The five best gifts I've ever received: What are yours?
editor
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A vintage bike
I've lived in cities for the past 15 years and there's nothing better to get around on than a cute old vintage bike. This gift made me jump up and down.
Even though Shine is about to embark upon an eight-week-long gift
guide extravaganza for the masses (how magazine-y of us, don't you
think?), we know that presents (especially the good ones) are
incredibly personal and specific. The greatest gift exchanges
require thoughtfulness, listening, and really understanding who
another person is and what they like and need—that's what I
always strive for in giving and it's the only thing I hope for in
receiving. These experiences have little to do with what you spend
or how you wrap it up. They're more centered, though it sounds
cheesy, in a spirit of generosity and in that feeling of excitement
and anticipation you get right before someone you love opens a
present that you think is perfect for them. With that in mind, we
could no more tell you exactly what to buy your sister-in-law than
you could tell us what to get our grandmothers, but, our hope for
this guide is to help you with time-saving tricks, money-saving
resources and some really good, inspiring ideas along the way. Ask
us questions, share your stories—we want to know! For
example: What's the best gift you ever received? Check out my top
five in the slideshow above.
Related: stockings, holiday gift guide, gifts, camera, bike
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Posted by Am Wed Nov 5, 2008 9:10pm PST
In no particular order:
1. My ipod.
2. A wonderful piece of art by M. Bosetti.
3. Bath salts that smell like peppermint.
4. My cream and red leather kate spade purse
5. My betty crocker cook book. :)
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Posted by KT Thu Nov 6, 2008 8:55am PST
I totally got my mom last year for christmas a "vinage bike" just like the one in the picture.. exect it was a pretty pink. I had done a little research on it and actually found one at a local Target!!
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Posted by LydiaMarie Thu Nov 6, 2008 5:30pm PST
Last year I asked my parents adopt a family in need rather than buying me gifts (a annoymous gift giving program where less fortunate families make a list of things they want or need which is then donated by the person or people who "adopt" them) and they asked me to do the same for them. Nothing was as touching or meaningful as the thank you card I got from the family I adopted. Christmas day my family and I cried tears of joy that we were so lucky to have each other and to be able to reach out a hand to someone in need. I will never know the people we bought gifts and clothes for, but I can only imagine the joy of the youngest boy getting the Poleroid camera he asked for. That was my best Christmas ever.
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Posted by Disgruntled Fri Nov 7, 2008 9:45am PST
Two bests gifts ever...getting engaged on Christmas day 16 years ago and my husband coming back from a long deployment just in time for Christmas. We've been apart for every holiday at least once, so any holiday where he's home is extra special.
My husband did once look into getting me a first edition copy of my favorite book. However, my favorite book is Pride and Prejudice and a 1st edition costs around £90,000 so needless to say that didn't happen!
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Posted by bear Fri Nov 7, 2008 4:18pm PST
1. The year my 2 boys got cowboy jackets from my husband-to-be. I was a single mom with very little money
2. the poem I got from my youngest child the first mother's day after her first child was born.
3. a teddy bear
4. My mother's calls almost every day the year before she died unexpectedly.
5. my children, my grandchildren, my Aunt Alice and my husband. all a special gift
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Posted by Emily Mon Nov 10, 2008 3:59am PST
The best present is one I gave myself--I adopted to kittens from a shelter eleven years ago using part of my Christmas bonus from work. I had been feeling a little down, but they picked me right up! They're my best buddies.
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Posted by Constellation Mon Nov 10, 2008 1:54pm PST
In no particular order:
-when I was in fourth grade, I wanted a pair of silly white patent leather cowboy boots with little silver tassels on the sides. Being a suburbanite private school kid, this made no sense, but my dad got them for me after telling me 'no' repeatedly.
-when my parents celebrated their 25th anniversary with a renewal of vows, my mom gave my sister and I strings of pearls to wear to the ceremony. I wore them on my wedding day, and what is wonderful is they are now a keepsake I can hand down to my children someday, and them to their children.
-my now-husband-then boyfriend decorated his first acoustic guitar with the words of 1 Corinthians 13 (the verses about love) all over the exterior and wrote our names and the year he gave it to me. It was sentimental, because it was a childhood possession, and now it sits in our home. :)
-my best girlfriend made me a box full of items that represented parts of our friendship (we've been friends for 18 years), and each had a little card detail on it, and she gave it to me as her wedding present to me right before I got married.
-my mom-in-law gave me a scrapbook she made of all of my husband's childhood artwork. I am an artist, so to have her give me these little keepsakes of her little boy from all those years let me really see how much she loves me and knows me.
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Posted by MrsKlingonPasadena Wed Nov 19, 2008 9:52am PST
I like the I O U for a romantic night. More husbands and boyfriends should do that. It is hard to keep romance in relationships and I think all women would like to be treated like the "only woman in the world" for one night. If only my husband were reading this!!
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Posted by tigger Mon Jan 5, 2009 7:24pm PST
1. The gift of life
2. Family, and our many gatherings over the years (always best at Christmas)
3. My first grandchild (born 12/22/04)
4. The spirit of Christmas: that almost indefinible combination of fellowship, good will, warmth and generosity
5. Christmas memories. That's really more than one gift, because I have so many good ones.
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