What do I want for my birthday and Christmas? 2011 version

[schild]

Antique jewelry and a sapphire pendant could not be further from each other. Why are your two options both extreme? Just ask her what she wants. Or look through her jewelry and find what she's missing.

No one ever made sapphire pendants before today?  How odd.

Based on what you said, not the type you're looking to get. I'd explain further, but I'm fairly certain you're just being a wiseass.

[Segoris]

A new phone (still running original Droid, so will either go Galaxy Nexus or another Android 4.0 phone) and a maybe a tablet.

Also, since it's way too early for a Black Friday thread (if there will be one this year even) figured I'd post here for people planning buying games from their wish list. BF3 and Arkham City for $28 at Wal Mart Black Friday, $200 ps3 bundles, and some other shit. This may be a good Black Friday for gamers with all the games that have come out if Wal Mart is already putting BF3 and Ark City for that cheap to lead the way (which is now starting at 10pm on Thursday apparently instead of the early morning on, you know, Friday).

[Paelos]

I also want a 5 1/4 La Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Roaster.

[Viin]

I never know what to tell people to get me for Christmas and you guys aren't helping me yet!

Been thinking about a phonograph; it's one of those things that'd be cool to have but would rarely use. So, that doesn't seem like the best option.

[ghost]

I also want a 5 1/4 La Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Roaster.

Yessss.   

That is a great idea. 

[Bunk]

Crap, those aren't cheap are they?

Anyone have any more moderately priced kitchen ideas worth asking for? My sister is bugging me to tell her what I want, and I know she's on a budget this year.

[Segoris]

Speaking of kitchen ideas, any rice cooker recommendations? Looking for something capable of making rice (and steaming veggies as I'm hearing the rice cookers can be used for that also) for 2-4 people at times

[proudft]

I've been using http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000I5UEQM/ref=oh_o00_s00_i00_details   for about 18 months now, love it.  The main reason it is awesome is that it has a stainless steel bowl, so that and the lid can go in the dishwasher.  Finding a rice cooker with a stainless steel bowl was sort of a pain in the ass, everyone wants their fancy non-stick blah blah blah.  The slightly-yellowed-crisped rice on the bottom is the best part!

Downsides: it splatters all over the place, so I just leave a dishtowel draped over the top.  Because it's nonstick there tends to be a few petrified rice bits perennially stuck on the bottom, but I am not a sparkling-pan fanatic, so I don't give a crap - if it made it through the dishwasher, it won't kill me, is my thinking.  If I remember to soak it for a bit first, that usually doesn't happen, either.

Anyway, the fact that it can be dishwashered means we actually use it.  Used it for white rice, brown rice (6 little rice cups to 8 cups water works out best), and basmati (which did not work well at all, it tasted all 'grassy' - I think I need to soak it first for the next experiment).  I haven't used it for steaming - though it came with a rack, I have another steamer I like fine and haven't tried it.  It probably works, though.

[schild]

http://www.amazon.com/Zojirushi-NS-LAC05XA-Cooker-Warmer-Stainless/dp/B000G30ESY/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1320947860&sr=8-4

[Viin]

Japanese rice cookers are the bomb. Get a Zojirushi like Schild linked. It has a cute elephant on it and it'll play you a song when it's done! (Plus the rice is always awesome and super easy to clean up).

My Samsung HE washer plays a song when it's done too, those silly Japanese Asians ..

[Segoris]

How is the Zojirushi for clean up? I like what proudft was saying with the stainless steel being good in the dishwasher. Besides that, it looks like the Zojirushi is just a much better option

It has a cute elephant on it and it'll play you a song when it's done!

 

Edit: wtf Amazon charging $18 more for the black/steel color vs the regular color on the Zojirushi

[Mosesandstick]

Samsung is Korean!

[Paelos]

Crap, those aren't cheap are they?

Anyone have any more moderately priced kitchen ideas worth asking for? My sister is bugging me to tell her what I want, and I know she's on a budget this year.

http://www.amazon.com/Creuset-Stoneware-8-Ounce-Round-Cocotte/dp/B0017GXJM2/ref=sr_1_78?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1320949246&sr=1-78

Mini stoneware cocotte, which many people use for either doing warm dips or as a decorative holder for kosher salt.

[Mrbloodworth]

Here's a question for the ladies.  Get my wife a moderate piece of antique jewelry or a pretty 3 to 4 carat manufactured sapphire pendant and something else nice to go along with it?

Are manufactured gemstones a travesty?  Or, is it 'I can have this 4 carat flawless honker?  Hell, yeah!"

*points at sig link #2*

[Viin]

Samsung is Korean!

Fixed!

[Samwise]

The one thing on my Christmas list that I'm not likely to just buy for myself is a Benchmade 51.  I don't think anyone's any more likely to buy that for me, though.   

[schild]

The one thing on my Christmas list that I'm not likely to just buy for myself is a Benchmade 51.  I don't think anyone's any more likely to buy that for me, though.   

[Samwise]

I would say "I will cut you," but it would obviously be a hollow threat at this point in time.

Wait, weren't you the one who dragged us into We Be Knives when you were out here?

[Murgos]

Antique jewelry and a sapphire pendant could not be further from each other. Why are your two options both extreme? Just ask her what she wants. Or look through her jewelry and find what she's missing.

No one ever made sapphire pendants before today?  How odd.

Based on what you said, not the type you're looking to get. I'd explain further, but I'm fairly certain you're just being a wiseass.

It's not complicated.  I'm looking to spend a similar amount of money. My wife loves antique jewelry and she really loves sapphires.  I can get her a nice antique vermeir pendant with an amethyst in it that I think she would like or I can get her a ~4 carat flawless sapphire pendant but it 'lab grown' because I ain't got that kind of money.

You were the one who, for no reason I can determine, stated that I was being 'extreme'.

What I am trying to figure out is what the general consensus is on lab grown gemstones, which is why I asked on a public website.  Because I want opinions other than my own.  Specifically I want women to tell me if when they get in their little cliques it's , "Oh my god did you see that fake thing she's wearing!!!!" or "Oh, that's sooo pretty, I want one."

[ghost]

http://www.amazon.com/Zojirushi-NS-LAC05XA-Cooker-Warmer-Stainless/dp/B000G30ESY/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1320947860&sr=8-4

We have the vitaclay cooker and it is damned awesome. 

[Samwise]

What I am trying to figure out is what the general consensus is on lab grown gemstones, which is why I asked on a public website.  Because I want opinions other than my own.  Specifically I want women to tell me if when they get in their little cliques it's , "Oh my god did you see that fake thing she's wearing!!!!" or "Oh, that's sooo pretty, I want one."

I'm pretty sure most of the women I know would prefer the antique, independently of the lab-grown question.  They also don't tend to go in for giant ostentatious rocks, so the larger size of the lab-grown sapphire wouldn't be a selling point for them anyway.  But remember, I know a lot of geeks, hippies, and ren faire types, so YMMV.  I have no idea what "normal" women like.

[Viin]

I'm pretty sure most of the women I know would prefer the antique, independently of the lab-grown question.  They also don't tend to go in for giant ostentatious rocks, so the larger size of the lab-grown sapphire wouldn't be a selling point for them anyway.  But remember, I know a lot of geeks, hippies, and ren faire types, so YMMV.  I have no idea what "normal" women like.

Agreed. Try this site:

http://www.etsy.com/search/vintage/jewelry/pendant?search_submit=&q=sapphire&view_type=gallery&ship_to=US

[ghost]

If artfully done the lab grown sapphires would be fine.  It really just depends upon the piece you're looking at. 

Etsy is a good site for looking for women's gifts.  My wife has bought more shit off of that site. 

I would recommend looking at Regretsy.com to see what not to buy.

[schild]

You were the one who, for no reason I can determine, stated that I was being 'extreme'.

I called the two options extremes. Not you. Anyway, get her the antique one.

[Mazakiel]

What I am trying to figure out is what the general consensus is on lab grown gemstones, which is why I asked on a public website.  Because I want opinions other than my own.  Specifically I want women to tell me if when they get in their little cliques it's , "Oh my god did you see that fake thing she's wearing!!!!" or "Oh, that's sooo pretty, I want one."

I bought the GF some sapphire jewelry for our anniversary, and I skipped the lab grown and got real sapphires.  That meant that they were much smaller than a lab-grown gem would be at that price, but she's big on stuff that could be passed down and I felt the 'real' stones made a better gift than lab ones.  Whether the stones were real or not was also pretty much the first question she got when the family saw them. 

So, I would go with the antique choice of the two presented. 

[schild]

Here, let's keep it simple, crowdsource the gift to this thread. How much are you looking to spend on said Jewelry?

[Viin]

Does she wear gold or silver? Just pendants or bracelets and earrings too? Does she like long walks through the park?

[Ghambit]

What. $900-$3000 a piece. Are you kidding?

Edit: PM'd you.

Edit 2: Feel free to donate that to the Schild Needs Money fund if you ever find your cards btw. I'm working on a card game and it's going to need money. No, it's not a CCG, it's more like Ascension meets Dominion meets Diplomacy.

Kickstarter that shit man.  We can big it up on f13 so you get splash page exposure.  
Heh, the sad reality is KS (or such crowd-sourcer) is pretty much the best way to get any kind of funding/loan for anything cool these days.  Especially game design, whether it be pnp or digital.

edit:  that being said I want a stainless workbench for xmas

[Hawkbit]

It starts early this year with the gifts. 

I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes about 18 months ago.  I was put on meds, diet and exercise lifestyle changes.  I got my labs back from earlier this week and the doc is taking me off medication because I've been low for a while now.  Totally awesome 'gift', and honestly I don't need much more now for real Christmas.  I can't express how good it feels to be off those meds. 

[Reg]

Oh congratulatiions! Did you lose a lot of weight?

[Hawkbit]

About 12% total body mass loss, most of it came from diet changes.  I only drink black coffee, unsweet tea, water and the occasional diet soda now.  I still don't really 'exercise', but the move to Seattle has helped.  I have to walk virtually everywhere, whereas before in the suburbs I had to drive to get anywhere.  

EDIT:  I forgot about beer, which technically has sugars, lots of them.  But it's only a few a week, and only if I can get good craft beers.  During the fresh hops runs a few weeks ago I went a little nutty.  :)

Not to derail to far off the tracks, though.  I bought my kid and myself the collector's Zelda with the cool Wiimote, I think she's going to dig it a lot.  Not sure what I want, though.  Maybe SWTOR?  I'll probably just get an Amazon card, which is 100% okay with me.

[Bzalthek]

I have to update my Amazon wishlist so my family can get me presents.  I have nothing I want bad enough to update that fucking list.  I'm too apathetic to get free shit.  This is sad.

[schild]

I have to update my Amazon wishlist so my family can get me presents.  I have nothing I want bad enough to update that fucking list.  I'm too apathetic to get free shit.  This is sad.

I can give you stuff to list you can send me. Like new pillows and a comforter and such.

And a fucking job.

[caladein]

A little down the line, some acceptance packets would be nice.

And who am I kidding with important crap?  I'm in the market for a new graphics card too.

[naum]

A new TV. And a stand (which seems to be the bigger sticking point, not pleased at all the stands or any other furniture that would serve this purpose) as the current TV is now a vintage 1998 style 56" old-school projection (yes, it is HD 1080) that mostly works if it warms up for a while. Before it warms up and sporadically, the colors "rainbow", though a fist applied to the top of the mammoth set quickly remedies this condition. Color is still good on it, but it hard to hook things into it as there is no HDMi connectors (think there might be one that my satellite hooks into, but all other connections are via component cables).