Author Topic: Christmas Gift Swap  (Read 1009 times)

Kimpossible

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Christmas Gift Swap
« on: November 27, 2019, 03:22:05 pm »
My family has been invited to attend a Christmas Party at my Coworker's home. It's a purely social function that will happen to have lots of coworkers in attendance. There will be a gift swap. We are supposed to bring a (typical) Guy present and a (typical) Girl present. Gifts are supposed to be $25ish. Boozy gifts seem to be in the most demand. DH and I are not drinkers. I've been thinking about ideas for gift baskets.  For the Guy present, a selection of liquor mini-bottles. I'm leaning towards varieties of Jim Beam. The rest of basket will be a funny shot glass and some chillable whiskey rocks. The Girl present idea is a reasonably priced white or red wine with a wine glass that is filled with chocolates. Depending on the price, I might be able to get two bottles of wine.
I'd really like for my gifts to go over well. If anyone can help me think of something better, then I'm all ears! I'd also love good ideas for packing baskets. I've never done it before.
In short, help me be the cool Christmas guest.  8)

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NyaChan

Re: Christmas Gift Swap
« Reply #1 on: November 27, 2019, 05:11:41 pm »
I’ve gotten really good reactions from things that are alcohol adjacent but people may not splurge on themselves - set of maple syrups which had been aged in bourbon/whiskey/rum casks, a set of good quality bar tools, specialty bitters, whiskey stones, wine glass charms, spout designed for wine bottles.  Some are more expensive and stand on their own, others can be packaged up for a basket.

Basically, most people can go out and grab a bottle of liquor, but it is expensive to get something really special in that category.  But most people won’t pick up a box $25 bitter or bourbon soaked cherries to spruce up a cocktail if they think they can do without it or get a more generic option so it stands out.
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Rose Red

Re: Christmas Gift Swap
« Reply #2 on: November 27, 2019, 06:48:31 pm »
Do you know if there are non-drinkers? If most of the gifts are booze, the selection might be quite slim for non-drinkers.
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Hanna

Re: Christmas Gift Swap
« Reply #3 on: November 27, 2019, 10:28:13 pm »
I posted here some time ago looking for ideas of things to keep in the house for an unexpected hostess gift and got some neat ideas of things that even non-drinkers would enjoy.

What about a basket of items to use for entertaining:
Cocktail napkins, stir sticks, cocktail olives, nuts, etc.

Bada

Re: Christmas Gift Swap
« Reply #4 on: November 27, 2019, 11:21:31 pm »
Costco had prepackaged gift stuff for $20. It had 4 mugs and a bunch of hot chocolate packages and chocolates. That's what DH picked up to bring to his white elephant exchange. I'd count that as "stereotypically girly" for your purposes.
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kckgirl

Re: Christmas Gift Swap
« Reply #5 on: November 28, 2019, 07:35:44 am »
I was thinking how disappointed I would be if I got a gift of any kind of adult beverages and no possibility of trading with someone who got something I could actually enjoy. One year, I got a box of what I call boozy chocolates (filled with bourbon, etc.). After the party, I just asked if someone wanted them, and one guy took them immediately. He handed me the gift he had opened and we were both happy.
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Runningstar

Re: Christmas Gift Swap
« Reply #6 on: November 28, 2019, 10:19:16 am »
I go to a family gift swap exchange and usually I will tape a gift receipt to the bottom of my gift.   You could always do that.
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Wanaca

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Re: Christmas Gift Swap
« Reply #7 on: November 29, 2019, 09:15:39 am »
There are sampler bottles of various types of Jameson whiskey.  Most whiskey drinkers that I know (including me) love it and it's nice to compare the different kinds.

I have a home bar and I agree that things like good cherries are something that I don't splurge on often but love to enjoy.  For those who like alcohol and chocolate, Godiva makes a nice chocolate liquors(milk, dark or white).  My daughter says she can just put a straw into the bottle!

TootsNYC

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Re: Christmas Gift Swap
« Reply #8 on: November 30, 2019, 12:26:26 pm »
Do you know if there are non-drinkers? If most of the gifts are booze, the selection might be quite slim for non-drinkers.

I agree, actually.

And I like the "adjacent" / "accessories" idea, but maybe not for alcohol?

Maybe coffee syrups?
useful gadgets?

Kimpossible

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Re: Christmas Gift Swap
« Reply #9 on: November 30, 2019, 03:24:19 pm »
So I went in a totally different direction. It's impersonal, but I went with gift cards. Lowes for guys, and AMC (movies) for girls. I bought a pack of playing cards and taped the Lowes card to the outside of the pack. The AMC card is taped to a movie theater size box of candy. They will be wrapped up for choosing.
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gellchom

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Re: Christmas Gift Swap
« Reply #10 on: December 04, 2019, 01:34:05 pm »
Off-topic, and I know it wasn't the OP's idea -- I am put off by the "girl" and "guy" designations.  And given that it seems to be at least partially a work event, it's even more objectionable to stereotype people by sex.

I think that the way you wrapped your gift cards was very clever, OP!
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lowspark

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Re: Christmas Gift Swap
« Reply #11 on: December 04, 2019, 03:42:37 pm »
Off-topic, and I know it wasn't the OP's idea -- I am put off by the "girl" and "guy" designations.  And given that it seems to be at least partially a work event, it's even more objectionable to stereotype people by sex.

Ugh. I was thinking the same thing. Especially if booze is the preferred gift, surely that is gender-neutral.

I will say that I've been to gift exchanges where people do contribute gifts that are specifically female, such as a gift card to a make-up store or jewelry, and maybe the guys thought that doing separate exchanges would mitigate that. So I can kind of see their reasoning, but that's a fail on the part of the gift buyers as opposed to the event planners.

I'm currently trying to come up with a gender-neutral gift for about $20 for a (what I call) Greed Game and I'm figuring on consumables. I'm thinking I'll just take a trip to Trader Joe's the afternoon before the event and do a nice cheese, bread and wine.
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TootsNYC

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Re: Christmas Gift Swap
« Reply #12 on: December 04, 2019, 04:13:49 pm »
I feel like it's OK to have girl and guy presents, but I also think neutral is fine, and almost goes without saying. I don't know what "typical guy presents" are, actually. I think there is a stereotype for women (fashion, jewelry, accessories, maybe even makeup--though of course not all women). But for men, there aren't as many. A wallet, a backpack; men don't wear tie bars or tie clips or cuff links much anymore.

Maybe the wording would have been better to say, "there will be an equal number of men and women so please make sure your gifts reflect that." Presumably if you know the social group, you can add "and maybe a few that aren't either."

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chigger

Re: Christmas Gift Swap
« Reply #13 on: December 04, 2019, 05:04:44 pm »
Off-topic, and I know it wasn't the OP's idea -- I am put off by the "girl" and "guy" designations.  And given that it seems to be at least partially a work event, it's even more objectionable to stereotype people by sex.

Ugh. I was thinking the same thing. Especially if booze is the preferred gift, surely that is gender-neutral.

I will say that I've been to gift exchanges where people do contribute gifts that are specifically female, such as a gift card to a make-up store or jewelry, and maybe the guys thought that doing separate exchanges would mitigate that. So I can kind of see their reasoning, but that's a fail on the part of the gift buyers as opposed to the event planners.

I'm currently trying to come up with a gender-neutral gift for about $20 for a (what I call) Greed Game and I'm figuring on consumables. I'm thinking I'll just take a trip to Trader Joe's the afternoon before the event and do a nice cheese, bread and wine.

Love your idea! There are some nice little charcuterie plates available now, and paired with wine, win win for either gender!

caroled

Re: Christmas Gift Swap
« Reply #14 on: December 04, 2019, 09:57:36 pm »
Off-topic, and I know it wasn't the OP's idea -- I am put off by the "girl" and "guy" designations.  And given that it seems to be at least partially a work event, it's even more objectionable to stereotype people by sex.

Ugh. I was thinking the same thing. Especially if booze is the preferred gift, surely that is gender-neutral.

I will say that I've been to gift exchanges where people do contribute gifts that are specifically female, such as a gift card to a make-up store or jewelry, and maybe the guys thought that doing separate exchanges would mitigate that. So I can kind of see their reasoning, but that's a fail on the part of the gift buyers as opposed to the event planners.

I'm currently trying to come up with a gender-neutral gift for about $20 for a (what I call) Greed Game and I'm figuring on consumables. I'm thinking I'll just take a trip to Trader Joe's the afternoon before the event and do a nice cheese, bread and wine.

Love your idea! There are some nice little charcuterie plates available now, and paired with wine, win win for either gender!
Now this is a gift I would love.
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