Christmas Gift Ideas

Now listen to me folks when I say I take one holiday at a time. Honest, I do. However, I do not like to wait until December 1st to start my Christmas shopping. I enjoy having a majority done by Thanksgiving. For a couple of reasons, one-I like to spread the purchases out over several pay periods, two-I don't want to rush a purchase, I like to think things through and really get something I feel is special and unique. So with that here are some gift ideas that I think have been successful...

Cake Pans - Have you heard of the cake pan lady? The perfect gift for that special baker in your life. I got these for my sister/mom/SIL one year.

Cuff Links - the hubbs doesn't wear cuff links very often but there are those occasions where he must get dressed to the nines for something and he has personalized silver cuff links with his initials on them. I just ordered mine from an online store.

Boot Jack - this is one of my favorites for a couple of reasons. One it's custom made, two it's one-of-a-kind and three I wouldn't be able to get my boots off pregnant with out it in our life :) In college I contacted a woodworker and explained to him what I wanted. He whipped this up out of mesquite and I branded it with the hubby's family brand and then oiled it. Perfect for all those cowboy boot wearing folks in your life and to be honest with you it was super reasonable in price - it's been several years but I think I only paid $40 or something.

Magazine Subscriptions - A friend of mine lives in another state and she is from here so I got her a subscription to Arizona Highways. A wonderful magazine even if you don't live here! Cowboys & Indians is my favorite magazine and I have gifted that before as well. My mom used to get us girls Everyday Food Magazine and I loved it, there is a plethora of other food/recipe magazines that would be a big hit for a gift subscription!

Coffee Mugs - Last year or the year before my SIL Gretchen got all the men these amazing Contigo Autoseal Thermal Mugs and let me warn you people they keep the coffee HOT. I don't drink coffee so I don't know from experience but my hubby and dad say it will keep coffee hot ALL day long...you can find at a variety of places, Costco, Amazon, etc.

Activity - memories are priceless so schedule a cooking class or cake decorating class to share with a loved one. Plays or musicals are always a hit. {My hubby's mom's family always goes to a musical with his grandmother each year} There are a variety of options out there, maybe your more outdoorsy so plan a hike or rock climbing, rappelling adventure or get some white water rafting in! My sister and I try and go on a weekend trip each year so sometimes we gift the other one the hotel stay or some part of it for a Christmas or birthday gift.

Monogrammed - There are plenty of options out there in the world of customization but when it comes to the men in your life a nice long sleeve white shirt with his initials or monogram is just perfect! My MIL stocks up the men in our family with these every year or every other as needed. She sticks with Lands End for our guys but there are plenty of retailers that do this! {Side note - my hubby prefers his initials on the cuff, he thinks it's a little more low key but he also has them on the pocket. I too prefer the cuff but love custom either way!}

Edible - Edible is always a winner in my book. There are a variety of options out there especially when it comes to monthly packages. Some winners I've experienced have been, cheese of the month, salsa of the month and jelly of the month. Also, BACON. Bacon is life, remember. My MIL got this for my hubbs grandpa a few years back but instead of getting the monthly deal it was cheaper to get all 12 kinds at once. I did this for my dad a couple years ago {I love copying ideas from one side of the family to use on the other side!} and it was a huge hit. Two years ago I gave my brother a package set of meats from Omaha Steaks. He loved it.

Calendars - A couple of options on this, you can go a generic route from the store or custom make one on shutterfly or another online photo place. My SIL Gretchen does this every year and it's always fun to look at the photos of the kids and have custom birthdays already on it. Also, my friend Heather over at Double H Photography is selling beautiful calendars for 2012 an Outdoors in Wyoming and a Cattle one, check them out!

Collector Jewelry - By this I mean any type of jewelry that is to be collected: charms on a bracelet, stacking bracelets, earrings, etc. I personally love Brevard Earrings. They are unique and are sold one at a time, meant to mix and match with one another. I currently own four earrings but it would be okay if I had five because they are meant to be collected and switched out with one another! Another popular "collector" is Pandora bracelets. What's nice about gifts like this is it gives you options for the future, if you and your siblings go in on the bracelet and some charms for your mom then come her birthday or mother's day you can get her another charm if you want!

Stamps - Custom stamps that is. Return address stamps from Expressionary are perfect for the newlywed or newly moved person in your life. Or perhaps a nice set of custom notecards with their name and address on them is what you're looking for. Either way, people usually have to mail something at one point or another so this is thoughtful and functional.

Happy shopping! Good luck and be safe out there in the madness :) Also, please feel free to leave ideas or suggestions in the comment box...I need your help because currently I have NO clue what I'm getting my husband for Christmas!