Probably the only thing more annoying to locals than a tourist snapping pictures is one doing so in party hats; but, there you are. The Littles were kind of obsessed with this fountain, so we took a picture in front of it, in party hats. The Fourth day of Novakkah and Mother's Day came together to produce a day full of win (and a lot of walking around the nation's capitol).
Which was no problem because of my handy new water bottle. It's not the most exciting birthday gift one can purchase for one's self, but practical is good too, and well, it's orange. Also, I need to drink more water. I figure less empty calories in the way of juice and soda means calories that can be swapped out for other things that are not so empty in caloric consumption like...tacos and cookies (or whatever). Practical, indeed.
My Mother's Day Gift/Novakkah gift (though I usually frown upon the combining of gifts business, I am willing to concede the point this time, it's a big gift...and we are traveling, after all) from K and the boys was the Strauch yarn ball winder that I have been wanting for years, so yay! Some would say this is a practical gift of sorts, but no, you'd be wrong.
Todays gift for you, yarn and magazines! Two Crochet Today Magazines (winter and holiday editions) --duplicates in my collection, again (that are full of win and awesome, especially so if you are a crocheter...or perhaps if you know one). Also, six skeins of Mission Falls cotton. You can crochet it or knit it, totally up to you. Should this be of interest to you, please tell me about the most practical/least frivolous gift you have ever gotten for yourself. As gifts go, I am pretty sure a water bottle isn't the most exciting thing ever, but maybe you have me beat.
I will take comments for this post, and all Novakkah posts, until 11:59 EST (or2359, should you prefer that), Thursday, May 12th. Please leave your responses on the appropriate post. One entry per post/person. I will show you what I have to gift each day and let you know what you need to tell me to try to get it. Giftees will be selected on the 13th and gifts sent out shortly thereafter.
To all the mothers out there, a Happy Mother's Day to you!
A pillow for my bed. I needed one and I wanted a froufy-neck-supporting one.
I'm totally a practical gift giver. Last year I gave Adam a leather hole punch because he'd mentioned over and over how he needed a new hole in his belt. Of course I got him something else too but it was actually quite funny to watch him unwrap it and think that was the only thing he got.
Posted by: Tina | May 08, 2011 at 06:02 PM
Happy birthday! I used my birthday gift card to Target (from my parents) to buy cat litter, paper towels, and assorted necessities this year. Not fun, but necessary items...
Posted by: jodi | May 08, 2011 at 07:35 PM
I got myself some knives for Christmas not exciting but great help when I am cooking!
Posted by: Carrie | May 08, 2011 at 08:07 PM
I used my $50 check from my Grandmother, to help pay the cell phone bill. Communication is very important to this lady.
Posted by: Andrea Kuck | May 08, 2011 at 09:29 PM
I have that water bottle too. I love it! And the bright orange color means I never leave it behind at yoga. :)
As for practical gifts, I'd have to say it's hand soap. I'm a sucker for B&BW or Target soaps and their yummy scents.
Posted by: Carolyn | May 08, 2011 at 09:53 PM
Last year I bought myself a new teflon frying pan on my birthday....following dinner at our one-pump gas station. You have to love rural Texas!
Posted by: Barb | May 08, 2011 at 10:40 PM
Perhaps this years gift: New bedroom furniture. Sure, it is something we could live without, but its also very practical.
Posted by: jj | May 08, 2011 at 11:08 PM
I just love seeing pictures of you and your boys in party hats. Fun! I'm glad you had a nice weekend of celebration and fiber.
This past year, I bought some new moisturizer with my dad's gift card. It's not a very fun gift, but it's an essential!
I think the kitty litter comment is the best/most practical, though!
Posted by: Jacey | May 09, 2011 at 10:37 AM
A office chair for Christmas. Not exciting, but it was needed at the time.
Posted by: Oiyi | May 09, 2011 at 11:53 AM
Happy fourth day of Novakkah! The most practical birthday gift I ever got for myself was a 1-ton I-beam clamp. I'm an aerialist, and the I-beam clamp is an expensive but essential piece of rigging equipment that gives me the freedom to practice in nearly any building that has exposed beams.
Posted by: Marin | May 09, 2011 at 01:09 PM
I love everyone's practical gifts! For our anniversary one year, the Mr. and I bought a refrigerator. We joked that it takes a lot of work to make it to the appliance year :)
Posted by: Chukichi.wordpress.com | May 09, 2011 at 02:10 PM
I'm pretty sure I've used gift money for groceries, but beyond that, I guess I'd have to say drinking glasses. We got a gift card for Christmas, most of it went towards plain, round, basic drinking glasses.
Posted by: kingshearte | May 09, 2011 at 02:21 PM
a air pop popcorn machine for mother's day this year!
Posted by: Tammy | May 09, 2011 at 03:43 PM
Not a gift I purchased nor was it just for myself, but I like it so much that I consider it mine...Our washing machine broke down in February a few years ago and so my husband bought a new front-loading one. It arrived on Valentine's Day. :)
Posted by: Elaine | May 09, 2011 at 04:15 PM
I got myself contacts...I broke my glasses on my birthday.
Posted by: Angelia Batson | May 09, 2011 at 08:43 PM
My husband got me tires for our minivan for Christmas. Practical, but not so much fun. But after driving on icy mountainous roads to see my family for Christmas, it was nice to have new tires to drive the 18 hours back home.
Posted by: Haley | May 10, 2011 at 12:44 AM
One year for my birthday I really, really wanted a paper cutter, but my mom refused to get me one because it was too functional. So I just got one for myself :)
Posted by: Becky | May 10, 2011 at 07:11 AM
Happy Mothers Day and Happy Novakkah! I always get practical gifts for myself: my most recent a yarn scale!
Posted by: Megan | May 10, 2011 at 03:39 PM
Underwear.
Posted by: Kim | May 10, 2011 at 05:38 PM
I love everyone's comments. I have to agree the cat litter seems the most practical so far.
the most practical gift I've given was using my gc from xmas to (help) buy the boy's prom stuff. the result is NOT practical - a suit that will be worn once, in all likelihood - but it was completely a practical choice to spend someone else's money rather than spend mine to save the gc.
as for myself... hmmm... crickets... i need so little that really, anyhing i buy is, by definition, not practical... oh! I know! I asked for (and received) a replacement drink holder for my car after I accidently threw the original out.
Posted by: Kathy | May 10, 2011 at 07:59 PM
I have used gift money to buy pans, but they are baking pans so not necessarily practical.
The most practical present I have gotten was given by my husband. The first year we were dating he gave me an ethernet cable for my brithday. In response to my somewhat dismayed comment "An ethernet cable?!" he said "It's a Belkin!"
Posted by: Kat | May 10, 2011 at 08:17 PM
I use birthday and Christmas money to pay bills all the time, but I've got something to tie that now: this year for Mother's Day I bought myself a packet of stitch markers. BO-RING.
Posted by: Annika | May 10, 2011 at 09:09 PM
because my birthday is so close to christmas, i've used gift cards to buy christmas presents for others. i guess that's not super practical. i once asked for an external hard drive though.
Posted by: maryse | May 11, 2011 at 10:41 AM
Um, I don't usually get myself birthday gifts... does that count as practical? This past November after my brother & his wife sent me an amazon.com gift card, I promptly used it to buy a gift for our 8-year-old son whose birthday comes right after mine.
*Love* the yarn & books! :)
Amy :)
Posted by: Amy :) | May 11, 2011 at 02:09 PM
Hmm, if it's practical I never consider it a gift.
I did get myself a soymilk maker with some birthday money last year. I guess that's pretty practical, and we've definitely gotten a lot of use out of it.
Posted by: earthchick | May 11, 2011 at 11:08 PM