What did you get for Christmas???
 

I had a really nice Christmas. I got:

1. sweater with a small Texas Longhorn symbol (from my hubby)
2. black lined crocs (from my daughter)
3. Longhorn plaque for my office (from my hubby)
4. brown pearl earrings (from my mom)
5. 16" gold chain (from my hubby)
7. nightgown (frm my daughter)
8. spotting scope - :rolleyes: this package has a tag that said, "To Gary and Gayle from Santa - for your next voyage" :rolleyes: It is used to look at game that is far away - it is small enough for us to put in our suitcase on our next trip to Alaska or Colorado so we can look at the faraway animals (I did NOT ask Santa for this - but apparently Gary did!) :)

I will be gone to Oklahoma for a few days so my hubby (the one that is so chummy with Santa) can see his sons and grandsons. I'm taking my mom up to our farm and to visit some of her friends. I'll be running around the state for a few days, then I should have internet when I get back to the hotel on Sunday or Monday, so I'll check back in when I can.

Happy New Years everyone!!!

Let's see....I got a
1. Digital picture frame (from hubby)
2. Bissell Featherweight Sweeper (from son)
3. $25 (from my Mom)
4. Some kind of relaxation fountain (older brother/wife) Good re-gift item
5. Pair of shoes (I bought them, hubby wrapped them and will pay charge)

Oh hubby did buy me 6 bottle of wine and the tools to open them with. I'm making him take them back, so he took them this morning when he left for work. I have not liked any wine I've tried. I've only tried a couple and told him I would like to go to Oliver Winery in southern Indiana. They have wine tasting everyday. I thought it would be fun and maybe I'd find a wine I might like. He just doesn't use his head. Glad it's over!!


Gayle, hope you have a good time...let us know when you can that you are safe and sound.

My oldest son got me a gift card, my daughter got me a gorgeous sweater, my youngest son got me a hat and booties set for my new collectable doll and my hubby got me a new collectable doll kit made out of solid silicone.. I LOVE HER.. I posted some pictures below, I am a custom doll maker and I collect solid silicone baby dolls, I started painting her today, I will show you girls when she is completely painted,together and with hair..LOL:kiss2:
hugs,
carmen in nj

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I got a digital frame filled with about 850 pictures of the kids, Jess, Steve, and some other family members. They set the pictures up poretty much in chronological order. What I love is that I missed 3 years of their lives, so they put those pix in too. Steve did the background music, which is very good.

The best is that they were going to buy frames for me and for Steve's Dad, but I had an empty one. I gave it to them to fill up - why waste $60 or $70?

I love my present!

Yours sound nice too, Janet and Gayle. Have a great trip Gayle!

All of you did better than I did as far as gifts. My husband bought me a weather station, not exactly what I wanted! He bought it more for himself than for me and I think that he knew that I wasn't exactly thrilled with it. He also bought me a Hallmark ornament that goes with my house set and I was really happy with it.

Jaci gave me a necklace that's really pretty and a BLT cheese ball mix. She had a sample of it and really liked it so I'm sure that it will get made soon.

Glen and I got a gift certificate to Kobe's Japanese Steak house from Feyn and Tammy. Actually they gave one to each family and I think that we're going to try to go to Wichita all together sometime over Christmas break.

We got some deer sausage from Dae Lynn and Damon with some Gouda cheese. Yum!! Damon shot the deer just a few weeks ago. (They had the sausage too close to the floor and Reuger got a few bites in!!)

From Amy and Jason I got a Christian book, a package of Lindt chocolates, and the cutest set of salt and pepper shakers!! They look like yorkies and they have a magnet on their noses so they look like they're kissing!! It was such a cute gift!!!

I really didn't get too much gift-wise but the day went so good. There were no problems with Damon or my family. Matter-of-fact, Dae Lynn called this morning and said that Damon didn't want to leave and go to his family's Christmas because he was having a good time. Glen and I had both talked to our kids and explained how we felt and why and I think that they will be a little more supportive towards Damon. That's the best gift that I could ask for!!!

Diana, I'm so happy things went well at your house for Christmas. I think it sounds like you did really well for Christmas myself. A lot better than I did.

Gayle, you made out well darling! :presents2: You must have been a good girl this year lol

:santa: Santa was unbelievable to me this year. I got so much more than I could have ever expected. I am truly blessed with great people in my life that know me so well :thankyou:

I took pictures of the things I got for my brother back home lol they especially wanted to see the etched champagne glasses Brad got me from things remembered with our wedding date on them. :1luvu: I almost cried when I opened them, I immediately apologized for my joke about the box because I had some trouble getting into the case lol

:embarass: The only things not pictured, are a sweet little necklace from Brads aunt (I am going to surprise her and wear it on my wedding day because it is a star and it will go well with my star dangle earrings I was planning on wearing that day) the photo printer/paper and the rice cooker my mother gave me. :happy026:

pics:
Brad got me most of the DVDs, except the Audrey Hepburn ones my father got me. I've wanted to but never seen Breakfast at Tiffany's, and I had a hell of a time trying to find Wait Until Dark after I caught it on TV once.
The movie clip board is a photo frame but it actually even clanks down. Brad gave me that

Brad picked out this jacket believe it or not, I love it.

He got me the flat iron, his grandmother who just got out of the hospital bless her, got me the curling iron. The wall thing my dad got me

My mom got me and the dogs the pedi paws, along with treats. Dad got me the novel, and Brad got me the survival guide lol

My nephew Mason and niece Ariana

Great pictures Pope!!! You rec'd a lot of nice things for Christmas...you must have been a very VERY good girl!!! Your niece and nephew are really cute!

Pope, you got a lot of nice gifts! I really, really like the engraved glasses for your wedding. What a thoughtful gift!!!!

I forgot to say that I really liked your gift, Judy!!! My Mom isn't computer literate and that you make a wonderful gift for her. A loaded picture frame!!! Cool!!!!

I also forgot to add that Glen said that I could get me another Yorkie!!!! :cheer: I don't know how I let that slip my mind!!!!! Also, we're either getting a nice fence for the front yard or a patio made for the back yard. We have to still figure that one out.

I know you've been wanting something done with your backyard Diana...that would be wonderful. How nice to have family gatherings and cookouts.

I really got spoiled this year.

My hubby and I together got:
A gigantic Pampered Chef pizza stone (from Mom)
A 5 quart T-Fal pan that will be fantastic for stir-fry and pretty much anything else we could ever want to cook (from Mom)
A really cool collapsible colander (from my Mamaw, picked out by Mom)
An apple corer and various other nifty utensils (can anyone tell we like to cook?)
Yummy baked goods from our neighbors
Breakfast at IHOP (from Mom)

We also got ourselves (as a gift to each other):
Guitar Hero 4 and a second guitar

I got:
A $50 gift card for clothes (from Mom)
A movie, Dirty Dancing (from Mom)
A really cute lotion and soap set (from Mom)
A nice set of preserves--my papaw used to get them for me every year and now my hubby does
An awesome heated blanket! (My hubby knows me well)
Tales of Beedle the Bard (from my hubby)
My favorite candies (from Mom and hubby)
A cute jacket (from my Grandma)
A very sweet homemade card and gingerbread cookie from my little sister

Sounds like everyone had a really nice Christmas and got some really special things!! We did here, too. The best part was having both our daughters here, and Melissa's hubby. We had such a nice time with them!!

As far as material things, let's see, I got:

• The Nikon D60 camera that hubby actually gave me a couple of weeks before Christmas
• A reverse osmosis, under the counter unit for the kitchen so I don't have to use bottled water anymore to have chlorine free water for my bread making and mineral free water for my soap making.
• A Calphalon slow cooker with timer and an automatic settings.
• A small George Forman grill to take to work so I can cook low fat things for lunch.
• Melissa knitted me a muffler, so that's really special.
• An apple scented candle
• Some shortbread cookies
• Two bread making books, "The Bread Baker's Apprentice" by Peter Reinhart & "Artisan Baking" by Maggie Glezer
• A Yorkie Calendar

We are all so blessed!! We gave Karen a Wii with the MarioKart game, so she and I played that yesterday after Melissa and Garrett left. While they were here, the three kids played Xbox 360 Rock Band together. That one was really loud, so hubby retreated to our bedroom for a while. They got me involved in the action on Christmas evening. They got me to do vocals while Melissa was guitar, Karen on base and Garrett on drums. I didn't know many of the newer rock songs they were playing, so had to wing it, but it was actually a lot of fun. We definitely make some memories this Christmas.

Hope everyone else on here did well!!!!

Sounds like you had a great time! My hubby and I play Guitar Hero which is similar to Rock Band. It's great to do when you have guests. Our friends all really enjoy it.

I'm glad to hear that you had such a good holiday. Did Melissa and Garrett have a good first Christmas together? The first year of creating memories together is so much fun!

Marilyn, I forgot to mention that you will just LOVE the Nikon D60. My boss uses Nikon so that's what I use in studio and for weddings. You should try to read up on aperture, shutter speed, and ISO and then try some manual settings. You'll have A LOT more control over how your pic looks and once the relationship between the three clicks for you, it's easy. It might take a while to really click though and it can be frustrating at times. It's really worth the effort in the end though (in my opinion). :) If you ever need help with anything, let me know. If I don't know the answer (I still have SO much to learn), I can ask someone who does! ;)

Thank you Angie for the encouragement and offer of help. I took a photography course once, but that was many, many moons ago, and not sure I actually remember very much. Nikon has a video tutorial, but it is currently out of stock, but I do hope to learn how to work with the manual settings. I've taken some nice pictures already on auto and by turning the flash off and using the available lighting. The only problem is sometimes the shutter is so slow, I need a tripod because it's just not possible to hold still enough to eliminate the blur. I'll have to start another thread on Christmas lights and post some that I took so you can see. I think they turned out well even if I was shooting on auto.

That's awesome! If you right click your photos, and click "properties" you can find out what settings the camera chose for you. If you want to use a faster shutter speed, you can widen your aperture (by lowering the F-number). It will allow more light in so you get the same exposure but without the motion blur caused by the slow shutter speed. :)

Wow, thank you. I'll have to try that. You make it sound so easy!! ;)

It starts to come naturally after a while, but there is always something new to learn. I'm just starting to feel like I really understand the basics. I've talked with people who just blow me away with the amount and depth of knowledge they have. Just when I think I've got it figured out, I hear a new term I have to go Google. LOL

Just keep practicing!

I am trying to remember it all--there was so much

a nice robe from my friend Tammy that Crystal helped pick out
Crystal gave me a nice candle for my room, some gel pins, and a heart box that she painted herself
a co-worker gave me a nice gift bag with all the ingredients for a gooey chocolate cake (we had this for Christmas dinner)
a apple cider scented candle from my son's girlfriend (because I keep apple cider for them and their friends when they come over)
Traci gave me a nice clip on watch and some cosmetics (she moved up next to DC Christmas eve so she didn't have much time)
some cologne talc and lotion from my ex mother-in-law
a tripod for my camera, a camera bag, some cashews and a bag of one of my favorite candies from my mom and my oldest son, Randy.(Angela and Brendon did the shopping)
Angela and Brendon really spoiled me too!
I got a blue tooth headset, a nice candle holder set, and a case for my laptop!

I'm so glad you had a nice holiday Mom. You definitely deserve it! It was great to see you so healthy and happy this year. Your health is by far the gift I am most thankful for.

I can't wait for you birthday...there are still so many things I want to get you! :D

Well, I got a cool mouse for my new laptop, and I case of Cambell's Chunky Chicken Noodle soup.
I love that soup and my girls thought it would be funny to give me that....
I don't know where they get their sense of humor....:dream:

I also got an invitation to go on a Disney Cruise with Jenny and her family, but turned it down because I'm not a fan of cruise's, though I would love to share the experience with the little ones.....I'm still thinking about it, if only Janet would take care of my furbutts.

An invitation to go on a cruise sounds wonderful!!! I would never have to be asked twice because I would love to go!!! The case of soup would be a really funny gift. I'm sure your girls were really laughing over that one!!!

Diana, they had the video camera rolling when I opened the case of soup, and were falling on the floor laughing when they replayed it over and over again.....I guess the expression on my face was priceless....:eek:
We had a great time, made some great memories...
I'm gonna rethink the cruise invite because I'm sure that would be a great memory maker as well.
Korkie

I will....bring 'em over!!

19" LCD TV for our bedroom from Hubby
work bag from Hubby (kind of a mix between a purse and briefcase)
silk flower arrangement from Delaney
coasters from Abigail
family picture from Jeff
family picture from Paula
self photo from Roxann
home cooked fajita supper from Jeff
home cooked blackberry cobbler from Emily
silk sunflower from Christian
two gallons of premixed margaritas from Laura (raised that one right)
and a partridge in a pear tree

You did good too Sandy!!! I really need to try margaritas too....lol. I've just never really tried to many drinks. I'm a back of the truck beer drinker..but looking to broaden my horizons in 2009....LOLOL

Hmm, how can I talk them into posting that video on YouTube?! :p:D

Good gifts for most of us! We deserve it;)

Okay - some questions:

"A reverse osmosis, under the counter unit for the kitchen so I don't have to use bottled water anymore to have chlorine free water for my bread making and mineral free water for my soap making."

Marilyn, I want to begin making liquid soap. What base do you use?

Pope, What is the Monster Squad?, I love Rules of Engagement. It's coming back on!!! And, how do you survive a zombie attack? I would definitely not want to become a zombie, nor a werewolf. A vampire - I would have to admit, it intrigues me.

Diana, "I also forgot to add that Glen said that I could get me another Yorkie!!!! :cheer: I don't know how I let that slip my mind!!!!! Also, we're either getting a nice fence for the front yard or a patio made for the back yard. We have to still figure that one out."

You forgot a new Yorkie???? You are one lucky lady!

I have to add to my list. Bren and I got a $50 gift card to Barnes & Noble from his Mom in the mail yesterday. :D

I was listing the gifts that I opened and forgot about the yorkie. Plus, I was NOT very happy about the weather station. It rates right up there with getting a weather barometer!!!!!!

One year my MIL got a weather barometer and I told my husband that that was an awful gift to give someone for Christmas.........sure enough, I got one too!

Judy, I don't use a base. I make mine from scratch using lye (100% sodium hydroxide, NaOH), water and oils to make bar soap. Potassium Hydroxide (KOH) and oils are used to make liquid soap.

There are soap forums with lots of information. There is information on bases as well as making from scratch. The one I am a member of is:
www.thedishforum.com. I think you have to register to see the threads, but there is a wealth of information there about making all kinds of soaps, lotions, cosmetics, you name it. I have not been a very active poster & I'm Marilyn there just like here, but have learned a LOT from this site.

Ok, here goes.

A really nice pair of gloves.
Green Bags by Debbie Myers?? (for veggies and such)
2 pair of those nice soft fuzzy slipper socks.
Bath kit with soaps and body wash.
Gift basket with yummy goodies.
Homemade fudge.
Really nice check from my wonderful mom!
Ugly jacket.. from Christoper Banks. So I returned it, got two nice tops and still have a 15:00 store credit!
Cold Cash... from my wonderful father!

Oh and I bought one of those Shark steam mops for myself!!!

You all did great!!! Now............who has started shopping for next year already???

I picked up all the pieces to a Christmas china set at Target for 75% off, does that count lol also got a few ornaments for next year keeping in my winter color theme :D

I didn't even go out and shop after Christmas because it means a trip out of town. So, no, I haven't bought anything for next year. Sometimes I look for birthday gifts for the kids but anymore they're so happy with money that I'll probably just do that again.

I bought glazed/candied fruit for next year's fruit cakes on sale 1/2 price. It will keep well in the freezer until next November. They had lots of cherries, but no pineapple. Will have to check another store for that.

Thanks Marilyn. I registered. Do you use essential oils? If you do, where do you get them? I have mine for years. They are beautiful, but some need replacement.

I have bought essential oils, but have not used any yet. I don't remember where I bought them now. I researched some of the threads discussing them and found some of the supply sites referenced. I have bought essential oils, fragrances, clays and color pigments. I just need to find the time to make more soap. Maybe this weekend I can get my stuff out and get it organized so I can soap again.