I’ve gotten myself into a situation… and now I’m stuck. Yes, I am a genius.
The first Christmas after my grandma died, my family did a Yankee Swap where you had to get a gift that started with a letter in her name (first and last). It wasn’t too bad even though she has a few repeating letters… we were left with a, k, m, n, r. I made up a lovely basket of nuts, Kit-Kats and Kermit the Frog. It was a big hit. My mom ended up with it.
This Christmas is the first without my cousin Joey. It’s very sad… he was young… but the brain tumor wouldn’t quit. I can’t talk about it. So… anyway… I brilliantly suggested that we use his name… j – o – e – y… for the swap this year. I don’t know what the hell I was thinking because I have no idea what to buy.
The gift needs to be appropriate for a male or a female… and it needs to cost $20 – $30 (USD)… so nothing extravagant.
No jewelry… and we sort of try to stay away from kitchen stuff because that seems to be everyone’s fallback — we all have so much. But I do hate buying useless gifts that are essentially a waste of money. I know, not very Christmas-y… but it’s how my brain works. One year… I got a giant pack of paper towels and one of toilet paper. Practical, useful, and I didn’t have to buy my own for a while. Best swap gift ever!
But none of that starts with any of the right letters… so now… what the hell do I get?
Jump Rope? Oatmeal? Elephant? Yo-yo?
J. O. E. Y.
I need help! Anyone??
©2017 what sandra thinks
what sandra thinks 
Hmmm. Let me think on this one for a bit. I’ll get back to you. Can you pick select letters or do you have to use all 4?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Any letters… not all… just has to start with one of those. If I fail to come up with something, I’m going to break the rule… but even then, I don’t know what to get!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m sure you’ll get some good suggestions. Those aren’t horrible letters to deal with. 😃
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can’t think of anything. Even without those letters! Hell, this is just for the swap. I still don’t know what to get for my mom, sisters, nephew, etc… and I don’t know how I’m paying for any of this. I think I hate Christmas.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It can get outta hand quickly, thats for sure. 😏
LikeLiked by 1 person
And then people ask me what I want. And the only thing I can come up with is… money. That’s no fun on Christmas morning… but really… what do I need? That’s pretty much it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hear ya’. I tell everybody gift cards. Preferably to Lowe’s. Boring? Yes. Useful? Hell yes! I’d rather that than some lame sweater or a bundle of boxer briefs. 😃
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes… gift cards are pretty much cash. I’ve asked for those, too. But if I want to use the money to pay bills… you know… cash. I just feel bad when someone spends money on something for that I don’t need or don’t have a place for. I appreciate the thought… don’t get me wrong! But yeah…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hey man, cash is never bad. 😃😃
LikeLiked by 1 person
My sister formed it into a lovely flower once and wrapped it in a box. See? Gifts to open! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Perfect! That’s my kinda flower! 😃😃
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ok, how about a flower themed gift basket. You could find bulbs of flowers that begin with those letters, a bit of Monty’s Joy Juice, throw in some good garden tools, and then whoever gets the gift could plant a “Joey’s Garden”. Maybe?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Well… I know nothing about gardening but it’s a nice idea. Although it’s kind of off season right now… I’m not sure what I’d find.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Internet! Won’t even have to leave the house. This is actually a decent time to plant bulbs. I’ll keep my thinking cap on….until it gives me a headache. 😃
LikeLiked by 1 person
I already have one. You know, I actually woke up feeling pretty good today. But when I couldn’t even get through making breakfast without terrible back pain, I totally crashed down and now I feel terrible. Usually it takes longer than 3-5 minutes for me to want to curl up in a ball… but not today.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh man. Did you sleep any? I was really hoping you’d feel better today. 😕
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was better… that’s what sucks. But standing is always the worst. It doesn’t usually happen so quickly, though. At least the “extra” pain on the right feels better.
Oh, I slept great. I don’t seem to be having trouble there. I’m comfortable in bed. But staying there all day seems bad. Unless I wasn’t alone. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahaha! Yeah, staying in bed all day is sometimes a good thing, but in general, The bed is not your friend. That’s unusual as often sitting is worse than standing when back issues are there. Do hot showers or baths relax things at all?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Try not to laugh because this sounds incredibly dirty, but the hot shower feels good if I bend over. Hahaha. I don’t think it gives me any lasting relief, though. Lying down or sitting is good… standing is horrible. Even walking is better than standing. Standing is the kiss of death for my back pain. Waiting in a line (which I have to do for a concert my kids are performing next week)? Total hell. I have to sort of do pelvic tilts while I stand or the pain could become unbearable.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hear ya’, but guys and bending over in the shower generally don’t mix. 😃😃
But I get what you’re saying. Standing still for long times is not very comfortable. Sitting isn’t usually real comfortable either, but I get it being better with the anterior pelvic shift. The twins have their winter concert tonight actually. 😃
LikeLiked by 1 person
Next Wednesday for my kids.
And I wasn’t thinking the guy would be the one bending over. 😃😃
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahaha! I got what you were saying. I was trying to be a smartass. Actually, I do t really have to try that hard. If that shower thing helps, even temporarily, I’d be in there right now. 😃
LikeLiked by 1 person
I took an extra long shower earlier. Alone, FYI. Haha 😃
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bummer dude. Well, maybe not. Guess it just depends. Hope it gave you a little relief. 😃
LikeLiked by 1 person
ummm, exercise equipment?? or food like expensive eclairs, or anything that has the word Japanese before it
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks! I didn’t think of the word exercise… that could be helpful! I can’t get anything big within the budget… but I could look into that. I’m not sure about food. Getting it might make this easier but I’m not sure I want to go that way…
LikeLike
Depending on who you are buying for a Jo Jo Bow? You could go with a basket of some type of food. I wouldn’t say no to a basket of Jacobs Creek wine, oranges, eggs and maybe yogurt, ok so its not most the glamours, but I would be able to do breakfast for a couple of days
LikeLiked by 2 people
Well… anyone could end up with the gift so it needs to be gender-neutral. I can’t decide if I want to do anything with food. I wouldn’t be able to do anything that requires refrigeration…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Probably not a Jo Jo Bow then. I like the suggestion up there with bulbs, would that be an idea?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe…!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s my name… so I can just sit in a basket for you and you can pay me $20?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Haha! That would certainly make things easy…
LikeLiked by 1 person
J Special London Dry Gin – made with Juniper berries!
O Obelisk for the garden
E Eggnog
Y Yoda lightsaber
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s hard because I don’t know who will end up with the gift. No one in the swap will care about a lightsaber… except my husband… but he already has one. Haha! Seriously, he does… Most of them don’t drink or don’t drink much.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fun game! Here’s’ s some suggestions. Jigsaw puzzle, Christmas Ornament, extra batteries, envelopes (asserted sizes & some stamps), yearly calendar. We used to do a game like this with only Christmas ornaments, & there were pretty ones & really silly ones, which everyone got a kick out of. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks! Those are some great ideas! My mom and uncle do jigsaw puzzles all the time. And ornaments are good, too. People tend to have lots but so what? I did a just-ornament exchange once, too, at an old job. It was fun!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jams, (Jellies), Oatmeal cookies, Earl Grey Tea, Yankee Candle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks… these are good! And easy. Yankee Candle… why didn’t I think of that? And oatmeal cookies are my favorite… I can eat the extras. LOL
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am now craving all these things! 😋
LikeLiked by 1 person
Don’t eat the candle. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know! The one I have is vanilla too! Smells like baking in here!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can’t get those yummy food-smelling ones or I’d be baking every day!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What about something they could use at Christmas…Jingle bells, ornaments, Elf, Yule log.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ooh, those are all good ideas, too… Thanks!
LikeLike
I don’t know if you have it the U.S. where you live, but we have a restaurant called ‘Joey’s’ in Canada, formerly called Joey Tomatoes. The food and drink is great, has awesome appetizers and usually a lovely modern dining room and a great sport bar section. Good cocktails, wine, and other slushy drinks and excellent lunch or dinner entrays.if you have one of those that covers you for the whole gift with one gift card.
My other idea is to find different wines (not too expensive ones) that have labels or brands that start with each letter of his name. You could do one for J and for O stick in a wine ‘Opener’ than find another couple bottles with brands starting with E and Y. Just head to the biggest wine store in the city we have one here called ‘Wine and Beyond’ and you can look for wines around $12 to $15 and then the opener. I’m not sure what your spending limit is? If you can think of akind of chocolate that starts with one letter or a type of cheese, that would be great to throw in as well and then youonly hVe to buy 2 bottles and can spend a bit more on the bottles, opening you up to more wine brand options.
Good luck and hope this helps.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the ideas! Not everyone drinks, so that’s a tough one. We don’t have Joey’s restaurant… but it sounds great!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think you’d love it.
I was just thinking, you might be able to do the same sort of thing with tea at David’s Tea. There are so many choices and you can throw in a Tea ball that somehow relates. Also, you could look for authors in bookstores maybe keep it top ten stuff but if their name starts with the same letter — first or last name.
Or maybe little gift cards to different places starting with his name that most people would like?
It’s a very cool gift idea honouring your relatives. Not an easy one but a great tradition.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A juniper. They can plant it, it’s hardy, inexpensive and can be planted in a place that will serve as a wonderful reminder.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll have to look into it… I never thought of anything like this because I am SO not a gardener… I wish I was!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Then you must refer to your gardening blogging buddy who makes house calls😎
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds good to me… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m fresh out ideas! But everyone above has great suggestions!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m very indecisive… I have to make some sort of decision…!
LikeLike
I’ve never heard of a Yankee Swap. What a great idea for the family! Though it does seem very difficult. I hope you figure something out! If I come up with anything I’ll be sure to let you know. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
A Yankee Swap is where everyone brings a gift and they all go into a pile and everyone gets a number… you choose in order and on your turn, you can choose a new gift or steal from someone who picked before you. You never know what you’ll end up with! It’s fun but hard to buy for when you’ve got males and females of varying ages and interests!
LikeLike
Sounds tough but also really fun!!
Here are some things I’ve thought of:
J= Jansport backpack
O= Organic socks or anything with “Organic” on it, origami kit, owl coin bank
E= elf on the shelf, etch-a-sketch!, earth (globe desk decoration)
Y= anything yellow, like a blanket or bath towels? I saw someone say Yankee Candles which is always a wonderful gift.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the ideas!
LikeLiked by 1 person