Surviving Christmas

Merry Christmas and Many Blessings
GrannySue

Buying Christmas gifts for women isn't as hard as most men make it out to be. If you want to impress the ladies on your list, then here's what I suggest for:

Intimate Relationships
For wives, fiancées and live in partners, be personal. This is not the time to go out to the local appliance store!! Give her jewelry, her favorite fragrance, something sexy to wear. If you really want to be good, give her all three!

There are certain things you need to know before buying any of the three above-mentioned items. Nothing worse than a wife's face on Christmas morning, when her thoughtful yet uniformed husband presents her with a size 16 burgundy red negligee, when she is actually a size 12 and loves the color purple!

Fellas and partners - first and foremost - know your sizes! If you want to be sneaky, find a similar piece of clothing to what you want to buy, and check the label. Otherwise, start well before the holidays, and simply ask...

You can also be sneaky in the asking: just tell her that (whatever she's wearing) looks so tiny, and she must have dropped a size or two. Generally, you will get the information you are looking for without having to come out and ask outright. BUT - When all else fails. Be direct anyway.

Know your colors, or rather, know what her favorite colors are. What color does she wear most often? (This works for jewelry, too - if she wears a lot of green, hunt down emeralds, aquamarines or green jade!)

Personally, jewelry is one of my favorite standards in Christmas gifts for women. It doesn't fade, stretch or stain. Jewelry will be around forever and can be passed on as heirlooms.

It can also be as personal or impersonal as the occasion and relationship dictate. Normally around the holidays, some incredible sales can be found, too!

To stay on the safe side of the fragrance issue, sneak a peak at the bottle of perfume she is currently wearing. If she has several, either pick the one with the least left in the bottle, or the one you like most. Charming words and a sweet fragrance go a long way.

Friends and Casual Girlfriends
For relationships which are more casual in nature, well-thought out gift baskets are the perfect Christmas gifts for women. There's lots to open, everything centers around a single theme, and they don't need to break the bank.

Plain gold necklaces or earrings (stay AWAY from finger rings!), a pretty sweater, a book in her favorite genre are all great ideas. Be sure, if you get her a book, to get her a nice bookmark to go with it - you can attach it to the ribbon or bow, or put it into the front cover inside the package.

gift baskets of all shapes, kinds and sizes are available during the holidays. You can also make your own. This is my specialty... However, for those who don't want to spend a day or two hunting down the contents for the perfect Christmas gift basket, here are a few hints:

Every department store from Macy's to Wal-Mart has a gift basket aisle, as do specialty stores. Check these first!

Perfect Christmas gifts for women in casual relationships would be:

• Coffee or tea selections
  
• Books
  
• Movies
  
• Fragrance/Lotions
  
• Wine (or hard liquor, or Beer, if she prefers!)

These can generally be found for under $50 and make perfect Christmas gifts.

Co-workers, Bosses, Employees and Acquaintances   Its even easier to find great Christmas gifts for women in this category of friendships. Gift cards are appropriate for this group. Generally, I would try for cards to restaurants or movie theaters, as they are inexpensive, yet thoughtful gifts.

If you know the person more than just to say hello, you might try a card to a store you know they would visit, like a bookstore, or a specific gift shop.

Very small gift baskets of chocolates, or coffees, teas or something similar in nature are also wonderful ideas for Christmas gifts. Stay away from anything remotely personal unless you have a very good reason.
  Christmas Gifts for Mom   "I'm not just any woman - I am your Mother!" Incidentally - this includes mother-in-law, too. Finding super-wonderful Christmas gifts for women in this category will take some creativity.

Mom would probably still rather have something you made, than anything you could buy, but we'll give it a shot...


If Mom is still working, jewelry can be a good buy. If you've got kids of your own, then you can get special rings, necklaces and such with the birthstone of each of the grand-kids.

Sets are good, too - necklace, bracelet and either earrings or a finger ring to match. Sets are usually pretty reasonable during the holidays. A very pretty watch would be a great gift if Mom is still working also.

There are so many styles to choose from, you simply can't go wrong (no stop-watches, guys!!)

Tickets for her and Dad at a dinner theater should be under $150, and provide for a wonderful evening out, a great meal, and if you really want to do it up well, some dinner theaters are in hotels, you can also book them a weekend away.

It is something Mom probably would not splurge on for herself, its thoughtful, and its luxurious!

If your budget won't allow for that, a very inexpensive alternative is to get several of their favorite old movies, some favorite snacks, coffee, tea or wine, and the appropriate cups or glasses, and present her with a home version in the form of a gift basket.

Other Christmas Gifts for Women   Sisters, other women in the family and members of your spouse's family fall into this group.

Depending on the closeness of the relationship, choose gifts for them from the "girlfriend" or "casual" groups and you can't go wrong. You can ask directly, too.

Usually siblings and cousins, if they are on the Christmas list, are open to giving you specific ideas and won't be insulted if you ask.

Teachers, service providers and other women you may want to give "just a little something" to will appreciate items from the casual list as well.

Though some people do, I am not a big fan of "useful" items as main Christmas gifts for women - even my daughter's teacher. She can get those useful items from people who actually ask her what she needs.

Be sure to check other pages in this section for even more ideas! If you want to make your own gift baskets, there will be an entire section just for that. Stocking stuffers have their own page, as do gag gifts.

And, as you go through the year, be sure to put the size, color and favorites information into your Christmas notebook so that you don't have to go back and start over year after year (except to double check if need be)! And one more thing....  

ALWAYS, Always, always be sure to get gift receipts - even for items that aren't worn.

You can either tape them inside the box with the gift, or file them until after the holidays just in case. But even the most wonderful gifts might need to be returned for whatever reason, and this holds especially true with Christmas gifts for women.

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OK guys, here's your chance!! Tell us what is on your own list to give the women in your life this year! Share your comments and suggestions below!

Many Blessings
GrannySue 

I find that creating memorable Christmas gifts for men on my list is much easier than buying for women. Men tend to wear their likes and dislikes right out in the open, and are not afraid to talk about them. Not only that, but they do not bother to hide things like their cologne bottles, and such like. Its usually obvious to anyone that goes anywhere with them whether or not their leather goods need replacing as well!

Unique gifts are a creative thought away, and even the old stand-bys can be made memorable with just a few dollars and a few moments' time.

Intimate Relationships
For husbands and lovers, finding the perfect Christmas gift is a matter of gaining access to three places... his bedroom closet, his dresser or medicine cabinet, and the garage. If these three places do not provide all the information you would need, he is an unusual male indeed!

Another hint is to listen especially close in the period between the end of summer and the holiday season. If you pay close attention, he will probably tell you (perhaps in so many words) just what the perfect gift would be - and you'll probably gain more details than you thought possible!

That said, you'll find all the size information, fragrance suggestions and jewelry ideas you need in the three places mentioned, but don't stop just there.

If it is fragrance products you want to buy, which types does he already own, and what fragrances are they? Does he shave? If so, there are gift boxes that contain several items all of the same scent, such as soaps, after-shave and shaving cream as well as cologne. Sometimes collectibles like a decorated special addition keyring or pocket knife are also included.

Christmas gifts for men you are intimate with can also include jewelry, if he wears it. Be on the lookout for his favorite tie tack, cuff-links or other items which may be missing a mate, or have lost a stone. Replacing them is not only thoughtful, but romantic as well. If they are heirlooms, repair and cleaning are in order. If he wears necklaces or rings, be sure to measure to get the size right, and find something he's had his eye on for a while.

One note of caution - though many men are flattered and appreciative, if you intend to get him something super sexy to wear, be sure to schedule private time for the opening of the gift. I have found men to be far more easily embarrassed over gifts of this nature than women, and he will appreciate the privacy.

Male Friends and Boyfriends
This is probably the simplest category of Christmas gifts for men! You know him well enough to know what he reads, what sports he likes, what cars he likes, and what he needs. Gifts in this category make great "extras" for the hubbies, too!

Here's where the old cliche gifts work really well:

Wallets - Sure, go ahead and pick one up, but throw in a couple new twists to make this a unique and appreciated gift he'll remember. Get a photo of yourself, and a few of his close friends, and fill up that photo keeper. Tuck a lottery ticket or two into the cash pocket. Give him a few quarters in the change section and maybe a pair of movie tickets or a gift card in the credit card holders. Be sure to get a matching key ring that you can attach to the ribbon after its wrapped.

Belts - Why not get a nice pair of slacks or a pair of jeans to go with the belt? You can also get a small selection of extra buckles to go with it - or match it to the wallet and key ring. If he's into building things, get him a couple utility hangers for it, too.

Ties - Be sure to get top quality, preferably silk ties. Get a couple matching tie-tacks or clips to go with it. You can get a small selection of cheaper ties, each with a clip, and bundle them with matching color socks (or sexy underwear) too -

If he's into his car, create your own gift basket with items he can use to spruce it up! If he's into cars in general, try building a gift around a book about his favorite make or model, and including a model kit he can build till he gets the real thing. You can get a key blank at the local hardware store to tie on the outside with the ribbon, too.

Sports fans are super easy - team logos can be found on everything from stadium blankets to umbrellas, shot glasses to bar-ware, baseball caps, books and posters are available for his favorites. Collector cards are another option. Biographies or stat books are good, too. If you can afford it, try to tuck in a pair of tickets to a local event!

Co-workers, Bosses, Employees and Acquaintances
Small gift baskets are perfect Christmas gifts for men in this category. There are literally hundreds of types to choose from, or you can create your own! You probably know him well enough to know if he drinks tea or coffee, if he lives alone and might like a meal in a basket, if he likes candy or snacks. Any one of these would make a perfect little gift basket that is inexpensive but will be remembered.

Candy is usually a safe bet, and there are plenty of boxes available to choose from, but why not make him some homemade cookies and candies yourself? A small personal tray is a great gift for men or women, for people you know well, or hardly at all, and even works for the postman!

People at work can always use something to spruce up their cubicle - anything from a nice picture frame for them to include family photos, to a desk blotter or pen set is a great gift and doesn't have to cost a fortune.

Gifts for Dad
Dads can be rather difficult, but you want to be sure to give something he will remember. Tickets to see his favorite team play (If you're in Chicago, the Cubs/Cardinals game, or Cross-town Classic or Bears/Greenbay tickets are usually ideal!) are usually a good bet. Get him a fabric cooler to take with him, too, and stock it with a jar of nuts, a bag of pretzels, a couple beers and a pennant or baseball cap to wear to the game. (Even if he can't take them to the park, he can use the extras when he's watching from home!

Try to facilitate him doing something he's always wanted to do... One of my friends bought her Dad a package of three flying lessons at the local county airport. While nowhere near enough to get him his license, it was enough to get him up in the air. Since he would never have spent the money to get started, it was the perfect gift, which did lead him to continue his education and eventually get his license.

Another idea along those lines is to help him do something he used to do when he was younger, but hasn't been able to do in a long time... Tickets to a local ski lift, perhaps (or if you have the funds, a weekend in Aspen!), some camping gear and a year pass to a campground, fishing equipment and a license (again, if you have the funds, a weekend trip to fish for his favorite species), and the list goes on.

If he likes fancy evenings out with Mom, so much the better - get them a weekend away to do their favorite activity together - a couple nights in Chicago and museum passes, a night or two in St. Louis and dinner for two on a paddle-wheeler, a casino package, a weekend in Branson with show tickets - whatever they love to do together.

I know... You are thinking I'm off my nut and these things are way over budget. Think again... You can do a search online, and probably find any of the four for under $200. If this is a gift for both parents from you and a spouse, that is quite reasonable. You would probably both spend at least $50 each on each of them anyway - so why not make it memorable!

Other Christmas Gifts for Men
As I said before - "useful" gifts are not really my style. However - when it comes to men, they tend to be a bit harder to insult than women are - another thing that makes finding the perfect Christmas gift for men much easier.

If he likes to cook, go ahead and get him kitchen gadgets, cookbooks, or a specialty pot or pan - he'll love it! Women would be in tears depending on who gave these items to them... If he likes to read, get him the latest book by his favorite author. If he loves to "putz around" the house, hand tools, assorted screws, bolts and nails, and picture hanging kits are perfect.

Men also appreciate a bottle of their favorite drink, too - whether its Maker's Mark, Killian's or Point Rootbeer. A nifty and appropriate glass or mug to drink it from rounds out the gift.

Movie passes, and gift cards to specialty stores are well-received and truly appreciated.

Depending on the circumstances and relationship, something as simple as a nice card and a single flower make good gifts also.

Does he like popcorn? Get him an air popper, or a fancy kit with a stove-top pot for popping, a bottle of good oil and a jar of blue- or red-kernel popping corn! He'll chuckle (this is a GOOD thing!), and he'll use them.

Finding the best Christmas gifts for men is limited only by your budget and your imagination. Spend a little time getting creative, and he'll always remember.

And one more thing.... ALWAYS, Always, always be sure to get gift receipts - even for items that aren't worn. You can either tape them inside the box with the gift, or file them until after the holidays just in case. But - even the most wonderful Christmas gifts might need to be returned for whatever reason.

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As always, I would love to hear some of your favorite gift ideas for the guys! Please take the time to post a comment below and let us know what's on your giving list this year!

Many Blessings
GrannySue