apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

hmmm.. i'd have to go with the red kitchen-aid mixer my hubby got me, it came out of nowhere, for no reason. ...or maybe he's trying to tell me to bake more.

I gave my parents a battery-powered card shuffler and it was total fun. The perfect toy for grown-ups.

For our engagement a few friends pooled their money and bought us a beautiful set of flatware. It was such a thoughtful and much needed present that will be used in our home daily for a very long time.

Now the mismatched silverware that had been passed down to us has been passed on to my brother-in-law who just moved out of home.

That is one beautiful cat.
I don't really like stuff. Maybe I am at a differnet point in my life where I just don't need anything except for a beautiful white simple credenza to house my audio/TV items, that would be some friend not only to find such a piece but to buy it too.

My past few birthdays I have requested no gifts or if they must please send the money to my organizations (wildlife) and they get tax right off as well.

My great-aunt gave all us kids hand-painted piggy banks when I was 7. Maybe it wasn't the best present I've ever gotten, but 22 years later, I still have it. And this year I'm painting piggy banks for all my cousin's kids.

Last year I did a photo collage for my mother. I picked different photos from our family reunion and arranged them in 12 squares (one big photo as background and a couple smaller photos over it) and printed out each square for a 9x9 glass frame from Ikea. It's hard to explain, but it came out really cool.

A couple years ago, working on my first show, I gave my father a script signed by the whole cast. It was sort of an afterthought on my part, but he cried when he opened it and saw his name and "best wishes" by all these famous people. I don't think I'll ever be able to top that.

After years of hearing my dad talk about how much he could use a paper shredder, I bought him one. Ironically, I now have that shredder because Dad finally had to upgrade to a model that could shred in bulk.

The best gifts I've gotten have been my Le Creuset pots and pans, hands down. My cooking improved overnight, and it's stylish, too.

Many years ago, my boyfriend of that time got me a good shower head for my birthday. It sounds completely unromantic, but I appreciate it every time I take a shower and it makes me think of him. Sometimes the mundane gifts - and I mean literally mundane - are the best. They're not special, they're every day.

Oh, I forgot an embarrassing gift that I actually loved receiving: nose hair clippers. I hate nostril mullets and this was a lot less potentially painless than safety scissors. Another wonderful gift from my girlfriend who understands my strange ways and preferences.

my miele vacuum! (birthday, hanukkah, anniversary present combined!)

As my college graduation present my mom bought me a really nice sewing machine. I hadn't asked for it, but it's come in really handy. I've been learning to make all sorts of things, clothes and potholders and I'm working on learning to make quilts. I love it.

The best home related gift I've given: a new remote control. My father loves his TV, and he had worn down the buttons on the original remote and the battery compartment was held on with duct tape. I was working at Best Buy at the time so I was able to buy a nicer remote without spending too much. And he uses it everyday, so I know he appreciates it!

Gregory-

Happy 34th!

I don't ever want 'gadgets' as presents. My husband gave me a Russian samovar about 40 years ago in the days when I saw myself as a Chechovian heroine,that was a thrill. A few years ago my son got me a laptop that was even better.

darling photo!

The NYC tax department took photos of every building in the city in the early 1940s. I ordered my father (and aunt) a photo of the building he grew up in in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn and got it framed.

nostril mullet! ha!

An "as seen on TV" blender/chopper thingy called the Magic Bullet. Mi Gawd, I don't know what we did before we got the thing.

When I had my first apartment all by myself, my now husband and I had gone to Target to get stuff for the apartment and we went into the Petsmart that was next door to pet the kitties. I saw a handsome tan tabby and I fell in love and my sweetheart asked me if I wanted him and I said "of course I do!" and he got the kitty for me the next day. He said that he got the cat for me because he didn't want me to be lonely. It was really cute.

my miele vacuum and my pfaff sewing machine

The best present I received was an antique clock that chimes the hours; It's become part of my homescape and I think of the giver each time I hear it chime.
The most appreciated gift I've given was a microplane grater I took to some Danish friends I stayed with while visiting. They're not available over there and my Danish friends are enthusiastic cooks who use the grater all the time.

Washer & dryer, as a college graduation present. I have a SERIOUS laundry fetish, so this was right up my alley. Still have that set 19 years later. Thanks, Mom & Dad (and Kenmore)!

Thanks f.in.eur, I appreciate the kind sentiment :)

The first party I hosted in my new home happened to be at the holidays. After everyone went home, one of my dearest friends and I were hanging out and chatting in the living room. It was a Sunday night on a rather chilly late fall evening. Around 9PM there was a loud/agressive knock on the door which was rather strange considering the party was not only quiet but ended an hour earlier. I looked at my friend and rather bewildered said, "That is flipping weird" and got up to go open the door.

Upon opening the door, there was a giant box wrapped in silver paper with a giant red bow on it. My friend asked what it was and I said (as I picked up rather gingerly), "I don't know but whatever is in it just moved."

Setting the box down in my living room, I pulled off the paper and opened the top flaps and staring up at me from below was a 7 week old lmale abrador retreiver puppy.

My dear friend and her family had got him for me and it will always, till the day I die, be the best house gift I ever received.

My ex-husband was an incredibly thoughtful gift giver, so it's hard to pick just one. On our first road trip in college, we stopped at a rest area, and I had a peach Nehi soda. We marveled that they still produced it somewhere. The soda can rolled around in his truck for months, and he eventually gave it to me as a gift - with a plant inside. The plant only lived for a year or so, but I still have the can. Sometimes I use it as a vase, sometimes it's empty and sometimes I actually put another plant in it. Probably the runner-up would be a step stool that folds up. He made it himself because he saw my frustration at never being able to reach higher cabinets in the kitchen.

My mom's given me a series of really nice pot holders (aka, ones that really truly protect you) that I appreciate a lot given that I burn myself just about daily.

She also gave me a beautiful hand-sewn vintage kimono that I will eventually hang as an art piece. I love to look at it and imagine stories about it's creator and history.

My sister and her husband gave me a subscription to Cook's Illustrated, which we all adore (we read the articles for fun and die laughing at the language and extreme food-nerdiness) and cook from regularly.

My husband is amazing at finding the right gifts for everyone. About ten years ago, he bought me an elegant winter coat from Marie Saint-Pierre, a trendy and expensive designer located in Montreal. The best ever Christmas gift.

Then, a few years ago he bought me a Bengal cat for my birthday. She is so nice and cute. It was the best gift ever.

I forgot to mention that he selected the coat himself. I did not give him a clue. The coat fitted me as a glove. I was really impressed by his taste. I received plenty of compliments when I was wearing the coat.