A gift idea to last throughout the ages
December 10, 2009 1:15 AM Subscribe
What gifts do you give (or receive) either every year to the same person, or gifts that you always give to people at a particular age? Or, are there any products or books that are released each year that you think are worthwhile. I am, of course, after suggestions of things you like / the receiver genuinely appears to like.
For example, does the newest baby in the family always get a Bunnykins set for their first Christmas? Does your aunt always get you a pair of cashmere socks for your birthday?
I've nearly finished my Christmas (and Quonsar) shopping. I would like to streamline my gift shopping a bit more though, for future years (and birthdays). While finding something perfect and new each year is great, I do also like creating a bit of a tradition with a gift that is appreciated, though not unexpected.
On my part, I always buy my parents the latest release of Quaff: Best wines in Australia under $15. I used to always get money from my aunt from the teenage years through my twenties, as she said her grandfather had always done that and she could rely on it for buying a good pair of shoes each year. As a kid, our neighbours used to give me a Darrell Lea Bo-Peep Jar of rock candy, and I used to always look forward to it. I buy my grandmother, who is difficult to buy for, a beautiful boxed flower arrangement of miniature roses for her birthday each year (the shop was near my work and is filled with gorgeous flowers and makes you want to buy the lot and fill your house with flowers - if you ever need to order flowers online in Melbourne, this is it).
I have from <1 year old nephew through to grandmother to buy for each year. Stocking stuffers to major gifts, suggest away, please!
I've nearly finished my Christmas (and Quonsar) shopping. I would like to streamline my gift shopping a bit more though, for future years (and birthdays). While finding something perfect and new each year is great, I do also like creating a bit of a tradition with a gift that is appreciated, though not unexpected.
On my part, I always buy my parents the latest release of Quaff: Best wines in Australia under $15. I used to always get money from my aunt from the teenage years through my twenties, as she said her grandfather had always done that and she could rely on it for buying a good pair of shoes each year. As a kid, our neighbours used to give me a Darrell Lea Bo-Peep Jar of rock candy, and I used to always look forward to it. I buy my grandmother, who is difficult to buy for, a beautiful boxed flower arrangement of miniature roses for her birthday each year (the shop was near my work and is filled with gorgeous flowers and makes you want to buy the lot and fill your house with flowers - if you ever need to order flowers online in Melbourne, this is it).
I have from <1 year old nephew through to grandmother to buy for each year. Stocking stuffers to major gifts, suggest away, please!
I'm not much into the whole gift exchange thing but I usually give a nice single malt whisky and/or a bottle of good gin to my parents.
Not every year, but several times, I received a watercolour painting from my grandmother (she's an amateur artist, but the paintings are great). I really appreciate these, because they're beautiful, and because I know a lot of work and thought went into making them. Quality hand-made things make brilliant gifts IMHO.
Nowadays, I usually receive a couple of bottles of wine and some books from my parents. Usually these would be books that they've read and enjoyed over the previous year. I like books a lot and it doesn't bother me that they're "second-hand". When I was a child I was invariably given Lego, model aircraft, or those sciencey kits like "101 electronics projects.
posted by jonesor at 3:41 AM on December 10, 2009
Not every year, but several times, I received a watercolour painting from my grandmother (she's an amateur artist, but the paintings are great). I really appreciate these, because they're beautiful, and because I know a lot of work and thought went into making them. Quality hand-made things make brilliant gifts IMHO.
Nowadays, I usually receive a couple of bottles of wine and some books from my parents. Usually these would be books that they've read and enjoyed over the previous year. I like books a lot and it doesn't bother me that they're "second-hand". When I was a child I was invariably given Lego, model aircraft, or those sciencey kits like "101 electronics projects.
posted by jonesor at 3:41 AM on December 10, 2009
I always give my mom a different angel Christmas tree ornament that I've found somewhere (she will only accept angel or heart ornaments on the tree). She has plenty, but loves being surprised by the design of the new one.
When I was younger, my aunt always gave me (on behalf of my cousins) a different sterling silver bracelet.
posted by hellogoodbye at 4:15 AM on December 10, 2009
When I was younger, my aunt always gave me (on behalf of my cousins) a different sterling silver bracelet.
posted by hellogoodbye at 4:15 AM on December 10, 2009
On every holiday/birthday, my grandmother gives my sister and me gift bags of candy and Dollar Store novelty junk. Items might include: battery-powered candles; kitten calendars; glittery, fuzzy socks; pens that light up; pens that blow bubbles; and pens with feathered bobble tops.
She has been doing this since we were small and we are now in our twenties. We refer to them as "Nana bags" and joke about their contents, but I know we'll miss them terribly when they're gone. It's become a sentimental tradition in my family.
posted by the littlest brussels sprout at 4:57 AM on December 10, 2009
She has been doing this since we were small and we are now in our twenties. We refer to them as "Nana bags" and joke about their contents, but I know we'll miss them terribly when they're gone. It's become a sentimental tradition in my family.
posted by the littlest brussels sprout at 4:57 AM on December 10, 2009
My grandmother bought my textbooks while I was in college. This was a huge gift and always welcomed.
I bought calendars for my sister for a few years in addition to another more variable present.
posted by sciencegeek at 5:03 AM on December 10, 2009
I bought calendars for my sister for a few years in addition to another more variable present.
posted by sciencegeek at 5:03 AM on December 10, 2009
About 20 years ago my uncle mentioned that he couldnt find bialys where he lives. I have sent him bialys at Christmas ever since.
posted by shothotbot at 5:17 AM on December 10, 2009
posted by shothotbot at 5:17 AM on December 10, 2009
My grandfather used to give us $2 bills on our birthdays. I can't see $2 bills without thinking of him.
For major events (graduations, weddings) my step-mom-in-law quilts really amazing blankets.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 5:21 AM on December 10, 2009
For major events (graduations, weddings) my step-mom-in-law quilts really amazing blankets.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 5:21 AM on December 10, 2009
I give my kids an ornament for the tree every Christmas, and have been doing so since they were born. They're 20 and 17 now, and will have a great box of memories to start their own when they move out. I also always give them books, because I always wanted to foster a love of reading.
posted by raisingsand at 5:22 AM on December 10, 2009
posted by raisingsand at 5:22 AM on December 10, 2009
My dad always gave us each a Christmas tree ornament that he choose (mom did all the other gifts). I have done the same now with my kids. My dad's were sort of random, things he thought were cute. I buy ornaments that relate to something that happened that year. So ice skates for the first year of ice skating lessons, veggie tales for the year of their obsession with those videos, one from Disney the year we went there for vacation, etc. So when the move out one day, they will have a good start on their tree and hopefully will remember different special events in their lives.
posted by maxg94 at 5:28 AM on December 10, 2009
posted by maxg94 at 5:28 AM on December 10, 2009
I give my goddaughters a christmas tree ornament every year for Christmas, and I give them a good tool every year on their birthday (plus other stuff). That way, when they turn 18 they can decorate a tree and keep up their house!
posted by dpx.mfx at 5:32 AM on December 10, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by dpx.mfx at 5:32 AM on December 10, 2009 [1 favorite]
I give my mother a book-token for her favourite bookshop every year - I asked her this year if she wanted something else, but she likes to choose the books herself.
posted by StephenF at 5:37 AM on December 10, 2009
posted by StephenF at 5:37 AM on December 10, 2009
My grandmothers and great aunt are in retirement homes without a lot of space, so I always send them small decorated trees (desktop size) for their Christmas celebration. They're all fairly green thumbed, so the plants themsleves have lasted well into the new year.
It has become tradition for me to buy my father cologne. It started when I was little, and had the impression that "only old guys wore Old Spice" so I've taken that over.
Growing up I had several family members buy holiday/tree ornaments for me, as mentioned above. It's true, now that we have a tree of our own, we really only need a new ornament or two a year to fill it.
Many of our family members find us hard to shop for, so we get a series of magazine subscriptions (Smithsonian, National Geographic, American Heritage, several cooking ones, several pop culture ones) and then subscriptions/memberships to cultural institutions. I love having membership in the zoo/museum/aviary but know that's a splurge I wouldn't actually pay for myself (and that makes my family all the more likely to get it for us).
Friends with children always give the entire family new PJs to open on Christmas eve. Some years they match, some years the theme differs. So everyone has special new PJs for Christmas morning.
When babies are born in our family, I always give them a copy of "Goodnight Moon."
When he was alive, my grandfather would always give all of us those LifeSavers books of rolls of candy. He has since passed, and even though I don't like hard candy, every year I pick one up in the store and really miss him a great deal. Sometimes it's the little things that are special within just your family (like the nana bags above) that mean the most for the longest.
posted by librarianamy at 5:53 AM on December 10, 2009 [1 favorite]
It has become tradition for me to buy my father cologne. It started when I was little, and had the impression that "only old guys wore Old Spice" so I've taken that over.
Growing up I had several family members buy holiday/tree ornaments for me, as mentioned above. It's true, now that we have a tree of our own, we really only need a new ornament or two a year to fill it.
Many of our family members find us hard to shop for, so we get a series of magazine subscriptions (Smithsonian, National Geographic, American Heritage, several cooking ones, several pop culture ones) and then subscriptions/memberships to cultural institutions. I love having membership in the zoo/museum/aviary but know that's a splurge I wouldn't actually pay for myself (and that makes my family all the more likely to get it for us).
Friends with children always give the entire family new PJs to open on Christmas eve. Some years they match, some years the theme differs. So everyone has special new PJs for Christmas morning.
When babies are born in our family, I always give them a copy of "Goodnight Moon."
When he was alive, my grandfather would always give all of us those LifeSavers books of rolls of candy. He has since passed, and even though I don't like hard candy, every year I pick one up in the store and really miss him a great deal. Sometimes it's the little things that are special within just your family (like the nana bags above) that mean the most for the longest.
posted by librarianamy at 5:53 AM on December 10, 2009 [1 favorite]
We don't do this so much anymore, but when I was younger, my sisters and I would give a "scary" gift to our older sister each year. It was usually a plastic spider/rat or something similar. It wasn't really supposed to be scary, of course, but it was an escalating in-joke. We'd found an evil-looking plastic rat at the dollar store one year and, mystified as to why someone had thought to manufacture it, we decided to buy it for her as a joke. And the tradition stuck. We'd tease her every year before opening presents, "Terror lurks under the Christmas tree!!! Dun-dun-duuun."
posted by DeusExMegana at 5:56 AM on December 10, 2009
posted by DeusExMegana at 5:56 AM on December 10, 2009
I give my mom an ornament every year. It's her "pre-Christmas" gift. She really enjoys the tradition and looks forward to it.
posted by bunny hugger at 6:01 AM on December 10, 2009
posted by bunny hugger at 6:01 AM on December 10, 2009
This is really individual. If you know someone's collecting something, or that they really like something consumable, then you can give them that thing every year. It does make for a nice tradition. Books, music, movies, ornaments, jewelry, and tableware are good candidates for collectable gifts, and liquor, flowers, food, tickets, magazine subscriptions are good ideas for consumable gifts.
For some years now I've been giving my oldest brother a book on hockey for Christmas. Now he has a little collection of hockey books. He loves to read and loves hockey and I'm told he usually has the book read by December 28th. After I bought an hourglass for myself, my dad decided I would like to collect hourglasses and he's made three or four of them since. My mother decided I would like to collect nutcrackers, so she's given me half a dozen or so.
My dad's favourite sister once asked for a piece of crystal stemware in a particular grapevine pattern for her birthday. My dad gave her one piece of that crystal pattern every birthday and every Christmas for years, until she had a complete set.
I keep my dad supplied with Crown Royal because he likes the occasional hot toddy and won't buy liquor for himself. I also knit him slippers every year, not to collect, but because he's worn out last year's pair.
posted by orange swan at 6:06 AM on December 10, 2009
For some years now I've been giving my oldest brother a book on hockey for Christmas. Now he has a little collection of hockey books. He loves to read and loves hockey and I'm told he usually has the book read by December 28th. After I bought an hourglass for myself, my dad decided I would like to collect hourglasses and he's made three or four of them since. My mother decided I would like to collect nutcrackers, so she's given me half a dozen or so.
My dad's favourite sister once asked for a piece of crystal stemware in a particular grapevine pattern for her birthday. My dad gave her one piece of that crystal pattern every birthday and every Christmas for years, until she had a complete set.
I keep my dad supplied with Crown Royal because he likes the occasional hot toddy and won't buy liquor for himself. I also knit him slippers every year, not to collect, but because he's worn out last year's pair.
posted by orange swan at 6:06 AM on December 10, 2009
If you've got something good that's indigenous to your city/region, that often makes a good gift. Example: my uncle from Seattle always sends me smoked salmon every Christmas.
I know nothing about Melbourne so don't know if there are any regional specialties, though (also, I don't know how far your family are from you--given that I live in Connecticut, the Seattle salmon has a lot more impact than it would if I lived in, say, Olympia).
posted by dlugoczaj at 6:48 AM on December 10, 2009
I know nothing about Melbourne so don't know if there are any regional specialties, though (also, I don't know how far your family are from you--given that I live in Connecticut, the Seattle salmon has a lot more impact than it would if I lived in, say, Olympia).
posted by dlugoczaj at 6:48 AM on December 10, 2009
I give my brother a subscription to Wired magazine every year. Great magazine, recommended to anyone with a science-y, geeky bent.
posted by aabbbiee at 7:10 AM on December 10, 2009
posted by aabbbiee at 7:10 AM on December 10, 2009
Someone used to send us citrus fruit from Florida every year. It may sound lame, but it was actually very nice.
posted by amtho at 8:18 AM on December 10, 2009
posted by amtho at 8:18 AM on December 10, 2009
Well, the kids in my family always get chocolate "gold" coins in our stocking and socks from Hanukkah Harry. This started in the 80s with that SNL sketch (we were raised Catholic). Then, in the 90s, someone started a tradition of wrapping up a homemade (out of material, not really homemade) Mr. Hanky. Someone wraps it up and gives it to someone else every year.
I'm pretty sure that's not what you had in mind but on a more practical, and less hilarious, note my mom usually buys everyone pajamas and we always get a scratch off lotto ticket in our stockings. Now that we're older and I am in charge of my mom's stocking I always buy her a snickers and trashy magazines. YMMV.
posted by Bunglegirl at 8:25 AM on December 10, 2009
I'm pretty sure that's not what you had in mind but on a more practical, and less hilarious, note my mom usually buys everyone pajamas and we always get a scratch off lotto ticket in our stockings. Now that we're older and I am in charge of my mom's stocking I always buy her a snickers and trashy magazines. YMMV.
posted by Bunglegirl at 8:25 AM on December 10, 2009
For the past 12 years, a dear friend of the family has opened her heart and treated me like family. Her house is full of beautiful "knick-knacks" collected from her travels all over the world; however she no longer wishes to receive anything else that "takes up more space".
So I have always found ways to make "consumable" gifts for her that would be used up during the year. When her husband was alive, they had a tradition of a romantic candlelight dinner once a week -- so I hand-made natural beeswax candles for them (using those pre-formed honeycomb sheets).
Since her hubby passed on, I've been creating custom art-quality linen cards (with matching envelopes) for her, featuring my photography. The insides are left blank, because I know she enjoys writing little notes to friends and family members all the time and she's told me she adores showcasing my work (photo details, location & my credits are on the back). It's a fun project, because it gives me an excuse to look for new subjects during my travels throughout the year.
She is an avid and award-winning stitcher, so she has always given me (and others) beautiful tiny hand-stitched or ribbon embroidery holiday ornaments; usually with one of my interests or favourite colours in mind.
For the past half-dozen years or so, I renew my brother's domain name on his behalf and provide web hosting for his hobby website. My sister usually gets a Chapters bookstore gift certificate, because she loves to spend hours in a bookstore, picking *just* the right book for herself. One of my aunts used to always send us a gift check in the amount of how old we were at the time - and she still does it for our birthdays as well!
posted by Jade Dragon at 8:43 AM on December 10, 2009
So I have always found ways to make "consumable" gifts for her that would be used up during the year. When her husband was alive, they had a tradition of a romantic candlelight dinner once a week -- so I hand-made natural beeswax candles for them (using those pre-formed honeycomb sheets).
Since her hubby passed on, I've been creating custom art-quality linen cards (with matching envelopes) for her, featuring my photography. The insides are left blank, because I know she enjoys writing little notes to friends and family members all the time and she's told me she adores showcasing my work (photo details, location & my credits are on the back). It's a fun project, because it gives me an excuse to look for new subjects during my travels throughout the year.
She is an avid and award-winning stitcher, so she has always given me (and others) beautiful tiny hand-stitched or ribbon embroidery holiday ornaments; usually with one of my interests or favourite colours in mind.
For the past half-dozen years or so, I renew my brother's domain name on his behalf and provide web hosting for his hobby website. My sister usually gets a Chapters bookstore gift certificate, because she loves to spend hours in a bookstore, picking *just* the right book for herself. One of my aunts used to always send us a gift check in the amount of how old we were at the time - and she still does it for our birthdays as well!
posted by Jade Dragon at 8:43 AM on December 10, 2009
As each grandchild was born, my grandmother would give them a set of newly minted, never used coins from that year. One penny, nickel, dime, quarter, and half dollar.
My grandmother died about 30 years ago. My mother (her daughter) died suddenly a few years back, and this year my father is in very poor health. But a couple of weeks ago, for my 45th birthday, my dad (re)gave me this set of coins he had been keeping for me all these years. I'm holding them now and looking at them. That kinda thing really takes you back. I miss my grandmother.
posted by nickjadlowe at 8:43 AM on December 10, 2009
My grandmother died about 30 years ago. My mother (her daughter) died suddenly a few years back, and this year my father is in very poor health. But a couple of weeks ago, for my 45th birthday, my dad (re)gave me this set of coins he had been keeping for me all these years. I'm holding them now and looking at them. That kinda thing really takes you back. I miss my grandmother.
posted by nickjadlowe at 8:43 AM on December 10, 2009
Our whole family exchanges Chapstick in our stockings. Dad was/is never without a tube and now, we cadge enough at Christmas to last the whole year.
Mom and Grandma gave my sister and me Christmas ornaments every year and now we have lovely, full sentimental Christmas trees, since Mom gave us each our own set of ornaments when we moved out. We are now giving Mom ornaments, since her tree is a little bare-er.
posted by sarajane at 8:44 AM on December 10, 2009
Mom and Grandma gave my sister and me Christmas ornaments every year and now we have lovely, full sentimental Christmas trees, since Mom gave us each our own set of ornaments when we moved out. We are now giving Mom ornaments, since her tree is a little bare-er.
posted by sarajane at 8:44 AM on December 10, 2009
As a child and young adult, my mother would give me a new, hard-bound volume of Shakespeare's work from the Modern LIbarary editions. I still have the whole set, and treasure them.
My husband has started a new tradition of sending Christmas cards that he's drawn/designed, then had printed. We only send about 40 of them because of the cost, but know several folks who got last year's framed.
When I moved far from home, I would send my mother a 'local' (to the northwest) Christmas ornament (a wooden apple, a small ferry, etc) - I have them know and was surprised that I could remember buying each one (over 20 of them in all).
posted by dbmcd at 8:51 AM on December 10, 2009
My husband has started a new tradition of sending Christmas cards that he's drawn/designed, then had printed. We only send about 40 of them because of the cost, but know several folks who got last year's framed.
When I moved far from home, I would send my mother a 'local' (to the northwest) Christmas ornament (a wooden apple, a small ferry, etc) - I have them know and was surprised that I could remember buying each one (over 20 of them in all).
posted by dbmcd at 8:51 AM on December 10, 2009
Before my grandparents left Florida, they would send us a box of oranges and grapefruits every year.
My uncle gets some fancy craft beer every Christmas and always looks forward to it.
posted by backseatpilot at 8:55 AM on December 10, 2009
My uncle gets some fancy craft beer every Christmas and always looks forward to it.
posted by backseatpilot at 8:55 AM on December 10, 2009
My default infant gift is a Infant Stim-Mobile. Only toy I ever found that works for the under-3-month old set.
posted by rtimmel at 9:00 AM on December 10, 2009
posted by rtimmel at 9:00 AM on December 10, 2009
My mum always gets slippers, and people to whom I've given magazine subscriptions in the past will continue to get those subscriptions...because it would seem weird to suddenly stop them one year in favour of a different gift!
posted by Pomo at 9:23 AM on December 10, 2009
posted by Pomo at 9:23 AM on December 10, 2009
I always give a book to each of my kids at Xmas.
I instructed my wife that I would like to receive (from my [still very young] kids) a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle every year. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that she remembered.
posted by widdershins at 9:39 AM on December 10, 2009
I instructed my wife that I would like to receive (from my [still very young] kids) a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle every year. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that she remembered.
posted by widdershins at 9:39 AM on December 10, 2009
If they live/have lived in Austin and they like K-Geezers crappy Folk/Adult Contemporary radio format, then the yearly KGSR compilation CD is a must.
I don't like it, but I buy it yearly for someone.
My folks always get a box of Florida oranges from, someone. Nice if you live in colder climes.
posted by Seamus at 10:18 AM on December 10, 2009
I don't like it, but I buy it yearly for someone.
My folks always get a box of Florida oranges from, someone. Nice if you live in colder climes.
posted by Seamus at 10:18 AM on December 10, 2009
My go-to housewarming gift is a copy of Home Comforts.
posted by box at 10:20 AM on December 10, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by box at 10:20 AM on December 10, 2009 [1 favorite]
What a great list!
In my family, when I was younger, my mother would always give me a book with scary overtones, which I loved. One Christmas I got a box of Tarot cards. Today, I still get a book from her. I also remember getting boxes of citrus fruit, but from Texas, and they would all be wrapped in their own little piece of gold tissue paper.
My family is crazy for skin lotion, so we always give each other something we like in that family.
posted by chocolatetiara at 10:30 AM on December 10, 2009
In my family, when I was younger, my mother would always give me a book with scary overtones, which I loved. One Christmas I got a box of Tarot cards. Today, I still get a book from her. I also remember getting boxes of citrus fruit, but from Texas, and they would all be wrapped in their own little piece of gold tissue paper.
My family is crazy for skin lotion, so we always give each other something we like in that family.
posted by chocolatetiara at 10:30 AM on December 10, 2009
For a long time my mom would always give me pajamas as my Hanukkah gift (we celebrated both Christmas and Hanukkah, so they'd give me a token gift or two for Hanukkah and something bigger for Christmas.
posted by radioamy at 10:48 AM on December 10, 2009
posted by radioamy at 10:48 AM on December 10, 2009
Starting from when we were about 3 or 4, my mother always got my brother and I our own pair of scissors and our own roll of Scotch tape in our stocking. Yeah, it sounds kind of lame, but there is no word for the joy of a five year old with his VERY! OWN! TAPE!
posted by KathrynT at 10:51 AM on December 10, 2009
posted by KathrynT at 10:51 AM on December 10, 2009
Reading this post has brought back so many wonderful memories and made me a bit misty. Thanks for helping me get in to the spirit of the season.
I started getting Readers Digest from my great grandmother and great aunt when I was 8 and I still think of them when I see one in the doctors office. I loved reading the jokes, the Drama in Real Life and getting my own mail...what a rush. I also had an aunt that would send me little pieces of jewelry when I turned 12. Sweet little bangle bracelets, little gold necklaces...I loved them and probably still have a few pieces tucked away.
We often give magazine subscriptions (Cooks Illustrated for my sister or The New Yorker for my dad. They are great gifts for people living in small spaces and you can just renew them year after year. My husband's parents are both musicians so we always try to buy a music themed gift for them...bed sheets printed with Beethoven's 9th, a music box where little hammers hit bells etc. I always love to receive really nice slippers, bed sheets and PJ's because they seem like luxury items.
posted by victoriab at 11:20 AM on December 10, 2009
I started getting Readers Digest from my great grandmother and great aunt when I was 8 and I still think of them when I see one in the doctors office. I loved reading the jokes, the Drama in Real Life and getting my own mail...what a rush. I also had an aunt that would send me little pieces of jewelry when I turned 12. Sweet little bangle bracelets, little gold necklaces...I loved them and probably still have a few pieces tucked away.
We often give magazine subscriptions (Cooks Illustrated for my sister or The New Yorker for my dad. They are great gifts for people living in small spaces and you can just renew them year after year. My husband's parents are both musicians so we always try to buy a music themed gift for them...bed sheets printed with Beethoven's 9th, a music box where little hammers hit bells etc. I always love to receive really nice slippers, bed sheets and PJ's because they seem like luxury items.
posted by victoriab at 11:20 AM on December 10, 2009
Since my dad was a kid, my grandma has given him a whole coconut for christmas. That was a big luxury back then.
posted by meeshell at 11:32 AM on December 10, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by meeshell at 11:32 AM on December 10, 2009 [1 favorite]
My dad always gets my mom a desk calendar for the upcoming year and puts it in her stocking.
I had a great-aunt who would always buy us subscriptions to Catholic Digest, which really was not a good use of the money as none of us were Catholic at ALL.
posted by crinklebat at 11:58 AM on December 10, 2009
I had a great-aunt who would always buy us subscriptions to Catholic Digest, which really was not a good use of the money as none of us were Catholic at ALL.
posted by crinklebat at 11:58 AM on December 10, 2009
My Aunt Dorothy gets a bottle of Bailey's every year for her birthday AND Christmas. She's 78 and she says it's the only thing she ever wants that she doesn't buy for herself.
I get my husband a book for his December 30th birthday each year. It can't be just any book, though. It has to be a part of a series that he's reading, a classic he's never read, or an old favorite from the past that he wants to read again. This year, he's getting Robert McCammon's Swan Song from the third category.
posted by SamanthaK at 12:07 PM on December 10, 2009
I get my husband a book for his December 30th birthday each year. It can't be just any book, though. It has to be a part of a series that he's reading, a classic he's never read, or an old favorite from the past that he wants to read again. This year, he's getting Robert McCammon's Swan Song from the third category.
posted by SamanthaK at 12:07 PM on December 10, 2009
We always got little toiletries in our christmas stockings along with the candy: a new minty chapstick, and a brand new toothbrush. When I was little my Daddy and I would pick out a wall calendar to give to my Mama. And he would pay for it, but it was still my present.
An interesting sweet idea, (I'm almost sure it was at The Simple Dollar but I'm not finding it right now) that I'm totally too lame to actually do: print a photo or draw a sketch (goofy cartoons especially!) showing a great moment of that year, and/or a short note talking about your favorite memory of you and your giftee together that year, basically something for them to collect as an external diary of good memories.
posted by aimedwander at 2:31 PM on December 10, 2009
An interesting sweet idea, (I'm almost sure it was at The Simple Dollar but I'm not finding it right now) that I'm totally too lame to actually do: print a photo or draw a sketch (goofy cartoons especially!) showing a great moment of that year, and/or a short note talking about your favorite memory of you and your giftee together that year, basically something for them to collect as an external diary of good memories.
posted by aimedwander at 2:31 PM on December 10, 2009
My dad is a diabetic with a sweet tooth, so he always gets a bag of sugar-free chocolate and candy, and he makes it last for a long time. generally until his birthday. I also use canadian tire money as wrapping.
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 4:09 PM on December 10, 2009
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 4:09 PM on December 10, 2009
My sibs have gotten Sierra Club Wilderness Calenders every year for many years now (Hi, R!). Beautiful pictures, easy to mail, useful & consumable.
I get one for myself while I'm at it.
posted by easilyamused at 4:15 PM on December 10, 2009
I get one for myself while I'm at it.
posted by easilyamused at 4:15 PM on December 10, 2009
-Good socks (smartwool, I love these as an adult, wouldn't have loved them as a kid)
-Subscriptions to magazines (kids' nature magazine, games/crossword magazine, cooking magazine, etc)
-Dolls in a series (the ones I'm thinking of were about 6" tall and were in "traditional costume" from different cultures - our great-aunt used to send one of these every year)
-The same fancy chocolate bar every year, or a tin of homemade peanut brittle or cookies (this is the kind of thing in-laws get each other in my family - something fun and modest and consumable)
posted by LobsterMitten at 6:11 PM on December 10, 2009
-Subscriptions to magazines (kids' nature magazine, games/crossword magazine, cooking magazine, etc)
-Dolls in a series (the ones I'm thinking of were about 6" tall and were in "traditional costume" from different cultures - our great-aunt used to send one of these every year)
-The same fancy chocolate bar every year, or a tin of homemade peanut brittle or cookies (this is the kind of thing in-laws get each other in my family - something fun and modest and consumable)
posted by LobsterMitten at 6:11 PM on December 10, 2009
oh and -
My grandparents used to send boxes of fancy fruit (company called Harry + David), eg a crate of juicy pears, or fancy dried fruit. My father in law loves to get a jar of macadamia nuts. Mother-in-law likes to get a different themed nutcracker statue every year.
Stocking gifts: some form of citrus fruit. Silver coin (half-dollar) or other special coin (eg from the year of your birth). One or more of: Plastic comb, emery boards, nail clippers, ponytail holders - that sort of small grooming item.
A set type of fancy lotion/potion/notion.
posted by LobsterMitten at 6:18 PM on December 10, 2009
My grandparents used to send boxes of fancy fruit (company called Harry + David), eg a crate of juicy pears, or fancy dried fruit. My father in law loves to get a jar of macadamia nuts. Mother-in-law likes to get a different themed nutcracker statue every year.
Stocking gifts: some form of citrus fruit. Silver coin (half-dollar) or other special coin (eg from the year of your birth). One or more of: Plastic comb, emery boards, nail clippers, ponytail holders - that sort of small grooming item.
A set type of fancy lotion/potion/notion.
posted by LobsterMitten at 6:18 PM on December 10, 2009
Your welcome present to the WayOutWest family Christmas is a pooping reindeer (it's an Amazon link, but you can get them at Kmart or BigW). A hit with kids & adults alike. Of course YMMV.
posted by WayOutWest at 8:28 PM on December 10, 2009
posted by WayOutWest at 8:28 PM on December 10, 2009
Response by poster: Some lovely stories that reminded me of other things from my family. And some ideas to save for when I have kids. I will go through this with my list of family and see if I come up with some new traditions.
posted by AnnaRat at 1:27 PM on December 11, 2009
posted by AnnaRat at 1:27 PM on December 11, 2009
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One of my uncles would buy me and my sisters earrings every year from the same place. They were all very nice and trendy. The funny thing, though, was my youngest sister didn't have pierced ears until she was in college. After reminding him of this for the first two years, she gave up and just started thanking him, nodding politely, and handing it over to me and our other sister to fight over them.
Another one of my uncles works for a bank, and for special occasions (graduations mostly, but he did get some for my son when he was born as well), he gives us commemorative coins.
posted by zizzle at 3:02 AM on December 10, 2009