December already....

larussa

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
Jan 28, 2007
Messages
4,899
Purraise
71
Location
Central New Jersey
How is your Christmas shopping going, are you finished or not yet started.  I've done all my shopping from TV (QVC or HSN).  I just can't deal with the crowds and lots of fighting from what I've seen on the News.  Finding parking places is another pain but if you don't mind all that, I give you credit.  When I was younger it didn't bother me but now with my walking problems etc., I just shop from my living room couch
 

jcat

Mo(w)gli's can opener
Veteran
Joined
Feb 13, 2003
Messages
73,213
Purraise
9,851
Location
Mo(w)gli Monster's Lair
I think I'm finished except for some stocking stuffers. The nieces, nephews and my sister all get Amazon gift certificates, since they're always broke and all have Kindles, so they're easy. That doesn't leave too many people I have to buy for.
 

catlover19

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Apr 20, 2006
Messages
6,517
Purraise
172
Location
Ontario, Canada
I have a bunch of gifts left to buy. I have finished my daughters gifts except for some stocking stuffers (she's only 15 months so it will just be a few small things).
 

dejolane

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Nov 20, 2012
Messages
3,891
Purraise
34
Location
Hebron,Ohio
My daughter will be given an ice tea maker

grandkids- gift cards

son - money

and that is our Christmas cause my husband and I really don't exchange gifts anymore but we do treat ourselves to a great  dinner at the Texas Roadhouse .
 

calico2222

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 9, 2004
Messages
7,731
Purraise
41
Location
Over the river and through the woods...
I really don't have too many people to buy for this year. DH basically takes care of himself (hey honey, I need a new pair of Carrharts (insert tool, toy, etc), can I get them for a Christmas present? Cross that amount off his Christmas budget). We know what we're getting my MIL, and the niece and nephews usually just get gift cards because we have NO idea what they want from day to day (gotta love teenagers!).  I still have to finish shopping for my SS. I'm almost done, just a few odds and ends to buy and bake :)
 

Winchester

In the kitchen with my cookies
Veteran
Joined
Aug 28, 2009
Messages
29,722
Purraise
27,991
Location
In the kitchen
We're almost done with the grandchildren. In addition to presents this year, we're going to take them to the Smithsonian in January (weather permitting). Our granddaughter has developed quite an interest in movies, so Rick and I have decided to take them to the Imax a few times for different movies and then out for dinner afterward. They should have a good time there. Our kids would like to have a weekend at a local B & B in their area, so we need to get a gift certificate to help them out with their weekend away. (The other grandparents will take care of the grandchildren while the kids are away; they do the overnight babysitting as it's difficult for us without a petsitter.)

As for dear Richard, he got a new cell last month, a Droid Ultra, as part of his present (I replaced my poor iPod as part of mine). I have some flannel shirts and some lounge pants for him. He ordered a new pair of walking sneakers and I paid for them. Oh, and I got him his Taz ornament for his stocking. Dick's has a nice reflective sweatshirt that he wants for when he's walking outside (he still walks on the road in front of the house sometimes). RIck is a hard person to buy for sometimes because when he wants something, he buys it.

My sister and I exchange a little something and I don't know what to do about her this year. She and my BIL love certificates to local restaurants as they eat out several times a week. My brother and SIL always like a certificate to Dunkin Donuts because they tend to live there....I think they stop there several times a day!

And I have no idea what to do about Rick's parents....honestly, they have everything. We are thinking of going up there this Sunday and dragging their tree out of the basement and decorating for them (they don't do a tree anymore because it's too much trouble for them). I'd take up a crock pot of something and we'd have dinner up there on Sunday night. Maybe some pulled pork sandwiches or something like that. We also pay for my MIL's cell phone plan, so they tend to get "testy" with us when we talk about Christmas presents with them. They don't really need anything, but they enjoy us being with them, so that's something we could do. And then we'd go back up and take the tree back down after Christmas.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #7

larussa

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
Jan 28, 2007
Messages
4,899
Purraise
71
Location
Central New Jersey
 
We're almost done with the grandchildren. In addition to presents this year, we're going to take them to the Smithsonian in January (weather permitting).
The kids will love the Smithsonian and if you've never been there, you and Rick will too.  I visited there over 20 years ago and really loved what I saw.  Some things didn't interest me but others were fantastic.

You're doing great with your shopping,  and looks like you're right on time with the cookies


Have to ask you, did you ever add to your Temptations set, I see QVC has it on quite often.  I bought the Soup Bowl and Plate set, I can nuke the soup right in the bowl.  Anything to get me out of the kitchen sooner
 

Winchester

In the kitchen with my cookies
Veteran
Joined
Aug 28, 2009
Messages
29,722
Purraise
27,991
Location
In the kitchen
We've been to the Smithsonian several times; it's one of my favorite places to go. I went with one of my Geography classes to see an exhibit on marsh grasses years ago. And Rick and I have been there together a few times. The kids are going to love it.

Actually I got rid of most of the Temptations that I got, except for the set that you gave me. Oh, and that salad set that I bought, I still have that. I've been reading so much about how the quality has gone downhill recently and many pieces are crazing and cracking all over the place. People put food in them, put them in the oven and the pieces crack right in the oven. I sold my stuff at a yard sale. Be careful with your soup bowl.
 

harper

TCS Member
Young Cat
Joined
Nov 30, 2013
Messages
37
Purraise
17
Location
Florida
I really don't have any gifts done yet. As an artist, I make most of my gifts, which can be quite stressing. I still have a ton of things to make.
 

blueeyes

TCS Member
Young Cat
Joined
Mar 22, 2013
Messages
22
Purraise
13
How is your Christmas shopping going, are you finished or not yet started.  I've done all my shopping from TV (QVC or HSN).  I just can't deal with the crowds and lots of fighting from what I've seen on the News.  Finding parking places is another pain but if you don't mind all that, I give you credit.  When I was younger it didn't bother me but now with my walking problems etc., I just shop from my living room couch:nod:

Of course there is the wrapping to do but that's not a problem, at least I can sit while doing that.  Hi and a good evening to you, I think shopping from home is great. I'm sorry your having problems walking, hope you have a great evening!
Blueeyes

 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #11

larussa

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
Jan 28, 2007
Messages
4,899
Purraise
71
Location
Central New Jersey
. People put food in them, put them in the oven and the pieces crack right in the oven. I sold my stuff at a yard sale. Be careful with your soup bowl.
Wow, thanks for the info Pam, I had no idea.  It seems to be a huge product there, everything sells out so quickly.  I won't buy any more Temptations again.  I just really wanted those soup bowls, I'll be more careful now tho.
 

Winchester

In the kitchen with my cookies
Veteran
Joined
Aug 28, 2009
Messages
29,722
Purraise
27,991
Location
In the kitchen
From what I've been reading about it, the quality has steadily gone downhill. Now, there are a lot of people who say they've never had a bit of trouble with their dishes, they put food in it and bake in it all the time with no trouble. And they get quite put out with the people who are having problems, even to the point where they're insinuating that the people are making stuff up. People have started to post pictures of the casseroles cracking in the oven as proof. It's gotten nasty at times. People have had the stuff shipped and there were broken pieces and then they had to pay to ship it back. One woman said she put mac and cheese in her casserole and about 20 minutes into the oven, she heard a loud crack. Opened the oven door and....well, it wasn't pretty. She was really angry. 

Somebody wrote an open letter to the woman who makes the stuff and posted it to her Facebook page and was kicked off the page. She had some legitimate concerns, I think, but neither the woman nor the TV network in question will address any of the problems. They continue to say that it's freezer, fridge, oven-ready. And that's simply not true anymore.

And the thing is, they're not using the pieces in really hot ovens. Mac and cheese is around 350, which is pretty much a standard oven temp. I think somebody said they did bread at 375, something like that. And the loaf pan cracked. (And then you get the people who try to grill in the stuff or try to use it on top of the stove....and then they complain when it breaks. That's a little different story and, IMO, that's their own fault for thinking they could do that.)

But there's all kinds of weird stuff going on. I think the line got too popular too quickly and she couldn't handle it properly and started skimping. Plus, I don't know if it matters to you or not, but the stuff is made in China and many of the bottoms of the pieces aren't being glazed anymore. So you can't soak the pieces in dishwashing liquid to help with washing because if the bottom isn't glazed, it can't be soaked for a long time. And food is starting to stick to the pieces like crazy, too. All kinds of good things happening to that line! People are really starting to complain. But it keeps selling, so somebody likes it.

I still use that set you gave to me and (*knock on wood*) it's been fine, but I think that was probably when it first came out and the quality was much better at that time. It's a beautiful set and my niece asked me for it when I started to get rid of some of the other stuff I had. But I wouldn't give it to her. I did give her the old-world blue cake stand (which also serves as an appetizer-type stand) and I sold the canister set that I had, too, at a yard sale. But like I said, I did keep the salad bowl set as I thought it was so pretty. And it goes well with my Fiesta dishes. That set you gave me is gorgeous with the periwinkle blue Fiesta dishes.

A lot of people said they won't use it in the oven anymore, that they plan on using it to serve cold foods and snacks, things like that. Haven't heard too much about the microwave, so I can't say anything about that. Just be careful
 
Last edited:

MoochNNoodles

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Apr 30, 2005
Messages
36,619
Purraise
23,370
Location
Where my cats are
My Grandma and Aunt were HUGE QVC shoppers.  A few years back my Aunt took my Grandma's credit card away so she couldn't shop anymore!  (My Grandpa's mind was failing and was having trouble managing finances.)  My Dad would say; now who will take my Aunt's? 
  I have some great things they found on there.  I still enjoy watching just for background noise.  I'll shop through their website from time to time.  DH's favorite work socks came from there and I need to get him more.  They are nice wool ones.

I'm not done; but doing well for everyone but my kids.  I'm slacking so bad on them.  Usually I have a very well organized spreadsheet to figure out what t hey are getting and who has the best price.  (DD's birthday is right after the holidays so I do that all at once.)  I just don't have time for that lately.  By the time i sit down at the computer at night; my mind has been too tired.

Most of our family is out of town; so I have shipping to do still too.  For my nieces and nephews I shipped right to my MIL's house and she has graciously agreed to wrapping for me.  2 of my nephews had birthday gifts included because they are Thanksgiving and Christmas babies.  I need a few gift cards still for the teenage ones!
 

jcat

Mo(w)gli's can opener
Veteran
Joined
Feb 13, 2003
Messages
73,213
Purraise
9,851
Location
Mo(w)gli Monster's Lair
@Winchester If your in-laws can't be bothered putting up a tree anymore, how about getting them a small pre-decorated one they can just plug in? We gave my in-laws one several years ago when they said decorating was "too much", and they love it. They can just put a plastic garbage bag over it and put it in the cellar the rest of the year.
 

Winchester

In the kitchen with my cookies
Veteran
Joined
Aug 28, 2009
Messages
29,722
Purraise
27,991
Location
In the kitchen
We can't do that. Honestly, there's no place to store the thing. Right now, it's in the box in the basement under one of their cupboards. You'd have to see their basement to believe it. And they don't want a tree.....period. I called them last night to tell them that we were coming up and they were adamant. No tree. I said I'd bring up one of my ceramic trees, but they don't want that either.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #16

larussa

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
Jan 28, 2007
Messages
4,899
Purraise
71
Location
Central New Jersey
 
From what I've been reading about it, the quality has steadily gone downhill. Now, there are a lot of people who say they've never had a bit of trouble with their dishes, they put food in it and bake in it all the time with no trouble.
I never bought Temptations before because I didn't need anything.  I have all the bake ware I need but as I said, the soup bowls are really nice, they are the confetti color.  It also comes with a long plate, one side has an indentation for the soup bowl and the other side is for a sandwich etc.  It's a set of two and they are really pretty and just what I wanted.

Glad the set I gave you is still holding up, guess you're right, they may have made them better back then.
 
Top