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.
QOTD: Friday
OK, for my last QOTD . . .
What was the best present you ever received? What was the worst?
Extra bonus: what was the best gift you ever gave someone?
Re: QOTD: Friday
I rode horses growing up and one Christmas my mom got me a new helmet, boots, and a bunch of other stuff. It turned out that none of it fit me but I didn't even care because I was so excited. She had to drag me to the store to exchange it for things that actually fit.
The last two Christmases DH did a really good job - surprising me with my first iphone one year and a camera lens & bag I'd been lusting over the next.
Worst gift - probably Isotoner gloves. The shiny, stretchy kind that middle aged women wear. Or the giant generic framed print that DH's aunt gave us for our wedding when she'd never even been to our house. Luckily, I could tell it was from Kohls and was able to return it.
Best - Engagement ring
Worst - this is hard, but my mom gave me some lingerie for my bridal shower which was a really nice thought, but it was NMS at all and has collected dust in my closet for the last 3 1/2 years.
Off to the beach
DS 7/18/2010
Handy 2.0 Due Early August
2011/2012 Races
12/17/2011 Christmas Caper 10K
2/11/2012 Have a Heart 5K
3/17/2012 DC RNR Half Marathon
4/22/2012 10M Parkway Classic
10/28/2012 Marine Corps Marathon
Best received: the digital camera DH got me years ago (like, nine years ago). It was a little Canon Elph, probably one of the first editions, and he got it for me because he knew that a) I liked things that were small, b) I liked taking pictures, and c) I liked instant gratification. Oh and d) we were going to London a week later so it was perfect! I used that thing for AGES, until it up and died after 5-6 years of use.
Worst: one year, when I was probably tween-ish age, my grandmother got me a basil growing kit for Christmas. I had never expressed any interest in herbs, or gardening, or even cooking at that point, and I also have a black thumb. It was random and kind of disappointing.
Best given: last Christmas (2010) we got my dad an iPad. He had been talking about how much he wanted one but he never would have gotten it for himself, so my brother, stepmom, and I all chipped in and bought it. I think he actually cried when he opened it, and he still says it's the best gift he's ever gotten and gets more use than any other electronic device in the house.
TTC #2: BFP 12/17/11, m/c 1/7/12 and D&C 1/12/12
baby blog/cooking blog
Best: My engagement ring. Or a claddagh necklace from my family's jewelry store in Ireland.
Best Gift I Ever Gave: I made a calendar using all of our old pictures from growing up for my mom and digitized the files as well- she loved that.
Stand up for something you believe in.
Best Gift: The bedroom set for my dollhouse that I got when I was 12ish. The canopy bed and dressers were made by my grandfather. The lace canopy cover was lace from my great grandmother's wedding dress and the lace around the comforter was from my other great grandmother. It is a lot of family history in a tiny bed.
Worst gift: This horrid Disney jean jacket with attached sweatshirt material hood given to me by my parents at 24 years old (way past the jean jacket craze). And to boot it was two sizes too big. My mom claimed she saw me wearing something very similar, we yes maybe 15 years ago!!
Best gift given: I can't think of something so how about the worst gift? A really good friend of mine was going through a nasty breakup with her boyfriend, however she had told me none of this so I had no idea. It was her birthday and I gave her the DVD "He's just not that into you"! Opps!
Best gift: DH got me a sapphire and diamond bracelet when DD was born. It was totally unexpected and I love it. I love that he helped design it and put so much thought into without me having a clue.
Worst gift: My aunt and uncle are notorious bad gift givers so growing up they gave us a whole array of faux turtlenecks (just the neck part), bad costume jewelry and dishtowels. Because every 7year old needs a set of dishtowels.
Best gift given: We gave both my parents gifts for their 60th birthdays- dad was a surprise party (he was moving in a few months across the country) and it was really fun. We took my mom to Chicago for the weekend and we all had a great time.
What? I don't think I even understand what this is. Like a dickey?
TTC #2: BFP 12/17/11, m/c 1/7/12 and D&C 1/12/12
baby blog/cooking blog
Worst gift: Many years ago I mentioned in passing to my mother that I wanted to buy new dishes to replace the cheap ones I bought in college. I had been planning to buy something all-white or maybe with a very simple design on them. She surprised me by buying me an extensive set (like 16-place settings) of dishes that had a very loud floral pattern on them. I kind of hated them, but they were "good" dishes and it seemed wasteful not to use them, so I used them for several years, even though they clashed with everything else I had.
Best gift I've given: Probably the Weber gas grill I gave to DH for Christmas one year. He was very surprised and very happy.
best gift received - dh and i bought ourselves a 27" imac this christmas. it's amazing.
worst gift received - a velour outfit from my MIL
best gift given - toss up btwn the tv we got my parents or the 2 framed paintings i got for my aunt and uncle of their dogs.
We make the rockin' world go 'round.
yes, I could not remember what they were called. they were quite festive- complete with plastic holly as decoration.
best: in 2008, DH had my bff come up to NYC for my birthday to surprise me. i got to my party and there she was! that was my favorite birthday ever.
worst: the ugly crystal candy dish my uncle gave us for our wedding. i wouldn't have invited him to our wedding at all (he's an @ss) if i had it to do over again.
best given: tie between surprising DH with a trip to london for his birthday and going to MA on mother's day when i'd told my mom i couldn't go visit that weekend.
Best gift: my American Girl doll one Christmas- I think I was between 8 and 10... I was obsessed and took her everywhere. I really hope we have a daughter someday, because I can't wait to pass her on.
Worst gift: Can't think of one specific item, but some of the clothes that MIL has bought me come to mind. It's hit or miss with her (style and size-wise), and she never includes a gift receipt. I just end up donating most of the items.
Best gift I've given: Again, can't think of anything specific, but I'd say all of the homemade gifts I made as a child. I think my parents, grandparents, and aunts/uncles really treasured them.
This poll makes me think I need to be better about gift-giving.
Planning Bio
Best present I ever received was a case of Fruitopia, from a HS boyfriend. It was an inside joke, but I was really sick at the time and Fruitopia was the only thing I really liked.
Best gift I ever gave someone is probably match box cars. It was an ex but he still has them to this day (6 years later).
Best: As a kid, a set of doll furniture. As an adult, my KA mixer from DH.
Worst: Step-MIL is hit or miss with gifts. Some years, we get nice stuff. But, a few years ago, I got a very tacky picture frame. This year, we got stainless water bottles (and not a nice brand).
Best given: The one that comes to mind is the year I gave DH his Sirius radio. He loves that thing. Also, the Scrabble tile family name plaques I made for my sis and sis-in-law this year were big hits.
Best: My dad got me a giant Teddy Bear a few years ago! He never buys gifts, and the fact that he got me something I'd wanted me whole life was very special
Worst: My husband (then fiance) bought me a 10 pound box of pens! He knew I loved pens, and though hundreds and hundreds would be awesome. They were crap.
Best I gave: I made a book for my H when we got engaged "100 reasons why I love you". It was bound and beautiful, and made him tear up
That is terrible, but so funny...
Best gift: When we were dating DH got me a KA mixer for my birthday. I know he got the side eye from a lot of people in getting me something for cooking but I absolutely loved it. He said he saw me drooling over them one day in the store and saved up to buy it (he was a corporal in the MC at the time about 10 years ago so he wasn't making much).
Worst Gift: Most things from stepmom. She is just cheap and likes a good deal but I would rather fewer gifts and something that will last. Her last set of candles left a black soot on my bathroom walls :-( Or she buys me 3 sweaters all the same in 3 different colors - and now she is buying them too small like she can;t see that I have gained a little weight since having kids.
Best gift given: I kind of suck at gift giving in general but was exceptionally proud of myself this Christmas that I wrote down when DH mentioned a video game that he liked and then I got it for him.
Hm...
Best: My sister and SIL took my mom and I to the Norwich Inn & Spa in CT for an amazing spa weekend for my 30th and my mom's 60th birthday. It was the most fun, relaxing weekend ever with my favorite people in the entire world. A close second was a Christmas that my sister bought me a ticket to fly to Chicago for a visit back in the days when I was a broke single gal.
Worst: DH gave me an aquamarine cocktail ring surrounded by rows and rows of diamonds a couple of years ago for Christmas. It was very pretty (if I was my grandmother) and very generous and a nice gesture, but it was one of those gifts that made me question whether he thought I was 35 or 85. I don't know what it was about it - but it was totally old lady. And has never been taken out of the box. He made a similar mistake with a ring that he gave me for Christmas this year, but he realized that I didn't love it and we returned it for an awesome necklace that I'm absolutely insanely in love with that we picked out together.
Best gift I've given: My sister & brothers gave my parents a weekend at the Ocean House in Rhode Island years ago for their anniversary and they have never stopped talking about it. I love to hear how much they loved it.
I forgot that 2 years ago we surprised my parents for Christmas. We were waiting to see if DH was going to get the time off, and it was the day before Christmas eve and we told them that Obama at the last minute was going to Hawaii (this actually might have been true) and that DH had to work overtime. But really - we were in the car heading to their house. When we showed up we let the dogs in first and we stayed outside. My mom cried a little and my dad was downstairs cleaning the basement (it's what he does when he's upset) and I walked down there with a beer, and was like "what up?" and he was like "you people fuuucking suck" lol
We make the rockin' world go 'round.
in watch hill? i want to go there sooooo bad!! and to the jonathan edwards winery in stonington, CT! i miss new england *sigh*
best: last year for my 30th bday, my husband bought plane tix & organized everything for my parents to come up & watch Sprout while we took a mini-vacation to London. A vacation alone was all i really wanted & I didn't think it would be possible! It was also really nice not to have to find hotels & such as he did all that too!
worst: hmmmm...my wicked stepmother made me pick things out of the catalog of stuff she sold (house parties like tupperware but something else). so, essentially the only think i ever got from my dad/stepmother were things she could get for free.
Best Received - For my 30th birthday my mom bought me a kitchen aid stand mixer. I was really excited and touched. The most thoughtful one from DH was this year. I had mentioned in passing how we really needed a new down comforter, he made a mental note and surprised me with one for Christmas.
Worst: My first Christmas with the inlaws (and my first away from home) they bought me really tacky holiday socks and some fugly blankets and other stuff for the baby (I was 6 months pregnant). I am certain their hearts were in the right place, but I felt like I wasn't appreciated for me, only for the grandchild I was providing. In retrospect, it might have been a lot of pregnancy hormones tipping me over the edge.
Best Given: For my parents 30th anniversary we surprised them with a cruise to Nova Scotia (where they had gone on their first vacation together). And we went too. It was the best family vacation we've ever taken.
This might actually take the cake for worst present (especially since she did it more than once!). Ouch.
TTC #2: BFP 12/17/11, m/c 1/7/12 and D&C 1/12/12
baby blog/cooking blog
I think we kind of need to see a picture of this awful ring now . . .
TTC #2: BFP 12/17/11, m/c 1/7/12 and D&C 1/12/12
baby blog/cooking blog
I really like the kitchen island my DH bought
worst is when people give us coffee makers. we dont drink coffee. we have been given a lot of coffee makers...
best gift I've given. I gave my nephew a wad of cash wrapped in Justin Bieber holiday paper this year. he's in college. it was funny