*[ 6 December, 2006 ]

not-so-secret santa

every year, at Chrismukah, we do secret santa with my siblings. instead of trying to come up with a gift for everyone (and spending way too much money) we each only buy for one person. it’s never quite secret, though, since its only December 6th and i already know who has who. this year i have my sister and she has me. perfect. she definitely buys the best gifts and she’s the most fun to buy for. she gets me. i get her.

this year, however, there’s a twist. usually, it’s a $50 limit. this year, because my brother and his wife bought a new house, they’ve lowered the limit to $25. what the hell? you can’t buy anything good for $25!!! three drinks at starbucks? half of a sweater?

**** big-ass update!! i spoke to said sister and we decided that $25 is far too little to spend on a sister…so we are bumping each other up to $50. yay. so, this should make it a little easier to find something for her! i still need advice, though.

this is where i call upon you, my dear internets, to help me. On my quest to find great and cheap gifts for my sister, i found a whole bunch of great and cheap gifts for me.

the original movie poster. would be great for her if she collected old movie posters…

Nick and Nora pajamas….insanely on sale. would be great if she didn’t have 5,000 pairs of pajamas.

No One Cares What you Had for Lunch book. would be great if she were a blogger.

Grey’s Anatomy season one. would be great if she didn’t already have it.

Daughtry. mmm….Chris Daughtry. would be great if she liked American Idol.

mmmm..Chris Daughtry.

which brings us back to my sister. Now that i may have given her a few ideas…i still have got nothing for her. nothing.

help!! i beg of you! what would YOU get for MY sister? need a little information about her? she lives in Tribeca. She works on Long Island for a school system there. has a PhD is some sort of Psychology (abnormal?). She’s petite. she loves yoga. and coffee. and clothes. she’s the non-blogger version of me. only smarter and trendier and busier and clearly harder to shop for.

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They have a slew of items in the new Bloomies catalog for under $25. She sounds like a Bloomies kind of girl. Check it out if you can!

[ 06 Dec 06 ]

Hi there! First time here – nice site you have here! Your recent post hit me squarely on the head, since we do the same secret santa thing with my in-laws every year. Good thing is, our limit is up to $150. (American). Let me think of some good gift ideas for you today, although $25. is a tough one. I’ll be back! Have a great Wednesday!

[ 06 Dec 06 ]

I don’t know yet .. but I just had to say that my sister also lives in Tribeca, has a phychology degree, loves yoga, is petite and love clothes – freaky almost!

ok. Thinking.

Hmm..Yoga mat (although no doubt, she already has this)? Silk hangers for her clothes (my sister .. your sister’s twin lol) loves these for her precious blouses. Coffee basket (you know, with assorted stuff, plus maybe Starbucks gift certificate?)
Good luck .. $25 is a pretty low limit…

[ 06 Dec 06 ]

Too bad I can’t spell Psychology right lol (math degree lol)

[ 06 Dec 06 ]

My absolute favourite place to shop for unique gifts is Red Envelope. Especially great for us Canadians shopping for Americans, since you just order online and they ship directly. Your sister sounds really unique and I am sure you will find something wonderful. Oh, BTW, is that $25 Canadian or American………..

Or maybe you can just teach her to blog…….

[ 06 Dec 06 ]

Get her a Starbucks giftcard…then tell me which one she goes to so I can bump into her (long islander here) and say…hay, I know your sister and I told her to get you that gift…Now, wanna share??/ tee hee hee…

Kidding.

If she likes Yoga. Get her a video, or a mat or a free lesson.

If she likes to read get her some cool audio books so she can listen to them and relax while she commutes to work.

Coffee: Starbucks anything or a basket of coffee goodies.

Clothes: Lands End has some cool sales for winter…

Hope I helped a little…

[ 06 Dec 06 ]

How ’bout GA season TWO? You could just give her half of it or something to stay under the limit. ;)

Have you looked at http://www.uncommongoods.com

Or maybe some smelly candles or yoga pants?

[ 06 Dec 06 ]

How about a tiny little high end thingy, like a Tiffany’s key ring or cashmere socks?
Or you can go my route and just get her a novel that you know she’ll love. Something older and soulful is always nice…

[ 06 Dec 06 ]

check out uncommondgoods.com. they have really unusual gifts that are fairly cheap. im always shopping there for my parents birthdays gifts!

[ 06 Dec 06 ]

Whew, that’s a little low, eh? Hmmmm….Um, yeah. I’m going to have to think for a bit on that one. Sorry I’m useless!

[ 06 Dec 06 ]

I just bought a few books (easy read…good sex) in the Outlander series for a few friends. I also bought my new fave CD by English songstress Corinne Bailey Rae – very soulful, beautiful voice. Got it for under $10 at amazon.ca.

[ 06 Dec 06 ]

I’m not a girl…and I suck at gift giving. Long story short, I’m not your ideal person for providing input ;-)

[ 06 Dec 06 ]

I’d be happy to sell you one of my deliciouly beautiful homemade (but doesn’t look homemade) necklaces. I usually sell them for much more but you have given me so many hours worth of laughter and enjoyment through your blog I’d be oh so happy to let one go to you for $25. Seriously, let me know.

[ 06 Dec 06 ]

I recommend any piece of jewelry from Kiln…www.kilnenamel.com…my favorite is the “skinny earring”, but their small circles are only $26, so that would work too.

You could also go with a MAC gift certificate, if she like make-up. Or, you could get her a copy of her very favorite book from childhood?

[ 06 Dec 06 ]

Hmm. Pretty undies? Bath goods? Cheese of the week club? (They really have those you know..)

[ 06 Dec 06 ]

Buy her something from this site http://www.rusticrelics.net/

and if you go over $25? Just don’t tell anyone. Say it was on sale. Or that hand-made jewelry is not only supporting artists, but CHEAP!

[ 06 Dec 06 ]

Does she drink wine? My friend who works for the company that makes Oster products gave me an electrice wine opener. It is very cool. Retails at Target for $19.99. That along with a very nice bottle of wine and maybe some wine charms would be great…if you picked my name!!!

[ 06 Dec 06 ]

Is she a reader? You could do book (s).
I say Grey’s Season 2!!! I got it for my birthday, cannot wait to watch it.

[ 06 Dec 06 ]

I have those EXACT pajamas! Even though she has 5,000 pair, get her those. They’re heavenly soft and SO chic.

[ 07 Dec 06 ]

Oh, and where were those pjs on sale? I love pjs. I have some with sock monkeys on them that are super cute. If she has them too, uncommongoods.com has sock monkey slippers that are cute.

[ 07 Dec 06 ]

Are you a Canuck? If so then get her some Lululemon. It’s huge here amoung the hip/yoga people (who else can spend $90 on stretch pants??!!) and you can’t get it in the US.
There are my 2 cents. I am having issues too, luckily my sister is very happy with cheesy “chic lit” or a trashy magazine. People with many kids are easy to treat ;-) (speaking from experience)
I know you got the Starbucks card advice from every one BUT … it just seems so blah for your sister kwim?!
You could get her some funcky jewelery by someone local? Glad you raised your $$ amount but still pretty low!
Merry Christmas!
Shay
ps great blog. it’s my first time here.

[ 07 Dec 06 ]

LULULEMON gift certificate for $50 — if she loves yoga, you can’t go wrong with that!?

(I don’t know how I missed this post, by the way. I visit you on the daily!)

[ 07 Dec 06 ]

And, is that blog book any good!? Never heard of it! And, I did just win a $25 gift certificate to amazon.ca…. (which is another good gift for your sis…).

[ 07 Dec 06 ]

Cheap flights to europe….

Cheap flights to italy europe tripadvisor. Cheap flights to europe. Cheap europe flights….

[ 17 Mar 08 ]

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