Holiday Shopping... Online?

[applepie]

So I'm sure we all know that this coming Friday is one of the biggest shopping days in the US. So, what are you doing for shopping this year?

Myself, I'm planning to do a large portion of my shopping on the internet. We all know of the common monsters like Wal-Mart, Target, Amazon, Best Buy, and many other large retailers online, but half of the beauty of online shopping is the availability of so many unique products. Here are a couple of my favorites.

http://www.scrapnkeep.com/browse/page/homepage/
This is a great site that sells personalized embroidered gifts. If you're crafty, then you can buy embroidered quilt squares to sew into a favorite project. The great thing is that you can add to the personalization, because the designs focus on birthday months. There are flowers and some of the cutest bears I've seen. You can even find a brief description of the flower for each birthmonth that it would be really neat to add into your gift. I'm thinking of doing one for my boss at work who has a baby due in the spring, but I would also love to do then up as a pretty wall hanging for the kids to have in their bedrooms.

http://stores.penobscotpens.com/StoreFront.bok
This site has all kinds of different hand turned items made of wood. My favorite are the wine stoppers, which are a beautiful way to help preserve that opened bottle of wine. The only bad part is that there never seem to be enough. There are also some really great pens, and having my own wooden pen I can attest to how great they are. I wouldn't hesitate to give one to someone who enjoys writing along with a nice leather bound notebook. My sister gave that to me one year and it has been put to good use.

As you can tell, I love either handmade items whether I make them, complete them, or just buy them from someone else with talents that I don't possess. So, what unique gifts do you have in mind for the people you care about this year?

Take Care,
Meg

[Virgil]

God, I hate Christmas shopping. I never know what to get people. Thanks for those sites Meg.

[JBI]

God, I hate Christmas shopping. I never know what to get people. Thanks for those sites Meg.

Yeah, it's a shame you need to go through the trouble - many Jews just give cash at this time of the year.

[Weisinheimer]

Every year I tell myself I'm going to do my shopping early and entirely online. but every year I end up at the mall a few days before Christmas. :(
I never know what to get either, Virg.

[Niamh]

I've more or less all my shopping done. :) Isnt it great that everyone asked for books this year! :D did most of it in work.

[applepie]

Shopping isn't my favorite either:lol: There's a reason it is all online:D

[Niamh]

I had to shop online a two years ago because i was sick with pneumonia and wasnt well enough to go shopping. Was sooo easy!

[Bakiryu]

I won't be seeing my family this holiday :( (only my mum) and since i'm broke i suppose I'm make her something on my own. I love online shopping but since i don't have a job i suppose it'll have to wait, my mum is scared of it and i can't convince her that the internet isn't out to get her :(

[LadyWentworth]

Isnt it great that everyone asked for books this year! :D did most of it in work.
That was probably the best thing about working at Barnes and Noble. Everyone got a book and/or CD. The discount didn't hurt that any. It was good to begin with but they made it even better during the holidays. :D

I never waited until the last minute. In fact, not since I was a kid did I ever go Christmas shopping. If I see something during the year that I think would make for a good present, I buy it and keep it until then.

I always enjoyed catalogs. Now, what I do is look through the catalogs and then order from their websites. I much prefer online shopping. I can't stand the traffic and crowds. I also feel it is easier to "browse" online because I can quickly go from one site to the next without having to walk from one store to the next to compare prices and so on.

[Emil Miller]

I hate shopping at any time of the year, it keeps me from doing more interesting things; like reading, playing the piano and using my computer.
Inevitably though, I have to eat and clothe myself and I have occasionally shopped online but I will never use a creditcard to purchase anything.
Once someone has given their details over the internet, they are out there in cyberspace and whatever the human brain can devize by way of security, so can the human brain find ways of undermining it.
So, if a company won't take a cheque, I don't buy the goods.

[Shalot]

I will buy some things online if I can't find what I'm looking for in the stores...sometimes it's just easier. Christmas shopping is a lot easier if you take it in small steps...if you see something you think someone would like as a gift, it's easier to buy it then and store it for a few months if you have the space. It's a lot better than going out to the malls. I went to the mall the other day, and it was packed and very annoying. People have already started piling in there...I'm glad I only have a few things left to get.

The only problem with online shopping is that you're making a purchase from a picture, and sometimes, that's okay, but othertimes, it's hard to be sure of the quality.
But, if you already have a good idea of what you're getting, I don't see the problem.

[pussnboots]

I used to do a lot of shopping on line. Its so easy and convienent and I don't even have to get dressed to shop.

[Niamh]

I used to do a lot of shopping on line. Its so easy and convienent and I don't even have to get dressed to shop.

Yeah, but its so dangerous! :p

[applepie]

Does anyone else have any ideas for fun online sites to visit for your holiday shopping? I know that the embroidered gifts one I mentionedhttp://www.scrapnkeep.com/browse/page/homepage/ doesn't ship to countries outside the US, but I sure there have to be other ideas:)

[Weisinheimer]

I haven't bought anything from this site yet, but I heard it was good. It has lots of handmade jewelry and such. http://www.etsy.com/

[Shalot]

I haven't bought anything from this site yet, but I heard it was good. It has lots of handmade jewelry and such. http://www.etsy.com/


This site looks interesting.

I clicked on the "geekery" category -- there is some great stuff there

[Scheherazade]

I like pennygifts:

http://www.pennygifts.com/

[applepie]

Sorry, I just made it back around to this. Are there any other good sites that have personalized gifts for the people you love?

[pussnboots]

Sorry, I just made it back around to this. Are there any other good sites that have personalized gifts for the people you love?

look at www.personalcreations.com

I've ordered from them in the past.

[Joreads]

I can't stand shopping at all, which is why I do mine early. I have looked at all the sites though I will keep them for next year.