$25 - or so -Christmas gifts

[OW]

Sorry Oddly - I kinda worked off your premise....from "Best Stuff"

In this era of saving money yet giving unique gifts..
so far..

Got the Brother-In-Law:
Laser tape Measure (30 bucks) (sears craftsman) (wish I had one)

Sister and mom:
Silly snuggles blankets- a couch blanket with arms (29 bucks)

Niece:
Aqua-Globes - things that auto water plants (31 bucks)

Still need 2 more for - 80 year old Dad and 36 year old Nephew

ok-
ow

[Methanolandbrats]

Sorry Oddly - I kinda worked off your premise....from "Best Stuff"



Still need 2 more for - 80 year old Dad and 36 year old Nephew

ok-
ow Viagra and condoms. Problem solved.

[SteveH]

Was in Kohls tonight. Surprise, everything was on sale! ;)

Looks like about 60% of the merchandise they sell is under $25.

[TravelGal]

Two pounds of See's candies. Does it for me. :)

[Gnam]

http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/3746/humanfundwc1.jpg

:D

[Andrew Longman]

Two pounds of See's candies. Does it for me. :)

I can highly, highly recommend these. http://www.thepaintedtruffle.com/

All made invidually by hand by a good friend of mine. Almost too pretty to eat... but you quickly get over it.

[TravelGal]

I can highly, highly recommend these. http://www.thepaintedtruffle.com/

All made invidually by hand by a good friend of mine. Almost too pretty to eat... but you quickly get over it.

Oh Wow. But I'm $75 in See's so maybe I'll wait. ;)

BTW, one of the things I can't live without (other thread) is my snappy suggle blanket, so good choice there OW. The snaps come undone instantly so I just use it as a flat blanket but I love it because it is light but very warm.

For Grandad, some decent slippers. Could work for the 36 year old also. Also for either a large flash light/beam thing or a tool that works around corners. TravelGuy as one. It does work, even though we were skeptical at first. Gadgets but useful. Also those minibarricade lights that you can put around your car if it's disabled. If 36 yr old has kids, one of those automatic air pumps that inflates things easily.

[RaceGrrl]

http://www.thinkgeek.com/images/products/zoom/my-stapler.jpg


$21 at Thinkgeek.com

[Insomniac]

Magazine subscriptions at Amazon.

Lock pick set and a book about lock picking.

[TKGAngel]

Grrl, one of those was included in my Office Space dvd set a couple of Christmases ago. Best dvd bonus ever.

And if you're going for candy, I recommend Sponge Candy (http://www.spongecandy.com/faqs-policies/sponge-candy-in-general/#what-is-it).

[stroker]

Considered Soap-on-a-rope yet?

:D

[cameraman]

http://www.thinkgeek.com/images/products/zoom/my-stapler.jpg


$21 at Thinkgeek.com

Ya can get the red version for $15-

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41VKJUHcO7L._SL500_AA280_.jpg

[OW]

Ya can get the red version for $15-

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41VKJUHcO7L._SL500_AA280_.jpg

Someone knows photoshop! :D

[trish]

Here's a nice nutcracker and cork screw. (http://hillarynutcracker.com/)

[cameraman]

Someone knows photoshop! :D

Ooops. I thought that was an orange stapler:gomer:

[JLMannin]

http://www.compsource.com/MSCS_IMAGES/NEW_PICS/BD10000SLV_1250.JPG

It's about $5 or so above your $25 limit - a Dirt Devil USB rechargeable desk vacuum.

[trish]

I found a great website and have been ordering from them this past week. So far everything I've tried has been unbelievably fresh. Dried fruits, nuts, candy. All very good. You usually get your order sent out the next day and receive it within two days of ordering. If you like to put your nutcracker to use during this time of the year, buy some of the raw nuts in shell. The Jordan almonds are sooooo good. Anyway, here is the website. (http://www.nutsonline.com/) They are located in New Jersey. Of course you can gift any of these items. They have custom baskets.

[dando]

Penzy's (http://www.penzeys.com/cgi-bin/penzeys/shophome.html) for fresh spices. :thumbup: :thumbup:

-Kevin

[nissan gtp]

Penzy's (http://www.penzeys.com/cgi-bin/penzeys/shophome.html) for fresh spices. :thumbup: :thumbup:

-Kevin

yep, penzeys is great :thumbup:

[KLang]

www.nutsonline.com

:laugh: That's the place that was involved in sending all the nuts to CBS when Jericho was canceled the first time.

[trish]

What's Jericho?

[dando]

What's Jericho?

A TV show on CBS. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jericho_(TV_series))

-Kevin

[KLang]

A TV show on CBS. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jericho_(TV_series))

-Kevin

20+ tons of nuts, I was responsible for $20 worth. :D

The wiki link says the show might actually come back. I had no idea it was still being shopped around.

[datachicane]

Amazon has the classic German-style board game The Settlers of Catan (http://www.amazon.com/MayFair-Games-4102480-Settlers-Catan/dp/B000W7JWUA/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1229702187&sr=8-1) half price at $19.99, which is a smokin' deal. Even non-geeks (like my nine-year-old) love this one.

[nrc]

Amazon has the classic German-style board game The Settlers of Catan (http://www.amazon.com/MayFair-Games-4102480-Settlers-Catan/dp/B000W7JWUA/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1229702187&sr=8-1) half price at $19.99, which is a smokin' deal. Even non-geeks (like my nine-year-old) love this one.

Mayfair Games? That's some hardcore gaming nerd stuff. :) Mayfair was always interesting but a little odd. Good to see them still around.

[datachicane]

Right about Mayfair, but Settlers isn't one of their native titles- they just hold the North American rights for Klaus Teuber and Kosmos. Much simpler and more accessible than Mayfair or Avalon Hill geekiness. Think Avalon's Civilization carved down by 80%, with a nice random board.

My mother-in-law even plays it. :eek:

[anait]

Settlers for $20??? I may be able to convince mr anait, at that price. He always says, 'We don't need to buy that, our friends own it. We'll use their set.'

I like the add-ons: fish, rivers, caravans... Online, you can add volcanoes, which is cool. If settled on a volcano hexagon, you can roll either gold, or a big ol' lava flow...

[G.]

Anybody know of a good spice grinder for $25-$75 or so?

Something easy to clean between mastication?

Mortar and pestle aren't doing it for me.

Thanks.

[cameraman]

Ya need to get one of these bad boys:

https://fscimage.fishersci.com/images/F42088~wl.jpg

A liquid nitrogen cooled mortar and pestle.
You can turn anything into an extremely fine powder in no time.

"Stir frying" off the excess liquid nitrogen has a kind of zen quality to it too...

[KLang]

Anybody know of a good spice grinder for $25-$75 or so?

Something easy to clean between mastication?

Mortar and pestle aren't doing it for me.

Thanks.

Alton Brown uses a blade type coffee grinder on his shows. Haven't tried it myself but I don't see why it wouldn't work.

[datachicane]

Alton Brown uses a blade type coffee grinder on his shows. Haven't tried it myself but I don't see why it wouldn't work.

DO NOT use one of those for dried habaneros. Even if you tape around the top, wear goggles and a particulate mask. Really, really bad idea.

http://www.cedu.niu.edu/~henning/ChicagoFireWebQuest/fire2.jpg

[KLang]

DO NOT use one of those for dried habaneros. Even if you tape around the top, wear goggles and a particulate mask. Really, really bad idea.

Sounds like you speak from experience? :)

That liquid nitrogen thing looks way cool. Too late for the Christmas list.

[oddlycalm]

Alton Brown uses a blade type coffee grinder on his shows. Haven't tried it myself but I don't see why it wouldn't work.

Right, you basic $20 Krups (http://www.amazon.com/Krups-203-42-Touch-Coffee-Grinder/dp/B00004SPEU/ref=pd_sim_k_1/192-8248034-1621732)works great and they seem to last forever. It's a one way street though; once you use one for spices you can't use it for coffee again no matter how well you wipe it out...:eek: :laugh:

oc

[oddlycalm]

DO NOT use one of those for dried habaneros. Even if you tape around the top, wear goggles and a particulate mask. Really, really bad idea.

Very true, but most folks aren't interested in eating food they need full hazmat gear to prepare....:D

http://wusa9.com/news/columnist/blogs/uploaded_images/CBRN-713356.jpg

[ChampcarShark]

I want one of this,

http://tech.msn.com/ssprint.aspx?cp-documentid=15859487&imageindex=1

[Insomniac]

Alton Brown uses a blade type coffee grinder on his shows. Haven't tried it myself but I don't see why it wouldn't work.

That's what I use. Just don't use it for coffee too.

[Insomniac]

It's a one way street though; once you use one for spices you can't use it for coffee again no matter how well you wipe it out...:eek: :laugh:

oc

That goes both ways. ;)