Say Yes to Polka Dots: What I'm really gifting* this year

Sometimes bloggers put the most ridiculous things on their gift guides. Are they really buying that $40 hipster pint glass for anyone? Does anyone really deserve a $90 candle? Man, that high end bottle of bourbon sure is one fine fuckin host gift.

So let's put a blogger's gift guide up to the fire. I volunteer.

First, for your reference, my 2014 gift guide.

And now, what did I actually buy? Was that gift guide all talk?

Let's take a look...

(Mom, I don't think you read this, but if you do, stop now.)

create your own identity

As predicted in the gift guide, the kids are each getting a superhero mask custom-designed with their favorite colors. They've come in the mail and they look great. Score.

In another solid gift guide showing, for my dad, the double-punch gift of humor.

My mom and sister-in-law were last on my list. I wanted to work on a unified theme - a mixed bag of awesome small treats that both diverged and converged. I was inspired by the desire to qualify for a nail polish discount by buying a personal shade for each of my ladies. This was fun. Then I got them the same 'almost' lip color, which is purported to look great on everyone. I have it, and it is remarkable how light or dark you can make it, so I can see the versatility. (These are also very tempting.)

Would my mom or sister-in-law buy these things for themselves? No. Probably not.

Will they like them? Oh, I hope so. I hope so.

Tree tops!! (currently out of stock)

I also bought each of them a small winter decoration. It's a little wooden conifer tree painted in pretty shades of green, sitting in a log. And it's a top! You can spin it on either end! Fuck yes. I hope it will make a welcome addition to whatever scene they are rocking in their respective houses.

Last in the grab bag was a treat for the palate - good beer for the sister-in-law, truffle salt for the mama.

<<hands smacking>> Done.

...

But what is it I would like to gift* to myself, you ask?