Good morning readers! I’ve got a gift to give away to one lucky person, and some amazing, life-changing news to share.
On just this Friday, December 18, my son passed an oral food challenge at the allergist’s office for baked milk.
I guess I have a superstitious streak in me after all, because I was afraid to talk about it with people. Afraid that we’d fail and that it would be a disappointment. Afraid because I was asking my son to eat something that could cause him to have a reaction. This challenge had me tied up in about 12 different ways, because it had to be done by my son’s consent. But now that we’ve gotten the green light, a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders.
In 2016, we’ll be receiving the gift of dairy back into our lives. We’re starting him with milk baked into a muffins for the next few months, and then afterwards, we’ll be starting with boiled milk in casseroles and such. By the end of April, hopefully he will be eating store-bought products with milk listed as the 4th ingredient, and hopefully at the end of 6 months, we’ll be able to try milk and cheese.
By next Christmas, my son could be eating like the rest of us: enjoying a shortbread cookie, a decadent risotto, or mashed potatoes made with butter, one of the products I love to use but have always been the most super obsessive careful about cooking with (because of the smear factor).
After that… there’s a whole new world of foods to explore – ones he can explore without fear.
This is the best gift anybody could have gotten me. Not only do I have one less thing to worry about, I will have a new family tradition for my inner circle and I can bring old family traditions back.
So I hope you can understand why I feel like celebrating, and fortunately Gay Lea is giving me something to give away and spread the good cheer: a year of Gay Lea products, in the form of 12 coupons, open to all residents of Canada, excluding Quebec.
All you have to do to enter is leave me a comment: tell me about the best gift someone gave to you, or one you gave to someone else that filled you with cheer.
Contest ends January 3, 2016, so make sure you comment by then! I’ll select the winner by random draw on January 4 and reach out to you by email to confirm your mailing address, so make sure you comment using a valid email address.
Merry Christmas, happy holidays to you, my readers!
Disclosure: I am part of the Gay Lea Ambassador Campaign and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.
The gift that I gave to someone that is the most memorable is the apron I sewed my mum when I was 14. Sewing isn’t easy for me and I made it to fit over her braces and be easy to get on /off. I also made it so that it covered her while sitting since none of our traditional aprons worked well. My aunt helped me. It took 9.5 hours but mum loved it and it still hangs in the kitchen today as a reminder of her.
I am a teacher, so I often get gifts from my students at Christmas time. My most memorable gift was a handmade necklace, and an accompanying email and photo from the parent to explain how this boy who was very uninterested in crafts decided that he wanted to sit alongside his sisters and make a necklace for me. It holds a special place in my jewelry box.
The best gift I was ever given was my Kitchenaid stand mixer! I use that baby all the time!
I am so pleased and excited for you guys. I know how much this means to you and I think it is a fantastic Christmas present for you all.
The best gift I ever got was a surprise visit from a dear friend I hadn’t seen in 5 years on Christmas Eve !
The best gift I ever got was the year I had a toddler and was pregnant with our second. My husband took the day off work. We didn’t even do anything special, it was just such a nice surprise!
So glad to hear about your son! What a huge weight to be lifted off you guys – good luck in the coming year, here’s hoping for shortbread by next Christmas! 🙂
I’m so happy for you! That is such wonderful news. I know I should probably say best gift ever is something like my kids, or world peace, but I really loved the diamond my husband gave me for my 40th. Oh, and the Excalibur dehydrator he gave me for Valentine’s Day 🙂
The best give that I have been given is a trip to visit my family. 6 years ago we were struggling to pay for a trip to BC to spend Christmas with my Nana before she passed away. The company that my husband worked for at the time gave him a very generous Christmas bonus that paid for our trip. It is a gift I’m never going to forget.
This is amazing news, Anne!
I’d have to say the best gift I received was much like yours. Oliver passed the peanut oral challenge in the spring! No more carrying epi-Pens and being on edge ALL THE TIME! Merry Christmas!
The best gift we ever gave anyone was a Christmas Tree and a few toys to a single, immigrant mom who had just left an abusive relationship and really had nothing. She was so happy and we were so happy; it was just happiness everywhere!
This year, we have an amazing present our family is giving to ourselves – we are adopting our beloved foster dog Frida. We love her so and we just couldn’t let her go!
The best gift I ever received was two cabbage patch kids from my godmother. This was next level luck. I think I got whiplash from looking at each one back and forth wondering if this was REALLY HAPPENING. (In the 80s at their peak they were a) elusive & b) pricey.)
Today I watched a woman walk down the sidewalk towards the intersection where I was stopped to turn right. I waited for her to get to walk before I turned, although I could have gone. I wanted to tell her her shirt looked amazing on her – the colour of blue lit her up and when I told her, she looked more genuinely happy than I had seen anyone look in a long, jaded while.
The cost to me was $0 and she will now probably smile every time she wears that shirt. The best part? The compliment was absolutely true, and many other times would have gone unspoken, but today I was feeling about 56% less assholish than usual, so I spoke up.
The best gift I received was a return plane ticket to visit my family for Christmas when I was in University and unable to afford the trip and struggling with being homesick.
How very patient you are – congratulations on this new result! Best Gift I ever received was finding out I was pregnant for the second time.
the best gift ever was my son comming ome from the nicu 2 weeks before christams this is a miracle i dont take lightley. he was my miracle and the holidays are extra special for us
A friend crocheted me a hat and scarf in my favourite colours. It was the first time I’d received a hand made item and the fact she picked out colours I loved made it even nicer.
Great news for your family! Greatest gift I ever received were tickets to go see the Ellen Show!
The best gift I ever got was a pair of dress boots I had wanted but couldn’t afford.
The best gift was my son flying out to spend christmas,
The best gift that was ever given to me, was when I was newly married and my dad gave me a $200 gift card for groceries!
Homemade meal
The best gift someone gave me was just recently. I am hosting a Secret Santa and someone sent me a camera. It was a lifesaver. Mine had broken some time ago and I was falling behind and even having to turn down reviews and more for my website. I was almost at the point of shutting everything down. I was lost without a camera. I still do not know who the person was but to me he or she is an angel!!!! Saved my website!!!
I remember receiving my first bicycle for Christmas. I was so excited. It really has become a great memory for me.
I had a tough time this fall and 3 girls I used to work with sent me a really sweet holiday card as well as some very funny fox earmuffs. They were hilarious and I was touched that they thought of me!
The best gift I ever received was the year my parents gave my family a Disney cruise with them. The real gift was the time we got to spend with the entire family together.
My husband gave me a mixer. I love to bake so this gift was and is really special to me.
He best gift I ever gave was skydiving for me and my boyfriend. Not only could we do it together, it was also an experience we will never forget
My sister gave me a KitchenAid mixer which I never expected and thought was so extravagant at the time.!
My best gift ever was finding out I was pregnant with my 4th child, because after my 3rd i found out I had cervical cancer and did 5 years of treatment and was told I would never have another baby! Right before Christmas I got very sick and was so worried it had come back, booked an appointment with my Doctor and walked up to get some gravel from my local drug store and in the same Isle they had pregnancy test on clearance, so I bought them as a joke for my sisters stocking. Once I got home hubby seen and said wouldn’t it be funny if you where pregnant and then we both became sad knowing what we knew….later that night I decided maybe I should make sure these things work since they where on sale for $2 each..regular $24.99. So Secretly I took one and was waiting for the NO and it cam back 3 PLUS WEEKS……Christmas Miracles really do happen and my kids where so happy that everyone in my house was crying happy tears….BEST CHRISTMAS EVER!! Now this Christmas our little baby girl who is One will be enjoying Christmas with us and opening her own presents!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!
The best gift I received was the birth of my oldest daughter born the 21st of December
The best gift I got was a used car from my parents when I got my drivers license.
The best gift I was ever given was my daughter being born few days before Christmas
This year I gave my husband the gift of wine. He is going to be making his own wine and taking a class. He was thrilled.
The best gift I received was a quillow that my sister made. It is a quilt that folds up into a pillow. It is extra special as my sister handmade it!
I gave my son a hockey stick and new hockey bag he has been wanting,He did not know I had it,so he was pretty excited,it filled me with cheer!! 🙂
I sent my friend who lives in the states a really cool coffee mug with his name on it for Christmas, it really made his day, it was a huge surprise. I love making people smile!
The best gift I gave was giving my parents a much needed vacation. It took a lot of saving, but they were very happy to get it and I was very happy to give it!!
Best gift I was given was the handmade ornaments and potted dog from my son
Best gift i gave was this year to my nephew.
It was a new xbox game. He had so much fun with it and thanked me over and over.
The best gift ever given to me was when my parents gave us a cruise for Christmas as a teenager. It was a fantastic experience that I’ll never forget!
When my daughter was 3, it was my birthday and she gave me her favourite rock. It has been my favourite gift ever since. She used to take the rock with her wherever we went, that’s how important it was to her, and when she gave it to me, she told me that she wanted me to have it b/c she loved her rock, and she loved me.
I got a Cabbage Patch Kid that year that everyone wanted them – my Mom stood in a snowstorm for hours to wait in line for the next delivery!
A great one was when my husband got us both new wedding rings.
I gave my father a cross stitch pattern that I worked on for months. It was of a fish that said “Gone Fishin’!”. I was so proud of it and he was so happy with it and would show it off to everyone that went to his place.
Best gift i ever got was a Telescope when i was a child.
My department giving me a spa day away out of town.
My daughter gave me an early Christmas gift of a trip to Hawaii. This filled one of my dreams of places to visit.
Best gift was a new Airfryer that I use a lot!
Best gift was a hand made card that I can tell took a lot of creativity to make
The best gift I ever gave to anyone was the Kitchen Aid mixer I gave to my Mom. She was so delighted. It also helped with getting future gifts by adding the attachments. LOL
Thanks for the chance and Happy New Year.
I got a stand-mixer from my partner last year. I have always wanted one and I am still infatuated with it.
My favorite gift I ever record was my amazing hair straightener. It was something I wanted/needed, but wouldnt spend that much on myself.
The best gift I received was a trip home to Nova Scotia to visit my parents and extended family.
The best gift I received was a trip as i was in desperate need of a holiday!
The best gift someone gave to me was my sister’s gift of a painting she made for me based on one my favourite movies.