Earlier this fall I got all kinds of ideas for decorating and gifts after finally joining Pinterest. While I haven't been quite as excited as I normally am this time of year, I still wanted to do something special for a couple of people around me. Pinterest gets credit for the idea of giving 12 Days of Christmas gifts! I came up with some of my own ideas for each of the days though. I did two different versions, one for my boyfriend, and one for my roomate. I tried to keep it little and inexpensive, while still doing something fun for each day.
Boyfriend version: Number Themed Gifts
First Day:
Any one single item he needed. In this case, a chef knife! Aaron somehow managed to break his chef knife off at the blade. Don't ask me how, but he did! Before he managed to do that I was debating giving one more expensive nice gift from the regular Christmas presents I was getting him, but I felt like this worked better.
Second Day:
Think pairs! Remember I said this was Pinterest inspired? I made him two hand-warmers. Perfect for walking to class in the winter or taking to the range on a cold day!
Think pairs! Remember I said this was Pinterest inspired? I made him two hand-warmers. Perfect for walking to class in the winter or taking to the range on a cold day!
Third Day:
Threes were a harder one. I ended up just getting him a set of three nice pens. Kind of boring, but I was running out of ideas for odd days after a while!
Threes were a harder one. I ended up just getting him a set of three nice pens. Kind of boring, but I was running out of ideas for odd days after a while!
Fourth Day:
Four extra long undershirts. Aaron is tall, and has difficulty finding undershirts that stay tucked in under his uniform top. A while ago we were out shopping and he was looking for extra long/tall sized undershirts but we couldn't find any. So when I saw these extra long top rated undershirts on Amazon I snapped them up!
Four extra long undershirts. Aaron is tall, and has difficulty finding undershirts that stay tucked in under his uniform top. A while ago we were out shopping and he was looking for extra long/tall sized undershirts but we couldn't find any. So when I saw these extra long top rated undershirts on Amazon I snapped them up!
Again, odd days are harder. Another slightly boring idea, but I got him one of each of the five flavors of chapstick he likes! He, like the rest of us, always ends up losing his chapstick before it runs out, so I wanted to restock his supply especially during the dry winter months.
Sixth Day:
This one was a no-brainer. A six pack will make most men happier than any crafty creation! I wanted to make it at least a little bit special so I went where I could do a mix-your-own six pack with some unique but delicious sounding beers!
This one was a no-brainer. A six pack will make most men happier than any crafty creation! I wanted to make it at least a little bit special so I went where I could do a mix-your-own six pack with some unique but delicious sounding beers!
This one took me a while, but eventually the perfect idea dawned on me, Jack Daniel's Old No. 7 Whiskey! Aaron's more of a gin drinker, but I think he'll like it anyway.
His favorite coffee is sold in 8oz packages from a local coffee shop!
Ninth Day:
I couldn't come up with anything special for 9, so I gave him 9 packs of ramen, because his specialty breakfast recipe is his own creation of the Romelete!
I couldn't come up with anything special for 9, so I gave him 9 packs of ramen, because his specialty breakfast recipe is his own creation of the Romelete!
Tenth Day:
Smart Touch gloves, for his 10 fingers! Gloves compatable for using his iPhone. He loves his leather gloves, but these are useful for when he's driving and using his GPS.
Smart Touch gloves, for his 10 fingers! Gloves compatable for using his iPhone. He loves his leather gloves, but these are useful for when he's driving and using his GPS.
Eleventh Day:
Oceans Eleven on BluRay. He just got a bluray player and loves action movies!
Oceans Eleven on BluRay. He just got a bluray player and loves action movies!
Twelfth Day:
A pack of twelve golf balls. Over the summer he kept mentioning that he wanted to learn how to golf, and now he has an excuse!
A pack of twelve golf balls. Over the summer he kept mentioning that he wanted to learn how to golf, and now he has an excuse!
Roommate Version: Bird/Character themed gifts.
Bottle of Pear Cider. My roommate loves cider as she doesn't drink bear. Pear cider is sweeter than hard apple cider, and one of her favorite kinda comes in a large wine-sized bottle. This was a cheat right off the bat, as I tried to say it was 'No Partridge but a Pear Treat'. Not perfect, but I had nothing else!
Turtle(d) Dove's. Pinterest find! Take pretzels, place Dove chocolate on top, and place in warm (not hot) oven until they get melty enough to squish a little bit. Place a walnut or pecan on top of the chocolate and smoosh into the pretzel. Then place in the fridge or freezer to harden the chocolate again. Simple but yummy!
Third Day:
French custard tarts. French hens would be a bit much, but making a few egg custard tarts was simple enough and a yummy breakfast for me!
French custard tarts. French hens would be a bit much, but making a few egg custard tarts was simple enough and a yummy breakfast for me!
Fourth Day:
Four calling birds. So I got her this owl phone case from Modcloth! Calling-bird, get it? Get it?
Four calling birds. So I got her this owl phone case from Modcloth! Calling-bird, get it? Get it?
Fifth Day:
Gold rings, or earrings! I just bought her a few cute pairs of gold earrings.
Gold rings, or earrings! I just bought her a few cute pairs of gold earrings.
Geese a laying- I wanted to get six chocolate eggs, like the Cadbury cream eggs, but I can't find ANYTHING even close to that at all the stores around here! In the end I got Lindt white chocolate truffles that look almost like eggs.
Swans a swimming was hard! Eventually I found a Swan brand wine. Sarah doesn't like red though, so I got her a light chardonay.
Eighth Day:
Maids a milking. I got her some latte's similar to the Starbucks Frappacinos you can get from most grocery stores.
Maids a milking. I got her some latte's similar to the Starbucks Frappacinos you can get from most grocery stores.
Ninth Day:
Nine Ladies Dancing was sort of hard. I thought about getting her some shoes, or some music, or something, but I ended up getting a Zumba DVD!
Nine Ladies Dancing was sort of hard. I thought about getting her some shoes, or some music, or something, but I ended up getting a Zumba DVD!
Tenth Day:
Ten Lords a Leaping. Best I could come up withe was Princess and the Frog. She's not super into Disney, but if you have a better idea let me know!!
Ten Lords a Leaping. Best I could come up withe was Princess and the Frog. She's not super into Disney, but if you have a better idea let me know!!
Eleven Pipers Piping. Best I got was Piper Nail polish. She likes painting her nails a lot, so I thought it was useful!
Twelfth Day:
Twelve drummers drumming. Drumstick IceCream! Had to buy it ahead of time, so I gift wrapped it and stuck it in the freezer with a Do Not Open Until Dec 25th note attached!!
Twelve drummers drumming. Drumstick IceCream! Had to buy it ahead of time, so I gift wrapped it and stuck it in the freezer with a Do Not Open Until Dec 25th note attached!!
Now I know traditionally the Twelve Days of Christmas start on the 25th, but I was going to be away with my family during that time. So instead I did it the twelve days leading up to Christmas Day. I think they both liked getting little things ahead of time especially as most of the time was during finals week at our Uni.
Any advice for more creative gifts for next year would be wonderful!
