Mark Schmidt, Wheaton. Best: "I woke up Christmas morning and looked out the window and saw a pear tree completely covered in ice." Worst: "My aunt gave me an absurd hat with colored (pom) balls all over it. It looked like something that even Dr. Seuss would sketch and throw out."
Daily Herald
Attention, holiday shoppers!
You may want to take a moment to reflect on your purchases before wrapping those gifts.
Your intentions may be honorable, but that toy picnic set, costume jewelry, a used coat or, believe it or not, a facial-hair removal kit might not elicit the gleeful reaction you seek on Christmas morn.
If you'd prefer to be perceived more like Santa than Scrooge, consider the gifts some people found memorable. We're talking the good, the bad and the downright baffling.
Two years ago, 17-year-old Kelly Hagen of Wheaton was disappointed when a relative gave her a picnic set marked "for ages 3 and up" that was obviously geared toward a child, not a teenager. Insult added to injury when she tried to return the toy and learned it had been on clearance and was worth just $1.
And perhaps proving that teens aren't ready for mushy sentimentality, 19-year-old Lauren Swatzell of Elgin was underwhelmed by a relative's gift of a tree ornament with her name on it.
"It's not useful," she said, "It goes on my mom's tree and gets packed away. I'd rather have a $5 or $10 gift card or however much it costs."
Amy Finn of Elk Grove Village still chides husband Jim about a pair of toenail clippers he got her one year.
"I still bring it up to him all the time, and we laugh about it," she says.
The ultimate gifting horror story, though, belongs to a woman who, for obvious reasons, asked not be identified.
On her first Christmas as a newlywed, she opened a facial-hair removal kit and a thigh machine from her in-laws.
But for every gift from the "What were you thinking?" files, there are relatives and friends who scored major points for choosing presents that were sentimental or just well-suited to the recipient.
Jenna Kuehl, 19, of Grayslake still recalls fondly an ex-flame's gift -- a white gold ring with three diamonds.
"We went to Chicago during the holidays a couple of years ago, and I was taking pictures," she said. "When I checked the pictures later, there was a picture of the ring on there. I asked him what it was, and he pulled out the ring and gave it to me."
Likewise, Mary Jo Powers of Naperville was thrilled to receive an amethyst necklace from her husband.
"I like purple. He picked it out on his own," Powers said. "I didn't expect it."
Sometimes, it's the gifts of early childhood that leave a lasting impression.
"I got a Thirsty Walker Doll when I was 4 years old," said Pauline Pietroske of Arlington Heights. "I'd feed the doll with a bottle and then changed its diaper. It was my best gift."
Warrenville resident Lisa Eckert's best gift came a week late, and it wasn't Santa's fault: "My first-born daughter was born on New Year's Day."
Valerie Knopp, Fox Lake. Best: "It was either the digital camera I received from my daughter last year, or when one of my rabbits had three babies on Christmas Day. " Worst: "My husband bought me clothes from this petite clothing store and they didn't fit."
Lee Filas | Daily Herald
Jenna Kuehl, Grayslake. Best: "A white gold ring with three diamonds from my ex-boyfriend." Worst: "A bright red lug wrench from my parents. For some reason, they thought I needed one."
Lee Filas | Daily Herald
Mark Chandler, Wheaton. Best: "Homemade gifts from my kids. I still have a pencil holder made of cardboard. It's barely together but you've got to keep it. Worst: "A salad spinner. Just throw it in a colander and let it dry for a minute."
Tanit Jarusan | Staff Photographer
Pauline Pietroske, Arlington Heights. Best: "I got a Thirsty Walker Doll when I was 4 years old. I'd feed the doll with a bottle and then changed its diaper. It was my best gift." Worst: Really gaudy Christmas jewelry.
Joe Lewnard | Staff Photographer
Harry Bovis, Arlington Heights. Best: "A television from my two sons." Worst: "A bunch of shirts that I didn't want from my two sons."
Joe Lewnard | Staff Photographer
Amy Finn, Elk Grove Village. Best: A professional photograph of the entire family, including all eight kids. Worst: A pair of toenail clippers from husband, Jim. "I still bring it up to him all the time and we laugh about it."
Joe Lewnard | Staff Photographer
Hanna O'Brien, Warrenville. Best: "A vintage coin bank. The coin goes in the dog's mouth and it jumps. I got it in fifth grade. I still have it." Worst: "I got a tea set that was Furby-themed. I was 14, so I was clearly beyond the Furby age."
Daily Herald
Jan Pere, Prospect Heights. Best: "I used to teach fifth grade, and the best presents where always homemade gifts from students." Worst: "My sister and I try to find the worst present to give to each other every year. Last year she gave me some really bad reindeer antler decorations."
Joe Lewnard | Staff Photographer
Renee Greco, Elmhurst. Best: "Little heart earrings from my boyfriend. He's not a jewelry person. I like little earrings." Worst: "My brother handed me money. I like gifts, boxes and bows."
Daily Herald
Lauren Swatzell, Elgin. Best: The 10-disc Led Zeppelin studio recordings box set. Worst: An ornament from a relative with "Lauren" on it. "It's not useful. Just because it goes on my mom's tree and gets packed away. I'd rather have a $5 or $10 gift card ... "
Daily Herald
Jo and Sam Spair, Bartlett. Best: "Anything from our four grandchildren." Worst: "Can't think of a bad gift."
Joe Lewnard | Staff Photographer
Lemlem Tesfay, Wheaton. Best: "My son bought me a bracelet. It has the Ten Commandments on it. He's in fourth grade. He bought it at a fair at school."
Daily Herald
Rachael Suchowski, Villa Park. Best: "A tanzanite bracelet from my parents. I love tanzanite. A gift card you can use anywhere. It's like a Visa." Worst: "My grandma still gives me the fake costume jewelry … the really big rings that take up half your hand. You just put it in a box.
Ed Lee | Staff Photographer
Mark Raimer, 33, Elgin. Best: An old Slayer recording on vinyl. Gift cards for an old Schaumburg records store called "The Turntable." "I always like getting CDs, music and records." Worst: "I hate when my parents would get me clothes from department stores."
Daily Herald
Barb Mederich, Winfield. Best: "When I was 7 years old, I got a little organ. Every time we went to the mall I would play this little organ, and my parents bought it for me." Worst: "It was a regift. The Girl Scouts had a garage sale. Someone dropped off an old 1940s coat with a fur collar."
Daily Herald
Holle Andersen, Oak Park . Best: Tenth wedding anniversary band from her husband. Worst: A shower curtain and a pair of socks from her boyfriend (now husband).
Joe Lewnard | Staff Photographer
Mary Jo Powers, Naperville. Best: "A square amethyst necklace from my husband. I like purple. I didn't expect it. He picked it out on his own."
Daily Herald