Hello, my name is Laura and I’m a bundle of fun and a barrel of laughs. Being with me is a hoot. I’m one big party. I give the coolest gifts.
Just kidding. About all of it. Except that my name really is Laura.
I can be kinda fun and I like to host parties. I have barrels of wheat and bundles of brown rice, both of which I think are a hoot. Which leads me to the “coolest gift” statement. The fact that I think wheat and rice are so exciting may tell you something about the gifts I give. I will never win the “Coolest Gift Giver Prize”.
I’m not too much into giving junky or fru-fru gifts and I don’t usually like to spend a lot, not because I’m stingy (hopefully), but just because I don’t see the importance of spending tons of money on gifts. Unless someone needs something.
I am a Practical Gift Giver.
Gifts for our boys usually include items of clothing they need, shoes, jammies and books. They get some toys too, but I’ve got to see the practicality in the toy before I’ll spend money or Swagbucks on it. (Like Legos. I can totally get into Legos.)
And games. I love games. Especially if they are games I can win.
Did I just say that out loud?
I think I come by my Practical Gift Giving honestly. One Christmas my grandma gave all of the men in the family a pair of ear plugs. All of them. My dad, my brother, my uncles, my cousins…all of them. We were a family of farmers (and preachers…hmmm..) so ear plugs were a very practical gift. But we all got tickled because everyone started putting them in and wearing them around during our big get-together. Every single male in our family looked ridiculous, but that’s okay. They couldn’t hear all of us females laughing and making fun of them.
Ah the memories.
I say all that to let you know that I’m getting ready to write a short series here with some practical gift suggestions. I already wrote a post about Gifts for Women. Cast Iron, Pyrex Dishes, Stoneware. Practical. Makes me SO happy.
Here are the posts I have planned so far:
Gifts of Books
Gifts of Games (The kind I can win – just kidding – not really)
Toys I Like (to watch my kids play with)
Stocking Stuffers for Kids (Yes, these can actually be practical)
Stocking Stuffers for Moms (Yes, because Moms really can have a stuffed stocking)
Gifts for Men (If you can twist my arm hard enough. It’s HARD to buy for men, much less post about it.)
I promise not to suggest that you buy ear plugs. But I may request some for myself this year. Have you ever tried to write a complete sentence with the noise going on at my house?
Hi Laura… I can never find high quality toys for my daughter and to give as gifts, but this year I found Hearthsong. They have AMAZING toys and at mostly reasonable prices, with good sales. I would not benefit in any way from you posting this, by the way, but thought you might want to share the site. It’s hearthsong.com. Blessings!
I agree, Hearthsong has some of the nicest (and good quality) kids toys!
I look forward to seeing your practical gift posts. That is so funny about mom’s stocking being full. Mine always looks pretty pathetic next to the others. Maybe I will have to print it and leave it on the counter for all to see.
I am all about practical gifts!!! :) Looking forward to your posts!
Laura, I love practical:) My kids all know that they will get socks and new warm pjs for every Christmas (and they get excited about it). We also always have a new family game (Quelf this year) and a new 1000 piece puzzle for the family to work on together. Looking forward to your ideas!
I used to be all about the ‘cool gifts’… now my version of cool gifts are practical ones. Socks are a must this year, and, for me- I sure would love a pressure cooker or gift cards to help me get there. :) [And, yes, I am leaving this page open on the computer ;) ]
Practical just makes so much sense. Why go for fru fru when you need things that are basic. Thanks for making those lists!
I’m so glad. I’ve been waiting for someone to post gift lists on their blog! I NEED those lists. ;)
And, I, like you am so practical, so I’m sure I’ll appreciate your lists.
One year all the adult grandkids received a case of canned peaches (storebought), another year it was a couple sacks of groceries (back when it was triple coupons going on). You just never knew what you were going to get. Looking back, that made it fun. Maybe grandma knew what she was doing after all. I don’t think any of us grandkids can open a can of peaches without thinking of grandma and smile.
I love practical gifts too! For St. Nicolas day my husband gave me a knife sharpener that I needed so badly. I couldn’t have been happier. For my son’s stocking I have already bought an Elmo toothbrush and Elmo band aides (went fancy for the holiday and spent and extra $0.50! lol)
I wanted to let you know that your post about your stocking exchange really made an impact on me last year and this year I organized a stocking exchange for me and three other women in similar situations. We are all having a blast filling a stocking for another mom like us and are looking forward to having full stockings this year!
I love practical gifts, too! I was just telling my husband that if anyone from his side of the family asks what to get me for Christmas, tell them a gift card to the grocery store!
ok so this year i completely got my husband a ton of practical gifts. a coffee maker (basic,$6 at walmart) 1/2 caff coffee and filters. lol. a razor because he needed a new one, an electric toothbrush, and some sweaters. i think today i am going to go and get him some small things for his stocking that are more fun than just a bunch of stuff he actually needed! haha! the kids are only getting a couple toys from us. we got them a power wheels jeep on sale black friday! and a lite brite, because i loved mine when i was little. a cap gun, a thomas the train chistmas movie, a lullabye cd, and little things, because my mom went to toys r us and spent ALOT on her 3 grandkids (my two sons and my brothers son) a bunch of toys, which btw were very fun to shop for! ok well my comment is bordering on longer than your post, so ill quit here, i hope! :)