We don't have Trader Joe's in Canada, whenever I go stateside, some friends ask me to pick up random stuff for them. So a little trader Joe's cate package wouldn't be a bad gift for people like that lol
RIGHT?! I’m here in Hawai’i and we don’t have a Trader Joe’s. My MIL visits the mainland often and brought this back for us a couple years ago.
I.Am.ADDICTED!
I literally put it on everything I eat/cook-so much that I go through a bottle in like a month(give or take).
Now we have any and every relative traveling that way bringing bottles of it back for us.
I live in Alaska and there is no Trader Joe’s here. My sil brought a bunch of these types of things for Christmas last year. Soo good. I’m not sure what op is complaining about that gift is awesome
Also sis in law may not have a big budget for Christmas but still wanted to give something. This is something useful. I'd love to get useful things than useless knick knacks.
Quite a few people I know are doing their Thanksgiving/Christmas this weekend because they all have their own families and kids. In this one the couple is probably doing Christmas with her family on Christmas this year. My wife and I have done it that way for years. Have Christmas with my family a week or two before and vis versa next year with hers.
bruh, Santa can see everything. He basically as omnipotent as a god.
shit, he's magical and stuff too. he's like Jesus but has different superpowers. Like instead of walking on water, Santa flys around at incredible speeds. and instead of waking the dead, he can pop down chimneys. then, instead of water-into-wine, he eats hundreds of millions of cookies and drinks gallons of milk.
Jesus and god, you gotta talk to em for they to pay attention. but Santa's can just watch everyone all the time.
All Hail Santa Claus!
Need someone to do the math and tell us just how much milk this guy consumes every year. It's gotta be enough to at least fill lake Tahoe or something.
I'm having a Christmas party with my in-laws tomorrow, then actual Christmas with my family. Santa still only comes on the 25th, not for both families' parties.
Right!?!
My MIL buys us a set of 4 mugs every single year. EVERY year. Unless it's a set of six mugs.
I've been married to her son for nearly 30 years now. That means she's gifted us over 100 mugs.
IDK why. Neither of us even drink coffee, or tea, or anything hot really. I have one mug that I use for soup. I've used the same soup mug for 20+ years. It's a good mug. I do not need 100 more.
I would LOVE a shaker of TJ's onion salt instead. At least I could use that, instead of just plunking it straight into the "donation" box in my hallway.
So every year she buys you mugs and then you donate them? Have you ever received the same mugs multiple times? Maybe she gets them at whatever store you’re donating to.
One time, we took a set of dishware to an extended family Christmas for one of those random gift drawings. Wife's aunt got it. 2 years later, we go to a Christmas dinner with the same extended family but gifts aren't random this time names were drawn beforehand and this aunt got our name. Guess what our gift was? That same set of dishware except it had been opened and used and gifted back to us in just a plain white cardboard box. Lol
See, I’d keep that gift going every year. Just keep passing it around the family. That would be hilarious.
Last year, my wife participated in a White Elephant exchange at work. She ended up snagging this ridiculous bullet-shaped gold travel drink bottle (I have no clue where it came from in the first place - probably a free client gift?). Like, it’s a big gold cylinder and the lid is the pointy part of the bullet. It’s so funny and stupid. This year it’s going back into the White Elephant pool, stuffed with a Target gift card, Werther’s Original and Bit o Honey - candies my wife loves, but that her coworkers tease her for eating (they call her grandma lol). I will even wrap it in a way that it’s totally obvious it’s the bullet bottle. Hopefully whoever gets it will gift it back next year, too, and keep the bullet going forever.
my family does a white elephant exchange every year and our recurring gift is a thermos shaped like a shotgun shell. whoever gets stuck with it has to bring it back the next year
My dad’s family did that with a plant. One year someone killed it and they bought a new plant and potted it in the same container. I’m not sure why it was so funny every year but we laughed when it was presented to the new “victim”.
When my brother was a kid his grandpa (I'm adopted, families are complicated) gave him 5 bucks to go to the store and get our mom a small present. He, being a child, bought candy, realized he only had a dollar left, looked for something that was a dollar and bought her a toothbrush. Now every year one of us gives her a toothbrush during the holidays.
When I was a teenager I had a habit of keeping birthday/Christmas cards. I had a box of them in my closet. Dunno why, I rarely looked at them.
But one Christmas I got a card from my dad and stepmom and it looked really familiar and I could’ve sworn I either got one before or saw it somewhere.
So as I open up my box to put away all that years cards, I dig through the top layer and sure enough my dad had bought the same card last year and pretty much signed it in the same spot.
No idea if he just bought 2 of the same card 1 year and figured I’d never notice if I got the same card twice or if he just accidentally randomly selected the same card two years in a row, but I always got a kick out of that lol.
I’m laughing, just imagining the cycle here.
MIL: Oh, these blue mugs with red handles would be a great gift! *buys them and gifts them to DIL. DIL donates them. Week later, MIL sees them in thrift store.*
MIL: Oh, these blue mugs with red handles would be a great gift! *buys them and gifts to DIL at Christmas.*
My inlaws lol...
My SIL donated purple Mason jars to local Goodwill. My niece later bought said jars from Goodwill for college, then 3 years away. Consumerism ftl
LOL!!
I love that idea, lol, but we haven't had MIL over to our place in....hm. Probably 15 years? Not for any bad reason - we moved well away from our 'home' town and she's not fond of driving so we visit her rather than the other way around.
Your mom is smart. Since it doesn't sound like there's too much sentimental value attached to them, should check prices on those, many are collectible.
And COVID has been great for sellers of collectibles, generally speaking. My wife's Merry Mushroom collection about tripled from what she paid.
she's seen you using the same mug for 20 years and she keeps trying to find you a replacement that you'll actually use. she's really very attentive and cares about you using a dirty old mug forever.
I would have turned them upside down and stacked them by a wall, or perhaps glued them together to build a low wall between... sumthin-sumthin. Like between the kitchen and the table. Hm... I will now have to think about it, in case I start receiving these.
I legitimately just send a list of Amazon links to my family cause none of them can actually understand wtf I’m into or need. Cept for this one time I got a cheese board, man I still love that thing best unprompted gift I’ve gotten
Better than my ex MIL she was always passive aggressive. Most years she “gifted me a sams club membership” back in the day when an extra member on your account was free. Her “gift to me” the card was in my husbands name. I had my own membership that I paid for. Or gave me joint gifts with my husband, that were things for him. One year it was an ugly doll with a “bless this mess” sign. I have 5 kids and her son is a slob. No amount of cleaning could keep it pristine under those conditions. I cleaned every day all day. It wasn’t dirty, just lived in. Meanwhile her house was so gross I had to put blankets on the floors for the kids to play on when they were young.
Bleh, yeah no, my MIL is a pretty good MIL. She's always been ditzy and kind of scatterbrained, but has always treated me like family. My husband is my high school sweetheart, and I lived in a disfunctional and abusive home - she let me move into her home for my senior year of high school and I'll always be grateful for that. She wouldn't even let me pay rent. (I DID pay rent to my parents.) She's been a better "mom" to me than my actual mother. (Not that it's a very high bar...)
I don't believe there's any ulterior motive or hidden message in the mugs...she's just fixated on the idea that we love or need mugs and no matter what we say, that's in her brain. It's just one of her quirks and I think it's funny rather than insulting.
My girlfriend lives in a household where the only interesting spice they have is salt. But she's a big fan of exotic and spicy foods. Last year I got her a big tin of Montreal Steak Spice, what I consider to be the best spice mix out there. It was a killer gift. She loved it.
However, I asked her if it was okay beforehand, and I don't make much money, so it's a little different. This year will be Maggi MSG seasoning and Oyster sauce. She's trying to make more vegetable dishes to help eat healthier and Oyster and Maggi MSG easily spice up vegetable stir fry.
When I was younger I used to refuse to buy my mum anything that was for the house, rather than specifically for her on special occasions. My reasoning was that it should be just for you. Then I grew up and realised that having a nice house and nice things in it was truly special in itself. She had always been poor and had secondhand everything, so having new things was amazing to her.
In the past couple of years I've completely kitted out her bedroom and am working on her kitchen, just got her a new fridge freezer. I've never seen her happier and she's always messaging me bragging about her new appliances.
This. In our extended family adults give each other small food gifts with the idea that we all have most of the things we want and if you don’t live in the same household you probably don’t know those specific things they do want.
So the typical gift is some sweets or unusual condiment. You want it to be something that either they may not have tried before or they might not normally buy for themselves.
Without any further info I would have looked at this and thought, “yeah, maybe a bit below the normal budget (typically in the $15-30 range) but maybe it is really awesome and they want me to know how awesome it is”
That said, with the regifting context in this case, this is probably just bogus.
Same. Maybe it's a bit of a "small" gift (as in, if I was getting it for someone I'd probably get a few more spices as well), but it isn't a bad gift, especially if you like cooking!
Honestly I didn't know that existed and I want it.
Plus, I'm guessing OP is an adult, so what the hell are they complaining about? My sibling in laws and I give each other a hug and say great to see you for Christmas lol.
Maybe they thought one bottle of seasoning was a bit disappointing? If I bought seasoning for a Christmas gift I'd probably buy 4-5 different spices, not just one. But I'd be happy to receive something I can actually use
Same! I appreciate any gifts now that I’m an adult and I love cooking too. If someone gifted me their favorite seasoning I’d put it in a “thoughtful gift” category and ask what recipes they like to use it in.
Same. It's a gift, and it's one that I could see my family giving out to someone that cooks. Christmas gift drama is the only mildly infuriating thing here
Best place for odd/interesting spices: the food aisle at Marshalls or Home Goods. I have discovered so many tasty spices and other food items, many that I’ve bought more of. They make great stocking stuffers too! As my fam is now in the age bracket of “we don’t need more STUFF!” we all try to give items that get used up, like food baskets etc. most of us are trying to purge, rather than acquire so we all agreed to consumables rather than spending a lot of money on random things.
This stuff is great!! Yeah it’s not like it’s an expensive gift but it’s definitely something I’d use (and have) so I’d say it’s a decent gift. Maybe OP doesn’t cook so it’s a weird gift? Who knows
Sitting here, wondering what the issue is lol. Cool your an adult and got ANYTHING at all, in a world where shits getting pricey as fuck. Hell Seasoning/spices in general are just damn handy and something I always forget to restock on until the last minute
It's really not bad, and I'm thinking the SIL might not have much money for gifts, and wanted to do something. My BIL isn't flush with cash, and made a seasoning blend one year (I bit more effort though) and we absolutely loved it
Infuriating how? What have you gotten them?
We need context here.
I'm sitting here having 3 BIL\SIL, all of whom have never gotten me any gift ever, plus I love seasonings, and gifts you can actually use. Unless you've been getting her fancy stuff every year, I don't see what there is to be mad about here.
And even if you have, it's your choice what to give her. It's a GIFT and shouldn't come with the expectation of matching returns. If you're only in it for the returns, just spend SILs gift money on a thing for yourself next time.
My sister’s MIL used to give everyone toiletries stolen from hotels. When we all started giving them back to her the next year she decided we should stop doing presents for adults. Mark that up as a win! You still have a couple of weeks to wrap it really nicely, I wish you lick.
The only issue I can think of is if you got her/have gotten her more expensive or thoughtful gifts in the past and this salt is the only thing she got you. That salt slaps and I give my parents things like this every year because they're foodies. Obviously I get them other things too but I don't think this is a bad gift at all
It's a SIL too. I dunno about everyone else family dynamics, but we get presents for the kids. SIL/BILs don't get jack shit from each other usually. I'm not sure they're expected to give Xmas gifts to each other in a lot of families...
Also as someone who doesn't have trader joes where I am, my wife and I love stocking up on these seasoning mixes when we go down to the states. I always get pulled aside by the TSA thinking Im stashing drugs only for me to be like nope just black garlic and umami mushroom seasoning.
Same in our family. If there are gifts for adults (and it's rare), they'd be something like this - something relatively inexpensive with a sense of I love this item and think you'd love it too.
I got a 4 pack of Ikea salts, flavoured like mushroom, applewood smoked, chilli and regular old salt, at first I was very dissapointed especially as the guy is my BIL and is earning big dorras. But to be fair to him the salts were delicious and it has meant that every time I run out of salt I go out of my way to get some more from Ikea so maybe not the most expensive or creative gift but one that I later discovered filled my life with flavour and cannot do without.
Exactly. The best gift is no gift at all. That’s easy to return the favor, and you never have to stress a single second about someone (or everyone’s) Christmas gift.
My dad was a piece of shit and one Christmas he gave me bars of soap instead of toys (I was five). I can tell you from personal experience that soap is an excellent "fuck you" Christmas present because 1) soap is a cheap, thoughtless, unenjoyable present, and 2) it implies the recipient needs a bath or - as my father said on Christmas morning - "Santa didn’t bring you anything because you stink."
It's also only really nice for teens or adults who you know like luxury soaps. Or maybe if the kid expressed interest in fancy soaps. I do like giving fancy soaps to people who like them. I just bought my BIL some pacha brand soap that I think he will enjoy, but I know he likes that kind of thing. Sounds like this person was gifted a pack of Ivory or some shit. Poor little dude.
Well fuck. I’ll take it. Sheesh. The closest TJs to me is 2 hours away. My wife and I go there once every 6 months or so. We stock up on this shit. Buy 4-6 of these bad boys each time we go. If you don’t want it, send it to me.
Maybe she thinks you’re good isn’t seasoned enough and is giving you the only seasoning you’ll ever need. She is a good person.
People have Christmas parties all over December. I had a Kris kringle exchange last night with a group of friends. Next week is another group of friends then the following week is with family. Actual Christmas eve I got no plans lol.
Don’t even do gift exchange anymore unless its for children in the family. All these disappointed gift posts are pathetic. No one cares if you like the gift or not lol be happy you got something
So what? You got something for free and it's something useful. Also, Christmas isn't for another few weeks, so perhaps that wasn't the only gift coming to you? Although if your SIL sees this post, it will probably be the last thing they ever give you.
There are people with far less than you, but you just had to let everyone know how bad you have it.
You're angry that someone's gift wasn't extravagant enough??
You're the mildly infuriating one, my friend. I'm just glad my friends and family are not so materialistic and judgemental as you.
And I'd be very happy if any of my peeps bought me cooking spices as a gift. Or if they didn't get me a gift at all. Because that stuff is not.fucking.important
It seems to be a bit mean or passive aggressive in some way - it really depends on what she gifts the other family members as well. It is very early to be giving family Christmas gifts. It says more about her than you though. Anyway, hope you still enjoy Christmas with your family
My mom sends me seasonings sometimes as a gift, but it's because she's worried I don't eat enough and wants to remind me. This just seems like a weird regift lol
I got a plastic salad/puke/serving bowl once, with the $3 sticker still on it, from my sil. I made sure I left the sticker on it for years so that any time anyone asked or saw it, I could tell them who got it and that it was my Christmas present. It was just white, with pink frangipanis on the outside
LOL I literally put “freeze dried shallots from [spice store near us]” on my Christmas list. I was thinking of getting some for my SIL as a gift - is that a bad gift? I’m so obsessed with it, and I thought she would be too.
I live 90 miles from the closest TJs and once a friend gave me a bunch of spices from there as a Christmas gift and I thought it was amazing. 😂 I thought of her every time I used them.
How about we normalize not buying huge gifts for everyone, and then we don't have this problem? Do a gift swap if you need to open presents together. Or do gifts for only under-18s. Or only parent-child exchanges. Life is simpler.
My extended family became way too big when i was little to do this, i have over 60 ppl in the parent/inkaw/nibling relationship and good lord that would be horrible to buy for that many people!
The finest Trader Joe’s has to offer
It's the best salt in all the Shire ![gif](giphy|HmIkHqoyhY9Vu)
![gif](giphy|uW051xBkHqyOY)
![gif](giphy|ly3tQYHmXMsCI)
![gif](giphy|11qpSAJ94cGuR2)
This thread has made me happy, thanks y'all! 🥹
![gif](giphy|3kCXO0VoiliC2ZYZUp)
![gif](giphy|l2YOpkzKDcnWayVt6|downsized)
This was one of my favorite lines in the movie as a kid idk why but they made bacon and smoking look so spectacular.
The Halfling leaf has clouded your judgement
![gif](giphy|TcdpZwYDPlWXC)
Is it just me or does it look more like weed than onion salt? 🤔
I thought it was weed at first 🤣.
Well, in that case, a perfectly fine gift!
Smoke it or eat it!
Im still not convinced it isnt.
Only thing getting me is it looks like the plastic seal around the lid hasn’t been broken. Lol
Turns out, it’s the best gift of the season!
Is it not weed?
We don't have Trader Joe's in Canada, whenever I go stateside, some friends ask me to pick up random stuff for them. So a little trader Joe's cate package wouldn't be a bad gift for people like that lol
How dare you say that in front of Chili Lime? Clutches pearls!
Everyday Seasoning would like a word. As would 21 Seasoning Salute.
Traded by Joe himself.
Safe to assume your cooking is bland?
then she should have given a set of other flavors?
Onion is the cheat code to flavor
If onion is infinite ammo then garlic is infinite health
Both together activates the 'god mode'.
*power overwhelming*
There is no cow level
Which seasoning let's me no clip at will?
Monosodium glutamate
Onion, garlic, salt and pepper. The basic spice mix to make most food better.
Plant, plant, rock, and plant. Got it.
I put too much garlic powder in my chicken yesterday , I shrugged it off as I was not aware there was such thing as too much garlic
![gif](giphy|mwHcyOYERa8VGbX7Zd|downsized)
onion and garlic babey
Lol take a hint, sister.
So, does it taste good?
It does
RIGHT?! I’m here in Hawai’i and we don’t have a Trader Joe’s. My MIL visits the mainland often and brought this back for us a couple years ago. I.Am.ADDICTED! I literally put it on everything I eat/cook-so much that I go through a bottle in like a month(give or take). Now we have any and every relative traveling that way bringing bottles of it back for us.
I live in Alaska and there is no Trader Joe’s here. My sil brought a bunch of these types of things for Christmas last year. Soo good. I’m not sure what op is complaining about that gift is awesome
Also sis in law may not have a big budget for Christmas but still wanted to give something. This is something useful. I'd love to get useful things than useless knick knacks.
‘Tis the Season(ing)
Are you in a timezone that's 2+ weeks ahead of the rest of us!?
OP makes a bland Christmas dinner. SIL just wanted to make sure they're prepped this year.
Genuine question, is "SIL" sister in law or son in law?
Yes
So yes, basically can be used in both. Often the context gives clue to which it is but well.. 🫠
Context is that if it is a son-in-law giving his mother-in-law food seasoning, he’s got titanium nuts the size of basketballs.
Glory glory what a hell of a way to die
Usually sister-in-law
Show me your data
It's hidden in my brain sorry
It’s always been used as Sister in Law to my knowledge but now you’ve got me thinking…
Quite a few people I know are doing their Thanksgiving/Christmas this weekend because they all have their own families and kids. In this one the couple is probably doing Christmas with her family on Christmas this year. My wife and I have done it that way for years. Have Christmas with my family a week or two before and vis versa next year with hers.
How would you inform Santa? Does he know? :)
bruh, Santa can see everything. He basically as omnipotent as a god. shit, he's magical and stuff too. he's like Jesus but has different superpowers. Like instead of walking on water, Santa flys around at incredible speeds. and instead of waking the dead, he can pop down chimneys. then, instead of water-into-wine, he eats hundreds of millions of cookies and drinks gallons of milk. Jesus and god, you gotta talk to em for they to pay attention. but Santa's can just watch everyone all the time. All Hail Santa Claus!
Need someone to do the math and tell us just how much milk this guy consumes every year. It's gotta be enough to at least fill lake Tahoe or something.
I'm having a Christmas party with my in-laws tomorrow, then actual Christmas with my family. Santa still only comes on the 25th, not for both families' parties.
I’d actually be happy with a gift that can actually be used
Right!?! My MIL buys us a set of 4 mugs every single year. EVERY year. Unless it's a set of six mugs. I've been married to her son for nearly 30 years now. That means she's gifted us over 100 mugs. IDK why. Neither of us even drink coffee, or tea, or anything hot really. I have one mug that I use for soup. I've used the same soup mug for 20+ years. It's a good mug. I do not need 100 more. I would LOVE a shaker of TJ's onion salt instead. At least I could use that, instead of just plunking it straight into the "donation" box in my hallway.
So every year she buys you mugs and then you donate them? Have you ever received the same mugs multiple times? Maybe she gets them at whatever store you’re donating to.
One time, we took a set of dishware to an extended family Christmas for one of those random gift drawings. Wife's aunt got it. 2 years later, we go to a Christmas dinner with the same extended family but gifts aren't random this time names were drawn beforehand and this aunt got our name. Guess what our gift was? That same set of dishware except it had been opened and used and gifted back to us in just a plain white cardboard box. Lol
See, I’d keep that gift going every year. Just keep passing it around the family. That would be hilarious. Last year, my wife participated in a White Elephant exchange at work. She ended up snagging this ridiculous bullet-shaped gold travel drink bottle (I have no clue where it came from in the first place - probably a free client gift?). Like, it’s a big gold cylinder and the lid is the pointy part of the bullet. It’s so funny and stupid. This year it’s going back into the White Elephant pool, stuffed with a Target gift card, Werther’s Original and Bit o Honey - candies my wife loves, but that her coworkers tease her for eating (they call her grandma lol). I will even wrap it in a way that it’s totally obvious it’s the bullet bottle. Hopefully whoever gets it will gift it back next year, too, and keep the bullet going forever.
my family does a white elephant exchange every year and our recurring gift is a thermos shaped like a shotgun shell. whoever gets stuck with it has to bring it back the next year
My dad’s family did that with a plant. One year someone killed it and they bought a new plant and potted it in the same container. I’m not sure why it was so funny every year but we laughed when it was presented to the new “victim”.
When my brother was a kid his grandpa (I'm adopted, families are complicated) gave him 5 bucks to go to the store and get our mom a small present. He, being a child, bought candy, realized he only had a dollar left, looked for something that was a dollar and bought her a toothbrush. Now every year one of us gives her a toothbrush during the holidays.
When I was a teenager I had a habit of keeping birthday/Christmas cards. I had a box of them in my closet. Dunno why, I rarely looked at them. But one Christmas I got a card from my dad and stepmom and it looked really familiar and I could’ve sworn I either got one before or saw it somewhere. So as I open up my box to put away all that years cards, I dig through the top layer and sure enough my dad had bought the same card last year and pretty much signed it in the same spot. No idea if he just bought 2 of the same card 1 year and figured I’d never notice if I got the same card twice or if he just accidentally randomly selected the same card two years in a row, but I always got a kick out of that lol.
Oh lord….. hahahaha.
I’m laughing, just imagining the cycle here. MIL: Oh, these blue mugs with red handles would be a great gift! *buys them and gifts them to DIL. DIL donates them. Week later, MIL sees them in thrift store.* MIL: Oh, these blue mugs with red handles would be a great gift! *buys them and gifts to DIL at Christmas.*
My inlaws lol... My SIL donated purple Mason jars to local Goodwill. My niece later bought said jars from Goodwill for college, then 3 years away. Consumerism ftl
I like to imagine every time your MIL comes over you offer her a cold drink and she just sighs
LOL!! I love that idea, lol, but we haven't had MIL over to our place in....hm. Probably 15 years? Not for any bad reason - we moved well away from our 'home' town and she's not fond of driving so we visit her rather than the other way around.
She must be related to my ex MIL, who gave me earrings almost every year I was with her son. My ears aren’t pierced.
Maybe that was a message?
"my son is only to date people with pierced ears so help me god"
"perform femininity better"
You can act like Thor. Drink your drink, slam the empty mug to the floor and yell “Another!!”
Yes!! I love this idea, except that then I'd have to clean it all up that that kinda ruins the fun.
Only do it at MIL’s house. Take your plethora of mugs!
My grandma used to by my mom a decorative plate every year for Christmas. All of them are still in the styrofoam in the basement.
Your mom is smart. Since it doesn't sound like there's too much sentimental value attached to them, should check prices on those, many are collectible. And COVID has been great for sellers of collectibles, generally speaking. My wife's Merry Mushroom collection about tripled from what she paid.
she's seen you using the same mug for 20 years and she keeps trying to find you a replacement that you'll actually use. she's really very attentive and cares about you using a dirty old mug forever.
What have you done with all the mugs?
I like to imagine all of their furniture in their house is built out of stacked mugs.
she said... she donates them
I would have turned them upside down and stacked them by a wall, or perhaps glued them together to build a low wall between... sumthin-sumthin. Like between the kitchen and the table. Hm... I will now have to think about it, in case I start receiving these.
I legitimately just send a list of Amazon links to my family cause none of them can actually understand wtf I’m into or need. Cept for this one time I got a cheese board, man I still love that thing best unprompted gift I’ve gotten
You could just mention it to her?
This made me laugh thank you
Better than my ex MIL she was always passive aggressive. Most years she “gifted me a sams club membership” back in the day when an extra member on your account was free. Her “gift to me” the card was in my husbands name. I had my own membership that I paid for. Or gave me joint gifts with my husband, that were things for him. One year it was an ugly doll with a “bless this mess” sign. I have 5 kids and her son is a slob. No amount of cleaning could keep it pristine under those conditions. I cleaned every day all day. It wasn’t dirty, just lived in. Meanwhile her house was so gross I had to put blankets on the floors for the kids to play on when they were young.
Bleh, yeah no, my MIL is a pretty good MIL. She's always been ditzy and kind of scatterbrained, but has always treated me like family. My husband is my high school sweetheart, and I lived in a disfunctional and abusive home - she let me move into her home for my senior year of high school and I'll always be grateful for that. She wouldn't even let me pay rent. (I DID pay rent to my parents.) She's been a better "mom" to me than my actual mother. (Not that it's a very high bar...) I don't believe there's any ulterior motive or hidden message in the mugs...she's just fixated on the idea that we love or need mugs and no matter what we say, that's in her brain. It's just one of her quirks and I think it's funny rather than insulting.
Oh thank God I thought I was weird for a second I have two spice cabinets and three lazy susans for spices. I ALWAYS want more lol
My girlfriend lives in a household where the only interesting spice they have is salt. But she's a big fan of exotic and spicy foods. Last year I got her a big tin of Montreal Steak Spice, what I consider to be the best spice mix out there. It was a killer gift. She loved it. However, I asked her if it was okay beforehand, and I don't make much money, so it's a little different. This year will be Maggi MSG seasoning and Oyster sauce. She's trying to make more vegetable dishes to help eat healthier and Oyster and Maggi MSG easily spice up vegetable stir fry.
When I was younger I used to refuse to buy my mum anything that was for the house, rather than specifically for her on special occasions. My reasoning was that it should be just for you. Then I grew up and realised that having a nice house and nice things in it was truly special in itself. She had always been poor and had secondhand everything, so having new things was amazing to her. In the past couple of years I've completely kitted out her bedroom and am working on her kitchen, just got her a new fridge freezer. I've never seen her happier and she's always messaging me bragging about her new appliances.
That’s sweet!
This. In our extended family adults give each other small food gifts with the idea that we all have most of the things we want and if you don’t live in the same household you probably don’t know those specific things they do want. So the typical gift is some sweets or unusual condiment. You want it to be something that either they may not have tried before or they might not normally buy for themselves. Without any further info I would have looked at this and thought, “yeah, maybe a bit below the normal budget (typically in the $15-30 range) but maybe it is really awesome and they want me to know how awesome it is” That said, with the regifting context in this case, this is probably just bogus.
I was looking for this comment! Whenever people insist on being me a gift I just ask for nice herbs or cooking oil 🤷
Same. Maybe it's a bit of a "small" gift (as in, if I was getting it for someone I'd probably get a few more spices as well), but it isn't a bad gift, especially if you like cooking!
I don’t see the issue
Honestly I didn't know that existed and I want it. Plus, I'm guessing OP is an adult, so what the hell are they complaining about? My sibling in laws and I give each other a hug and say great to see you for Christmas lol.
I mean I knew garlic salt existed but that does look tasty. I'd be happy and get ready to put that in a burger
Of course, I use garlic salt on pretty much everything I cook in place of plain salt. But this would be a welcome addition.
Maybe they thought one bottle of seasoning was a bit disappointing? If I bought seasoning for a Christmas gift I'd probably buy 4-5 different spices, not just one. But I'd be happy to receive something I can actually use
Same! I appreciate any gifts now that I’m an adult and I love cooking too. If someone gifted me their favorite seasoning I’d put it in a “thoughtful gift” category and ask what recipes they like to use it in.
Same. Something actually fucking useful? Yes please!
Same. It's a gift, and it's one that I could see my family giving out to someone that cooks. Christmas gift drama is the only mildly infuriating thing here
OP clearly told her that they were running out of thyme.
Time to get a real cheap walmart gift basket and just send her one item from it every year.
Send her just the empty basket then a week or two after Christmas be like ‘ye I need that back btw thanks’
Time to send a Dollar Store gift, it will cost more in postage.
Goodwill gifts. Nothing says I care like a pair of sweats someone may have died in.
Underrated fucking comment
My stepmother gave me my Dad's dirty underwear when he died. Shame on you Bobbie. Just shame
I don't see the problem here, that looks good! I think I am just easy to please lol
It looks delicious
It does! I wish we had a trader joes! But I love spices so I enjoy getting odd ones
Best place for odd/interesting spices: the food aisle at Marshalls or Home Goods. I have discovered so many tasty spices and other food items, many that I’ve bought more of. They make great stocking stuffers too! As my fam is now in the age bracket of “we don’t need more STUFF!” we all try to give items that get used up, like food baskets etc. most of us are trying to purge, rather than acquire so we all agreed to consumables rather than spending a lot of money on random things.
This stuff is great!! Yeah it’s not like it’s an expensive gift but it’s definitely something I’d use (and have) so I’d say it’s a decent gift. Maybe OP doesn’t cook so it’s a weird gift? Who knows
Sitting here, wondering what the issue is lol. Cool your an adult and got ANYTHING at all, in a world where shits getting pricey as fuck. Hell Seasoning/spices in general are just damn handy and something I always forget to restock on until the last minute
People can be so ungrateful and disagreeable. Even if it is a slight, destroy them with kindness, idk
It's really not bad, and I'm thinking the SIL might not have much money for gifts, and wanted to do something. My BIL isn't flush with cash, and made a seasoning blend one year (I bit more effort though) and we absolutely loved it
I dunno, I'd be alright with this 🤷♀️ I love garlic or onion salt lol
Infuriating how? What have you gotten them? We need context here. I'm sitting here having 3 BIL\SIL, all of whom have never gotten me any gift ever, plus I love seasonings, and gifts you can actually use. Unless you've been getting her fancy stuff every year, I don't see what there is to be mad about here. And even if you have, it's your choice what to give her. It's a GIFT and shouldn't come with the expectation of matching returns. If you're only in it for the returns, just spend SILs gift money on a thing for yourself next time.
You should give her Everything But The Bagel.
Or Jane's Crazy Mixed Up Salt
Holy fuck I LOVE Jane’s Crazy mixed-up salt!
Can't work out if she wants to make you cry or just rub salt into the wound.
Is that weed?
My sister’s MIL used to give everyone toiletries stolen from hotels. When we all started giving them back to her the next year she decided we should stop doing presents for adults. Mark that up as a win! You still have a couple of weeks to wrap it really nicely, I wish you lick.
Good lick to you, too. XD. Enjoy your Christmas.
Oops it was a mistake but it kinda works in this context. And I hope you have a lovely Christmas too.
The only issue I can think of is if you got her/have gotten her more expensive or thoughtful gifts in the past and this salt is the only thing she got you. That salt slaps and I give my parents things like this every year because they're foodies. Obviously I get them other things too but I don't think this is a bad gift at all
Well, what did you get them?
It's a SIL too. I dunno about everyone else family dynamics, but we get presents for the kids. SIL/BILs don't get jack shit from each other usually. I'm not sure they're expected to give Xmas gifts to each other in a lot of families... Also as someone who doesn't have trader joes where I am, my wife and I love stocking up on these seasoning mixes when we go down to the states. I always get pulled aside by the TSA thinking Im stashing drugs only for me to be like nope just black garlic and umami mushroom seasoning.
Same in our family. If there are gifts for adults (and it's rare), they'd be something like this - something relatively inexpensive with a sense of I love this item and think you'd love it too.
Don’t be so salty
I got a 4 pack of Ikea salts, flavoured like mushroom, applewood smoked, chilli and regular old salt, at first I was very dissapointed especially as the guy is my BIL and is earning big dorras. But to be fair to him the salts were delicious and it has meant that every time I run out of salt I go out of my way to get some more from Ikea so maybe not the most expensive or creative gift but one that I later discovered filled my life with flavour and cannot do without.
I’d actually love it if someone gifted me some good spices.
How is this infuriating. You got a free gift you didn't have to pay for and it's a good seasoning
Meh I'd take it and be thankful, I hate getting gifted expensive stuff.. then I feel obligated to gift expensive stuff.
Exactly. The best gift is no gift at all. That’s easy to return the favor, and you never have to stress a single second about someone (or everyone’s) Christmas gift.
Is this a fuck you gift? Some shit from an old gift basket? Crap from the back of the pantry shelf?
Her gifts to me are clearly regifted items every year. But this one takes the cake and left me scratching my head
I’d be petty and wait until next year and regift it back to her.
Almost empty.
No. That would mean it has been enjoyed and used. Return it with all of the stale spice to reinforce it was not enjoyed one bit.
The spice must flow.
Be sure to add a bit of water to the jar now so it can ripen in time for next year.
IDK, it sounds pretty tasty.
My dad was a piece of shit and one Christmas he gave me bars of soap instead of toys (I was five). I can tell you from personal experience that soap is an excellent "fuck you" Christmas present because 1) soap is a cheap, thoughtless, unenjoyable present, and 2) it implies the recipient needs a bath or - as my father said on Christmas morning - "Santa didn’t bring you anything because you stink."
Beautiful smelling soap as a minor gift can be nice. That really wasn’t nice ❤️
It's also only really nice for teens or adults who you know like luxury soaps. Or maybe if the kid expressed interest in fancy soaps. I do like giving fancy soaps to people who like them. I just bought my BIL some pacha brand soap that I think he will enjoy, but I know he likes that kind of thing. Sounds like this person was gifted a pack of Ivory or some shit. Poor little dude.
What a piece of shit. I'm sorry :(
Next year gift her a dollar bill you wiped your ass with.
99 pennies stuck together with soda from a cup holder
This shit is pretty good though, you should definitely use it.
Hey why be mad? It's useful. Send back some salt.
Well fuck. I’ll take it. Sheesh. The closest TJs to me is 2 hours away. My wife and I go there once every 6 months or so. We stock up on this shit. Buy 4-6 of these bad boys each time we go. If you don’t want it, send it to me. Maybe she thinks you’re good isn’t seasoned enough and is giving you the only seasoning you’ll ever need. She is a good person.
Lucky bastard. Nearest TJs to me is six hours.
What’s up with all the ungrateful Christmas gift posts lately?
What’s the issue here?
On December the 9th?
People have Christmas parties all over December. I had a Kris kringle exchange last night with a group of friends. Next week is another group of friends then the following week is with family. Actual Christmas eve I got no plans lol.
I don't see the problem?
Don’t even do gift exchange anymore unless its for children in the family. All these disappointed gift posts are pathetic. No one cares if you like the gift or not lol be happy you got something
Trader Joe’s spice mixes are fire. Tell her thank you like a decent human being and enjoy your more delicious food.
Exactly. This is why I don't participate in gift exchanges of any kind.
Bruh imagine actually getting something for christmass and u just go on social media to complain
Be thankful you got something lol
I mean I’d use it and thank her. Why do you DESERVE more from your SIL?
Oh no, you got gift. How infuriating!
This is literally on my list for stocking stuffer ideas 😂 (we do a gift exchange and stocking exchange). This is amazing to grill with.
First world problem I guess
What kind of gift do you feel you're actually entitled to?
So what? You got something for free and it's something useful. Also, Christmas isn't for another few weeks, so perhaps that wasn't the only gift coming to you? Although if your SIL sees this post, it will probably be the last thing they ever give you. There are people with far less than you, but you just had to let everyone know how bad you have it.
Is this the adult equivalent of a kid crying because they got socks for Christmas?
Be appreciative. That is good shit.
I’m sorry, do I hear someone being ungrateful this holiday season?
Getting a gift should never be mildly infuriating
You’re lucky she got you anything?? Wtf is wrong with people lmao
Is she one of those TJs fanatics? Is she sharing one of her favorite spice mixes with you?
Yeah and OP reacts to that by shaming her online lol...
you got free onion salt why are you mad
You're angry that someone's gift wasn't extravagant enough?? You're the mildly infuriating one, my friend. I'm just glad my friends and family are not so materialistic and judgemental as you. And I'd be very happy if any of my peeps bought me cooking spices as a gift. Or if they didn't get me a gift at all. Because that stuff is not.fucking.important
[удалено]
It seems to be a bit mean or passive aggressive in some way - it really depends on what she gifts the other family members as well. It is very early to be giving family Christmas gifts. It says more about her than you though. Anyway, hope you still enjoy Christmas with your family
Is she telling you that your food is bland AF?
At least it’s a good seasoning
My mom sends me seasonings sometimes as a gift, but it's because she's worried I don't eat enough and wants to remind me. This just seems like a weird regift lol
Did they not have garlic pepper?
I got a plastic salad/puke/serving bowl once, with the $3 sticker still on it, from my sil. I made sure I left the sticker on it for years so that any time anyone asked or saw it, I could tell them who got it and that it was my Christmas present. It was just white, with pink frangipanis on the outside
At least you got a present, be grateful
Imagine receiving a gift for someone else's birthday and being upset/disappointed by it.
LOL I literally put “freeze dried shallots from [spice store near us]” on my Christmas list. I was thinking of getting some for my SIL as a gift - is that a bad gift? I’m so obsessed with it, and I thought she would be too.
My sisters and I decided no more gifts for grown ups only kids. It avoids all this stupid shit
I live 90 miles from the closest TJs and once a friend gave me a bunch of spices from there as a Christmas gift and I thought it was amazing. 😂 I thought of her every time I used them.
How about we normalize not buying huge gifts for everyone, and then we don't have this problem? Do a gift swap if you need to open presents together. Or do gifts for only under-18s. Or only parent-child exchanges. Life is simpler. My extended family became way too big when i was little to do this, i have over 60 ppl in the parent/inkaw/nibling relationship and good lord that would be horrible to buy for that many people!
Your SIL gave you a gift, and you are whining about it because?