The unofficially official GC Holiday help desk

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

What is it you want to know? I gave my parents Sirrius a few years back and they love it.

whatever you can tell me...portable player for home, work and car.

She already has a subscription in her car now...how to transfer it to a portable unit

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

Yes. But the TARDIS is not a phone booth! It's just cleverly disguised as a police telephone box.

Totally different

Oh, I was speaking for the uninformed (such as myself!). However, he's told me something that he REALLY wants, so nix on the Dr. Who theme.

Originally Posted by Gusteau

My Dad has become a problem for gifting this year because he won the CD we were planning on getting him in a radio contest... Seriously, who actually wins those things?

Me. I am extremely lucky when it comes to radio contests, and couldn't begin to mention how many things I've wom. Probably the best was Steeler tickets for a game on my birthday was the best, though.

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

What is it you want to know? I gave my parents Sirrius a few years back and they love it.

Probably twirling out to the Grateful Dead channel evem as we speak!


I'll be spending Christmas with my fiance's family. His mother & I have gifted each other for years, but his (much elder) sisters and I haven't. Would special candy and cookies be appropriate, or should I go further? I have no idea if they'll have anything for me or not, and his mother has smoothly (as oposed to subtlely) indicated not to spend much.

One more: all of the financial sites are saying not to buy electronics prior to Christmas. Any recommendations for the one I'll buy the day after? I've been checking out the hp dvt series, fwiw.

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by honeychile

Oh, I was speaking for the uninformed (such as myself!). However, he's told me something that he REALLY wants, so nix on the Dr. Who theme.


Me. I am extremely lucky when it comes to radio contests, and couldn't begin to mention how many things I've wom. Probably the best was Steeler tickets for a game on my birthday was the best, though.


Probably twirling out to the Grateful Dead channel evem as we speak!


I'll be spending Christmas with my fiance's family. His mother & I have gifted each other for years, but his (much elder) sisters and I haven't. Would special candy and cookies be appropriate, or should I go further? I have no idea if they'll have anything for me or not, and his mother has smoothly (as oposed to subtlely) indicated not to spend much.

One more: all of the financial sites are saying not to buy electronics prior to Christmas. Any recommendations for the one I'll buy the day after? I've been checking out the hp dvt series, fwiw.

Prior to Christmas, allthose sales that you see are because stores like your Best Buys and HHGreggs are trying to get rid of those last year models of electronics to make room for next year models, that's why and that's the only explanation. if you want to wait for the new stuff, mid to late Januaray is when some of the new stuff starts to roll in. But regardless of when you buy, any electronic is obsolete the moment you take it out of the box

[Benzgirl]

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

whatever you can tell me...portable player for home, work and car.

She already has a subscription in her car now...how to transfer it to a portable unit

You would buy an additional subscription. I used to have two -- one for the car and one portable unit. It isn't as expensive as two separate subscriptions. I think it was around half the price of the first subscription.

[Xylochick216]

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

whatever you can tell me...portable player for home, work and car.

She already has a subscription in her car now...how to transfer it to a portable unit

http://shop.xmradio.com/xm/ctl10600/...si4552593/cl1/

This is the only truly portable XM/Sirius radio. It records shows and allows you to add your own MP3s if you are traveling. The others all require docks. I have the Mirge, which included a car dock, but I have to buy an expensive adapter for the office and home. I just pay the $2.99 a month for an online subscription in addition to my radio so I can listen on the computer, my iPod, and my Blackberry.

[LouisaMay]

Help! Twenty year old niece. She's a college student with an apartment. I feel like I don't know her tastes well at all. She's sort of trendy. Sort of "alternative." We spend around $30 for the family grab bag. Last year, I gave her a Starbucks gift card for her birthday, so I don't want to do anything like that so soon.

Thanks for any help!!!

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by LouisaMay

Help! Twenty year old niece. She's a college student with an apartment. I feel like I don't know her tastes well at all. She's sort of trendy. Sort of "alternative." We spend around $30 for the family grab bag. Last year, I gave her a Starbucks gift card for her birthday, so I don't want to do anything like that so soon.

Thanks for any help!!!

500 Thread Count sheets in a neutral color. Yes, as a 20 year old I might have been less than thrilled when I opened it, but once I tried them out, it would be an AHA! Moment. I honestly like jersey knit sheets better, but everyone needs a good quality set of cotton sheets as well.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

500 Thread Count sheets in a neutral color. Yes, as a 20 year old I might have been less than thrilled when I opened it, but once I tried them out, it would be an AHA! Moment. I honestly like jersey knit sheets better, but everyone needs a good quality set of cotton sheets as well.

Better than jersey or whatevercount cotton is Modal/Beech cotton/whatever else they call it.

Amazingly soft, without seeming to stretch the way jersey does.

[LouisaMay]

Thanks for the great ideas!! Actually, the thought of those bed sheets is making me jealous

[DSTRen13]

Originally Posted by LouisaMay

Help! Twenty year old niece. She's a college student with an apartment. I feel like I don't know her tastes well at all. She's sort of trendy. Sort of "alternative." We spend around $30 for the family grab bag. Last year, I gave her a Starbucks gift card for her birthday, so I don't want to do anything like that so soon.

Thanks for any help!!!

Nice picture frame or two & RitzPix card?

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by LouisaMay

Help! Twenty year old niece. She's a college student with an apartment. I feel like I don't know her tastes well at all. She's sort of trendy. Sort of "alternative." We spend around $30 for the family grab bag. Last year, I gave her a Starbucks gift card for her birthday, so I don't want to do anything like that so soon.

Thanks for any help!!!

Get her something for her apartment. Does she have any pictures of it on Facebook that you could take a look at to get some ideas? I would say to get her a gift card for Pier 1 or something, but I generally shy away from gift cards at Christmas.

And this might sound weird, but...

When I graduated college and got my own apartment, my aunt bought me a few gifts, which at the time made me think, W..T..F..

She got me a small tool kit, a cookbook, two flashlights and a ton of different kinds of batteries.

I can't even begin to tell you how much I appreciated it! When I had to put together new furniture, hang pictures, and when the batteries in my fire alarm had to be changed.. the screwdrivers, nails and tape measure in the tool kit came in handy!

When I had to spend Christmas at my boyfriend's house one year, and I was looking for a good recipe so that I had something to bring to his house, I ran for the cookbook.

The first time my electricity went out unexpectedly, I remembered the flashlights...

And everyone can ALWAYS use batteries!

[psusue]

Originally Posted by LouisaMay

Help! Twenty year old niece. She's a college student with an apartment. I feel like I don't know her tastes well at all. She's sort of trendy. Sort of "alternative." We spend around $30 for the family grab bag. Last year, I gave her a Starbucks gift card for her birthday, so I don't want to do anything like that so soon.

Thanks for any help!!!

If she's a smaller size and likes retro vibe clothes, maybe a gift certificate to Modcloth.com? They have amazing dresses and clothes and lots of quirky things, maybe she'd like it.

Also no college kid would ever say no to a Target/Walmart/grocery store/gas gift card. We're poor. Necessities become luxuries. And while it may not be a gift that they "ooh and ahh" over, they will appreciate it after they run out of body wash and don't get a paycheck for another week (can you tell that this has happened to me, haha?)

[AlphaFrog]

I need gift ideas for my bosses.

They are a mother and son who both have enough money to buy whatever the heck their heart desires, including a Hummer (Limited Edition) on a whim.

Also, it doesn't ever seem like the gifts from us are seen as anything more than an obligatory gesture (which at this point, they kind of are - I didn't used to see it that way). Usually, there are 5 office people, and we each put in $20 and spend $50 on each boss. This year, there are only 3 office people, so we're probably going to look at spending $30 each.

Ideas?

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

I need gift ideas for my bosses.

They are a mother and son who both have enough money to buy whatever the heck their heart desires, including a Hummer (Limited Edition) on a whim.

Also, it doesn't ever seem like the gifts from us are seen as anything more than an obligatory gesture (which at this point, they kind of are - I didn't used to see it that way). Usually, there are 5 office people, and we each put in $20 and spend $50 on each boss. This year, there are only 3 office people, so we're probably going to look at spending $30 each.

Ideas?

What are their personalities like? You have the impossible people to shop for....LOL

Give us an idea what they are like so we can make suggestions.

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

I need gift ideas for my bosses.

They are a mother and son who both have enough money to buy whatever the heck their heart desires, including a Hummer (Limited Edition) on a whim.

Also, it doesn't ever seem like the gifts from us are seen as anything more than an obligatory gesture (which at this point, they kind of are - I didn't used to see it that way). Usually, there are 5 office people, and we each put in $20 and spend $50 on each boss. This year, there are only 3 office people, so we're probably going to look at spending $30 each.

Ideas?

This whole thing seems strange to me. I was always taught that when it comes to business offices and Christmas/holiday gifts, you always buy down. Therefore, you don't buy your boss a gift, but they can get you one.

And besides, it's bad enough I'm under all of this pressure to buy gifts for family members.. what happens if I give my boss something they hate?!

However, a holiday card is never out of the question