<p>This was a major miss year for us. Although I told my 85yo mom that we really didn’t need anything and didn’t want her to buy stuff just so we could open presents, she bought all sorts of clothes for us that were either the wrong size or not fashionable. It seemed like she had a spending limit in mind and wanted to hit it no matter what. Also, we each received a book from her woman’s club book sale, most of which were just odd or old. (I got Barbarians at the Gate, which I read when it was published in 1990, as I had a tangential relationship to the case through a former employer). </p>
<p>All I asked for was a really nice meat thermometer- suggesting she go to either crate & barrel or williams & Sonoma. She got me a $11.99 thing from bed bath & beyond that gets horrible reviews on amazon. </p>
<p>Unfortunately some of these stores don’t have locations anywhere near me, such as Kohls. </p>
<p>Oh well, I’m going to bed now and getting up at 630 to return stuff and buy stuff I really want.</p>
<p>We have been married thirty years. When I got engaged, the eighty-something lady I rented from told me that she had wished that she had picked a Christmas China pattern so that by the time you are married ten or twelve years, you have a nice set of dishes. That worked for me and it gave people something to get me for years. I do have enough now thank you. </p>
<p>This year, hubby and I bought an espresso machine for each other. That was a great idea.</p>
<p>I bought DD a projector for her laptop because she does not watch tv, so she can project movies. She could also use it professionally if she ever gets a job ( argh). DS got a Playstation4: definitely a win.</p>
<p>I had strong reservations but I ended up getting him the hooded fleece lined robe after all, which was apparently the right choice. He is currently dancing around the house in it singing, “so toasty, so toasty!” He likes that it is like a big hoody. I am going to have to order a second one for myself, I like it too and I can see he won’t be sharing.</p>
<p>I just got back from my moms and the hits on my side of the family were a motion activated candy dispenser for my fianc</p>
<p>My D makes me a CD every year of the best, coolest, music of the last year or so (that she thinks I’d like.) This year’s was the best ever–have listened to it pretty much constantly since I opened it last night.</p>
<p>She and S also gave me books I had wanted (without me telling them, which is nice.)</p>
<p>Main present to D and SIL was gift certificate to their favorite restaurant, plus a BB and B gcert to get whatever they didn’t get for their wedding,</p>
<p>S got check toward expenses going back to school (yay! by the way!) </p>
<p>SIL is a Rutgers grad, so we also gave him his first Rutgers Big Ten t-shirt to welcome him into the club!</p>
<p>H and I usually don’t buy each other presents, but get what we need or really want (and can afford) during the year.</p>
<p>I think I had a big hit with my D’s gift. She and her boyfriend camp several weekends a year, in a 20 year old hand-me-down tent that is marginal for two people.</p>
<p>I got something I’d never heard of from D1 (she also got one for D2)<br>
[The</a> Giving Keys](<a href=“http://www.thegivingkeys.com%5DThe”>http://www.thegivingkeys.com)
This is one of the coolest presents I’ve ever gotten! My key has the word ‘strength’ on it. So I wear it, and at some point I must give it away to someone who needs the message. The company employs people who are looking to transition out of homelessness. When you give it away, you are encouraged to go to the Giving Keys website and blog your story about why you gave it away. </p>
<p>Thanks to the ‘Leggings’ thread on CC, I had asked for some fleece-lined leggings and suggested that Athleta might have them. I got TWO pairs, and am have been wearing one of them all day. We went out to a movie tonight, and when I got out of the car to walk into the theater, all I kept thinking was, “These are SOOO much warmer than my regular leggings.” Also got a top from Athleta, but will have to exchange it, as it is not my size. </p>
<p>I think also from one of the threads, I got the idea to put some scratch-off lottery tickets in the girls’ stockings. D1 won $4, and D2 won $3; watching them scratch off the tickets was like watching a little kid open something - they had so much fun!</p>
<p>D1 also got H and I chrome cast so we can start watching stuff from Netflix, Hulu, etc. on our larger, flat screen TV.</p>
<p>S1 seemed to really like the Mountain Hardware jacket. He was not as excited about the outdoor floor mat for his house. </p>
<p>S2 liked the really big framed photo of his college’s football stadium taken on a game day when S2 was in the stands. Not excited about the Columbia jacket we gave him. Said he had just bought a new jacket recently. He doesn’t live with us so we didn’t know. Back to the store it goes. </p>
<p>My favorite was a purple sweater/fleece Patagonia jacket from S1. </p>
<p>DH and I don’t do Christmas gifts for each other. We did buy some new furniture that we’ll be picking up next week. Not a Christmas gift but just happened to come in last week.</p>
<p>We just finished playing Ticket to Ride, a board game that was a family gift.
That was probably the most fun, except H & D also went skiing yesterday, so that was their favorite present, Im sure!</p>
<p>I think I did better last year. I bought six of these leather-look jackets (at massive discounts), put them in a box and told them they could choose what they wanted and I’d take the rest back. The three (including my H) chose jackets that were perfect for them and look really attractive on them. I can’t believe they all still like them so much and they look so good (nobody cares much about clothes around here usually). I also gave them a trip to anywhere they wanted to go for a few days. Oldest went to South by Southwest tech conference in Austin, youngest is going to NYC with his girlfriend to see a play. I just booked him tickets for Waiting for Godot, and got a 4 star hotel really cheap on Hotwire. I don’t think I’ll ever beat that year!</p>
<p>But this year, I did get some nice clothes that they need and seem to like. I told them all that if they didn’t like something, no problem, put it in a pile and I’ll take it back. Plus, they can grab whatever they want out of the pile that someone else put back…they’re all roughly the same size. Only a couple of things went back in the pile, so I consider this was pretty successful.</p>
<p>I bought my S (19) some clothes to upgrade his college student wardrobe. Things he could wear to interviews, out to dinner,etc. It felt a little bit “not fun” but he really appreciated them, tried all of them on and wore his new clothes all day. We did laugh when we realized that one shirt/pants combination made him look like Walter White. He bought himself the Brookstone Sand.</p>
<p>I bought my daughter some workout clothes, including a sports bra, which turned out to be hilarious because I only saw the label “32.” I neglected to read the part that said “DD.”</p>
<p>Hits - DH wanted to organize the garage and asked for new tool storage. I shopped all over and found what I thought was the right one. He loved it.
S sent me his amazon wish list and DH and I sat in bed checking off what we wanted to buy. That was the best shopping trip ever and a hit for both the givers and recipient!
I didn’t ask for anything this year but Santa still got me gifts I loved: an iPad mini (now I can retire my 1st gen iPad), fluffy Ugg slippers and 3 bottles of my favorite local wine.
DH and I also gifted our kids and ourselves a summer trip to Costa Rica. It will be our first time.</p>
<p>Miss - serious miss which I am not too happy about but will not mention to DH’s family so as to not start WWIII. We drew names amongst the 6 adults again this year. There is no set limit but its usually $50. I gave my person a nice shirt and a $50 gift card to Lowes because he is a true DIYer. I helped DH pick out a Coach purse and scarf. I received a candle. I know it didn’t cost more than $10 because I bought some and gave them as hostess gifts this year!! Miss! miss! miss!</p>
<p>We had a wonderful belated Christmas this morning. S2’s GF was delayed all day yesterday in various airports, so we waited until this AM. Wonderful time. Lotsa good gifts. Everyone seems happy, and stuffed with bacon and waffles.</p>
<p>Hits: Dad liked his shirts that I got him (miracles…miracles!)</p>
<p>Misses: As every year, my aunt/uncle got me some form of clothing that doesn’t fit me properly and I’m not the best fan of…and I can’t return. The nearest form of that department store is a solid hour drive away, on a good day. </p>
<p>Unsure: My aunt got me an infinity scarf with a print of the milky way galaxy on it from Venice Beach. Totally cool, but I have no idea what to wear it with</p>
<p>Most of the gifts we buy for grad student D (I buy gifts from her godmother and grandma also) were gift certificates for places with vegan food, and small kitchen items. While browsing Amazon, I came across a book, Hyperbole and a Half, which sounded like her sense of humor, so I bought on a whim. It was the biggest winner; she shouted with excitement about how much she wanted to read it! Now if she can only tear herself away from the smartphone long enough to do so!</p>
<p>lilmom,
Perhaps you or hubby will get the candle-giver next year, and pass it back! (I can’t do that, but perhaps I’d give the candle with a gift certificate.)</p>
<p>Some people are thoughtful and generous, and others not. At least we get to be role models. My son is staying with his s/o’s family, and he researched local, good restaurants to get them a gift certificate. </p>
<p>HotCanary, glad your son liked the sandbox, and the DD bra is funny.</p>
<p>Soccergurl, As I’ve promoting some assertiveness throughout this thread, I think I would ask relatives to chose items from stores that are near where you live, so you can exchange for “size”. I always look up that info, but obviously, your aunts/uncle do not.</p>
<p>Bookworm, I don’t think I could get DH to regift the candle but I did think of entering it in the white elephant gift exchange that the same family does. Hehe. I wonder if they’ll recognize it?</p>
<p>Ah, I’ll get over it. Overall, we had a great Christmas. It was the first time all three of my kids were active participants in all of the festivities. It was fun being a fly on the wall listening to their conversations the relatives. That was the best gift.</p>
but I did think of entering it in the white elephant gift exchange that the same family does. Hehe. I wonder if they’ll recognize it?</p>![https://d2hauqq2vokw5i.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/images/product/hires/27260_9198_f.jpg]4-person](https://d2hauqq2vokw5i.cloudfront.net/images/product/hires/27260_9198_f.jpg%5D4-person){kind=link}
