bluebear

Not that anyone cares but me, but Best Buy and Staples started carrying the Microsoft Surface online today. We bought one on BF at the MS store, but my other son said tonight he might want one (he hasn't decided on his big gift yet...), so it will be nice to earn RZ points from Best Buy.

I wish my list would get finalized. Minds keep changing. I'm about to strangle a couple of my kids right now. Once my son makes his final decision, I'll get that gift, and a couple more small things for both boys and stocking stuffs. I'm done with daughter except for maybe stocking stuff. Still have to get 1 niece a laptop sleeve, and then sis, BIL, mom, and step-dad. Still don't know what I'm getting for those... I better get busy!!

Mine are getting some of the same stuff mentioned. But yeah, boys are harder than girls for little things. Xbox stuff (points, live, maybe a game), or other game cards (mine are into Planetside this year, so Stationcash), gift cards to favorite stores, gloves, hats, earphones, watch, wallet, favorite snack foods (slimjims, pickles, pistachios), tablet stylus or other accessories.

Yay yay yay!! So glad you found something!

Calendars.com has a humor category. Shipping looks like it is $5 though. Or free for $25+.

Soft gloves (like the magic gloves from Kohl's), fuzzy socks, sanitizer and lotion is good, chocolate, gum, bangle bracelets. I always love buying for my daughter's stocking. I like the idea of lots of small things. Especially if you don't know them, there are more chances of getting something they like.

Thank you!

I like to have different fun cases and pouches for my tablet, also different color styluses. Walgreen's and some other places have colored accessories, stylus, car charger, wall charger, cables, all in bright colors. I would like to have a dock for mine, so that I have a 'spot' designated to put it. You can also get docks with speakers if that is needed.

Staples has it as well with a $20 GC, in-store only. http://www.staples.com/Kindle-Fire-HD-16GB/product_984029

Oooh, I LOVE Schwans. They stopped delivering directly to my house though, and now I never rememebr to order to have it shipped... Must put that on my to-do list. Great idea.

My mom won $10, I won $5 and $10. Now to get back out there and find something to buy! And get another button!

I have found the basket bags at Dollar Tree. Sometimes you can find them with a bow included. I got my boys an Axe gift set that came in a really nice toiletry bag. You could find a plastic container for bath stuff, one with a handle to carry it, to use in the dorm when he goes away to college. I like the wastebasket idea. Or maybe a wire mesh or canvas cube organizer thingy. Or a drawstring backpack, you could put some cardboard in the bottom to help it stand up.

I have seen them at Target, in the check-out lanes. http://www.target.com/s?searchTerm=google+play&category=0%7CAll%7Cmatchallpartial%7Call+categories

It says on the website you'll receive the code 48 hours after your order ships. Also, shipping is $12.99. And the $20 code can only be redeemed on orders over $79.

Love the idea with the socks! Congrats for the supe cute inexpensive gifts!

Funny, I was talking to my youngest son about this a couple days ago. I was telling him about all the things I remembered, then asked him what his memories were. As I feared, there weren't that many, I have failed. But maybe as he gets older things will have a bigger impression on him. I always loved our tree, with the twinkling lights. To put the tree up, we'd have to move the cabinet that was usually on that wall down to the end of the hallway. My room was right there, and I would sneak out of my room at night and squeeze between the wall and the cabinet and store at the lights, sometimes even falling asleep there. I also remember some of our ornaments, and decorations. My favorite ornament was a little plastic Nativity scene with silver glitter on top. Mama wasn't much into decorating. We had a tree, stockings, those little plastic candle things in the windows, and a few knick-knacks. One year someone made us a bunch of ceramic ornaments and a ceramic tree. One day I came home from a friend's house, and mama and Nanny had gone all out decorating, compared to what we usually did. There was garland on the mantle, with the new ornaments hanging from it, garland around the big window separating rooms, garland around the door, and the beautiful lighted ceramic tree on the table. I was so excited. I loved especially that tree. A few years ago I bought myself a similar tree to remember it by. Every Christmas Eve we'd go to my dad's family, have a big dinner, sing Christmas carols around the piano, open gifts, then hurry home for Santa. Christmas morning mama's parent's would come over. We never left, so we wouldn't have to leave our stuff. When I had kids, we did the same, mama came to my house so they wouldn't have to leave their stuff, and Christmas dinner became tradition at my house. When my sister had kids, that didn't change, so then they had to leave their toys. My kids are big now, but everyone still comes here. My husband went to his grandmother's the Sunday after Christmas. That continued even after we were married, until she passed about 5 years ago. One of his uncles has now taken up that task.

My hobby is actually building dollhouses - with real working lights! I think you should build one for yourself now. It is great fun. If you have any questions I'll be glad to help!

Yum, thanks! My husband and son love the meatball subs... I see a lot of Subway in the next few weeks...

That would be a function of the printer, not the tablet. You will need a wireless printer with AirPrint or ePrint. My son uses both for his school work. The tablet is great for taking notes (with an external keyboard). It runs Android, and there are several word processing apps available (although last time I checked they did not have spell check). But his college course he is taking online (dual-enrolled) does not work on the tablet, so he takes his laptop for that class. I do not know if his online books work on his tablet, that may depend on the book. The tablet is super for looking up online stuff.

My boys aren't big on hoodies, they have a coupel they like, but some they didn't wear. Seems to depend on the design on the front on whether it is a favorite. I like the video game stuff idea. Last year my ds12 got lots of game-related items, posters, wallets, figures, clothing. And my boys are really into the Axe stuff now too. (You should smell my house every evening after showers!! ) And headphones are always a good little thing too. One of mine I swear eats them, the other can keep up with them for a year. Maybe even a nice glove/hat set. I know my ds16 and his friends were real into little beanie hats last year.

The Galaxy Tab also has a Samsung app store, so gives you a 3rd option for buying apps. I always check all 3 places, sometimes one will be having a special on something. And, if it matters to you, the Galaxy Tab also can used as as remote for your TV... I don't watch TV, so this doesn't matter to me. But other people that have looked at it have been excited about that feature.

Hope he loves it! If it's what he really wants, then it'll be worth it. I love it when they love their gifts. And yes, it does get harder... Besides my ds13 wanting the $600 Surface, did I mention that my ds16 wants to go on a trip that is $1600 +airfare?? That is going to be hard to wrap...

I also vote for the Galaxy Tab2. I am considering also getting my daughter in college one. Me and my mom both have them, they are great. The 7in size is great for carrying in your purse too.

Well, it does run Windows, so I guess if he's got a specific use that will only work on Windows, that's why he wants that. And the tablets are much easier to move around. But, depending on how exactly and for what purpose he's recording, I'm not sure it would be as powerful as it may need to be. Has he researched that part? I have used a Surface, and the Windows 8 interface is very very nice. And again, I feel ya, my ds13 will not get much more either. He did that last year too, asked for a gaming laptop, then the rest of his stuff was small. But he's okay with it, because it's what he really wants, and he has proved with that laptop that he uses it and wasn't upset with few presents.

Unfortunately I spent all my money this weekend. Bad planning on my part I guess... But, if I were shopping, I'd buy some pistachios, chocolate covered pistachios, and pistachio butter from my fav pistachio place, the $22 printer from Walmart, and a backpack from Penney's.