The In-Laws Wish-List
November 16, 2009 · Posted in christmas, cooking and food, gift guides, kate, newlywed life by kate
Nope. I’m not talking about that list of qualities your fairytale in-laws possess in your dreams… You know, the dreams where eating organically isn’t considered “hippie” and you and your mother-in-law share the exact same tastes and shoe-size? No? Just me? Humph.
I’m talking Christmas Wish Lists + The In-Laws… i.e.: Sticky Situation in the Making, right?
Telling Evs’ parental units what I want for Christmas continues to be awkward for me… This is definitely one of those aspects of marriage that I never considered when we got engaged. Last year, I was overwhelmed by the generosity of his mom and dad. However, while I do love a pretty package under the tree with my name on it, if it were 100% up to me, I wouldn’t make any specific requests from my new side of the family for the holidays.
However, my Mother-in-Law insists upon the submission of a Christmas Wish List prior to Halloween. Yep, we have an Early Shopper on our hands. Which, kudos to her - I always find myself, eight days before Christmas, circling the mall parking garage aimlessly, stalking exiting shoppers for their parking stops and beating my head against the steering wheel in time to Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.
Ahem.
Anyhoo, as instructed, I recently submitted my In-Law Wish List. As always (”always” being relative since really this is my first year to have technical “in-laws” but whatever), I followed the Three Cardinal Rules of Gift-Requesting-From-Non-Blood-Relations-You-Don’t-Have-Sex-With:
(1) Lots of options
(2) Lots of price-points but nothing over $50
(3) No clothes (don’t ask me why - just feels weird)
Now, without further adieu… The In-Laws Wish List!
Taylor Elite Digital Instant Read Thermometer
(yes, I’m a Thermometer Fool)
Le Creuset Silicone Prep Bowls, Set of 4
Nonstick Tart Pan with Removable Bottom, 9.5 inch
Anthropologie Skystones Necklace, in Raspberry
Anthropologie Scattered Seeds Necklace
Do you make an In-Law Wish List? If so, do you abide by any tried and true “rules”?
Yup, we make Christmas lists! We always put the other in charge, so Matt takes my list and kind of distributes it to his family (and my mom, the only person on my side that gives gifts rather than money). It cuts down on the awkwardness that way.
Jennelle’s most recent blog post: The Shed
Love the prep bowls! My MIL usually asks us for a list
Marissa’s most recent blog post: Suga!
I wish my in laws asked for lists!!! Last year we were just months out from the wedding, they were helping out with paying for the wedding, so we asked that they don’t spend additional money on gifts. They gave us a check to put towards wedding expenses. In prior Christmases (we’ve been splitting holidays since year one of dating) they would give us tons of little things that we never asked for, most of which I wished we could return. I have asked hubs to specifically ask that they just contribute to a house fund this year. We’ll see what happens…
Kim’s most recent blog post: Online Friends
Your in-laws are my parents! Our xmas lists were just exchanged (emailed) last week. Like the past few years, I’ve made my husband’s list for him - he has pretty much the exact same sentiment that you have. My in-laws give us books every year. I like books - but my in-laws live in a library and they’ve given my husband the book hoarding gene, and we live in a small condo. I wanted to make a “no book” rule this year, but I’ve been advised that would be rude. Sigh. My in-laws (unlike my husband) also hoard things other than books, so my husband and I have made a rule of only giving them experiences (gift certificates to restaurants, etc.) to try to curtail their accumulation of stuff.
Erin’s most recent blog post: Goal Setting
It’s my side of the family that insists on lists, and I have finally taken to keeping an amazon wish list through the year so that I can remember what has taken my fancy (that has always been what I’ve had trouble with). I think that this year, they are also checking what’s left on the wedding registries.
Speaking of wedding registries, we received the OXO food mill as a wedding gift, and I LOVE it! I am already using it (we’re making applebutter for Christmas gifts) - so easy!
Another thing I can add to my list of things I love about having my in-laws in Poland. Cost of shipping makes their gift small and they are actually rather cool because they are things we can’t get in the US. Of course I think my husband has it pretty good too since all he needs to do is tell my parents what he wants and they will get it for him (within budget of course), they know he doesn’t like getting things that aren’t useless.
Jenna’s most recent blog post: Totsy
You just gave me a great idea! I feel the same way every year and this is also my first year as an “official” family member. Would it be weird if I just ask them to work off of our left over wedding registry? That would make me happy (and they’d really be gifts my hubby would enjoy, too!).
Elizabeth’s most recent blog post: More things we made for our celebration
