I am in full Enjoyable Calendar Fuss Mode now. When I went to my Amazon cart this morning, one of my calendar options (the Wallpaper calendar, which I found after writing this year’s calendar post) had dropped to half price so I bought it—but I’m not really sure about it (the picture of it makes it look like it might be one of the cheap dollar-store ones that rips and curls), and also I still need a second one.
In the meantime, let’s exchange loot lists! Here are some things I got this year:
A Week in Winter, by Maeve Binchy (photo from Amazon.com). This won’t be released in the U.S. until February, so what I got was a note in an envelope saying it had been pre-ordered. Which is what I asked for: this is Maeve Binchy’s last book (she died this year) and I really really really really really want it the very first minute I can have it. I don’t want to patiently wait for the library copy, or for the next gift occasion.
Kiva gift card (screenshot from Kiva.org). Kiva is one of those places where you can give a tiny loan (like, $25) to someone else. Then that person pays it back to you, and you can loan it out again. And again and again. The idea is that sometimes people only need a small boost to make a huge difference in the way they make a living (especially in a country where a little cash goes a long way), but banks are not going to loan them $100. Four Kiva members can team up to loan it, though. I’ve been enjoying loaning and re-loaning so much, I put a $25 Kiva card on my wish list.
Les Etapes de Montmartre print by Andre Renoux (photo from Prints.com). I have a giant poster-sized print of a different painting (Place Furstenberg) by this artist, and I really like it. My parents bought this one and my dad built a frame for it.
ZAD Owl Earrings (photo from Amazon.com)—but the bronze/gold-tone ones instead of the silver. Darned if I can find some bronze/gold ones to link to, so I don’t know where Paul found them. (Oh, here they are!)
Hello Kitty mug (photo from Amazon.com). I have wanted this mug for a long, long time, but felt a little silly for wanting it. My brother and sister-in-law bought it for me, and I have a happy feeling knowing it is MINE.
Little Dino earrings by Marmar on Etsy (photo from the shop). Oddly, these are much smaller than my other Marmar earrings (squirrels and bird girls), though they’re all the same price. It’s unfortunate because I like to mix-and-match them—but on the other hand, the scale of the little dino ones seems right when I’m wearing them. I wonder if the rising price of silver is causing smallening of jewelry, or if these were always smaller. It makes me feel tempted to buy up the other Marmar earrings I want NOW, in case they’re about to get smaller too.
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How about you? What did you get? …Er, in addition to All The More-Important And Non-Material Things About The Holiday?
Books and Starbucks cards and candy (2-5 of each). One of the books is a Dorothy Sayers mystery. I’ve never read her but she’s the sort of author I should have read so it’s a pretty good gift coming from a 6 year old, I think.
StephLove | December 26th, 2012 at 1:04 pm
Oh what nice items. I love love love Kiva. I’m also loving Kiva Zip which is another site that is trying some new things in the US. I’ve gotten back so much more in happy thoughts than the original $25 I donated years ago.
I got several books that I had on my wishlist (that weren’t being wished for me, the danger of the husband looking at the wishlist unattended) but were still nice. And I got a really nice/expensive face lotion that I have been coveting but didn’t want to spend the $$ on. I squeeled.
Amanda | December 26th, 2012 at 1:54 pm
I did not know Maeve Binchy had died, now I want her last book too! My husband got me a 8 bottle wine cooler (like a mini fridge that looks a bit like a toaster over). It was a complete surprise and not something I had ever mentioned or even talked with him about. This is the first time he’s managed such a surprise in our 11 years of marriage, so that was a gift in itself!
Today will involve the sorting and organizing of gifts (if I get some energy!) which I always enjoy because I often have forgotten the little things that the kids got at family parties. We exchanged stockings on both sides this year, so there’s a lot of small misc that I am excited to dig through!
Melanie D. | December 26th, 2012 at 3:29 pm
I got a Lego Holiday Bakery set — in the hope of creating a tradition of Lego Christmas Village fun. And a few cookbooks and nice kitchen-y things, my favorite candle in my favorite scent (Pacifica Tahitian Gardenia!). My husband’s gift for me didn’t show up in time to bring down to my parents’ house for Christmas day, so I still have one thing coming, but he also donated $100 to Planned Parenthood in my name yesterday, which was pretty cool.
Also love getting a special book sometimes RIGHT when it comes out. Exciting things in the mail are good anyway, moreso when it’s something you’ve been eagerly anticipating!
marilyn | December 26th, 2012 at 3:48 pm
A ‘mother’s’ birthstone ring to help me get through the no-more-babies stage. PRETTY. Also, *sob*.
Also, new slippers and two mystery novels, perfect for the snow today.
Nowheymama | December 26th, 2012 at 5:36 pm
A fancy serving dish too heavy to take to gatherings (and our place is too small to host any) and a so not-my-style photo frame. Otherwise, cash. We do need money but I always feel strange receiving it. Isn’t it supposed to be the thought that counts?
Also, my kids got almost an identical haul of toys from each set of grandparents.
Lisa | December 26th, 2012 at 10:07 pm
I got a Kindle Paperwhite, which I really wanted and had asked for, from my husband. He also gave me a pair of LL Bean slippers, which I will exchange for a pair of Acorn slippers instead. Or at least a type of slipper that is more the slide kind and less the bootie kind. He also gave me a nifty little printer thing for the iphone. You put your phone on the dock and can print photos directly from the little printer. I’m hesitant about this though because of the possible high costs of the special paper and the special ink. I think I won’t want to spend the additional money when I can upload them every few months to Shutterfly or Snapfish and print them there. Eh. We’ll see, it was a super good thought.
Leeann | December 27th, 2012 at 12:11 am
Not one single thing.
We are not being bitter here… We’ve had a major falling out with The BF’s mother and stepfather. My Mother seems to have forgotten us, but did well with the childrens’ gifts.
We did not buy for each other because of an unexpected, but required, expensive roadtrip we had to make just before Christmas.
Alicia C. | December 27th, 2012 at 6:01 pm
I got a cheese fondue pot, and a fondue dinner, which was very yummy and exciting. My husband had never heard of fondue when I met him, so I am glad to have completely converted him. And a pair of UGG-like boots that I will return because they are too tight on my calves, and a pair of curly turquoise earrings. The best thing was a little Lillian Vernon souvenir Christmas plate with my birth year on it. (Apparently made my birth year too) that my mom found at a yard sale. We got a play kitchen for the toddler.
phancymama | January 1st, 2013 at 10:57 pm
Many, many nice things, including a bunch of loot from my Amazon wishlist. The thing that stands out to me is a set of pretty, ceramic, vegetable-shaped measuring cups and spoons that I would never buy for myself because they’re impractical and I have some really good measuring utensils already, but they’re so cute and I admire them and their ilk every time I come across some in a store.
Buttercup | January 2nd, 2013 at 3:26 pm