So what went over big? - What was the best gift you gave?

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
41

My girls wanted the giant pillowy stuffed unicorns from the grocery store (you know the kind, cheap but big)–one pink, one lavender (their respective favorite colors). As Christmas approached, they got more and more obsessed with “snuggle unicorns,” and I was worried. I had not bought the snuggle unicorns, because they were cheap and big, and we don’t have that kind of space. When I did the shopping, it hadn’t been such a big deal.

What I had bought was a very nice, very soft, ordinary-sized white unicorn with a lavender rose chain around its neck for the 4yo. I went back and got a pink version for the 7yo. The 7yo left a letter for Santa on the fireplace, saying that she wanted “just one thing–a snuggle unicorn!” I put the unicorns right on top of the letter and crossed my fingers.

The girls have pretty much not let go of those stuffed unicorns since. They are thrilled to pieces, so whew!

42

If anyone cares, this is the unicorn I bought.

43

My mom’s family comes from the Scottish highlands, and she’s always been interested in Scottish history and culture. So, for Christmas, I bought her a paving stone engraved with her name at the new historical center they’re building at the battlefield of Culloden, famous as the last stand of the highland tribes. I also ordered a replica stone so I’d have something physical to get her, but as Christmas got closer and closer, I pretty much gave up on the hope that it would get here in time. Got a holiday surprise of my own when the FedEx guy knocked on my door at ten o’clock Christmas Eve, with a package from the UK. Good timing, Scotland! You saved Christmas!

44

Stila makeup names their lipsticks with women’s names, and came out with one with my niece’s name, and she’s just at the allowed-to-wear-makeup age. It went over HUGE!

Miller, my parents did this for me for my b-day a few years ago - this isn’t the same site, which I can’t find, but the idea was to keep the land as an historical site rather than selling to developers, and you can be the Laird or Lady of your little square foot piece. http://www.scottishhighlandtitles.com/ Might be something fun for your mom on another occasion if you get stumped for a gift!

45

While on one of my frequent walks with a neighbor friend, I wondered aloud what to get my elderly mom. She said she didn’t need anything and that’s pretty much true. However, she loves game shows and computer games. So my pal suggested the Deal or No Deal CD ROM game. It was a huge success! Mom wails whenever she picks the wrong cases, but she has been playing the thing like crazy. Loves it.

46

For my BFF, who is an enormous fan of Phantom of the Opera, I got a prop from the Broadway production at the Majestic – a used-on-stage copy of the letter the Phantom wrote to the theater owners with his notes for the production. She didn’t squee, because she doesn’t do such a thing, but she does love it dearly.

I love eBay.

47

I bought my brother the season 1 (there was only one season, it turns out, but they still call it season 1 :confused: ) of the original Jonny Quest. It was our very favorite cartoon as kids. We watched the first couple episodes together last night. He said he was probably happier with it that his son will be with his Star Wars Legos. And that’s saying a lot.

I knew he’d like it a lot, but it was really fun to see how happy he was with it when I actually gave it to him.

GT

48

I made my mother-in-law a wallhanging, which apparently she raved about on the phone for ages to my husband, and then to me for a while. Sooo. That worked out. I bought my mother a little wheelie grocery thing. I was a bit worried that she’d think I was implying she was old, but she loved it. It is in very bright psychedelic fabric, and folds down into a small, light bag. She has declared it perfect for traveling to the city on weeks when she has to go in by train to work.

My husband’s grandparents were apparently delighted that of all the family members, my husband and I actually listened when they said they really don’t need more stuff, definitely don’t need more unhealthy consumables, and a charitable donation would be lovely. I find it a bit presumptuous to give in someone else’s name, but since this present has been a hit two years in a row, I think we’ll keep it up. I’m happy to make them happy!

49

I gave my nearly-one-year-old niece a number of presents, and she loved them all! Well, not the actual presents; she spent all of Christmas running around clutching either the wrapping paper or the ribbons. But boy did she love that wrapping paper!

The present that probably went over the best was the Xcuse Box that I gave to a coworker.

50

I gave my mother a personalized calendar from iPhoto. I take alot of photos and personalized each month with landspcapes, pictures of me, pictures of me and my SO, and my dog.

They are very cool and only $25 with shipping.

51

My brother has, for many years, been interested in all things Japanese. The culture, the language, everything about it fascinates him and I think he would like to live there, someday. We trade Japanese shows, anime, music, clothes etc back and forth with each other - his interest has rubbed off on me, somewhat (to a smaller extent; I’m one of those Jack-of-all-trades, master of none kind of people). Anyway, this Christmas, he’s living on his own in a little studio apartment in Fredericton, scraping by, trying to make a life of his own. He’s doing alright, but he doesn’t have a lot of extra cash, so he couldn’t get anyone much of anything. I told him all he had to be was happy and healthy, which he is, and that would be a great gift to me.

Knowing he’s living frugally, and he’s always been a bit of a minimalist, I wanted to get him something he could use that would fit in his wee studio apartment. I got him a rice cooker - a small, 3 cup one, handy enough for a young bachelor with little cooking skills and a love of rice. I decided to go a step further, and I got him some really nice chopsticks - with burnished silver ends and a little holder to keep them in. Then I got him some “heart-shape” molds (more triangle than hearts), some sheets of nori, and some umeboshi paste. I remembered that the most common rice we use in North America isn’t the same type that they use in Japan - to make onigiri, he’d need shorter, stickier rice. So I bought some suitable rice, wrapped it all up, and sent it out to him.

Also, I got him some small, sweet rice cakes (mochi) with the note “Happy New Year!” written on it.

He cried! My brother never cries! He called me up on Christmas morning to tell me he loved it; my mother told me he had told her it was one of the sweetest gifts he’d ever received.

Score!

My Dad also adored the fishtank I got him (a Baby BiOrb), but that was for his birthday, on the 18th. Still, he did a little dance, went out and got two goldfish (one black and one orange) and named them Max and Oscar, respectively.

52

A magnetic compass/clinometer for my paddling partner. She’s even looking forward to re-learning a bit of trigonometry.

53

Show him this video of the worlds largest Lego train layout, and he’ll be your best buddy for life: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pVJqHqyIWo

54

The best gift I got was the one I didn’t intend to buy.

I bought my youngest nephew a PlayMobile pirate ship. Unfortunately, it didn’t arrive in time. On Monday morning I went to the toy store to pick up something, anything, for him to open the next morning. I didn’t want to spend too much since his other present was coming, but I thought a 4 year old should get something fun from his aunt on the actual day itself.

So I bought him a combination fire truck/flashlight. It was just a small gift, and I told his parents that I’d bring the real gift over once it arrived. Surprisingly, of everything he got that day, he liked the fire truck flashlight the best. He played with it all day. I hear he even slept with it that night.

I gave him the PlayMobile set today. He liked it–and went right back to the fire truck flashlight.

55

I crocheted blankets for my mom and MIL. Made my mom cry.

56

Easy Op question. Tough holidays this year. Two teenage kids. Their mom and I have split up. Daughter wanted to spend money she didn’t have to get me something pricey. I told her, find me something beautiful and inexpensive to hang on the wall in my new bedroom. Something that you know I will love to look at and that will make me happy, because every time I look at it, I will think of you.

She got me a large calendar printed on very thick fine textured paper of Japanese prints. It is just beautiful and was just what I had hoped for.

My son chose a candle for me, because he knows I love burning them.

Gifts from the kids. :slight_smile: Nothing else compares.

ETA: I made my mom a huge polartec fleece blanket with a pocket for her feet at the bottom. She has Reynauld’s Syndrome and suffers the cold very badly in her hands and feet. She always remarks on how much she loves this thing and how warm it keeps her.

Cartooniverse

57

Number One Nephew (5) is obsessed with Thomas the Train, so if a present wasn’t Thomas-related, it ceased to exist the moment he realized that. Literally; they’d just kind of drop out of his hands because he didn’t notice them anymore. Fortunately, Number Two Nephew (2) was thrilled and excited about everything, and quickly glommed on to all his brother’s forgotten toys. And gave out hugs for everything, too.

Hmf. I had to build a giant Thomas traintrack out of every set he owned to get that level of excitement from his older brother.

But I think that was the winner. Got the latest Roomba for my parents, who have a new condo. A few years ago they said my brother was “stupid” for asking for one for Christmas (ironically, he can’t use his now; too many Thomas the Train toys lying around :smiley: ). But the parents have already called twice today to tell me little Roomba’s progress. It’s like I got them a pet.

“We turned it on! It started cleaning! And it’s not even supposed to do that yet!”
“Uh, mom. It’s a cleaning robot. I kinda think it’s supposed to do that at some point.”

“It found it’s recharge station! All on its own!”
“Um, so I’m guessing you like the Roomba, then?”

At this rate, I’m expecting a call around 6 am, when its initial 16-hour recharge period is done and it’s ready to go. sheesh.

58

My wife really likes the mp3 player I got for her. It arrived today, and I set it up, converted a 6CD audiobook to mp3 and transferred it onto the player. She hasn’t used it yet, as the book is the only thing on it, and she didn’t want to hear any spoilers. But she was very impressed with the ease of operation, and the convenience of having a whole set to listen to at her leisure, rather than in sessions of cram-it-all-in before the set has to be returned to the library. I’m sure she will get a lot of use out of it.

59

Last year I got my niece a Prada handbag. I mean what 14 yo girl wouldn’t be delighted with a fashionable $800 handbag. She was the star hit back at school. She had Prada!! OMG!! etc

Of course, 14 yo girls can’t readily tell the difference between $800 genuine Italian leather and a $20 special from the local Chinese House o’ Fakes :smiley:

60

One of the things I got my mom was season one of Waiting for God. She went “Oh my Goooooddd, I love it!” It was such a great reaction. I know she thinks it’s pretty much the funniest show ever, so when I saw it I knew she would like it, but I didn’t expect an outburst! I think it was the best reaction I’ve ever gotten for any gift I’ve given. :slight_smile: