Regifting For Dummies

I have a question to ask of y'all. How many of you regift? Me...never! I have such a small circle of friends and family, we'd be giving each other the same thing over and over ad nauseam! Now I'm not criticizing you if you do...after all, I've gotten my fair share of ugly a** gifts in the past. And times are tough and we gotta do what we gotta do, but before you go digging in the closet of Christmas Presents Past, I thought I would share a little 411 on what not to do when regifting. It's an art you have to be well versed in to avoid one very red face. BTW, did you know there is a National Regift Day? I KNOW!!! Neither did I. It's the Thursday before Christmas if you can believe that! This is always numero uno on everybody's list, right?

When regifting you need to make sure you have removed any incriminating tags linking the gift back to you as a rerun. Are you following me? Don't leave TO: Joe FROM: Aunt Martha! Dig? Double check to make sure the only TO is the new recipient of said gift. Oh and you want to make doubly sure there isn't a Christmas card hiding in all the tissue paper. How you gonna 'splain that one, Lucy?

Everybody needs a little Christmas music to set the mood, right?

Next, no giving half empty bottles of liquor (and you can't fill the bottle to the top with water either) and no giving of wine to a non-drinker. Do you want that bottle of Champagne to go down the drain? No candles with a black wick end either. For gosh sakes, take the time to trim the wick before regifting! No expired gift cards from the past year that you never got around to using and ABSOLUTELY NO FRUITCAKE...EVER...unless it's a Texas Yahoo and that's a whole other post! That's one thing I'll gladly accept as a regift!

If this shows up under your tree, you have my permission to call a lawyer.

Bottom line is...if you don't want it, what makes you think some one else will! Ugly is ugly and useless is still useless! Now if upon opening said ugly gift, someone in the room goes on and on about it...well then, maybe beauty is in the eye of the beholder and maybe at a later date, you can ask that person if they would like to have it....but clear it with the gift giver first! No sneaking around. It'll only come back to bite you in the butt later!

When regifting food items, be very, very careful my friend. Hopefully you know the person well enough to be aware of any allergies, preferences, health conditions (like diabetes) etc. And for gosh sake...do not regift hangdown to a vegetarian or a lifetime member of PETA!

If you're planning on wearing something before sharing the wealth...a little word to the wise. Please be sure and remove all dry cleaner's tags. dryer sheets, and underarm protectors. Just remember...in all things...what goes around, comes around. Do you really want that Chia Pet back a second time?

Really, this is why I don't regift. It's just too hard to remember who gave me what and I've told y'all I'm lazy! I don't want to have to go over a checkpoint list. Plus and this a big plus, I love to shop. Nothing gives me greater pleasure than trying to find the right gift for the right person. The price isn't the issue...well maybe this year it is! I figure if I know someone well enough to give them a present...I ought to know them well enough to give them something they love or at least that's what I hope for. Psst!!! I secretly want to be that person who, when names are being drawn, everyone hopes will draw theirs. Don't tell my secret...that's just between you and me!

Speaking of gifts to love...wait until you see what I've got cooking for y'all for my 100+ party. You won't want to regift these...bet your bottom dollar! Before you go all vocal on me with screaming...the photo below isn't one of them. This baby is on MY Christmas list this year!

I promise Santa, if you get me this from Anthropologie there will be no one getting it from me next year!

P.S. Y'all know I'm just yanking your chain here...right?