latenightleader:

How many gifts are you mailing this year? 

I am mailing three of them. I have two aunts that I send a shared gift to, my brother married this past summer and relocated to California so I need to send his gift and I have a friend out of state who I send gifts to.

My daughter loves romance, musicals,Disney, horror and Tim Burton movies. She has her favorite movies, The Notebook, Grease, The Little Mermaid and Rose Red. That leaves many options open.

Brandy:

My husband's family are big movie watchers. They each have vast video collections and I have no idea what they already own.

When I've done movie baskets I normally put in a $10 Blockbuster or Hollywood Video gift card in it.  Then they can go rent two movies they haven't seen instead of trying to figure out what they have.

 Since your daughter likes musicals, does she like that High School Musical thing that all the kids seem to be into? (Boy that made me feel old!)

arianasilver:

Since your daughter likes musicals, does she like that High School Musical thing that all the kids seem to be into?

No. She prefers older musicals like Grease, classics like Cats and Phantom of the Opera or more adult newer ones. She does like Disney but that has been a lifelong love of hers as we are all Disney fans.

I buy previewed dvds from blockbuster too!  but of course that depends on the person. my mil would prefer 3 used dvds for $20 instead of one new one for $20.  That is the nice thing about movie baskets,  either a movie or a movie rental card works.  

I think I am going to do a pedicure one for my friend who is going though all the medical problems right now. except I will get a gift certificate for a pedicure since she has never had one and needs pampering. I will put in some nail polish etc to go with it.

My decision on my daughter's gift set is decided. She is getting a movie one.

My husband decided he wanted to look at some things at Circuit City and I found racks with movies for $6.99. I found a horror DVD my daugher likes so I bought it. I'll check back for another later so I can put two DVDs, popcorn, sodas and some movie theater size candy. Video rentals are out as I don't think she rents movies...anything else to add that I am forgetting?

I put my homemade spiced nuts in the last one I made so maybe homemade treats.  maybe some homemade cocoa mix? or a lap blanket if that doesn't stretch the budget.  except for her favourite candy I can't think of anything.  movie, popcorn, drink and candy sums it up!

Last year I didn't make baskets but made goodie plates for some of my neighbors that were elderly or handicapped.  I went to the dollar tree and bought Christmas theamed plates and then made homemade peanut butter,chocolate fudge and divided it 4 ways individually wrapped the pieces banana nut bread and candle jar of sugared pecans also took bags of miniture hershey's christmas candy and divided it up and put into the little Christmas theamed drawstring bags the dollar general sells.  I did one snowflake theme,one ginerbread theme.a candy cane theme and a snowman theme on the snowflake plate it was white background with blue and white snowflakes found some paper that you wrap baskets it with the snowflake design and some blue wired ribbon with a blue & silver snowflake pattern and went to the dollar tree and found  a package of 3 large white snowflakes pulled the basket wrap up tied with a ribon and put a large snowflake.  I really enjoyed doing them and they were greatly appreciated.   just some ideas that I have done myself

Brandy, your italian theme looks good!  That's definitely on my list this year.

 For those that do ebay, I just wanted to throw out there that you can get tons of great used dvds (or cds) on ebay for really cheap.  Often, even with shipping, they can be $4 or less.  It depends on what they are, how current/popular, etc but there are great deals to be had!  Especially if you start early.  I am likely going to get some for the kids for gifts this year too.  DS loves anything disney pixar and also likes bob the builder and thomas.  DD isn't really into tv yet but does seem to like elmo.

 This might be a northern/southern difference, we have a stack of those blankets in the family room, the ones you see for $5 at Walmart, everyone grabs a fleece blanket and maybe a little pillow all winter when we watch movies.  It would be cute to line the basket with a fleece throw, but would also increase the price.  One nice thing is it is kind of a substantial item for $5 or whatever it costs.  

If anyone is looking for baskets and cannot find any in thrift shops-Micheals in Alberta Canada has nice sized fall baskets on sale for 70%  and all the reg. ones for 50% off!!!!! you might want to check your area.  They also had cute plastic beach pails for 1.50 in the christmas foamies section the colors were in red with green handle, green with red handle and a blue with white handle-from what remeber. I thought those would be cute to fill up for a single person.