IMG is nothing?

Every year, I obsess over finding a cool father’s day gift for dad. I always start out expecting to find some super gift that he will love, but somehow I always end up getting him a tie, some tool, or just taking him out to dinner. The problem is that while I know Dad will appreciate anything I get him, I also know that he doesn’t really need or want much: he’s the type of guy that will buy whatever he wants and he’s past the point where he has many “needs”.

This year, as with Mother’s Day, I decided to make shopping a project and focused on the most efficient way to find a gift. I’ve got some issues with Amazon.com (had some customer service issues a while ago), so I’m trying to avoid them (I know that’s counterintuitive since I’m looking for 1-stop shopping, but bear with me). After doing some surfing, I came back to the Collectibles Today. They have a Father’s Day shop that is really easy to use. I found a great digital photo wallet that can hold up to 60 pictures (it has 16mb, so its really like 20-30 pics on most cameras). It just so happens that I gave the folks a bunch of pictures last month (lil brothers birthdays and holidays), so now Dad will be able to look at the pictures without having to use his computer (he seems to spawn viruses just by looking at his laptop).

So, I’m really happy with my choice. I’ll still be taking Dad out for a beer, but I finally got him something worth while too.

I’m curious if anyone else has the same shopping problems I do (see previous post for more on that). If you have problems or have found a cool solution, then leave a comment.

Every year I find myself in the same situation: its a week or two before Mother’s Day and I have no idea what I’m getting my Mom or Step-Mom.

I am a reluctant shopper in the best of times, but mix that with my guilt for not calling more often and the string of well-intentioned but poorly-planned gifts in the past; and I become damn near incapable of buying anything. Its not that I don’t want to give my Mom(s) great mothers day gifts; its that I’m terrified that anything I pick will elicit the standard hug, a “Thank you”, and then be put in the closet.

Maybe I’m alone on this one, but nothing hurts like finding your mother’s day gifts on that shelf in the spare bedroom where knickknacks go to die.

This year, in order to reduce the anxiety, I chose to shop online and look for a single store with a lot of mother’s day gift ideas. I figured a mother’s day jewelry gift would be a safe bet, but also wanted some less obvious options (music boxes anyone?). Right now, I’m hooked on the Mother’s Day Shop at Collectibles Today. It has hundreds of mother’s day gifts including mother’s day rings and necklaces, figurines, music boxes and some stuff I don’t have names for…

I haven’t decided on which gifts yet, but I expect to decide today. Check back to find out what I came up with.