What did Santa bring you this year?

[Johnny L.A.]

My sneaky roommate gave me a gift basket from Café du Monde: Two 'Peace, Love & Beignets' mugs, a black fleur de lis T-shirt, an orange tea towel, one green and one orange coozie, one green and one orange coaster, a box of beignet mix, and a can of coffee with chicory. And the basket, of course. And a card for Subway so I can have lunch for a week. :)

[Der Trihs]

An ant infestation.

[silenus]

A new robe, slippers, a nice storm jacket from Duluth Trading, some tools, and like Der Trihs, more ants than we can handle. Stupid rain.

[BigBertha]

Gary Patterson calendar (always the best), black leggings, thong underwear, playing cards and dice, and some $.

[Shirley Ujest]

In the Gift of Infamy this year, my husband bought me a Toilet Seat..



I am such a lucky woman.

[norinew]

I got a nook e-reader! Yay!! And my sweet, sweet hubby already put more than 600 books on it!

My daughter got me some great Bath and Body Works stuff in the Sweet Pea fragrance, and it all came in a sparkly pink acrylic cocktail shaker! :)

[Count Blucher]

*A new PC (the old one fried died). Now all I have to do is get Apple, given the new PC & the new installation of ITUNES, to give me back all of the apps that I have paid for.
(Most were free, so this should work out, but I am Very glad I bought my Passport external hard drive a few years back.)

*Some game points to use for a site I game at.

[Shirley Ujest]

I got a nook e-reader! Yay!! And my sweet, sweet hubby already put more than 600 books on it!

My daughter got me some great Bath and Body Works stuff in the Sweet Pea fragrance, and it all came in a sparkly pink acrylic cocktail shaker! :)

600 books!111!! Wow!


(Tomorrow we will look online for a laptop for me. I don't know what I am looking for so any suggestions or online places with deals would be greatly appreciated. I need one for writing and surfing. I'm a simple gal.)

[Idle Thoughts]

Jeans, Chocolate, a Subway gift card and Stephen King's Full Dark, No Stars (best present ever).

[Queen Tonya]

Candles, lotions, new work shirts which are greatly appreciated, coffee mugs, towels, books, Blue Sun t-shirt, color-coordinated cutting boards and knives and basting brushes, flannel sheets, hair doobobbies and a few gift cards.

Great year!

[FloatyGimpy]

My best (male) friend bought me a vibrating sponge. It's going to be a Merry Christmas indeed.

[PlainJain]

In the Gift of Infamy this year, my husband bought me a Toilet Seat..



I am such a lucky woman.
What was special about it? This would have been quite nice. (http://www.google.com/products/catalog?client=safari&rls=en&q=washlet&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=7330148849491375921&ei=Zi0WTaeKAovksQOm1OjQAg&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=image&resnum=4&ved=0CEYQ8gIwAw#)

[MsWhatsit]

I got pajamas, a few books, and a weird handmade....thing, with ribbons, from my mom-in-law. MrWhatsit tells me it is supposed to be used for easily transporting a casserole or pie dish. Well, that's.... useful. I think.

My best gift was a package of several pairs of thigh-high striped socks from sockdreams.com. I asked for one pair! One! And I got six!!

[Czarcasm]

Moving thread from IMHO to MPSIMS, per request of OP.

[Procrustus]

nothing. Just the way I like it.

Although i'm taking the family to Mexico in a few days, so that's a gift.

[Johnny L.A.]

I asked for one pair! One! And I got six!!

It's a mitzvah!

[Inner Stickler]

2 blenders, kitchen accoutrements, wineglasses and a cast iron skillet. We're leaving in a few minutes for the other side of the family and more presents. If I get another blender, I'm going to be a teensy bit put out.

[Surly Chick]

I got a kindle (yay!!), a ruby ring (my birthstone), a bracelet, a cashmere scarf and an "As Seen on TV" contraption to put lotion on my back. Unfortunately my pop doesn't have wireless here so I have to wait until I go to my bro's this afternoon to play with my kindle. Altho I confess to playing with the dictionary and already ordered myself a hot pink cover.

[samclem]

Mark Twain's autobiography and some gift cards to the West Point Market in Akron. Jambalaya coming up.

[Hanna]

A Keurig Platinum coffee brewer. Love.

[Zsofia]

I got a Kinect I can't use because the living room is too small, lovely jewelry from my dad, a couple sweaters, a lottery ticket I won two bucks off, a cake stand, and socks. Oh, and my boyfriend got me warm pajamas.

[Shirley Ujest]

What was special about it? This would have been quite nice. (http://www.google.com/products/catalog?client=safari&rls=en&q=washlet&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=7330148849491375921&ei=Zi0WTaeKAovksQOm1OjQAg&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=image&resnum=4&ved=0CEYQ8gIwAw#)

Well, our other toilet seat looks like hell and I must have lamented in my outside voice about it and my husband paid attention. This ranks right up there with the hockey stick he gave me for our first Xmas. ( Which he still uses 20+ years later.)

[E-Sabbath]

A shirt (very nice), a fingertip wrench (small piece of plastic you wedge a nut in. Possibly best gift this christmas), a LED forehead mounted flashlight (Got three already), some razor blades, and a Casio synthesizer keyboard of dubious use and quality that won't actually fit in my apartment.

Gave: Blu-Ray player with wifi, 3X yoga DVDs, Geek Cookbook (O'Rilley Publishing, strongly reccomended), Blu-Ray of 'It Might Get Loud', Blu-Ray of 'Girl With The Dragon Tattoo', Mark Twain's Autobiography (Vol 1)(Kindle)

Also gave: One frisbee (dog) one flat otter (dog) one fuzzy Kong Wubba Squid (dog) and one Monkeyfist (Dog)

Note: Blu-Ray was after the Parentals complaining about not having one, also it lets them move the old DVD player downstairs to the work-out room. Yoga DVDs are to replace the ancient yoga VHS tapes.

[phouka]

My younger brother brought me CDs of music from St. Paul's in London, Notre Dame in Paris, and St. Peter's in Rome. My older brother got me the first three volumes of Phil Foglio's Girl Genius. Both of them here for the holiday.

My parents got me Season 2 of Bones which I am completely addicted too. My mom is noticeably less stressed and happier with my brothers here, and last night, working in employee health, she may very well have saved a woman's life (lady has pulmonary fibrosis and went into bradycardia. Turned gray. Mom's an RN. She took one look and called for paramedics, who took one look, tucked the lady under their arms and raced her to the nearest hospital. Then Mom talked to the lady's manager to tell him he'd done the right thing. He couldn't have known how sick she was. He felt a lot better.)

Presents from friends include wonderful fuzzy socks (which my dog thinks are her bestest ever chew toys), a Murano glass pendant, an espresso maker, two Amazon kindle books (finally Amazon has made gifting ebooks possible!), and an Amazon gift card.

There is more chocolate than you can shake a stick at.

And yesterday morning, I found a hummingbird, wet and half-frozen. I mixed some honey and water for him, sat in the sunlight, and breathed on him, held him in my warm hands, and let the sun warm him. I dripped honey-water on my fingers and watched his needle thin tongue zip in and out. He fluffed a couple of times, spread his wings a couple of times, and after just thirty minutes, he recovered enough to take off. Little bastard didn't even say thanks.

Best Christmas ever.

[Rick]

I got some maple bacon meat rub and the book Bacon A Love Story.
I win!
:D
Plus a bunch of other books, videos, scotch and stuff but it pales when compared to bacon.

[Ellen Cherry]

Johnny and Shirley's two loot threads merged.

Ellen Christmas
MPSIMS Moderator

[Surly Chick]

My younger brother brought me CDs of music from St. Paul's in London, <snip>
Oooh, I have a couple of cds from there and I love them! Enjoy!

[katie1341]

A set of Global knives, a cookbook, and a gift card to Trader Joe's. Who wants to come to dinner?

[Johnny L.A.]

A set of Global knives, a cookbook, and a gift card to Trader Joe's. Who wants to come to dinner?

Love to. Only, I have a 5.5 lb prime rib getting ready to go into the oven.

[Rhiannon8404]

Santa brought a new TV for the front room...for everyone to enjoy. Most of my pressies were knitting related: yarn, stitck markers, pattern books, 2011 Knitting desk callendar with over 100 patterns.

[Southern Yankee]

I got a bottle of Pappy Van Winkle's 12-year old bourbon; a new corduroy fedora; a book light; and the utter joy of my 7-year old waking me up at 4 AM because he was too excited to sleep and getting to walk him downstairs to see if Santa came.

[Lynn Bodoni]

A Nook (with a nice cover), a shelving system (for all the dead tree books I already have, some owl magnets, and several books.

I gave electrolysis and some Japanese style placemats and dishes to my daughter, and a whole shitload of various woodworking clamps and sawhorse braces to my husband, and a Scooby Doo activity and coloring book to him too.

I sent a small cooked ham with some Swiss cheese and nuts and dried fruits to my parents. They have enough things as it is, and they enjoy having edible treats that they can actually eat. Oh, sure, they'd love cookies and fruitcake, but nuts and fruits and cheese and ham are things that they can eat more of.

[Walmarticus]

I got a Kindle. I'm still not sure if it's useful or a stupid piece of shit.

[dhkendall]

I got a nook e-reader! Yay!! And my sweet, sweet hubby already put more than 600 books on it!

Was wondering what a "nookie reader" was for a while until I re-read.

(Well, what *else* would her husband give her?)

[MPB in Salt Lake]

Good ol' Santa arranged to take care of my airfare for my annual flight to New Orleans in the spring for Jazzfest.

I guess he dosen't take the whole "naughty or nice" thing too seriously these days......

[CanvasShoes]

A completely snow and cold free day. It's in the 50s, and acts like it wants to rain again, but for the first time in 40 years, I don't have to see that @Q#$#@@$$#@%!! white stuff!

LOVE IT!

[gladtobeblazed]

All I got for Christmas was a nasty hangover. :(

[Clockwork Jackal]

A pair of earrings, a book, a little necklace holder thingy, and a 2011 Subaru Outback.

[congodwarf]

My boyfriend gave me a Wii classic controller so I can play Ocarina of Time and he also gave me Punch-Out (boxing game for Wii). My mom gave us a couple of games. She also gave me my birthday present early, a new set of TFAL pots and pans!!!!! From my boyfriend's parents I got a new winter coat, a shirt, and a wizard hat bead for my Pandora bracelet (something I never wanted but am now glad I have because the hat is wicked cool). His parents also gave us a Shark steamer. His sister gave us a couple Christmas decorations to replace some of the ones that broke last year when our tree wouldn't stop falling over.

It was a really good Christmas. We had it at our house for the first time and everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves. I loved not having the hour drive each way to my boyfriend's parents' house and his mom really seemed to enjoy not having to cook or clean (although she did give me a lot of help with the timing of my cooking).

[Buttercup Smith]

A ham, a mug with a $5 scratch off (no win), a plate of cookies (not very good), a case of beer, and new air conditioners that will arrive on Tues. just in time for a cold front.

Gave nothing, nada, zilch.

[Buttercup Smith]

Tried to edit. Missed the window. Saw that the post made me seem like an ass. I (we) gave each grandchild $$ and I will have to help pay for the air conditioners which are mini splits and do have heat.

[a35362]

I got a check from my dad and his wife, and a $100 Amazon gift card from my baby brother (we are spread across the country and don't get together). I had a Kindle on my Amazon WishList, and his gift message said, "This is 55% of a Kindle."

Actually I think it's more than 55%. Such a sweet kid (well, he's 40, but still).

I gave my older brother, my baby brother, and my dad and his wife nice boxes from Harry & David; my older brother (who has been having financial difficulties through no fault of his own) got a Wal-Mart gift card; my baby brother got a smaller Wal-Mart card and a Lands' End card and also a book and a Blu-Ray movie from his Amazon WishList; my dad got an Amazon gift card from his WishList and his wife got two CDs that I hope she will like (last time I got her something she already had).

So not too exciting, but I like being able to give people stuff they want and can use and enjoy. We have a lot to be thankful for.

[Zsofia]

A completely snow and cold free day. It's in the 50s, and acts like it wants to rain again, but for the first time in 40 years, I don't have to see that @Q#$#@@$$#@%!! white stuff!

LOVE IT!
That's hilarious - we're about to throw either a parade or a riot because it's going to snow on Christmas for quite literally the first time ever!

[MeanJoe]

Thule rooftop ski/snowboard cargo box.
North Face Century jacket.
Boconi wallet.
Wool scarf.
Skull Candy helmet drop-in audio set.
Burton mittens.
Steeler's vintage logo hoodie.
CK button down shirt.
Macro Leatherman.
Riyobi leaf blower.

Some other things which are slipping my mind. Yeah, it has been a good year!

[dogbutler]

I got bacon, a cd player, and the dogs got treats and toys.

[chizzuk]

Lots of Red Sox stuff, a Wii game, candy, and some money.

Gave: books, a DVD, and a desktop Zen garden.

[Little Nemo]

Books, dvd's, a tortilla press, a bottle of wine.

[longhair75]

MY lovely wife gave me a Crimson Trace Laser sight for my Ruger LCP pistol. My kids gave me Cabela's gift cards. I bought my wife two pairs of diamond ear rings and gave my kids cash.

[Keith Berry]

A nice wool coat and some gift cards to Barnes And Noble and Starbucks.

[ducati]

MY lovely wife gave me a Crimson Trace Laser sight for my Ruger LCP pistol. My kids gave me Cabela's gift cards. I bought my wife two pairs of diamond ear rings and gave my kids cash.

Shouldn't that be HER LCP? :D
My Mrs. has the CT grips on her 442. They're awesome.

And she gave me the only thing I asked for: a Nikon SB-900 (http://www.nikonusa.com/Nikon-Products/Product/Flashes/4807/SB-900-AF-Speedlight.html)

I've been flashing everyone all day!

[Drain Bead]

I apparently complained within earshot of my husband and mother-in-law that I'd lost a pair of gloves, because my husband got me two and my MIL got me one. So now I have plenty of gloves to lose.

I also got two omelet pans, some new wine glasses, a cordless hand vacuum (been wanting one of those for quite some time), an under-the-counter can opener (ditto), and my big present, a Kinect and two extra games for it.

My almost two-year-old daughter got the crap spoiled out of her. Her big presents were a play kitchen and play food to go with it, and a toy chest/bench that has a built in xylophone and jingle bell rollers on it. She got a Little People castle set and various other Little People toys (a fire truck being her favorite so far), a play tent and tunnel, a Sit and Spin, a potty and a baby doll that goes potty too (she's obsessed with the potty), some tub crayons and colored bath fizzies, a bunch of books and puzzles, a soccer net, TWO toy purses from two different family members, and umpteen stuffed animals, including a tickle me Elmo that looks like it's masturbating.

[Siam Sam]

Santa brought me a fifth of Olmeca gold tequila and the wife a bottle of Kahlua.

[CanvasShoes]

That's hilarious - we're about to throw either a parade or a riot because it's going to snow on Christmas for quite literally the first time ever!

Heee.

The *ahem* grass truly is greener eh?

[MPB in Salt Lake]

...and umpteen stuffed animals, including a tickle me Elmo that looks like it's masturbating.

"...looks like" eh? :D

[longhair75]

Friend ducati,
Shouldn't that be HER LCP?
My Mrs. has the CT grips on her 442. They're awesome.

My wife's pistol is a Beretta Cheetah 84fs. She isn't sure about laser sighting and is interested in trying out the LCP. I have only owned it for about a month. My usual carry has been a Beretta M9, but the LCP is sure easier to conceal......

[Zsofia]

Heee.

The *ahem* grass truly is greener eh?
In the literal sense that tomorrow by noon we'll probably see the green grass again?

[Maiira]

I got a Kindle and a digital camera, among other things, from my parents. My boyfriend got me a pair of earrings and a pretty watch. My sister and brother got me a giftcard and a book, respectively. Other relatives sent checks and fudge. Best haul I've ever gotten, I think. It's a smaller one than I've had in previous years, but I don't care. I am 100% happy with everything. And everyone I gave presents to liked what I got them, so that made me feel good, too.

Now I just have to stop myself from emptying my bank account in the Kindle store. Thing makes spending money so easy it should be illegal.

[Meagan]

From the boyfriend:
A beautiful apron with my name embroidered on it, a griddle, and a steak dinner
From his family:
two loaves of homemade banana bread, some wall decorations, and a huge set of picture frames
From my parents:
sweet cold hard cash
From my grandparents:
a purse with my name embroidered (a theme this year?) on it, a fancy picture frame, and a family heirloom china set

[E-Sabbath]

MY lovely wife gave me a Crimson Trace Laser sight for my Ruger LCP pistol. My kids gave me Cabela's gift cards. I bought my wife two pairs of diamond ear rings and gave my kids cash.

You'll shoot your eye out!

[Bam Boo Gut]

A toaster, no more toasting in the frying pan. Toast!
A garden rake, no more looking at the clippings on the lawn.
Most exciting of all a rechargeable mosquito bat, for some reason it's also got a "headlamp" with the instructions "it is every to refresh 15 hours in ten in time" pap pap

[Lacunae Matata]

Received:
Exactly what I asked for from my husband - a new griddle pan to replace one that finally died this autumn, and for my Mommy-mobile (mini van) to get fixed. A pretty bracelet from my daughter. A candle from my sister-in-law. A new crockpot, a set of dishes, a Ped Egg, and cash from my parents-in-law. Awesome!

Gave:
A new TV for the front room for the entire family.
An XBox 360 (250G!) for my son, along with a couple of games for it; a new watch; game accessories.
A netbook for the 10-year-old girl, plus a set of silver and topaz jewelry and ear-piercing (kind of for her birthday, too.)
A gear bag for my husband, plus two pairs of cargo pants, a pair of slacks, a pair of sneakers, two shirts, and a new dress watch.
Toys for the baby.
Plane tickets and hotel room for the eldest daughter and her boyfriend to fly in Tuesday, plus a pair of emerald and diamond earrings for her. Gotta find some BS gift(s) for him - I'm thinking gift cards and/or cash.
Food gifts for bro- and sis-in-law.
Toys for the 3-year-old niece.
A battery jump-starter with air compressor for father-in-law (those things are awesome!)
And accessories for the new RV for mother-in-law (plus I shopped for and cooked Christmas breakfast and dinner, since she has been tied up with my bro-in-law being in the hospital for the past 10 days.)

My parents adamantly refused to receive gifts this year. They'll give cash to the kids, and will feed us a great seafood meal later this week, and will "sneak" some cash into my purse while I'm "not looking," to help pay for my daughter's visit.

I love this Christmas! (And Mr. Matata is completely amazed that I paid for everything, without borrowing from savings or using credit - especially after the past year of his three knee surgeries and disability leaves, a new baby, etc. I AM awesome! :D)

[lindsaybluth]

An awesome Mediterranean cookbook, a griddle, a toaster oven, a small blender, and cash.

[Wheeljack]

The first four Dragon Warrior games on the NES. Best Christmas ever, and a long time coming!

[PunditLisa]

Some fuzzy boots, a leather sectional couch, some books, and an iTunes gift card. :)

[Savannah]

Jeans, Chocolate, a Subway gift card and Stephen King's Full Dark, No Stars (best present ever).

Me too! On the new Stephen King book. And Bruce Springsteen's The Promise. A stocking full of little treats. A gift certificate to my favourite bookstore. Wine. Chocolates. A lovely set of mugs and plates for Christmas cookies and coffee or tea. Earrings and a pendant.

Lucky me!

The best part of Christmas was honestly having turkey dinner with friendly family and spending time with their girls, 10 and 7. Before dinner, we took our little dog to the park and they gave me a tour of the extensive playground and fields and the girls played hard on the equipment and we ran around and had a blast. After dinner, we got a violin recital, a piano recital and lots of review of their scrapbooks and art. Being around kids who want to share with you is wonderful. It's nice to see the world through their eyes again.

On our way home, laden with leftovers, my husband and I did a little tour of Christmas lights, and that was a really nice wind-down. The town was pretty quiet.

The dog, after spending time with the excited girls, was pretty exhausted by the time we got home. Hey, the dog went on a playground slide for the first time ever. Big day for her, too. :)

[Khadaji]

About a 180 bucks in Borders book cards. A buncha books. A pair of socks. A T Shirt that with a white name tag that says: Hello My Name is Inigo Montoya (etc.) Home made cookies from Mom (always.) A drill and screw driver.

... I'm forgetting some things. My memory is not what it once was.

[Mangetout]

A vintage Singer sewing machine (in working order)
Metropolis recontructed & restored on DVD
A big tub of Plasticene (from my kids. I keep mentioning my intention to do some more stop frame animation)
a beautiful rubberwood endgrain chopping board
stacks of interesting food items incl. tins of confit duck, black truffles, chocolate

[rocking chair]

the early christmas loot.

gift cards to barnes and noble, target, and petsmart. a darth vader spatula, magnetic polar bear clip holder, a stocking of candy and pears from h&d, bottle of sparkling juice and cookies, and cash. the cats have new catnip toys, treats, and cans of food.

the cash came in very handy for "blizzard" supplies today.

i have 12 more shopping days for christmas, mostly for fellow orthodox friends who celebrate on jan. 7th.

[vivalostwages]

A watch, cash, crocheted blanket, bracelet, body lotion and mist, In N out gift cards, a wall clock, computer mouse, 2 Mp3 players and speakers for them (Okay, I gave myself those last few, back to the clock), candy, tea, coffee.

[vivalostwages]

snip umpteen stuffed animals, including a tickle me Elmo that looks like it's masturbating.

Got photos?

[Jack Batty]

Some shirts, some underwear, a desk calendar, gift certificates to Best Buy, some glasses for the kitchen, the first two seasons of How I Met Your Mother, a new cord for my guitar, a Kodak mini-video camera (which is pretty sweet), and a loft wedge (the kind with the square grooves that aren't going to be available anymore starting this year).

And just now, I was buying a late present for my daughter on Steam (Battlefield: Bad Company 2) that was $15 yesterday but is $6.80 today ... so I snagged a copy for myself.

I gave out some decent stuff this year too -- hits all around--, not to mention that there were hardly any arguments and I'd say all in all, a pretty good holiday.

[needscoffee]

Coffee, a coffee cup, four kinds of chocolates, a gift card to Barnes & Noble, two books, a German pickle ornament, a reading light, and a roasting pan.

[lisalan]

A KOBO ereader. I love it!!!!!!!Oh and 100.00.

[faithfool]

A handmade hippie skirt, knitting loom book, New Balance tennis shoes and a quilt, to name a few.

[thirdwarning]

A very lovely cardigan, so I can maybe move up a bit from pulling on a sweatshirt when I'm (always) cold. A rolled hem foot for my sewing machine. (It's for the wrong brand, but I can exchange it.) And coming soon, a cross stitch kit of the castle at Disney World. When it's done, my husband will love having it up on the wall, and in the meantime I get to do it. It's intricate and should take a while, but I'm hoping to have it done in time for the Fair in August.

Also and very pretty vase/candle holder from 10,000 Villages, and a suprise yet to come from the daughter who thought she was having her presents shipped here, but instead had then sent to her house in NM. She'll send it when she gets home.

The best part? All of us in the same place at the same time for the first time since July.

[xanthous]

warm & fuzzy slippers (for inside)
warm & fuzzy crocs (to wear if I have to run outside)
[I hate wearing shoes]
cuddl duds long underwear/top to wear as a base layer when I go hiking
The Sound of Music on Blu-Ray
a beautiful cashmere scarf from my boss

And the best gift? Being back home in Ohio with my family. And a white Christmas to boot. Best. Christmas. Ever.

[Dung Beetle]

Everyone at work gave me chocolate (except for the guy who gave me candlesticks, which I traded for chocolate. In my defense, I think he got his packages mixed up).

My husband gave me a shirt and some bras that we shopped for together last week.

My daughter gave me the cat-a-day calendar I’d asked for.

My son gave me eyeshadow. Fun!

My mom gave us house-sitting, for when we go skiing in a few weeks. It’s really a great gift, as it keeps me from having to board the cats.

My brother gave us a spice rack.

[kopek]

An 03-A3 and a 1897 Winchester take-down - 12 bore, 2&3/4 and really tight.

[norinew]

My mom gave us house-sitting, for when we go skiing in a few weeks. It’s really a great gift, as it keeps me from having to board the cats.
Don't know about you, but for me, getting/giving gifts that are truly useful is waaaaaayyyyy better than gifts that just cost $$$$. One year, when we were more or less broke, I gave my in-laws the gift of one home-cooked meal a week for the whole year. Since they are elderly and my MIL doesn't really cook anymore (hence, they live on frozen dinners and canned convenience foods), it worked out great! I could cook for another couple just about as easily and almost as inexpensively as I could cook for just my family, and they got 'real food' at least once a week!

[salinqmind]

I got a complete surprise. Was expecting the usual - a t-shirt with a cat on it/coffee mug/funny book/socks...I got several bottles of fancy mustards, vinegars, and infused oils! Macadamia nut with lime and chili. Another kind with lemon and thyme. A bottle of oil with bits of black truffles in it! Luckily, a cookbook cleverly titled "Cooking With Infused Oils" came with them....Spiedini of Prawns With Pancetta and Oregano Dressing, anyone? Pastina Risotto with Roasted Peppers and Broccoli?

[Larry Mudd]

A KOBO ereader. I love it!!!!!!!I got one too, and am surprised by how much I like it. Never would have thought that an e-reader could actually be better than an actual book; I'm reading later at night because it's lighter than a physical book and I can turn the pages with less hassle and without feeling like I am disturbing my wife.

I am embarrassed to admit that I spent a little while trying to figure out how to get the printed "mock display" it shipped with off, and went ":eek:" when I plugged it in to charge and realized that it was the display.

[salinqmind]

Don't know about you, but for me, getting/giving gifts that are truly useful is waaaaaayyyyy better than gifts that just cost $$$$. One year, when we were more or less broke, I gave my in-laws the gift of one home-cooked meal a week for the whole year. Since they are elderly and my MIL doesn't really cook anymore (hence, they live on frozen dinners and canned convenience foods), it worked out great! I could cook for another couple just about as easily and almost as inexpensively as I could cook for just my family, and they got 'real food' at least once a week!

This is a wonderful idea for the elderly. I do the same for my mom. Older people don't need more 'stuff'. Cleaning out a storage closet, shovelling their driveway, taking the trash out to the curb, going through that file cabinet of papers that have been in there since 1978, and of course bringing over something home cooked, and something that can go into the freezer, that stuff is really appreciated.

[Dung Beetle]

Don't know about you, but for me, getting/giving gifts that are truly useful is waaaaaayyyyy better than gifts that just cost $$$$.

Hell yeah, it was really the best thing I got, when I consider that I'd have had to take the cats to the vet, then pay about $80 to board them in a little cage, then worry about them being miserable the whole time we were gone! Also, Mom's low on dough, so it worked out well for her too.

[Sigmagirl]

Mark Twain's autobiography and some gift cards to the West Point Market in Akron. Jambalaya coming up.
How can you buy ingredients for jambalaya? I can never get out of the cheese section? :p
My husband reduced my lengthy Amazon wish list by about half. Now my iPod is full. Now I get to go buy a new iPod!

[malkavia]

Santa didn't bring me a thing, I guess he must still be checking that list pretty close.

However, thanks to an amazing family, boyfriend and boyfriends family, I had a fantastic Christmas.

From boyfriend: DVD sets (with blu ray for when we get one and a digital copy) of Up! and Despicable Me (including inflatable minion!), a blu-ray gift set of Elf which included an Elf stocking, chewing gum for my stocking, a brand new LAPTOP (omgomgomg!) and a wireless mouse.

From my family: A mini-cupcake maker which came with an icing bag and several decorating tips, cute fuzzy socks, a kitchen scrubbie brush shaped like a flower, a kitchenaid slicer/grater attachment (for the 5 qt kitchenaid I inherited from my mom a few weeks ago b/c she got a new one), a Keurig with a box of coffee for it (and a k-cup!), a night at the Victorian Rose Bed and Breakfast in Ventura (which the boyfriend and I are collecting on tonight!), and various smelly lotions, makeup type things, hair accessories, a lovely pair of earrings.

From boyfriend's family: Gift cards to Starbucks and AMC Movies, candy, gorgeous mug, more fuzzy socks, a hand-decorated recipe book with blank recipe cards and stickem corners to hold them into the book from boyfriends mom. She even started me off with two family recipes and told me I'm welcome to pick her brain for more family recipes.. this was a really special gift for me. :) Her family has some great recipes. I'm also asking my friends and family to fill out a couple of favorite recipes each, so by the end of this year, I should have a gorgeous recipe book filled with yummy food and love.

From Xmas Bingo and White Elephant (traditions for boyfriends family): Bunco, a pedometer (my son won it for me), Glee Trivia, (also won by my son), Isotoner gloves and a pretty perfume.

What I gave:
Boyfriend - Glee season 1, boxers, jeans, shorts, a Norelco shaver, oversized Rams hoodie, various stocking stuffers including fireworks, candy, small toys.
Son - Rockband 3, keyboard for Rockband 3, 20 questions game, belts, boxing gloves, Zelda in the original NES sleeve (oooooooh), various stocking stuffers including fireworks, candy, small toys
Family (both mine and my boyfriends): Slippers (several pair), candy, chocolates, a cupcake maker and cute socks (for my very-similar-tastes sister, haha), candle holders, coffee mugs, homemade cookies in cute tins, TeckDeck set, EZ Bake Oven & related cookie mix, baby Christmas oufit, dress up chest with fairy outfits, several kids DVDs, a nerf sword, light up sports logo hats, a pillow pet, fu dog figurines
Friend(s) - Cards and candy, a Glee calendar and a set of cute Christmas kitchen towels and potholders.

In addition to the great haul this year, I had the opportunity to have Christmas dinner with my family one night, my boyfriends family two nights (one at his aunts, one at his moms and at a chinese food place with my dad and his lovely family in Ventura. Four nights of Christmas! I'm very, very blessed.

[Misnomer]

From my dad, a nice big check (it's what he always does for birthdays and Christmas; I don't mind, and in fact I kind of count on it). I got him the complete Duchess of Duke Street series on DVD.

From my brother, a portable speaker for my iPod and a Soggy Dog towel (http://www.amazon.com/Soggy-Dog-Towel-Medium-Brown/dp/B000JNBFHU/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=I3CQ3DNAEY5M9N&colid=3FGAD2VC23E49). I got him the Lego Fallingwater set, which becomes funny when you read the list of gifts my mom gave me...

Mom went a little overboard this year:
Cash
An Amazon gift card
A blue canary nightlight (http://www.bluecanarynightlight.com/) ( :cool:)
Sheet music for some lesser-known Peggy Lee songs
Lego Fallingwater set :) (yes, my brother and I are both dorks!)
"12 Dogs of Christmas" cookies for my dog
A new music stand
A new metronome
Desperately Seeking Susan on DVD
With The Beatles by Dezo Hoffman
All of the above was on my wish list. However, she also got me one additional gift that was a total surprise: The Complete Ella Fitzgerald Song Books. 16 CDs; more than 250 songs. :eek: I'm an aspiring jazz singer, and she wanted to get me something jazz-related. MY MOM ROCKS. :D

I got her two DVDs from her wish list, a 2011 calendar of haunted places (she loves ghosts and supernatural stuff), and the 2011 Writer's Market (she's been talking about writing a book since she retired last year; it will probably never happen, but I wanted to encourage her).

My daughter got me some great Bath and Body Works stuff in the Sweet Pea fragrance, and it all came in a sparkly pink acrylic cocktail shaker! :)That's my favorite fragrance ever! I've been out of body spray for a while; I need to find the nearest Bath & Body Works.

Good ol' Santa arranged to take care of my airfare for my annual flight to New Orleans in the spring for Jazzfest.Jealous! :)