Northern California Nesties
Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
s/o Gift etiquette - Bad gift?
I was listening to 101.3 last night and Ryan Seacrest is the DJ during the rush hour at night (at least that's the only time I listen in) and he asked on FB if when you receive a bad gift from someone, do you graciously accept it, smile and move on? Do you say something at all to the person? I also heard a lot that you smile, say thank you, then maybe donate it to charity.
So tell me...
1. Have you ever received a bad gift? And if so who gave it to you and what was it?
2. Would you say something, or just accept it and move on?
Re: s/o Gift etiquette - Bad gift?
I've gotten many bad gifts and whether or not I said anything depended on the circumstances.
When my aunt gave me a bath set, I smiled and said thank you
When DH gave me a $9 electronic suduku game as my only Christmas gift, I let him know my expectations were higher.
I've gotten lots of "bad" gifts over the years. I pretty much always graciously accept and thank the person. A gift is a gift...
What I do afterward depends. Sometimes a gift is only "bad" for me, but might be loved by someone else. In that case, I may re-gift it (or just give it to someone), but only if I know they will like it. Or I may try to return it or exchange it (if I can). Or keep it for a White Elephant exchange.
Sometimes it's just a really crappy gift for anyone, in which case I either throw it out, try to find some use for it (even if it's not the intended use), or donate it.
To help combat crappy gifts, I have an Amazon wish list I keep updated throughout the year. My friends and family generally all know about it (and if they don't, and they ask what I want, I direct them there). That way, they can get something they know I'll like, at whatever price point they're comfortable with, and I have enough selection that it will still be a surprise. I really love shopping other people's wish lists for the same reason!
Of course you accept it! The problem is when it's something that's not your size (or that you really would never wear). I kind of get the impression that it is NOT ok to ask for receipts for clothing in my dh's family. I've still been able to exchange most things, though I've donated plenty.
Wasted/inappropriate gifts make me sad though. So much waste and pointless consumerism. I actually got my MIL to exchange lists this year. Hopefully that can be a new tradition (as it works great in my family).
I've received bad gifts including a few items that were not on my wedding registry. One being a bread knife and cutting board to go with it. It's something I won't use since I have a bread knife and a few cutting boards. Unfortunately, the person who gave it to me took the tag off so it's sitting in my closet.
I usually say thank you and move on. Sometimes I'll donate it or in my apartment building there is a table in the lobby and usually if you leave something there, it's gone within a few hours.
IUI #1 10/12/11 (Bravelle + HCG + Prometrium & acupuncture) = 10/26 BFP! Beta #1=250, Beta #2= 615. 1st u/s 11/8.
The only truly bad gift I can think of that I got was this giant glass beverage holder a friend of my parents gave us at our engagement party. It was obviously regifted - open/torn box and missing the lid to the container itself... I didn't actually open it till after they left the party so there wasn't a face-to-face interaction. But I did write them a thank-you note and then gave the "gift" to Goodwill. That was the end of it.
Well said MrsBoomBoom
I've received plenty of gifts that were things I'd never buy for myself (see how did that, trying not to be mean to anyone, lol). I always say thank you and I always mean it. Honest. I really appreciate that they tried to find something for me and that they thought of me. What I do with the gift varies: return, pass on to someone who would like/need it, donate it or keep it.
I don't think I've ever said anything.
Lighthouse State Beach, Santa Cruz.
I always say thank you and move on.
Well . . . except for that one time. . .
I had just had my first, had gotten home from the hospital the day before and struggling with hormones, breastfeeding, feeling adequate as a mother, feeling attractive as a wife (had lots of swelling still) . . . when at 8 that night, in the middle of a stressful nursing session that wasn't going well, my aunt stopped by to give us a present.
A large, framed picture that she had drawn of Eleanor and I from a picture she had taken of us at the hospital the day after I gave birth. Granted, I was already swollen enough in the real picture, but her drawing made it look even worse, made everything about me look awful and when she pulled it out to show me I burst into tears, and when she asked me why I was crying I told her it was such a sweet thought but I would never put it on my wall, because I hated how I looked.
I hope she understood and didn't take offense, because I feel SO bad about it now, and have no idea why I ever admitted that. I blame the hormones. And the stress. But mostly the raging, crazy hormones.
My Mom Blog My Writing Blog