It's Stephanie Nielson's (aka NieNie!!) favorite time of year and to thank you all for sharing along with her (and our) HOLIDAY escapades, we are hosting a NIE-inspired giveaway from one of her favourite stores: ANTHROPOLOGIE!!
And because we LOVE Stephanie and all of our collective readers, we are offering not one, but SIX $250 gift cards from Anthropologie.
To enter, simply leave us a comment letting us know what your holiday gift-giving strategy is. Do you shop early, head out to early sales and do it in one fell swoop, shop online, buy only handmade or locally, head out on Christmas Eve and buy what is left on the shelves? We'd love to know!
We’d love it if you’d also add (or update!) our new Holiday 2011 blog button (located in the sidebar to the left of the page) on your blog. If you don’t have a blog, you can follow us here on our blog (also on the left sidebar) and on our Facebook page (and please let us know with your comment that you did!) You may enter once a day.
**This contest closes at end of day Monday, December 12th.**
(FOR COMPLETE CONTEST INFORMATION PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE A PDF OF THE
GIVEAWAY RULES UNDER HOLIDAY CONTEST RULES.)
GIVEAWAY RULES UNDER HOLIDAY CONTEST RULES.)
**Contest is open to U.S. residents only.**
No purchase is necessary to participate in the contest.
(This giveaway is now closed)
(This giveaway is now closed)
Good luck!
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Be sure to order your expanded keepsake edition of Holiday with Matthew Mead 2011 now, to ensure delivery before Christmas!
I always try to shop early but never do. I start right away after Thanksgiving. Did my first Black Friday this year. Probably my last. Also, I added the button to my blog.
ReplyDeleteI am all about online shopping this year! AMAZON has become my new addiction. :)
ReplyDeleteheatherdemke(at)gmail(dot)com
i follow you
ReplyDeleteheatherdemke(at)gmail(dot)com
With a list, shedule, and spreadsheet in tow, I always shop Black Friday! :) I get a majority done that day while saving 60-70%...the remaining trickles in through Christmas Eve. sp82877(at)yahoo(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI have also added your button to my blog...
ReplyDeletesp82877(at)yahoo(dot)com
...and...I follow you here and on Facebook
ReplyDeletesp82877(at)yahoo(dot)com
What a wonderful giveaway! Our children are 24 and 19, so 2 years ago we decided to do something a little different at our house when it came time for Christmas. The first year we got $20 bills and I hid them in envelopes all over the house. My husband thought I had lost my mind when I proposed the idea, and that perhaps I was confusing Easter with Christmas, but the kids loved getting cash and having to hunt for it! Then last year we made them answer trivia questions and they got cash as their prizes! I know it's a little unconventional, but at least they were able to use the money for whatever they needed, instead of just buying them "stuff"!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the chance to win!
Kat :)
I like to shop all throughout the year getting special stuff when I find it. :) It is hard to keep it back though and not give it to them right away!!!
ReplyDeleteMorgan
morgan at morgan denise dot com
All year I listen to what people say they like or collect or wish they had, I write notes all the time...then when it comes Christmas time, I know exactly what to buy. Mary mweldon706@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteI shop all year as I see the perfect gifts for the people on my gift list. What a generous giveaway gift. I love Anthropologie.
ReplyDeleteDanielle
I follow you through google reader and I am a collector of you magazines...love your many talents.
ReplyDeleteI like to get my shopping done online early so I can enjoy seasonal festivities with my family instead of rushing around like a maniac. I would LOVE to win this amazing giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI try to shop early and wrap everything as I get it so that it becomes part of the decor. I ordered on line early and now am buying as I find the perfect gifts.
ReplyDeleteGet it done early (I finished mine 2 weeks ago) this way I can enjoy the month of December visiting with family and friends stress free. How perfect would this gift card be to place in the wallet I got for my daughter she just loves Anthropologie.
ReplyDeleteI try to shop early, keep it simple, and always include a gift receipt!
ReplyDeleteThis year I'm trying to do more online shopping but I am also making many of my gifts. I would like to be done early for once so I can simply enjoy the season and family.
ReplyDeleteFollowing on FB
I shop the second weekend of December locally and photo books on line.
ReplyDeleteI do follow your blog :)
For the majority of my shopping I try to shop early. I have done a little bit of the black Friday shopping...but not too much. I also tend to procrastinate on the stocking stuffers and the handmade goodies!
ReplyDeleteI follow your blog and love stopping in!
Tonya
I spread it out because I never know what I'm going to find last-minute. So I try and get my kiddos done with sales and get my other friends and family as I hit the boutiques.
ReplyDeleteI do a little bit of everything, but online is by far my favorite, so easy, no crowds!
ReplyDeleteI do a lot of my shopping online. It's just so much easier. But some things I need to see in person!
ReplyDeleteI shop early and I am actually just about done, just little things here and there I need to pick up. I want to be able to enjoy the month of December and not feel too stressed :)
ReplyDeleteA little of everything :) But I did try a little Black Friday shopping for the first time this year!
ReplyDeleteWe usually do most of our shopping during the two weekends before Christmas. This year will be different. Two of our family members have been out of work for almost two years now. So as a group we decided to have a Zero Budget Christmas. We are all going to make things, regift things, or find things on Freecycle or Craigslist. It's a challenge, but it's going pretty well.
ReplyDeleteI've been doing bits and pieces of shopping all year, and will make some bead jewelry and hopefully bake as well. We have a diverse family, and usually have the big dinner gathering at Thanksgiving, alternating locations. i follow you on Twitter and am a Holiday FB friend.
ReplyDeleteA little homemade, a bit of deal shopping, and rounding out with some last second buys. That's what my holiday shopping is made of!
ReplyDeleteI try and shop throughout the year and then will do most of my last minute gifts online :)
ReplyDeleteMy parents wanted to have a homemade Christmas this year. I started in October!
ReplyDeleteEvery Christmas both my husband and my siblings do a name drawing for presents. We didn't expect it to become a tradition, but now it is my favorite thing about the holidays. This year i drew my sister's husband, whom I hardly know, and in this way it brings us all closer together. We also buy a group present for each of our parents so that we can get them something nicer than what we could afford on our own. I follow your blog and like you on facebook!
ReplyDeleteIf i didn't have the Internet & on-line shopping, there would be no Xmas at our house. Our kids make a list, then my husband & I sit down together, pick from the lists & add a few ideas of our own. Try to make it as "even" as we can, then pu the trigger. Then we wait for the goodies to arrive on our doorstep.
ReplyDeleteI make a mental list of things I'd love to sew for presents, and get started. It takes longer to get everything done than I predict. Oh well!
ReplyDeleteMy new Christmas present strategy is to plan and look all through the year for the perfect present for each person in the family. I have really tried over the past year to get some quality gifts and have even ended up crafting a few. I can hardly wait for Christmas morning and the looks on everyone's faces when they see the gifts my husband and I prepared for them!
ReplyDeleteIt's safe to say that I am DONE with Christmas this year....down to the wrapping! I also have my husbands birthday done as well (the 28th) because we have a baby due that exact same day! What a wonderful Christmas it will be this year! Thank heavens for online shopping :)
ReplyDeleteMy holiday strategy is to be done by this weekend, mostly local craft shops and some online. That's my strategy. The reality is that I keep on buying as I go until December 24, then wrap it all that night.
ReplyDeleteI love doing my christmas shopping after thanksgiving. I usually go to vintage or antique stores and up-cycle things to make it a more unique gift or find something I know they would like based on what they have mentioned throughout the past month. Last year, I bought old vintage records and made bowls out of them for some of my friends. :)
ReplyDeleteI added your holiday blog button to my blog!
My holiday strategy is to shop all year long. I keep gifts in a huge cupboard with a list of contents taped to the door so when I add something I don't forget it. By Christmas time the cupboards full- and my shopping is done!!!!
ReplyDeleteI usually buy for everyone else first, then concentrate on my kids. And, of course, I would love to get myself a little something. At the least, the gift card would help my husband out :)
ReplyDeletemelissa(dot)chatterton(at)gmail(dot)com
I try and get it done as quickly as possible so I buy most of my stuff online all in one go. :)
ReplyDeleteI start my Christmas shopping early and by early I mean I start thinking and planning in late summer, early fall. We pick names with my adult siblings and make a gift for them. This year I am a little behind since my baby came 3 1/2 months early. I have been extra busy going back and forth from the hospital and taking care of two little ones at home. I could use this gift card to help me with my Christmas shopping.
ReplyDeletemoney is tight, so i'm just painting some cards for everyone this year as gifts :) but would love to add something special from anthro! keeping fingers crossed!
ReplyDeleteI love online shopping, and shopping in the little village in our town.
ReplyDeleteI love to MAKE my gifts for people - photo albums, recipe books, crocheted things... And if I can't do that, then Etsy is where it's at ;)
ReplyDelete<3 Maurine
I buy a little bit all year long and stash it away. I also sell extra items I have on ebay to get some extra funds so it doesn't hurt too much to splurge here and there.
ReplyDeleteI am not an early shopper, I put it off as long as I
ReplyDeletecan. Once I finally do get started I try to
have a list so I know exactly what I'm going
for.
Merry Christmas everybody :)
I'm mostly an online shopper these days, with three little-ish ones. We try to go to the shops once though, to see the decorations and hear the music! And to go to Anthropologie!!
ReplyDelete♥
I'm a "shop-from-September-on" kind of girl. As I see things I know people will like, I pick them up!
ReplyDeleteI get up with all the other crazy people and go shopping at 5:30 am on Black Friday. The rest of my shopping is done online!
ReplyDeleteI like to think of the gifts I give throughout the year but I usually don't shop until November. Then, I'm mostly an online shopper when I'm not making it myself.
ReplyDeleteI like to get it done early,I don't like the crowds.But there is always that little something I needed to get or just discovered they wanted that sends me into the mad rush.I love etsy to for wonderful vintage and handmade.Warm Blessings!~Amy
ReplyDeleteOh, and I forgot to let you know, I'm following you now! There's so many great ideas here!
ReplyDeleteI do a lot of my shopping on line, but I do love shopping in the stores in December. There is something about he hustle and bustle that I love! For some reason I do not mind long lines when there is Christmas music playing!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas!
I'm also following you on facebook!
ReplyDeleteI used to be a Black Friday shopper - despite the madness, I could get virtually everything done in one day. One day!
ReplyDeleteThen, last year, I was pregnant. Heavily pregnant. So out went Black Friday...now I online shop. Heaven.
I like to shop early so I can save all of my time in December for decorating, baking, and holiday crafting with my children.
ReplyDeleteI still have some more buying to do this year, but am almost done!
Thanks for the chance to win a great giveaway! Anthropologie is my favorite store! Just found you on fb!!
Try to be thoughtful with gifts and if I can't afford to buy a gift for someone I try and be thoughtful about sending a nice card or making them something! Baking something is always a fun gift to give to someone!
ReplyDeleteI am a US citizen living in Germany as my husband supports the US military here and we love to send our families goodies from here in Germany. Who doesn't love German chocolate and quirky Christmas ornaments?! Thankfully we still have US post here so I shop mainly online for my family but try to have it done by Thanksgiving so we can use extra money in December to help serve the less fortunate and do all the fun local things that cost a bit extra. I usually send my husband to my favorite Etsy stores online to pick up my Christmas gifts as I love all things whimsical and vintage.
ReplyDeleteI don't holiday shop! I holiday craft! Everyone once in a while I look for a deal online if it's the perfect gift but I mostly try to keep the emphasis on the reason for Christmas and loving others well.
ReplyDeleteThis year I am gifting the entire family a portrait session. But the difference is that this one will have props and will not be stuffy or stiff....my family is used to stuffy and stiff...so this will be a stretch for them, and I know they will like what they see under the tree this year. For friends, I picked organic rapsberries this past summer and made jam(cute labeling a must) and am creating some very cute hand embroidered ornaments. For the 8 year old... there will be Legos...because there must be more small pieces sucked into the vacuum and stepped on in 2012. Glitter Glitter and MORE Glitter! Happy Holidays!
ReplyDeleteMost of my gift purchases are made online and I LOVE it! It's fun for me to see the big brown truck pull up in front of my house, even if the package isn't technically for me :) And with picky family members, I buy A LOT of gift cards ;-)
ReplyDeleteI start too early, and then end up buying too much. Some of my gifts are handmade (done!) some are bought on line, and some are bought at local art/craft shows. I dont really have a "strategy"....that would be way to organized!
ReplyDeleteI spread mine out because I want to find the gift for each person that speaks to who I think they are and what they enjoy. I prefer hand made gifts so I can support an artist.
ReplyDeleteI make most of my gifts and try to trade with other artists for the rest. I love to express my love for my friends and family by taking the time to make something special for them.
ReplyDeleteI shop early! Finished up most everything yesterday December 1st! Now its time to relax and enjoy my family.
ReplyDeleteI love Nienie too! As for my Christmas shopping, I do it all year long as I come up items that I know my dear ones would like.
ReplyDeleteBest,
Bonnie
This year, I was able to buy so many wonderful gifts at Anthropologies 50% off sale on Black Friday. Most of my shopping is done on Thanksgiving weekend then I wait until Dec. 24th to round up the rest from J Crew and Anthro, everyone loves something pretty and unique for Christmas.
ReplyDeleteMy strategy is no strategy at all. Shop when I can get out there. Oh, and I like to take a buddy.
ReplyDeleteI shop online and make the rest!
ReplyDeleteI keep a spreadsheet of what I have bought currently or in years past for everyone so I don't accidently buy the same thing. Or forget that I have already bought a present !
ReplyDeleteOne fell swoop at the last minute!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI like to buy things when I see them throughout the year, especially unique items from thrift or antique stores, or from Etsy. I hate stepping into the mall or other traditional shopping places anytime after Thanksgiving, but I do what I must!
ReplyDeleteI like to start in August, so i can enjoy all the holidays with my family.
ReplyDeleteI try to have a list. I look for sales, but because i like my gifts to be original, different-it's usually hard to find a bargain. I've made a few things this year and have stopped in Anthropologies already several times. How lucky am I to have one 5 minutes from my home?!! As of today, I am almost done. But I never say never:) There is always a little something to be added to anyone's gift.
ReplyDeleteI start around October looking out for deals. I do both online and in store shopping. Such a fun time a year.
ReplyDeleteI guess I do a little of each. Some handmade, a little online, a few early purchases...nevertheless, I'm still usually searching for that "perfect" gift a few days before Christmas!
ReplyDeleteKaren H.
hand-made and home baked !
ReplyDeleteFor certain people on my list I seem to find great things for them everywhere I go, so if I see something I buy it and stash it away until Christmas (I actually have a special closet for this so that I don't forget what I have bought and where I hid it!). For everyone else I try to buy everything online. It's so nice to be able to have something delivered right to my door instead of dealing with the hustle and bustle of the stores (and parking lots!) this time of year.
ReplyDeleteonline!
ReplyDeleteA do a little of everything, but nothing after the 15th. Nothing!!
ReplyDeleteI do a gift card, a small gift, and something homemade from my kitchen, for each person I shop for! It keeps things simple, and I don't go completely overboard.
ReplyDeletei try to get it all done on black friday, but i'm usually doing some last-minute shopping too! =)
ReplyDeletepuravida(at)frontiernet(d0t)net
I do a combination of online, local holiday market (homemade items) and crafting (knitting). Cash for teenagers per their request.
ReplyDeleteI shop when my kids are in school and online searching for bargains.
ReplyDeleteEvery year, I do more and more online, as well as local shops and homemade baking.
ReplyDeleteShop online, it is so easy to get what everyone will love while lounging in my jammies!
ReplyDeleteI look for unique gifts for friends and neighbors that are priced below $10 a piece, I already have my kids taken care of, Shhh! ;)
ReplyDeleteI buy a little each month and the items are usually on clearance. I'm pretty much done by November but did some Black Friday shopping for the first time this year and got lots of great deals.
ReplyDeleteI follow you on Facebook.
ReplyDeleteI like to skip the crowds so it's online for me! :) I also like to make a lot of my gifts. It makes things fun and personal.
ReplyDeleteShop alone. The single best strategy I know of!
ReplyDeleteI'm an online shopper. I live about an hour away from the closest mall so it's easier to let the man who drives the brown truck just bring it to the door.
ReplyDeleteI buy things slowly as I see them! My husband is always asking why we have certain things in the closet.
ReplyDeleteMelissa Price (melissa.graeff@gmail.com)
I mostly shop online. We have a tradition: something you want, something you need, something to wear, something to read. The kids carefully select something for each category in October/November then I find a site with free shipping on Cyber Monday.
ReplyDeleteI shop online very early in the season. No crowds for me!
ReplyDeleteUmm, best giveaway ever!!!
ReplyDeleteMy strategy is pretty much procrastinate, dread, cry, deliberate, procrastinate more, have a meltdown that it's December 18th, go to the mall and have 98 more indecisive meltdowns. It's healthy.
I sometimes wait until the last minute, in case I see something unusual for someone that I otherwise would not have seen or purchased!But shopping early is always the best!!
ReplyDeleteI "shop" all year long for Christmas presents...sometimes I even get Christmas presents at the "after Christmas sales" for the next year. I have also done the "Black Friday" thing for a number of years with my daughter, but the last two years we've stayed home and completed our shopping online.
ReplyDeleteI try to shop early, as in I start in the summer. I want to enjoy the holiday season with my 5 beautiful kids and husband.
ReplyDeleteI've been a follower of your blog for a while now :)
ReplyDeleteMy holiday strategy is to keep it low key with the shopping. I like to shop as a family to see all the decor in the stores and to get excited about Christmas, but when I'm serious about presents, I go alone while everyone is in school. I usually go later in the season. The pushy people at black friday just ruin the spirit of it all for me. Luckily my kids never are aware of the high profile gifts that people are waiting in lines for. Fingers crossed that they continue to be unaware :).
ReplyDeleteI avoid the malls and make personalized calendars. Every year I take photos collected throughout the year of my friends and I, and put together a calendar for them. They love going through the months and seeing the collage of photos and cool graphics. I like to use mixed media (computer program, embellishments like ribbon, sequins etc). It's a nice way for all of us to laugh and remember good times, while looking forward to the future to build new memories.
ReplyDeleteI like to start on black Friday and just sort of shop a few times each week until Christmas. I think it's because I love the decorations and music in the stores and everyone seems happy. I like that. :)
ReplyDeleteBlack Friday fan right here! I make the perfect plan for the stores and get ALL my Christmas shopping done. Then I can enjoy the season without focusing on all the presents!
ReplyDeleteMy holiday strategy is to shop early and give books to everyone! I have just become a "follower!" Thank you for this opportunity to win an Anthropologie certificate...
ReplyDeleteMB
My strategy is ONLINE shopping. I've got packages arriving daily. You get find great pricing and free shipping fairly easily, so why fight the crowds?
ReplyDeleteilancast@verizon.net
Since my husband and I have 5 grown children, their spouses, 8 grandchildren and various other family and friends to shop for I generally shop year-round, choosing items with certain people in mind when I run across them at a good price. More and more I shop online and take advantage of free shipping and discounts whenever possible. I always stay away from Black Friday weekend!! Too stressful, too much work! I do shop online on Cyber Monday. And oh by the way did I mention, we also have 4 December birthdays in the mix too and have to mail most of them out to other states!
ReplyDeleteMy children all have Fall/Winter birthdays, so I have to start early or I'll never make it! It gets too crazy. (Especially since one birthday is Dec. 23rd!)Some gifts I make, some I buy from local artisans and the rest I buy online. Shopping? Bah humbug! I'd rather be home singing carols and drinking hot chocolate!
ReplyDeleteI start shopping early, like June/July...When December rolls around I am done and can enjoy the season of advent. I have enough time to bake cookies and decorate the house and relax with a good holiday movie.
ReplyDeleteOnline, for sure. We also are trying to divvy things up this year so we've chosen names letting us concentrate on one adult gift each vs trying to think of a gift for everyone.
ReplyDeleteOnline, easy peasy!
ReplyDeleteI am a mixture of local, online and homemade. And, I am always frantically trying to finish at the end!
ReplyDeletebuying toys for the needy
ReplyDeleteI like to get a lot of stuff online. This year I'll try filling lots of stocking space with baked goods, as well.
ReplyDeleteI like to pick up gifts here and there as I see them throughout the year. I'm usually done a few weeks before Christmas.
ReplyDeleteI am also a follower of this blog! :)
Online, Online, Online...So much easier than fighting the crowds!! I also like to visit small businesses in my city for unique gifts as well...MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
ReplyDeleteI shop online and locally and make many of my presents.
ReplyDeleteI try to get gifts as early as I can so I can really focus on my family these few beautiful weeks leading up to Christmas.
ReplyDeleteOnline mainly and EARLY - all shopping is DONE, and gifts are wrapped, so now the plan is to sit back, relax and ENJOY the season!
ReplyDeleteJulie
jewels0330@gmail.com
I'm doing a mix of online and local this year...and I'm almost done!
ReplyDeleteAnd now I follow your blog as well!
ReplyDeleteGood morning! I do most of my shopping online at Amazon and Etsy. We make a lot of our own goodie baskets as well. I try to be done well before December 15th with my shopping. This year I am mostly done with my shopping now, but I haven't decided if the buy-in-November-less-stress-in-December thing is really true, or if it just doesn't mean "sticker shock all at once!" ;)
ReplyDeleteA little online and the rest at the stores, and I like to work on it a little every day. Hoping to be done in a couple weeks.
ReplyDeleteFirst mission is finding out what they want without them knowing. Second mission, finding unique gifts... Not lame ones!!
ReplyDeleteI shop all year for gifts. When I can I shop online from independent retailers. Love getting the packages in the mail even if they aren't for me!
ReplyDeleteI'm usually a late internet shopper, but this year, I got my act together and I'm almost finished already! Yay!
ReplyDeleteAll online, baby!
ReplyDeleteI am a painter and this years theme (or strategy) is "Art For Everyone." Small canvases + bright color = Happy Holidays xoa
ReplyDeleteslow and steady wins the race for me!
ReplyDeleteStart early and be creative!
ReplyDeleteI'm all over the place -- in-store, online, handmade, store-bought, early, last-minute. :) And I'm thankful for this giveaway!
ReplyDeleteGet it all done as soon as possible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteLots of online shopping this year!
Thanks,
Abi Byrd
abigailscomputer@aol.com
My strategy is: buy early and buy often! I am always on the lookout for special gifts for loved ones...my problem is, I usually forget what I've bought and end up making some return trips. I would love to win one of these Anthro cards...I usually get all my teacher gifts there, not to mention my entire wardrobe, hee hee.
ReplyDeleteI have a gift closet - shop all year, and buy when you find that perfect something!! MERRY CHRISTMAS! Rita McGlon
ReplyDeleteI make all my gifts for friends and family. And I do a little online shopping too!!
ReplyDeleteThank you!!
Megan S.
meganschilter@gmail.com
My strategy is that I have no strategy. I simply buy whats on sale when I have a coupon for it. I dont go early because I have found that the best sales are available closer to the holidays.
ReplyDeleteMy strategy is to plan year-round, take notes (for I will surely forget something neat I saw unless I jot it down), and hand-make as many gifts as I can. It's more fun, more meaningful, and it saves sooo much money!!
ReplyDeleteMy strategy is to start shopping in October and be on the hunt for good deals. Lots of online shopping and some black friday deals this year!!
ReplyDeleteThanks
I love shopping online, drinking hot chocolate and watching Christmas movies!
ReplyDeleteMy husband is from Scotland, so shopping early for them is an absolute must. I try to mail their gifts the first week of December to ensure a Christmas arrival! I can take my time with my side of the family, which lets me take advantage of deals. Speaking of which, Anthropologie had free shipping one day last week, which was lovely!
ReplyDeleteI buy everything online and use sites with free shipping, or free ship to store deals.
ReplyDeleteI'm a variety kinda gal - try to cover all bases and then love to be a part of the last minute rush - ideally with a snowfall thrown in for good measure! I don't have the gorgeous holiday windows of NYC to look at, but I do love to see what Anthropologie does for the season - always so inventive and beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI do a lot of my shopping online. Otherwise, I buy from our local merchants...cute little shops where I can get things monogrammed (LOVE monogramming!). I try to have everything done by the week before Christmas so packages that need to be sent out will make it on time :-)
ReplyDeleteMERRY CHRISTMAS!
Online shopping is brilliant - I love not having to trek to the post office during its inconvenient open hours.
ReplyDeleteWe make most of our Christmas gifts. And we tend to spread out the creating and the buying as to not feel rushed or overwhelmed during this short and wonderful season.
ReplyDeletei've been doing more online shopping this year. i had my kids make wish lists and they emailed them to me:) i love anthropology but have never ordered from there because it's a bit out of budget...it would be super exciting to win!!!
ReplyDeleteI collect things throughout the year. I have a list on my phone of everything a family member has mentioned or 'ooed and awwwed' over while going to art shows and boutiques througout the year. Near the end I start weighing everything and then I start buying. I love contacting a local photographer/artist saying, "I saw your ___ while at your show at ____ back in ____. My mom really loved it. Any chance I can get one for Christmas?" It tends to bring joy to me to see how much the artist appreciates the message...and then my family member smiles even more when they realize they forgot about that item completely, until that day. Love.
ReplyDeleteLindsay Q
I usually get all my shopping done in one day! I love to see how creative I can get at one store...it's so fun (and stress-free!) searching for the perfect gift for everyone in one place!
ReplyDeleteonline, online, online! I stick to Etsy shops whenever possible.
ReplyDeleteShop early ALWAYS... so I can enjoy the season.
ReplyDeleteshop early as have to ship most gifts.
ReplyDeletebuy some online but most local and handmade.
I tried to buy as much online early. Especially with so much family not living by us.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the awesome giveaway!
Beka
beka(dot)lowe(at)gmail(dot)com
We make all of our gifts for family and friends. This year its CHRISTMAS PAJAMAS! I also include home made breads, home brewed wine, some canned goodness from our summer garden and a pork pate` [i have to save that until the 23rd so it doesn't go bad] Its so much fun making gifts for everyone and allows us to free up $$ so we can donate to those who need help. I love this time of year!!! Sparkly AWESOMENESS :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for the chance! I am pretty laid back. I peruse and buy as I see things I like at a good price.
ReplyDeleteIn our house, the gift giving starts on December 1st when our son opens his first day on the Advent calendar and finds a small treat! It's amazing how excited he gets each day in anticipation of his small treasure! It's the little things.....
ReplyDeleteMy daughter is having a baby any day now, so I am done shopping, done wrapping, done the cards and ready to help her in any way I can. If you put your mind to it, you can be so organized. It feels so good!!!! Now I can sit back and enjoy the baby and the holidays!!!!!
ReplyDeletekpartridge2@cox.net
I'm an early shopper. But there is always a little something left at the end. Love the shops this time of year.
ReplyDeleteI live 2 hours from any "large" shopping town so I try to support my local stores first then online shopping is the most convenient for me. My shopping list is FULL of Anthropologie items.......so would love to win a gift card!
ReplyDeleteI put a lot of thought into each gift I buy. Unfortunately I'm a procrastinator, so holiday shopping is pretty stressful for me. Each year I find myself finishing the shopping and wrapping closer and closer to Christmas. It's something I hope to change in the coming years. Also I hope to gravitate more to handmade gifts and made in the USA.
ReplyDeleteNew to the blog but can already tell I'm going to LOVE it!
ReplyDeleteI pick up things here and there throughout the year, especially for my girlfriends. I love etsy for them, too! For my kids, I start early, in November, and do it mostly from the comforts of my sofa. One new strategy I used this year was to take pics with my phone when out and about with my little ones when they begged and pleaded for a certain something! Doing that really helped me remember what/where I had seen things. (I try to get the price in the pic; it helps to budget, too.) For my husband, since he's the hardest, I use my days right before Christmas to join the crowds and get a taste of the craziness of the holidays!
Merry Christmas!
I do a little early shopping then run around like crazy at the end getting the last few things. But crowds don't bother me and the stores all look so festive so it's fun to get into the mix of everything and enjoy the Christmas spirit.
ReplyDeleteI love gift giving! It really excites me. Especially when I find something I know that person would love. However, this year is tight! My Husband mentioned it is the thought that counts. We should find a picture of that special something and tell the person we "thought" about getting them it. ;) Usually I shop the month of November and December all over.
ReplyDeleteWe only give each of our kids three gifts.... something they need, something they want, and something useful. Because there are only three, they need to count! We think about it all year and try to have their special things bought by the first of December.
ReplyDeletejillmckee2000@gmail.com
Mostly I shop online but there are always a few things i have to get at the store.
ReplyDeletei try to buy as much as possible on cyber monday - you can't beat the free shipping that most places offer.
ReplyDeleteI actually worked the Black Friday online sales this year. It was a first. I managed to snag a couple big gifts and of course, lost a few deals to them being oversold. But it sure helped knock out a good chunk of my list. I haven't bought for my sister yet though. Anthropologie would be perfect for her. :)
ReplyDeleteI buy when I have the time...that the only strategy that works! I'd love to win the card!
ReplyDeleteThis year I tried to start my shopping much earlier so I wouldn't be so stressed (and poor!) in December. I did a lot of online shopping and found some great stuff at the sale sections in stores. I'm also inspired by Pinterest to create a lot of handmade gifts and treats this year!
ReplyDeleteI have done almost all of my shopping online and early this year! I still have to go out for stocking stuffers for the kids, but thats it!
ReplyDeleteI try to make and thrift 50% of my gifts combined with purchasing special and unique items for those I love. I wait to start my shopping until December but think of ideas all year long writing them in a notebook. I love Nie! Thanks for such a great giveaway :)
ReplyDeleteI do most of my shopping online from the comfort of my home to keep my holiday spirit intact. Mall crowds scare me!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI do mostly online shopping for my kids to get super educational specialty toys but all the rest of my gifts I go local for that special touch.
ReplyDeleteI do 90% of my shopping before black friday and usually online :) I still get great deals and am done early!
ReplyDeleteI shop online and then I do a last minute in-store run for anything I may have forgotten. Works for me!
ReplyDeleteI'm doing all homemade gifts this year so I had to start early! Love your blog!
ReplyDeleteBigplanetlittlefamily(AT)gmail(DOT)com
And I followed you on FB!
Holiday Gift Giving is tricky! From relatives that seem to have EVERYTHING to picky teens. I love to surprise my family/friends, but to do so you need to really know what they have, need, and like. My strategy each year, is usually, to give them something personal. Something homemade, that no one else could give them, and will be treasured for time to come. Also, if I can incorporate my children in to the making it is awesome. Beyond that, I try to get them something practical and/or fun that they can use and enjoy.
ReplyDeleteMy challenge this year. My teen son! What to do?!
Thank you for the opportunity to win! Merry Christmas!
I do all of my Christmas shopping in one day the week of Christmas.
ReplyDeleteI have five kids and every year I plan on starting early....but it ends up being done in two big shopping trips!
ReplyDeleteI never seem to be able to start before Thanksgiving.
ReplyDeleteThis year we decided not to give presents to our own family members but instead to adopt a family from our church. I bought most of their gifts online, since I have no children yet and haven't a clue where to buy toys and stuff for kids!
ReplyDeleteHmmm. I'm not sure you would call it a strategy, but I shop early, I shop middle, I shop at the last minute. I love to buy gifts that are meaningful so for some I have early inspiration, but for others it doesn't come until the last minute! That's the fun of the season, even for a Jewish girl!
ReplyDeleteI hit the stores Black Friday weekend with my mom then pick up most of the rest of my gifts online or at local shops.
ReplyDeleteI try to get all of my Christmas shopping done before Thanksgiving so i can enjoy all the wonderful Christmas festivities with my wonderful husband.
ReplyDeleteI like to buy as much as I can early, filling in the rest of the gift giving with handmade projects.
ReplyDeleteI get in my pajamas, curl up with a nice cup of hot cocoa and buy my gifts online!
ReplyDeleteI kind of have a hodge-podge strategy. You know, a little of this and a little of that. I usually start the day after Thanksgiving and then shop here and there until Christmas. I love shopping online and making gifts with our little girl as well. Nothing fancy about all that. Love, Love, Love your mag.!
ReplyDeleteShopping online, baby! Is there any other kind?
ReplyDeleteI like to listen to 'unintentional' hints throughout the year and shope based on those. If at all possible, I shop and buy local. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteI do as much as I can throughout the year on vacation in different places. Then I try to finish up in November using Shutterfly, Etsy, or Ebay.
ReplyDeleteMake a list of exactly what's wanted - then shop everywhere for best possible prices.
ReplyDeleteWe have 4 kids and anew baby so this year I've gotten most done already.I Get some online and some on foot...I spread it out. Its an excuse to go shopping!
ReplyDeleteI like to buy things early or at black friday..there's good deals on black friday :)
ReplyDeleteI like to buy things whenever I see something that I think the person I am buying for would love, be it store bought, homemade,online or last minute off the shelf!
ReplyDeleteBesides the usual gifts bought (for 5 siblings and parents...lots of presents!), a couple years back I started the tradition of giving each person an ornament with a little message and the year written on the back. I love the idea of memories and love being attached to what is hung on my family's Christmas trees.
ReplyDeleteOnline all the way! it's so much easier & I get more unique gifts than if I just went to the stores I live by,
ReplyDeleteI like to shop around and look for deals. I also want to make sure I'm getting the perfect thing for whomever I'm shopping for, so it usually takes me a while to get my Christmas shopping done.
ReplyDeleteI try to get everything on sale, so I am a big black friday and cyber monday shopper.
ReplyDeleteThe Mister and I decided a few years ago to give only hand done gifts... something we made or bought that was hand made. While our family hasn't followed our lead, the gifts are getting more useful and interesting! Here's hoping for a lovely 2011 holiday!
ReplyDeleteI do a little of everything-- a few black friday deals here, a little last minute hectic shopping there-- someday I'll be one of those that are done by Thanksgiving (probably not:)) Thanks for this opportunity!
ReplyDeleteI'd like to say I get my shopping done early, but I never do. I'm buying gifts up until the night before.
ReplyDeleteMy strategy is shop early, shop often! It's nice to be just a few days into December but only have a few small gifts left to purchase!
ReplyDelete