And even, forget about the gift – the rudeness and unkindness are what I was struck by.
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I would have been stealing that trader Joe basket when it was my turn! What a lovely and thoughtful White Elephant gift. 
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I went to a white elephant exchange last year and I think I was #4 and kept getting my gifts stolen! Finally someone stole one and I took the TJ bag because it had already been stolen and couldn’t be taken again, so I got to keep it. And it included spices.
I may go to TJ’s just to get spices for my d/sil’s gifts. They have everything
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How bizarrre to make fun of that festive gift bag, I’d steal that!
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How rude to make fun of any gift but especially such a thoughtful gift basket. I’d have been interested in stealing it too!
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You all have made me feel so much better about my gift! Thank you!
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There were quite a few gifts from Trader Joe’s at our exchange last night, although most were beauty items. And they were all stolen a lot.
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Age and gender might, maybe, explain lack of interest in spices. But definitely does not excuse rudeness. Appalling that they don’t know how to behave in public. Hoping you don’t have to work with them too much.
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I’d have loved that gift, and your colleagues are rude af in my opinion.
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Funnily enough, what did I get at our Secret Santa gift exchange last night?! A box of TJ’s dark chocolate truffels!! (& 2 Maker’s Mark shooters). I dug into the chocolates right away-- the lemon one, YUM!
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Perhaps my kids are an anomaly for that age group, but I think all of them would have been happy with that gift of Trader Joe’s seasoning. They range in age from 19-25 and all of them cook, even my two sons. They figured it out when living in college apts w/o meal plans. They certainly would never had made rude comments about it!
My 23 y/o son was just in Spain for Thanksgiving and raved about a spicy olive oil he had there. He took a picture of the bottle and I managed to find it - it will be in his stocking and I know he will be excited I found it.
I wish I had a picture of my 25 y/o’s spice cabinet - her husband loves to grill and they have every different combo!
Not all 20-somethings would be ungrateful for spices!
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One year for a white elephant exchange at work, I bought one of the Penzey’s 4 jar baking boxes. You’d have thought it was gold or something.
My early 30s daughters would have appreciated the TJs basket, although they cook and bake a lot. They also know enough to smile and look pleased with whatever they get.
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One of my kids was ‘emotional’ as a toddler and grade schooler and could melt down at birthday parties or Christmas parties, even as a guest She’d get a goodie bag that wasn’t exactly like her sister’s and get upset. So we practiced being a good guest (or host) I told her that she had to just say thank you and I’d fix it later (get her the same red cup or exchange the Barbie for the one she wanted). Once I did fix it, she learned it wasn’t the end of the world. Parties were much easier and I don’t think she would ever, then or now, be so rude as to complain about a gift.
I’d think a 25 year old would have learned to just say thank you or nothing at all if my 4 year old could do it.
Ironically, this kids was 8 when she asked if Santa could bring clothes and I said yes, but that I didn’t think her sister would want clothes. I’d spent a lot of years getting them the same things because otherwise she’d be disappointed (sister didn’t care one way or the other). She thought about it for 3 days and said yes, she’d be okay with getting something (from Santa, not from me) different than her sister. This year she found out what her sister got from me (sent a week ago through Macy’s) and she wanted to know if she was getting the same things. They are 28! (she wasn’t but now is getting the same things.)
They got the same birthday presents from me this year too. It’s easier to buy 2.
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My kids rarely have ever gotten identical gifts (except checks). Their interests, needs and wants are different, so their gifts are as well. They never fuss about differences and never have.
You have a girl and a boy who are different ages. I have two girls who are close in age (were in the same class in school). Very different personalities, but still got the same gifts. Sometimes different colors, but often the same. Same bikes (bells on different sides as one is left handed and one right), similar Barbies, two sleds, etc. One has a Dec birthday and one a Jan, so usually got the same or very similar birthday presents too.
They have a male cousin who is between them in age, and girl and boy cousins who are 3 years older. Grandparents almost always got all 5 the same gifts. The 5 were all very close growing up, but all very different personalities.
My kids were only 2 years & 5 days apart but very different. They’ve always had different personalities.
I have a sister two years younger. My Mom always got us the same gifts just different colors or slightly different. I think it was helpful.
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As posted in Gift thread, our TJ waxed amaryllis bulbs is doing great. But… I do want to mention that 2 of the 6 recipients reported a white mold on arrival. One threw out immediately and another a week later. Perhaps just as well because this fun little gift has gotten expensive to mail, especially for the folks that get only a few other little trinket gifts.
The waxed amaryllis bulbs we bought from Costco for BIL were huge and as far as I could see had no mold and were sprouting nicely. I’m not sure if he ever gave one to his D (my niece), but we gave him a set of 3. He hasn’t sent any photos of them blooming but I hope they do/did.
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I’m loving the cheeseburger sliders I made with Trader Joe’s “cheddar cheese with caramelized onion”.
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