Unusual holiday gift suggestions

Parent Cafe
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<p>I am racking my brain to come up with Christmas gifts for my husband and sons, and a few other people. I need ideas both for big gifts and for stocking stuffers. I thought I’d start a thread with suggestions. Here are some things I’ve given in the past:</p>

<p>Compass or compass/keyring, engraved - this is a lovely gift; I got the idea here. I’ve ordered several of the compass/keyrings and the compass, had all engraved, they came very fast:</p>

<p>[Grants</a> of Dalvey engravable pocket compasses and keychain compass from The Dalvey Depot. Grants of Dalvey classic compass, Dalvey modern compass, Grants of Dalvey miniature compass, and Dalvey keychain compass](<a href=“http://www.dalveydepot.com/dalveycompass.htm]Grants”>Grants of Dalvey fine gifts can be Custom Engraved | Free Shipping!)</p>

<p>Collectible silver ornaments from Ebay. These come in series, and it is nice to find a series that started in the year the recipient was born; this series, for example, started in 1971. There are 12 ornaments, representing the 12 days of Christmas:</p>

<p>[Sterling</a> Silver Towle 1976 Liberty Bell Geese Ornament - eBay (item 300257403340 end time Dec-08-08 13:30:02 PST)](<a href=“http://cgi.ebay.com/Sterling-Silver-Towle-1976-Liberty-Bell-Geese-Ornament_W0QQitemZ300257403340QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116]Sterling”>http://cgi.ebay.com/Sterling-Silver-Towle-1976-Liberty-Bell-Geese-Ornament_W0QQitemZ300257403340QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116)</p>

<p>Chinese Baoding balls; these are wonderful. You roll them around in your hands, they make a pleasant chiming sound. S2 fell in love with these when he saw a friend’s set. They usually come in a nice brocade fabric covered box. We both have them:</p>

<p>[Baoding</a> Balls - Chinese Exercise, Health, Stress, Medicine Balls](<a href=“Baoding Ball Books and Media - BaodingBalls.com”>http://www.baodingballs.com/)</p>

<p>This website is devoted to hand health - lots of good videos, nice products; some good stocking stuffers here. I ordered a few things last year, and spoke to the owner by phone. He was great. They have the Chinese balls, too:</p>

<p>[HandHealth</a> | Maximize the Physical Capabilities of Your Hands](<a href=“http://www.handhealth.com/]HandHealth”>http://www.handhealth.com/)</p>

<p>This is a really spectacular atlas. I ordered it for S2 for his birthday a few months ago, and he spends time every day poring over it. It is expensive (~$100), but enormous (something like 18" x 12" x 1" thick) and heavy:</p>

<p>[Amazon.com:</a> National Geographic Atlas of the World, Eighth Edition: National Geographic: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/National-Geographic-Atlas-World-Eighth/dp/0792275438/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1228147041&sr=8-1]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/National-Geographic-Atlas-World-Eighth/dp/0792275438/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1228147041&sr=8-1)</p>

<p>I am thinking of buying a small lemon tree for someone. I understand that they can be grown indoors. Here is one I am considering:</p>

<p>[Meyer</a> Lemons, Meyer Lemon Tree: Everything you would ever want to know](<a href=“http://www.meyerlemontree.com/]Meyer”>http://www.meyerlemontree.com/)</p>

<p>This site has lovely things; I’ve bought these pastel leather notebooks for Bat Mitzvah and Confirmation gifts. They can be monogrammed, and they come fast:</p>

<p>[url=<a href=“http://www.aspinaloflondon.com/eshop-catalogue/albums-and-books/leather-journals/perfect-pastel-journals]Perfect”>http://www.aspinaloflondon.com/eshop-catalogue/albums-and-books/leather-journals/perfect-pastel-journals]Perfect</a> Pastel Journals - Albums & Books from Aspinal of London </p>

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<p>Can you think of things that have the person’s name just written on the item when you see it? For example, my SIL bought her nephew a NY firefighter’s t-shirt or sweatshirt last year bc he had just become a firefighter in a another state. He loved this gift! She has another nephew who will be going into the Marines. She plans on finding something similar for him.</p>

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<p>NYMomof2, I posted about the Dalvey compasses on here in October of 07 so it may have been me that gave you the idea. If so, I am glad to know that the engraved compasses have been so successful for you for gift giving. My younger son graduates from high school in June so it may be time to think about getting one for him! All the best,Sevmom</p>

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<p>sevmom, It may very well have been your post, because I first got the engraved compass/keyrings last Christmas for S2 and another relative. I gave one of the compasses, engraved, to a family friend who graduated in June, and he was really overcome. They are wonderful gifts! Thank you for posting about them.</p>

<p>northeastmom, I wish I could think of perfect gifts on command, but I can’t. Once in a while inspiration strikes, but it’s fickle. So I have to rely on my CC friends for ideas! I know that by tomorrow or the next day, this thread will have at least one idea I can use.</p>

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<p>Stocking stuffer ideas are here: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/603349-stocking-stuffer-suggestions.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/603349-stocking-stuffer-suggestions.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>My H’s favorite stocking stuffer last year was a WD40 pen I picked up from a checkout line display at a home improvement store.</p>

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<p>owlice, Thank you for pointing me to the stocking stuffer thread - somehow I missed it! I saw some great ideas there.</p>

<p>ReneeV, I had to google We40 pen, but now that I see what it is, it will be perfect for DH, the hardest to buy for. Thanks!</p>