My husband and I gave each other a DVR and a new sound system for the holidays.

We got money from the in-laws.

From my parents:
- 2 silver butter knives in our silver pattern
- 2 cookbooks
- A jigsaw puzzle
- Renewal of my gift subscription to Cook's Illustrated
- A cute little stuffed bluebird (from the Audubon collection - you squeeze it and it chirps - the sound was recorded from an actual bluebird)

Ottoman from Pier 1
Candlestick holders from Pier 1
Vase from Pier 1
Decorative stuff from Pier 1 (noticing a theme???)
Matching Lamp set
"Six Wives of Henry VIII"
Money (to be spent at the Coach outlet on Tuesday)
Accessories for my digital camera
CD from the ex-boyfriend which is causing more confusion than necessary.

harness and leash to take my cat on walks
2 books about the South Beach Diet
a sport MP3 player
other gifts hinting to the fact "Joel- you're getting fat"

Since I wasn't with my family yesterday, I met up with my mom, sister, one of my nieces, and two nephews at a mall that's about halfway inbetween us (an hour drive for me and them). My mom gave me:
- $200 which was awesome cause she only gave $100 to everyone else.
- bought me 2 pairs of Steve Madden shoes which totaled $103.00
- some Murad face wash that I wanted to try out.

My sister said she's gonna give me something when I visit them in January. I don't know if my dad will give me any money since I haven't seen him, and don't know when I will.

That's awesome! I used to do that with my kitty. :)

My grandpa got me a diamond braclet from Tiffany's. He thinks it's very important for a woman to have nice jewelry so every year for Christmas I get something really nice from there. Only me though, cuz I'm his favorite.:D

I always get a crapload of odds and ends, and did this year too. Also, I got a new Columbia jacket, with matching scarves and gloves....Also got a digital camera with accessories...And a DSL modem (router? I don't know!) and service paid for...Those were my favorites....Also got lots of lotions, perfumes, purses, etc...

Update now that we've had Christmas at my parent's house...

too much neat stuff...

A Laptop computer!!! :D

hubby and I got a vhs-dvd recorder where you can transfer vhs tapes to dvds...we are really excited about that

a fax machine for the house that will also receive faxes

hubby got me some golf stuff which I am thrilled about!!

a Bombay treasure box

my grandmother paid for a month's tuition at my daughter's school back in September so that was one early Christmas present

a bath and body works gift certificate

a Burberry coin purse and purse set!!!:D :D

a London fog wool coat in cranberry red :D

hubby got some Harley Davidson stuff, gift cards for i-tunes, some smoked salmon ( yummy), and a 3 piece Katana sword set

our little girl had a blast having "two" christmases one with Uncle Bruce and one with Nanny and Poppy

My Christmas season has just begun, as people will be trickling back from the holiday, it'll be Christmas for the next two weeks or so!

But so far, I've gotten:
~Handmade pink scarf from my best friend (and roomie for all 4 years of undergrad)
~Several CD's and a DVD
~An Amazon.co.uk gift certificate (I already spent it on two books and a CD)
~New coloured pencils
~Several Hallmark miniature ornaments (yes, I know I'm a sap)
~A black nightgown
~Pink and purple striped toe socks!!
~Gift certificate to Body Shop
~Box of European chocolate (mmm, one piece a day)

I spent Christmas here, in my tiny little Scottish town. It was really quiet, but I slept through most of the day as I pulled a muscle in my back. Happy Christmas to me. :( Oh well, New Year should prove to be fun!

~ShyViolet

ps - I didn't get my wish of waking up to find a hot Scotsman under my tree. Dammit! ;)

My big present...a David Yurman bracelet!!! Its got diamonds and pearls on it (Chi Os two stones) and is so gorgeous. I've never had something so pretty and expensive before, I feel like a princess. :D

4 really cute sweaters, and 2 pairs of pants
singin in the rain, the music man, guys and dolls......i looooove the musicals :)
2 frank sinatra posters that i am CRAZY about plus a Christmas cd of his :)
some jewelry
both bridget jones books
my uncle bought me a hot pink lava lamp for some un-Godly reason
cute kitchen stuff
make up, nail stuff
a cape and smock thing for school
a new entertainment center
the candied apple scent from bath and body....looks like they are trying to get rid of the country apple......anyone know about this?! b/c if they do, i will DIE!!

Seems as if the iPod is the gift of the season, because I got one too! :)

* Pink iPod mini
* FM transmitter for the iPod w/ a car charger, dock, and digital station display
* iPod armband (so I can take it to the gym) and protective clear skin
* green croc Nine West satchel purse
* three cookbooks
* One year subscriptions to Allure and Cosmo
* Bobbi Brown kohl eye shadow kit
* $25 Target gift card
* $180 in cash
* two beautiful cashmere sweaters
* black v-neck blouse and knit poncho
* pottery from Hawaii
* purple knit scarf
* a massager
* earrings and a matching necklace
* books by Joyce Carol Oates (one of my favorite authors)

It was a great Christmas! Above all, I got to spend it with my family. Both my mother and father's sides came to my sister's house.

From Mr. ISUKappa:
* Escada Collection Perfume
* Coach handbag
* Harry Potter DVD (duplicate, which will be exchanged for the last SATC DVD set and be a joint Christmas/birthday gift)
* Pearl Earrings
* Pearl Jam greatest hits CD

From my parents:
* Santas, multiple
* Wellesley sweater from JCrew
* Harry Potter DVD
* Money to buy a chest freezer (this is for both of us)

From my sister who drew my name for Secret Santa this year:
* Shrek 2 DVD
* Santas
* Fleur-de-lis ornament

From the ILs:
* Three Wisemen for the WillowTree Nativity set
* Stable set for the WillowTree Nativity set

I think my dad took the cake, though. My parents celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary this year. As a gift to themselves, they're going to Hawaii for a 10-day tour the end of January. Mom figured it wouldn't be that big of a Christmas for them since they're going on this big trip. Dad had other plans. He bought her a very nice cashmere sweater and a ruby and diamond bracelet.

And then he completely floored her by giving her a new wedding band set. Mom has had the same modest engagement ring and wedding band since she and dad were married. Over the years, the ering has had to be sized and re-sized due to her hands changing. Eventually, the gold on the band became too thin and snapped. She hadn't gotten around to getting it fixed yet, but was still wearing her wedding band. Dad managed to take it without her noticing, brought it to the jeweler in my hometown (the same one he originally bought her rings from) and picked out a brand-new set while having the stone in the first ring put into a very nice pendant setting. It was the sweetest gesture I think I've ever seen.

Santa and the parents were all good to me this year!
These were my favorites:
I got my iPod! :D
some very cute new pjs
family guy season 2
aqua teen hunger force season 2
a very pretty flower necklace
And I forgot to add money to go shopping with!:D

To anyone who got an ipod:

My bf searched and read around online and a lot of people said that the cassette tape that plugs into the ipod is better than the fm tuner for your car. Something about the radio signal and it changing while you're driving. He got me the cassette thing for Xmas and I used it yesterday during a long drive and it did sound really good. It can get really loud if that matters to anyone. Cause you have the ipod volume and your radios volume. It may be like that for the tuner thing though. Just a heads up :)

My relatives never know what to get me, so they give me money or gift cards. My parents got me a silver iPod mini :)

I also got:

Note cards
A Christmas Ornament
2005 Calendar
More writing material
Books

This year I got:

vcr/dvd player
Sherk 2 dvd
$100 GC to Mervyn's
amd decent scores on the THEA(Texas Higher Education Assesment) test (aka The Texas version of the Praxis I)

Thanks for the advice, but I don't have a cassette player in my car :( I haven't tried my FM transmitter yet, but I've heard mixed reviews. I have the one that charges your iPod while I'm driving and has a digital read-out displaying the station the music is being played on. I've heard that the quality of reception depends on the area you're in.

Has anyone tried an FM transmitter? Any reviews?

I have the iTrip and it's worked well so far - it comes set at 87.9, but you can change it to another station if 87.9 is a station in your area.

From the rugrats: new U2 cd and new Duran Duran cd w/ DVD.

From DH: Looney Tunes Volume 2 DVD, and a brand new computer desk chair that the rugrats are forbidden to use :D DH also cooked the turkey and made the mashed potatoes for Xmas dinner.

From the inlaws: Barnes and Noble gift card, AOII glass magnets, and italian charm bracelet w/ 3 AOII charms.

From my mom: Keeping the rugrats one weekend so DH & I can go to UK home game this season. Now to score tickets and hotel and we're so there!

<hijack>

I had one of those years ago to hook my CD player up to my car, and it worked just fine. I tried it on my iPod when I got it a few months ago, and it seemed to work fine. If you are going long distances, you might run into interference, especially if there is an actual radio station with that frequency. But the one I have has 4 different tuner settings so if one band is taken up, you have three others to choose from :) Just choose the band with the least amount of noise on it.

If you want to go expensive, you can have a connector hooked up to your car stereo. Only thing is it won't work in other people's cars unless they also have iPod hookups installed.

</hijack>

I received:

-LoTR Return of the King EE DVDs
-Harry Potter 3 on DVD
-New U2 CD
-4 Strings' first CD
-DaVinci Code, the Illustrated Version
-Rick Steves' Travelling through Europe's Backdoor or something
-Another novel having to do with wizards and stuff
-Gift Certificates for Gap, Best Buy and one that goes pretty much anywhere (Giftcertificates.com Super Certificate.)
-Money... lots of money from my dad's side
-A yellow "jelly purse" (actually it's an imposter, but it works.)
-A flip flop necklace
-Some sugar free goodies
-Victoria Secret lotion in Strawberries and Champagne
-A Gryffindor scarf (my friend made it)
-An illustrated calendar (by the lady that illustrated the HP books, but I can't remember her name.)
-A passport/money pouch for Europe

I think that was it.

My big gifts were a ski trip and my gym membership.

Danielle, our moms must be twins separated at birth! I got an Ove Glove too! And also the travel jewelry box in my stocking.

I also got
- Dell DJ (Dell's version of the Ipod, since I have a Dell laptop, it's awesome) with car kit and carrying case
- a new watch
- some books
- Elf DVD
- Ralph perfume
- Kitchen gadgets
- Gift Certificates to Gap, Victoria's Secret
- $$$ from relatives
- Stocking stuffers like candy, makeup, gag gifts
- FDNY Calendar (hot firemen!) and a new planner

Money :D

I gotta iPod mini (and its blue too!!)
the Anita Baker CD...My Everything!!
A sweater, some bath-n-beauty products!!

I got a digital camera (luvvvv it!)
a down vest from north face
money for clothes
a tiffany keychain
a little plushie bedbugg from my friend (because yes, i'm addicted to plushies)
a cool carebears tshirt (like the one Marissa wears in the OC)
eye mask to wear at night. weird, yes - but practical when you want to sleep in!

The Blue Collar Comedy Tour Rides Again DVD
Mary Poppins DVD (Gotta love Mary Poppins!)
Double-rich Hot Coco mix (Yum!)
A panda that is voice/touch-activated (It plays "peek-a-boo"! :) )

Happiness
Silver

-tiffany's bracelet and necklace
-chanel sunglasses
-pink guess coat
-lots of clothes
-pearl earings, necklace, and bracelet
-black purse
-lots of make up
-Memoirs of a Geisha book
-aqua di by georgio armani (is that how you spell it) perfume
-undergarments by victoria's secret ;)

Christmas Presents for 2004
- sewing machine, that was fun carrying onto an airplane
- gift cards for movie theater, barnes and noble, old navy, and costco
- 1000 thread count sheets
- a pretty heart silver necklace from the boyfriend
- West Wing season 2 and 3 dvds
- two pairs of shoes
- a poncho that my sister cross stitched my letters into
- lots of candles
- flavored coffees

Wonderful book!
Silver

I got:
1) $$ from Grandma and Mom. This will pay for car repairs
2) Cashmere sweater from Mom
3) Beautiful earrings from my sister and my dad
4) A digital camera!
5) Books from Mom's boyfriend
I did not get what I wanted the most... still waiting on those darned medical schools.

-LOTR trilogy of DVDs
-Pin-on-badge ring (well, it hasn't arrived yet, but it's coming!!)
-New computer desk and entertainment center for the den
-Cable internet
-Raincoat----for my trip to LONDON!!!!!
-a SQUISH pillow (it's freakin' awesome!)
-new quilt and shams for my bed
-Napoleon Dynamite DVD
-giftcard to Appleby's (man, that food was good!!)
-money for my London trip
-2 new pairs of comfy exercise pants
-scarf from Urban Outfitters
-2 new watches (yes you need more than just one---I've got 9 watches total!!)
-calendar for my desk at work
-B&BW smellgood stuff/pamper me items
-giftcard to Rich's (bought some ab fab pink pumps!!!!)

-Got to spend time with my adorable little niece!!

Lets see.

I got:

- A new SUV compliments of my parents feeling sorry for me driving in this Ohio snow crap. I talked about 4 wheel drive and they got me one, thank goodness.

- Satellite radio kit for the home and for the car from the hubby

- a new stereo for the home from the hubby

-a Gazelle and a recumbent bike for our workout room from the hubby

- Money from most of the other family who hate to shop. I love it though then I buy what I want

-Me and the hubby got a 30 inch LCD flat panel tv for the living room. We had been watching tv on this mini 19 crap tv so it was a huge surprise to get such a nice tv that sounds good

-We took some of our Christmas money and bought a good Sony Surround sound

-several sweaters for this wonderful weather

-Snow boots

-One of those printers/copier/faxer/scanner all in one for our computer

-Some DVDs such as Happy Gilmore and Billy Madison as well as some SNL ones like Adam Sandler and Will Ferrel

-Misc things like bath products, new Clinique, stocking stuffers, and other goodies

-A new tanzanite silver ring

The best thing was the SUV. I was so tired of sliding in the ice. This is much better in the snow and we are currently getting an ice storm tonight so Im grateful for a new car thats more reliable.

- Bath and Body Works gift seft

- Victoria's Secret pajama pants, cami, and matching jacket

- Anna Nalick cd

- INXS cd

- James Blunt cd

- Nike Free 5.0 sneakers ( i LOVE them!)

- Red Leather overnight bag

- a kitten!!! :D

- cash

A Nice Large Loaf of Povitica Bread!:cool:

I got:

200$ from my Aunt and Granny
a Bracelet
DVD recorder
Diet Hot Chocolate (since I'm working on the fig. ;) )
Body Oil
Toys for my puppy
*cringes* a house coat
A coupon organizer (which actually came in pretty handy! I'm trying to cut back on my spending, so i recently started using coupons and they're ridiculously hard to keep track of!)
Some cleaning giftset
Vera Bradley Messenger in picadilly plum, w/ monogram:)

-5 Clemson Tshirts

-A new pair of Clemson Flip Flops since the dog chewed up the last pair

-A set of mixing bowls

-A mixer

-The insurance for my Bronco paid ($200 that doesn't have to come out of my pocket....woohoo!)

-A couple pairs of PJ pants

-A tiger piggybank (so I can save money to move back to Clemson)

-A panic alarm for my keychain

-some lotion

-a book called "Clemson University 101, My first text- board book"
(I think mom is hinting she'd like grandchildren eventually since it is a baby book)

One thing I got I reallllllllyyyyyyyyyy needed and wanted was new tires. Which I got that gift early, but still it was a christmas gift. Plus I got to see the boyfriend all weekend!

I dont even know yet haha. We had to leave really early to go to the aunt's house for dinner, and didnt get back until 6, at which point I passed out until 11. I havent opened presents from my parents yet.

From my aunt I got an iPod car pack thing with a little remote to put on your steering wheel, but its not compatible with my iPod, only the older ones :rolleyes: