Over-Rated Christmas Gifts

Christmas shopping is something that doesn't come naturally to me. I am a great shopper for certain people. If I notice a need, it really makes my life a lot easier. And sometimes, if I'm really lucky, inspiration will hit me in the face. I feel like my best inspirations always hit when I am in no position to do anything about it. Like when I have my hands full of groceries and a baby and no pens are anywhere and as soon as I unload, said ideas have fluttered away like hummingbirds and butterflies.. they're always so very close but nearly impossible to touch.

So I end up turning to magazines and online articles for inspiration when I actually have the time to sit down and dedicate myself to finding gifts for people. This year, we decided on white elephant gifts for the adults and then gifts for the kids. I am not made of money so most people aren't getting gifts from me this year that are worth much. But it is the thought that counts, right?

Meanwhile... during my hunt.. I found a lot of stupid things that are suggested as gifts, and I think it's time for me to make a list of things that I find over-rated or stupid ideas for gifting. I also am biased by my own wants and needs, so some of you may think I'm crazy for not liking these things but it's my list of over-rated.. so feel free to hate it and make your own.

My Top 8 Over-Rated Gifts:

1. Nail Polish. Don't get me wrong, I'm not unappreciative of the times I have been gifted this item. It's always the thought that counts.. but...

I bite my nails (I'm getting better but it still happens sometimes) so this is an obviously bad choice for someone like me. I know, you're saying "but what about your toe nails? Don't they deserve to look beautiful and polished?" My answer to you is.. no. I am terrible at painting nails, I hate when they start chipping and look REALLY un-kept... I think nail polish is stupid and a waste of time. I have never really liked it and the only time I find it acceptable is if I get a pedicure professionally done and even then, I can use the polish they have in stock. It smells bad. It's messy. I just hate it in general. I think anyone that really knows me well should know just by the fact that I bite my nails and never wear polish that it's not an ideal gift for me. And I think that it's a bad idea for me to gift to others since I have no idea how they feel about polish or what colors they want.

2. Any sort of clothing. Unless its someone you know well... and even then, maybe just gift them a card to their favorite store.

But it's so sexy!

NO! I cannot tell you how many times I have gotten clothing from people and HATED it. And I always feel guilty about returning it and often end up just wearing it in front of that person so they don't feel bad. The only person who has bought me clothing and not disappointed me was my mother-in-law and she just happens to be one of those people with amazing taste and the ability to buy things that fit you perfectly. Clothing is also a very dangerous, land-mine style gift. You might offend the receptor of the gift by purchasing something that is either too big or too small, you might offend them by getting something they find ugly and then they think you think they like ugly things. It's a bad idea. Just get a gift card, trust me on this. Unless you are my mother-in-law.. then just keep the clothes coming...

3. Stupid Knick-knacky Crap.

We take all the space in your home and leave you with clutter! muahahaha!

Ok, here is when it's ok to give a knick knack. You know this person really really well and you know they collect snow globes and they love them and want as many as possible. Or... someone who is a collector of certain things (I have an aunt who collects Italian guy stuff for her kitchen and hummels). My sister's nickname growing up was "moo." You can imagine the amount of cow stuff she got growing up and still gets. I'm not sure if she loves it or hates it... all I know is, I have gotten gifts before where I'm like "what do I do with this?" "where can I put it?" and ultimately, my husband vetoes it's existence and it goes to Goodwill so we don't have any more clutter. My advice on this is to only get these for people if you KNOW they want it... or you know it will add to an already amazing collection. Or if you have no money and it's really cheap. :)

4. Kitchen Appliances That No One Uses.

Yes, cotton candy machine.. I'm talking to you

Cotton candy machines, ice cream makers, fondue fountains, the list goes on. I have moved a lot. I have had a lot of these things. I never used them (OK I used the ice cream maker once and it was delicious but I'm intolerant to milk so you can imagine my pain later that day). If someone wants to make their own cotton candy, let them buy their own machine. It's a huge waste of space and something people just don't usually get around to. The only exception is if you have some sort of whimsical chef friend or family member who really likes to use weird kitchen appliances, and again, they probably already have one if that's the case.

5. Socks and Underwear

because it's fun having your parents choose your underwear and know what it looks like

My parents were bad about this.. and I'm pretty sure my brother is following in their footsteps. I'm sorry but no one is excited about getting underwear for Christmas unless it's lingerie and even then it's usually only the men who are excited about GIVING that to their wives.. and that's an OK gift. What is NOT OK is for anyone else to pick my underwear out and gift it to me. I will choose my own underwear, and I don't want anyone else knowing what it looks like or what size I wear unless it's my husband. Gifting underwear to children as a hilarious joke is fine, but please do not make it one of their actual presents taken out of the Christmas budget.. that's just rude. Underwear is a basic necessity. It should be given freely, not as a scapegoat gift because you're too cheap to buy them underwear any other time of the year. Socks.. unless it's like fitness socks or specialty socks, the same rules apply.

6. Weight Loss Products

You might as well write a note that says "you're fat"

I don't care if the person has been complaining for 10 years about losing weight and you think this will help. Don't do it. Let that person do it. Unless the receptor of said gift has specifically said "I want this weight loss product" it's a bad idea. Even Personal Training sessions (this has happened before) are a bad idea for someone who isn't ready. I cannot train the unwilling. Just like you cannot force someone to eat broccoli or go for a swim, you cannot force them to personal train. It is also HIGHLY offensive to someone who is already really self-conscious about their weight. At Christmas, gifts should uplift, not hurt self-esteem. Please don't make this mistake.

7. Home Decor (not specified in their list)

I don't think we have enough plaid in here

You might like plaid.. or purple. But I don't. Please don't give me home decor items that I have not asked for. If it's ugly, I'll feel bad if I don't put it up when you come visit me... but it will go right back in its hidey hole as soon as you leave. I imagine that is the case with other people as well. Just stick to their list if they have something they want. I have had family members suggest I buy them certain things.. like comforters, or sheets. Even those make me nervous. I don't know what you like. My taste is different than yours. So I just can't imagine trying to make those decisions for you. Trust me, I almost made the mistake of asking for a comforter this year.. then I realized it's probably something I should buy myself.

8. Bath Salts

We make your bath smell good.. and zombies

Bath products are a total cop-out in my opinion. It's what you get when you have NO idea what to get someone, and (from personal experience) almost never get used. Who has time to relax in a bath? And who remembers the bath salts when they do? Bath balls, lotion, good smelling stuff.. it's all fine and good, when you get it for yourself. But you might love the smell of vanilla, and your best friend might feel like throwing up when she smells that. It's just a big minefield of maybe the person will love it and maybe they will feel like you put zero thought into the gift. I have never felt upset getting this as a gift, but at the same time, I never really used it either.. so it was a waste of money. Instead of bath salts, perhaps a gift card to Bed Bath and Beyond, or Bath and Body Works is a better idea.

Later I'm going to make a list of the BEST things you can get people. This list isn't meant to be critical or some sort of passive-aggressive jab at people. I just think these are funny and maybe people out there could avoid awkward situations by reading my list :).

My Weekend with the Ford Edge

I did not know that the Ford Edge existed until Saturday evening. My husband had to work this weekend, so we ended up getting to the dealership (this one happens to be located in Georgetown, TX) 30 minutes before it closed.

It's attractive enough, right?

I feel like you need to see the interior control panel

Never in my life have I had such an enjoyable experience with a car salesman. His name was Al, and he was the sweetest, nicest car salesman ever. Even my daughter, with a pretty severe bout of stranger anxiety lately, loved Al. She let him hold her. It was amazing.

So we walked in and asked to see the Escape and the Explorer, he asked what we were looking for in each of those, and ended up recommending the Edge, which is right in between the two in size, and is basically awesome.

The Escape immediately posed a problem for me, in that it was no larger than my Tiguan, so the size issue, the trunk space issue, the leg room issue were all still problems. The Explorer has more than enough of all of these, but it also has a 3rd row of seats. This would be nice, but I don't really NEED it. Ya know? And the Escape is a little more expensive than the Edge, which is a lot more roomy than the Escape, and only seats 5, which is more than enough for the needs of my family. If I were to go with the Edge, I could get the limited edition for a few extra thousand but still be spending less than I would with an Escape.

So good old Al gave us the keys to a Limited edition beautiful white pearl Ford Edge and I'm immediately in love. It's got leather interior, heated seats, and a touch screen internal panel that includes navigation, Sirius Radio, bluetooth connections to your phone. The steering wheel controls a lot of it too, so it makes it a lot easier to drive and change things up.

A few of my favorite features of the car are these:

- It shows your gas mileage average and your current gas mileage while you drive
- I love the backup camera and sensors (something I have never had in any of my vehicles, I know it's not "new" technology but it is to me)
- I love the moon roof.. Sonja does too, gives her more than the ceiling to stare at while we drive
- It's a smoother ride than my Tiguan and quieter
- I love the navigation system
- I love the back lighting - the car has lights in it at night, you can actually change the color from blue to green to purple to red.. yellow, whatever your in the mood for, and it lights up your feet, the cup holders, the door handles... it makes it very easy to find things in the dark.
- It has remote start... I can start the engine from my keys
- The trunk closes with the push of a button, and the seats actually fold down with the push of a button in the trunk... something that would come in handy if I needed to haul something. They also do it separately, so I could keep the baby in her seat and fold the other two down.
- The drivers seat is programmable for 2 people, so when I sit down, it automatically adjusts the seat to my settings
- blind spot mirrors on the side view mirrors
- The way the windows are designed, it feels more open, and I feel more like I'm really outside...

Things I would change:

- My Tiguan is faster, and speeds up a lot faster, but it has a sports mode, and if I wanted that in the edge, I'd just have to go for a sports model
- I don't like how hard it is to see out of the rear view mirror at night, I suppose the backup camera helps with this, but I wish it was easier to see. I'm not sure if it's the tinted windows or why it's that way.. maybe it helps with the glare of people's headlights... I didn't think about that until just now
- It's a ford.. and I am suspicious of Fords

Another cool technology they have as an option in Fords, and probably other models, is parking assist. It actually finds parking spots for you and then parks for you. Usually parallel parking would be the ideal type for this because I suck at it. I have not yet tried this feature but I am telling you that would sell me on the car if I were to move into south Austin, where everything is parallel parking.

The Britax Chaperone

When my daughter was still a bun in the oven, I was a mad researcher. Maybe it was the nesting, or all the free time I had, but I researched the shit out of car seats. I ended up settling on the Britax Chaperone, mostly because of how many safety awards it had received and really it's all about safety in the end, isn't it?

I also really liked that it came in cow print...

That might have sealed the deal.

Here's all the amazing things I LOVE about the Chaperone:

- the Anti-Rebound bar makes this one sturdy mother. Once in it's base, this thing doesn't budge an inch. The only downside to this is that the rebound bar is only good if you have the base, so if you are moving the car seat to someone else's vehicle without the car seat base, it's not doing you any good.

- The Cow Print is awesome. I get compliments ALL the time. I love it. It also looks great in photos.

- I love that instead of having to unthread the buckles, you just pull on a handle in the back and raise or lower it to your hearts desire.

- I love that each shoulder strap is independently buckled into the base buckle instead of having to fit them together first and then wrangle them in... I have a friend with a car seat that is like that and I HATE it.

- I love how large it is. My 10 month old still fits in hers and she's getting pretty large. She doesn't look overly big for it like my friend's son does in his. He's always pulling on his little sun shade and spilling out of his chair, meanwhile my daughter is nicely confined in her seat.

- I love how easy it is to loosen the straps with a simple handle bar under the base buckle. Instead of wrestling her in and out, I just loosen it, take her out, and then put her back in and tighten it when the time comes.

- I love how padded it is. When my daughter falls asleep in the car, she has a very nice head rest, and her neck isn't all crazy bent like it gets in larger car seats. She sleeps really soundly in it.

- I love that it has a level built into the seat so that you know if the seat is at the right angle, either in the base or in a car without the base this is awesome.

- I love the handle bar, you can grab it with your elbow and lug it around a lot easier.

The only Negatives I have to say about this seat are:

- The stupid sunshade is attached by Velcro and onto the handles. It is always coming off and going under the seat.. and it's annoying but definitely not a deal breaker.

- It's amazingly heavy. Wow my arms look good, but it sucks big time to have to lug that thing with a 20 lb child around places. Let's just say I have taken to not bringing the car seat in with me unless it's super hot or my child is passed out and I want to make a smooth transition to the crib.

- It's bulky. Let's face it, it's huge. Part of it being so safe and being so great for an older baby, is that it takes up a lot of room in my car, and it takes up a lot of room if I bring it in the house. Again, not a deal breaker for me. I still love this seat something fierce.

And that is my take on the Britax Chaperone.

The Volkswagen Tiguan

On the last day of the year in 2010, my husband and I leased a 2011 VW Tiguan. It was not the vehicle I originally was planning on leasing, but I ended up loving it and driving away happy.

As a personal trainer with my own business, the Tiguan was everything I could ever want. It has a sports mode, so I can pass other slower drivers easily, and it's comfortable. Mine was pretty basic. It's got bluetooth, which lets me connect my iphone to the car and listen to my music. That was my favorite feature of the vehicle. I also love that it can fit into a compact parking space, in fact it fit just as well as my old Toyota Yaris did.

It fit all of my boot camp equipment, and was an ideal height for me (at 5'2") to reach the trunk door in order to pull it shut.

Fast Forward to the year 2013, January, when my daughter was born. Immediately, I started realizing that a vehicle I believed to be perfect for a single child family, was not so. No, Volkswagen's crossover SUV is not quite what a family with young children would fantasize about having. In my car's defense, it is still a fabulous height for loading and unloading the car seat, however that's about where it ends. The only thing I can fit in my trunk now is my stroller, which isn't that bulky. We bought a Britax Chaperone car seat, yeah it's big, and it weighs more than a small puppy (around 10 lbs), but it should still fit reasonably well in the back seat. AND it does... if you move the passenger up a little closer than comfort to the dashboard, and you like having no leg room as a passenger (even at my height the leg room is pretty shitty).

I realize I'm being picky here, but I have new needs and desires of a vehicle. And maybe if it had tinted windows, or a faster working A/C I would feel happier about it, but in Austin, Texas, it gets blazing hot, and nothing makes me crabbier than being packed in a hot car with no leg room and having to pack my groceries in weird spots in the car because my stroller is taking up the whole trunk.

So the hunt for a new vehicle is on! We have to turn in our lease in the next 2 months, and I have decided to get something different. I'm currently considering the following vehicles:

- Nissan Murano
- Ford Escape
- Honda CRV
- Toyota Rav4

I will be judging them on

- Trunk Space
- Gas Mileage
- Price
- Bells and Whistles (you know all the internal doodads and features)
- Internal Vehicle Leg Room/ Car Seat's ability to fit without moving the passenger seat up
- And overall experience while driving

I do have to admit, I am a huge sucker for a beautiful car. My dream car is something sporty that no child would have any chance of riding in, mostly because it wouldn't have a back seat... but I'm going to have to wait on that one... till I'm rich and my children are front seat riders probably. Despite that, I have always had a thing for the crossover SUV's so I'm hoping one of these won't fail me.

I did read that the Ford Escape was on the top 10 list of unreliable vehicles done by Consumer Reports, which makes me uncomfortable. You can read that article here (http://autos.yahoo.com/news/the-10-least-reliable-cars-181031192.html). The Nissan Pathfinder is on there too, so I decided to try the Murano instead. I think the Rogue is butt ugly.

So today I will be test driving and seeing what kind of deals they can promise me. I love messing with car dealers. I made one cry once. I think she was trying to go by some manual, it was really weird. She kept saying "what do you want?" and I kept saying "I want the Rav4" and she kept saying "then let's get the Rav4" and I kept saying "it's too expensive" and then she would repeat "yes, but what do you want?" This went on and on until finally I was like... "Lady... you aren't going to persuade me to purchase something out of my price range with some weird illogical argument. Well in that case, I want a freaking unicorn that farts rainbows and transforms into a jaguar XK... can you get that for me?" Then she started crying and EVEN SAID IT AGAIN... "WHAT DO YOU WANT?" I honestly wondered if she was having a stroke. Then they sent me over to their financial guru who tried to trick me into thinking I was getting a better deal by offering me a longer loan option where the payments were just spaced out more and I would've spent MORE in interest... like I'm some sort of moron. Needless to say, I ended up leaving and going to the VW dealership for a much less psychotic experience.

I'm hoping today goes better. I will report back soon!

Allow me to Introduce myself

Hello! My name is Caitlin. I'm a 27 year old mother of an adorable (currently) 10 month old daughter. Through motherhood (and being alive), I have found myself in need of several different products, and learning about a lot of different concepts on parenting, life in general, etc. This blog is meant to be a place where I can share with others what I have tried, what I have learned, and give you an honest, unbiased review and opinion on things without sponsors or any financial incentive.

Here goes nothing...