Prezzies!

Lest we all launch right into the new year without so much as a backward glance at the recent holiday season, I wanted to ask you all about your presents.  Because presents are fun!  I love hearing about presents almost as much as receiving them (hence my still-observed tradition of exchanging detailed lists with Allison of everything we got for Christmas).  Tell me:  what was the best thing you got and/or gave this Christmas or Chanukah (or whatever)? 

The best thing I gave -- hands down -- was the Keurig coffee maker, for Joe.  Boy howdy, is that bad boy getting a lot of use.  I'm not much of a coffee drinker -- I'm not anti-coffee, but I prefer a cold, fizzy beverage as my caffeine delivery system -- so it was silly for him to make whole pots for himself on the weekend, and then a couple of months ago he started having a cup of instant coffee (BLARGH!) before heading to the gym in the morning.  That was when I knew the madness had to end. 

I'd always thought the concept of the single-cup brewer was good, but  wondered if it might be a hassle to buy the pod thingies or if we really NEEDED a new machine since our old coffee/espresso/cappuccino maker worked just fine; but when it came down to my husband choking back a vile mug of Chock Full O'Nuts on a daily basis, the Keurig seemed necessary.  Turns out, our sad little grocery store even started carrying K-Cups, plus they're easily ordered on Amazon, and, well, the whole thing is just one great big success.

Since I find my husband particularly difficult to buy for (he always wants a lot of books, which is great and easy, but you can't give someone ONLY books for Christmas/their birthday), I am exceedingly smug about this gift.  Last year, I was smug BEFORE Christmas, thinking that my gift certificates for a consultation with a private running coach and a training session at a famous boxing gym were sooooo clever, but they, ahem, went unused.  Lesson learned!

Also popular this year from me to him:  a fleece vest from LL Bean (what's with guys and vests as outerwear?  call me crazy, but if it's 30 degrees out and my arms are exposed I AM STILL COLD) and tickets to a play (Mary-Louise Parker in "Hedda Gabler" this weekend!).  Also the usual assortment of DVDs and books and a photo book of the year's travels and visitors. 

I got lots of good, useful and/or wearable things, and also the usual assortment of DVDs and books, which is always a pleasure.  Also THREE new purses (two classic vintage bags from Etsy and one snazzy patent leather-trimmed Kenneth Cole tote -- I finally was able to toss out my el cheapo street-bought bag that I've had since 2002, hoo to the rah).  And a suuuuuper cool print of a poster for the 1939 World's Fair that is currently being framed and will soon hang in our kitchen.

Among the DVDs was the 30-Day Shred (which I ASKED for, ergo it was safe for Joe to get for me -- woe to the man who gives his wife an exercise DVD unbidden), so I have now joined the many others in blogland who are devotees of Jillian Michaels and her tough love approach. 

I wouldn't want to do that as my only exercise, since as with anything it would get tedious, but it's good for a short, intense workout.  I have been doing two levels at a time to get 40 minutes out of each session, as 20 minutes seems not quite enough.  It's surprisingly old school, with jumping jacks and mountain climbers and squat thrusts -- reminds me a bit of PE class or (Jonna will appreciate this) Astronaut Calisthenics at Space Camp.  But in a good way. 

So that was a brief look back at our Christmas.  Please share the best gifts of your holiday so that we can all get some ideas for the next major gift-exchanging occasion -- I, for one, am tapped out.

Comments

[Carolyn]

My brother is separated from his wife and she kept almost everything. I found four old professional photos of his kids and framed them. It was fabulous and emotional to watch him open the photos.

[Shannon]

I gave my husband the Krups Beertender--it isn't helping so much with the new Year's resolutions but he loves it!

I got a beautiful bracelet that I love and will actually wear every day, (this has not always been the case with the jewelry selections)--it is silver and mother-of-pearl. Also new riedel wine glasses (the ones from target). We were down to a very random assortment (not in a good way) of every day wine glasses so I was happy with those.
It sounds like you got some lovely gifts!

[ErinP]

Ooo someone was a good girl this year! I think my best gift was my treadmill but there are a dozen other things that I truly love as well. My dad was so cute - he bought me some hand-carved bamboo bowls made in Vietnam out of the AARP magazine. lol Loved those.

[Allison]

I gave my husband mostly fly-fishing stuff, as he loves fly fishing. The main gift was a day on the river/stream with a guide. I also made a memory book of photos, ticket stubs, fliers, etc of things we have done over the last few years (before twins!). I know, totally dorky.

My husband is really good at picking out jewelry that I will like. He gave me some sapphire earrings with small diamonds around them. They are simple, conservative and not at all flashy. He also gave me two Patagonia sweaters--perfect for hiking, day to day wear.

I also got some wine glasses, William Sonoma scone mix (easy to make and YUM), new nonstick pots and frying pans (I asked for those), and other random trinkets.

My dad bought everyone an "As Seen on T.V" gift as a joke...Sham-Wows, Big City Slider Station, Ped-Egg, etc. It was amusing!

[jonniker]

SPACECAMP CALISTHENICS. I'd forgotten that. And really, that's what the 30-day shred is, REALLY? I'd no idea.

Best gift I gave ... god, no idea. My dad did go HAYWIRE over the foodie books I gave him, which was so unexpected. He must have read excerpts out of them every hour for DAYS ON END, to the point where Adam was almost irritated that we'd gotten him the set, because he was sick of hearing essays on the beauty of potatoes.

Got? Well, most useful has to be the body pillow my sister gave me, although the HD recorder will come in TREMENDOUS handiness when our baby is born. Not that we're filming the birth or anything. God.

[Allison]

I am surely enjoying the Garmin GPS that we got from my parents.

I gave David a white noise machine that we are both liking as well.

[Jamie]

Best Gifts I Gave this Year:
- turquoise necklace to my grandmother, in honor of my grandfather who always wore this one turquoise ring
- socks to Sean (it's a long story - but he was really excited)

Best Gifts I Received this Year:
- time/materials from Sean to put slate tile down in the foyer (to match kitchen floor)
- wood hangers
- food processor

Sounds like you and Joe had a merry time of it! Glad to hear it.

[Gwen]

I can't believe you do two rounds of 30 Day Shred at once. Wow.

The best gifts I gave: I gave my mom and sisters Sigg water bottles, which they all started using pretty much instantly. And I gave Afsheen this poker software that analyzes your playing trends. He was so excited, especially because I can get cranky at the amount of time he spends playing online poker.

The best gifts I got: Afsheen got me a travel jewelry roll case, which is gorgeous and so useful. And my best friend gave us a spy kit, with a fake mustache and invisible ink pens and a book about cryptography, which was really fun and unexpected.

[CraigNY]

From last night's Biggest Loser:

Whiny female contestant who is nearly collapsing from a workout: My baaaack hurts!

Jillian Michaels (leaning close to the contestant's ear): You know what else is going to hurt? (pause) EVERYTHING!

Awesome.

[H]

Best gift given: Family Bingo game to my mom (she loves getting everyone, ages 2 to 90, involved in games at Christmas)

Best gift received: programmable crock pot

You and your readers are awesome gift givers. I love some of the creative ideas.

[livlaugheat]

i'm super impressed you do 2 sessions of the 30 day shred at once. i can barely make it through level 1!

received: new sonicare toothbrush...makes your mouth feel so clean!

given: etsy necklace with my sister's favorite verse engraved on it

we did mostly practical gifts this year!

[-R-]

I got H a car. Seriously. Well, we got it together, but it counted as both my Christmas and birthday present to him.

The best present I got was a necklace with the baby's birthstone.

[Tara]

The thing I miss most about living in the States is access to good Mexican food. So my sister gathered up a bunch of her favorite recipes and favorites of her friends and family and made us a cookbook. And she sent us a HUGE bottle of On the Border restaurant salsa. Wonderful. It definitely stands in the top five of most thoughtful gifts ever. :)

[Becky]

My favorite gift to give with for hubby- it was a tap handle for our bar in the basement with a Buckeye football helmet on top. It was a total surprise and he's a huge OSU fan, so it was fun to see him open it. :)

My favorite gift to receive was from my father-in-law and was a gift to both of us. He's a woodworker and he had made us the most amazing dartboard case - complete with dovetail joints and home-made wooden hinges! He even made wooden darts (well, the middle part is wooden, the points and flights are purchased).

Seriously - it's amazing!

[Jen]

My husband and I gave each other a bathroom renovation this year. So my favorite gift was...the new bathtub. I am seriously excited to sink into that thing.

Best gift I gave would have to be the TOTO toilet. Ha.

[Marin]

I got a D60, and I was Happy-with-a-capital-h.

The best gift I gave was definitely to my dad; long story short, I managed to finagle a family heirloom back into his hands. His reaction was supremely gratifying, and I don' think I'll be topping this gift any time soon.

[Danielle-Lee]

You are far better than me! I only do one level at a time of the Shred, and it's always Level 1. I am a wuss. :)
Hmmm...best gift I gave? I would say it was probably a new hairdryer for my mom. Dorky, I know. But the best part? SHE bought ME a hairdryer too! We are so dumb!
This year, my husband and I bought each other NOTHING. Our 'gift' to each other was a huge landscaping endeavor in our backyard.