D.C. Area 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.
Poll: Christmas gifts
Just wondering how others feel about the type of gifts you'll give/receive this holiday season.
Do you prefer to get only the items you carefully selected on your Christmas list or do you like it when someone takes the time to surprise you? How about when you buy gifts for others? Feel free to explain.
Re: Poll: Christmas gifts
I like a little of both. I've obviously made my list because I really want those items on it. However, it'd be boring to me if I didn't get at least one unexpected item. My MIL doesn't ask what we want for Christmas- she just does her own thing. It's hit or miss- sometimes she gets us awesome stuff, other times I end up donating a bunch of it. I'm slightly annoyed that she attempts to buy me clothes because a lot of them end up being too big or not my style.
When buying for others, I tend to stick to what I know they want. I only buy something different if I know the person well and know they'll like the item.
Planning Bio
To give a sense of history, every year, my parents took me to see the Santa at Merrifield Garden Center (anyone else? there was a WaPo article on him last year, I think). Anyway, every year, I'd ask Santa for "surprises." Yes, I waited and waited in line to see Santa to ask him for "surprises." Drove my parents up a wall.
Things haven't changed.
It's rare for me to ask for a big item (though I did this year)... I can usually provide a healthy list of stocking stuffers or small gifts, but yes, I do hope for surprises that I'll actually like! I'm impossible.
Scout
Chocolate Blog!
I prefer when 80% of my presents are off my carefully cultivated wish list. i don't mind some surprises, but i have a wishlist b/c my mom & husband have specifically asked me to create one so I would be annoyed if i went to the trouble to make one & it was completely ignored. which, yes, makes me sound bratty. i kind of hate it when relatives that don't really know me try to buy me presents off list. inevitably it's not my style & i feel bad that they wasted money (i'd rather them not get me anything at all)
for others, i also try to stick mainly on-list but come up with one or 2 things for surprises. I DEFINITELY stick to lists or gift cards to shops i know they frequent when buying for people i don't know EXTREMELY well.
I like to get a mix. I prefer a good chunk of things to come off my list, but I'm also ok with a few surprises. Sometimes they are hits and sometimes misses, but I'm okay with that as I know the gift giver had me in mind regardless.
My family has always done a Christmas list. In-laws do not and it kinda drives me batty. I know it's not very "tis the spirit" but MIL has WAY more misses than hits. I've politely offered to provide her with a list for DH and I, as in, "My mom has asked for our Christmas list and I wasn't sure if you wanted one as well. If you do, I'll just divide up the list before giving it to me mom...." To which she replied, "no thanks, I would rather just wing it." It drives me batty because both DH and I end up with a bunch of stuff that we either don't want, don't like, or doesn't fit us.
I like a carefully selected item based on the ideas from my list.
I have a zillion things on my amazon wishlist.... I think if someone were to read it, they'd get the hint that I like cookbooks, gadgets, art supplies, etc.
I feel like a complete Christmas curmudgeon this year when it comes to gifts for myself. I can't think of anything I want or need and it is driving DH and my parents crazy because they all want a list.
I even told my dad to just make a donation in my name and he did not like that idea.
I am having fun shopping for other people but I can't come up with a list for myself.
We went there every year, too! Is he still around? If so, I must take Guinevere there this year!
I actually don't like surprises...I'll happily offer a list covering all price points from which mom and MIL can choose what they want to buy
Ditto this. And I will sometimes I have things on my list that are open-ended. For my list this year, I gave a bunch of options for the business card holder, books, and other things I asked for. That way someone can get me something off my list but pick the particular one I get, if that makes sense.
DH is much better than me about creative off-list gift ideas.
TTC #2: BFP 12/17/11, m/c 1/7/12 and D&C 1/12/12
baby blog/cooking blog
honestly, I'd rather not receive gifts from anyone but DH. at this point in my life there just isn't much that I need that I can't buy for myself. and as grown adults it feels weird to ask other people to buy us stuff. I don't know...I just don't like it.
but I do like it when someone takes the time to surprise me with something unexpected. last year my SIL gave me a print on canvas of Warner and I love it. also, a very nice friend of mine (ahem, vtkendra!) gave me a Christmas ornament with Warner's picture on it and it was just perfect.
I definitely don't mind it when people in my family tell me what they want for xmas, but I also like doing something for them that's different and a little more special than "oh, here are the socks you said you needed..."
I like both.
For example, last year my mom asked what I wanted/needed. I said I needed new sheet pans and I told her there were 2 on my amazon wishlist I picked out. Christmas came around and she got me the smallest sheet pan she could find. The sheet pans I had picked out were 1/2 sheet pans, of commercial quality. I appreciated it, but the pan she got me is more or less useless.
But - when I say I need sweaters or cardigans (or frames, or stuff for the house), she picks me out nice stuff (I think it stems from me not being able to ever find anything - but she will look for hours, I don't have the patience for that.)
I like to get people what they want, and I'll also throw in a couple surprise gifts that I think they'll like (books, jewelry, etc)
We make the rockin' world go 'round.
I get a mix and I more or less like it.
This is the first year (8+ years into our relationship) my ILs have asked what I wanted. Otherwise MIL just bought me whatever she felt like I might like/ want/ need.
My mom does similar to SSW- even if I explicitly pick out certain items, she'll buy me a similar but not what I want present. I usually have to do a lot of returning. She also insists on buying me clothes but she has no idea what size I am. I never get pants smaller than a 12 or shirts smaller than an XL.
The only people who I get what I want from are H and my sister.
Stand up for something you believe in.
I wish my coworker wouldnt buy me a gift. I never use what she buys even though they are thoughtful gifts.
My brother bought me a hotel stay that expired before I could use it.
I'd rather have something form my wish list
Ditto the bolded. I prefer to get things from my list, but do like the occasional small surprise.