We had a very laid-back holiday, and most of the gifts were GCs or things that had already been purchased (ski passees). This is probably the first time not one thing had to be exchanged.
The winner was the Bomba slippers the kids gave me. They haven’t left my feet since I opened them. I thought the hype was overblown, but they seriously are the most comfortable slippers. They are perfect for me as I don’t like anything too hot or heavy. There are just enough, and somehow they feel highly cushioned without a thick sole. You can even sleep in them.
I asked for (and received) a Chappy Wrap blanket. I like it, but it’s not what I expected. And DH ordered the wrong size despite explicit instructions. I’d like to send it back for the correct size, but I’m pretty sure it won’t be worth it.
My kids followed instructions (i.e. my list). The best thing was the Jo Malone Grapefruit Cologne, which I love. There were a few items on the list which they did not buy, but I will likely buy for myself.
My SIL’s family gave me a gift card to Barnes and Noble- I’m always good with that!
I got those too! I’m going to be on an almost 18 hour plane ride soon and thought they would be perfect for my trip…my DD actually bought me two pair (she hit the 40% off sale).
Big win for DH was a new pair of light weight lined leather gloves that fit. Bonus. Amazon screwed up and they ended up costing…nothing.
My two kids and I have a Facebook message every year to put up a wish list. This year, everybody did well, with simple gifts like socks and vinyl records. I got some fun watercolor supplies, which I threw out there on a whim. My husband got nice warm shirts and binoculars for our little forays. I completely failed my son, however, when I misread his size and bought him giant clothing. Plus, his request for generic teeshirts that won’t draw attention on camera ( he’s a director for a tech website) was completely and hilariously misunderstood by me. Well, at least we had fun.
I received a Lego floral arrangement kit that D & I assembled together and put in a nice vase. Also received a small iguana wooden puzzle (70-80 pieces) that I assembled and then took apart for H to assemble and then he’ll take it apart & have D assemble. When S arrives in a few weeks he will get to assemble it & bring it home for his wife to have a chance.
I think the bubble kits and bowling sets and Lego kits were well received, as were pepperidge farm holiday cookies. D bought H fleece-lined pants for upcoming trip. (H tends to be cold & the size fit perfectly.)
The “kids” truly seemed to like the gifts we got them. Almost all were from lists we asked for and received, but I did venture off the lists for a couple, and they were well received and accompanied by gift receipts. My son seemed to enjoy the pics I printed off to go along with his weeks of cycling training (he pays quite a bit for training, and he had the fewest gifts to unwrap, so I gave him 4 weeks instead of one month)so that was kind of fun. I really liked to cloisonné humpback whale “ornament” I helped my husband find. It won’t get hung on a tree - I have a collection of cloisonné sea life ornaments that hang in my room.
Fails - my step-d loves to buy me makeup like things, but it is often “tested” or open before I ever receive it, so I never use it. This year was same as normal. Unfortunately, she gave similar gifts to my DIL, so hers probably won’t be used either. DILs was accompanied by a Vera Bradley or knock-off bag, which is totally not her style - she already offered it to me (not my style either).
D and SIL - they acquired a beautiful piano from his parents, one he grew up with. I found a solid brass (heavy and beautiful) piano lamp on FB marketplace fr them - a complete surprise and they loved it.
D2 - 2 “surprises” that she was excited about - one, a beginner needlepoint kit that does NOT look like a child’s kit (thank you to CC members for the guidance) and a mini crock pot - she is not a crockpot cooking girl but loves to make hot dips for work and friend gatherings and doesn’t have anything like this to keep it warm.
Family Secret Santa - I had my younger brother (lol, “younger” in his 50’s). He loves to make cocktails and likes a Mid Century Modern Vibe. I found a very cool 60’s Libby Glass (our town happens to be the home of Libby Glass) Cocktail Set - 4 martini like glasses, a pitcher and a glass stir stick - clear with MCM black polka dots - found at an estate sale on 25% off day for a total of $10! (I also gifted him some other things for secret Santa)
We had one requested gift that from the perspective of humans and birds was a big winner, and from the perspective of the squirrels was a big fail. A stand for our bird feeders that includes a squirrel baffle:
H got me a digital picture frame! I’ve had one since 2012, but that one needs a flash drive and it doesn’t support the iPhone’s picture format. So I haven’t put any new ones on in several years. I’ve already put on about 1000 and I still need to get a bunch off of the old flash drive. I love how I can do it from my phone, it also puts two portrait ones at a time, and it can do videos!
FDIL1’s family gave us a food box that arrived while we were gone. I’ve ordered tons of stuff for people, but never saw this option. It was two boxes of Auntie’s pretzels/bites. You just beat them up and brush them with butter and it comes with three kinds of seasons. I may have just had one for lunch. Soooo good. I may borrow this idea in the future for someone else.
We gave our kids money and then little things. All seemed to be appreciated.
Happily, no fails to speak of! H gifted me a book of art from the Louvre; D gave me several art and French themed gifts (some awesome pencils and an adult coloring book of French scenes); lots of fun little food treats, skin and hair products. D was happy with her gifts - a Clare V bag, some Parisian themed pajamas, little things in the skin, hair and beauty arena.
I always ask H what he wants for dinner and he’s usually indecisive, so I got him a set of dice that when you roll them it offers options like Mexican, Chinese, American, Italian…he is very hard to buy for. D got him a Bills keychain with his nickname. It was a fun week.
Oh yeah, had the Rice Factory in LA and NYC mail boxes of fancy rice from Japan to several loved ones, with flaked tuna and seaweed. That seemed pretty well received.
We gave my son a throw blanket with four big pictures on it from his semester abroad. He really seemed to love it, and since his apartment is always cold, he’s basically got blankets in every room. For that same boy I found a box of 12 different travel size bottles of hot sauce - he was thrilled to get that.
Second son was very happy to get new earbuds, and excited by the idea that they will work and work better, but not so excited by the fact that the case is bigger and less comfortable in a pocket.
I had no great gifts for my husband, most were “fine”. One fail, I got him a milk frother thing for his coffee and I’m pretty sure he wants to send it back.
I told my boys I wanted a minky couture blanket, but to only buy it on sale, to get whatever size but I didn’t care what color. By the time they went to buy it only an ugly color was left. So not knowing what to do, they bought that AND they bought a prettier color similar blanket from anthropologie so I could pick which one to keep. Anthropologie blanket is like $10 less, so I kept that one. But that means I didn’t unfurl the minky from its packaging, which I really wanted to do. I like the anthropologie one, but am still wondering what the other felt like (and if it’s worth the hype). Plus I just know I’m going to be the one dealing with returning it…
Only “fail” for me was a gift from my mom. She got me a green sweater. It’s a perfectly lovely green sweater. She must think I look good in green sweaters, as this is the fifth year in a row she’s given me one. I donated one after wearing it a few times because I really didn’t like it, two are pretty casual so fine, but can’t wear five days a week when I’m in the office. One is a cardigan, the new one is nice enough to wear to work so it’s a little different, but for the love of god. No more green sweaters.
. One of the kids bought hiking poles and the other a GC to lululemon. All appreciated!