We’ve all received gifts over the holidays that we just don’t like… Today, the Casa authors are talking about those gifts, and what the person did to redeem himself!
Terry Spear, author of A SEAL Wolf Christmas:
Rather than worst, it was the most embarrassing for me. I’ve been married twice and both of my former husbands had given me sexy nightwear at Christmas that I had to open in front of my parents. LOL My parents were so amused. I was so embarrassed. :-)
Grace Burrowes, author of Lady Jenny’s Christmas Portrait
Once upon a time, I was a single mom (still am), and that meant nice people from time to time would try to lessen my holiday logistical load by buying a little something for my daughter for Christmas.
One year, it was a turtle. Poor little guy didn’t last long, but my, did he know a thing or two about making water STINKY.
Another year, a chia pet came our way—I think it might have been a sheep, but this little chia sheep suffered the heartbreak of little chia-sheepy psoriasis. Within a few weeks, the beast looked as if it had taken a miniature hedge clipper out dancing on one side and had a few too many shots of growth hormone on the other. And then there’s what happens when those little chia seeds are done sprouting—not so pretty.
The most, um, puzzling gift to come our way was from a special friend—or somebody who might have had aspirations in that direction. Not an Easy-Bake Oven (aren’t those worth a lot on E-Bay these days?), not a parakeet, not free passes to go see the latest Disney flick, but… an offer to take me and my daughter hiking on the Appalachian Trail.
Hmm.
I live near the part of the Trail that cuts through Maryland. For much of the year, the Trail is very pretty, traversing as it does, the spines of various mountains.
But this was a Christmas present, which meant our outing would take place in December. My daughter was up for the hike. We’d pack lunch—right, Mom?—and a winter picnic could loads of fun! We could eat Christmas cookies, and sing carols, while striding about the mountainside… We might see deer and bunnies! (Even if we sang carols?)
Moms are the world’s ultimate good sports, so of course, I assented. And yet, the snow hangs around up on the Trial longer than it does down in the valleys, the wind blows colder, and the terrain is rocky, so first we made a holiday sortie to the local sporting goods store…
By the time I escaped from that madhouse, I was considerably poorer, in both coin and holiday spirit. Hiking boots aren’t cheap. Nordic wear isn’t cheap. Even a walking stick can set you back a few bucks, and a good thermos, that won’t break when your kid drops it on the rocky trail stings a bit too.
Ho-Ho-No.
And then the oddest thing happened. The dashing swain who’d had this brilliant notion developed a problem with his schedule every time we attempted to book the outing. Oh, the weather looked iffy! There might too much holiday traffic on the Trail (Rudolph and the guys coming back from a run down to Georgia?), or, oh shucks, the car had to have its oil changed that very afternoon…
We never did take this hike. I however, treated myself to a hike to Goodwill, and I sincerely hope some deserving soul spent a wonderful afternoon, striding about the freezing mountainside in stylish Nordic wear, singing Christmas carols to the bunnies, swilling wassail from an air-tight, deep-space certified thermos.
While my daughter and I stayed home and played cribbage by the roaring woodstove.
Carolyn Brown, author of The Cowboy’s Christmas Baby:
Before the kids were big enough to notice things, like what their mama was wearing to the breakfast table, Husband always bought me something black, lacy and filmy for Christmas. I was expecting something downright sexy as usual when I ripped into my package from him that Christmas.
It was the ugliest flannel nightgown ever produced on the face of the earth. It had pink roses on a pale green background and it buttoned all the way up to my neck and it was at least two sizes too big. Visions of a hangman’s noose made out of barbed wire danced in my head until I looked down and saw the rest of the present. (Remember those words black and filmy up above?) There was a little black plastic film canister with something that rattled inside. You’re thinking a ring or a piece of jewelry with diamonds, right? Not so; inside was a screw, a plain old every day household screw like you use to hang a picture on the wall. When I looked up, he winked! The nightgown has long since disappeared but that little film canister and its contents are still in my memory box. Did I collect? I don’t kiss and tell (says Carolyn with a smile).
Juliana Stone, author of The Christmas He Loved Her:
First off all, my husband and I just celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary and had been together for 7 years before that. So, holy cow, I’ve had 25 years with this man.
BUT when we got together we had no money. At all. We were struggling musicians so you can imagine. And being struggling musicians from the 80’s you can also imagine what our hair budget was. Not pretty.
When it came to Christmas it was always more of, what do WE need this year. So we’d save up and buy a new television, or a VCR (remember those?), or a case of ice mist (best hairspray ever). Once we were more established we never got into the practice of buying gifts for each other. If I wanted something for myself, I bought it and vice versa. I’d rather spend my Christmas budget on friends, family and my kids.
So, I thought real hard and couldn’t come up with a bad present, mainly because there weren’t a whole lot of them. What did I remember? Poor hubby proposing after 7 years of togetherness and me anxiously opening that small box and um, HATING the engagement ring he’d chosen. Hated. It was a cluster of diamonds and would have looked better on my nana’s finger. I don’t know if he was offended or not when I dragged him back to pick out something else, but he did it and I ended up with a fabulous ring!
So, that’s really all I have, and it wasn’t at Christmas, but there you have it!
To enter to win a prize pack of all 4 of these Christmas authors’ novels, share in the comments the Christmas gift you’ll never forget (good or bad)! This contest is open internationally. I’ll pick a winner on Saturday November 9.
To find out more about these authors, please visit their websites!
Carolyn Brown Website: http://carolynlbrown.com/
Grace Burrowes Website: http://graceburrowes.com/
Terry Spear Website: http://www.terryspear.com/
Juliana Stone Website: http://www.julianastone.com/
FOLLOW ALONG WITH THE “CASA FOR THE HOLIDAYS” VIRTUAL TOUR!
October-December 2013
Fun Holiday-Themed Posts from Carolyn, Grace, Terry and Juliana,
And Chances to WIN Books at Each Stop!
Good morning, everyone!
So what was your WORST present ever…or if you don’t have a story about a bad present, tell us about your BEST present ever!
I don’t recall ever getting a bad present! I LOVE all presents! :) I received an iPad last Christmas! That was a great gift because it is SUPER easy to buy Carolyn Brown books from Amazon.com or iTunes! I can shop for books in my pi’s if I want to! I love being able to finish a book and have a new one at my fingertips within minutes! My mud boots is another favorite of my gifts! This Okie country girl cannot make it without those….
One of the best Christmases I’ve ever had was last year when I got four bookstore gift cards!
Thanks for the awesome giveaway!!
Woo-hoo, Elizabeth! Now that’s a wonderful present!
I’m a country girl to the bone! My best/worst gift I got was a wheelbarrow for Christmas. Some people say that’s just not right! Well I love my wheelbarrow because it has two wheels instead of one! I have horses and it was a godsend. No more spilling manure before I got to the manure pile!
Hey, Kim,
That sounds like a lovely present to me. I bought a wheelbarrow at the neighbor’s garage sale years ago. Don’t know what we’d do without the old thing!
First thing that pops into my head is when my hubby tried so hard to buy me clothes because I never spent money on myself and it always bothered him. So he decided one year to buy me several things but by far the worst were the jeans…the low rise jeans. I should never be caught in low rise jeans even if I was dead and you couldn’t see my ass. I tried to play it off but he wanted me to try them on. Which lead to me having to explain the problem. By the time it was all said and done I was in the jeans, that didn’t even cover half my ass and he swore to never buy me clothes again. It is kinda a joke in our house now.
He is usually really good with gifts but that year…!
Love that story…Husbands see wives much different than mirrors see wives!
Best Christmas present ever…My daughters’ adoption finalized on December 22, 1989, 4 months early due to the birth mothers wonderful letter to the judge requesting that the adoption move forward asap. Best present ever!
Oh, that is absolutely precious! Baby Josh (The Cowboy’s Christmas Baby) is even smiling.
Best Christmas present, the year I got a puppy for Christmas, had her for 15 years, she recently passed away.
I’m so so sorry for your loss. That one present brought you years and years of companionship and I know that you miss her terribly.
One Christmas my aunt and my cousin bought me this beautiful white coat that had this faux fur hood.. I loved that coat so much, but I just could not after awhile keep it clean enough, It always showed the dirt too much. but I loved. it anyway.
I hear you…as clumsy as I am, white is not my color either. BUT it looks so fresh and clean and gorgeous, doesn’t it?
My husband is horrible with gift buying, 1 year I gave him a detailed list so he could get a couple things for me. I ended up with everything on the list.
Smart move! And smart man! That made up for a lot of past mistakes.
The year I got my Kindle Fire.
Wow! Now that is a fantastic present and it continues to bring pleasure for many years to come.
Best gift:
The first Christmas my husband and I were dating he gave me a collectible Christmas plate by Lenox. It was the first in a series – think he was trying to tell me something? He proposed a week later, on New Year’s Eve.
Oh yeah — we’ve been married for 30 years :-)
Susan, that’s beautiful! Congratulations on 30 years together!
It might sound weird, but my husband bought me a terry robe when I was newly pregnant with my first child. Don’t know why that stuck with me. I had never gotten clothes from a man before!
How sweet is that…he must have seen that you needed a new robe!
Hmm… A few years ago, my aunt gave me some of my grandmother’s and great aunt’s jewelry. I never got to meet them, so it was really special to have something of theirs.
Ohhh, I love heirlooms, whether it be jewelry or furniture. Lucas gives Natalie a very important little surprise that belonged to his grandmother in The Cowboy’s Christmas Baby. Of course she loved it!
The only bad gift I can remember is a grab bag gift from work many years ago, it was some sort of figure of a person sitting on a fur lined toilet that said something about having it cushy.
My girlfriend surprised me one time with a book I had wanted along with a bookstore gift certificate. That was really a nice surprise.
Patoct…that present would definitely go into the regifting closet. LOL! But I do love the book idea!
It would be a Sylvester & Tweety bird candy dish which seemed to be a regifted present. The head of one the characters promptly broke off.
How funny! We had the ugliest duck (wearing a chef’s apron and holding a fish in it’s hand…think hideous, not ugly) in our family that got passed around every single year. It’s head fell off at one house so it got “duct” taped back on. It got it’s finger and toe nails painted red in one house and got lipstick in another. It was a hoot until it disappeared. I think Husband had something to do with that but he’s taking the fifth! (And I don’t mean Jack Daniels)
I got sexy nightgown for Christmas from my mom and had to open it in front of my dad, littler brother, daughter and boyfriend. Very embarrassing. This sounds like a great set of Holiday books. Thanks for sharing them and the giveaway. evamillien at gmail dot com
I’m giggling! How much says your Mom did that on purpose!
One year I got a plane ticket so I wouldn’t have to spend the holidays alone.
Oh, Jane, that is absolutely wonderful! No one should be alone on the holidays!
All the books sound awesome. Thank you for the giveaway.
The best present I received was a new wedding band after I had broken my original one.
Isn’t that sweet…somebody loves you a lot!
The best gift I ever got was a surprise visit from family when I wasn’t able to make the trip to visit them. Thanks for the giveaway.
That would have been a wonderful gift…and I bet memories were made that will last a lift time.
A baby doll when I was 4 complete with clothes and cradle. I was 4 and I remember my excitement 46 years later.
That is too sweet for words. You must have been super excited about it for the memory to last that long! The last doll my mama got me for Christmas is on the shelf in my closet and she is dressed in the same outfit mama made from a scrap of material. Making memories and sharing love…what the holiday is all about!
I really hated getting the same Christmas presents as my twin sister. I never wanted what she asked for. All I have ever wanted was books, or better yet, giftcards for books so I can buy them myself.
My boyfriend is great in that regard, I pre-order a lot of books I want, and then he pays for some of them. So when I finally receive a book, I just thank him for it :)
As an author, I applaud your fantastic boyfriend and give you a standing ovation for asking for books! Thank you!
My most embarrassing Christmas would have to been the one right before in turned 10 in the Fourth Grade – I was at the point that I was soon going to have to wear a bra EVERYDAY. I opened a present, completely innocent and unaware, and it was my first REAL bra – in front of my cousins…
Oh, no! Bless your heart, Kelli. If it’s true that what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger, you must be Super Woman!
A few years ago my nephew & niece started putting together a calendar with family pictures on it that had been taken since the last Christmas – it’s a present that I get to look at every day as it hangs on my refrigerator (you can imagine how often I’m at that door). It’s fun to turn to a new page & pictures every month. And now we have a new little family member who I’m sure will be featured on every page!
What a precious idea! The gift that lasts all year and can be kept forever!
My favorite gifts were the ornaments my kids made when they were little.
Yes, yes, yes…love those things, too!
i remember i was 8 i think and there was a kind of party t my father job when children got present from santa… because of a custermer we were late getting there and i received what has been left unwanted by all other children ….some stupid plastic glasses… i was so sad and angry because it happened not because i had been bad but because we were late becuse the shop came once again before me ( or so i though)
the treck back home was done on verge on crying ( after having done so in front of santa before) the world was ending christmas magic unexistent…..
at home i rushed to my room to cry more and feeling guilty because i knew my father was sorry…my mother made rosted bread to enlight themood and managed to get me downstairs where i discovered on the sofa a gorgeous stuffed bear with a bow just for me…; i don’t know how they did it since i know my parents didn’t leave the house but at that time it was simple magic something really for me fitting my taste and making me so special
on that day i got the worse and the best present^^ and christmas magic did happen!
thank you a lot for the international giveaway too
This brought back some wonderful memories of my late husband. Our first Christmas was in 1974 and I was just 17 and he was 24. He was a hunter and fisherman and I was a Calif hippy. Some how we fell in love. So in his apartment on Christmas Eve I opened my gift and he bought me a GUN!!! Now here I was a hippy girl and his idea of bounding was that we go target practice!!!
We had 35 years together.
Good Luck To All Of Us!!!
Bernie
Oh, for one christmas, every single “kid” (mind you, the kids range from 32 to 18) received the ugliest pair of socks imaginable from one of the aunts/uncles – Loud colors, sparkles, puffs of god knows what.
But they were pretty thick, sturdy socks. So I just used them for drying the dishes. once the sparkly crap wore off that is.. they were used for kitchen cleaning:)
There are a lot of Christmas presents that have stuck in my mind over the years. Probably the one I’ll always remember is a necklace my husband gave me one year.
One year when I was in HS each of us (5 kids) got a watch in our stocking. I wanted to be a nurse and my parents made sure mine had a second hand because I’d be taking pulses. ;)
bmndshuler(at)hotmail(dot)com
two christmases ago when I got my Kindle! I never thought I wanted one but now I can’t live without it :) Thanks for sharing!
The year my husband thought it would be a great idea to buy me a Vacuum for Christmas
Once I became a teenager it seemed as if it was impossible for my family to figure out what to get me for Christmas (or birthdays for that matter) despite the fact that I would have thought it was obvious what I would like. Anyway, one Christmas I received a Phantom of the Opera ceramic statue that had a wind up music player in the bottom of it. It wasn’t a bad gift, after all I do like the musical, but shortly after I opened it I dropped it. It didn’t break or anything, but it did slightly bend the piece of metal used to wind up the player. So it never played music again.
A white-board my great-aunt gave me. At the time I was going through a ‘I want to be a teacher’ phase and that was a really great present!
not getting any gift
The worst Christmas gift I ever received was a pair of footie pajamas that were for someone about 3 inches shorter than me. I was in my late 20s at the time.
My sister has given me some strange Christmas gifts over the year, but the one I always remember with bemusement is the handheld shower head. I’ve no idea why she decided that’s what I needed, but I held on to it and later when I bought my townhouse, I could actually use it.
When we first started dating, Mr. gave me several stuffed animals that were inside jokes.
Getting a camera was one of the best gifts. It was so unexpected and I love that.
My worst Christmas present has to be from an ex boyfriend. We’d been dating for 3 years and talked about buying a house and getting married but just talked. So anyway chridtmas rolls around and we had done the Christmas thing with my mother and siblings and then with my father, his wife and siblings and no present. No big deal, right? When we are doing our third Christmas celebration of the day with his family and his mother’s extended family he got down on his knee, pulled out this horrible gaudy ring, and ask me to “accept half of this ring and the family in marriage”.
I couldn’t say no in front of granny and great grammy who were just thrilled, but even his, mother later said he should have worded it better. Turns out he needed to work on more than jist wording, but that’s a whole other box of books. I didn’t break it off right away, I was stupid, but I did tell him he could have the whole ring all to himself.
The worst was also the funniest ever. When I was a kid and my mom went out leaving two bags of presents for my grandmother to put out, no none had names on them but the bags did. Gram didn’t think anything of it. Christmas morning my brother got a “training” bra and many other girl items and I got guns and stuff. I got the better end :).
When I was a teen, I desperately wanted a cassette ape recorder so I could tape my favorite songs off the radio. So I snooped around the house, looking for where my mom hid the gifts. I found a box and peeled pack the tape for a sneak peak. On Christmas , my mom knew because the tape didn’t stick once I replaced it. She wasn’t very happy with me, but I loved my tape player!
My best Christmas gift so far was getting a voucher for a wellness weekend from one of my best friends: of course I took her and we had the best BFF wellness weekend :-D
The worst gift I got was underwear from my husband. We didn’t have much money , our kids were small and I wasn’t working, and I never bought anything for myself. He saw I needed new underwear, so he decided to get me some nice stuff. Well he and his friend went to Fredericks of Hollywood and a few of the pairs had ruffles and bows that you couldn’t wear under a pair of pants. All I wanted was a pack of cotton underpants, lol
Worst one would be the mumu, or nasty house dress, I got from a grandmother in law-lol. Never did put that thing on!!
One of the most touching Christmas presents was the year after my mom died, and my dad going out and finding my Christmas book present. He bought a mystery and a romance, right on target!
The most touching was an e-reader… and horrifying? How about underwear from my grandma? :))
My dad being able to celebrate Christmas with us. I thought he would not be release from the hospital in time for Christmas but he was. I was truly happy for that although we were not a complete family with one brother working
My husband coming home from overseas on Christmas Eve for good.