Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas

Browse the Bitches

Bitchin' Blog Posts

by SB Sarah | December 25, 2011 | Sunday at 10:08 am | 280 Comments

Short and sweet: today's Hanukkah gift is a $100 gift certificate to the bookstore of your choice! That ought to bring plenty of merry and happy, right?

Just leave a comment with your favorite gift, given or received, and you're entered to win. All the awesome disclaimers apply. I am not being compensated for this giveaway.

Void where prohibited, and must be over 18 wearing goggles to win.

Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas!

Filed: General Bitching

| |

Best gift my Tiffany Charm bracelet. I'll treasure it always.
Posted by Kwana Jackson on 2011-12-26 16:58:55 Argh! Why are your posts not showing up in my Google Reader in a timely fashion? This makes me a very sad monkey. :( My favorite gift was having my DD and her little husband sitting on my couch eating homemade cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning.
Posted by Silver James on 2011-12-26 16:54:54 Favorite gift this year was definitely my ipad (birthday, anniversary, chanukah combo). I'm having so much fun and love my beautiful red cover!
Posted by JayHJay on 2011-12-26 16:42:26 My fave gift this year was a bok full of honey cakes <3
Posted by Reading Romances on 2011-12-26 16:24:48 Mine was my kindle. Best gift EVER!!
Posted by Erin on 2011-12-26 16:20:05 My favorite gift this year was pictures my husband put together of he and our two boys.

Posted by Beth Yarnall on 2011-12-26 16:14:31 My favorite gift was chocolates.
Posted by Dibert92 on 2011-12-26 15:38:30 Favorite gift this year was one I gave to my mom: an Out of Print T-shirt, the Nancy Drew one. She had the entire series as a kid and she LOVED the shirt. And I loved seeing her excitement upon opening it :)
Posted by L417 on 2011-12-26 15:00:32 Best gift given: My sister and I got together and gave my Mom a sewing machine specific for quilting -- she kept saying that after the first of the year she was going to start saving her money to get it. Boy, was she surprised when she tore off the wrapping paper!!!
Posted by Lynn Pauley on 2011-12-26 14:32:54 Being the maniac reader that I am, I have to say that my Nook was my favorite gift.
Posted by MaestraFX on 2011-12-26 14:27:39 Favorite gift given: Kindle Touch to our 16yo daughter

Favorite gift received: framed photos of our dad, taken by my youngest sister on an extended- family vacation this past summer. Dad died unexpectedly in October.
Posted by Karen on 2011-12-26 14:25:33 The best gift this Christmas was a new Kindle for my daughter...she was thrilled and now i don't have to share mine
Posted by Ldscrap on 2011-12-26 14:16:53 Best gift I received this year- DVD of Pride and Prejudice- the Colin Firth edition!
Posted by Sherri T. on 2011-12-26 13:46:14 My husband had a coffee mug I loved, with a gorgeous calligraphed image, that had recently broken, and could no longer be found anywhere (believe me, I looked) recreated for me. So sweet.
Posted by Kirsten on 2011-12-26 13:43:25 Skyping with my daughter who is in Germany. Everyone getting so choked up we couldn't talk.
Posted by Wickedstampmother on 2011-12-26 13:30:53 I got a gorgeous purse from my mom.
Posted by sweeks1980 on 2011-12-26 12:47:49 My favorite gift this year is my bird. My prevous bird passed away and I have been missing her someing awful, so my husband bought me the bird I have been looking at for a few months while I tried to decide if I was ready for a new friend.
Posted by Raine on 2011-12-26 12:16:56 If I'm not too late...my favorite gift received was a large chunk of money from everyone. My husband is out of work and ive been so worried about money. It helps to know I've got all that in savings right now.
Posted by KimberlyR on 2011-12-26 11:51:57 A fantastic and unexpected quilt from my mom, using a bunch of fabric I gave her for a previous Christmas!
Posted by Janedrew on 2011-12-26 11:36:56 My favourite gift is one I didn't even think I wanted - but I've used it everyday... my Tassimo! I love it so much that I've even convinced several friends to get their own. This year, I gave books, so they were all my favourite gifts as I watched my family fall quiet in the afternoon, each completely engrossed in their new books.
Posted by JennH on 2011-12-26 10:30:28 My favourite gift this year is a Kindle from my mother. In return, I gave her, among other things, a 6 picture frame with copies of some of her favourite pictures from our trips together.
Posted by Sally on 2011-12-26 10:21:20 Having the hubby cancer free this Christmas. Best gift this year.
Posted by Ezreader on 2011-12-26 10:02:43 A purple Carhartt vest from my sweetie!
Posted by Suze in CO on 2011-12-26 09:35:31 My favorite gift this year was the hand painted mug from my 7yo! It is beautiful.
Posted by Carriez on 2011-12-26 08:55:26 It was an iPhone Christmas here, plus a round of accessories.
Posted by Velocireader on 2011-12-26 08:48:02 I gave my in-laws a framed cross-stitched piece I made myself. It fit perfectly over their fireplace. Fun!
Posted by Nora Bear on 2011-12-26 08:27:12 My favourite christmas gift ever was the My Little Pony Castle when I was 11. It was pink. It was HUGE -- and it had poniesesses inside (well, one). Also, for added bonus, I got it during the morning of Christmas Eve, unwrapped -- which meant I could play with it all day long, and not even care about the wait until midnight when the other gifts would be unwrapped.
Posted by Ana Silva on 2011-12-26 08:08:41 My favorite gift-an awesome Superdry bag I've been coveting for ages and ages. Thanks, sis!
Posted by Carrie on 2011-12-26 08:01:47 My favorite gift(s) are gift cards to my favorite bookstores (RIP Borders), Amazon and Kinokuniya.
Posted by Sally on 2011-12-26 07:09:36 I gave my sister her very own Sony Reader this year--so she'd quit borrowing mine!! :D
Posted by Azure on 2011-12-26 06:57:24 My favorite gift was lotions and bath gels from Bath and Body. Last year my daughter's gave me enough to last an entire year! So even though I still have pretty smelling lotions left, I have another 6 bottles. No buying lotion - again!
Posted by Ellie on 2011-12-26 06:46:46 My favorite gift was a love note from my husband!!
Posted by Kfoster on 2011-12-26 06:28:46 I had lots of lovely presents this year. Possibly the best was the set of 100 postcards of Penguin book covers.
Posted by Ros Clarke on 2011-12-26 06:13:08 I just received the best Christmas present ever - a signed Agency Agreement with one of the top literary agents! The offer for representation came on the 23rd, I signed the agreement on Christmas Eve!
Posted by KBR on 2011-12-26 04:30:45 I got the jersey of one of my favorite sports teams (go Seattle Sounders!) from my mom.
Posted by Ashlandbaby on 2011-12-26 04:29:07 my sister and I got my mother, who had wanted them since she was a little girl, a pair of red cowboy boots for her 75th birthday.
Posted by Garen Murray on 2011-12-26 04:07:13 Oh, boy. I got some great stuff this year, but I think my favorite is the cover for my Kindle. I grabbed the $79 model when they first came out in September, but there weren't any covers yet. I've been scared to death to take it with me out of the house because I didn't want it to get all banged up in my purse. Yay cover!

I had a good gift giving run this year, too, but I think the Star Wars spatulas I gave my brother got the biggest reaction. He's decided they're too good to use, and he's trying to figure out how to display them instead.
Posted by Becky on 2011-12-26 04:04:13 My favorite gifts this year are: a salad spinner (from my husband and younger brother) and a handmade pillow with a hand-sewn pillowcase.
Posted by Tin Ong on 2011-12-26 03:43:18 My ipod is probably one of my most used gifts. I love music and I don't go a day without it. Also good to store my audiobooks :)
Posted by Diana P. on 2011-12-26 03:42:58 The best gift I've gotten was last year, my sister gave me my first Kindle.
Posted by Rose on 2011-12-26 03:34:19 My mom is a Twi-hard, so she was very happy when I got her the Edward doll from Barbie's Twilight collection.
Posted by Jessica MD on 2011-12-26 02:36:54 My brother gave me the best gift ever! A coupon promising he will read TWO books of MY choice by next Christmas! I am so excited for him to actually read something, he's never finished a book before in his life.
Posted by Amy on 2011-12-26 02:02:56 Favorite gift I gave this year was a "Hot Priests of Rome" calendar to my best friend's mother-in-law. Being ever the devout Catholic and a woman with an eye for hot men, she loved it! The look on her face when she opened it was priceless.
Posted by Sandra Giarde, CAE on 2011-12-26 01:58:58 The power went out earlier today for about three hours. It got cold. I had enough food and blankets, but it was a weird feeling, especially worrying that it wouldn't come back on.

When it DID come back on, I decided to celebrate by putting together two gift bags of food - one perishable, one not - things like fruit, chocolate and so on - and taking them to a local tent city, where the residents live like that all of the time.
Posted by Dancing_Angel on 2011-12-26 01:33:11 It's pretty funny, I'm almost 30, and my favorite gift that I received this year was a Nerf gun!! Sometimes it just nice to be a little immature for a while!
Posted by Jen McKernan on 2011-12-26 01:25:05 I have been desperately wanting a blender so I could stop hand crushing the several glasses of ice I eat a day, but I hadn't been able to talk myself into it, but my Mom remembered my longing and got me a blender with it's own ice crushing button! yippie!

I got her a nook, which she really really wanted but couldn't talk herself into, yippie for us both!
Posted by Copa on 2011-12-26 01:09:43 The best gift I've gotten was my brother home safely from Afghanistan just in time for Christmas 2010. I'm hoping to get the same gift for Christmas 2012, as he's leaving for another tour on January 2nd.
Posted by kate gomberg on 2011-12-26 01:07:49 My favorite gift was my Detroit Red Wings pillow pet. Yes, I roll that way. :)

Posted by Kymberlee Parker-Young on 2011-12-26 00:52:26 My favorite gift was something I got from my dad when I was a toddler. My mom was worried that they didn't have enough money for christmas gifts, but she managed to pick up a few stuffed animals. As I was looking from one to the other my dad brought up a giant blue stuffed horse. He had secretely worked all night making it from an old mattress, and I saw it and fell in love. The thing is huge (my mom often found me flopped over asleep on it's back when I was supposed to be in my bed). I still have it hanging around, my faithful blue steed.
Posted by Kinaheso on 2011-12-26 00:50:04 Best given.. probably sneaking a new TV into the parents Living room while they were gone Christmas Eve, and leaving a note from the elves, but that was years ago.
recieved.. this year hard to choose.. anklet made by my friend.. or check from my Mom & Dad which will help replace my clothes that Dad shrank the hell out of when he "helped" with the laundry yesterday : )
Thanks for giving everyone a chance at such a great Holiday prize.
Hope your having a very Happy Hanukkah.

Couldn't find my goggles, but I can use my fingers in a pinch.. does that count?
Posted by Iokijo on 2011-12-26 00:46:45 Favorite present: I walked into Walgreens yesterday and drifted by the books, you know just in case, and what is on the shelf? The Duke is Mine by Eloisa James! I had to look at it like three times to make sure it was really the right book. I guess the stockers didn't feel like waiting until the 27th to put it out. Merry Christmas to me!!!

It was, of course, just as good as I'd hoped!
Posted by Davi on 2011-12-26 00:44:36 My mom is a huge Outlander fan, so I gave her Exile. It was a great surprise for her because she didn't even know about that one.
Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!
Posted by Beth on 2011-12-26 00:40:57 Let's see, favorite gifts, favorite gifts... wow I'm stumped. Only gifts I received are books, and these are more like to keep my sanity rather than something with warm gooey feelings. Two years ago I got a cool Valentines Day gift from my Korean ex when he gave me a package of Ferrero Rochers, but beyond that nothing.

http://sveta-randomblog.blogsp...
Posted by Aurora85 on 2011-12-26 00:39:26 Fav gift? Oh, so many :P I guess the best gift I ever gave was to my mom; my brother and I spent hours collecting old family photos and then pasting them into a collage. It still hangs in her office.
Posted by jivediva on 2011-12-26 00:38:00 A couple years ago my boyfriend went out of his way to find a new record player for me after mine broke, he also gave me two Ramones albulms, best Christmas ever!
Posted by Ashley Leann on 2011-12-26 00:29:24 My favorite gift received this year was a Doctor Who coffee mug. Two of my favorite things, combined. :)
Posted by Megan S. on 2011-12-26 00:15:00 best gift received: a hand-knitted wool scarf from my grandmother :)
Posted by Victoria Ngo on 2011-12-26 00:10:47 My favorite gift was a new pair of boots! My toes won't be shivering this winter :)
Posted by Caschoe on 2011-12-26 00:09:48 My favorite gift that I have received is a set of librarian's tools for my own personal library!
Posted by Cialina on 2011-12-26 00:08:22 Last year, my husband gave me a Kindle, which will probably go down in history as the best present I've ever received. This year, my mother in law made me an 8 foot snuggy fleece scarf that I really love. It was a slimmer-pickens year, but everyone seemed very pleased with our presents.
Posted by ShellyD on 2011-12-26 00:00:02 I haven't given anyone a gift yet, except some ornaments for my boyfriend's family. I tried to get a menorah for a friend who couldn't find one, but it sold between when I saw it and when I went back to buy it. My grandmother gave me a diamond out of her wedding ring, so I think I need to work really hard on the karma.
Posted by Zee Lemke on 2011-12-25 23:59:55 This is my second Christmas without my Mother. I've been scanning family photos and posting them on the computer. My gift to myself and to my cousins.
Posted by Emily E on 2011-12-25 23:59:28 My favorite gift this year was from my husband--a fleece-lined jacket. It is too big but is easily exchanged. I never suggested this--he heard me say something once about liking this kind of thing.
Posted by susan on 2011-12-25 23:46:44 Best gift? Seeing my nephew and his gf today.
Posted by Maggie Blackbird on 2011-12-25 23:44:42 I gave my niece and nephews little stuffed animals when they were born, and 5 1/2 years later they still have them, and love them. :)
Posted by Deb G. on 2011-12-25 23:41:43 I gave a six foot toboggan to the kids...fun for all of us! Happy holidays everyone!
Posted by Mob on 2011-12-25 23:37:31 My favorite gift to give was one I didn't get credit for. A couple years ago, a few days before Christmas, my older sister said she hadn't gotten our Mom anything for Christmas that year because she couldn't afford gifts. So I ordered a hat my mom had mentioned in passing, paid for it to be wrapped and express-delivered to my sister's house so that when Mom and the family dropped by, it would be there.
Mom opened the hat, and burst into tears. It was an exact replica of HER grandmothers, that she used to borrow in the cold to hang up clothes. It brought back a lot of great memories, and she thought my sister was a genius.
At least I got "good kid" credit this year for the black Coach handbag I bought her :)
Posted by Kathleen on 2011-12-25 23:29:11 I think my favorite gift this year is my disappearring/reappearing TARDIS coffee cup, which I will use for my morning tea.
Posted by Abbey on 2011-12-25 23:15:42 My husband got me a new lens for my dslr camera - it is really fast and has manual-automatic focusing, so I've been taking great pictures all day and I love it!

My favorite gifts (given) are the "full of awesome" tshirts I got for my daughters from Pigtail Pals, because that's how I want them to wake up every day!!!
Posted by Dawn on 2011-12-25 23:06:22 My favorite gift this year (which I received) was the Hot Wheels Delorean from Back to the Future. They cost like a dollar, but it is full of whimsy and I love it!
Posted by Katherinelynn_04 on 2011-12-25 23:05:15 An iPhone! Totally unexpected but so wanted! LOL
Posted by Jennellen on 2011-12-25 23:03:54 Update, while the treasure hunt was cool! I got a Kindle!! No more reading ebooks on my phone! I now have something with more than 10 words on each page!!

Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Posted by Heidi Krystofiak on 2011-12-25 22:56:27 Today's best gift was the Kitchen Aid mixer my parents gave me!
Posted by Hmr28 on 2011-12-25 22:53:13 My favorite gift ever received was a Pleo robotic dinosaur... so much fun!
Posted by Kristin on 2011-12-25 22:33:31 A paper bird my eleven year old son gave me. I was blown away that such a wild thing could make me something so beautiful.
Posted by Shogroian on 2011-12-25 22:27:13 My favorite? All of them, whatever someone I know thought to give me.
Posted by Darlynne on 2011-12-25 22:26:10 My son received the full set of Fullmetal Alchemist ... Boy was he happy!
Posted by cin on 2011-12-25 22:24:27 Favorite gifting moment this year was when my boss opened the Kindle that the staff had gotten her and started jumping around and squealing joyfully. There are few better feelings than getting a gift that's exactly right for someone, and I was tickled because it had been my tentative suggestion.
Posted by PamG on 2011-12-25 22:18:43 Best gift given to my 12 year old classical music loving son - tickets to the symphony. Best gift received - same son telling me that music and books are TV for your brain only better!
Posted by Milly on 2011-12-25 22:09:44 I just really loved that the family was together for Christmas - we had a lot of fun just exchanging things that showed thought & were picked out especially.
Posted by Diane Sallans on 2011-12-25 22:06:57 This year I got a microwave popcorn maker. It's great!

Posted by jepeb68 on 2011-12-25 22:06:33 I gave my father a calf massager. He said it was the best gift he's received in a while, go figure :)
Posted by Cino on 2011-12-25 22:04:49 Brown polka-dot dress for my little niece!
Posted by jubee on 2011-12-25 22:02:20 My favorite thing I got this year was a scarf that my stepmother knit for me. It is beautiful! In keeping with the general theme around here, I also got a t-shirt that says "I can't sleep unless I'm surrounded by books." So true
Posted by Adrian on 2011-12-25 22:01:32 My children gave me peace & quiet! Best. Gift. Ever. The three eldest, 16, 13, & 12 entertained the youngest two, 4, & 2. My husband and I lounged in the bed, watched television and made out like teenagers at a drive in! One of the best holidays in recent history :)
Posted by Eboni-Rai on 2011-12-25 21:58:34 My favourite this year was the art supplies I gave my niece. The first thing she asked after petting all the paints, pastels and pencils what "what do you want me to paint for you?"
Posted by Terry on 2011-12-25 21:55:37 Rockula, both the movie and the poster. I had been looking for the movie since I was a kid. It was both thoughtful and impressive.
Posted by brit on 2011-12-25 21:45:03 My favorite gift give was the first year i knew my now husband. I bought him a camera. The look on his face when he opened it was one I'll never forget.
Posted by Jane Peach on 2011-12-25 21:40:41 I think the favorite gift of the day was the puppy my nieces received from there step father. It's a yorkie and my nieces or 8 & 4---my thoughts were 'poor thing, the youngest one is going to torture you with her love.
Posted by TanyaD on 2011-12-25 21:36:58 Two years ago, my grandma sent me a book called "The Lady Who Was Pretty on the Inside"... and a bag of makeup. It was the best present ever because it makes for a pretty good anecdote.
Posted by ssummar on 2011-12-25 21:35:52 I got a Nook tablet!
Posted by Doris on 2011-12-25 21:35:25 Spending time with my dad was the best gift of all this year.
Posted by Kristin I. on 2011-12-25 21:33:31 Favorite gifts? that must have been the homemade quilts I made for my nieces a couple of years ago!
Posted by GHN on 2011-12-25 21:23:43 Happy holidays!

I made my grandmother a couple of pairs of earrings. She likes handmade presents.
Posted by Emilie on 2011-12-25 21:21:31 I gave my mother her first Kindle this Christmas. She has been wanting one for a while now so I got her the touch screen. Now I just need to teach her how to use it.
Posted by Brook on 2011-12-25 21:18:10 Last year, my girlfriend bought pewter chainsaw charms and made them into earrings for me because of how much I love Army of Darkness. Best. Gift. EVAR.
Posted by Rachel L on 2011-12-25 21:13:48 I think my daughter's favorite gift was the leap pad. She hasn't put it down since she opened it!
Posted by Bookluvr4life on 2011-12-25 21:12:50 My favorite gift was a joint venture from both of my parents that will make my food allergy-ridden life much easier. I was given bakeware, a food processor and a stand mixer, all of which are kitchen essentials for me now that I have to make all my own wheat-free breads. I cried when I opened them. Being woefully under-employed this year I've struggled and had to do without these.
Posted by Tiana Scott on 2011-12-25 21:08:23 My favorite gift was my iPod Touch. Lots of fun to play with. (Unfortunately, my kids know it's lots of fun to play with and they often steal it.)
Posted by Penni on 2011-12-25 21:07:05 Received, my kindle fire. Given, arguably any of the Lego stuff my son received. He is autistic and lives for puzzles. To him, Levi sets are 3d puzzles. My daughter, a cooking diva in the making, got enough toy kitchen stuff to open her own toy restaurant.
Posted by Crystal Grey-Hewett on 2011-12-25 20:59:55 Happy Holidays! I love the present I gave my moms this year: gave them a summer evening dune tour, and at the end there's a clambake on the beach. I hope they love it!
Posted by Mistifi339 on 2011-12-25 20:57:42 My favorite gift was when I got my lost dog returned to me 7 days before Christmas. That happened four years ago, and still ranks as my personal Christmas miracle. Lily is still with me and snoozing happily next to my foot as I type this :)
Posted by Mi on 2011-12-25 20:56:41 Best gift given: My Mommy, trying to be techno-savvy and support my nerddom, got me the complete Star Wars Saga. On Blu-Ray. We don't have a Blu-Ray player. She tried so hard! And is determined to buy a Blu-Ray player for me to make up for it. Sweet, no? My Mother is simply awesome. It makes me glad my sister and I got her a very special green garnet necklace (she misses getting jewelry since my dad exited our lives in a truly douchey fashion). So, awesome given, awesome gotten.
Posted by Sarah Shorter on 2011-12-25 20:54:11 Santa gave my girls each a Leappad ... which is awesome because they haven't asked to use my iphone all day... Now only if I could find where I put my iphone!
Posted by Mayang55 on 2011-12-25 20:47:30 This year my favorite gift was my father calling me on Christmas Eve & reading to me "The Night Before Christmas." Mind you my father is 65 & I'm over 40. It made me cry, & also made me incredibly happy.
Posted by Kcstarspot on 2011-12-25 20:43:34 I grew up reading the daily comic strips in the newspaper with my dad. He cried when I gave him the Complete Calvin & Hobbes collection a few years ago. One of my favorite memories.
Posted by Kristen on 2011-12-25 20:40:24 I received a beautiful bracelet from my then-fiance. Still wear it all the time.
Posted by Carolyn Bright on 2011-12-25 20:39:40 I have two favorite given gifts: two big mirrors Mom wanted to complete her set of four and a tool shed for Dad - both bought ten years ago. :)
Posted by Catherine James on 2011-12-25 20:37:20 My little sister loved the Chicago Bears Pillow Pet I (correction - Santa) brought her. She's been carrying it around all day!
Posted by Jenn on 2011-12-25 20:17:31 I got the black cowboy boots of my dreams. Yee haw!
Posted by Kate S on 2011-12-25 20:14:47 My favorite gift this year was a GPS system, since I'll be moving soon and will need it.
Posted by ms8196 on 2011-12-25 20:12:32 I got a wonderful gift this year - my husband, not usually the most thoughtful of men when it comes to gift-giving - arranged for me to receive a beautiful box full of gorgeous fibre and a hand-turned spindle (I'm a keen knitter and embroiderer and I've always wanted to learn to spin). What's so amazing about that? Well, firstly, he thought of it, researched it and found it all by himself (remarkable enough if you knew the kind of things I've received from him in the past although he's been on an improving streak recently with the Kindle he bought me last Christmas) and, secondly, he did all that while serving in Afghanistan (he deployed there at the beginning of December).

*sniff*

So, not only did he take note of an interest of mine but he remembered it and found something suitable while in a reasonably inhospitable place!
Posted by jcscot on 2011-12-25 20:06:18 My favorite gift that I've ever given was a collage of pictures that I gave my sister years ago. It was pictures of the two of us and eventually the three of us after our younger sister was born. She cried when she opened it and I love that it makes the three of us smile whenever we see it in her room.
Posted by Jessica E on 2011-12-25 19:57:07 Favorite gift ever - the wood dollhouse and doll furniture kit my favorite uncle gave me when I was around 9. My dad put the house together and then I made most of the furniture in our basement woodshop. And then I spent years and years decorating and redecorating it - including a chandelier I made out of costume jewelry.

This year the best gift is spending time with my extended family.
Posted by cleo on 2011-12-25 19:56:48 A t-shirt from my fave comic strip. Thanks for the awesome giveaway :)
Posted by Shel on 2011-12-25 19:52:48 Favorite gift this year would be a new phone from my brothers, because they know I want a new one, and also because I need it, lol. Merry christmas. :)
Posted by Din on 2011-12-25 19:50:03 My sister-in-law made me a necklace. Love it.
Posted by Aralira on 2011-12-25 19:44:27 I got a Kitchenaid mixer from my family who are hoping to see an increase my production of baked goods.
Posted by OhSayNow on 2011-12-25 19:37:28 My son was the best Christmas gift I ever got :-)
Posted by Sarah A-B on 2011-12-25 19:34:01 I got my 21-month-old twin boys a little people toy train, and they spent all morning fighting over it and singing the "Dinosaur Train" song! It was a lean year for us, do we didn't exchange gifts between the grown-ups. A book gift certificate would be marvelous!
Posted by Meredithea on 2011-12-25 19:29:15 My husband gave me a single tear drop necklace with my birthstone in it. It was absolutely perfect for our first Christmas together.
Posted by MrsNewlywed on 2011-12-25 19:19:14 My favorite gift would have to be one that I got this year. It's a giant narwhal squishable, and the best thing about it is that it's fat and awesome, just like me. Every time I see it, it makes me smile.
Posted by Integgy on 2011-12-25 19:17:25 The best gift I got was this cheap hidden object computer game because my sister and I played it together and we actually got along the whole time…it takes a special gift to do that! ;)
Posted by BookAddict89 on 2011-12-25 19:00:44 My favorite gift this year are ones received from my hubby, who rarely buys gifts, and the best one of all is two sil pat baking mats. Please understand my hubby is not a cook, and he remembered me chattering about these sil pats from a month ago when I was baking some cookies for our shop. He is now a fan of Bed, Bath and Beyond! double win! LOL Merry Merry Christmas to all! and TY for the giveaways and smiles Sarah!
Posted by Patrice on 2011-12-25 18:58:07 It's hard to decide on just 1 favorite, this year was a good one for us, I got my son a star wars lightsaber that lights and makes the sounds and he had a lot fun with that(terrorizing our animals), and my husband got me the best pair of boots ever!! I wore them all day and they fit perfect and he picked them out by himself, I didn't ask for them but he knew I was looking for a new pair, and I got him a new gun. (he loves his guns!!) :)

Merry Christmas to all!!
Posted by Artesia on 2011-12-25 18:54:30 I've got a gorgeous bracelet but the best present was spending time with my whole family!
Posted by ClaudiaGC on 2011-12-25 18:49:21 My favorite gift was the "She Who Reads Is Booked Every Night" nightshirt my best friend gave me.
Posted by Heather on 2011-12-25 18:47:19 My son gave me an pasta wreath spray painted gold with his picture in the middle :)
Posted by Jenyfer on 2011-12-25 18:47:00 We bought my 11 year old daughter a Kobo Vox for Christmas...and I'm so happy to share my love of digital reading with her ;)
Posted by Cheryl McInnis on 2011-12-25 18:32:53 ...BIRTHDAY. I'm going to blame the bottle and a half of rose I've had today.
Posted by HelenMac on 2011-12-25 18:29:49 Big cheesey answer time: today (Christmas Day) is my borthday, and my Mum always says that *I* am the the best Christmas present I've ever given her.

In terms of received gifts, my childhood best ever was my second birthday, when I got a puppy. This year? I'm going to the tennis at the Olympics in 2012, and in my birthday card, the friend I'm going with said that he's paying for our transport to/from London. Legend!
Posted by HelenMac on 2011-12-25 18:28:50 Both my kids got me a bead for my pandora charm bracelet....I love that I can look back and remember which ones were gifts.
Posted by Jill L on 2011-12-25 18:23:27 Still haven't opened our presents yet this year, so my favorite present ever was the year my mom helped me fund a study abroad semester to Israel/Jordan/Egypt.
Posted by de_Pizan on 2011-12-25 18:19:20 I love the Nook I got for my birthday this year!
Posted by E Kenendy on 2011-12-25 18:07:46 Happy holidays! My fav gift was jewellery from my nephews. It was really sweet.
Posted by maered on 2011-12-25 18:03:10 My best gift was definitely a plane ticket so I could spend Christmas with my Mom !
Posted by Turtle on 2011-12-25 18:01:12 I received beautiful Clarins beauty products from my husband. Lovely!
Posted by Kaetrin on 2011-12-25 17:57:30 The best gifts are gift cards. It's so much fun deciding what to get :)
Posted by The Book Vixen on 2011-12-25 17:56:27 The best gift of the day was watching my boyfriend open up the meteorite I bought him. :-)
Posted by Michal Walden on 2011-12-25 17:55:01 My favorite gift was a prayer necklace from my mother. I love spiritual stuff, especially with a long tradition behind it, and this was gorgeous with jade and wood beads!
Posted by Rjlatrans13 on 2011-12-25 17:45:02 My 4yr old GD wanted an "olivia" playset. It was the item she circled in the toy book, and mentioned everytime someone asked her "what do you want for Christmas?" Good ole' gram couldn't find it TRU stores and it was out of stock on-line.....but Target.com came through and I was also able to get the car set with the rest of the family. It was all worth it to see the awe on her little face. ( and my kids gave me a set of hot yoga lessons! I'm so excited myself)
Posted by BellaBetty on 2011-12-25 17:43:44 My favorite gift this year was a gift to my mother-in-law. She is Korean and loves opera, so my husband and I found a really beautiful recording of the Korean song "Arirang" sung by Andreas Scholl. She loved it so much!
Posted by Beckyroo17 on 2011-12-25 17:38:08 Fav gift. I guess it was that pink barbie car when I was a kid :)
Posted by Blodeuedd on 2011-12-25 17:30:26 The best gift I gave this year was a little wooden car carrier truck with four little wooden cars in it. My two year old nephew wanted the packaging off right away so he could play with it. He didn't even want to open the next present. My one and a half year old niece joined him in playing with it, and their older brothers were "helping" them. The best gifts I received were the hugs and kisses from all five of them because they liked their gifts.

Thanks for the awesome giveaway, as well as the laughs and excellent reviews and recommendations year round. Happy Holidays to all!
Posted by Katy L on 2011-12-25 17:27:44 I got a purple camera (my favorite color is purple) from my parents this year :)
Posted by Mekaela on 2011-12-25 17:11:57 Having fun with thinkfun pathwords and rush hour in between legos and legend of zelda.
Posted by Impossible6 on 2011-12-25 17:10:56 Favorite gift I got this year was a vintage-y charm bracelet with pics of my 2 daughters in some of the charms.

I think my husband is very happy with the Nintendo DSi XL I got him...especially since it was such a surprise gift! I had bought it months ago and hid it...then completely forgot to wrap it...I remembered it around 1pm today...long after our morning orgy of present opening. It kind of made it more fun to spring it on him later like that :)
Posted by TheOriginalDramaMama on 2011-12-25 17:08:40 My favorite gift ever was given to me by my Mom during Chanukah during my first year in college. She gave me a small stuffed Winnie-the-Pooh. I still have and still love it.
Posted by Qwill on 2011-12-25 17:06:52 My aunt has some hazelnut trees on her property, and she sent all her relatives vacuum-packed hazelnuts. Maybe this isn't such an awesome gift to some people, but nuts are damn expensive and I like to cook.
Posted by Emily Spahn on 2011-12-25 17:01:20 My favorite gift were the diamond earrings that I had always wanted but could not afford on my own. They were given to me by my Dad and they are my most treasured possession.
Posted by Aidaalberto66 on 2011-12-25 16:58:27 The best birthday present I can recall getting is my cat, Hawthorne. She was a stray I'd taken in, after she was dumped in a basement, and on my birthday, the vet I took her to gave her a clean bill of health. Nine years later, I love her more every day. She accepts that.
Posted by Ann Rose on 2011-12-25 16:57:13 My husband got me a Kindle this year. Definitely my favorite. =)
Posted by Jenny Dolton on 2011-12-25 16:53:02 I waited patiently for Deathly Hallows part 2 and will spend the afternoon watching special features, yay!
Posted by Gabrielle on 2011-12-25 16:52:19 I gave my brother a pack of happy sushi made by PaJamaLove at Etsy. He really liked it.
Posted by Diatryma on 2011-12-25 16:46:39 Best gift I've given was to my mum. She has a heap of slides that were taken back in our traveling days, a particular fav for her was one of my brother and I with Uluru as a backdrop at sunrise. I snuck into her house stole the slide got it developed into a large photo with a beautiful frame. I knew I'd done real good as there were a few happy tears when she saw it. Best gift I've received would be my ereader, big surprise from my hubby and I daughter, I lurves it so much, it is my precioussssss.
Posted by Jo on 2011-12-25 16:46:09 My mother's Kindle Fire - seeing her face light up was the best!
Posted by Kim on 2011-12-25 16:42:24 My favourite gift is this year's gift from my parents: a 1940 Royal KMG typewriter. Just because.

Happy Holidays!
Posted by Andra on 2011-12-25 16:36:48 The small meaningful gifts are often the best. I framed some photos for my mom this year, and she loved them. Also got the cats a bag of felt mice with bells and the dog a meaty new bone; they were all in heaven!
Posted by Liz on 2011-12-25 16:27:10 My favorite gift this year is the HP Touchpad Tablet I got on a deep discount and my parents paid for it.
Posted by Ou_alum1990 on 2011-12-25 16:27:05 My daughter is 10 and its probably her last year believing in Santa. She's been back and forth trying to figure it out.

So being that she's a huge WWE fan (that's professional wrestling), Santa outdid himself. She found tickets to WWE Live from Santa. Her joy was over the top and Santa went out with a bang.

This will be one of my favorite holiday memories EVER.
Posted by Lorisusangreen on 2011-12-25 16:26:28 An iPhone for my daughter - who we told had to wait another year to get.
Posted by Jeannie Smith on 2011-12-25 16:25:35 My favorite gift was a wallet made of playing cards, for my brother, made by a friend.
Posted by SamS on 2011-12-25 16:22:12 My favorite gift . . . tough choice. 2002 was probably the highlight, though: after a breakdown in early December, I got out of the hospital with a definitive diagnosis, a prescription, and finally, an explanation for all the weird things that had been happening in my brain, all just in time for Christmas. Peace of mind is definitely beyond price.
Posted by Rosa E. on 2011-12-25 16:17:05 My favorite gift this year is my new Kobo e-reader! I can't wait to get all my favorite books loaded.
Posted by Carol on 2011-12-25 16:16:05 My best gift was my 17 year-old son arrranging and helping to pay for an e-reader which I really, really wanted but wasn't in the budget! I'm still teary.
Posted by Colleen on 2011-12-25 16:14:46 The best gift I got this year was a lovely pair of earrings from my father.
Posted by bookworm4664 on 2011-12-25 16:14:34 Ten years ago, a Great Pyrenees puppy.
Posted by Harebrainedschemes on 2011-12-25 16:08:42 One of my favorite gifts was a Tiffany's necklace from my cousin.
Posted by cyclops8 on 2011-12-25 16:07:39 Mr Deviant and I give out rum balls every year.....along with other miscellaneous treats. I think we might have a problem if we didn't give rum balls. Our peeps start asking about the production at Halloween. *grin*
Posted by Lil' Deviant on 2011-12-25 16:07:25 My favorite gift this year was a new toaster oven. No more burned toast. :^)
Posted by Penelope on 2011-12-25 16:07:02 I got my boyfriend a coffee maker this year. Grad school has gotten him hooked on coffee and he usually needs a Starbucks trip during all night paper writing sessions. Hopefully this will help.
Posted by Elise on 2011-12-25 15:59:35 This Christmas was great - gave up a 10 year old clamshell cell phone for an Android smartphone and got my first ebook reader too. Woohoo!
Posted by Katie Dancer on 2011-12-25 15:57:32 I think the best gift I gave this year was the professional pictures I gave my sister and brother in law of my niece and nephew. They turned out so cute!
Posted by Kasey Miller on 2011-12-25 15:53:54 I've been super happy with my Kindle Fire so far!!!
Posted by Taylor Reynolds on 2011-12-25 15:51:48 Favorite gift was definitely private ballroom dance lessons!
Posted by Skylerh on 2011-12-25 15:41:44 My sister got my dad a great card. It said Merry Catsmess - you can imagine the picture. Exactly the kind of mess our cats make out of the Christmas tree.
Posted by Julia on 2011-12-25 15:33:23 My favorite gift was my husband home from the hospital and doing well. Whew!
Posted by Jan Lo on 2011-12-25 15:12:31 Favorite Given: Pint glass with the Brawndo logo etched on it.
Favorite Received: $79 Kindle
Posted by Staplegun on 2011-12-25 15:00:20 My favorite (given) gift is a puppy I bought for my sister.
Posted by CND on 2011-12-25 14:58:53 I gave my husband a GPS and we had our 5 year old granddaughter record all the phrases. So now he gets to hear her every day telling where to go. He has told me repeatedly that it is the best present ever.
Posted by Mo on 2011-12-25 14:56:56 I always like getting new books for Christmas.
Posted by Jennifer Estep on 2011-12-25 14:53:07 My favorite gift this year was the HD TV for my bedroom.
Posted by Amy Alker Dandrade on 2011-12-25 14:51:52 We haven't opened our gifts yet (don't ask!), but I'm really happy about the gift I gave my mom; I paid off her credit card without her knowing.
Posted by MarieC on 2011-12-25 14:51:04 Yes please to a bookstore gift card!

I gave my aunt a CD set by Etta James, as well as a CD by Jimmy Beaumont and the Skyliners. She was so thrilled that she was nearly speechless - because she'd lost the tapes she'd had many years ago.
Posted by Charity on 2011-12-25 14:51:00 My husband bought 2 umbrellas to keep in his 2 cars so when it rains I don't have to say, "Wait, I have to get my umbrella from my car!" before I ride in his. I like it :)

Posted by kathybaug on 2011-12-25 14:49:54 My favorite gift is a Kindle Touch I got from my husband this year. He knows how much I love to read, and knows this will be much more than just a gadget to me.
Posted by Hydecat on 2011-12-25 14:46:51 I give books to my nieces. I usually ask them to pick out a book, that way it is something that they actually want.
Posted by Mims on 2011-12-25 14:45:37 I received gift cards this year which worked, sort of, since what I really wanted was a clutch assembly for my car (with both master and slave cylinders).
Posted by infinitieh on 2011-12-25 14:40:44 Redeamable for no less than 5 fictional hotties use as you see fit...ahem ONLY FIVE DAMN. ..
Posted by Candrbeyer on 2011-12-25 14:34:42 Best gift given this year was the one my brother received - my siblings wouldn't tell me what they wanted so I told them then they would get home-made cookies. His immediate answer was: I want Lebkuchen. So I made them and gave him a big tin box full of them and he wouldn't even open it with our family and his girlfriend's family around because he was afraid he'd have to share. So I know that he really appreciates them... :-)
Posted by Andrea on 2011-12-25 14:27:37 After 8 years I am finished school!!! Can't wait to read something other than text books again!
Posted by Rose D. on 2011-12-25 14:26:13 Having my mother released from the hospital in time for Christmas, and surrounding her with family that she hasn't seen in years was the best gift this year.
Posted by msilk on 2011-12-25 14:20:39 Best present this year: the apple corer/peeler/slicer gizmo my Dad received. My family all took turns cranking the handle, trying out different fruits and veggies. Potatoes and apples: yes. Onions and bananas: no.
Posted by Meg on 2011-12-25 14:19:34 I got scientific cookie cutters. So awesome.
Posted by Maya S on 2011-12-25 14:13:20 My favorite gift this year, the new outfit my husband bought. He got it right for once so I wore it this morning to our traditonal Christmas breakfast with our children and grandchildren. Only thing I hated was the static cling which made my new outfit suck right up to enhance my worst body bits. Sigh.
Posted by Jbriggs60 on 2011-12-25 14:10:25 My favorite gift I've ever gotten are the earrings my best friend gave me our first year, way back when we were 12. They are pretty little hearts with filigree around them. I still have them (18 years later!) and wear them every Christmas, and often for good luck.

My favorite gift I've given is the one I made my mom this year. My mom is confined to a wheelchair, and it's hard for her to put a jacket on because of it. So this year, I decided to put my knitting to good use, and made a big, warm capelet that she can easily put on in her chair. It took a while, and the cables were a great big pain in my ass, but the look on her face this morning totally made it worth it.

Happy Holidays, my fellow bitches, whatever you celebrate.
Posted by Josie MacGregor on 2011-12-25 14:09:09 Anything with cars or trucks on it for my son... to the point where as he opened every package he exclaimed, "car?! truck??! car?! truck?!" (he's less than two)
Posted by Cgedel on 2011-12-25 14:05:55 Books of course! They are what I usually ask for and what I love getting. I also give books and gave some good ones to the husband and child this year!
Posted by tezzkatt on 2011-12-25 13:55:23 I got enough chocolate from husband and in-laws this year to get me through the rest of winter. That is a very good thing.
Posted by Nadia on 2011-12-25 13:47:38 I was part of a team that gave my grandma an iPad this year. It's her first time ever hooked to the internet and email and she's loving it! That was superfun.
The gift I got that I'm (geekily) happiest about is a Pokemon deck my son made me. He and his sisters have been teaching their dad and I how to play. Now we have our own decks and I see a family tourney in our future!
Posted by Carin on 2011-12-25 13:45:54 My favorite gift this year was the assortment of Cherry jams, jellies, sauces etc... that I gave my husband. I hate cherry so all of it is just for him!
Posted by Brooke on 2011-12-25 13:42:02 My favorite gift has to be this poster of the Game of Thrones photoshopped to say Christmas is Coming.
Posted by Tasnim on 2011-12-25 13:34:25 My Mom once gave me an Irish lace bedspread that her grandmother had made. It is beautiful and I cherish it.
Posted by Terrie on 2011-12-25 13:30:41 I really hope my son likes the Kindle I got him for Christmas - but I think the best gifts my kids will be getting are the gift cards to Tim Hortons - they're huge Timmy's fans. (Timmy's is a coffee/donut/sandwich place)
Posted by Becca on 2011-12-25 13:21:27 I may well be wearing goggles, as we seem to be having a Steampunk Christmas around here -- I gave hubby a Steampunk watch he has wanted for years (the casing is pierced in a lovely pattern so you can see all the gears working inside) and my older son gave his brother a pair of Steampunk headphones; we also received "The Steampunk Bible" from a friend. It's a fairly sparse Christmas this year but at least all the gifts weren't bought at Dollar General this year (as they were in a few years past) and everybody seems genuinely delighted.

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah (and Happy Kwanzaa, Jolly Diwali, Blessed Eid, and Happy Solstice a little late -- did I forget anybody?) to all!
Posted by EC Spurlock on 2011-12-25 13:20:36 I got prints of some of my best pictures I took in London and Paris when I was there for a study abroad last year. We haven't started in on presents yet, but I known my Mom will love hers. Dad better like the (really fantastic) shot I got of the Admiral Lord Nelson from Trafalgar Square.
Posted by Redheadedgirl on 2011-12-25 13:20:31 Best present this year: homemade cozy flannel pajamas from my aunt!
Posted by PSJ on 2011-12-25 13:20:24 My favorite gift was when I received my first ereader...changed my life!
Posted by Beth on 2011-12-25 13:12:30 I got a set of pajamas that have dogs that look like my dog Snowball, A Bichion Frise. I also got a pair of fabulous sunglasses (I love sunglasses!) and I gave my mother a nice case for her reading glasses.
Posted by Emily on 2011-12-25 13:10:31 My parents bought me a KitchenAid mixer for Christmas a couple of years ago. I'm a serious baker and it replaced the 30-year-old mixer that I inherited from them when I went to grad school. This year, I got a gorgeous vegan leather bag and a new wallet from the folks, and a snazzy yellow Le Creuset utensil holder from my sister.
Posted by Jen G. on 2011-12-25 13:10:31 This Christmas I've been happy with the Very Large Mug I received. Before, I was always having to go for refills in the morning but now one mugful is enough. (What, of course I tested the mug out before passing it on to Mom to give to me. >.<)

The Very Long-handled Spoons are also appreciated.
Posted by ms bookjunkie on 2011-12-25 13:10:30 My favorite gift given was the rocking cow (yes, cow) I gave to my twins. The look of sheer joy on their faces was priceless.
Posted by Michele on 2011-12-25 13:07:14 Does it have to be a Christmas gift? Because (other than my kids being born) the best gift ever was being able to spend three weeks on DC on top of attending RWA in 2009.
Posted by azteclady on 2011-12-25 13:06:24 One of the best gifts I ever gave was a pair of Snoopy slippers that my sister wanted. I wrapped them in a regular sized box and then hid it behind the sofa. Then i wrapped a tiny jewelry box and gave it to her with a note inside. She was trying to act like she wasn't disappointed by the little bitty box when she had pointed out the slippers, but she wasn't doing a great job. When she opened the little box, the note said "Look behind the couch!" Ha!
Posted by Squarepeg14 on 2011-12-25 13:04:36 A Joyous Midwinter Festival of your choosing!

My favorite gift this year is The Sims 3:Pets. Doggies! Kitties! The power of life and death over Sims! :)
Posted by Ladyof Lostshadows on 2011-12-25 13:01:34 Best gift was my partner changing my cell phone ring tone to the Dr. Who theme song. Free, and awesome.
Posted by quidling on 2011-12-25 12:55:21 One of my friends was searching for a specific Santa gift for her son and could not find it so I searched online and had it sent to her a few days before Christmas.
Posted by Marc on 2011-12-25 12:55:07 This year, the best gift Hubby and I gave were rolling Disney suitcases to the grandkids. Forget toys--They've been rolling their new luggage around the house ever since they got them!
Posted by LSUReader on 2011-12-25 12:53:34 Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah! One of my favourite gifts was from my now husband, 30 yrs. ago. He got me a copy of the Lord of the Rings, bound in leather with onion skin paper. I am a terrible gift giver, but he makes up for me every year. Hope everyone is enjoying today.
Posted by KPM on 2011-12-25 12:41:57 Aloha! The best gifts I received this year are the unexpected treats I received in the mail from readers who follow my blog!
Posted by Kim in Hawaii on 2011-12-25 12:40:18 I bought myself a kindle last Xmas. I guess that's been the best gift for the past few years. My family's pretty much given up on buying presents since nobody actually needs anything and nobody wants clutter. Books have always been among the best gifts I've received and the gifts that I've been happiest giving. I love giving books to people, choosing something that I think they'd like but wouldn't pick for themselves.
Posted by Rij on 2011-12-25 12:38:29 My favorite gift this year was the phone call from my husband yesterday. He said he'd realized that Christmas was coming and he needed to get me a gift so he was at my favorite store and what colors did I like. Just the phone call was a great gift. But I didn't tell him that.
Posted by Vicki S on 2011-12-25 12:35:00 I gave my kitty a tiny stuffed toy chicken for Christmas. It chirps when you touch it. It freaked her out at first. She acted like it was a ticking time bomb but she's getting braver about it now. Just rubbed her head against it. The little scardey cat.

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah everybody!
Posted by Kelly S. Bishop on 2011-12-25 12:32:46 The best gift I ever gave was an "Actor Training Kit" for a friend that is a stage manager. I knew the horrors she was dealing with so I put it together for her. Some of the items included a squirt bottle, glitter, and a dangling cat toy. All of this with a how-too guide I made as well.
Posted by Crys on 2011-12-25 12:30:42 Favorite gift this year was having friends over and watching the Sound of Music!
Posted by Erica H on 2011-12-25 12:29:21 As our family has a hard time getting together due to working (me, a hospital laboratory technician and my son, the Senior Firemedic are both working today), my grandson's (both of them) committment to their military training (they are both in the Navy's version of ROTC), and just general chaos, my best present is for us to be together for at least one day this season. Looks like it might happen on the 27th (here's hoping). Can't think of anything more that I want this year or anything that would mean more to me.
Posted by Riwally on 2011-12-25 12:25:02 Despite giving me an hour lecture on how lame and unnecessary my mother thought e-readers were, after we'd been planning for weeks deciding which one to get her, she opened it, and SURPRISE. SHE LOVED IT. And despite being absolutely worthless with technology, she started reading James Peterson's new book with ease, clarity, and no squinting at the small text, because I made it bigger for her. Wonders...

Usually our surprise non list items get relegated to the basement. Two popcorn makers, an ice cream machine, the magic bullet, a food processor, a blender, some other misc cookware, and an exercise bike will not be getting a new friend this year!

Best gift we've given her in a long time.
Posted by Cait on 2011-12-25 12:23:32 I'm loving my Kindle Fire! Did I need it, well, no but boy, did I want it!
Posted by Peggy Pennell on 2011-12-25 12:22:51 The best gift I have ever given was a week long, all expense paid ski vacation to my hubby. The look on his face was just priceless, and one of my favorite Christmas memories.

Posted by Cathy MacDonald on 2011-12-25 12:11:20 Best gift was a dagger made by a friend.
Posted by Cat on 2011-12-25 12:01:48 I got a spa day as my present from my husband and I can't wait to use it! My favorite gifts to give were the ones to my son who is 3. He's currently having a battle between the pixar Cars that he got and the knights in his playmobil castle! Historical mashups for the win!
Posted by Reneesance on 2011-12-25 11:57:41 I got a lot of great gifts this year, but the best is that my family didn't completely flip their shit when I told them I was taking spring semester off to vagabond && couch surf South America. :D
Posted by CLinic Cynic on 2011-12-25 11:56:06 My favorite was my grandma's necklace that my sister gave to me--it was a double present from both of them!
Posted by Debbie on 2011-12-25 11:51:08 In December 2008 we had a marriage vow renewal ceremony with my mom & dad, brother an his wife, my husband and me. We celeberated 100 years of marriage between the 3 couples (50 for M&D, 25 for my brother/wife, 25 for me/my husband). Mom gave us each a diamond heart necklace. My dad passed away 4 months later. It was such a wonderful holiday celebration of lots of love!
Posted by dharma on 2011-12-25 11:50:21 This year my very best present has been a wine bottle stopper. No more wasted bottles!
Posted by Rachel on 2011-12-25 11:50:04 My favorite gift this year is my Shark steam mop. Is that lame? That's probably lame. But I mean, now I won't have to crawl around on the floor with a scrub brush, so, as Cousin Eddie says, "It's the gift that keeps on giving the whole year."
Posted by Abby on 2011-12-25 11:48:56 I got an ereader for christmas and the sick fish made it through the night. Best gifts this year. :)
Posted by Laura D. on 2011-12-25 11:43:51 Happy Hannuka!!

DH gave our niece a Razor Sparks scooter, but she had to complete a treasure hunt to find it. The first clue was in a book that was wrapped under the tree. There were about 15 clues that were as simple as a picture of her boots or as complex as a tinyurl that he set up for her. It took the entire family about 45 minutes to complete.
Posted by Heidi K on 2011-12-25 11:42:59 Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas!

My kids got to open one gift before going to bed last night. We gave the 4yo a turtle that lights up stars and moons on the ceiling. He had one before and loved it to death and the buttons stopped working about two years ago. When he opened, you could see his confusion, like "What are you doing in the box? You were in my room. How did you get down here?". It was adorable. We made a quick switch with his old one when he went to bed and when he cuddled the turtle in bed, I turned on the lights. His little jaw dropped. "Green! Blue! Stars!" He was so excited his old turtle was doing new tricks. We could hear him talking to his turtle for a solid hour until he finally passed out. It was all kinds of awesome.
Posted by CK on 2011-12-25 11:41:39 My BFF likes to bake and last year she sent a big box of goodies cross country to my door. It was full of cake and cookies and different kinds of breads. My whole family loved it and so did I. I have my fingers crossed for this year too. ;-)
Posted by Carolyn on 2011-12-25 11:32:16 My favorite gift this year is a pair of earrings from my husband because it was so thoughtful that he remembered me pointing them out.
Posted by Kristina on 2011-12-25 11:32:15 I received a lovely charm bracelet from my mom.
Posted by Stephanie on 2011-12-25 11:30:51 My favorite gifts are always the cards I get from loved ones who took the time to get or make a card just for me or write something special on the cards they send out to everyone. During this time of year people get so busy and it means a lot when people take the time to let you know how special you are in their lives. My family knows how much I love sweet, funny or goofy cards, so I always get great gifts every year.
Posted by Katy M on 2011-12-25 11:30:23 As several relatives (and myself) moved down to North Carolina (near the SC border -- this'll become relevant in a sec) from NY, I wanted to get my Aunt Dot/godmother something New Yorkish that isn't normally down here. So I got her a gift certificate to the Mellow Mushroom, in nearby South Carolina, which is the most amazing pizza I've had anywhere in the two states!
Posted by Jim L on 2011-12-25 11:30:01 This year my favorite gift is from a person in church whom I don't know closely, but who knows that I am alone for Christmas and decided to bring the gift. Haven't opened it yet, but I know it will be my favorite no matter what ;-)
Posted by MD_uk on 2011-12-25 11:27:46 My favorite gift given this year was the Sith light saber I got for my husband, who was faster opening his present than our kids were opening theirs. Best gift recieved, and I know it sounds hokey, was how happy and surprisingly grateful my kids were with all their new goodies. Christmas morning ended with a nice "Santa done GOOD!" glow.
Posted by Trippinoutmysoul on 2011-12-25 11:27:24 The family ring I got last year was the fave gift received. :)
Posted by Jlm2509 on 2011-12-25 11:27:02 My favorite gift is the Lord John book by Diana Gabaldon. :-)
Posted by Lasjobergg on 2011-12-25 11:26:39 There were a few good gifts this year. Best seems to be a toss-up between the My Little Pony shirt my older daughter got, the zombie lab my son got, and the Barbie for the youngest.
Posted by Anna on 2011-12-25 11:21:31 My favorite gifts this year were the ones I made for my family. I made photo boards and decorated them depending on everyone's interests or hobbies. It was so much fun to make them.
Posted by Jennifer M(OR) on 2011-12-25 11:20:24 Happy holidays!! Thanks for a wonderful giveaway! My favorite gift this year is my kindle fire (which I 'm using right now :) ) it's so awesome!
Posted by Erin F on 2011-12-25 11:19:22 Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah!

My favorite gift is something that I gave to my grandmother and my aunt. A couple of weeks ago, my mom bought me a ceramics figurine kit because I like to paint. When I looked at the figurines, I realized that I couldn't keep them for myself. You see, ten years ago my cousin died suddenly--he was just 10 at the time. Two of the figurines were penguins--my cousin and his twin brother used to carry around these cute stuffed penguins wherever they went (the cousin that died was buried with his). I decided to paint the penguins and put my cousins' names on them. My aunt has 2 other kids, so I did the same for them and sent all 4 to her.

When I was done with those, I had 5 left--the number of my first cousins on my mother's side and myself, so I did the same with them--2 dogs (I made mine a Husky since I'm a Northeastern Alum and the other one I made in the likeness of my puppy), a bunny, and 2 snowmen--and I gave them to my grandmother.
Posted by Elizabeth Gunther on 2011-12-25 11:16:42 I got a rad shawl pin from my husband for hanukkah this year :)
Posted by Anna on 2011-12-25 11:13:52 My husband got me Wonder Woman pajamas.
Posted by Niowery71 on 2011-12-25 11:09:33 I got a dutch oven. I've been wanting one for a while. It's red and very pretty and VERY heavy. I love it.
Posted by Tina Chaney on 2011-12-25 11:09:26 I love getting Amazon gift cards to buy more books. I live gifting ebooks.
Posted by Vi on 2011-12-25 11:07:41 I always try to give a book to my neice and nephew. The books sometimes get lost in the shiffle when other gifts are opened, but this year both were a hit. Yay! Snoopy dance!!! :)
Posted by Angie G on 2011-12-25 11:03:21 The best gift I ever received is the book Black Knight by Connie Mason from my sister. She wanted to share her love of reading with me. I was around 20 and it was the first book I ever read for enjoyment. I have not looked back since.
Posted by Anika on 2011-12-25 11:02:35 One year I helped my dad surprise mom with a family ring....we wrapped it in several boxes going from small to giant....it was so fun watching her open it and watching dad laugh after she opened each box. I miss dad but we still talk about that christmas :)
Posted by Christy H on 2011-12-25 11:00:29 My favourite gifts were, surprise surprise, books. Not books on my wishlist, but new-to-me books that a close friend wanted to introduce to me or thought I might enjoy.
Posted by Brenda on 2011-12-25 10:59:39 A few years ago, my boss received four live lobsters and all the trimmings and he regifted it to me. We has a great Christmas dinner that year.
Posted by Lisa J on 2011-12-25 10:58:49 I'm super thankful for my Nook tablet! And I'm glad that I gave my parents a gift certificate to a nice restaurant-- they deserve a nice night out.
Posted by Caitlin M. on 2011-12-25 10:58:43 My best gift was a Cricket Doll when I was 6. I remember I had bugged anyone who would listen, that that was what I wanted for Christmas. 27 years later I still remember my joy when I opened that present. :) Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!
Posted by Tina on 2011-12-25 10:58:22 I just gave my 3-year-old niece a pair of Disney Princess roller skates. She's laid down with pneumonia, but she still ordered me to put them on her feet and wheel her around the kitchen. Any gift that makes you excited even when you're sick is a major success!
Posted by Melissandre on 2011-12-25 10:56:13 iPod Touch the first Christmas they released. I loved that thing. I finally gave it away when I upgraded to an iPhone last year.
Posted by LisaCharlotte on 2011-12-25 10:54:33 Last year I carried two shake-weight gifts in my suitcase. It was so worth it when my mother and brother saw that I was good on my threat to get them shake-weights if they wouldn't tell me what they really wanted!
Posted by Nico on 2011-12-25 10:54:08 When we took the kids to visit the family for Christmas after he returned from Iraq several years ago.
Posted by Diane McConnell on 2011-12-25 10:50:35 Hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas, especially whoever stole my Christmas present off my porch. Their Christmas dinner will awesome cooked in those pots and pans. And Merry Christmas to the company sending a replacement free of charge.
Posted by LisaCharlotte on 2011-12-25 10:50:33 Favorite gift was when my husband said he got me a gift certificate to the spa and paid for the babysitter too. I have 4 hrs of free time-I see a massage and some one on one time with my kindle. Can't wait.
Posted by Vicki on 2011-12-25 10:41:31 My favorite gift this year is a glass bowl for my kitchen aide mixer. Love it!!!
Posted by Nicolle Davis on 2011-12-25 10:38:54 The Domo toy and t-shirts are very big with my kids this year.
Posted by Sharyn L on 2011-12-25 10:38:00 Best give ever was the kitten under the x-mas tree from my husband the first year we were married!

Posted by Amy P. on 2011-12-25 10:36:09 The favorite gift I've given recently was a fountain pen (and ink!) for a friend who was having a crappy month and had fallen in love with fountain pens after I showed her my collection. She couldn't afford one, especially since it's a bit of a frivolous thing that can be difficult to use and is mainly meant to be pretty, so I ordered a duplicate of my newest pen and some ink for her, and didn't breathe a word about it until it got to her house. It made her so happy, and I was really happy to be able to give her something for no particular reason except that she's my friend and I wanted to share the silly fun of using fountain pens. (I mean, honestly, it's 2011 - there's no real need for the things, and there are plenty of fancy and more useful pens out there!)

I love giving gifts just to make people happy, for no particular reason, but it was really fun to select the pen and ink and have it sent to her house without her knowing! usually I send things that are more useful or more expected (being related to hobbies or something), but this was a complete surprise for her. :)

(If anyone else would like to indulge, I've found xfountainpens.com to be very good. No exchanges/refunds, but for their prices, I can't complain.)
Posted by ?? keri ?? on 2011-12-25 10:34:29 Does it have to be this year's gifts? 'Cuz it's been a slim-picken's year, both given & received. (Durned economy.)
But if it's ever, fave gift received was a gorgeous opal earrings & necklace set, and fave gift given was a big screen tv to my sister's family - the year I cemented my 'World's Best Auntie' title! :)
Thanks for the giveaway chance. This would be FABULOUS to win!
Happy Holidays!
Posted by rissatoo on 2011-12-25 10:34:17 My laptop. The old one was quite literally falling apart when my sister calls from overseas saying she got me a new one. The exact one that I'd been eying online.

That goodness for older sisters, right?
Posted by TheDuchess on 2011-12-25 10:31:58 As far as past gifts, I think my sister and I were pretty excited about the reaction when we got our mom an autostart for Christmas (and had it secretly installed!). This year we haven't opened gifts yet because it's 6:30 am in Alaska (and I'm still at work) but I'm really looking forward to my mom opening the gift from my sister and me. She's hard to shop for and she really didn't give us many ideas this year but she really wanted a 20" gold chain, and was very specific about the type of chain. We have it special ordered but if she doesn't like it we have until Tuesday to change the order. :-)

We do open one gift on Christmas Eve and my sister got me my favorite loose leaf tea so I'm pretty happy!
Posted by Amitatuq on 2011-12-25 10:30:02 My mother loved her 79 dollar Kindle I got her!
Posted by Anastacia Russell on 2011-12-25 10:29:21 I am pretty sure that the Skylander Wii game is the most loved gift of the day today. Although, I did get some awesome yarn and knitting books. I could use the gift of a nap like crazypants though.
Posted by AnnaPiranha on 2011-12-25 10:24:01 Judging by my son's reaction this morning, the best gift I've ever given may be Lego Mindstorms.
Posted by Patricia on 2011-12-25 10:22:05 I could use that! I always tell the family, "You can either give me book gift certificates or a diamond tiara, your choice."
Posted by Darlene Marshall on 2011-12-25 10:21:33

Looking for a book?
View our past advertisements!

Smart Bitches, Trashy Books

Recent Entries

Recent Reviews

Browse the Bitches

Recent Comments

Bitchin' Calendar

To the Bitchmobile!

Bitchin' Blog Posts

Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas