RSS Subscribe Dave's Christmas Gift Ideas That They'll Use and Remember
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- posted at 11:37PM
- November , 10, 2009
- by: Dave Munson
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Dave's Gift Ideas That They'll Use and Remember For Years
Only My Very Favorite Things
Below is a Christmas list of the very best and coolest gifts that I've either given, received or wanted really bad. Notice I don't suggest anything that I make. These are just things that'll make you famous. An example, one particularly broke Christmas, I bought my nephews a 30 ft. length of thick rope for $12. 
They and all the neighborhood kids left their Christmas presents at home to play
with that rope all Christmas day and into the night. To be the
favorite around the Christmas tree this year, read on...
Please note, the following gifts aren't all safe, but they sure are fun. Also, there is no benefit to me if you buy anything on this list; I just thought you might be able to use some of my favorite ideas.
Young Boys - Inexpensive
- 30 ft. length of rope (just give it to them and you won't see them for a few days)
- Bow and arrow (9 - 13 yrs.)
- Slingshot with a bag of marbles (all ages)
v- BB gun (all ages)
- Dart board - Darts will drive the men and boys out from in front of the TV for hours and hours (all ages)
- Refrigerator box with a hole cut in it (ages 2 - 6)
- Blow gun (any length) with little darts (8 yrs. and up)
- Styrofoam or balsam wood airplane gliders (5 - 12 yrs.)
-Teenage boys - throwing knives, Rambo knife, hatchet, chinese throwing star, flint fire starter like Bear Grylls in Man vs. Wild
For Girls
- 7 - 12 yrs old the book, Hair: A Book of Braiding and Styles. My nieces shared that book and kept it in the bathroom and used it almost all the time for at least two years
- Up to 8 years old, the more $1 gifts, the merrier. I bought my seven year old niece 7 presents for her 7th birthday for a total of $7. She was stunned. She said, "I can't believe you bought me so much stuff". My response, "Now you know who loves you the most".
- 2 - 5 yrs. old, A tea set. My daughter, Sela, always wants to have tea parties. She absolutely LOVES the one my Aunt Jane gave her.
For Guitar or Bass Players
Guitar Straps from Anthology Gear Wear www.anthologygearwear.com. Brian leans toward genius cool in designing. 
These straps won't make you play any better, but they'll sure make you look good. (Technically, I do benefit from the sale of these straps, because we make them, but that's not my motivation for suggesting them to you. I hardly make any money by making them, but I just honestly LOVE the designs. We make a few other things for other folks, but I'm not mentioning them because they're not cool enough. Just being transparent.
For Women - Inexpensive
My wife said that this is the best gift a husband could give a wife and that all the married women she knows would prefer this over any jewelry or purse or shoes you could ever buy her. 
Buy one of the following books AND give her a coupon, "Good for one reading of this book together, one chapter at a time". Suzette and I have read them and know that there would be a lot less divorce, a lot more happily married people and a lot more babies in the world if everyone knew what was in these three books. The Five Love Languages, His Needs Her Needs, or Love and Respect. You'll thank me later, I swear.
Coupons - A homemade book or stack of "special" (back rubs, foot rubs, dishes, kids' baths) coupons for her to use anytime
For Older Boys or Women - Expensive
Ferrum D. Gentile - www.ferrumdg.com has
the coolest knives and other metal design I've ever seen and each
individually handmade by Mr. Gentile himself in Switzerland. 
This guy
has the coolest style and coolest hunting and pocket and kitchen knives
on the planet. Some of them are made out of up to 200 layers of the high carbon steel. You'll pretty much never have to sharpen it. He makes watches and swords too.
For Older Boys - Expensive
Vanderburgh Humidors www.vanderburghhumidors.com. A place to put all his cigars. I absolutely LOVE my humidor. It's solid wood rather than just lined with good wood and it is perfectly made. 
Occasionally, Eddie calls me for a piece of leather to accent one of his humidors.
For Older Boys - Inexpensive
Coupons - A homemade book or stack of "special" coupons for him to use anytime
Space Pen by Fisher - Astronauts use these because they have pressurized ink cartridges and therefore don't rely on gravity. It writes underwater, upside down and on pretty much any surface. Plus, it's so small that you won't even notice it in your pocket. I love mine even though I lose it regularly.
For Dog - Go to the butcher and get a bag of raw meaty bones. Femirs are the best!!!
For Cat - Bag of catnip
Lesson learned: My brother-in-law gave my sister roses on Valentines Day and my sister got mad at him because he only have her flowers on the days that he was required to (Valentine's Day and Birthdays) and never on just a random day. Don't fall into that trap.
A HUGE tip you can use every year: Buy yourself something cool, wrap it and address it "To (Your Name) From Santa" and then put it under the tree. When it comes time for you to open it, say with a sheepish smile on your face, "Okay, who's Santa" and then act surprised when you open it.
If you have some REALLY good Christmas gift ideas or birthday gift ideas, comment below and let us know.
Customer Comments
Stephanie Lundgreen
11/11/2009 09:56 PM CST
During Christmas' past our cats always loved to play with the mountain of discarded gift wrap and bows after the gifts were opened. We saved it just for their enjoyment. It was a free, recycle type gift. Now we have ferrets and they love the gift just as much, especially if we toss a few raisins in the heap as treasure for them to find.
Mike S.
11/16/2009 10:27 AM CST
It is amazing how the simple things in life amuse people for hours on end. I have already started my Christmas shopping and a Saddleback Leather Satchel is what I am sending to my sister. She has seen my other items (briefcase, messenger, and duffle) and has commented that she would love to get some of these pieces… her wish is my command (a sister has that privilege)! I believe this is a true gift that will be used and remembered over the years.
Cara Walkup
11/18/2009 03:12 PM CST
I once gave my brother $100 cash. But instead of just slapping a couple 50's in an envelope, I bought a big clear glass jar, spent half an hour folding 100 1-dollar bills into paper airplanes, and crammed them in the jar. Looked VERY impressive!
Nathan W.
11/19/2009 02:10 AM CST
Don't underestimate simply sending a Christmas card. The hand-written note is a dying art these days. And who doesn't appreciate getting something other than bills in the mail?
Along the same lines, consider writing to a deployed service member. Care packages are great, but what we love most are good old fashioned letters. Go to anysoldier.com if you're interested.
David Hill
11/21/2009 06:19 PM CST
You don't happen to make belts for anyone do you?
Cathy
12/01/2009 12:53 PM CST
Every Christmas since our children were wee little tikes they would come to our bed with everyone's stockings. We all sat there (dogs too) on the bed opening all the stocking stuff.
Now that our children are older, the tradition still lives on. No gifts are opened until everyone (and yes we have gotten some strange looks from our kids boyfriend/girlfriends who must take part) on our bed Christmas morning.
To me it is the gift that means the most, having another day to be with my family no greater gift on earth.
Wayne Dickinson
12/03/2009 03:02 PM CST
To: David Hill:
Because of the utility, I wear a *military* web belt almost exclusively. One day at work I was unexpectedly asked to brief some executives from an outside agency, and honestly, the web belt just wasn't appropriate. It turns out that the 2 side straps on a large Saddle Back Leather briefcase are a perfect fit for someone w/ a 38" waist. I even got a complement later on my belt. Maybe Dave sells replacement straps...
Wayne
Alaynna King
12/04/2009 02:29 PM CST
Hi David, I absolutely love the quitar staps. I want to order the "No Quarter" for my husband. Is there anyway to get it "engraved" "carved" with his name "Ron" or "Ron King" or "Bad MoJo" even if it is on the inside ?
Thanks Alaynna
Nate @ Practical Manliness
12/08/2009 12:39 PM CST
Personally, I think that a good hank of durable rope makes a great present for any man. Perhaps it is just me, but I seem to always be low on cordage.
Sean
12/16/2009 12:40 PM CST
While the rope is GREAT idea for kids (and guys in general), my dogs go crazy for ten foot long ropes tied into tight daisy chains. The current one that they're playing with I made 2 years ago in about 15 minutes. It has literally outlasted every other toy that we've bought them.
handy akku
12/28/2009 06:48 AM CST
A hand made Christmas card is really an interesting idea. It can be really a good one.
John
01/04/2010 12:25 PM CST
I could not give these away dave, they are gifts that I would want to keep...
:)
Jeff
01/06/2010 08:58 AM CST
Another knife site worth checking out:
http://www.japaneseknifedirect.com/
They ship handmade knives from Japan, many are one of a kind. Kind of hard to navigate but worth it. Leave it to the culture that invented the samurai sword to come up with some of the coolest pocket knives on earth.
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Dave, I happen to know that you received one of my absolute FAVORITE Christmas gifts ever, a FUBAR.
http://bit.ly/FUBAR_MAX
It is a joyous implement of destruction, (and construction).
How can you not love a tool that bears the warning, "Warning, User AND Bystanders Wear Safety Goggles!"