How to Make Holiday Gift Shopping Easy and Fun for Christmas, Easter, and More

When it comes to choosing holiday gifts for my friends and family, I definitely put a lot of thought and time into it. I shop all year round online and off and when I travel. Anyone, who lives in California or plans to visit, go to Solvang if you love to shop, it is worth the trip! Solvang is a small Danish village packed full of unique shops of all kinds. Cambria is a good place as well, great shops, restaurants and a beautiful coastline. Cambria is one if my favorite places to go. You can find unique shops almost anywhere. I stay out of the malls. I usually go to the small shopping centers to find unique shops here in Clovis and Fresno.

My best friend and I went to Solvang once and we saw things we loved. We decided to just tell each other what we loved and let the other one go ahead and buy it on the spot. It was easier then running all over and then trying to come back and meet each other. This was the first time we did this, since we were only there for a day. You might think, but that's no fun. But you know what, you get gifts you really love. You save each other's gifts until Christmas, a birthday, Mother's Day, Father's Day, and other holidays. Believe it or not you forget about a lot of the things you picked out by the time you get them. We have continued this tradition and my mom and I do it now as well, since we have somewhat different tastes. We do also pick out some surprise gifts on our own.

If a person has a hobby or collects something it makes it easier. For instance, my dad collects pocket knives, loves to read, likes Aqua Velva and Poppcock Candy. He lives in Illinois, so it's nice to be able to send small items. My step mom loves snowmen, seasonal items for Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc. for her home and her office at work. My step mom also loves to bake and is a good cook. A good gift for someone who likes to cook is a recipe box filled with recipe cards that include your favorite recipes on them. My best friend collects Coca-Cola items and loves to golf. Another best friend loves hummingbirds and my other friend, (who now lives in Oregon), loves anything pink and purses. My mom and I both love reading and cat Christmas ornaments and other decor, pillows, picture frames, etc. My mom also loves horses.

I will search the net, including Ebay, looking for pocket knives, Coca-Cola items and hummingbird items, cats, dogs and seasonal items. I found so many cool sites for hummingbird and cat items. I even look for cards with hummingbirds, cats, dogs, horses and golfers on them. I also get wrapping paper to match the interests of friends and family. I get golf wrapping paper or gift bags, Coca-Cola paper, cats, dogs, horses and pink wrap with purses on it. For Christmas, I do the same, I get snowman paper, and cats and dogs.

If I don't know what the person likes, I ask a friend or their spouse, someone who knows them well. Can you tell that I love to shop for gifts? I love wrapping gifts and shopping for gift wrap, bags, bows, ribbon, cards and name tags. My favorite holiday is Christmas. I love decorating the house and the tree. I have snowman ornaments, Maxine, cats and many others I have been collecting for years.

Lots of times, I get free stuff, due to earning money, from taking online surveys and writing for pay online through Pay Pal. I have even emailed a few companies for free stuff. I let them know how much my friend loves their product and ask if they can help me out with a free sample or coupons. Last year I got two coupons for free Aqua Velva and two free coupons for Poppycock for my dad. Really sweet deals, huh! Who doesn't love to get free stuff?

Almost everyone can use a wall calendar or desk calendar. Who doesn't like a nice pen? Anyone who works at a desk job can use sticky notes, note pads, cool file folders, paperclips, high lighters or thumb tacks. Anyone who does grocery shopping can use a magnetic notepad for the refrigerator and maybe some cute magnets. Some of these smaller items make great stocking stuffers for Christmas. Again if you know any of their interests, try to find these items with cats, dogs, snowmen, golfers etc. on them. If you know their favorite colors, try to incorporate that color in the gift as well.

Shopping year round, makes it easy and fun for me. I don't have to deal with crowds or the pressures of trying to find a gift at the last minute. I hate crowds. I love having all my shopping done before Christmas especially, so that I can enjoy wrapping the gifts and decorating the house and Christmas tree.