Isn't that annoying? I would rather give/receive nothing than give/receive junk that uses earth's resources, costs $ and doesn't get used. Blech!Beekissed said:The folks in my office DO NOT like homemade items...they have very little taste, to be honest. I'll probably have to spend money on them to be considered not cheesy. And I will have to accept similar gifts which I would never use......<sigh>
The baskets I usually get from good will..cheap!
One of my sister's in-laws do that same thing. I usually take a "comfort box" or a "canned food box", as most of their "children" are just moving away from home or off to college. I use a box that computer paper comes in like you get from the Staples or Office Depot places, with good lids, for these gifts. Last year the comfort box was the number one stolen gift.justusnak said:For our family, ( my side) we have a big get together here at my house....big dinner...singing Christmas carols....then the "gift grab" Everyone brings a gift..and we set them in a pile on the floor. Then we draw names from a bowl. When drawn, that person gets to go pick a gift, only if they brought one.....One year...we did this..and once you picked a gift, and opened it, if someone else had a gift you liked better, you could "steal" thiers..and give them yours. I didnt like this as much...there was one gift that got traded off alot..and that person who brought it felt terrible that no one wanted the gift she brought. :/ I made up a few baskets...canned veggies, ( corn, pickled beets) a 5 pound bag of taters, home made dinner rolls, 2 jars of jelly, and a certificate for a chicken, ( left that in the freezer untill they left) This year...I was blessed with lots of tomatos from my garden and friends. I was able to put up over 20 quarts and 20+ pints of spaghetti sauce. Soooooooo this years baskets will be sauce...home made pasta, home made french rolls, and canned peaches.
It cost me $5 for the fleece blanket, $1 for popcorn, $1 for marshmallow, and $2 for large cappaccino style coffee mugs. The rest of the things in the boxes were homemade. 
I was already planning on limoncello to send to mom and sis. My mom already has everything, and my sister makes more money than me, so no point in trying to be extravagant. I can't afford it and they already have plenty of "stuff".
Limoncello is an itaian lemon liquer. It is ver y nice for baking with.me&thegals said:
A glass?
It is a delicious, refreshing sipping liquor.
