HELP... bad gift.

[catnapper]

I came home this afternoon and there was a box on my doorstep addressed to me --- Oh goody! Presents! For ME!

Wait a minute, its from SIL.... ut-oh, what did I get? You have to know, my SIL has a heart as big as all outdoors, but her taste is just awful. I know its the thought that counts but I have no idea what thought was behind this one.... she sent me a plastic cat with a sandbag bottom, dressed in purple and red, all decked out in her "red hat society" finest. Complete with a red feather boa. It makes me wonder if SIL thinks that since I'm going to be a grandma that I'm now old enough to join the red hat society?

Jen Luckenbach was over for a visit this afternoon - she saw it with her very own eyes.... in all its tacky glory. She couldn't even put words to express its unique appeal

NOW, what do I DO with this? I can't have it sitting around.... perhaps I can tell her the red feather boa prooved to be too much a distraction for the cats and they destroyed this marvel of red and purple satin?

I love my SIL, and have "proudly displayed" her unusual gifts before, but this one..... there are no words for how I feel about this. I cannot bring myself to pretend I love it. She was very excited about sending this (I know because she asked me several times if we got her package) and she's coming to spend the summer here with us.... and I want to be polite, but if I continue to pretend I love it, I KNOW more just like it will follow.

Ok, I found something online thats from the same general series.... OMG, if I pretend to love it, I'll end up with the whole series Hubby was just in here laughing at me about it, because he KNOWS how much I hate this gift, and how much she'll buy the whole series if I pretend I love it.

Here's some of the series:

[AbbyMom]

{mmrphf}} [[tee hee]] {mmrphf} Oh, excuse me. I'm so sorry, but I couldn't help but giggle.

Could you tell her that the cats couldn't resist the boa and hat and bows and ate it immediately?

Or maybe they went insanely jealous because you adored it so much and they ripped it to shreds?



Seriously, can you graciously accept it and put it out only when she visits? I have a coworker who does this with gifts from her MIL that the cats will destroy. If she gives you more, then perhaps some day you can sell them as a collection on e-bay.

[Alysser]

is all I have to say!
Pretend your allergic to feathers?

[animal_rescue]

Awww I think it's kinda cute!

[Craftlady]

Sorry, I think they are cute.

[G535]

Awww I think it's kinda cute!

Haha, me too!

Just put it out when she's there and pretend you like it, not much else you can do without offending her.

[*JTM*Coco*pi*Caramel*]

I saw the series of cats at bowering in the mall the other day! It's so funny to see them here cause I stood there at the mall for awhile and looked at them! I can't imagine what they would ever match but I just like the cat faces haha. I almost bought one (because it had to do with cats lol) but then I was like, " No Marie, honestly where would you put that and where would it ever look good!" Just tell her that you liked the gift but don't go on about it so she feels that she needs to buy the whole collection lol! Then say the cats were constantly attacking the boas so you had to put it away cause you didnt want them to choak on the feathers and you didnt want it to get damaged! Thats what I would do!

[Pam]

Awww I think it's kinda cute!

I do too. In my house the feathers would never make it. My boys would have it ruined in five minutes tops and if yours are anything like mine they would too. For that reason you wouldn't even need to tell a *white lie* about why it has been put away. Good luck!

[jenluckenbach]

I told Kim that it was not something I would buy, but it wasn't that bad. (she wasn't convinced).

So, what I personally would do is say "Thank you. I appreciate the gift, but it is not cat safe with that feather boa. I may not be able to find a spot to display it safely enough." I constantly tell people that I can't get "this" or buy "that" because there is no way the cats would leave it alone or it's not cat safe.

and by the way............snicker, snicker, snicker.........LOL

[moosmom]

I'd thank her for it and then put it away. If she asks about it, just tell her that the feathers were a BIG attraction to the cats (which I'm SURE isn't a lie since my cats would be attracted to it) and you didn't want it ruined by them chewing on it. If she's any kind of a nice person, she'll understand.

It IS kinda cute. But like you, I've been given MANY cat things, some that just aren't my style either.

Any way Ashley will let you put it in the baby's room, high up on a shelf???

[Barbara]

Kim, I know that you have a very good taste - and it shows in everything you do. And these kitties definitely are kitsch
On the other hand I think they are far over the top - so kitschy that they are cute again- and I could live with displaying them for some time and then re-decorate.


There are so many people thinking I need every cat kitsch because I like cats and usually I keep them for some time and then you'll never see them again.

BTW- I am sure someone who really loves them would be grateful for the gift in a year's time or so

[moosmom]

There are so many people thinking I need every cat kitsch because I like cats and usually I keep them for some time and then you'll never see them again

I do the same thing. MOST of the time, I get figurines that I absolutely love. But every once in a while, there's a "tacky" one in the bunch. My daughter is famous for doing that. I display it for a VERY short time, then I donate it to a local shelter for their annual tag sale. When she asks where it is, I make up a little white lie (the cats knocked it off and broke it).

[elizabethann]

Awww I think it's kinda cute!

ME TOO!!

[sirrahbed]

This post sure gave me the giggles this morning

The kitties are cute...in a somewhat funny way but I would not buy them. hmmmm.... I think I would put the thing out and let the kitties destroy it and then put it away. It would mysteriously disappear in about a year Maybe you could display it in the room where SIL will sleep??

Maybe she is welcoming you to grandma age - that occurred to me also. I just don't GET this red hat stuff

[kimboe]

Hehehe...they are kinda cute. BUt I don't think I would buy them.
They are Funny to look at.