TOTALLY GEEKED!

Bonny22Pye · Guru

White Elephant gift ideas

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

What is a white elephant gift exchange?

Bonny22Pye · Guru

lilyofcourse wrote:
What is a white elephant gift exchange?

Gag or odd ball gifts

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

TP

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

Oh.

hmm.... I will have to think about that.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

What about those really large gag gift panties?

Southern_Belle · Nothing's Impossible

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-- Edited by Southern_Belle on Saturday 6th of December 2014 03:52:23 PM

Southern_Belle · Nothing's Impossible

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Southern_Belle · Nothing's Impossible

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Southern_Belle · Nothing's Impossible

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Southern_Belle · Nothing's Impossible

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I know what to do_sometimes · Frozen Sucks!

Get a non joke gift. Nice bottle of wine, some type of local pottery for grating garlic and putting olive oil on for dipping bread, nice pair of gloves. Just don't be that person that brings the joke gift no one wants.

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

I would bring a joke gift that can actually be used. If I got TP I'd be happy!

Southern_Belle · Nothing's Impossible

A coffee mug with a nice saying and fill it with candy.

Sin City Girl · Member

Shake Weight

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

There is a site that you can buy plots of land in other countries. It isn't much land. Like maybe the size of a grave.

That might be funny. I don't know.

voiceofreason · Guru

Sin City Girl wrote:
Shake Weight

Yes! Anyone else see the shake weight episode of south park? I hurt for a week from laughing.

Divine Geek · Guru

We do this in my family. We've started having a theme. Last year was as seen on TV. This year is stuff you can buy at a truck stop. I'm going to get one of those tshirts with a funny saying and some scratchers

One year I got a candy despenser. Motion activate, put your hand under the spout and candy shoots out. I filled it with skittles. That might be good for an office gift

Mellow Momma · Sniff...sniff, sniff. Yay! A Bum!

We have a white elephant exchange. We are supposed to bring something from home that we don't want anymore. Ummm, that's called garbage. Lol. I don't keep things I dont want.

Ideas?

Thinking of just bringing a bottle of wine.

Divine Geek · Guru

Mellow Momma wrote:
We have a white elephant exchange. We are supposed to bring something from home that we don't want anymore. Ummm, that's called garbage. Lol. I don't keep things I dont want.

Ideas?

Thinking of just bringing a bottle of wine.

My mom has a gift room. It is full of stuff she has gotten (usually on clearance or great sale) just in case she needs a gift. I go shopping in the gift room when we have a retirement or something like that. He friends come shopping too lol

Mellow Momma · Sniff...sniff, sniff. Yay! A Bum!

Wish I still lived in Indiana...I would come shopping there too!! Lol

I don't keep stuff I don't like. I try and get it out as soon as I can. I have enough stuff to worry about, I don't need more. Lol

Bonny22Pye · Guru

I ended up getting a bunch of pig themed kitchen accessories from the Korean mall.

ladyloonatic · Regular

Preparation H and some rubber gloves?

ladyloonatic · Regular

Mouthwash, chapstick and a sprig of fake mistletoe?

eta: sorry, missed where you already got something...

-- Edited by ladyloonatic on Sunday 7th of December 2014 07:39:31 PM

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

I have seen variations on this.

One you draw names and bring a toy that makes you think of that person. The toys are then donated.

Another is basically the same thing but it's a candy bar. Of course the candy is just eaten.

I like the one where you bring a gift and wrap it. Then you go in order drawing numbers and then you go get the gift with the corresponding number. Then you can choose to keep the gift or swap with the one who went before you. All of this is done before opening it.

I've seen the story ones too. You sit in a circle and some one reads a story. Depending on the instructions you pass your gift.

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

Mellow Momma wrote:
Wish I still lived in Indiana...I would come shopping there too!! Lol

I don't keep stuff I don't like. I try and get it out as soon as I can. I have enough stuff to worry about, I don't need more. Lol

My MIL gives me cheap crap. I regift it. Especially to kids. They love the fake jewelry with the $1.50 price tag still stuck on it.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

Growing up, I had an Aunt that gave my brother and I a brand new shiny silver dollar every year for Christmas.

We would get the envelope and smile and thank her and then give each other "the look" and roll our eyes.

We didn't appreciate it.

When she died I actually missed getting that silver dollar each year.

Momala · Great cook-happy wife-superb fisherman

some kind of kitchen gadget - do you have a "As seen on TV" store near you? They're really good for unique gifts. I've got one gift in our "catch-all" room - one of those "ready, set, cook!" units - we got it for a wedding gift! Haven't used it in over two two years, don't think we'll EVER use it, but we don't have a box for it, (it came in a gift bag), so don't know if we can even sell it. :)

Bonny22Pye · Guru

I posted above what I got. Pig themed kitchen gadgets.

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

lilyofcourse wrote:
Growing up, I had an Aunt that gave my brother and I a brand new shiny silver dollar every year for Christmas.

We would get the envelope and smile and thank her and then give each other "the look" and roll our eyes.

We didn't appreciate it.

When she died I actually missed getting that silver dollar each year.

Last year my MIL actually got me something cute. She bought me, from the dollar store, a five dollar set of matching paper towel holders and a fruit basket. I use the fruit basket to hold onions. It was a nice gift. I don't mind the dollar store items per se. It's that she doesn't put any thought into it. She could just get me a gift certificate for five bucks at Starbucks and I'd be thrilled. Or to a fast food place. My issue is that she usually gives me stuff I will NEVER use. I don't wear jewelry and have a lot of allergies to metals so I wouldn't wear the cheap stuff anyway. She will buy me a two dollar purse from the dollar store. You can ask FWM how particular I am about my purse. She just doesn't take the time to get to know me or even find out if it's something I'd like or want. I don't want a rainbow wallet. I don't want rooster salt and pepper shakers. I'm thankful she buys me something. Just call DH and ask or something.

Mellow Momma · Sniff...sniff, sniff. Yay! A Bum!

Nobody Just Nobody wrote:
lilyofcourse wrote:
Growing up, I had an Aunt that gave my brother and I a brand new shiny silver dollar every year for Christmas.

We would get the envelope and smile and thank her and then give each other "the look" and roll our eyes.

We didn't appreciate it.

When she died I actually missed getting that silver dollar each year.

Last year my MIL actually got me something cute. She bought me, from the dollar store, a five dollar set of matching paper towel holders and a fruit basket. I use the fruit basket to hold onions. It was a nice gift. I don't mind the dollar store items per se. It's that she doesn't put any thought into it. She could just get me a gift certificate for five bucks at Starbucks and I'd be thrilled. Or to a fast food place. My issue is that she usually gives me stuff I will NEVER use. I don't wear jewelry and have a lot of allergies to metals so I wouldn't wear the cheap stuff anyway. She will buy me a two dollar purse from the dollar store. You can ask FWM how particular I am about my purse. She just doesn't take the time to get to know me or even find out if it's something I'd like or want. I don't want a rainbow wallet. I don't want rooster salt and pepper shakers. I'm thankful she buys me something. Just call DH and ask or something.

I think your MIL and my FIL would make a great couple!

I get crap from him as well. And it's like you said, I don't expect much, just take a minute to put a modicum of thought into it. A $5 gift card to Starbucks would mean a lot more to me than the $25 gift card to a store we don't have in our town, that my FIL asked DH if I liked, that DH said we did not have and I could not use.

FIL asks all the time if something is a good idea and if DH says no, he gets it anyway. It's SO frustrating. He got DD a gift card to a movie theater. We don't have one in our town. The closest one is 20 miles away and is a haul to get to. DH told him there was a better choice, told him what to get...he bought it anyway.

FNW · Guru

Mr. FNW & I have been the not-so-proud recipients of sMIL's re-gifts. Last year I got some monkey bread bowl and mix she "won" at her Corvette Club holiday party a couple of years back. A couple years ago Mr. FNW received a golf themed coffee mug filled with tees (minus the teas which came with it). You know, if you are going to re-gift something, make sure there isn't a picture of you holding the item or receiving the item at a party on the internet.

We also got a bottle of wine which still had the tag "to: sMIL from: so and so" on it. I was tempted to ask if she was sure she gave me the right gift because it looked like it was supposed to be for her.

-- Edited by FNW on Monday 8th of December 2014 03:29:21 PM

NAOW · Vette's SS

Oh FNW, your SMIL and my MIL could be friends. I've written threads on what my MIL gives to me. She has regifted me presents that I gave to her the year before.. only she used it first, then gave it back. She has given me gift cards for my birthday that I gave her for Christmas (visa Giftcard- so not like she couldn't use it somewhere) where she crossed out the date and wrote in the new one.

Last year she didn't give me anything, it was really nice. I hope the tradition continues, lol. She did get me a really cute nightgown and robe after Baby A was born. I was really touched that she thought of me.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

NAOW wrote:
Oh FNW, your SMIL and my MIL could be friends. I've written threads on what my MIL gives to me. She has regifted me presents that I gave to her the year before.. only she used it first, then gave it back. She has given me gift cards for my birthday that I gave her for Christmas (visa Giftcard- so not like she couldn't use it somewhere) where she crossed out the date and wrote in the new one.

Last year she didn't give me anything, it was really nice. I hope the tradition continues, lol. She did get me a really cute nightgown and robe after Baby A was born. I was really touched that she thought of me.

I hope you gushed and gushed in a thank you note about how thoughtful she was for taking the time to choose such a thoughtful gift just for you. Some people respond best to positive reinforcement. Kind of like toddlers and puppies.

FNW · Guru

Oh, NAOW, I feel your pain.

Here's the gem with the mug...notice it came with tea, but that somehow was removed when Mr. FNW received it for his birthday. Golf mug.jpg

ed11563 · Guru

Mellow Momma wrote:
Nobody Just Nobody wrote:
lilyofcourse wrote:
Growing up, I had an Aunt that gave my brother and I a brand new shiny silver dollar every year for Christmas.

We would get the envelope and smile and thank her and then give each other "the look" and roll our eyes.

We didn't appreciate it.

When she died I actually missed getting that silver dollar each year.

Last year my MIL actually got me something cute. She bought me, from the dollar store, a five dollar set of matching paper towel holders and a fruit basket. I use the fruit basket to hold onions. It was a nice gift. I don't mind the dollar store items per se. It's that she doesn't put any thought into it. She could just get me a gift certificate for five bucks at Starbucks and I'd be thrilled. Or to a fast food place. My issue is that she usually gives me stuff I will NEVER use. I don't wear jewelry and have a lot of allergies to metals so I wouldn't wear the cheap stuff anyway. She will buy me a two dollar purse from the dollar store. You can ask FWM how particular I am about my purse. She just doesn't take the time to get to know me or even find out if it's something I'd like or want. I don't want a rainbow wallet. I don't want rooster salt and pepper shakers. I'm thankful she buys me something. Just call DH and ask or something.
I think your MIL and my FIL would make a great couple!

I get crap from him as well. And it's like you said, I don't expect much, just take a minute to put a modicum of thought into it. A $5 gift card to Starbucks would mean a lot more to me than the $25 gift card to a store we don't have in our town, that my FIL asked DH if I liked, that DH said we did not have and I could not use.

FIL asks all the time if something is a good idea and if DH says no, he gets it anyway. It's SO frustrating. He got DD a gift card to a movie theater. We don't have one in our town. The closest one is 20 miles away and is a haul to get to. DH told him there was a better choice, told him what to get...he bought it anyway.

I've seen two reasons why people do things like this. One, which was my MIL's normal behavior, was to find out what we did NOT want our kids to have, then buy that. Not cheap, just mean.

I think the other is some form of dementia or other brain problem. They just do NOT understand what they're doing. In a case like that, I think the best thing for the recipient to do is, thank them nicely, and quietly get rid of the bad stuff later.

And, just an aside, those silver dollars are worth a LOT MORE than $1 each now.

NAOW · Vette's SS

FNW wrote:
Oh, NAOW, I feel your pain.
Here's the gem with the mug...notice it came with tea, but that somehow was removed when Mr. FNW received it for his birthday.

Oh my gosh!! Not even trying for subtlety.

NAOW · Vette's SS

Lawyerlady wrote:
NAOW wrote:
Oh FNW, your SMIL and my MIL could be friends. I've written threads on what my MIL gives to me. She has regifted me presents that I gave to her the year before.. only she used it first, then gave it back. She has given me gift cards for my birthday that I gave her for Christmas (visa Giftcard- so not like she couldn't use it somewhere) where she crossed out the date and wrote in the new one.

Last year she didn't give me anything, it was really nice. I hope the tradition continues, lol. She did get me a really cute nightgown and robe after Baby A was born. I was really touched that she thought of me.
I hope you gushed and gushed in a thank you note about how thoughtful she was for taking the time to choose such a thoughtful gift just for you. Some people respond best to positive reinforcement. Kind of like toddlers and puppies.

Yep. And I mention it every time I see her or talk to her.

ed11563 · Guru

Mellow Momma wrote:
Nobody Just Nobody wrote:

I get crap from him as well. And it's like you said, I don't expect much, just take a minute to put a modicum of thought into it. A $5 gift card to Starbucks would mean a lot more to me than the $25 gift card to a store we don't have in our town, that my FIL asked DH if I liked, that DH said we did not have and I could not use.

FIL asks all the time if something is a good idea and if DH says no, he gets it anyway. It's SO frustrating. He got DD a gift card to a movie theater. We don't have one in our town. The closest one is 20 miles away and is a haul to get to. DH told him there was a better choice, told him what to get...he bought it anyway.

There are places to exchange or swap unwanted gift cards.

Take a look ...

http://nortonsafe.search.ask.com/web?q=gift+card+exchange&o=APN10505&prt=360&chn=retail&geo=US&ver=21&locale=en_US&tpr=111&gct=sb&qsrc=2869

Or you could donate them to a charity and get a tax deduction for the face value.

I think that's probably better than just being annoyed.

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

I know my in-laws don't have tons of money to spend. So I appreciate getting something. Especially since there are so many of us and she tries to buy us each something. I'm pretty easy to please though. Like I said a five dollar gift certificate to Starbucks or something I could actually use would be great. Right now I am needing a set of gloved pot holders. I'm sure she could find some cheap and I'd be thrilled.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

"And, just an aside, those silver dollars are worth a LOT MORE than $1 each now."
___________________________________________________________________________-

Well yeah. If we had kept them. But at 8 it was just a McD's cheeseburger. Or four quarters for the game room.

JPT · Senior Member

We just now have the mug orders rolling in for Christmas, as well as the stocking, towels and blankets to monogram.

One year, we did a crazy sock exchange, loads of fun. Someone found me rat terrier socks! Another year we did a "red neck" gift grab, with several fun items from the hunting section at Walmart.