Christmas Present idea thread

[ghost]

Yeah, so I'm trying to buy something for my wife and she's fucking impossible to buy for.  She already has a nook, an iPad and basically every item of electronics she could possibly want and therefore I need a little help. 

Also, I thought it would be a cool thread for people to put things in if they have already gotten something cool for somebody. 

My list of ideas so far: 

Waffle maker
Mont Blanc Pen

[Hawkbit]

You're likely going for a pricey one, but if $40 is your game, this one has worked very well for me:

http://www.amazon.com/Presto-FlipSide-Belgian-Waffle-Maker/dp/B000TYBWIG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1290982675&sr=8-1

We're limiting ourselves to $100 this year and not buying off lists for each other.  Going to be tough... Wish we had the cash to get her an iPad. 

[IainC]

I'm getting my wife a Livescribe digital pen. When she writes things, she prefers to use a pen and paper for the initial drafts then types it up. The pen will make that a snap.

[MuffinMan]

I'm having just the opposite problem. It's always easy thinking of gifts for other people but difficult as hell telling family what to get me. I'm Googling now to find gift ideas for myself. 

I did pick up an awesome R. Crumb "Keep On Truckin'" incense burner for my dad the other day at Planet K. He doesn't burn incense but he'll love it on display somewhere.

[Arrrgh]

My wife is into pens. She loves these new Pilot inks.

http://www.jetpens.com/product_info.php/products_id/3515

[Nerf]

My wife is into pens. She loves these new Pilot inks.

http://www.jetpens.com/product_info.php/products_id/3515

Man I read that completely wrong, I was afraid to click on the link until I did a double-take.

[MuffinMan]

I think my brain must have rejected reading it that way because they are no longer into those soon after they become a wife.

[Ruvaldt]

Bought my fiancée a banjo.  I can't wait to give it to her; I really feel like I nailed this gift.

That Livescribe digital pen is awesome.  It's something I never knew I needed, but would use constantly.

[Merusk]

My wife is insistent that we buy a video camera.  I don't know why, because we'll never use the damn thing but it's what she wants.  ("Yes we will use it. There's lots of stuff I wanted to tape" "Why not pictures, which you also don't take?" "It's not the same!") Now I just need to find one that's reasonably priced and doesn't use proprietary memory sticks or mini DVDs.

[ghost]

Bought my fiancée a banjo.  I can't wait to give it to her; I really feel like I nailed this gift.

That is a kick ass gift.  I would love a banjo, however I might as well get the wife a bowling ball with my name inscribed on it for as much as she would be interested in one.  She might actually have more interest in the unintended thoughts of Nerf, haha. 

[Surlyboi]

Boom. (Literally). Oh, wait, this isn't a what I want for christmas thread.

If she does dig Montblancs, my favorite is the stainless steel and carbon fiber Meisterstuck.

I got a fountain for the missus for her birthday.

[Goumindong]

Yeah, so I'm trying to buy something for my wife and she's fucking impossible to buy for.  She already has a nook, an iPad and basically every item of electronics she could possibly want and therefore I need a little help. 

I read on an econ blog the other day a very interesting theory of optimal gift purchasing.

Buy them the thing that they would feel guilty buying for themselves. So when you're out shopping and they see something they really like and want to buy, but are contemplating really hard and just cant bring themselves to resolve the cost/benefit in favor of buying it.

Get them that.

[Margalis]

Waffle maker
Mont Blanc Pen

The best gift you can give a woman is a gift that allows her to cook a meal for you. You both win.

[Muffled]

Waffle maker
Mont Blanc Pen

The best gift you can give a woman is a gift that allows her to cook a meal for you. You both win.

 

To make this post slightly more worthwhile...

Guo is completely right in this instance, that is one of the best ways to buy gifts.

[ghost]

Boom. (Literally). Oh, wait, this isn't a what I want for christmas thread.

Actually, my intent was for it to be a place for all ideas, including stuff that you might want yourself. 

As for the waffle maker-  the other part of that gift is that I always make the waffles..... 

[Viin]

Buy them the thing that they would feel guilty buying for themselves. So when you're out shopping and they see something they really like and want to buy, but are contemplating really hard and just cant bring themselves to resolve the cost/benefit in favor of buying it.

Get them that.

Makes sense, but harder to do than you'd think. My wife may have been wanting a quart sized jar of honey mustard back in Feb, but if I were to buy that now she would just laugh and throw it away.  She pretty much buys anything she *really* wants anyways, so that makes it super hard.

I think I will just get her some slippers, some jewelry of some sort, and maybe a gift card to Nordstrom.

[JWIV]

My wife is a huge fan of Dominion, so I went and picked up all of the expansions for her.  She is however, also a woman, and while the games are nice, she'd be disappointed in those alone.  So to go along with the expansions, I picked up a nice set of Swarovski crystal oval drop earrings.  

[Arrrgh]

Boom. (Literally). Oh, wait, this isn't a what I want for christmas thread.

Actually, my intent was for it to be a place for all ideas, including stuff that you might want yourself. 

As for the waffle maker-  the other part of that gift is that I always make the waffles..... 

Batter Blaster is actually good. Spray on waffles in a can sounds horrible I know, but give it a try.

[Furiously]

I tried some and thought it was horrid. And you can never go wrong with blood diamonds or lingerie.

[ghost]

Anybody getting or asking for something cool for themselves? 

[Raging Turtle]

Rather than risk buying her earrings or a necklace that she'll only wear because I bought it for her, I've decided to buy the girlfriend a quality jewelry box.  The fact that most of her jewelry is currently kept in a drawer in the bathroom also makes me think this is a good idea.

Now, does anyone know where I can buy a quality jewelry box 

[ghost]

This looks like an alright place for jewelry boxes. 


I had good luck looking at local arts/crafts stores when I bought my wife hers for our wedding present.

[Raging Turtle]

Thanks for the link, Ghost.

Anybody getting or asking for something cool for themselves? 

I'm a bit of a coin collector and am considering asking for this pocket watch:


But first I need to decide if it's tacky or just awesome.

[K9]

Anybody getting or asking for something cool for themselves? 

This is probably going to be my Christmas present to myself.

I'm a bit of a coin collector and am considering asking for this pocket watch:


But first I need to decide if it's tacky or just awesome.

I think in this age pocket watches veer towards the pretentious in a somewhat unavoidable way. Your example isn't particularly tacky in my eyes, but I think you're going to struggle to make it work outside of steampunk conventions. YMMV.

[Viin]

I'm getting myself a new pair of shades:

Vedalo HD Rosso2 (Cheaper @ Flyboy Accessories)

[Yegolev]

Anybody getting or asking for something cool for themselves? 

I bought a lot of computer parts with which I hope to assemble a running system.  I'm not particularly concerned that the 1156 socket is going away, either.

If you wife has a nook, maybe you could get something to put in it?

[Chimpy]

If you wife has a nook, maybe you could get something to put in it?

Oh man, I totally took that the wrong way. But it made me laugh the way I took it!

[Yegolev]

I bet you took it the right way.  In the back of a Volkswagen.

[Rasix]

Anybody getting or asking for something cool for themselves? 

Bought myself all of the parts to do a new system build. Took two weeks to get everything.  First time I'll have done one in a LONG time.

I should probably buy a static mat while I'm at it.

[Yegolev]

In the desert, yes.  Mat and wrist strap, follow protocol.

[Sky]

If you wife has a nook, maybe you could get something to put in it?

Possibly your pens.

[RhyssaFireheart]

If you wife has a nook, maybe you could get something to put in it?

Possibly your pens.

Misread Sky's response FTW - just as he no doubt planned.

I've apparently bought my husband the full six season box set of The Sopranos - or so he's informed me. 

I think my new computer counts as my Christmas gift this year, but I'm planning to hit the bookstore and throw copious amounts of money at them for the pleasure of catching up on some more books.

[ghost]

If you wife has a nook, maybe you could get something to put in it?

Possibly your pens.

We just had a baby  2 months ago.  There are currently no pens or any other objects being placed in any nooks. 

[Merusk]

Anybody getting or asking for something cool for themselves? 

Depends on how you define cool.  I like clocks.

http://www.bulova.com/brands/frankc/product.aspx?brand=frankc&id=3048&origin=search

That's my birthday and Christmas present to myself.

[ghost]

That's a very cool clock and a very reasonable idea for a gift.  It's certainly something I wouldn't have thought of.