Practically Perfect Presents

No, this isn't a post- Christmas gift guide. Rather, it's a compilation for me to remember and to share some of the good gifts that I gave and received this year.

1. The impetus for the post was a text that I received from Jacob a few days after Christmas stating that he was enjoying reading the book that we gave to him on Christmas. I was glad to hear that he liked it for a couple of reasons. First, I think it contains good and helpful information and second, I'm glad that he wasn't offended that I gave it to him. The book was Atomic Habits by James Clear. I didn't want Jacob to think that I was giving it to him because I perceive that he has a number of bad habits. I believe that everyone has some good, some bad and many neutral habits... After I read the book on my kindle, I ordered a hard copy of it for me and/ or to give away as a gift. Gifting it to Jacob worked for the following reason...

Jacob asked, this year, instead of presents to open on his birthday and Christmas, for us to help defray the cost of a trip that he went on recently with friends. And by defray the cost I mean pay for everything. We wanted him to receive what he wanted as presents rather than what we wanted to buy for him so we told him if that's what he wanted then we would do that. He said he was fine to not open any presents on his birthday or Christmas.

He may have been fine with it, but we weren't! We paid for his trip but wanted him to have a few things to open on Christmas morning from us. Donnie got him a few sport fan related items and I remembered the book by James Clear that I had recently purchased and decided to give him the book. Jacob was appreciative of what we got him and kept saying that he hadn't been expecting anything. 

So, mainly I gave the book to him because it was a thing for him to open on Christmas morning. But also, I thought it was a really good book with the potential to help him (or anyone who reads it) break the cycle of poor habits and utilize skills to develop and maintain good habits. Hearing that he liked the book made me happy :).

2. Next is a gift that I was given: two pairs of cashmere socks. How luxurious!! My mother in law got them for me along with a very generous gift card to Garnet Hill which is where she got the socks. I'm pretty sure she knew about my liking of Garnet Hill from reading about it in a blog post here on the ol' blog. This blog is a not a money making endeavor (no affiliate links, advertising revenue, etc.) but this is at least the second time that I know of that I've been gifted something based on something that I have written here. Truly, I don't write anything here for hints for gifts for me. But I am appreciative of attentiveness to what I write. 

3. In a post that I wrote in December, I showed a picture of some of the many pairs of earrings that Alyssa had on her Christmas list that we bought for her:

Before Christmas, I was in Alyssa's room with her and we were talking about her earring collection. (Pre-Christmas she already had what looked like hundreds of pairs...) I knew that we had bought all of the earrings she had on her list and she had to have known that she was likely going to receive all of the earring packs that she had on her list. I was exclaiming over how many earrings she had. She told me that she was going to get her ears pierced again when she turned 18 in January (presumably because she will be an adult then and will not need our permission to get her ears pierced (also presumably she was anticipating that we would not let her get her ears pierced when we had to consent to it prior to her being 18)). 

With her plans to get her ears pierced again when she's 18 in mind and knowing how many cheap earrings she already owned and was going to be receiving, I decided to have a little fun.  I wrapped up a note stating that we would pay for her to get her ears pierced (and she could get it done before she was 18). In addition, I included a much better quality pair of earrings for her than the Amazon earring packs that were on her list. She needed another pair of earrings like she needed another hole in her head, but... she's getting both compliments of us! Alyssa seemed to get a kick out of her note and of another pair of earrings! The day we went to get her ears pierced (again!), she said that the note about us paying for her to get them done and getting them done before she is 18 was her favorite Christmas present. 

4. While adorning ears was one theme of gifts for Alyssa, Alyssa focused on my wrists for gifts for me. First she made me the cutest Boro theme bracelets. She also apparently thinks my wrists are tiny! Or maybe she didn't think about the size at all. The string is stretchy which makes getting the bracelets over my hand possible. The fit is snug but the bracelets do fit. 

She also got me some watch bands for my Apple watch. My watch is super old- I'm pretty sure it's the second edition that came out in 2016 or 17. In all those years, this is what the watch band has looked like:

Yep, I never bought a single replacement band- just kept the same 'ol pinkish colored one that came with the watch. Alyssa's gift of watch bands was so thoughtful! I love the bands she got me.

5. Have you bought or facilitated someone getting a present that he or she said she didn't want? That happened to me this year. Spoiler Alert- it worked out well but I was a tad bit nervous about the situation... Alyssa had some Lululemon items on her Christmas list. We were discussing the list before Christmas and I asked her if she considered putting a Lulu belt bag on her list. I know those belt bag/ cross bodies are very popular among the young ladies. Alyssa said that she didn't really want one. But I thought she would like to have one (after she had it!). So when my sister in law asked me for ideas for Alyssa, I suggested a Lulu belt bag for her. My sister in law got it for Alyssa and guess what, she really likes it! She has worn it every time she's gone out since Christmas. I *knew* (ok, was like 97% positive) she would like one if she had it. Mother {sometimes} knows best!

6. We were gifted some gourmet honey from friends. This honey is amazing! I will gladly eschew store bought honey as long as this honey is in the house. It is from Indian River Honey. Bonus that the gift basket came with adorable accessories.

Those are a few of our favorite things that we gave and received!