Love that victorian lady nite lite. I can't blame you for wanting to have her for your own home. In the event you don't win, (which I think is unlikely because your present is beautifully decorated), I hope she will still be available to purchase another. I just went on the website to order one for my DM. The victorian lady matches my parents MBR/MB decor, and will definitely be a great accent to their MB while providing a bit of light for a late nite trip to the MB. You can't beat the price either. I was wondering if you set a limit on spending for your exchange? We do a Yankee Swap on Christmas day before dinner. There is a $25 limit. It's been a hit, but we keep it to fun and the odd - off the beaten path-type gifts. The gifts have to be suitable for both a man or a woman. My DB is the best at finding the "fun" gifts. I am trying to give him a run for his money this year, lol. One year I wrapped a leopard snuggie, and that present was stolen several times. Why, I've no idea as I think I would trip and kill myself trying to walk in the snuggie. I think my DSIL eventually got the snuggie and she is a mere 5 ft. tall. I have 2 of my 3 swap gifts purchased for this year. Need an idea for the 3rd. Wow, the guys doing a present decorating contest. Now that will be such fun to see. Make sure to take pics of all of the presents before they've been opened. I would love to see the creativity of those you're up against. I think you're not giving yourself enough credit. Your present looks great. Very pretty, and creative with the pretty paper, elegant ribbon and the berries and pic in the middle. Can't wait to hear about your contest results.

Usually on the ping pong table in the basement, which looks like Jemdandy's! I may just bring all the paper upstairs this year, and put a card table in the bedroom, since someone suggested that. My back and hip won't take sitting on the floor. As I just cleaned my bedroom, I can wrap in there and just move things back and forth from DD's old room, where it's stored. Then, no one has to carry it back upstairs for me Christmas Eve. Tami

I'm loving these gift topics! The topic about not liking certain gifts at Christmas reminded me of a funny & awkward situation I was in. I was in Dillards a couple of weeks before Christmas buying some makeup for myself at the Estee Lauder counter. When I made my purchase I was given a huge, and I mean huge, makeup/lotions/perfume sample kit. The kit was about 20" x 15". EL has nice size samples too. I decided to give it to my MIL as one of her Christmas gifts, knowing she'd like it. She loved experimenting with new makeup anyway. I had planned on telling her it was a freebie, she wouldn't have cared. She was spending the night Christmas Eve, and a commercial for E.L. came on. I casually mentioned how I love getting their free kits with purchases. She immediately said, "I can't stand those." Nevermind that I had seen those little EL makeup pouches in her bathroom. :) She was the type who would often disagree just for disagreement sake, but she was a very nice woman. As soon as she left the room I grabbed the gift and took it to the bedroom. Weird! Do you have any funny memories?

I let the gift dictate the type of wrapping. I prefer to use wrapping paper for items that are easily wrapped. I use gift bags for those items that aren't so easily wrapped. If I receive a gift in a bag, I save the bag for future use. I never use curly ribbon - I've cleaned up too much of it from our beaches and my cats will eat it.