UPDATE: How did I end up shopping last for the person I love most? Sigh. I hope my presents for hubby redeem me. I picked up a small metal photo keychain at Aaron Brothers ($4.50 after a 40% off coupon) that will replace one I gave him years ago that got lost (with a picture of moi tucked inside, of course), his usual pack of BVDs from Macy's ($14) and a 2008 calendar from Office Depot (as per his request, $16).

That brings My Gift List budget down to $34.50 from a starting point of $400 after shopping for more than a dozen people/family units. But $34.50 doesn't leave much for a nice gift for hubby. Eeek. Will you hate me if I go over? I'd really like to get him a month's of maid service (again, as per his request) or a cooking class. We both love to cook and I still have a certificate from The New School of Cooking in Culver City. Hmm what to buy....there's only one way to settle this...

Continue reading "A little something for hubby" »

Posted by Julia Scott at 1:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

UPDATE: So I copped out and decided to send my bud Alex a card instead of a gift. Our long-distance friendship is based on long chats about everything going on in our lives so I figured a heartfelt thanks for her compassion over the years would be the best thing. Let's hope she feels the same way. Just one person left on My Gift List, but it's Hubby!

PREVIOUSLY: Super hard to shop for. Very stylish, artsy, and individualistic. She would hate this but I may turn to Surprise.com for help (the site has tons of gift suggestions by personality type).

Posted by Julia Scott at 9:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

UPDATE: Decided to send our ol' friends Merlin and Babs an ecard. The distance between us was just enough to make me slack off. But if hubby and I make the eCard fun and write a nice note then falling back on the old standby - it's the thought that counts - will pull me though. My guilty conscience from not getting them a gift may get the best of me, though. This leaves just two on My Gift List with a budget of $69.

PREVIOUSLY: Hmmm. Will probably get a toy for their new kid and send them a virtual hug.

Posted by Julia Scott at 9:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

UPDATE: Yup, went with the fresh baked, homemade cookies afterall. I made four types - lemon bars (from Joy of Cooking p 703), peanut butter cookies (Cooks Illustrated), macaroons (Cooks Illustrated), and chocolate crinkles (family recipe). And I think they turned out really well, although I did burn some of the macaroons. Opps! Hubby bought some holiday tins from Michael's - love it when stuff is on his tab and not mine - and I laid down tissue paper before putting the cookies in. Lovely, and no dollars off My Gift List. $69 bucks left with three presents to go. It's going to be close.

PREVIOUSLY: Fresh baked cookies would hit the spot but I think I'll go the somewhat healthy route and do banana bread or zucchini bread - or combine them for bikini bread! I can always fallback on the holiday standby - a bottle of wine.

Posted by Julia Scott at 2:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

UPDATE: After a super fun trip I took with Amy and Jake to Joshua tree in which we entertained ourselves with travel Boggle, I knew I had to get them a set for Christmas. Finding a set was really hard! The only travel version I could find was Boggle Folio, which is either in very short supply or discontinued. Ended up buying it on eBay for $25. Sadly, it did not arrive in time for their holiday trip down south. Double saddness is that I'm not nearly as good at Boggle as I think I should be seeing how I am a writer. Amy kicks my butt every time and she's an engineer!

PREVIOUSLY: I'd go straight for a nice bottle of wine for this couple because they really do enjoy vino, but...

Continue reading "A little something for Amy & Jake" »

Posted by Julia Scott at 1:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

...for my father, who I don't normally exchange gifts with. I didn't initially include him in My Gift List because our traditional is to spend an afternoon together getting coffee and taking a hike. However, after he mentioned getting a present for hubby, I brought up the subject.

Continue reading "A little something..." »

Posted by Julia Scott at 7:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

UPDATE: Hit the Toys R Us one-day sale yesterday on my lunch break and picked up toys and books for the little boys. Back in the clearance section I found three foam swords for $6 each (think of the battles they'll have!), two dinosaur figures for 90-cents each (!), plus a connect the dots book for $2, and the books "What's wrong little pookie?" for $6 and "I love you stinky face" for $7. Still want to find a whoopee cushion for my oldest nephew, but even so $37 isn't bad for the boys. Just over $100 in My Gift List budget and still five people to shop for!

PREVIOUSLY: I like to get each boy one toy and one book. They already have a ton of toys so I won't worry about getting them the latest and greatest. My older nephew is kind of a trickster (we share many of the same genes) and I hope he's old enough this year for...

Continue reading "A little something for 3 nephews" »

Posted by Julia Scott at 8:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

UPDATE: We finally drew names and I got a certain sibling of mine. Earlier she mentioned a big ticket item on her list so I will probably just write her a check for $75 - the suggested limit of our secret santa family pool - to help her pay for the item. I'm being secretive because I'm lucky enough that my family reads my blog!! To make the gift more personal...

Continue reading "A little something for my family" »

Posted by Julia Scott at 7:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

UPDATE: Hubby has stepped up to buy his Mum a present, so I won't need to shop for her. This also means the perfume he intends to buy (see photo) will come from his budget. Wahoo!

My mother-in-law loves to cook but the Barefoot Contessa cookbook I gave her last year seems to be gathering dust. She already knows how to cook everything under the sun (and is quite good at it) so a cooking class...

Continue reading "A little something for my mother-in-law" »

Posted by Julia Scott at 7:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This weekend I started freaking out about not having done any - ANY - of my Christmas shopping! Most people think I shop all day but usually I don't have time to buy the stuff I blog about. I decided I had to tackle the out of town gifts. If I waited any longer I would have to pay for expedited shipping and that gets expensive fast! My brother-in-law Shahn mentioned a new video game that I could give to the family as a whole, so $50 later I knocked them off My Gift List. (To be fair, I also bought a girly mag subscription for my sister-in-law ($12) and a Leap Frog book about princesses for my littlest niece ($10).)

Also bought toys from Target for the other in-laws. The kids will get a Spiderman football ($9), a Tonka truck ($10), and the aforementioned princess book. All will be mailed directly to them so I don't have to make a separate trip to the post office. Will mail a Home Depot gift certificate to my other bro- and sis-in-law because they are always doing projects around the house ($30).

Posted by Julia Scott at 8:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

UPDATE: Stopped by Carter's and found a super fuzzy latte-colored reindeer sleeper for Maggie and Kieth's new baby ($14). How could I resist? It was half-off and had tiny antlers on the hoodie! Cross them off My Gift List.

ORIGINAL POST: Hope my friends won't notice I'm going to play catch up and get their new baby a present – for the first time – for Christmas. Yikes!

Posted by Julia Scott at 7:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Continue reading "Introducing...My Gift List" »

Posted by Julia Scott at 1:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

UPDATE: The mag idea was good but when I saw a Chenille woven scarf...

Continue reading "A little something for Rachelle" »

Posted by Julia Scott at 4:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Last year hubby and I bombed. I'm thinking gift certificates at Target or Home Depot, stores where there is a lot to choose from. That means they might actually use the gift certificates and not sell them on eBay.

Posted by Julia Scott at 3:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Going to stick to my one toy-one book per kid combo. Maybe a tween mag for my oldest niece, but I don't want one that just encourages rampant consumerism.

Posted by Julia Scott at 3:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)