I’ve already started thinking about xmas shopping!

I will share some etsy shops where I’ve bought good stuff in the past year.

I have a thing for mushrooms. From here, I’ve gotten two mushroom t-shirts and a mug. The shirts are a nice cotton and wash well.

I got a gift certificate for a pet portrait for DS, who got himself a covid puppy.

I got a mushroom (I have a problem) sweatshirt from this shop. Again, nice quality, washes well, fits great.

Mine is similar to this.

I think this is cute, too.

I bought a necklace here several months ago, and liked it so much I recently bought a pair of earrings and another necklace.

And I bought a hummingbird feeder here. (Similar to the top left one.)

YES. Yes, it is too early.

::: don't take my summer :::

LOL just to be clear, *I* haven't started shopping yet. I have 3 nieces and a mom with birthdays this month plus a wedding gift to purchase (or wrap in an envelope)!

I just wanted to share the winner winner chicken dinner robe!

Sue, I love your mushroom sweatshirt! And going to checkout your shops-- you always find the coolest gifts!

Thanks Funky - I went to their site and found some really nice cardigans and sweats.

MC

Unless Delta grounds us (a little joke there), we will be travelling for about 3 weeks over the holidays. We will buy, wrap and exchange gifts there. Should be interesting!

PLease! I’m still planting annuals! I do like that robe, though. And August starts next week, so can Christmas be far behind? Thanks.

LOL Ded

Maire-Cate, we have a local shop that carries them and they have the prettiest lavender color! I haven't seen it on their site (or Nordstrom) so I need to pick some up for gifts. I have a few of the cardigans and don't really need more-- but I know my sister will love the lavender.

I bought my first fall sweater yesterday when it was 93 deg-- i hadn't planned to buy it but when i saw there was only one left in my size, i jumped on it. I am way too competitive for my own good-- I HAVE to get the LAST one before anyone else snags it! LOL

Wow… I need to start thinking about Christmas! Funky, I bought my mother a robe one year and thought I have wasted my money again and it made me feel so good ahe loved it. I have friends who are going through medical stuff, on my list

I do not give gifts for Christmas, and it is very liberating. And I tell people that I do not want anything either. That's very hard for some people to honor, but I hate to see money wasted.

I do bake. From last year on, Annie's grandmother's ginger cookies are a favorite of everyone who gets them. Good because the recipe makes 8 dozen. I even sent the recipe plus all the ingredients to my friend in California. Sometimes I make brownies, as well.

But I do not shop. I will give money to some well-deserving charities.

Funny about robes. I bought my mother one at least 30 years ago. She is short, so I had it hemmed before I gave it to her. She's still wearing it in the winter and it looks brand new. Obviously, it wasn't made from a natural material...haha...but I'm happy that it has been such a good gift.

As for 2021 Christmas gifts, last week I ordered a fresh balsam wreath to be delivered at Thanksgiving to each of my aunts. I also ordered a Bonne Maman advent calendar to be delivered in November to my mother. I keep my eyes open year-round for gifts for my parents and I also pick up some things during online after-Christmas sales. I like to get all of my shopping out of the way very early so I can help my mother with hers, as needed, and so I can concentrate on cooking and hosting during the Thanksgiving through New Year's holidays.

Fun - I ordered that Bonne Maman advent calendar for my mother last year as well. She loved it!

Anyone looking for a nice cozy throw, I have sent one of these to myself and given them to others from Eddie Bauer...https://www.eddiebauer.com/p/82200513/cabin-ridge-throw?sp=1&is_psugg=true&_br_psugg_q=throw&size=ONE%20SIZE&color=Cement

Have it on my lap right now and i love it. Be sure to use the discount code...It's like sitting under a cloud.

We are tsking iur extended fam on a long weekend over NYE, which has become a tradition for us. This yesr finding a place thst is a close enough drive for DD, SIL and baby is proving challenging. I have a two hour drive time from Atlanta to work with 🙁 My short list is currently (and only) Chattanooga, staying at The Read House. Rubric is: interesting or historic or resort or otherwise notable property that does a great in-house NYE party, good onsite restaurant and things to do in immediate area. Last day of trip is DH’s birthday and we celebrate with festive brunch before everyone goes home.

Actively soliciting suggestions! Aside from a monetary benevolence and one or two small items to open, this is the gift.

Eta….so far i have looked at Augusta, Athens Athena, Macon Macon, and downtown Atlanta all in Georgia, Greenville SC and Chattanooga. Atlanta downtown is still a possibility but unfortunately the show at the Fox Theatre across the street from the desired hotel is Widespread Panic. i had been hoping for a play or ballet.

Wow, Christmas thoughts already?!? Hmmm. Well, that DOES remind me (thank you!) that I do need to start looking for a replacement family artificial Christmas tree (I’m allergic to real ones) as soon as they start stocking them locally. Our last one was beautiful, but it’s lights started dying around December 15th last year and by New Year’s Eve, was sadly a goner. And, yes, we checked fuses, etc. It just died of old age.
As for gifts, with our parents all now passed, and our many siblings (I alone have 8, plus their spouses, kids and grandkids!) all living in other states, we just buy for our DS &DIL, DD & S/O. No grandbabies, as yet😢. And a few for each other. Our close friends here that we spend holidays with are like us and don’t want more “stuff”. Just quality, fun time with each other.
But, since we’ll be traveling in our fifth wheel quite a bit again this Fall, thanks for the nudge. I’m going to start looking this next week🎅🏼🎄

Lynn, this is a great time to buy Christmas trees and decor at a significant discount. Some of the nicest flocked trees I've seen lately have been Martha Stewart’s, if you are interested in that look. Good luck tree shopping!

Funkyart your mom's robe story reminded me of when my grand mother lived with us. She had rheumatoid arthritis and all of her "day dresses" had to be quarter zip with a large something something attached to the zipper so she could pull it up herself. I still remember shopping for key chains that coordinated with the material we were buying to make her dresses.

I purchased my second Christmas gift today. A kitchen hand towel for my DILs stocking. She LOVES to bake and while we were up at the lake this summer she found and read the book, Live ,Love, Laugh...the towel says live love bake.

I'm with sushipup. No gifts, no shopping, plenty of baking. I had to opt out of the craziness years ago. I do celebrate Christmas nonetheless.

@User have you looked at Highlands, NC? It is about 2 hours from Atlanta. Call The Old Edwards Inn and see what is going on during the time you want to be there. https://www.oldedwardshospitality.com

Or the High Hampton in Cashiers. It was recently bought and revamped by the folks from Blackberry Farm. https://www.highhampton.com/ Or what about Blackberry Farm? https://blackberryfarm.com/

Birmingham is 2 hours from ATL. There is a Grand Bohemian resort in Mountain Brook, but @Allison0704 would be the best source for B’ham info.

Helen, GA is only an hour and a half from Atlanta. I’ve heard it is charming, but I couldn’t find any online information about what they might have to do on NYE.

What about Callaway Gardens?

BBstx, we went to the Grove Park Inn for NYE just a few years ago. We love Highlands, same general area, and would go there but are really trying to stick to the radius. Birmingham is on my list!

We have been to Callaway many times but they dont have a very exciting NYE celebration. I grew up going there, and in fact my mother, our girl scout leader, took our troop to stay in the cottages to get our camping badges….she felt the cottages were rustic enough to qualify as there was absolutely no chance she’d be caught dead in a tent!

adding.,., Helen Ga is a bit of a nightmare….faux Alpine village full of trinket shops.

I have to admit I have come back to look at this thread.

I have never heard of those Advent calendars, but now I want one!

I also love those hoop earring with the "tile" inside. Totally tempted by these.

Even though we are roasting outside, i admit to buying a few early gifts.

LL Bean has some Peanuts-branded items this year and DD is a fan since her childhood, so I have ordered her a water bottle to take camping and a tote bag. I also ordered a bunch of fleece slippers in cute faux leopard prints for my grand-girls. They were on sale on Today’s steals & deals a few weeks ago. Two of the girls are in college and the other is 16, and I know they like things like these.

Kswl2, love the ”camping” badge earned by staying in a cottage at Callaway Gardens! The closest my Girl Scout troop got to camping was having lunch at a local state park. I was in charge of the centerpiece.

Considering who told me they liked Helen, I’m not surprised to hear about the trinket shops.

I love Advent calendars! I may have to get this one with kitties. I wonder what they did with the Baby Jesus. I hope they didn't bat him under the dresser like mine do with my contacts case.

No Christmas shopping here - or even thoughts of it! Our family is not big on Christmas gifts. Add to that - our family is getting smaller so even less gifts! I usually have everything purchased by Thanksgiving or finish up on Black Friday (online only!).

I love an event as a gift and the Mr. and I have even done that for each other. @User your plan sounds great. Helen, GA is beautiful but I hear you on the shops - and the restaurants (at least for us). We went one spring or summer, staying a couple of nights enroute to I can't remember where. If it weren't for outside activities (river, etc.) I would not consider it. So it would be out for NYE.

Blackberry Farm is right here close to me and it is such a beautiful place and wonderful food. But it is out of your 2 hour radius. Ooh I need to check out that place bought by Blackberry! We have enjoyed Cashiers and Highlands both.

I'm not sure what Chattanooga will have to offer. The refurbished riverfront is nice, but may be too cold that time of year. You never can tell here in TN!!

@Fun2BHere, where did you find the Bonne Maman advent calendar? I’m not having any luck with Google!

@bbstx, QVC. They sometimes have them at World Market, too.

I think they are not out yet but someplace I looked had a waitlist

@bbstx The Grand Bohemian is a hotel, not a resort. There is the Ross Bridge Golf Resort and Spa, but it's not really a tourst destination unless golf is involved.

DD and I love Barefoot Dreams. Our Nordstrom Rack often has their items. I just got home from Santa Fe and bought a few small Christmas gifts there. I drove, so bringing stuff home was not an issue.

Bought my first Christmas gift at Nordstrom Anniversay Sale, of course it is a Barefoot Dreams Sweater. My daughter borrows mine on cool days when she is at our house. Do not believe I have ever seen Barefoot Dreams at our Norstrom Rack.

Rory - Love the tile earrings you posted, may need to buy a pair of those as well.

Here's an idea that may be good for the men in your lives (women too-- but I always find gifts for men to be the biggest challenge!)

I bought my BIL an infrared thermometer gun-- it was part of a gift package for their high-temp pizza oven. Construction on their deckscape has been delayed so the pizza oven wasn't installed but my sister says he's been using it to check temps in their ac ducts.. a reviewer said he uses it to check car engine temps. It's just a versatile tool/toy .. Thermoworks has 15% off sitewide right now so I bought one for my other BIL for Christmas.

Everyone on my Christmas list is getting a mandatory jar of home canned pickles. If you are on the naughty list you get two jars . . . just kidding. My pickles are good but right now I think I can vaguely hear the refrain from "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" playing in the background, except in my case it is cucumbers, not brooms . . .

I’ve always wanted one of those infared thermometer guns! Every time they are on sale at Thermoworks, I say I’m going to buy one, but I never do. For me, it is just a frivolous gadget!

I saw the Bonne Maman Advent calendar at our local grocery store last year and it was so cute I had to get it. DH especially enjoyed it, and we all were amazed by the different types of spreads and ranked them as the days went by. There's also honey! I don't care for honey as a spread but DH does.

The only drawback was that the jars were so hard to get out of their doors! They fit so tightly. I don't recommend it for someone with dexterity issues, I'm sad to say.