<p>Would love to hear some suggestions for unique gifts. I don’t especially like to give STUFF just to check it off my list but I have to admit it happens. I was looking for something unique for my son’s GF. Didn’t want to spend an arm and a leg and wanted something non-jewelry that she would appreciate. I was on the Think Geek website and I saw some cool socks. A comment about the socks led me to here: [Sock</a> it to Me | About Us](<a href=“http://www.sockittome.com/cart/index.php?dispatch=pages.view&page_id=3]Sock”>http://www.sockittome.com/cart/index.php?dispatch=pages.view&page_id=3) These are about the coolest socks ever! If you buy three pairs, you get 50 cents off each one. Shipping was reasonable too.</p>
<p>(I got a pair for myself too! It pays to stuff the stockings!)</p>
<p>^^did you see her “employee of the month” on her page–it’s her cat :D.</p>
<p>I like ThinkGeek for fun gifts. We got our son a stick figure action figure on year that is a riot. Pinterest has some fun ideas if you are on that board.</p>
<p>I am also a fan of unusual socks (got a pair with the periodic table on them for my daughter, who will be taking chemistry next semester).</p>
<p>There are some unusual page-a-day calendars which could be appropriate (and not too expensive) – In the past, I’ve given ones with quotes from wild women, with obscure words of the day, and of course the NY Times cartoon one is always good.</p>
<p>I just purchased my dad a squirrel feeder because he enjoys watching squirrels.</p>
<p>I always enjoy browsing the gift selection from The Unemployed Philosophers’ Guild [The</a> Unemployed Philosophers Guild, Give the thoughtful gift because the unexamined gift is not worth giving.](<a href=“http://www.philosophersguild.com/]The”>http://www.philosophersguild.com/)</p>
<p>kiddie – I bought it from a bird feeder website.</p>
<p>The idea is that you give squirrels a feeder of their own, so that they leave the bird feeders alone – I suspect this is better in theory than in practice!</p>
<p>Thanks, kathiep, for starting this thread, which I have just mined for my own purposes. I had been meaning to post a request for sources of mugs, and I see that there are great ones on the philosopher’s website. And I love the sock website, and their socks!</p>
<p>Thanks for the tip, kathie. I just ordered three pairs! I figure I’ll keep one and see if the quality is good, and if so, gift the other two. (If not, I’ll keep them all, as I need socks anyway…;))</p>
<p>Buy a $25 entry registration for her in Florida’s big ‘2013 Python Challenge.’ The python hunting contest starts next month…she could win an easy $1000 just for catching a snake. </p>
<p>I got my D2 a headlamp as she has always wanted to be on Amazing Race and Survivor…plus she is a runner. Also came with a little waterproof flashlight that has a flashing SOS setting that attaches to things with a carabiner. It is quirky yet practical! </p>
<p>Urban Outfitters usually has a table of quirky gift set up in the front of their store. They might have them on their website.</p>
<p>Her BF likes to golf so I bought a package of 4 trick golf balls. One explodes, one wobbles and I can’t remember what the others do!</p>
<p>She also like different socks but never matches them. I usually pick up loud Holiday socks in the Dollar Spot at Target. She loves them! Also pick up the light stick toys they sell there. She and her BF loved the light up swords!</p>
<p>This is a great site for homemade items. [Etsy</a> - Your place to buy and sell all things handmade, vintage, and supplies](<a href=“http://www.■■■■■■■■/]Etsy”>http://www.■■■■■■■■/) I’ve bought a few lanyards for work from here. </p>
<p>Love the Unemployed Philosophers Guild site!</p>
<p>I’ve found things for my SIL who loves travel at Novica. They have a wonderful variety of handmade art from around the world. Much of it is affordable, too.</p>
<p>I’m fortunate to live fairly close to the store, so there’s always a McPhee item or two in the girls’ Christmas stockings. Squirrels appear to be big this year.</p>
<p>Chris Ware’s Building Stories, the graphic-novel-in-a-box made out of 14 discrete elements, including pamphlets, booklets, etc. It’s the hot gift of the season for the quirky and non-quirky alike, and would be especially great for college-aged kids. The NY Times Notable Book List describes it as follows: “A big sturdy box containing hard-bound volumes, pamphlets, and a tabloid houses Ware’s demanding, melancholy and magnificent graphic novel about the inhabitants of a Chicago building.” It’s on my list!</p>
Also came with a little waterproof flashlight that has a flashing SOS setting that attaches to things with a carabiner. It is quirky yet practical! </p>