My office has thin walls....

[rockingrandma]

I'm just envisioning the cellphone commercials:

Woman walks into a department store jewelry section, smiles at the clerk, browses through all the diamond jewelry.  She then pulls out her Name Brand (TM!) phone and snaps a picture of a necklace/earring set.

Flash to the husband at home, opening his phone and smiling broadly as he sees the picture of the diamond jewelry.  Next scene, the loving couple are sitting under a Christmas Tree, she's opening the box with the necklace and earrings, and telling him he's the smartest guy ever.  Then the voiceover tells you this touching moment is brought to you by Name Brand (TM!) cellphones - get her one for Christmas today!

Sheesh.

It's been done, only it was a commercial for a car....Guy sees a totally awesome car, takes a picture of it with his cellphone and sends it to his wife's cell, who is standing in line for something or other.  I just saw it the other day and now I wish I had paid attention to see which car they were hocking.

[thebadchemist]

I have thought about that, the only problem is that we live in podunk, and most of the shows that show up near here require a major travel committment. I've sent him to shows with my step father in law, as they both enjoy them. Now that my son has gotten older I can send the two of them...
I hate car shows myself, I'd rather have gum surgery...

Sadly, gum surgery isn't that bad. I had to have a crown lengthening, which involved removing sections of gum to expose more tooth and other than a day of soreness, it healed fast and I didn't even need anything stronger than ibuprofen. Hehe. 

I wasn't a huge fan of the show we went to. The cars were nice, but they all looked the same after a while. My BF was a little horrified that I fell in love with a fire-engine red F250. It was a fabulous truck, but I couldn't see over the dashboard!

[shadowfox79]

My DF and I give each other lists of stuff to get. Partly this is because we also shop for my mother's presents to us (she's blind and housebound, and believes in getting lots of stuff to unwrap, so she gives us cheques to shop with) but mainly it's because he has no idea what to get me and I find it hard work to find things to get him. If we want something, we buy it, so if we want to surprise each other we have to think of stuff the other won't know they want yet.

Well, it works... 

[Stormtreader]

She then pulls out her Name Brand (TM!) phone and snaps a picture of a necklace/earring set.

In the UK, this is in the papers as this years big trend - 'Snapping'. Seems girlfriends/wives are taking pictures of themselves in the underwear they want for xmas and sending it to their partners so they can buy it.

[Slartibartfast]

well my DH may give me a new video card or a sweater that's three sizes too big or some clunky jewelry that I'll never wear . . . but at least he put thought into it!

Seems to me that telling your spouse (or anyone else) what to get you takes all the fun out of the giving part.

[goblue2539]

My mom and I did our version of this last weekend, but it was spur of the moment.  I found a book that I thought she'd like, but I just asked her if she knew anyone who'd like it.   She said she would.  I told her to forget about seeing it then, and went and got in line.  My sister was stunned we could do that, but I like knowing that mom will like my gift when she opens it. 

That being said, I don't think I could do it the other way around.  Someone telling me what I got them?  Yikes.

[CocoCamm]

I've been guilty of this just this Christmas season! I was shopping at Macy's during a FABULOUS sale and I found a gorgous sweater marked down to $20.00 from $80.00 and $40 pants for $6.50. Unfortunately I really didnt have any money in my budget to buy things for myself so I called my mom and asked her if she still needed some gifts for me. She did so I picked them up and she reimbursed me. It totally worked out well for both of us. I got exactly what I wanted and she didnt have to go looking. I love a win-win situation!

[CocoCamm]

Seems to me that telling your spouse (or anyone else) what to get you takes all the fun out of the giving part.

I agree with this to an extent. It is totally fun to surprise someone but on the other hand it can be quite difficult to figure out exactly how to suprise them. From childhood my mom always had me give her an extensive list and she picks and chooses what to get me. This way I always get what I want but I'm never quite sure exactly whats going under the tree.

[Balletmom]

Mr. BalletMom is really really grateful to get specific requests. He gets frustrated if it doesn't last (wilted flowers at Valentine's) etc. He does come up with really wonderful surprises if I don't want anything in particular.

This year, he got himself a flatscreen tv for his study.

The girls are giving him a gourmet vinegar/oil set and casshew tray.

I like to give little surprises just to keep the spirit alive. Makes it a win-win for everyone. You get what you really like or wanted, but you get a little extra thing to feel specially loved. What's it called in New Orleans? Lagniappe, I think? Correct me if I'm wrong.

[onikenbai]

I knew a lady that, whenever she saw something she liked, would write down item, location, item #, price, color, etc. and put it in a file folder that she kept for her dh for gift-giving occasions. lol

Ahem.  *raises hand*  A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do!

I've put stuff on hold before and gone home to tell the family they'd better get their butts over there before the hold expires.  They really LIKE it when I do this!