down remaining stores
Bombay closing remaining stores
Zales closing down 82 stores and 105 after January
Whitehall closing all stores
Piercing Pagoda closing all stores
Disney closing 98 stores and will close more after January.
Home Depot closing 15 stores 1 in NJ ( New Brunswick )
Macys to close 9 stores after January
Linens and Things closing all stores
Movie Galley Closing all stores
Pep Boys Closing 33 stores
Sprint/Nextel closing 133 stores
JC Penney closing a number of stores after January
Ethan Allen closing down 12 stores.
Wilson Leather closing down all stores
Sharper Image closing down all stores
K B Toys closing 356 stores
Lowes to close down some stores
Dillard's to close some stores

Nice to see piercing pagoda's going down finally, that was a market for disease and disaster!

Mom put the Christmas tree today; the good thing of leaving the christmas lights outside the house is that we are the first one to decorate

Maxmordon wrote:

Mom put the Christmas tree today; the good thing of leaving the christmas lights outside the house is that we are the first one to decorate

Jose we call that "rednecked" around here.

Succubus wrote:

Maxmordon wrote:

Mom put the Christmas tree today; the good thing of leaving the christmas lights outside the house is that we are the first one to decorate

Jose we call that "rednecked" around here.

we call it Ghetto around here... And I am sooo guilty of keeping lights up all year round too

hahah
They couldn't do better than that??
hahahah

Well my brother says that the house looks totally depressing with our Christmas tree.
So I have to put up the tree this weekend.
Do you know how much work goes into putting up my tree??
I have to thoroughly clean every corner of my living room before my parents let me put up the tree.
And I hate how it seems last minute.
All the work only to have the tree up for a short time.
Maybe I will feel better about it when the tree actually gets put up.

Psychological Christmas Songs


SCHIZOPHRENIA - Do You Hear What I Hear?

MULTIPLE PERSONALITY - We Three Kings Disoriented Are...

DEMENTIA - I Think I'll Be Home For Christmas.

NARCISSISTIC - Hark The Herald Angels Sing (About Me)

MANIA - Deck the Halls and Walls and House and Lawn and Streets
and Stores and Office and Town and Spare No Expense!

PARANOIA - Santa Claus is Coming To Get Me.

PERSONALITY DISORDER - You Better Watch Out, I'm Gonna Cry, I'm
Gonna Pout, then MAYBE I'll tell you why.

OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE - Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell
Rock, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bell,
Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle
Bell Rock, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bell,
Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle
Bell Rock, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle
Bell....

BORDERLINE PERSONALITY - Thoughts of Roasting in an Open Fire.

PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE - On the First Day of Christmas My True Love
Gave to Me (and then took it all away).

I bought a two foot tall cuddly snowman with extendable legs today. He's lush and now living in my porch

ravengrim wrote:

The Darkly Gothic Night Before Christmas

I read another version of this tonight and it was not half as good as the one you posted Ravengim.

I'm finally getting my tree up Friday. I actually want to just get this Nightmare Before Christmas tree. It's really pretty and 3 feet tall.

I am done decorating all I need to do now is start on the cookies and the candy. My hands are going to be covered in peanut butter after rolling all those buckeyes.