What did people ask for this year?
What’s been popular when received, even if not asked for.
What gifts have been misses?
Hits: gift card for custom-made swim goggles, Tickle Me Elmo, Peppa Pig talking book, Dimple Dots, prepaid round of golf at a course we’ve never played, and a southwestern poncho wrap for me
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Love custom swim goggles with my own prescription!!
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My biggest hits are the “ very expensive for what it is” gifts. These are things people can’t bring themselves to get for themselves. Most are not crazy expensive in absolute dollar terms . They include. A Shhhhhower brand shower cap, Jo Malone soap, Davek umbrella, Thermapen meat thermometer, Slip brand hair ties.
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Nintendo Ring for the Switch is a big hit with my 27 yr old daughter (she had not asked for it)
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Ordered a “Where’s (dog’s name)” book for D as a stocking stuffer. Personalized with grand dog’s breed, coloring, name and city they live in. D loved it!
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Huge surprise and super appreciated gift for younger S. A couple of years ago he searched and hunted and spent his own $$$ on a used Canadian goose coat on eBay. But he got a size medium. It was always snug and now he’s a lot bigger and it was comical watching him squeeze into it. H and I got him a new one. Not the parka kind though, but more appropriate for our area. He was shocked and very thankful.
H mentioned in passing that he would wear a “what would Scooby do” wristband. I hunted and hunted and couldn’t find one so I had some made. He was thrilled. He also loves his Castle Grayskull t-Shirt.
I made a list this year and got everything on it. I know I’m hard to buy for because I don’t really want anything.
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Biggest hit: a storyworth subscription for each of my parents. I thought they would like it, but was unprepared for how enthusiastic they were about doing it.
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@DeeCee36 Can you tell me more about Storyworth? Wondering if H’s mom would like it. She’s a writer as is, though, so it might be not her thing, or it might be right up her alley.
Not DeeCee, but my mother just finished her Storyworth book. It is perfect for those that like writing, as long as you can respond to the weekly email question they will send you. If you don’t like the question, you can choose another or make up your own questions. After 52 weeks, you can add pictures and have the book printed. As my mother mentioned in her Christmas letter to friends and family, “It was a great activity during covid.” For Christmas, all her children and grandchildren got copies. Our only complaint was their customer service is not very responsive. You have to have someone who is somewhat computer savvy to help at the end.
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My wife got the kids pillows with our dog’s picture on them for the kids to take back to school. The entire length of the pillow is the dog…both sides….made the kids really happy.
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We went on a family cruise. It was a well-received gift. 
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I had a Japanese pencil sharpener that dated back to 1964 it finally bit the dust a few years ago. I’ve never gotten a decent pencil sharpener here so I asked my kid in Japan to see what he could find. It’s amazing! Works great sharpest pencil I’ve ever seen, no stupid suction cups that don’t work. DH got me a set of All-Clad cookware which is great though not a surprise since he wanted me to figure out which set actually had the pieces we need.
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Last year both the S’ bought me the same book about hiking in national parks! They figured it out before Xmas and gave one to my FIL.
Great minds think alike, right?!
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@toledo summed it up well. I’ll just add that since I gifted the subscription, I can actually create my own question prompts, which I like. I edited the first several weeks’ worth to be specific to what I know of my parents’ lives.
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Consumables were well received, especially See’s candy and hot sauces.
Barefoot Dreams PJs were also a huge hit. Recipient put them on and hasn’t taken them off all day.
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My youngest, a total non-reader through his school years, is deeply immersed in the book, When the Rivers Run Dry by Fred Pearce. His brother, a voracious reader since elementary school, gave it to him.
It’s really, really neat as a mama seeing him enjoying a book. He just needs the genre his “permaculture” self enjoys reading. English and other typical youngster books weren’t it.
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My impossible to please, never likes anything daughter actually seemed to like her gifts. She got a Naked 3 eye shadow set and was like “how did you know?” (because when I gave one to her sister about 10 years ago she pouted and whined that she didn’t get one?). She also got a a cashmere sweater and a sherpa jacket (and she liked her sister’s more but took it like a trooper).
I gave my mother a hand warmer which she likes but is having a little trouble figuring out. Red light means ‘hot’, blue light means charged. She’ll get there. She’s been using ‘hottie’ handwarmers but this should be more ecological (and cheaper).
The kids were playing games and we opened an old storage tub that held our games. Yes, they played Pretty Pretty Princess which they have had since they were about 4 (they are now 25). Daughter found a Monopoly Golf Edition that I won at a golf tournament about 20 years ago and wanted to give it to her boyfriend. Big hit.
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I should probably also add the board game:
7 Wonders, Architects
We celebrated Christmas with medical lad the first weekend in Dec and it’s what he and his GF gave us. We’ve been hooked. We’ve introduced it to oldest son since and he loves it as well.
It’s similar to the original game with symbols and cities, but totally different in how one progresses to points. It’s a stand-alone game, not an add on and works for 2-7 players, plus it’s super easy to learn and only takes 20 - 25 minutes to play on average (once you’ve learned it). It’s a nice addition to our game closet.
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