Fake Smiles for the Holidays

'Tis the season for... unwanted gifts?!out when the gift giver drops in for a visit), you
Whatever you celebrate throughout the wintercould consider using these unwanted items as a
holiday season (that's my stab at fitting into thesemeans to get what you really wanted. What
politically correct times), there are plenty of giftmight not be your cup-of-tea could be a treasure
exchanges going on. When it comes to gift givingto someone else.
our loved ones have good intentions, butYou can have a post-holiday party for you and
sometimes they just don't get it right (a goodyour friends, at which everyone brings an
poker face comes in handy at times like these).unwanted gift for an exchange. White elephant
I like to call this the Unwanted Gift Syndrome.exchange games are great for things like this. You
Symptoms of this infliction include:could also utilize online barter sites, like
· Psychedelic sweaters with dancingSwapThing.com, to list your item and see if it
reindeerpiques the interest of someone who may have
· Bobble-head dolls of political figuressomething you want.
· Homemade arts and craftsNot all gifts fall into the realm of our expectations,
· Purple and orange argyle socksbut after feigning excitement for these unique
They may say that it's the thought that counts,treasures, you don't have to live with them
but what really counts is getting something thatforever. We all have differing tastes, so you
you can actually use. Instead of standing in line atnever know who might find that inner beauty you
the return counter, tossing in the trash receptacle,just don't see.
or storing away to gather dust (and later brought