Looking what to get DC this holiday season, I'm coming up short. I can't see anything that they need/want, or that I think I can tolerate cluttering up my apartment further. How are you feeling about gift season this year?
Everything has been scaled back this year and I think there are some silver linings to that. Christmas gifts are really no exception. After a year like this, a couple of new books and some comfy sweatpants is enough to make most people smile. Just like we all appreciate home decor more these days, kids would probably also like some new bedroom posters or decorative items, maybe a fun appliance like a popcorn or ice cream machine, magazine subscriptions, music streaming. New headphones, phone chargers, and USB drives make great stocking stuffers.
I'm actually feel extravagant. We've saved a bundle these past months with no sports, no weekend activities, no restaurants etc. We're going to get older DC a really nice comfortable desk chair and new keyboard. Younger one will get some kind of tech item too.
I'm with you. Usually we do experiences--theater tickets, expo tickets, a trip, something like that. But obviously those are out, and the kids are already very bummed about missing those things. We redid the kids rooms and tech over their summer when it was clear both their schools were going to be 100% remote. Instead of back to school clothes shopping, we stocked up on comfortable clothes. And we have all the books, puzzles, and games we need. I don't want to buy for the sake of buying, but I'm looking for some ways to make the holidays feel not so much a letdown.
I'm curious how you redid their rooms like rearranged the furniture so they have little "classrooms" in the bedroom or got new furniture/redecorated etc?
They each have a corner of their rooms that is now a classroom. We painted so they both got a color background they like for zoom classes, and we used an accent wall to visually differentiate between the bedroom side and the class side. And they both got a desk, new chair, and a separate monitor to hook up to the laptops they already had. We actually found that flat screen TVs were *significantly* cheaper and much easier to get than monitors were (there was a tech run in our area when schools announced 100% remote.) The resolution isn't as good, but they wanted to have the zoom class on one screen and use their laptops for doing work/taking notes, and the TV is more than sufficient for that.
@Anon Sounds like a great setup! You also sound very organized. I must say I'm mildly fascinated by people like that bc it is just not my temperament, but I admire it in others
I'm practically read to start making Christmas cookies now. I'm already wondering what's the earliest I can get a Christmas tree that stays alive until Christmas
@Anonymous I'm tempted to go this approach too, but then I worry that Christmas will feel disappointing because we've had the decorations up for so long. Is it better to do it up big closer to the date?
NP. We put up small decorations yesterday, little DC really insisted and I am thinking, why not? The big tree won’t come up until Thanksgiving- living in a hot climate, I resorted to an artificial tree years ago and it has held up well. we usually keep it up for the 12 days of Christmas so putting it up now would lead to overexposure.
I'm getting my daughter a new Macbook and a drawing tablet. She's done so well with her broken-down tech all year, lol, and I can't wait to see her face. She's also wanted a kitten for years, so that might be happening, too. For me, I'll probably just get some cozy pajamas, candles and perfume for myself. It will be more about making the apartment even more of a haven with twinkle lights and cozy stuff.
Everything has been scaled back this year and I think there are some silver linings to that. Christmas gifts are really no exception. After a year like this, a couple of new books and some comfy sweatpants is enough to make most people smile. Just like we all appreciate home decor more these days, kids would probably also like some new bedroom posters or decorative items, maybe a fun appliance like a popcorn or ice cream machine, magazine subscriptions, music streaming. New headphones, phone chargers, and USB drives make great stocking stuffers.
Agreed on above. And please use this opp to shop local... or Etsy.
Agreed. We're all getting slippers and fingerless gloves and books. There's not much else that anyone wants (or needs).
I'm actually feel extravagant. We've saved a bundle these past months with no sports, no weekend activities, no restaurants etc. We're going to get older DC a really nice comfortable desk chair and new keyboard. Younger one will get some kind of tech item too.
I'm with you. Usually we do experiences--theater tickets, expo tickets, a trip, something like that. But obviously those are out, and the kids are already very bummed about missing those things. We redid the kids rooms and tech over their summer when it was clear both their schools were going to be 100% remote. Instead of back to school clothes shopping, we stocked up on comfortable clothes. And we have all the books, puzzles, and games we need. I don't want to buy for the sake of buying, but I'm looking for some ways to make the holidays feel not so much a letdown.
I'm curious how you redid their rooms like rearranged the furniture so they have little "classrooms" in the bedroom or got new furniture/redecorated etc?
They each have a corner of their rooms that is now a classroom. We painted so they both got a color background they like for zoom classes, and we used an accent wall to visually differentiate between the bedroom side and the class side. And they both got a desk, new chair, and a separate monitor to hook up to the laptops they already had. We actually found that flat screen TVs were *significantly* cheaper and much easier to get than monitors were (there was a tech run in our area when schools announced 100% remote.) The resolution isn't as good, but they wanted to have the zoom class on one screen and use their laptops for doing work/taking notes, and the TV is more than sufficient for that.
@Anon Sounds like a great setup! You also sound very organized. I must say I'm mildly fascinated by people like that bc it is just not my temperament, but I admire it in others
I feel the opposite. I'm going to make this Christmas as festive as possible. I agree with poster above to try and shop local.
I'm practically read to start making Christmas cookies now. I'm already wondering what's the earliest I can get a Christmas tree that stays alive until Christmas
@Anonymous I'm tempted to go this approach too, but then I worry that Christmas will feel disappointing because we've had the decorations up for so long. Is it better to do it up big closer to the date?
NP. We put up small decorations yesterday, little DC really insisted and I am thinking, why not? The big tree won’t come up until Thanksgiving- living in a hot climate, I resorted to an artificial tree years ago and it has held up well. we usually keep it up for the 12 days of Christmas so putting it up now would lead to overexposure.
I'm getting my daughter a new Macbook and a drawing tablet. She's done so well with her broken-down tech all year, lol, and I can't wait to see her face. She's also wanted a kitten for years, so that might be happening, too. For me, I'll probably just get some cozy pajamas, candles and perfume for myself. It will be more about making the apartment even more of a haven with twinkle lights and cozy stuff.
So cute about being excited to see her face--I love that!