I Need Burlap…and Cookies

I feel like I don’t have much to say today because my entire world has been limited to my sewing room and there’s not much in there worth mentioning.  I’ve been filling holiday shop orders all weekend and my burlap covered fingers are nearly numb.  But it’s wonderful to be a part of other people’s special moments.  I just love thinking about the person that is going to receive my product and I say a little prayer for them as I monogram their name onto a pillow or stocking.  What joy!

Speaking of burlap, I ran out of it last week and went into the big city to get more.  Believe it or not, I went to 5 different places and they were all OUT!  So I called several other stores in several other cities and they were all out of burlap!  What’s up with that?!  Who is buying up all of the burlap?  I began to panic, so I called Gina to ask for her advice.  Gina reminded me that our friend Polly runs a fabric store in Tennessee, so I called her and she shipped me some.  Thank God there isn’t a burlap shortage in Tennessee!  Thanks Polly, you saved me.

While I waited for the burlap to arrive I listed a few more Christmas gift ideas.  They are little personalized buckets in gold, red or silver that would be so cute for a teacher, neighbor, secret santa….I just love them!

And we have bigger ones (gold, brown, green and red) for cookies and other deliciousness.

I’m sorry to tell you that the cookies don’t come with the buckets.  Mostly because we ate them about 5 minutes after taking the pictures.  People were standing behind me drooling while I was shooting.  As soon as I said, “OK, I’m done,” there was a stampede.  I’m surprised I made it out alive.

While I work the hours away I stop occasionally to surf the net.  I’m looking for inexpensive gift ideas for some of my older kids.  Is there anything harder than figuring out what to get a 20 year old man-boy?  He doesn’t want anything.  I’m serious.  When I ask him he says, “I don’t want anything.”  Dude.  I’m going to get you something so if you don’t want it to be a book called, “How a 20 Year Old Man-Boy Should Treat His Mother,” by Lisa Pennington then I suggest you come up with something.  If you have any ideas I’d love to hear them.

Well what do you know?  I guess I did have things to say after all.

Have a great week!

 

18 Comments

  1. Hey when you figure out what to get him let me know.Then I will know what to get my brother and I will pass on your ideas to my mom who has 3 20 something boys to shop for. Hows that for help? Yeah, don’t tell me what your really thinking.: )

  2. Lisa, I feel your pain! All four of my kids’ birthdays are within eight weeks of each other and Christmas is right in the middle, SO I have a pretty big group of adult man presents to buy. I suggest gadgets for the guys. I’ve never seen a guy that doesn’t like to get a gadget. I’m looking at a coin jar that counts the money as it goes in and/or foot massagers for several of them. You might also look for more gadgets here: http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/stylepage.asp?RN=460&.

    Happy shopping! Hope it works!

  3. He doesn’t want ANYTHING?!! WOW!!I have 3 girls, the oldest is 19. We have a Loooong list:-) I guess thats the difference in boys and girls…

  4. Thanks for the link Lyndsay!

    scotzwife, I don’t think it’s a boy-girl thing. My other boys all have LONG lists of things they want! LOL!

    Lisa~

  5. Hi Lisa,

    I just have to say I’ve been reading your blog now for about a month or two, and I absolutely LOVE it! I am a believer in Christ, and a stay-at-home mamma of two (and one on the way). I’m so glad I’ve found you, because of your Godliness and life experience, and all of your solid advice. Thank you for sharing! Also, I have two brothers one is 19 and the other is 22. I, in recent years, have given them a thermos, a lunch box, a tackle box (with some lures inside), a car washing kit, and a tool box. They were all around $20, and this has been over the years (we have a $20 limit). They loved all of these things. I don’t know if your son already has them, but those were just a few ideas, you know things they can use when they’re out on their own some day. Hope this helps! 🙂

  6. I’d go with the book idea! 🙂 And I’m glad no one was hurt in the stampede! I like all the cute burlap ideas I’ve seen here and there on the web. Obviously, burlap is popular right now!

  7. We have resorted to just guessing. That’s why we offered our kids the option this year between presents or a-family-trip-in-lieu-of-gifts. They picked the trip! WooHoo!!!! My life became much easier, as a result! 🙂

  8. guy presents…. (these are ones that we’ve done for the guys in our family and close male friends for years… these are the repeat requests.)
    1. homemade beef jerky
    2. sweet and spicy nuts, a 6 pack of favorite beverage in a bottle (for our family it is rootbeer and coke as there is nothing like a good ole Coke out of a glass bottle… oh we give non-alcoholic beverages even to those who might prefer otherwise), homemade pretzels.
    3. favorite homemade cookies (for those who actually live in our house… I make a batch of dough and freeze it in a log. their name is on the packaging….)
    4. gift card for i-tunes with any of the above munchies.

    Hmm I think I am seeing a pattern here! Yes we give lots of food gifts to the guys in our family. Teen boys have all gotten fleece blankets which they LOVE!

    And this year… one boy has a long list, one has a two item list (but they are expensive!) and the last… has no list aside from an i-tune gift card.

    Happy shopping! So glad you found some burlap!

  9. Hi Lisa
    Tommy is 15 now and gift cards make him happy. Does Jacob have an interest that he needs supplies for? Tommy shops at Ross for clothes usually but for his birthday and Christmas I send a Zumiez gift card for him to get “cool” clothes that he couldn’t usually afford. Books are also good. I just finished the book “The Maid” the story of Joan of Arc. Fantastic! Might be a good one for Grace…very inspiring. I did some research about buying a guitar and found that size is very important. If you want the site I was reading, let me know (I know you are a good researcher too). Happy shopping!
    Hugs, Laura

  10. I have stopped giving gifts to my husband. He doesn’t want them. I’m going to finish a cleaning project for him instead. That’s something he’ll really like!
    The buckets are beautiful!

  11. Here are some idea I am using for two sons (13 and 16) and nephews: flannel drawstring pajama pants (my kids love to hang out in them), gift cards to Starbucks, Subway, or for gas etc… (I am not if he would have opportunity to use them), aftershave or shower gel (my teen boy are into Ax–he might be too old for that, not sure), hoodie sweatshirt, flannel shirt

  12. You may hate this idea, but a hunting-type knife (especially with a cool handle) is usually treasured by any computer/farm boy-man.

  13. My son loved gadgets. Small pocket flashlights, multi-functioning knives, crank radio (for power outages or camping), jeweler’s loup, accessories to his many computer/camera items, shelf-sitters (something like perpetual motion toys amuse him), a stylish watch or set of monogrammed handkerchiefs.

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