Christmas gift thread

Cool, I didn’t know you could do that kind of search on Amazon!
I wound up buying the young boys on my list a drone. The girls got a wooden block castle-building set with soldier and dragon figurines.

Neither did I, but I was growing desperate.

My grandchildren (3, 4, 6, 10 and 13) have absolutely everything they need. So do my kids (40, 32, 28). So every year we gather and go “charity shopping”. I set a budget (usually $1000 total for everyone–each has an individual budget depending on their age). We gather materials from various charities - World Vision, Samaritan’s Purse, UNESCO…and we each pick out what we want to give. “Can we feed a hungry baby? Can we help build a well for a village? What about sending a child to school? Does anybody have $10 left? We could combine and buy some chickens.” Then we cut out the pictures and make a gift book that goes under the tree. I was surprised the first year I tried this (when the oldest kids were little). But it’s become a joyful part of our Christmas. We have gift books going back 30+ years - some are rather tattered now. The little ones like to see what mommy and daddy gave when they were kids. And there are plenty of other presents from other grandparents, uncles, aunts, parents, etc. So no “deprivation” in terms of loot.

A charity I would add is Donors Choose. Its an organization for teachers so they can post what classroom supplies they need and people can give towards it. This is great if say your an alumni of a school or know a teacher.

She should get the package tomorrow. In light of today’s events, I wonder if I should tell her to open that specific gift immediately?

Pandora’s ad campaign says “show her you know her.” That’s what I want just once in my life. Not Pandora, just someone to knock me out with a gift that shows they paid attention. I got a cat knick-knack.

Yep I was gift bombed, small tokens of affection expressed today by greatful people who value my position.

I’m not a gift bomber, the season does not carry me away to spring thoughtful yet largely unwanted things on people I try to show appreciation for all year long.

So, thanks but the gifted slipper socks went in my care package to my octegenarian loved ones, as did the crochet handtowel craft. I might pass on the pumpkin mix in a glass jar. or dump it out and use the jar. The box I can reuse. :slight_smile:

Now I have to write thank you notes, right?

Penzeys had pepper samples on sale so I bought a bunch and said “Seasonings Greetings” as I handed them out to folks in my unit and the people who matter* at work.

It was a huge hit. All those people like to eat and I managed to give most of them on holiday potluck day.

*reception, records, IT techs, so forth

A few years ago I bought four crates of clementines, I forget why (drunk shopping, most likely). Every place I went (mostly bars) I’d fill my coat pockets with clementines and hand them out to random people.

I got a lot of weird looks, but people would eventually peel and eat their fruit. It was funny. When a new customer would walk into the bar they’d look around and see people eating clementines everywhere. I’m sure some of them went home and related the situation to their SO.