I need your advice.
Today is Backwards Day for Works-For-Me-Wednesday. What does that mean? Instead of me sharing a tip with you, I get to ask all of you a question or two and you are supposed to provide me with a myriad of suggestions 
.
Here it goes:
- I want you to tell me what are some of the most memorable gifts you have been given … or that you have given? They can be gifts that give of your time or money.
- Also, what are some good gift generic gift ideas to have around to give to mail carriers, hostesses of holiday parties, school teachers, etc.?
With the holiday season fast approaching, it will be fabulous to have all these ideas as a reference. Just think, this list will also benefit you and not just me.
Thanks in advance for sharing!
52 Comments
November 6, 2007 at 8:17 PM
As far as gifts, check out these:
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hip2schoolathome/421299
My most memorable gift was a pair of boots I bought myself. I figured if I got myself what I wanted, I didn’t need to expect anything else of anyone else. The boots were great, and lasted me about 3 years.
November 6, 2007 at 8:30 PM
I love the homemade gifts the best. Just knowing someone took the time to make it makes it more special for me.
Good generic gifts could be gifts in a jar or simply homemade hot cocoa mix in cheap mugs. One thing I do every year (I’m going to share it for the Winter Bazaar in December) is to take Christmas rub on transfers (like from scrapbooking stores) and rub one image onto a cheap red or green glass ornament.
November 6, 2007 at 9:13 PM
My husband and I have the advantage of living all over the world. We give ornaments each year from the place we live. In Russia they were wooden churches, like replicates of St. Basil, onion dome tops and all. In Washington DC we gave the White House ornament produced each year. Now in Japan we are giving minature Japanese lanterns. Our friends and family, though we are far away, know we are thinking about them. And it is not too expensive!
Happy gifting!
November 6, 2007 at 9:30 PM
I have given and received magazine subscriptions and love it. Its useful, it keeps on giving throughout the year and it saves me all those last minute grocery store purchasing of mags!
November 6, 2007 at 9:48 PM
I like to keep gift cards around, to Starbucks or Target or Home Depot (the latter have to be larger than the others to mean anything, of course).
The most memorable gift I received was last Christmas, from my husband. We had been unemployed and without income for several months, so we decided not to buy gifts for one another. But he looked through a poetry book that he’d bought for me a few years ago (Sonnets from the Portuguese, by Elizabeth Barrett Browning) and chose one to type out for me. He rolled up the little paper like a scroll and tied a red ribbon around it. It felt as if he’d written the poem for me himself. Lovely.
November 6, 2007 at 10:20 PM
a lampshade on which my husband had written all of my favorite love poetry from my own poetry book (I mark up and underline a lot)
a day trip to a Charleston plantation
concert tickets
I tend to like experience gifts or gifts with a personal meaning rather than monetary value like the photo locket with my boyfriend’s (now husband’s) picture on it.
November 6, 2007 at 10:53 PM
These are great ideas! I love the holidays.
Christmas mugs are nice to have around as gifts. Christmas platters that you can top with cookies or baked goods – and then let them keep the pretty plate.
Blockbuster gift cards with a box of microwave popcorn.
Starbucks gift card with a cute mug or travel cup.
I’m eager to see what other idea people have.
Duckabush Blog
November 6, 2007 at 11:09 PM
I received two massage gift certificates for my birthday last year, and I loved that gift. Also, babysitting gifts are excellent as well! Or, a gift certificate to “Dinner’s Ready” is also really nice to get and also to give . . .
As far as the things I keep on hand, Bath and Body Works products can be given to anyone. I love their anti-bacterial line, especially for teachers! Also, Starbuck’s gift cards, in $10.00 denominations — good for last minute, whoopsie I forgot about the milkman! gifts. And pretty boxes of chocolate make most people smile.
November 6, 2007 at 11:10 PM
I once gave my husband a skydive for a birthday. He was 20. The following year I tried hard for something to top that. Not by design (LOL) I ended up giving him a 4w son for his 21st
The most memorable gift I was ever given were the first two Anne of Green Gables movies (no DVD back then, LOL). My mother and I used to watch these and craft together. As I reached adulthood I watched them less and less but they eventually gave out (VHS tapes can do that) and I never replaced them. Just lately, I’ve been thinking of buying the whole trilogy on DVD. Mum passed away in May 06, and I really want to start introducing my daughter, now almost 6, to Anne
As for the gifts for the extended community, I’d have to say, give ‘consumable’. Gift mixes, cookies, candies, fresh baked bread and the like usually go down really well. They’re the kind of gifts that don’t cost very much but speak volumes. And I’ve been told by many a teacher, they get so many mugs, pencils and so on that it becomes less personal than the giver probably intends. Give them an ‘experience’ instead – a book voucher, gift certificate for a coffee-and-cake place, or go in with several other families and pay for the teacher and his/her spouse to go out to dinner as a token of appreciation for the hard work they’ve put in that year with the kids.
I think the general rule of thumb (at least the one I use, LOL) is that if you don’t know the person very well, or if you’re unsure of their tastes (this extends to ornaments, decor etc – you don’t want to offend anyone by giving a gift representative of a particular religion unless you’re very sure the person is of that faith, and so on) is to give something consumable. You won’t have spent a great deal, and if you’ve somehow missed the mark (perhaps they can’t have sugar, or don’t like peanuts, or prefer another type of candy), they can still put it out at their own holiday gatherings or offer them to the grandkids
I would suggest including the recipe (if making something edible) including the ingredients list – I do this with all the food gifts I give, or make for school fairs and so on – to make sure I’m not inadvertantly fueling an alergy.
Cheers,
Lizzie
November 6, 2007 at 11:21 PM
I agree with Kathy! I like to give tasty treats on a pretty platter or in a cute dish. Most people will appreciate a yuumy gift, and the dish to keep is a bonus. Always nice to have a pretty dish to serve a little something on. Christmas time is when many of us do extra baking anyways, so you can always pop a bit of your current batch in the freezer to give later.
If you are a crafter/rubber stamper or whatever, those materials are always on hand to give a little something too. I do not scrapbook, but like to make cards. I have always had people mention how much they liked recieving a gift of a card set or two. Those are something everyone can use too.
November 6, 2007 at 11:46 PM
I made a new rule this year that I will only give second hand gifts. Since I’m too sick to hit up the thrift stores and garage sales I’m resorting to gift cards. It’s lame I know.
November 7, 2007 at 12:00 AM
When I want to give a really unique gift, I find out who some of the recipient’s living heroes are (I usually try to find at least 6 or 8 people they admire), and then I write a brief note to the “hero” telling them of my friend’s/relative’s admiration. I enclose a blank note card and a self-addressed (to me), stamped envelope and request an autograph to give my friend/relative as a gift. I then collect the responses (you’d be SHOCKED at some of the folks who’ve responded!) in a pretty box or tin and present them to the recipient. Most of the “heroes” will jot a short note of encouragement or appreciation, some just sign their names. Either way, it’s a very unique gift.
November 7, 2007 at 1:03 AM
Sorry, but I have to be a real turd here and say I can’t think of any better gifts than those God has bestowed up on me, including my son and husband.
I could go without all material possessions, as long as I have them.
November 7, 2007 at 1:12 AM
I give the generic people cookies that accompany a donation to a charity in their honor. Example, gingerbread houses & Habitat for Humanity. or lamb shaped sugar cookies and Heifer International. This way they get a disposable gift. Nobody needs another chotchke and a charity also benefits. Takes a bit of time on my part but it is a win win.
November 7, 2007 at 5:24 AM
The very best gift?
A day off.
When my twins were babies, my sister-in-law gave me a card good for one whole day off. She came and picked up the babies and packed up all their gear and took them to her house for the entire day. She brought them back at bedtime and tucked them in.
It was the best gift anyone had ever given me!! (I slept, I shopped, I drank coffee, I read a book…it was a beautiful thing!)
November 7, 2007 at 5:42 AM
The best gift I got last Christmas was a little handmade “book” of free babysitting coupons from my brother and his girlfriend. Talk about fabulous! They know how hard it is for us to find a reliable babysitter in our neighborhood, and the gift only cost them their time (which is still valuable, what with jobs, grad programs, etc) They gave us five coupons and we had five great nights out over the last year — and our kids had a blast with their uncle! Win-win, if you ask me.
November 7, 2007 at 5:53 AM
One of the best gifts that I have given to my teenage girls (altho. this would work for anyone) is to create a wisdom book to give to them. I recieved one from my grandmother on my wedding day and I really cherish it!
The book is compiled of comments from friends and family and they recorded their favorite memories of each child, favorite scripture, songs, and/or words of wisdom. Like I wish I knew (blank) at your age…
This was a fun and touching gift for me to put together to let my girls know that they are truly cherished by many people!
November 7, 2007 at 6:10 AM
The gift I got the most comments from was when I gave my kids’ teachers a frozen homemade batch of lasagna. I put it in a square foil pan and froze a red sauce heart that I centered on top of the top white layer and gave it for Valentine’s day. (Since I’d been too busy at Christmas) They loved it (they talked about it for years!- actually I’m probably a legend- and don’t know it since we moved away 15 years ago.) and I really thought I’d do it again…yet it hasn’t happened. (My lasagna really is awesome with a spinach/onion sauce layer in addition to the traditional layers.)
November 7, 2007 at 6:13 AM
Generic gifts for mail carries are $5 gift cards to Star Bucks or plates of candy or cookies….if they dont know you personally go with the gift card they will appreciate a hot cup of Jo this season.
November 7, 2007 at 6:28 AM
First of all I live in Texas we don’t have door to door mail carriers, or at least where I live. We have the generic end of the road, 50 mail box, and I think in the 28 months we have lived I MAY have seen the mail carrier once…..so he isn’t getting squat from me. Sorry I know that seems cruel, but maybe I am.
I agree homemade gifts are the best! This year we are doing baskets filled with homemade applesauce, apple butter and a loaf of either white bread, or zucchini bread. I am going to start hitting garage sales (or my mothers garage) and gather up some baskets.
The best gift I ever got was for Mother’s Day last year, and my hubby and eldest took my car and detailed it THEMSELVES. It made me cry!
November 7, 2007 at 7:05 AM
My most memorable gifts are those where 1) someone “heard” something I had always wanted but wouldn’t buy, and they got it for me–I’m thinking of the archery set my husband bought me for an anniversary gift, which is pretty odd except for the fact I had been commenting for years how I’d like to have one. Who can justify something that crazy? 2) a “book” my husband made me when we were dating
3) For people like you mentioned, homemade sourdough bread is a staple of mine or homemade butter mints; 4) here’s a post I wrote in the past week, the second half of which blew me away (if you have time…):
http://pensieve.typepad.com/pensieve/2007/11/the-curse-of-na.html
November 7, 2007 at 7:07 AM
As a former teacher, I can say that we appreciate every gift that our students (and their parents) give us. It truly is the thought that counts.
Bath products are easy, but chances are the teacher is going to end up with 10 similar gifts…plus, some people have very specific taste and/or sensitive skin.
I’d be willing to bet the teacher would love any gift cards– bookstores, videostores, movie theaters, restaurants, Hallmark–even something like $5 along with something the child made will be appreciated.
I had two students give me one of their art projects on the last day of school. All of the other parents brought gifts when they dropped off/picked up their kids, but these two sweeties were busriders/latch-key kids. I treasure their sacrifice the most and still have those two pieces of artwork in my home.
November 7, 2007 at 7:58 AM
It’s funny, I have been sitting here thinking about gifts that I’ve received that have been meaningful and almost everything on that short list has been handmade for me. My joy in Christmas comes when I make something special/do for someone else. One year, I had all of my DH’s brothers and sisters share a memory about their Mom and Dad and then I put those all in a scrapbook for them. Another year, my SIL and I typed up all of my MIL’s recipes and put it in a book. Then for my girlfriends and sisters I try to giveaway something I’ve made and honestly none of those things have been very significant, but I can tell you that the feeling I have as I am making it for those special people is definitely significant.
One generic gift idea I just saw was in a pampered chef booklet the other day. The had a stack of spritz cookies wrapped in cellophane and tied off with ribbon on both ends like Christmas cracker. It was so cute and I think that is what our neighbors are going to be getting this year.
November 7, 2007 at 8:07 AM
My favorite gifts are handmade–this year I’m really hoping my MIL finishes the baby’s handknit stocking. I don’t know how to sew or knit, so this year I’m making tied fleece blankets for my kiddos–easy, practical, and memorable. For hostess gifts I always hit up Bed Bath and Beyond–last year they had candles in a cool leather box in holiday colors on clearance right around Thanksgiving–I picked up 6 and still have 3 left to give out this year. They send out at least one coupon a week here and my store lets you use as many as you like.
November 7, 2007 at 8:22 AM
A friend of mine knew how much I loved the movie Office Space, and she bought me a beautiful shiny red Swingline stapler just like Milton’s! I’ve been given more expensive things, but this was a gift that just really hit me in the warm and fuzzies.
November 7, 2007 at 8:32 AM
I actually can’t remember any memorable gifts I’ve gotten or given other then my engagement ring. I don’t even wear it anymore…OH! My class ring from my mommy.
November 7, 2007 at 8:39 AM
Family gifts are a hit around here. we like to give a boardgame, some popcorn or cookies and hot cocoa. for my mom I like to make up a basket with lots of little things. this year I’m going to try to replace a mug I accidentally broke. & fill it with some favorite teas & treats.
Mrs N
November 7, 2007 at 8:51 AM
Thanks for asking this question. We just got our names for our family gift exchange and I am not feeling too inspired about the particular people we are to give gifts to this year. I need the creativity of this post!
Thanks!!
November 7, 2007 at 9:21 AM
Well, I will have to think on the memorable gifts given and received, but speaking as a mail carrier…
Cash always works! haha! Actually, gift cards would be best…or if you know them well enough, home baked goodies are great also!
November 7, 2007 at 9:36 AM
Memorable gift given: A gift I gave my mother was a bracelet with photo charms. One of her and my father on their wedding day, one of me and Hubby on our wedding day, one of my brother and SIL on their wedding day, and one of my boys on their adoption day.
Memorable gift received: A beautiful hand made cathedral window quilt my grandmother saved for me. She passed away 10 years before I was married, but she made sure my grandfather knew where it was kept so he could give it to me on my wedding day.
Generic gifts: like many others have mentioned…gift cards to Sbux, Target. Or if you’d like to help out the ‘Mom and Pop’ shops, maybe a gift certificate to the local florist, bakery or ice cream place.
November 7, 2007 at 9:57 AM
[...] anordinarymom created an interesting post today on Memorable Gifts.Here’s a short outline:I want you to tell me what are some of the most memorable gifts you have been given … or that you have given? They can be gifts that give of your time or money. Also, what are some good gift generic gift ideas to have around to give to … [...]
November 7, 2007 at 10:10 AM
Hi! I have been reading your blog for the last 6 months or so and have never sent a comment. So, here it is. One year my sister and I made Plates with our children’s hand print on them. We went to one of those Ceramic Painting Stores, picked out a plate for me because I had one child, a platter for her because she has 3 kids and we painted their hands, pressed them on the platter/plate, wrote thier names and ages by thier hands, decorated the rest of the plates and the Store does the rest. It took about 8-10 days for them to be done. We did extra’s in case they broke in the Firing Kiln. We gave them to the Grandparents-they were a HUGE hit that year.
November 7, 2007 at 10:15 AM
Oh, I also forgot, I also do Christmas Baking with one of my best friends from High School. It’s become a yearly event with us. We bake 10-12 different kinds of cookies together, often times staying up until 3:00am. We also dip small pretzels in chocolate. Yummy. We assemble plates and hand them out to Family and Special Friends sometime the week before Christmas. It’s a great time to catch up and get the kids together.
November 7, 2007 at 11:02 AM
One of the best gifts I ever got was a family cookbook. my BIL & SIL collected everyone’s favorite recipes, printed them & put them into a binder.
November 7, 2007 at 11:07 AM
I like to choose gifts from the World Vision catalogue. Last year, we gave the 3 daycare teachers some cookies and made a donation for the education of a girl in China on their behalf. They were thrilled. I make other donations as appropriate through http://www.charityvillage.com, a clearing house for Canadian charities. I ask for these donations, too, since they mean less clutter and damage to the environment.
November 7, 2007 at 11:10 AM
When I graduated from Skidmore College, my parents sent me and Ben to Greece. They had told me then that the standard gifts could not take the place of the building of memories.
For someone like myself who thrives on travel, I was silently testing him. It turned out we had similar travel styles – meandering down cool side streets and people watching for hours. This trip, after a year and a half of being together, made me recognize that I could travel with him for years and years to come.
November 7, 2007 at 11:11 AM
The best gift I’ve ever received was from my husband. he bought me gift certificates to Starbucks, my favorite restaurant, and borders books and then took a day off work to stay home with the kids. i had the whole day to myself!
i usually get teachers gift certificates to the mall (that are good at every store in the mall) or a gift certificate to blockbuster and wrap it with a bag of microwave popcorn and some candy.
November 7, 2007 at 11:25 AM
I love the cookbook idea – recipes you’ve used and loved all gathered together. You could have copies made and bound at a local office supply store like Staples.
Hmmm…most memorable gift would have to be some pictures that someone at church took of the kids, then had nicely framed. They sit on our piano and I love to see a picture that -I- didn’t take. ~lol~
I usually give Christmas baking away.
November 7, 2007 at 1:20 PM
If you use a digital camera, there are websites where you can download your own pictures to be printed on a huge variety of things. Last year my sister made a calendar with family pictures all throughout. (Calendars are especially fun when you still have young kids, as friends & family love to “watch” them growing up.) You can create customized photo albums. You can even use your own pics to make official postage stamps!
November 7, 2007 at 1:23 PM
I’d have to say a box of Joseph Schmidt truffles take the cake when it comes to an impromptu gift I’ve cherished the most.
A close second would be a gift certificate for a manicure or pedicure (or massage).
November 7, 2007 at 1:38 PM
I stock up on Walgreen’s cheap scented votive candles and bath and body works hand soap when it goes down to $2 a bottle. I wrap it up nice and call it good!
November 7, 2007 at 2:21 PM
My mom has taught school for almost 30 years and her favorite gift from students is Christmas tree ornaments. She usually writes on it somewhere with a sharpie the student’s name and year (some of them do this before they give it to her), and then each year when we decorate the tree, she is able to remember that student. She says she would rather get ornaments than anything else.
November 7, 2007 at 2:40 PM
My mother’s aunt gave me a plastic misseltoe. To someone else. it would be considered junk, but I leave it out year round hanging on the end of my canopy bed. It’s to remind Lee to kiss me every day
My godmother was an elderly woman who visited my first new apartment. She left and returned a day later with a compartment organizer for knives, forks and spoons. I was very touched as she was 80 years old and I know it was a lot for her to come and bring it to me.
I was given a hand made quilt that I adore. The colors are my favorite and it feels so great.
Lee gave me a gorgeous pepper grinder because I love pepper. I was so touched.He noted that I was more excited over the pepper mill than diamonds.
November 7, 2007 at 5:36 PM
The best gift I ever received was a fruit of the month club as I LOVE fruit!!! Better than a diamond ring any day!
I wanted to share be careful of keeping gift cards on hand as they a lot do expire or lose some of their value.
Generic gifts to keep on hand is anything homemade or consumable so you don’t have to store it if you have some extra..just eat it or freeze it.
Debbie aka The Real World Martha
November 7, 2007 at 7:06 PM
All my teacher friends say GIFT CARDS GIFT CARDS GIFT CARDS! A memorable teacher gift I heard about was the whole class donating a very small amount (like $5 each) and buying a year subscription to netflix for their teacher. I love that idea!
I always like gifts that last for the whole year (like subscriptions).
November 7, 2007 at 10:06 PM
Just have to say that I’ve stumbled on your site a few times and have added it as a favorite….I love your writing and its nice to see other moms feel the way I do about my son. Take care and happy blogging!!
November 8, 2007 at 8:36 AM
September of last year I started going through my box of family pictures. I must have picked out hundreds of my children from the time they were born until they graduated high school. I made each one of my three children an album which I gave to them for Christmas. My younges son, who is 33 years old got tears in his eyes. My daughter told me that every once in awhile she would get out her album and go through each page.
As I go through my twilight years it was very rewarding to give my children something that they would treasure.
November 8, 2007 at 2:56 PM
Best gift I’ve received: My mother (who has MS and can’t write or type very well) went through her journal which she writes in almost daily and typed out entries related to me through my whole life–my birth, childhood events, college graduation, her entry on my wedding day, things like that.
My parents have done this same sort of thing other times–picture books, memory books, copies of family history stories. Very very meaningful to me.
For family and for generic gifts, something homemade is always appreciated. Ofttimes through December, I’ll just take a loaf of bread to a neighbor after I bake it with a card. It’s easy, it’s something I’m making anyway, and hot, fresh bread is so appreciated.
November 8, 2007 at 11:33 PM
Strangely, as a man who hates the flavor of onions, my most favorite gift came one Christmas from a nephew who got a huge yellow onion and nailed a rope to it: onion bling. I wore that heavy joke onion around my neck for the day and we all had such laughs. For the kids, the best gifts we did was a ’search for a gift’. Each kid got a clue in an envelope to start, and rhyming clues placed throughout the house until they got their special gift.
And the best gift I did was a wooden toy truck made for a ‘Yankee Swap’; I made a wooden sign for the swap that year. I also made a wooden box shaped and painted as a gift with a bow, and in it are small numbered, hand-made and painted wooden Christmas balls for us all to draw. We use the sign, box and numbered ornaments each year.
November 10, 2007 at 10:24 AM
When my husband and I were newly married, for Valentines day, he called my sister and had her mail him my favorite cholcolates, which aren’t sold here. It was such a sweet thing to do:) it meant he wasn’t just tossing me chocolate to fit the day, he knew me, and went that extra mile.
For my mother’s birthday, I made her a quilt. This was my first sewing project and I was very careful, constantly redoing what I thought was sub-par, so it took me @ 4 months. I embroidered each of her 13 grandkids names in each square and embroidered “Her cup runneth over” on the edge. I’m very proud of that and it means alot to her.
I generally let my son do the giving for neighbors and teachers. I make the cookies and let him pass them out. It makes it more of a special thing for both parties. For his first Valentines at school, I had him dress up in an overly-large tie and hat with his nice clothes, and give a rose to each of his teachers. He told each one how beautiful they were when he did that. That, I must tell you, was a huge hit!.
November 20, 2007 at 1:26 PM
For the most memorable gifts this holiday season please visit Oxfam America Unwrapped. I work with Oxfam America and I thought it may be relevant to mention their online gift catalog called Oxfam America Unwrapped. This holiday season visit http://www.OxfamAmericaUnwrapped.com where you will be able to give symbolic gifts such as a cooking stove or a spinning wheel. Or you can even give the symbolic gift of beaded jewelry that HIV-affected women use to sell to support their families. For this holiday season, give unexpected gifts that do good!
Thank you for your time,
Kathleen
August 17, 2009 at 8:59 PM
Like memorable gift your blog is also memorable for me. It was nice going through your blog. Your blog looks good. Cheers