Ask KQ Claus

Only have a minute as she got up at 4:30 to get 2 grandkids to school and then drove 150 miles for another grand kids birthday tea party. And she's going into holiday panic mode. I'll be busy. Now that I recall, there was that other time that I was on a golf trip 2000 miles away and when she came down in the morning there was a squirrel sitting on the kitchen table. She chased it into the basement, shut the door, and had to live with it all day and overnight while it tore the place apart. Not a good memory for her. She loves to read. Has 2 Kindles. Likes them for the large print capability. Later.

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Originally Posted by wooley12

She loves to read. Has 2 Kindles. Likes them for the large print capability. Later.

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The best reads of 2017, from Ann Patchett and Daniel Pink

Some books I've loved in my lifetime:

Marjorie Morningstar

The Living

Breaking Blue


Fool on the Hill: A Novel

Milagro Beanfield War Movie doesn't come close to comparing to this wonder book. This is a trilogy but you can stop at the first one and not miss the rest.

Owning Jolene

Have not read but heard they are good:

The Martian

Artemis: A Novel

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Originally Posted by KQ

The best reads of 2017, from Ann Patchett and Daniel Pink

Some books I've loved in my lifetime:

Marjorie Morningstar

The Living

Breaking Blue


Fool on the Hill: A Novel

Milagro Beanfield War Movie doesn't come close to comparing to this wonder book. This is a trilogy but you can stop at the first one and not miss the rest.

Owning Jolene

Have not read but heard they are good:

The Martian

Artemis: A Novel

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You HAVE to read The Martian, KQ, it’s fantastic.....

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Originally Posted by goldengatestinx

We've used a VacuVin for years. Works fantastically! Be sure to pump enough when the bottle is < 1/2 full.

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I got one as a stocking stuffer for Mrs riser3. She likes her vino. I don't drink enough to help her drink it before the flavor goes south. I ordered an extra pack of the stoppers.

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Originally Posted by riser3

I got one as a stocking stuffer for Mrs riser3. She likes her vino. I don't drink enough to help her drink it before the flavor goes south. I ordered an extra pack of the stoppers.

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Yay! She will be most happy! I love buying little stocking gifts.






For most of you guys this probably falls into the category of buying for yourself, a holiday practice I believe everyone should indulge in:

Christmas Gift Guide from Yeti

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Originally Posted by riser3

I got one as a stocking stuffer for Mrs riser3. She likes her vino. I don't drink enough to help her drink it before the flavor goes south. I ordered an extra pack of the stoppers.

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Another stocking stuffer idea?

https://satterwhite.store/products/b...AaAmhPEALw_wcB

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/12...g?v=1506679507

What is a bottle of wine is good for after you retire?

About a half an hour.


So the Mrs sent me an email with 3 gift options. I'm supposed to pick one to get her so it's a surprise. A dozen golf balls or one of these books. "Trees of Green Lake" and "What Tree is That?". About $45 dollars if I buy them all. Today I'm leaning toward garden cart. A nice 4 wheeler @ $150. I'd get the books too. We have about 400 golf balls and you can get them for free under bushes at any golf course.

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Originally Posted by riser3

I got one as a stocking stuffer for Mrs riser3. She likes her vino. I don't drink enough to help her drink it before the flavor goes south. I ordered an extra pack of the stoppers.

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Might I suggest you pick her up some wine to go with that? Elegante Cellars is a recent favorite of mine.

Of course you can't go wrong with Walla Walla Vintners or Five Star Cellars or Va Piano or Beresan or Long Shadows or Tero Estates or àMaurice..... or.....

Some good reads and silly games here: https://www.basbleu.com/

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Originally Posted by KQ

Might I suggest you pick her up some wine to go with that? Elegante Cellars is a recent favorite of mine.

Of course you can't go wrong with Walla Walla Vintners or Five Star Cellars or Va Piano or Beresan or Long Shadows or Tero Estates or àMaurice..... or.....

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Doh. Or maybe duh. ;)

I look in Costco first, local liquor store second as those are the best prices. I typically don't go for a domestic wine unless I know it very well. Most of them give me a headache.

Getting wine that we both like is a trick. She drinks cheap wine. She claims she doesn't want to get used to the expensive stuff. However, I can't stand her go-to wines. So I have to find good wine with a cheap sticker price. Louis-Jadot wines often fit that bill. And they remind her dad of when he hitchhiked in France following WW2. So that's a bonus.

for those of you looking for the irreverent:

https://society6.com/mugs

KQ Claus..... my wife and I have just gone through the most difficult year in our lives. We have just finished construction of our dream home on the lake, endured the worst flooding our area has ever seen (almost lost the house while under construction) our neighbours sued us, major drama with some good (x) friends and the house is about 6 months behind and way over budget.

So she doesn't want me to spend anything (legal bills are stupid!) but I am looking for a nice idea or cheap(ish) Say under $300 piece of jewelry or some thing/way to say thanks for sticking in there through all of this and to signify that we have overcome the obstacles and we actually still over eachother.

Fire away!:o

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Originally Posted by el hefe

KQ Claus..... my wife and I have just gone through the most difficult year in our lives. We have just finished construction of our dream home on the lake, endured the worst flooding our area has ever seen (almost lost the house while under construction) our neighbours sued us, major drama with some good (x) friends and the house is about 6 months behind and way over budget.

So she doesn't want me to spend anything (legal bills are stupid!) but I am looking for a nice idea or cheap(ish) Say under $300 piece of jewelry or some thing/way to say thanks for sticking in there through all of this and to signify that we have overcome the obstacles and we actually still over eachother.

Fire away!:o

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Yikes... jewelry.... I've gotten grief for this before because I suggested Pandora bracelets which I happen to like (I like glass beads and charms). So if that appeals to you and you think it would appeal to her go for it. I like the idea that you can add charms to it for life events. Basically how it works is you buy a base bracelet (they have gold, silver, snake, bangle, leather etc.) then you buy the charms/beads to go on it. You can have as many or few as you like. They have them for practically any occasion you can imagine plus some that are just pretty baubles. They make both bead type and dangling ones.

Look - they even have a house charm:

https://ssli.ebayimg.com/images/g/mp...Vo/s-l1600.jpg
https://ssli.ebayimg.com/images/g/kD...T-/s-l1600.jpg


Okay....enough of that before I get pounced on again for mentioning Pandora. If you like the idea of a bracelet but don't want a charm might I suggest a nice tennis bracelet? I can't begin to go into the many styles and choices out there as there are hundreds from inexpensive crystal and semi-precious stones to rope or braided and full on diamond. If this interests you I suggest you do a Google and look at images to get ideas. I have a diamond tennis bracelet that was a gift from my father. It's quite lovely.


What about adding to her wedding/engagement ring? A small band of stones that she can slip on next to it - what is commonly called a ring guard/enhancer/wrap Maybe something in a colored stone to add some contrast? That would certainly say "I love you and would marry you all over again" aka "glad you're still here". LOL!


Necklaces - whoo boy. Like bracelets the selection is practically endless. They can run from plain silver/platinum/gold to fancy with multiple stones or pearls (a single pearl pendant is always pretty IMO) or lockets that can hold your picture.

I like this necklace. It's called "heart essence" and has two hearts designed into the setting that holds a solitaire diamond. I think it's sweet. You have your choice of round or princess (square) cut.

http://www.kay.com/images/products/1...g?resize=90:90

http://www.kay.com/images/products/1...g?resize=90:90


This pearl and gold bauble necklace from Nordstrom is cute - I like the symbolism of togetherness:

Duo Pearl Pendant Necklace

https://n.nordstrommedia.com/ImageGa...600&quality=70


Am I hitting on anything? Getting any ideas that I can narrow down for you? Bottom line is to know your wife. What does she wear now? Is she into gold or silver (platinum) or maybe she likes leather. Does she take issue with the diamond industry? Does she like vintage jewelry or is she into modern design? Is she into understated elegance or BLING!

el hefe:

Just because it's rough, doesn't mean it isn't beautiful:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/5214978...-ring-14k-rose

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Originally Posted by MakersTeleMark

el hefe:

Just because it's rough, doesn't mean it isn't beautiful:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/5214978...-ring-14k-rose

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That's nice - sort of old world style.

This just popped up in my feed. I like the pounded/crimped look of the links:

Italian 14kt Yellow Gold Textured Oval and Circle Link Bracelet

ok,

I got a digital phone to picture printer(you put your phone on it and it'll print pictures on the classic picture paper the 4x6s and 5x7s print on) for someone, but it's on back order.

I should get it this next week, but there's no promises.

should I try and find it locally ?
get them something else ? (and any suggestions for that ?)

much appreciated,
signed out of time.

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Originally Posted by SkiCougar

ok,

I got a digital phone to picture printer(you put your phone on it and it'll print pictures on the classic picture paper the 4x6s and 5x7s print on) for someone, but it's on back order.

I should get it this next week, but there's no promises.

should I try and find it locally ?
get them something else ? (and any suggestions for that ?)

much appreciated,
signed out of time.

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What a neat gift!

Q: How easy are returns at the company you bought the picture printer from and how important is it to have that particular present on Christmas day?

If you have the time look around and see if you can find it locally at a price you like then decide otherwise you could give related gifts like frames, mats and paper. If you have an Aaron Bros. locally check them out - they have a wide array of frames from small to large, inexpensive to very expensive.

If opting to wait for the item you ordered and it fails to show up in time (though retailers have an extra day this year since Christmas falls on a Monday and delivery companies will be delivering on Christmas day) I would suggest printing out a picture of the item and wrapping that in an elaborate box. You could add the printer paper to this box if you like.

edit/add: A couple other things you could get if you opt to go with accessories while you wait for the item to arrive is a selfie stick, a straight edge cutter for smaller pictures (I have a Canon picture printer and though I can print 5X7 pics I still have to cut them to size. Using a straight edge cutting tool is a lot easier and cleaner than scissors or an xacto knife). Also, and this may seem silly but it is something I never have when I decide to hang pictures - picture hanging hardware.

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Originally Posted by SkiCougar

ok,

I got a digital phone to picture printer(you put your phone on it and it'll print pictures on the classic picture paper the 4x6s and 5x7s print on) for someone, but it's on back order.

I should get it this next week, but there's no promises.

should I try and find it locally ?
get them something else ? (and any suggestions for that ?)

much appreciated,
signed out of time.

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How about a digital picture frame? Can load a bunch of photos onto it and it looks like a regular frame, but with nice led back lighting.

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Originally Posted by MakersTeleMark

How about a digital picture frame? Can load a bunch of photos onto it and it looks like a regular frame, but with nice led back lighting.

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Those are fun!

Ok KQ the Kate Spade bag arrived, I paid for gift wrapping cuse I suck at gift wrapping. Well the outside says "Kate Spade" should I re-wrap or just throw it under the tree as is?

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Originally Posted by ICantLogIn

Ok KQ the Kate Spade bag arrived, I paid for gift wrapping cuse I suck at gift wrapping. Well the outside says "Kate Spade" should I re-wrap or just throw it under the tree as is?

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Hate when companies do that!

Is it just a center logo or is it printed all over the paper? Can you cover it up with stick-on bows? If not, and you're really not a wrapper you could put it in a gift bag or you could just stick it under the tree as is. She'll know she's getting a Kate Spade but she won't know which purse so she can sit and imagine all she wants until Christmas day.

Big logo right on the bottom right corner. And the bow/ribbon has little "Kate Spade" logos black on black all over it.

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Originally Posted by ICantLogIn

Big logo right on the bottom right corner. And the bow/ribbon has little "Kate Spade" logos black on black all over it.

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You could always take the ribbon off and put a couple stick on bows over the logo or go with the gift bag with some tissue stuffed in the top to hide the box or like I said, opt to leave it and let her imagination make her crazy for the next week.

So my wife has mentioned a few times over the years that she would like a Morganite ring very similar to this. Problem is I know nothing about jewelry. Based on about 20 minutes of searching this seems like a good deal and a coworker that buys a ton of jewelry vouches for the website. But I have no clue. Does seem like a good deal and gift? They can get it here in time and I avoid going to the store which is a win.

https://www.bluenile.com/morganite-d...t&vtype=sample

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Originally Posted by alias_rice

So my wife has mentioned a few times over the years that she would like a Morganite ring very similar to this. Problem is I know nothing about jewelry. Based on about 20 minutes of searching this seems like a good deal and a coworker that buys a ton of jewelry vouches for the website. But I have no clue. Does seem like a good deal and gift? They can get it here in time and I avoid going to the store which is a win.

https://www.bluenile.com/morganite-d...t&vtype=sample

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Nice!

A quick Google ("Is Blue Nile Reputable?") brought up the following:

https://www.weddingwire.com/reviews/...97088275e.html

https://www.diamonds.pro/reviews/blue-nile/

https://www.creditdonkey.com/blue-nile-review.html

http://blog.longsjewelers.com/engage...e-nile-cheaper


The last one makes me giggle as it is a blog written by another jewelry seller - of course they are not going to have good things to say about
Blue Nile. Looks like reviews are overall positive and since you're not buying a diamond solitaire I think you can ignore some of what is written in those posts. Morganite, while beautiful, is not in the same category as a diamond (part of its beauty is derived from inclusions - something you don't want in a diamond) thus you don't need to be as concerned about the "four c's".

Here's some info on the gem if you're interested:

https://www.gia.edu/morganite


My verdict? Go for it!