With the holidays upon us, I of course have been thinking about gifts. I love gifts. I love getting them, but I also love getting them. Wait, did I say that already? Ok, I also love giving them. I love the feeling of finding just the right thing or seeing something that immediately makes me think of someone. I love holding something that someone has given me. Just taking a moment to consciously think about the person that gave it to me and how or why we are in each other’s lives. I like to think that Papa smiles a little when he drinks coffee out of the mug that Peanut painted for him or that Granny thinks about the foot rubs she gives the kids when she put on her sleep socks that they picked out for her. So with that, here are just some of the best gifts I know of to give or to get:
Boxes of used books - My dad and his dad used to swap boxes full of used books at Christmas. We have all been avid readers so it was always great to get books, but to see entire boxes being swapped, it was like a lottery winning. They would both read throughout the year and toss the ones they thought the other would enjoy into a box for Christmas. It was always the first thing that Thurmond looked at when we went down to visit. If I close my eyes, I can still see this big, strong, hard man flipping through piles of books with a grin that turned into a huge smile when he came across something he knew he’d love. Or perhaps had already read and it was in my dad’s box also. I’d give anything to watch that one more time.
Basket of goodies - This was an idea from my mother-in-law. I wasn’t too flush with money and needed to come up with gifts to take down to my family for the holidays. She suggested getting a basket and putting in lots of little things in it on a bed of decorative tissue or crinkles then she tied one of the those huge, fancy bows on it. I picked up candles and favorite candies to fill them. [Truthfully, the bow was always the favorite.] Madiline the Great (what the shorties called my grandmother) loved Valomilk. I found it at a drugstore here, bought the whole box and put them in a basket. She called me almost every time she had one.
Flannel sheets - My mom gave us a set of flannel sheets many moons ago. They are so worn in, but they keep us so toasty. Changing over to flannel sheets is a fall tradition in our house.
Gift certificates to a specific place - I know some people think gift cards are a cop out, but I happen to love them. Especially if it is to somewhere specific for the person. My mom still goes on and on about the gift certificate I bought her to a local kitchen supply store. She made 2 trips and spent a LONG time trying to figure out exactly what she wanted.
Kiva.org gift certificates - I gave these to Boo’s teacher’s last year for Christmas. Some people really don’t need and/or want anything so it makes sense to get them something like this. Not necessarily to Kiva [though we all know I love them, and it keeps on giving since you can re-lend after payback] but maybe to a local animal shelter or food bank.
Multiple gift cards - For my birthday, my group of friends affectionately dubbed the Momtourage, went in on my birthday gift. I received several different gift cards so that I could celebrate several different times. There were cards from Beauty Brands, a Barnes & Noble, Starbucks, and Charming Charlie.
Mug, cocoa, candy, bookstore gift card - One of the girls from the Girl Scout troop would always drop off a gift just before Christmas. It was always a bookstore gift card with some other little thing I loved like a mug with cocoa or some candies.
Gift card to Murray’s/Como date - One of my closest friends also went to Mizzou though way after I did. One year she bought me a gift certificate to my favorite restaurant in Columbia with a note that we’d go down together and spend the day. We had a lady date that lasted all day. We went to Murray’s, Tropical Liqueurs, Cool Stuff, Streetside Records, and other places that brought back memories.
$100 in quarters - My dad gave me this when I was in college. I was totally annoyed with it at first and then realized how fantastic it was. Laundry, taco bell runs, $1 theater admission, I was set.
Toolbox - My poor father-in-law has bought me at least 3 toolsets. And I have at least 3 incomplete toolsets. In my defense, I do not lose things. Someone will need something out of it, borrow it, and I will never see it again. I’m looking at you, Detective.
MacBook - no explanation necessary
License plate frame - In high school, my friend Variety and I had a whole inside joke about stupid people and how much they bothered us. Really, it did seem like everywhere we went, someone particularly stupid presented his/herself. So for my 18th birthday, I went to my car to drive to school and there was a card under my windshield wiper. It was probably mushy and sweet but it also said “Look on the back.” So I flipped the card over and it read “The back of your car, stupid!” And there it was in all its glory, a license plate frame that said “I Hate Stupid People.” That story still makes me laugh. And I think my mom took it off my car before I went for college.
Mix CDs - One of my oldest (length of time, not age) friends sends out mix CDs randomly. Not usually for any particular holiday or reason. And they always make me smile. I feel like it is a little bit of shared time with him even though we are thousands of miles apart.
Again, this is not an all-inclusive list.
What are some of the best gifts you’ve given or received?
Love the used books idea. That’s FABULOUS.
My favorite gift given was when my brothers and I pooled our funds to help send our mother to London for her 50th birthday. She’d never left the country before that!
In general, I also love giving signed books. My husband’s a collector, so any time I can find a signed Vonnegut or Updike, I snap it up for him.
My favorite gift received was my little pink Netbook. I always told my husband I could write a book if I had my own laptop. He believed in me enough to let me try. And now, it may not be published (yet) but it exists!
Of course, the little black and white printer-printed picture of my daughter in a star-shaped cardboard frame decorated with heart stickers is up there on the list too. :)
Okay - two thoughts to share; First, the “missing tools tool boxes.” I work in foodservice, so I have a “knife kit” of neccesary and useful knives and tools. Early on, I made sure my wife, uh, I mean “the home kitchen”, had a set of knives that I really, really din’t care if my ever-lov’n opened a can with, or split rocks, or dug weeds or did whatever with. BUT, you touch my knife roll, it’s all over. Same thing with cook-ware. We have some inexpensive foodservice-quality pots, pans and sautee’s that she can hammer nails with and I just don’t care.
Sadly, I have been totally unable to accomplish these same standards with tools. They end up where and when they end up, and they get used for things they weren’t designed for. Well, I’m half-alright…
“Being stupid.” My ex had a luncheon with some friends who decided that the second one did something stupid, you should just explode, instantaneously, upon your act of stupidity. We had great fun for the next week or two saying “BOOM” whenever we/she/I did something “stupid.” Then we realized that there wouldn’t be any of us left if stupidity-exploding was a reality. So far I’m still here… But I’m sure there’s a fuse lit out there with my name on it - daily….
it’s not a Christmas gift but, the best gift I’ve ever given was the news that I was pregnant … to my husband on his 40th birthday this year. Made us both cry but it’s the best gift either of us has ever had/given :-)
My teddy bear. I got soooo many stuffed animals throughout my childhood but for some reason this one bear sticks out. I remember getting him for Christmas from I think my grandmother when I was really little and have had him ever since. He used to be white with a red bow but through a few trips in the washing machine and age he’s picked up a blue/gray tinge and the bow has faded to more of a pink. I’m 25 now and I still have him.
I love each and every picture frame I have ever received as a gift. Not something I buy for myself and yet a joy to set out on my dresser with photos of all life’s stages in my daughter’s upbringing. Another client gave me a beautiful wool sweater with horse motif. Expertly knitted with an extra button, I have worn it many times in the six years I have had it-warm thoughts of the family always accompany the experience of wearing it. Massage gift certificates ring a lot of people’s bells, and giving a massage relieves guilt that we often feel when treating ourselves so well.
thanks for all the great ideas; you really covered the bases here with your list.
Gift cards are NOT a cop out. I used to think that myself, but we used to have a business that sold them online. For over a year, I processed some of the most loving, heartfelt messages that went along with those gift cards.
My favorite gift cards are the restaurant ones — I love getting my dad and step mom cards to their favorite restaurants because it FORCES them to go have a nice meal together that they would not have necessarily paid for out of their own pocket. I also love giving gift cards to local places around here in Kansas City.
Last year, my mom gave me a gift card to Brits in Lawrence — it’s one of my favorite stores and I loved buying something without guilt. I bought tea pot that I use ALL the time and I always think of my mom when I use it . Even though it was “just” a gift card, she bought a teapot for me. Technically. :-)