Gift help!!

For Christmas this year, I am heading to the great Pacific Northwest to see my dad and my brother and their families. They haven't met K yet, who will be 9 months at Christmas, so this will be a bit scary to travel with an infant, during the flu season no less.

My problem is that my dad puts on a big Christmas party every other year. Mainly it's my stepmother's kids and their kids, which I haven't seen in about a decade.... and I have received word that I am to purchase a gift for my 10-year old nephew. What does one get a 10 year old boy? Limit is $15! Oh, and I'm also supposed to pick up a gift "suited for a man or women, limit is $10".

I assume that the $10 gift would be something of a "gag" gift, but I don't enjoy giving gifts that are just going to be thrown in the trash.

Any suggestions???

Finished!

My husband and I moved into our new home in Sept of last year. It's in a newly built neighborhood and got to have it built to our preferences - cabinets, carpet, paint, light fixtures, etc. It was overall a good experience, mainly due to the fact that we stopped by the lot a few times a week to check on the progress and reported any discrepincies to the office immediately. However, with a new house comes things that you don't get with a developed neighborhood - big, beautiful shade trees is one... and a fenced yard.

So, we decided to use some of our "stimulus" money toward our summer project and built the fence ourselves. And this weekend, we finally finished!

Here's the gate - This was our first attempt at building a fence, and the gate was the hardest part, but it turned out pretty darn good, if I do say so!

Here's the view just on the other side of the gate - and Lady, enjoying her back yard.

The next project will be landscaping!

What did YOU use your tax rebate on?

favorite beauty products

I find in the summer, in the sweltering, southern humidity, the key to looking hot (not sweaty & gross) is wearing less makeup!

Favorite Bronzer: Physician's Formula - this one even has SPF 20 in it, if you aren't already slathering up before you apply your makeup (tisk, tisk).

Favorite Tinted Lip Balm: Neutrogena Moisture Shine® Tinted Lip Balm in "Glow". It gives a hint of color with SPF 20 and a great, light weight moisture. Favorite Eyeliner: Almay Intense I-liner® in Raisin Quartz. It's great for green eyes, with a contrasting purple that goes on soft.

Favorite Self Tanner: Coppertone Gradual Tan Continuous Spray® Sunless Tanner. Provides a small amount of color each time you apply and the scent isn't offensive like alot of self tanners can be.Favorite Nail Color (of the week): OPI - Kangarooby. I change my nail color often, and this color is a great, summer-y ruby red.
Favorite Hair Care Product (for color treated hair): Pureology ColourMax®. This protects hair from UVA/UVB damage, as well as detangles and protects from thermal damage! I love it - it's ultra light and helps my color stay beautiful longer!

For lipsticks, I find that I'm very picky, and like only a subtle variation, so I picked up a tiny pill sorter from the local drugstore and mixed a few of my lipsticks together. For about $1.99 for the container, I've got my own travel lipstick pallett!

I haven't found a great mascara, so let me know if you have any suggestions on ones you love - I like a waterproof, not too volumonous mascara that's safe for contact lense wearers... My current one tends to flake...