Ask the Readers: What Is the Best Gift You've Ever Received?

Editor's Note: Congratulations to Nicole, Louly, and Christie for winning this week's contest!

The holiday season is about family and friends, holiday cheer, and — of course — giving! The best gifts are the ones that mean the most, with the recipient clearly in mind… or it might just be your favorite pair of fuzzy socks.

What is the best gift you've ever received? What was the occasion? What makes it better than all the other gifts you have gotten — a special meaning, its practical uses, or something else?

Tell us about the best gift you've ever received and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

Win 1 of 3 $20 Amazon Gift Cards

We're doing three giveaways — here's how you can win!

Mandatory Entry:

  • Post your answer in the comments below. One commenter will be randomly selected to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

For Extra Entries:

  • You can tweet about our giveaway for an extra entry. Also, our Facebook fans can get an extra entry too! Use our Rafflecopter widget for your chance to win one of the other two Amazon Gift Cards:

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If you're inspired to write a whole blog post OR you have a photo on flickr to share, please link to it in the comments or tweet it.

Giveaway Rules:

  • Contest ends Monday, December 15th at 11:59 p.m. Pacific. Winners will be announced after December 15th on the original post. Winners will also be contacted via email.
     
  • You can enter all three drawings — once by leaving a comment, once by liking our Facebook update, and once by tweeting.
     
  • This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered, or associated with Facebook.
     
  • You must be 18 and US resident to enter. Void where prohibited.

Good Luck!

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Mami2jcn

The best gift I ever received was a trip to Vermont.

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Julie Wood

The best gift I ever received was a diamond engagement ring and a wedding proposal on Christmas Day!

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Tina in NJ

When I was about 9, I went to Mount Vernon with my Girl Scout troop. While there, I bought a print. Decades later, my husband had it framed for me. It was either that or the Alaska cruise my mother treated the entire family to. That was actually two years' worth of Christmas presents.

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Gina

A water flosser. I hate flossing but the water flosser makes it fun. I like practical gifts that promote good health.

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Ernest S.

The best gift I ever received was a plane ticket to Europe. I got it as a graduation gift, and it really opened my eyes and changed the way that I look at the world and myself.

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Suz_Glo

One of the best gifts I have received over the years was a handmade knit hat and matching scarf. My mother-in-law made them with the most beautiful shade of dark, red yarn that is very soft to the touch. It feels wonderful to wear but the hat is truly a miracle b/c it looks good on me!

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Elena

The best gift I ever received was a DSLR camera

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ARLON'S DAUGHTER

a few years after my dad passed away, my mom had come across things in his boxed knick knacks and she found something and gave it to me: my father's sweet handwritten diary from when he was a boy, circa 1952...it's old, but in remarkable condition. it's readable and made me smile broadly. his eloquence and sweet voice at a young boy made me see the same good heart i knew as my father.

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Matthew

Tickets to see my favorite football team (from/with my wife). I had never asked for them and totally didn't expect them. They were better than anything I thought I wanted. She knew me better than I did. Best gift ever.

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An g

The birth of my 2 girls

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Elle P.

The best I've ever received was a puppy!

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Denise L

My favorite gift was the Kitchenaid mixer my husband got me for Christmas about 10 years ago. I use that thing almost daily!

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Kim D

My parents gave me a very generous gift one Christmas -- they gave me enough money to pay off my student loans from graduate school. It was great to go into the new year debt-free.

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Kristina

A tilley hat

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Liisa

I'm a sucker for gift cards and travel opportunities as gifts. I have been lucky to have received both at various times and hope the trend continues! ;)

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Emily

Two handmade dresses!

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lori

Les Mis tickets

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Susan Smith

The best gift I ever received was my engagement ring.

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Alice Brown

My best gift was from Up Above, from my Creator. It was my new kidney, which I received over 3 years ago! I thank G-d every day for this greatest of gifts! Alice B.

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lostAnnfound

The first year we were married my husband bought me a cat from the local animal shelter for Christmas. We actually went and picked him out together. He was the sweetest cat, and we were lucky to have him for 10 years.

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Christie

Ooh, that's a hard question. I would have to say the trip to Israel during a college break. It really cemented the fact that I wanted to travel a LOT in my lifetime and learn about new cultures. It was fabulous. Taking my kids on their first overseas trip next year. Can. Not. Wait.

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Guest

The best gift was a necklace from my boyfriend on our first Christmas. I didn't expect much from him, since we had been dating for only half a year and I was his first girlfriend. But it was the most beautiful and unexpected gift every, particularly since he picked it to match a ring I always wore.

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Wendy Roberson Welch

The best gift I ever received was my sweet Boston Terrier furbaby, Rosco.

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Nicole Dz

The best gift I ever received was a trip to Texas with my best friend. Had a ton of fun!

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merle

Every year my mom's boyfriend would offer to mail our letters to Santa. And he'd bring gifts from Santa to us. And it would always be exactly what we asked Santa for.
He has since passed away and I never told him how much that meant to me. and I still write a letter to Santa every year.

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Margaret

When we were first dating and both college students, my now-husband bought me a ream of printer paper, three binders, a set of highlighters, Post-it page tabs, various size Post-It notes, a 3 pack of mechanical pencils plus replacement lead and erasers and a box of standard blue ball point pens for Christmas. I had one semester left of college and the supplies were exactly what and I needed and the brands, etc. I wanted. I touched me deeply that a) he paid attention to what I used, b) knew that I would want something practical and c) took the time and expense to get them considering he was working two jobs and going to school himself.

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Susan P.

The best gift I ever received was a Rolex watch.

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Betty

The best gift I ever received was my first iPad. My husband asked if I would like one, but I told him I'm not sure how much I would use it. Fast forward to the biggest addiction I have!

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Laura J

The best gift I ever received, was a dog from my sister! My dog had passed away suddenly and I was so sad. We fellin love with one at adoption days, but could not afford it at that time. My sister and son got him for me as an early Christmas present! Best I ever got! He is an amazing dog!

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Rebecca B. A. R.

One of the best gifts I've ever received was a build-a-bear that my husband gave to me when I was feeling very bad about not being able to get pregnant. I, still to this day, look for new outfits for "Moira" when I go out shopping.

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MELISSA HANSSON

My fave ever gift has been my Kindle.

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Mary W

The best gift I have ever received was the gift of a sister. We have been BFFs forever and are each other's best companions. The gift of never ending love and trust is the greatest gift I could ever receive.

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Candace

I know this may seem corny, but I really love the Kindle that my husband gave me for Christmas 4 years ago.

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Louly

My husband made me a 30-page scrapbook once!

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Happy Love

The best gift that I ever received was my baby boy.

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Bethany M

A diamond ring. The value was more than just pretties.

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Dee Dee

My Kindle

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Christina

The best Christmas present was an engagement ring.

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Caroline

A rock that my dad made me believe it was a diamond, just not polished (and no, it is not a diamond). It still sits among my treasure and it reminds me fondly of him every time I look at it (he passed away since then)

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Lynda

tickets to a concert i've wanted

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BRB

Probably my serger is the best gift that I've gotten and has been used a decent amount as well.

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Liz

My engagement ring!

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Matt

A trip to Miami!

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Guest

My brothers started a graphic novel for me 2 Christmases ago - it was great!

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Carmen

An engagement ring from my husband of 19 years