Christmas Post ~ Gift Ideas for My Teens

This was originally destined to be a seriously pre-Christmas post , as I was trying to create a let's -get- organised mood, but never got around to posting it until now.  I'm archiving this here for possible ideas for next year also.

Dn and I have long had the mindset that significant gifts we purchase, or make, for our children have to have a purpose; and it needs to be something they will continue to use and enjoy for a good stretch of time; not just 2 weeks and then stuffed in a cupboard and forgotten.  However, with Christmas not every gift needs to be significant; some are just given for shorter, or temporary, enjoyment ☺.

Most of the ideas beneath are not super costly - nor do they all require money; here are some idea's we're thinking of for our children for this year.... and a few we'll be implementing.  I'm also including ideas for stocking stuffers.

• Edward's Menagerie book with a select of natural yarn
• Edmond's Cook Book (Daisy)
• Artist Quality Colour in Pencils
• Plastic Modelling Kitsets, paints and paintbrushes (Jay)
• Books  :D 
• Nice journals to write in (both our children like using these)
• Board Game (not sure what though)
• A 'small' something, as in not costly, from an Antique Shop
• A really nice Wall Calendar  (like this or this)
• Hobby Magazine (relating to their interest... for those shorter of cash and who frequent 2nd hand books sales like we do, 2nd hand finds work well too) 
• Pocket Knife
• Tools  (cooking, handcrafts inc woodworking, mechanical, garden etc)
• Glasses cleaner & cloth (both children wear glasses)

Vouchers for:

A: driving practice with dad
B: sewing time with mum (includes all the material and notions needed)
C: games of their choice with mum (hoping it wouldn't be redeemed on Monopoly games)
D: a day off chores
E: learning to cook a favourite dish (Jay would like this)
F: extra computer time
G: gourmet ice-cream
H: printing photos at a photo centre
I: Wild Bird Seed
J: Stores of interest (Bunnings, Hunting & Fishing, Spotlight, Art Supplies etc)

Available at Countdown

• A few Audio books of their choice
• Novelty socks
• Daisy would like to gifted with a whole Sally Lunn, or Boston Bun pictured above,  for herself (grin)  & I may have a try with this recipe ... it's made with cold mashed potato, as opposed to yeast.
• Special summer fruit (mangoes and cherries... or South Island Apricots)
• Day trip of  'their'  choice
• Vouchers for Pizza (shop brought pizza is a treat in our home)
•  It's a bit of a Christmas tradition for us to put some bottled drink in the stockings (the fancy fizzy in glass bottles, like Bundaberg Ginger Beer or Lemon Lime and Bitters, Macs Feijoa & Pear, Sparkling grape juice ... this year Daisy asked for Coca-Cola as this is not a beverage we usually drink ;-) )
• and then there are the standard options like chocolate, lip balm, hair gel, skin cream, fancy writing cards (masculine ones work well for young men that need to/want to (have to☺) write thank you cards... include postage stamps)  and etc...