Dress-up supplies seemed to be popular with step-nephlings…capes and various hats in particular.
ETA: Also art supplies for things they could do themselves like large beads/cording and foam stickers.
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Thanks all! I’ve splurged on magnet tiles, but will definitely keep the art supplies idea for next year.
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Glad you were able to find something that works.
For future gift giving ideas, I have this bookmarked for a bunch of suggestions (other ages available at the bottom). Even with my own kid sometimes I’m like “What would he like? I’m drawing a blank. And what might he like over the next year?” and this helps. (Sharing partly as a PSA since the holidays are coming up.)
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Planning fun birthday parties with games, and making me special birthday cakes.
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For next year, get them a snap circuit! https://www.amazon.com/Snap-Circuits-SC-100-Electronics-Exploration/dp/B00008BFZH/ref=sr_1_7?crid=2029TIX994VR2&dchild=1&keywords=circuit+board+for+kids&qid=1633540648&sprefix=circuit+board%2Caps%2C238&sr=8-7
Or a Knex building kit! https://www.amazon.com/KID-KNEX-Construction-Educational-Exclusive/dp/B0083U842A/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=knex+bridge+building+kit+for+kids+jr&qid=1633540749&sr=8-5
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Um I just looked this up and now I am also worried. We’re pre-IPO and my options don’t vest until March (and only 1/4 vest then). Is that a form I should have filed?
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It’s not something that has to be done and only applies in certain situations, I don’t think Stock Options would apply. I was granted restricted stock in my company. The FMV of shares is to be reported on W2s as income as the shares vest, so 15% year one, 10% year two, etc. according to the vesting schedule, but I could have submitted an 83(b) election to the IRS to have the full value of the shares reported on the W2. I’d owe the income tax on 100% of the FMV at the time they were granted. This is a big savings if the shares go way up in value.
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Thank you!
Theoretical question: if you’d already paid the income tax on 100% of the FMV and you left your job before they all vested would you just be out of luck?
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Yup, and if the stock plummeted you’d be out of luck too. So it’s not the end of the world that I didn’t file the election but I’m pretty confident I’m going to stick with the company another 4 years and that their stock prices are going to keep going up. So the tax savings would have been nice. Either way it will still be a profit once I sell.
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is all this grain free cat food marketing or real? fancy feast by purina is just as healthy as say, blue buffalo right?
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I don’t know if dogs and cats are the same in this regard but I know grain free is actually not good for dogs. It can cause health issues. Other wise I would just compare the ingredients on the back and make sure the first ingredients are things like Chicken and not Chicken meal.
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It depends? I have elderly cats with sensitive digestion’s, and Fancy Feast (which they adore as it must contain some kind of cat crack) just tears through them. Ugh.
So I buy expensive “sensitive digestion” food, except that they also turn up their noses at pâté and there is currently only ONE sensitive digestion not pâté catfood on the market (Royal Canin) and they are having major supply chain issues.
So we are having to experiment and it does seem like grain free is better in terms of not giving them diarrhea.
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Marketing. Totally capitalizing on trends for people.
Cats of all species do consume a tiny amount of grains through their prey so “grain free” as a standalone concept is silly IMO. Their natural diet is something like 2% carbs so if their food is 2% peas vs 2% corn it’s not that big an impact overall.
What is “best” is pretty much the same as for people - the less processed the better, and the less filler ingredients in processed food the better.
What haypug16 said - anything with meat as the first ingredient(s) (and not by-product) is going to be better than one with starches first for example.
Grain free foods can be just fine foods and they can be total crap foods - the main difference is that they use starches (peas, sweet potato etc) instead of grains (corn etc) as a filler/bulking ingredient.
In general the cheaper foods have cheaper ingredients and more fillers and can swap out ingredients within a certain timeframe if prices shift. The brands that manufacture their own foods tend to be more expensive but their production is more consistent and ingredients a little better quality.
That said there are thousands of cats that live perfectly happy lives on grocery store food. Any cat food you buy is going to have the base needs met nutritionally. Most general pet food is designed for the growing/reproductive years so elderly pets commonly need to transition to diets more appropriate for their particular needs (digestive, kidney, heart, or for Oldster, brain health - etc).
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I’m glad I wasn’t off base on my thinking here- it seems like “grain free” for healthy pet foods is correlation not causation. Like, a lot of times grain free foods are made with higher quality ingredients and less filler and by products and rancid oils. But just like organic Oreos, that doesn’t mean the fancy label always ensures high quality nutrient dense status. Especially as it gets trendy.
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It’s marketing. Are you on Facebook? There’s a great vet group called Pet Vet Corner, where vets share resources and they have files about what to feed your pets.
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Thanks guys! I hate FB so I am not usually on it these days, only for my jerb. Seriously the last two times I signed on I felt not great after scrolling for like 5 seconds. Bleh.
I already ordered some buffalo blue sensitive stomach stuff and some fancy feasts. we will see what she likes.
I think maybe the food I hav enow is not to her liking or stale.
IN FACT, LET US HAVE A CAT THERAPY MOMENT:
My cat is a very human-focused cat. Lovely and kind and her favorite place in life is squished between us in bed. I literally accidentally put my entire thigh on top of her tiny cat skull yesterday before realizing her peril and all she did was coo and purr.
She is a good cat.
But she is also VERY needy lately? She will wake me up at like 3AM with ear snuffles, and then gentle claw on skull, and then in a fit of “OH YAH BITCH?” starts biting my glasses. And then I wake up and her food bowl is full. Her water is full. Her box is clean.
Similarly, there are times where she will just NOT leave m ealone. Pressed against my legs, about to murder trip me, or constant squawking/chirping no matter what I do. Her food bowl is full. Her water bowl is full. Her box is clean.
We play with her daily.
She hasn’t shown any sign of illness. She did have a puke that looked like a small hairball and she is generally pukey. So I got the sensitive stomach food.
Idk guys? Should I take her to the vet? Or is she just a needy cat?
cc additional cat fanatics, @JanetJackson @daffodil2001 @JRA64 @Meowmalade
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Didn’t you just move? Cats can be VERY sensitive to that. My friends cat would vom multiple times a day for weeks each time he moved. They went to a billion vets, it was always just the change of circumstances. (Which isn’t to say nothing could be wrong, just like… cats regress, act out, get sick, or cling with changes just like kids can do)
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Might just be needy and want your attention. Our kittens sometimes just whine and I don’t know why. If Aslan whines it’s because he wants food.
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My cat follows me everywhere, more now than when she was younger.
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