Surprise hits / presents that were loved

[whatausername]

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

A vogue colouring inn book and pens, oil diffuser and dr martens x

Do you have a link to the
Microscope? DS would love this I think.

3d pen dd10
slush puppy machine all 3dc (the large one that makes 1.5 litres)

@Bugbuggerit, I was about to pass DS's marble run on if you fancy it? I'd be happy to post it to you - drop me a DM.

My 10 year old granddaughter bought me a screen cleaner for my phone and iPad that's a little stuffy llama with a lint-free tummy and came with a cleaning spray. It's immensely cute and she chose it and paid for it herself. I love it, and it's useful.

pink slinky for a pound was my four year old nieces favourite oh and guess who board game !!

Well the "big" gifts were all popular which is good - DS1 new trainers, DD game console, DS2 earbuds - but some lesser things that were liked were:
ds1: slippers (from Sainsbury's so not ££) and some v cheap leggings from a sale at work which fit him (he is tall and skinny)
dd: Bearista mug from Starbucks, Percy Pig socks from M&S, tree decoration from Costa
DS2: Plain white top to go under his sports gear

@PikachusSmarterBrother I have never figured out sharing links but it's a Carson Microbrite from Amazon - not explicitly marketed at children but very easy to use and got much better reviews than kids' versions I looked at. Cost about £15.

Boxing gloves and a punchbag on a stand for our 7 year old grandson. He loves tennis and football but wanted what we bought our other grandson last year...He's delighted with it.

A bag of surprisefor our 11 year old dgd. The folding windproof umbrella was a particular hit.

What wasn't a hit? A glasses (as in spectacles) holder for my husband. It's in the shape of a giraffe's head.....

@Tartifletti, thanks!

So personal to me, but I got a beautiful photo album from my best friend and her family. I have very little family of my own, so her family are 'mine'.
Lots of lovely photos from when her mum and dad were young, right up to now. Including some gorgeous ones of her older brother who was the love of my life. An A4 print of my favourite photo of him (she asked me a while ago which I liked best) and a note saying "We'll get a frame for it when l see you."
Also one of his shirts (she has lots of his things, he died in his 40s) which he's wearing on one of the photos of him and l when we were together. So precious to me.
One of my other friends dedicated a tree for me in his memory. Which he would have loved so much, he was a gardener.
I was just thrilled and touched by all of them. So lovely.

Kinetic sand for my 11yo. She even bought some more with her Christmas money.

DD 14yo loves her tamagotchi 😂 and I had a lovely pair of fingerless gloves from a client, Turtledoves recycled cashmere, not something I would ever buy myself and they are gorgeous

A wooden chess set, £10 from The Works. I wasn't even sure they'd be into it (7 and 12). We haven't stopped playing since DS2 opened it.

My DDs favourite gift was an impulse buy. It is called a fur fluff, and it is a noisy wee begger, haha. She is also obsessed with the harmonica my DH sneaked into her stocking. Her old one went missing.

Heated throw from Lakeland. Also got the heated poncho but I’ve not tried it yet.

A card holder for my 6 year old who loves card games but struggles to hold them all. Absolute game changer, and he loves it. £3.99

My 6 year old loved a dancing, singing robot with disco balls as hands.

8 years old loved a “secret diary” to write in using “invisible ink” which is only visible under torch light.

both sets of grandparents loved custom made way calendars with pics of the kids and nice nature scenery, all our own photographs.

We got this one from Amazon
Galt Toys, Mega Marble Run, Construction Toy, Ages 4 Years Plus
It has been in constant use!

A laptop riser for dh and a new cover for his phone

Signed Corpse Talk books for my 7 year old - with a personal message from the author and illustrator. The author was selling signed copies directly on Twitter. 7 year old has been looking at the dedications and the note included ever since. Said the note is the best present she got this year.

This looks fab!

the hits for my DDs this year are DD1 the instax mini link that you link up to your phone or Nintendo Switch, it takes the photo paper you use for the instax cameras, the new fashionable polaroid cameras!! Shes gone through more than 4 packs of photo paper-each holding 10 prints, so far!!!
DD2 a Care Bears mug from Cath Kidston-didnt think Id get one as it sold out before I could get online, then when I did manage to order one I thought it wouldnt get delivered in time for Christmas with the strikes!! And also some Care Bears croc charms from ebay-shes been obsessed with the Care Bears for about the last year or so!!!

A Christmas themed 1000 piece jigsaw and large zip up case to contain it. All the family have got involved and visitors have contributed also. It's given people some quiet downtime away from all the Christmas chaos and been a huge success.