I started a new part time job about a month ago, and because it's part time I haven't had a chance to get to know my co-workers very well because I've been there such a short amount of time. This coming weekend is my work Christmas party. We're taking a chartered bus to our owners country club, which is two hours away, WITHOUT our spouses (I'm kind of annoyed by this). On the bus we're doing a gift exchange where you can steal someone elses gift and they have to take yours, etc.
I really don't want to be the person that brings the lame gift that no one wants to get stuck with. But I don't know these people (all women) well enough to know what will be a hit. Our limit is $15. I need help coming up with something that will go over well. Any suggestions?? Please!!?
Such great ideas, thank you all, and keep them coming! Just to clarify, I'm not opposed to going places without my husband, it's just in this new job situation I would have liked it to be a spouses welcome party so that he can meet the people I'm working with. Believe me, I know how to have a good time with AND without my husband :)
I personally would opt out of going BUT if you want to go...I would go to a Ross or a store of that sort and pick up a set of martini glasses or a piece of fashion jewelry, bracelets go over really well! I'm thinking of things we've fought over at work! Scarves are really trendy and a staple item for women of all ages!
Ooooh, we've done that at office parties - it's so much fun! Without a doubt, the most excitement was caused by lottery tickets, x-mas ornaments or a box of chocolates. Good luck and have fun! Don't be shy just because you're the new kid on the block - go grab the present you want!
Fancy chocolates or baked goods.
Nail polishing certificate in a big box :-)
bottle of wine (?)
a pretty tea cup with a selection of teas
Scarf
Gloves
Cozy soft socks
Nice pillar candle
CD of Christmas music
Starbucks/Caribou gift card
Cute hat
Stylish coin purse or makeup bag
Pocket calendar/planner
Cute notepad (I saw some really cute ones in the checkout aisle at Bed Bath and Beyond - they were embellished and so pretty)
Set of 4 martini glasses
Lottery tickets.. Men and women love them..
I have been to several of these as well. I know it's all women, but I'm not all that crazy about lotions, starbucks, etc. What I have seen fought over is serving pieces, either holiday themed or not. A cookbook, maybe with a kitchen untensil as an add-on is great. Slippers?
Go to a place like Marshalls, Homegoods, TJ Maxx where you can get a good value for your $15.00.
Whatever you do, the gift will be anonymous (that's usually how it's done) so no one has to know which you brought. Ha! You can buy something you want and choose your own to open!
Seems like you have some great suggestions, I would also say makesure you Wrap it super super nice, ask a friend if you aren't so great in this department, And personally, if you are worried about it I would push the $15 limit and maybe get a $20 scarf on sale for $15 and add a fancy broach ($10)or something to the box on the top of the box.
Of if you do a $15 starbucks gift certificate put it in a cool coffee mug.
Good luck, not sure this sounds like a ton of fun for me but i hope you embrace the opportunity to know them better.
HaHaHaHaAha I sure hope the other ladies you work with aren't reading this or you'lll all show up with the same gifts! Great post!
My work used to do this, too.
The big hits included wine or other alcohol, and gift cards to Starbucks or a book store. Also fancy chocolates or baking mixes from some place like Williams-Sonoma would be nice (and great to repurpose as a hostess gift if need be). Another organization I belonged to used to do an ornament exchange; that was also fun.
Good luck!
They sell great hot/cold reuseable cups with the screw on lid I just bought 2 for gifts they are 6.99 @ Bed Bath & Beyond...Movie passes~Gift Cards~Candle~
Have "FUN" with this you'll have a great time even without hubby in tow..
A cute Christmas decoration, gloves and hand lotion, or some good chocolates--a box of Godiva.
Target Gift Card. Who would complain about getting money? I bet your gift will be coveted and traded for frequently. Conversely, at my husband's office a bottle of alcohol is appreciated. But that might be a quetionable gift depending on where you work.
I've been to many of these and the top 3 gifts that are hot are:
1. Starbucks cards
2. Wine
3. Lottery Tickets
VillageMom
www.ittakesavillagedallas.com
I would fight for a bottle of wine! :)
Can't go wrong with a cup of some kinds...coffee mug, stainless water bottle, or a margarita/martini glass, a small flower vase....then fill it with colorful Jelly Belly candies (just get maybe 2 holiday colors or 2 that look good together) and wrap it up with some nice cellophane and a twisty then hide that with a festive fabric ribbon piece..maybe add 2 lottery tickets in the very top. If you can get a cup/vessel for about $5, that gives you $10 for the candies and lottery scratch offs...and if you have the decorating elements...Ta Daaaa!
I often do candy filled somethings for these sort of games (we do a "Dice Game" equivalent for some gatherings I attend at the holidays)...add the lottery tickets and I can stay in the lower price range..as its mostly about the candy and tickets.
Have fun! Embrace the evening out. My husbands work often does the "no spouses" thing. I gave up being irked about it about 8 years ago.....LOL!
We had this kind of exchange in a mother's group I was in for years. The best gifts were Christmas items, snowman decorations, etc. The non Christmas items were not usually a hit.
Whatever gift you buy, do one of 2 things... wrap it beautifully... people always want the "pretty" gift! The other thing I've done in this situation/game, is to wrap the item in newspaper, plain Jane, but have a super-great gift inside... no one 'thinks' they want your gift, but the 'loser' who ends up with it will be pleasantly surprised, and everyone will ooh and aah that such a nice gift was unwanted by everyone! Also kind of makes you stand out as an 'out of the box' thinker! Have fun.
Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments went over well at ours a couple of years ago.
Bath & Body works has 3 wick candles 2/20 and some really cute silver holders.....so you could get a candle & a holder for $15 and still have a candle for yourself or for another gift.
Gift cards are always the biggest steals at our gift exchanges. At our last gift exchange the In-N-Out Burger gift card was the one that got stolen the most! LOL - it was great. they also put one of the funky hats in with the gift card. You might also consider a gift card to a gas station!! LOL - or for a nail salon near your work that someone can go and use towards a mani/pedi on their lunch break since it is all women.....
K., take a look at what the others have on their desks & get something that would complement anything. Everybody has trinkets of some sort that show what they enjoy on a daily basis. You may luck out & see something that would be unusual & not cost too much. Or if you are a baker, you could make something that anyone would enjoy.
Yes, it is hard to buy for someone you know very little about; but there are always things that people would like to get no matter what it is. A pretty candy jar or trinket box generally goes very well & it might be something that you have at home & never use! In this day & age, some people even enjoy getting a gift card [Mastercard, Visa, etc]; just be carefull when it comes to store gift cards because it might be where you shop alot, but someone else doesn't like that store. Hope this helps you.
Lottery tickets were given at one of these gift exchanges that I attended and they were a huge hit. They were scratch tickets, but regular lottery would probably be fun too.
A Christmas CD, or you could make up like a coffee basket with stuff from Starbucks. Everyone likes coffee!
I would get a gift card for somewhere like starbucks or a local coffee place and some cookies and put both in a mug. people like those types of things.
I think a scarf or pashmina can be a good present and very affordable. A beautiful decorative candle or Christmas ornament can do very well also.
I also saw some beautiful Christmas hand and Kitchen towels in TJ Max and Marshalls that are within the budget and they also have coffee/tea presses that are within budget.
Good luck!
I have done an ice cream basket with sundae dishes and spoons. I bought toppings for ice cream like carmel, fudge, and that chocolate stuff that hardens over the ice cream and some waffle and sugar cones. I use coupons for the toppings.
I also did a movie basket which had pj's, a great movie, popcorn and some 20 oz bottles of pop.
This year I am doing a baking basket with recipes for cookies, measuring cups, measuring spoons and maybe a cookie sheet if the budget allows it.
I don't like doing the shower gels and stuff because everybody gets that kind of stuff.
Hi, I haven't read everything...
I like what Katherine O. said--look at what they have on their desks.
I think a nice picture frame or photo album would be a good gift. Or some homemade goodies. Or is there a nearby shop that many of the employees patronize? if so, maybe something from there (candy, cookies, etc).
Have fun!
K. Z.
