When enough is finally enough....

[Grace]

I never thought I'd see the day, but I think I've come to the point where I've got all the kitchen stuff I want! :eek: :confused:

I'm sitting here trying to put together my Christmas list (requested by my family), and I can hardly come up with a thing. Instead of making me happy that I have everything, it makes me sad that there's no fun and excitement and anticipation left! I never thought I'd see the day.....

[NancyR]

I hate to say it but I think I am in the same boat. Half the fun of getting things is wishing for them. On the other hand, have you seen the beautiful stoneware shortbread molds at King Arthur......would be pretty on the wall even if you don't make shortbread :p

[wintersummer]

My husband and I often talk about this....it's a wonderful feeling to not need anything. You've worked and you've been able to have the basics, plus even more than the basics. I often wish I wanted something, but then bring myself back around to the thankfulness of having everything I really need.

[wallycat]

There's always a gift certificate to a great wine shop, cheese shop or a mag. subscription you wouldn't ordinarily splurge on for yourself.

What about a second chef's knife? Or lessons on sharpening them?
What about a cool Boos cutting board?

I splurge on ingredients when I feel the wistfulness of buying for the kitchen.

COngrats Grace...I think it is a wonderful place to be :)

[myrnas]

I, too, am in the same boat. I am drowning in my STUFF. Now I am looking for experiences. Tickets to events, restaurant gift certificates, classes etc. are the things on my wish list for this year. However, I will always be looking for another recipe or way of doing something that is new and fresh, as long as I don't have to find a place to put it.

[GingerPow]

I am actually at a point where I am unloading tons of STUFF. I reached a point where I felt that the STUFF owned me more than I owned it.

I agree with the suggestion for gift certificates to restaurants, or tickets to play, maybe? Things to experience rather than clean! :)

[SusanMac]

Grace, say it isn't so?? Are we losing you? Are you feeling well today? Maybe you should go home & bake up a batch of cookies :-)

Actually, I rarely read the new gadget threads b/c I'm just not that into them. I'm more of a minimalist. Every year I tell DH you'd better not get me a giant KitchenAid mixer unless I tell you to. The last thing I want is more stuff for my counter/cabinets.

It took me about 8 years to convince DH that I really do want and appreciate cooking-related stuff for gifts. He very sweetly thought that it wasn't romantic enough...ya know, your sister should get you mixing bowls for Xmas, not your husband.

He, he. Go for the nice-dinner-out, cooking class, or evening-at-a-play gift :-)

[Grace]

Even gift certificates aren't that great for me - do you believe I still have a $75 Nordstrom certificate and a $50 Williams-Sonoma certificate from last year? I suppose I could go to Nordstrom and find some great shoes or a nice dress (haven't gone because I hate shopping!), but the W-S certificate is nearly impossible for me to spend! There's nothing there that I want! :rolleyes:

I'm really going to have to come up with some different stuff entirely, but I was just lamenting the fact that my favorite stuff (kitchen stuff) which used to dominate my Christmas list is all gone, and I should be happier about that than I am.... :o

[Terrytx]

Use the WS cert to buy some candy or the like to give to some of the kids on your Christams list, or you can always buy sponges. Have you ever used those great sponges. I have been using them for years and give them as stocking stuffers.

[juliew]

I feel the same way. Of course, there are a few things that I could still purchase, but certainly nothing that excites me. What I would want are classes (I got a W-S gift card to take one and they haven't offered the class since :mad: ), or specialty ingredients. None of my family is "into" food, so they would have no idea what to get me either. I think my big request this year is going to be a new copper mailbox.

[wintersummer]

Grace - Here's what I posted back a while ago...gives you some idea what I do when I run out of gift ideas :

"Talbots had a great sale one year on black long sleeve turtlenecks, and I decided to add to my already large collection of Talbots black turtlenecks. I bought them around October, wrapped them for Christmas, unwrapped them, and decided I really didn't need them yet, because the older ones still looked pretty good. I put them back into the Christmas drawer for next year. I rewrapped, opened them on Christmas day the next year, acted surprised, then decided I still didn't really need them. Guess where they went, but just for one last time....finally opened and began using the replacement sweaters last year! Hey, we'd all rather spend our money buying good ingredients to cook, right?"

Note of explanation about buying for myself...we've just done it that way for about 20 years and it works. I buy what I want, wrap it, put it under tree, and pretend it's from my husband. He does great job pretending he bought it. OK, it's our fantasy, but it works and we get what we want.

[KimberlyS]

Even gift certificates aren't that great for me - do you believe I still have a $75 Nordstrom certificate and a $50 Williams-Sonoma certificate from last year?

A lot of the new gift certificates deduct a small fee for every month that it is not used after a certain time period. It is usually written in small print on the back. Just an FYI to those holding on to old gift cards or for those who buy them for others.

[colleency]

I try to tell family that what I want is time...time for a picnic or window shopping or just sitting together. Unfortunately, my family believes in unwrapping stuff. They don't even seem to enjoy the gift as much as the action of unwrapping a thing.

[Grace]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm not worried about what to tell DH. We don't really get each other gifts - we usually buy one big thing for the house and call it a day (this year we already bought our Xmas gift to each other - a new HD receiver box for our Satellite dish).

My list is for my family. We do a grab bag in our family. We choose one name and there is a $75 limit and that way no one has to go broke buying gifts, and yet there's still one or two things to open on Xmas. Since we're all older and have so much, we need lists so we have ideas of what to get. In the past, my lists have been packed with kitchen stuff (gives the giver a lot to choose from and then I'm still surprised since I don't know which item I'll get!). This year after looking through catalogs, there's not a single thing I want.

My list is also for my MIL. We don't exchange gifts with DH's sister (we just buy for her kids), but MIL still insists on buying us stuff, so she wants a list (I can't say as I blame her - if I don't know what I want, how the heck can she know?) And the leftover W-S certificate I have is from her from last year.

Anyway, I just have to think of some different ideas for this year - totally non kitchen related. I definitely want some bird houses (and man, they're expensive!), and maybe a garden center certificate I can spend in the spring or something. I'll figure it out! I just never thought I'd see the day when my kitchen-stuff collection would actually be complete! :D

Editing to add, I'll have to check on my certificates to make sure I'm not losing anything! Thanks for the heads up on that.

[Beth H]

Even gift certificates aren't that great for me - do you believe I still have a $75 Nordstrom certificate and a $50 Williams-Sonoma certificate from last year? I suppose I could go to Nordstrom and find some great shoes or a nice dress (haven't gone because I hate shopping!), but the W-S certificate is nearly impossible for me to spend! There's nothing there that I want!

I'll PM you my address. :)

What about good quality olive oils and vinegars from a place like Zingerman's? That's a nice gift for a foodie. Or - maybe some pretty new linens (placemats, napkins, tea towels)?

[kima]

Editing to add, I'll have to check on my certificates to make sure I'm not losing anything! Thanks for the heads up on that.

Good heavens! This is an emergency situation. :eek:

I'll be right there....got any certificates to Target? ;)

[Grace]

If I would have known that's all it would take to get you here, I would have dangled Target certificates in front of you a long time ago! :D Yes, a BIG, FAT Target certificate is sitting here, losing value as we speak with your name on it! Hurry!!

[kima]

I am at the airport.....oh they are my calling flight.

See ya soon!

[Grace]

Waaahhhhh! :( If only it were true!

[Grace]

EUREKA!!!!! Now I know what I'm going to put on my list!! Something I REALLY want! An EXPERIENCE, not a thing!!



A VISIT FROM MAUREEN!! :D :D Adding to my list right now.......

Dear Santa,

Please send Maureen for Christmas! :D

[dorothyntototoo]

I too am at the "purge" stage in life where I have everything I want and need to start getting rid of some. But I want to share something that I saw in Bed, Bath & Beyond's catalog. I'm going to get it for my 80-year-old prim & proper southern belle aunt who has "everything". When I visited her in TX recently she kept dinner rolls warm at the table in a tacky styrofoam tortilla warmer. I saw this bread basket with a warming stone that fits inside - it can be warmed in the oven or microwave. I'm getting her one for sure. Do any of you have one?http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/searchSKU.asp?order_num=-1&SSTR=bread+basket&go=1&&SKU=13369216

Dorothy

[blazedog]

I too am at the "purge" stage in life where I have everything I want and need to start getting rid of some. But I want to share something that I saw in Bed, Bath & Beyond's catalog. I'm going to get it for my 80-year-old prim & proper southern belle aunt who has "everything". When I visited her in TX recently she kept dinner rolls warm at the table in a tacky styrofoam tortilla warmer. I saw this bread basket with a warming stone that fits inside - it can be warmed in the oven or microwave. I'm getting her one for sure. Do any of you have one?http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/searchSKU.asp?order_num=-1&SSTR=bread+basket&go=1&&SKU=13369216

Dorothy

I saw the same ad and ironically I have a very similar object in my To Be Donated Bag -- a bread basket with a warming piece to be put in the microwave that fits into the napkin. I got it about 10 years ago and have never used it -- this was the purge in which I took the plunge and realized I probably will never use it in the next decades. :p

[ctychick]

I feel the same way. Would you believe that the only single kitchen item I really want right now is one of those garlic peeler tube things!! :) That should leave my husband with plenty of cash left over for something non-kitchen-related for a change. Maybe something, say, small and sparkley??? LOL!

[swquilts]

There are still 2 things that have eluded me so far. A new blender, mine smells smoky when I use it :eek: , and an All Clad asparagus steamer. We love it and grow and sometimes I don't want to cut it into pieces! :cool:

But I'm also cleaning out stuff and giving it to my niece in Phoenix. She's just starting building her kitchen stuff.

[kima]

I to feel like I have everything I need. The only reason I keep half of it is to pass on to my daughters. As soon as it looks like they will stay in one place I am inviting them over for a free garage sale!


Yep. Having me around is definately "an experience". :p

[heavy hedonist]

Maybe I can make you all feel better by admitting that i don't have a decent pair of shoes... 50 cookbooks, but not one good pair of shoes that fits & that I can wear, PLUS my cookie sheets are 18-some years old and pathetic, I don't have any decent cake pans, (or non-reactive ones), and virtually every good kitchen thing I do have was a gift from a grateful boss. Now, that's a Good Thing! Not complaining, at least i can give my in-laws a list, but likely it won't work since they don't really get how you can spend $20.00 on a single cookie sheet. Love and good things to you all, mari

ps-- Fine Tequila is a great gift

[heavy hedonist]

Wow, no one has posted anything here since I did yesterday evening. I didn't mean to be a downer! Sorry! --mari :(