Tis the Season

I love Christmas. I love the red Starbucks cups, the cheer, the smell of Christmas trees, (the lack of snow in San Francisco) and of course, presents. However, whenever anyone asks me what I’d like for Christmas I ask for a nice note and if that's not sufficient, a gift card to my favorite store. One thing I am absolutely terrible at is pretending to like something. I even am pretty terrible at showing my enthusiasm for a present I totally love.

A close friend of mine just received this shirt for Christmas:

She’s not a fan, but what is she supposed to do? Enter the dilemma. Women are picky. We love clothes and jewelry. But unless it’s a dress I chose or jewelry that my father picked out, I’m probably not going to like it. Often people insist that gift cards are “far too impersonal,” but I’d argue that’s better than feeling obligated to wear some clothes we hate, no? Do risk offending the gift giver and return the shirt for something you’d like? Obviously it was wonderful of them to think to buy you a gift. Or do you suck it up and rock the bedazzled top? I can never decide. Hence why I opt for gift cards.

A while back, someone introduced me to this amazing website. I find it absolutely hilarious and pretty useful even though I’ve never sold anything on it. Say you chose route b, you kept the necklace you hated because your boyfriend gave it to you. You wore it during the select few occasions when you’re sure you would not be spotted by Anna Wintor or Joe Zee, or the Glamour Don’t crew for that matter. You broke up, now what? Enter ex-boyfriend jewelry. Sell it! And add a funny heart-wrenching note about it about how your ex-boyfriend smashed your soul and you need to sell this tiffany bracelet as soon as possible. Then, watch the pity bids come it. Lovely.

Now, I’m off to compile my Christmas list...