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9:08 am
September 1, 2008
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To me that is what caused the woman to pepper spray the people in front of her in line to get whatever she wanted at the store. People have been trampled and killed on Black Fridy in yrs past in the mad rush to get that gift or that TV on sale for 100 less so much so now stores dont even close on Thanksgiving at all or opoen at 10 pm so the workers have no real day off. It is pretty sad in America in my opinion. the same items will be on sale on Friday. 2 days out of the year and we cant seem to STOP the shopping for things people dont appreciate, cost too much and dont remember next year.
I am for the homemade things for sure, canning, baked goods – we have lost the spirit of giving. I also like to go to the craft sales and have been to 5 this year. you can get great ideas and gifts for not much too. I give my sone 100 every year so he can get what he needs and then I wrap underware and socks for him. that is it. he counts on those items as he is in college and on limited funds. we have a great day minus the expense that is ridiculous these days. I love the homemade cards and gifts and have them all over my hosue from yrs past.
10:31 am
September 20, 2010
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People are funny creatures, if someone paid me a million dollars to go shopping on Black Friday I WOULD NOT GO! On the news people were lining up at stores after they ate their Thanksgiving dinner? but to each their own, just not for me. 
1:26 pm
May 5, 2010
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I am in awe of Black Friday … but I'll just watch it on TV safe and cozy in my little living room, sipping my morning coffee, shaking my head at the insane commercial desperation the stores are cranking. I used to go with DD to early Black Friday shopping at only two stores when she was in HS and craving adventure, but felt that 6am was really PUSHing common sense. Even then DD made sure I was fortified with caffeine before getting in any line as I am so not a morning person. Now I'm too menopausal and the pre-sunrise cold + arthritis makes me, uh, caustic. No sale is ever worth the mob mentality.
The folks on my gift basket list, to be filled from the canning pantry, are the ones who are already dropping un-subtle hints as to their favorite. You tend to bend backwards for those who appreciate your thought and time. DD, who is now carrying a binder of coupons like an extreme couponer, is assembling little gift bags of personal goodies to go in the larger baskets that cost little out of pocket save time … she doesn't can goods (yet) as a full-time student but enjoys the research, hunt and score on inexpensive buys. Yeah, that's my girl!
1:59 pm
May 7, 2011
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I too do not do Black Friday. In fact, if at all possible I try to avoid shopping of any kind on the weekends from Thanksgiving to New Year's.
7:02 pm
November 18, 2008
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Quick mix! I work with children and today one of the mothers was telling me about his she gave away homemade pancake mix in mason jars for Christmas one year. I immediately thought of quick mix. I am all planned for this year, (I'm making Suzanne's caramel apple jam) but I am so doing this for next year.
7:16 pm
November 18, 2008
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I just realised that I am not in the topic I thought I was. Oops, but if you are looking for ideas for homemade gifts, there is one. And my 2 cents on this topic: I do Black Friday shop because if I do buy gifts they're going to be super cheep. I felt that I was super generous with Christmas gifts last year, but it had a hallow feeling instead of making me happy to be giving. So I decided to do more homemade gifts this year instead. I'm going to make Suzanne's caramel apple jam like I said, and I have some bottles of homemade vanilla for those who love to bake. I bought my mother-in-law a vest on black Friday and I'm going to make her a matching scarf. The hunters in my life are getting reheatable mini rice bags to use as hand warmers. I did buy some books for the niecese and nephew, because I feel that books are worth the money, but I refuse to buy anyone video games this year. Does anyone have any ideas for a college age boy? My brother in law is getting a shower kit and a power strip (things he needs when he goes off to college next year). But I have no ideas of what I could MAKE for him.
2:59 am
January 31, 2011
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Wow, I love your ideas…I'm going to usurp some of them ! Especially the caramel apple jam idea…
Our college kids are getting
1. homemade laundry soap in a plastic swing lid jar ( you know, 1 cup borax, 1 cup WASHING soda, 1 grated bar of Fels naptha ) they'll save a bunch of money that way ! make sure to include a tablespoon or marked scoop of some kind. I found all of the ingredients in Walmart…containers at Goodwill, or container store . This stuff works !
2. fringed muffler from fleece…red/ grey/ black…Just so it's tagged with their initials …I usually use embroidery thread…
3. beef jerky…if you don't have a dehydrator…use your oven set to 250 . Mine is convection, so it has a great air flow…recipes online, or one of us can relay whats in the bell book.
4. I made mine sewing kits this year from a mason jar , using batting, and their dads flannel shirt for the lid cushion…a few buttons, safety pins threaded on a larger pin, needles, scissors and threads and some cute little kid bandaids for the ocassional needle stick…
5. Those stretchy cords with hooks on the end. Not homemade, but still important for moving in and out of dorms !
6. if you sew…Make a laaarge laundry bag with a pull string close. Not hard, really. ( Double stitch the cuff at the top, though —they will overload it !!!) These are easier to fit in a car, especially if it's overcrowded with kids riding home for the breaks.
7. A cheap tiny trash can for under his desk that you have covered with embarassing, or cool, stickers of favorite teams, city logos, pics of his family etc…You can either cover in contact paper ( DO IT IN STRIPS TO AVOID WRINKLES ) or spray/brush with polyurethane. ( depends on your printer ink… test first )
I also made some soaps and lotions and bath bombs ( which about gave me carpal tunnell ) but , it took me a while to order the ingredients…
Happy gifting !
laurie
5:52 am
February 22, 2010
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Some really neat ideas here! 
Thanks!
6:32 am
May 7, 2011
Online
College kids are usually broke or on a very limited budget so maybe coupons or gift certificates for food (pizza, etc). Maybe a basket with things that they could microwave like popcorn, hot cocoa or homemade mixes.
10:59 am
May 5, 2010
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Just a small hint for the issue of running printer ink:
laur said, "7. A cheap tiny trash can for under his desk that you have covered with embarassing, or cool, stickers of favorite teams, city logos, pics of his family etc…You can either cover in contact paper ( DO IT IN STRIPS TO AVOID WRINKLES ) or spray/brush with polyurethane. ( depends on your printer ink… test first ) "
If you paint all the printed material with Mod Podge, it'll seal the ink once dry and then you can spray a finish coat to your hearts content with no worry. I use the stuff, bought with 50% coupons at JoAnn's, to glue the paper images for two steps in one. I have also used the blank half-page label stickers free from UPS to run large sticker or photo images for fast assembly … again a little Mod to seal the ink. HTH.
3:59 pm
September 30, 2010
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This year, as with many years past, my 17 yr old daughter made many of the Christmas gifts that she gave to her friends and teachers. You never know who will appreciate a handmade gift or the time and thought that you put into it, but when someone DOES, it makes it all worthwhile.
My daughter called me a little bit ago to tell me about her day. One of her friends is a foreign exchange student for which she had made an extra large, black, knit hat. He told her it was the best Christmas gift ever because he'd "never found a hat to fit his big head"…he wore it all day long!
For the one year old son of one of her teachers, she knit an adorable little green hat with a pom-pom on top. She said her teacher had tears in her eyes when she opened it!
For another teacher she gave handmade soap, lotion, and a lavender sachet. Her teacher gave her a great big hug!
For one of her male teachers, she made him a gourd ornament that looks like him…bow-tie, glasses and all. He didn't know what to make of it!
She knit hats and made gifts for several other friends but those were the most memorable responses.
Keep crafting and sharing and you know you're bound to make someone happy!
Merry Christmas all my CITR friends. Meeting so many of you at the retreat and interacting with so many of you has made this a very memorable and wonderful year!
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