The Two Best Christmas Presents I Received This Year

In my family, we’ve found it’s best if each person just makes a list of the things they’d like for Christmas and then circulates that around to everyone else.  Maybe this sounds terribly unromantic to you, but I can’t tell you how easy it makes things for the rest of us.  We all still go rogue for certain presents (especially for my dad, who always asks for really lame stuff like socks when I know what he actually needs is a paperweight in the shape of Shakespeare’s head), but without going off on a tangent on the economics of gift-giving (you know I could), I must confess I really like this system.  We all get pretty much what we want/need/can’t or won’t buy for ourselves.

With that said, my mom totally went off the map this year and got me one of the best presents I’ve received in a long time.  What on earth could this amazing gift be?  Hold onto your hats, people, because I received an electric toothbrush and I love it.  I know, I know, an electric toothbrush sounds like the epitome of lame, but let me tell you why it’s actually not even a little lame (ok, maybe just a little).  First of all, my dentist had been gently suggesting that I get one for a long time, and I kept putting it off because of the price.  If I’m going to drop upwards of $75, it’s not going to be for something as utilitarian and un-fun as a toothbrush.  I would never have actually bought one for myself.  Second of all, it cleans my teeth SO WELL.  You know that amazing, pearl-smooth feeling you get when the dentist cleans your teeth with all his special little tools, and then you spend the rest of your day running your tongue over them and avoiding eating anything so that you don’t spoil your precious, pristine mouth?  You get that feeling every time you brush with an electric toothbrush.  Or, more specifically, the Phillips Sonicare X100000, or whatever actual special number/letter combination mine is.  Seriously, it’s awesome.  Electric toothbrushes are also supposed to be better for your gums, which I appreciate after having had gum graft surgery a few years ago.  Anything to avoid going through that nonsense again.  So, if you don’t already know this special dental secret (I realize I might be late to the party), go out and get yourself a good little electric toothbrush.  Life changing, people, and definitely worth the money.  Although throw a bar of chocolate into the cart too, to make yourself feel a little less lame for dropping all that money on a toothbrush.

The second best thing I received for Christmas was something I actually did request, and my mom wisely also got one for my sister.  Twenty years later and she’s still worried about the ramifications of not buying us each the exact same thing.  Anyway, the gift was the Olay face brush thing, ahem, I mean the "Olay Professional Pro-X Advanced Cleansing System", and it is also amazing.  I don’t generally have skin problems, other than the odd blemish here and then, but I hadn’t realized how dull my skin looked until I’d been using this little brush for a few days and was blown away by how radiant my skin looked.  It’s like I’m glowing!  My sister, who does have more skin woes than I do, reports that her skin is much happier than it’s been in a long time.  At $30-ish, this product isn’t as much of a commitment as the Clarisonic version, and I highly recommend it, especially since harsh winter weather tends to dull even the most brilliant of skin.

I guess you know you’re an adult when your two most exciting Christmas presents (one of which you explicitly requested) are both personal-cleaning devices.  So tell me, what’s the best (or most utilitarian) gift you received this year?