10 Favorite Things to Receive at Christmas

So, we’ve covered my favorite things to give, but here are some of my personal favorite gifts that I’ve received at Christmas.   Let’s do this one Letterman Style…

My Top 10 favorite things to receive at Christmas are:

10.  Food – not like baskets of food – actual food that someone makes for me. Let’s see, there’s Nancy’s famous stuffed peppers and delicious Date nut bread. And, of course, there’s Carols’ Beef Jerky. Don’t forget Shirley’s Peppermint candy or my Aunt Cora’s cookies. YUMMY!!!!

9.  Wine, Vodka or Champagne. Any great bottle of wine works for me. Give me a great Cabernet or Bordeaux and I am one happy person! My former assistant Gina has found some interesting vodkas...Have you heard of Grass Vodka?!  My daughter-in-law Cheryl gave us Moët Chandon champagne with our names on the bottle in Swarovski Crystal. 

8. Speaking of Cheryl, let’s add her crazy unusual gifts to this list. Of course, I always get fabulous gifts, too – but she can find the most bizarre items in the world.  I’m sure she goes to the As Seen on TV store and figures only I would enjoy the “Ahh Bra,” the Strap Convertor or the Shake Weight. Don’t forget my favorite, “The Twisty Towel.”

7. Cards – I love to send cards, so one of my favorite gifts was a basket filled with really pretty cards. Loved getting and using it!

6. Massage Certificates – I could spend my life having massages!!!

5. Omaha Steaks – the Private Reserve. OMG…best steaks in the WORLD!

4.  New Electronic “stuff” that Jamie programs and gets ready for me.  I love my Kindle and I love my iPhone, but don’t ever ask me to program any of it.

3. Many years ago, my first mink Coat from my husband. I saw him bring in a box, so I sneaked in the closet and put my hand in the box. I felt something “weird” and thought, “oh my gosh, he got me some cheap fur trimmed coat!” Boy, was I pleasantly surprised.

2.  Niccie – anything with photos of her…anything she has made or anything she has personally picked out for me. It doesn’t matter what it is; I love it.

1. While my husband has given me jewelry, cars and many fabulous gifts, my favorite was my first tiny gold and diamond butterfly necklace. He had been in Vietnam for 18 months, and wanted to make up for all the holidays he had missed. He did so by filling our soon-to-be den with wrapped up gifts for every occasion he had missed in the appropriate wrapping paper.  Of course, there was lingerie for Valentine’s Day, a bottle of wine for my birthday (I’d just turned 21) and my beautiful butterfly necklace. My jewelry may have gotten larger over the years, but nothing will ever be as meaningful as that necklace.  Thank you, Walter.