I just bought red tissue paper at the Dollarama.

I have to start early, because besides Christmas, we have three major birthdays right before and after Christmas and another major one mid-January (when the shelves are still bare!)

Hubby's is the 23rd, and I always try to get him summery stuff for his birthday and winter stuff for Christmas. So I have to always remember to go out and buy summer clothes/paraphenalia (eg, BBQ & garden gadgets) for his December birthday before the clothes all disappear at the end of July.

What to get people who have everything? We've never done this, but my niece (who is definitely not one of those people who have everything - in fact, quite the opposite!) has actually hinted that she'd love it if we did - it's adopting an animal (like a polar bear or panda bear) that's on the near-extinction list. I haven't looked into it, and don't know how it works, or how bona-fide it is, but my niece is 17 and has a very social-conscious heart and loves the idea of it. She's the one who is planning to go to China and Africa after she graduates in June to do some missionary work through her church. She buys all of her gifts at places where the money goes to charities.

Or you can always go for something like a stainless steel toothpick dispenser - we saw one several months ago and have often wished we had picked it up. It seemed so decadent at the time, but we've since realized how useful it would be. But of course, I can't find it now!

Hi, Dotsie: A good bottle of wine?

JJ,
Just so you know...I don't have my eye on that half eaten bone of Trixie's...probably couldn't get it away from anyway.

I haven't shopped yet. I don't buy as many gifts as I used to, I give gift certificates and money to the kids. But now that there's a wee on in the family that will probably change all of that...who couldn't buy gifts for her?!

Yes, we have an Alternative Gift Market at our church with lots of options. You can buy gifts of various price points. Some are for local shelters, others are for more global causes. That's a great way to go if you don't want to clutter up someone's home.

Something we've done for elderly family members is to give them tickets to a show. That has been a hit.

And I know it sounds hokey, but I still like the idea of homemade gift certificates.