As Seen on TV Holiday Gift Guide column

If your family’s like mine the gift exchange at the family Christmas party can be a bit frustrating. Getting together with family is always good but sometimes the pressure of finding the right gift can be a bit challenging.
If this is what you see in your future for this Christmas I have a suggestion for you. Reading that back sounds a lot like an infomercial. Please read in a loud obnoxious announcer voice.
My family used to draw names for Christmas. Last year we decided to spice it up a bit and have an “As Seen on TV” gift exchange. Most of us went to a local store to get the gifts instead of going with the two for one deals with outrageous shipping on TV.
We played it a bit like a white elephant and were able to steal each other’s gifts.
There was a plethora of useful, semi-useful and completely useless gifts.
It was so much fun we are trying to think of a new theme for this year. Thinking of a theme can be a fun new way to look at the gift exchange. Especially, if like us, there’s nothing you really need but still want to get into the spirit of giving gifts to your loved ones.
There were a few hot items people sought after in the exchange and my poor uncle was the unfortunate one to open all the good stuff, only to have it stolen shortly after opening it.
My grandmother had been talking about one of the Perfect Slice Brownie pans for a while leading up to Christmas. When it was her turn she made a beeline for it. Of course, she kept it the entire night because no one wanted to steal anything from our grandmother.
A Pet Zoom, Slap Chop, Mighty Putty, Jupiter Jack, Liquid Leather and the ever popular Snuggie were exchanged.
I was very happy to wind up with a combo gift. I got the Big City Slider Station and a Titan Peeler. That’s right, I said Titan Peeler. It’s just as amazing as it looks on TV.
But wait, there’s more!
During the exchange my aunt was so distraught to find out I didn’t have an Ove Glove that she sent me one in the mail a few days later. I have to admit it’s pretty good too.
So my advice is to get creative with the gift exchange and make it fun. That way it becomes less about the gift and more about the fun of being together.
This year we’ve kicked around a book or DVD exchange. When asked which one he preferred, an ever helpful uncle only answered “yes.” There’s one in every family.
So, if your Christmas gift exchange is getting a bit drab, be creative and spice it up a bit. Oh, a cooking spices exchange. That’s another good idea and can create yummy cooking too.
See, the theme possibilities are endless.