<p>
</p>
<p>This works in reverse, too. I sent my daughter [a</a> link for country ham](<a href=“http://northstateproducts.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=5&zenid=1c87546665a487dec65c22ef71ddf4be]a”>http://northstateproducts.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=5&zenid=1c87546665a487dec65c22ef71ddf4be) and it showed up in my mailbox just in time for her to wrap it and put it under the tree! Definitely a hit…</p>
<p>I did get my older daughter a laptop briefcase that I thought was cute. Her BF said it was grandma like - I wasn’t sure what that meant- D said it was because it was vaguely hipsterish- which means that something vaguely unattractive is then used by a " hipster" ( also a vague term) which then makes it more appealing & trendy.
She likes it anyway so that is all that matters. :)</p>
<p>Hit - We took our two sons (20 and 17) to Lambeau field for the Christmas night Packers / Bears game. A good time was had by all. Their real gift (Asus Transformer Prime tablets) are sitting on a UPS truck waiting to be delivered tomorrow. Best Buy managed to get them shipped last Monday (ordered in November) but didn’t expedite them. They had assured me they would be here on the 23rd. On the other hand the docking keyboards did arrive before keyboard. I expect these will be hits as well.</p>
<ul>
<li>that should be.“before Christmas” not “before keyboard”.</li>
</ul>
<p>We do small gifts. Knowing they prefer cash, I do gift cards. </p>
<p>Starbucks gift cards - It’s money! It’s an experience! Laptops plug in there. Sometimes “the baristas are hawt.” (S-2).</p>
<p>With advice, I learned one of my young adults now enjoys quality make-up, also available with online gift cards.</p>
<p>Biggest hits are wool hats with ear flaps and texting gloves. He is wearing them around the house and around to every party. Most presents came early or will be late (senior pictures, purchasing his own tuxedo for school next year, etc)</p>
<p>Hits: for Son: subscription to Popular Science magazine, some cologne, Harry Potter DVDs</p>
<p>for D: yoga pants</p>
<p>Misses: for D: a purse. She said that she wanted a purse, we told her it was something very individual and she needed to pick it out herself, she said she wanted us to buy her something. We bought a nice purse, she is going to take it back and pick something out she likes!</p>
<p>Hits: Tickets to Jersey Boys for all, Tickets to Coldplay for S , Pea coat from AEagle and Leather short boots for younger D.</p>
<p>Misses: Not exactly a miss, but I thought S would be more excited about the TomTom I got him. I think he felt it wasn’t really needed and a waste of $$ (he didn’t say that, but he’s generally pretty frugal). Once I told him not to worry, I bought it refurbished (he’s famous for “losing” things) he seemed better about it. I just thought he’d be more excited about it - maybe he’ll change his tune when he actually puts it to use!</p>
<p>I got the worm buckyballs, too!! He wants rest of $$ on Amazon. I bought some clothes at Nordstrums, where his saleslady has known and dressed him for 5 years; he won’t even look. Money is one thing, but it is nice to give something tangible.</p>
<p>Hits: Dunkin Donuts K cups and LL Bean tote bags.</p>
<p>I gave my D a second monogrammed LLBean tote bag (medium) to go with the larger one from last year. She does all her grocery shopping on foot, so I assume they get some use. I use mine all the time, now.</p>
<p>Hits: one share of “stock” in the Green Bay Packers. (Rare offering, Pretty sure every male and most females in the extended family gave or received the same.) Gift card for gas. Delay pedal for electric guitar.</p>
<p>Miss: a ten inch tall candle holder shaped and colored like a little green army man. However, it holds the possibility of becoming a revolving re-gifted, well-loved family icon purely because it was so hilarious.</p>
<p>hits:
hooded polarfleece 300 jacket[ finally found one that is long enough for his 6’4"+ frame]
wireless mouse for his new [college supplied] Mac
slim, external hard drive for Mac
solar panel Iphone recharger for his backpacking trips
extra pair of regular RX glasses and RX sunglasses
misses:</p>
<p>baseball cap with built in LED light [ it was always meant to be a tongue-in-cheek gift, but I thought he might like it]</p>
<p>Oldest son (who drives for a living) - new winter coat, thermal underwear, black crew t-shirts and socks.</p>
<p>For D - cash for her Birthright trip (I had also paid for her passport).</p>
<p>S2 - new computer in case he actually goes to college next year.</p>
<p>S3 - trench coat (no Columbine or Matrix associations here, H has worn one for years and this kid has always admired it - the black looks awesome against his blonde hair), electric razor (S2 is 2 years older but still doesn’t shave) and underwear, my old computer handed down.</p>
<p>S4 - video games, fancy boxers (he’s 12) and socks all his own (it’s tough when you have 3 older brothers).</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I own that hoodie! I love it. (I was also able to get it at the Bean’s outlet for $9.99, which makes me like it even more. 
)</p>
<p>S seems very happy with the flannel shirt I got him: he’s been wearing it ever since.</p>
<p>Misses: every person who bought my D a top. Wed. I am trekking her to Am. Eagle, Dick’s Sporting Goods, the univ. bookstore, Aeropostale’s, Old Navy, and Walmart. Ug. That’s 6 more brick-and-mortar stores than I went to for my Christmas shopping. Not looking forward to this.</p>
<p>Son’s favorite gift - actually a stocking stuffer - was his 4 philosopher finger puppets/magnets from [url=<a href=“http://www.philosophersguild.com/Puppets/]The”>http://www.philosophersguild.com/Puppets/]The</a> Unemployed Philosophers Guild, The unexamined gift is not worth giving.<a href=“which%20I%20found%20from%20another%20CC%20thread”>/url</a>. He thought they were hysterical. I think I might get him the Karl Marx beanie baby for his birthday.</p>
<p>I’m the student so I’ll do it from my perspective: </p>
<p>Huge hit: My dad got me and my sister an everything you could possibly ever need tool set. He thought it flopped but we really liked them- he didn’t believe us (why, I don’t know- we’re a very blunt family). </p>
<p>Other hits: dress clothes (which I picked out on Black Friday), fuzzy socks, kitchen stuff, other clothes, a wool coat… I’m sure there’s other. </p>
<p>My parents never seem to miss. My mom is very perceptive about what we want (and I pick out half of my gifts).</p>
<p>Little kiddo was happy to recieve earrings and her favorite perfume (duh, I had the hardest time locating it - only Neiman had it, but I scored free shipping and to die for complimentary gift wrap!), but the biggest hit was… a manicure set she got from a family friend. She squealed in delight - she forgot her nail clippers and was bumming ours. 
Another hit: the instantly re-gifted digital cam. Our camera died unexpectedly during the recent trip to HI, and both DH and I got the same brilliant gift idea. Since we only needed one camera, D was happy to recieve the other. </p>
<p>We shall see if the big kiddo will be impressed with her gifts when she returns from her trip: a very plush Turkish cotton robe, Burberry perfume, and some All-Clad pots.</p>
<p>Mansfield -</p>
<p>WHERE do you get a Karl Marx beanie baby? My current senior would find that hysterical because 1) he really enjoys economics and 2) he and mynext son are nicknamed Groucho and Harpo by their friends.</p>