MomDot Blog Party Day 9!

The Day Nine Blog Party Question is Brought to you by jaC Jewelry, Cutie Covers and Sassy Baby.

What is the most unusual gift you’ve received? It doesn’t have to be bad, just unusual. I've received several unusual gifts, but I'm not really inclined to list most of them, as the gifters could possibly be reading this. Instead I will give an unusual gift which was brought to our family's white elephant gift exchange. It was the first year we did it, and no rules had really been established. Basically, the purpose was for everyone to have a good laugh and spend time together (which we definitely did). Someone timidly opened a small package to reveal a jar that rattled when shaken. It was my cousin's wisdom teeth. Near the end of the gift-swapping, she said she felt a little sad about giving them up, so when it was her mom's turn to pick she took my cousin's teeth instead of opening a wrapped gift. As you might have guessed, no one wanted to steal them back from her :-) That may have also been the year of the "butt floss," which my dad got. Now we all try to be the one to bring the "good gift" that everyone wants to steal, so the presents have evolved to be better and more normal.

What was one of your favorite gifts? I've had a lot of great gifts, but the one material gift that stands out in my mind is Josephine. She is an heirloom doll with a china head who belonged to my great-grandfather. When I was a child she lay in my grandmother's living room (Mama Susie's) in a wooden cradle which was a few inches too short for her. My mom and I always wanted her to pass down to my future daughter (this was before Suzi was born). You can never tell what Mama Susie is going to do. Without a single hint, that year there was this giant, awkward gift under the tree with my name on it. I thought the shape looked familiar, and when I opened it I was not disappointed. It was the doll, cradle and all! Somewhere there is a picture of me sitting next to Mama Susie holding her and grinning like an idiot. This is not what she looked like then. My mom spent days giving her a makeover, which involved sewing covers for her arms (her original arms are underneath the white, and they are a dark, weathered tan) and a complete new outfit. She did an amazing job! For an entire run-down of Josephine's extreme makeover and history, visit my mom's blog.

Do you think re-gifting is okay? Yes, but. If you have received something as a gift but you just can't use it, and you think hey! That would be perfect for ______! Then yes. But if you are on your way out the door to a Christmas party and realize you've forgotten to buy a gift for someone, it is not okay to throw something you received and hated into a bag and give it to that person without putting two minutes' thought into it. That is also why I'm not the biggest fan of one-gift-fits-all gifts. To me, Christmas is a time to think of your loved ones' desires and give them something that will say I love you. It doesn't necessarily have to cost anything, but it does require some a little thought and care.

Only a couple more days to enter my Glow Mama giveaway!