Monday, December 7, 2009

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?

24 comments:

AuroraSuzette said...

I would follow you twice! I bet you are one of those people that picks just the right thing for folks you give to. Love the regifting guidelines, especially about the liquor! I may just have to move, to Austin maybe!!

Lou Cinda @ Tattered Hydrangeas said...

I am so glad you have "educated" me as to what HANGDOWN actually is! I feel so honored!

I have regifted before, but it was something nice! At a Sunday School Pary....really...they liked it! I'm sure they did! Raspberry Vodka!

Kidding!!

Have a great one and thanks for the tips!

Lou Cinda :)

Unknown said...

Debbie...
In my circle, we have what's called a "Junk Exchange". A bunch of us go out to dinner and bring a 'pretty fantastic piece of junk', not the kind of junk we all like, but the kind of junk that never makes it out of the box after you've opened it, or the kind of junk that you kind of hide under the tree and 'forget' to show your friends. You know the kind...like the bargin basement sale item that Aunt Midge got you last year that really smells like a basement?
Well, anyway we wrap those 'gifts' up pretty, bring a scratch off lottery ticket and meet (there are about 15 of us) at a big huge table at Dominick's Restaurant. (They are always great about us taking a while...no rush..). We have dinner and all go home with a gift. We manage to remember to bring a little something extra for the waitress too! Last Thursday was junk exchange and we even had enough gifts to 'gift' a table of 4 women that were seated next to us (strangers)...they had a good time too! :-)
Boy, this was long, huh?
Tami

Garden Antqs Vintage said...

Well, here's one last pointer, if you get that last gift, you have my permission to regift it to me. I always love all your suggestions and yes we've all received that ugly gift!

Sue said...

Oh Chia Pets, I almost forgot about those. I love 'em! I use to buy extra Chia Pets for gifts for people I didn't know. I thought it left a good impression of me, you know the type of person I am. My kids thought it was damn funny when they were little and we gave these as gifts! Thanks for the reminder, I might have to pick up a few for this holiday season! Take care.

PS Each time I visit your blog I click on "River" by Robert Downing,Jr. I LOVE that verision by him!

FILIGREE MOON said...

Such a funny monkey!!! What goes around, comes around. And what comes around goes BACK around. Thanks for the chuckle! ~ Angela

donna baker said...

I have gotten some wonderful regifts as I'm sure mine were also appreciated. Come to think of it, if you're not exchanging gifts anymore, well, maybe that's a polite way of ending it. I guess I'd better start keeping tabs.

Pam @ Frippery said...

Darn, I thought that Anthro crown was a regift to ME! We have friends who do a White Elephant party right after Christmas and everyone brings a regift that they have sitting around collecting dust. Goodwill gets restocked the day after this party! However lately we have been hiding the gifts we receive in the host's house for them to find later. The regift that keeps on regiving. Mean I know, but that's just us.

Six divided by two..... said...

You are toooo hilarious!!! I have never re gifted but I have been the recipient. They giver left the to: Sarah From: whoever it was under the tag with my name on it. So when I open the wrapping the first tag comes off with the old tag showing. LOL!!!!

David said...

I regift. Big time. The secret to flawless regifting is to immediately attach a note to the gift before it goes to the regifting shelf of your closet. Because otherwise you won't remember in a year or two where it came from. The note needs to say not only who you got it from, but also at what event/location. That will let you know everyone who was present when you received the gift. Then it's just a matter of keeping your "worlds" separated.

Here's another tip. Maybe Jenn will need this one someday. When my kids were little, I would buy a couple of age appropriate toys and keep them in the closet for that spur-of-the-moment kiddo birthday party invitation. I can't tell you how many times that saved me from dropping everything and running to the store at an inconvenient time.

red.neck chic said...

Regift? What's that? Huh? You're giving that crown to me? Good Lordy but I love you! Thank You so much!!! I jacked a birds nest out of my dead tree the other day...I thanked the MIA bird for my gift...if I make a crown/tree topper inspired by THE BEST STORE EVER and send it along to sumbunny, is that considered re-gifting?

Does junk count as a regift? I mean...you know thru the years sumbody gave it to sumbody that gave it to sumbody else... I do so luuuuuuve to be in the midst of some great junk and find the "purrrrrrfect" sumthin' for that "purrrrrrrfect" sumbodies.

I've confused myself. I'm going to see what I have layin' 'round my house that I can send...sumwhere.

;-) You are such the PERFECT way to start my morning!!!
Robelyn

Kathie Truitt said...

Yeah, I'm not a re-gifter, either. HOWEVER, I do like it when people shop for me at junk stores, thrift stores, second-hand shops, etc. I know, I know. It makes absolutely no sense.

Diana Leitner (Buggie, Back Up Grammy) Donna Cedergreen (Grammy) Debby Uppinghouse (Best Grammy Ever) said...

I think we should have a Chia Pet exchange-I am especially fond of the Obama chia this year! XO Diana and Donna

One Gal's Trash said...

I love re-gifting...it's the ultimate in recycling. As my mom has said: "it used to be considered cheap, now it's environmentally correct!" However, please don't re-gift me stuff from Marshall's...I want rummage sale goodies!
xoxox
Pam

DKG aka Scrappy Doo said...

Good Lord Woman! YOu are indeed the funniest person in the blog world!

I got a candle a couple of years ago that had a black wick. I have also recieved an expired gift card.
So do I have cheap friends or what ?? Makes me think now that they are the lucky ones cuz I gave the The Clapper (NOT THE CLAP) Clap on, Clap off The...

Anonymous said...

We're like you - too small of a circle of Family and Friends to regift. But if you get something from Anthropologie that you don't just Love ( as if ) think of me , girlfriend ! We have Anthro here in Portland and I have not made it there yet - guess I better quit goofing of and get there for some inspiration!xoxo, Sue

trash talk said...

For the record...junk does not count as regifting...that's is just thoughtful gift giving...ALWAYS!
OMgosh Scrappy...I clean forgot about the clapper...must remember that next year!
The crown was a hint to all of you!!!
Trash

red.neck chic said...

P.S. If I re-gift to you I'm going to make sure it's not a nappy/cheesy/"I can't believe you're wearing that" Christmas sweater unless it's wrapped around a fire extinguisher...

I'm just sayin'.
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL really? a guest? I adore you!!! (And I'm wearing a fire retardant outfit to come visit you next time...)

;) robelyn

Janet said...

whew! glad you cleared up all the rules before NRD! but i'm with you, between my sometimes-on and mostly-off memory it's best to just start from scratch! oh and that's not a complaint since "shopping" is my middle name!

Artsy Fartsy Junkin Finds said...

Dear Lord... I have been away for awhile and you brought me back with a BANG!! You just lay it out there and I love it!! When I give gift cards I ALWAYS take a permanent magic marker and autograph the back of the card with a message and anywhere else I find a spot to mark up ...no one can re-gift my gift cards!! hehehee. Hope all is well, Big NC hugs, Janna

Anne Lorys said...

I'm not opposed to re-gifting at all, but I can't say I've done it. If it's good junk, I'll likely try and sell it.

And I *so* wish all the peeps on my Christmas list appreciated junk like I do, it would make the shopping experience all the more pleasant for me.

Pssst Deb, be watching your mailbox!
Anne

A Wild Thing said...

When I lived in Colorado, I sent my best friend back in Iowa a can of Spam for Christmas one year...the next year I got it back for Xmas...well this went on for 6 years, then when I moved back to Iowa, we all got together and had a Spam buffet...and nobody knew which dish had the mystery meat in it...the 6 year old Spam...

Of course we drowned all the salmonella bugs in Coronas and lime...well, you know the rest of the story...s

unique unique design said...

Can't say I regift, but if I ever start, I never knew there was sooo many regifting rules of etiquette!! Now does "rebagging" follow the same rules? I have been known to tag over someone's name on last yrs gift bag...just ask my kids and grandkids! I'm sure I am breeching rebagging etiquette BIG time.
marcie

Cottage Panache said...

I wonder if regifting came from that funny game played at holiday get togethers! You know the one ~ Dirty Santa, &$#T on your neightbor, Chinese Gift! Because some of the gifts seem to be of the regifting type ~ if you know what I mean! Maureen