Holiday Gift Ideas to Give (NOT cookies...)
#226218 - 11/19/05 12:15 PM
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uwponine
Reged: 03/19/05
Posts: 209
Loc: Wisconsin
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Know those people you want to remember at the holidays but don't want to spend a lot of money on? I need help!
I don't bake cookies or treats well, b/c let's just say it doesn't work for me. I NEED AFFORDABLE IDEAS! 
One thing I thought of was Friendship Soup Mix. (dry ingredients in the jar w/ instructions on how to cook)
Any ideas?
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IBS-C with major bloat!
Gluten Free Vegan
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Pens? (I'm a paper person!).
Often I'll give movie tickets/gift certificates.
I used to make the most positively sinful fudge/truffles. It was literally a chocolate factory.
I wish I were more crafty!
Kate.
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I love making popcicle photo frames and put a pictures of me in them. (i like to make stuff  ) 
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Puppies Are Cute But I'm Cuter
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Candles! Or a little votive holder and a few votives to go in it. My dollar store has a very nice variety.
Or tea or coffee (for those other people without IBS) with a nice mug. Check clearance racks, the dollar store, or even resale shops.
Or cookie mix in a jar (like friendship soup only cookies)
Or puzzles (again from the dollar store if you want).
No, I'm not so cheap as to do ALL my shopping at the dollar store , but I'm doing a secret santa thingy and got some great ideas there.
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I have many to buy for and I have no money. I don't bake much either. Any creative minds out there? 
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I don't know if anyone else has suggested this since I haven't read the other posts, but last year I made a bunch of my friends a sugar scrub as gifts and put them in little jars and made little stickers to put on them. It makes your hands sooo nice and was so cheap and easy to make and it's not food so you don't have to worry about someone not liking it, etc.
Making soap or candles is always a nice thing too and it's easy to make a lot for cheap.
Good luck coming up with something!
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How do you make a sugar scrub?
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IBS-C with major bloat!
Gluten Free Vegan
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Christmas Cocoa
1 8 quart bag/box of powdered milk
2 lbs. Nestle Quick
1 6 oz jar of flavored coffeemate (hazelnut is popular)
1 1/2 cups of powdered sugar
mix together and put in 1/2 pint and pint size mason jars. Terrific Christmas gifts! Directions are add 6 heaping teaspoons of cocoa mix to 8 oz. water.
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Have a blessed day!...Rachel
stable and sooooooo thankful!
I have IBS but it doesn't have me!
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LOVE those things! Barbie and I are hooked on 'em. We bet on TV shows, and the prize is a Yankee Candle. It's a real treat for both of us when we win. My fave fragrances are "Storm Warning," "Caribbean Fruit" and "Punkin Spice." The "Punkin Spice" would be an excellent choice for a Christmas gift. Where do you find them? Well, I'm glad you asked. "Bed, Bath & Beyond" or "Linen & Things" usually sell them. You can buy them in several different sizes, so price is not an issue. Go online and check 'em out; look for "Yankee Candles." They're awesome.
Bev
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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Unfortunately, my favourite fragrances have been discontinued. I do love Christmas Cookie, and Buttercream - very sweet and homey-baked smells. BTW - Christmas Cookie is the same as Vanilla Cookie. They just changed the name to be festive.
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Formerly HanSolo. IBS, OCD, Bipolar, PTSD times 3.
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Have a blessed day!...Rachel
stable and sooooooo thankful!
I have IBS but it doesn't have me!
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Quote:
LOVE those things! Barbie and I are hooked on 'em. We bet on TV shows, and the prize is a Yankee Candle. It's a real treat for both of us when we win. My fave fragrances are "Storm Warning," "Caribbean Fruit" and "Punkin Spice." The "Punkin Spice" would be an excellent choice for a Christmas gift. Where do you find them? Well, I'm glad you asked. "Bed, Bath & Beyond" or "Linen & Things" usually sell them. You can buy them in several different sizes, so price is not an issue. Go online and check 'em out; look for "Yankee Candles." They're awesome.
Bev
I agree 100% I'm currently burning a Pumpkin Spice at home (well, it is not burning right NOW since we are not home) but that is my fav.... and I always give and recieve those at Christmas with the family...LOL
I had one burning in my office but in honor of Shane's Birthday, I'm burning a "birthday cake" scented votive by PartyLite. My bosses cleaning lady sells PartyLite so I buy votives a couple of times a year from her.
You can find Yankee Candle online (but they ship REALLY slow)so order TODAY if you want for Christmas....I'm not kidding!! www.yankeecandle.com
You can also find both Yankee and PartyLite on www.ebay.com
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www.facebook.com/shell.marr
www.myspace.com/shellmarr
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Just wanted to say that I miss your posting on the IBS eating board. You always had such positive things to say and very helpful ones too.
I'm guessing your stable and that's why you're not over there now? If that's the case, I'm glad things are going so well for you.
I don't know if you remember me or not..my user name was Jessiegirl and now it's sandyg. I'm IBS-D, sometimes A but hanging in there. I finally gave up coffee which was a biggie for me and use Immodium when needed as well as Lomotil for those really bad times. I still hope to get totally stable.
Sandy
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Here's the recipe for the brown sugar scrub:
Brown Sugar Scrub
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Heather
"Quod me Nutrit me Destruit"
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I'm with you Bevy! Yankee candles are GREAT!
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This is a good thread! I am currently trying to think of gifts that I can make NOW that will keep until Christmas...I'm leaving in 2 weeks for the Philippines and will be gone until the end of Dec, so I need to have all my gifts ready before I leave. Plus a lot of my extended family is coming to AZ for thanksgiving, so its a lot cheaper to just send their gifts with them and not ship them!
So, I love to bake, and that's what I usually give for Christmas gifts...but since most baked goods won't last a month, I'm kind of at a loss! I really like the brown sugar scrub, but it's more of a "girly" gift, and I need family gifts (so I don't have to give my cousin AND her husband AND her kid a gift).
I'm straying away from all the "cookies in a jar" kind of gifts...because they rarely ever taste good, and I find that most people who get them are either too lazy to bake them, or they forget about them and let them sit for a year and then end up throwing them out anyways. :P
I'd bake candy (like english toffee!! mmm!), but that's not really affordable, and really time-consuming (and time is of the essence at this point!).
I think I've found one idea...a lemon ginger pound cake in a jar (you bake it right in the jar, and it lasts for up to 3 months at room temp!)...sounds tasty too, which is my #1 concern
Any other ideas?
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Heather
"Quod me Nutrit me Destruit"
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Here's a "recipe" for bath salts in a jar (this would be make a really good gift with the brown sugar scrub!)
Candy Cane Bath Salts In A Jar
Materials and Supplies for Candy Cane Bath Salts:
12 tall jelly (12-ounce) canning jars with lid and rings
2 4-pound cartons Epsom Salts (approximately 16 cups)
4 pounds sea salt or Kosher salt (approximately 6 cups)
1/2 teaspoon glycerin, divided
12 to 15 drops peppermint essential oil
12 to 15 drops red food color
2 pieces cardstock (for tags)
Peaches and Cream Bath Salts
Materials and Supplies for Peaches and Cream Bath Salts:
12 tall jelly (12-ounce) canning jars with lid and rings
2 4-pound cartons Epsom Salts (approximately 16 cups)
4 pounds sea salt or Kosher salt (approximately 6 cups)
1/2 teaspoon glycerin, divided
12 to 15 drops peach essential oil
12 to 15 drops orange food color
2 pieces cardstock (for tags)
DIRECTIONS FOR CANDY CANE AND PEACHES AND CREAM BATH SALTS:
Wash, rinse and dry canning jars.
Empty one carton Epsom Salts into large mixing bowl or batter bowl. Add 3 cups sea salt,
stir well. Stir in 1/4 teaspoon glycerin and 6 to 8 drops essential oil. Mix well.
In second large mixing bowl, empty one carton Epsom Salts, and add 3 cups sea salt. Stir
well. Add 1/4 teaspoon glycerin, 6 to 8 drops essential oil, and food color. Stir until
completely blended. Color should be even.
tip: use a heavy-duty stand mixer to mix bath salts easily. Set mixer to lowest setting and
mix until color is even--but don't try this with hand mixers or smaller stand mixers!
Holding canning jars at an angle, layer salts in jars, alternating white and colored mixtures.
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Heather
"Quod me Nutrit me Destruit"
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Thanks for finding it!
And it's so easy to make. For the brown sugar, I used half of that and then the other half I used turbinado sugar - the raw bigger granule kind.
Good luck!
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Howdy Sandy!
#226508 - 11/21/05 12:48 PM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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Yes, of course I remember you! I remember Jessiegirl, sure!
Sorry that I'm not in the Diet Board anymore. I've gone in there on occasion, but it seems that everyone's original posts are full of replies. I don't read the replies, but I just assume they're answering them well since there are so many folks here who have "been there," ya know?
Yes, I too am IBS-D, and, while I am stable, and have been for quite awhile now, I still have attacks when I do stupid things. However, I've noticed that my attacks now come from various medications, not food. And, believe it or not, I have discovered I can tolerate coffee now! Isn't that WONDERFUL?! Oh, and dead cow carcass as well! YIPPEE! I'm a happy camper.
Good girl -- keep that Imodium and Lomotil on hand, but also Equalactin. I know it says it's for "C", but it calms down my tummy if the cramps aren't real bad. For those times, I turn to my blessed Donnatal.
Ya know something I learned (the hard way)? I don't tolerate a lot of soluble fiber, believe it or not. Absolutely NO SFS, and very little bread. I seem to be craving protein -- especially red meat! It goes down just great. Amazing!
Are you keeping a food diary? I kept one for four years, and it always helped me pinpoint all my triggers. Now I no longer keep it because I know what foods I have to do without. Unfortunately, chocolate is a big no-no for me. Damn.
Don't give up, Sandy. It DOES get stable.
{{{{Hugs}}}}}
Bevvy
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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Like I said, that's why I miss you over there! I just want to run this by you...and I know this isn't the forum for this but this is to you and not everyone anyway. My GI doctor has given me a prescription for Lexapro hoping it will help me with my IBS. I have trouble keeping weight on as I have to be so careful what I eat and I go a lot! I am doing better than I have but going to work, getting the kids out of the house can be enough to get my bowels running on overtime. I think that's why he thought the Lexapro would help. Casey from the board said it helped her with her IBS-D. I'm just nervous about taking a medication like this. The Lomotil is on as a needed basis you know? I do take Equalactin also and have found it very helpful.
I'm wondering if an anti-anxiety med like Lexapro would help calm me down a bit so my system isn't always on overdrive. Have you ever taken an Anti-D? Just curious as to what you think.
Thanks and am glad you can drink coffee again. There's nothing like it! I started drinking Teechino sp? and it's OK but not coffee! Occasionally, if I know I'm going to be home, I'll have a bit. Sometimes it's ok, sometimes it's not! I really believe my IBS is about 80% stress related and maybe 20% food.
Sandy
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Lexapro, Anyone
#226560 - 11/21/05 07:05 PM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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Sandy, I'm sorry, but I don't know anything about the drug. I've known several gals here who have gotten relief with it, but I've personally never tried it. I have tried two other antidepressants, but one of them caused extreme cramping, so I stopped it right away. The other, Prozac, worked wonders for me when I was suicidal, some 30 years ago, well before I came down with IBS. No cramps, just immediate relief; I swear it saved my life.
If your doctor prescribed the medication, then you should at least give it a try; he's the pro, after all. However, if it doesn't help, I wouldn't hesitate to call the doc and tell him.
Frankly, I have a prescription for Donnatal, which is in essence Phenobarbital, a very serious drug that can be extremely habit-forming. I wasn't at all hesitant to take it because I needed relief BADLY. I just took it as needed, not every day, and I'm fine with it. I've only gone through almost two bottles of the stuff in over 5 years. Not bad.
Sandy, did you ever try Michael's hypnosis program? I went through it, and I swear it did wonders for me. Do you know, even today, the minute I hit that recliner, where I sat and listened to all those CDs of Michael's, the MINUTE I get in that chair, I fall asleep! It just SOOOOO relaxes me. And when I feel that typical morning cramp coming on? I just put my foot on that "brake," and it goes away.
If you haven't tried Michael's program, I strongly recommend it. He totally rid me of all my anxiety. It was a very smart, extremely wise investment on my part; I'd do it all over again in a second. WELL worth the $100!
Good luck, and keep us posted.
Bevvy
P.S.: Sorry, but I HATED Teeccino, as well as SoyFee. Have you tried Stash herbal Lemon Ginger tea? It's AWESOME! And the ginger is very soothing on the tummy. Also, Soy Dream Mocha Fudge "ice cream" is incredible and tastes just like the best mocha latte you've ever had. Try it!
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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I will probably give it a try. Like you said, if it doesn't work or I have bad side effects, I don't have to take it.
I haven't tried the hypnosis program but just listening to the sample they have is very relaxing. I've thought about it before and should go for it. I do meditate on scriptures sometimes and that helps me. I take really deep breaths when I feel that urgency and know I should be breathing deeply a lot more. (Dr. Weil, the health guy really recommends this for overall good health).
I haven't tried that tea but it sounds good. I've been drinking a lot of peppermint tea and in the morning Earl Grey, decaf tea.
I'll keep you posted!
Sandy
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I now know what my kids will make for teachers/etc/etc this year... I love this candy cane bath salts idea!!! Easy too!
THANK YOU!!
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Take care,
Michelle
...the greatest of these is LOVE. (I Cor 13)
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Awesome!
#226633 - 11/22/05 08:56 AM
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steather
Reged: 01/29/03
Posts: 345
Loc: Phoenix, AZ
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I really thought this was a cute idea too! And it's perfect for your kids to make. It will be fun for them to decorate the jars/labels, I'm sure! Take some pictures of the final product
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Heather
"Quod me Nutrit me Destruit"
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So I was eating Chocolate Cake for One tonight  and it occurred to me that this would be a great Christmas gift. You can mix up several different batches (i.e. yellow cake, chocolate cake, devil's food, lemon) so that you could give a "sampler" mix. You could even package it with a cute over-size mug to make it. (I just use a bowl -- the mug was sort of hard to use, but one of those soup mugs would work well, the more shallow wide kind. Keep in mind most people have WAY too many coffee mugs as it is, so look for something unique that would make them want to keep it.)
One problem? I'm not sure how long the mixes would stay good. I mix them together and store in tupperware and they've kept for months, but since the cake mix typically has some kind of fat, I imagine once you open it they might go bad.  So not sure about that one.
One other thing ... making this requires an egg white or Eggbeaters. What would make this even more awesome would be to figure out a way to make it work with a powdered egg substitute that you could mix in ahead of time. That way all the recipient would have to add would be water, and how cool is that? (I rarely buy Eggbeaters 'cause they're like quadruple the price of eggs, and I'm lazy enough that I hate the mess of cracking eggs.) I have some meringue powder in my cupboard, I should do some experimenting!
Anyway, if you can figure out the perishable factor, I think this would be a terrific Christmas gift. You'd have to experiment with flavors. Most Jello puddings are safe, most Duncan Hines cake mixes are safe. I've tried several combinations. Next on my list is white cake mix (DH isn't safe, but I found a generic brand that is) with Jello white chocolate pudding mix! I just made a batch today using DH dark chocolate fudge w/ Jello chocolate fudge mix. Very dark and chocolatey! Oh, and the different chocolate favors do produce different results. I am still pondering what something like butterscotch pudding mix with white cake mix would be, but every butterscotch mix I've found has dairy. 
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jen
"It's one of the most serious things that can possibly happen to one in a battle -- to get one's head cut off." -- LC
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~~I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell-I know right now you can't tell~~Matchbox 20
IBS-D,pain.
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My tip...
#227280 - 11/25/05 03:08 PM
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Linz
Reged: 09/01/03
Posts: 8242
Loc: England
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...that I've just thought of! Whatever you make, presenting it well makes it look soooo much better and classier, so go out and buy a load of fabric ribbon and coloured/silver/gilt tissue paper to wrap round everything! I love wrapping pressies and always use ribbon instead of sticky tape...looks so cool!
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iTunes uses a special encoding for the songs so that as-is you can't listen to them anywhere except w/ iTunes players or iPod devices. (You can burn as many audio CDs as you want, though, but since this is essentially a "regular" CD, you only get 15-20 songs per CD.)
There are utilities out there to convert your iTunes stuff to MP3s but technically I don't think these are legal. So maybe I'd better not say if I use them. Anyway, I buy all my songs off iTunes and think it's irritating that they aren't portable unless you stay with Apple's stuff. I have absolutely no problem with legally purchasing my music and I absolutely don't distribute it to anyone else. It's just a convenience thing.
Also irked that iTunes doesn't sell Tool or Seether. What's up with that????
It's a good gift idea, though. I would adore a gift certificate from iTunes, even a small amount like $5. Do they sell gift certs? Hmm, I need to put this on my wish list.
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jen
"It's one of the most serious things that can possibly happen to one in a battle -- to get one's head cut off." -- LC
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