Surprise hits / presents that were loved

[whatausername]

What gifts went down really well this year? I'm always keen for inspiration!

Dc3 (age 8) loved the story cubes that were in his stocking.

Nephew absolutely delighted with his football. Got great advice from a football coach shopping in the store at the same time!

Shashibo shape shifting box. They are usually £25 but they dropped to £20 so we went for it. Still seemed expensive but looked like the sort of fiddle/puzzle thing our dc would like.

The whole family love it and it’s been in someone’s hands since!

Did really well this year - DD (17) and DD 15) actually loved all the clothes and gifts they got. Not one thing was a 'bit wrong' - whoop. Special mentions are:

DS 15 loved his Velvetiser - was a real gamble
DD 17 cheap shellac set with the uv light thingy and some gold leaf and accessories - £30 on Amazon and she is obsessed
DH Airtag with collar accessory for DDog who likes to 'meander' on her own
Me: This jumper - I love it wonderlustlondon.com/products/mohair-skull-jumper?variant=42038998565110

Last year's 'gamble hit' was for DD (then 16) which was a Sushi making kit. In particular the plastic roller thingy which lets you make california rolls a-plenty

Same here, these have been in constant used. The best thing about them is when DH or a visitor spends ages trying to get it into a cube, then DC(5) wanders past and does it in 2 seconds without comment.

Pocket microscope for DD (5.5). Endless entertainment looking at food, leaves, printed paper, my eyeshadows, etc.

DH bought me a tamagotchi. I was so excited when I saw it!

Thank you - just bought Shashibo for New year pressie for ADHD DD... it's gorgeous! And she loves fidgeting....

Blu-tac! My youngest is autistic and she has thoroughly enjoyed playing with the blu-tac Santa left in her stocking!!

I got fingerless gloves with usb warmer built in (I get very cold hands when typing and as I spend a lot of time doing it these gloves are amazing!)

Glow tracks and Playmobil were my 3.5yo favourite gifts this year, both mega cheap too! The Playmobil was £19.99 and the glow tracks was a starter kit for £8.99 and they're both great.

7yr old dgd has loved all of her gifts she recieved, the unexpected hit has been the game Grabolo (grabilo?). Infact the whole family have really loved it shes asked if we can play it tomorrow night when she sleeps over. Sink n sand game hasn't been as popular though.

All the family loved their oversized hooded blankets. We bought everyone one, we bought Oodies, kud.dlys, The Ony and Hugzee. Oodie won for thickness and quality, but the Ony and Hugzee came close, nice quality, just as thick and around the £37/ £35 for and adults and very good value. The Kud.dly for me was a bit of a let down, they come shrink wrapped so couldn't really tell what they were like until Christmas, they weren't as thick and warm as the other brands despite costing as much as an oodie. I wouldn't buy again.

DS(10) has lived his Magic 8 ball and the Dungeon Mayhem card game. Both were last minute stocking fillers bought when I realised he had less than his little brother.

DS(7) has loved a box of Lego Classic. We have loads of Lego, but he's never had a new box of classic, and he's played with it for hours!

Essence mascara and lip gloss ordered last minute from amazon was a massive hit with DD. It was a recommendation from a MN thread on gifts for teens!

Dd just tried her revlon one step. I saw it half price and bought it last minute. Wasn’t sure if she would use it. But she has and said she loves it.

Happily, most things were really well received this year...really pleased.
DS (14) loved his mystery football shirt. That felt a bit risky but even though he got a team he'd never heard of, he loves the shirt and has been reading up on them. I was hoping to get a bottle of Prime drink for his stocking but didn't manage to (I'll be honest, I didn't try that hard!) so as a last minute thing I got some Pepsi flavouring for the soda stream...he was absolutely delighted!
DDs (aged 10 and 4) are absolutely in love with their Squishmallows.
10yo loves her Posca pens and black art paper.
4yo loves her Our Generation doll and pony set.

Posca pens and mini canvases (dd12)and Lego sunflowers for dd17 (nearly)

3 YO loves his slinky and animal torch projector!

Both DC have barely taken off their non/Oodie oodies and DD declared
It to be "the best thing she owns!"

DS's favourite present was a Pocky ball and it's permanently attached to him. I bought it on the back of an advert on Instagram and then promptly regretted it as there were terrible reviews on TrustPilot from people who never received theirs. However DS's came, on time and he loves it.

A family member paid for a subscription for an animal sanctuary in my name. I love animals so was highly delighted, also the welcome pack is lovely. Great present

I love love love my singing bowl.

Was actually opening this thread to say we got a marble run for 3yo DS. It has been greatly enjoyed by 3yo, 9yo DS and 38yo DH 😀

I hunted everywhere for marble run ! Shall start looking again.

39 year old DH also loves it, though not as much as the Hexbug Nano playground DD also got...

Ours came from Amazon! We have this one and it's fab: amzn.eu/d/ieSuc8M