Our Favorite Holiday Gift Memories

Part of the magic of the holidays is watching children open a much-awaited gift. At Piccalio, we try to keep our inner child at the forefront so we can connect to the children who use our products. This season, we decided to take a trip down memory lane and recall special holiday gifts from our childhood. Many of these gifts were simple, yet they created unforgettable, long-lasting memories. 

Tayler Worrell - Senior Director of Marketing

I think my favorite holiday gift as a kid was a toy box that my mom filled with secondhand Halloween princess costumes she got from Goodwill. To this day, I remember wearing my favorite Disney princess costumes until they fell apart. That gift lasted me years and years of playtime and was passed down to my two younger sisters. 

Cait Goodman - Senior Designer

I loved my Easy-Bake Oven! On Christmas Day, my sister and I spent hours mixing the pink-printed mixture packets, pouring the batter into the tiny baking pan, and eagerly watching the oven until the timer went off. As we got older, we convinced our baby sister to step in as our baker, delivering treats for us once she was old enough to join the fun.

Kaelin Smith - Social Media & Partnerships Manager 

Growing up, my favorite holiday gift was an enchanting tiara paired with a pink princess cape. I remember asking Santa Clause for this exact duo, and my mom mentioned, "Well Santa might not be able to make those two together..." 

When I unwrapped that magical duo, it felt like my imagination had come alive, and I couldn't wait to wear them everywhere I went! With the tiara perched atop my head and the cape billowing behind me, I transformed into the princess of my fairytale. I wore them to playdates, at home, and even during quiet moments before bed. 

My mom could barely get me to take off the accessories—like they were glued to my body. They quickly became an integral part of my wardrobe and filled my days with joy and wonder, making me feel uniquely special in every moment! 

Nora Farahdel - Marketing Coordinator

My favorite holiday gift was a Monopoly board game. I had never played the game before and I was instantly obsessed! This gift started a tradition of playing Monopoly with my cousins for hours upon hours - taking turns at each other’s houses and never seeming to finish the game. 

Giselle Valenzano - Customer Experience Director

It was the stocking stuffers I remember the most! My mom would put the same things in my stocking every year - a huge bag of peanut M&Ms, nail polishes, scrunchies, & lip gloss. She still fills a stocking for me each year with similar treats and trinkets. Today, I look forward to it just as much as I did when I was a kid! 

Rachel Peachey - Content Editorial Manager

One Christmas, long before online shopping was as popular as today, my Dad wrapped up a tiny toy car in a present. I opened it and was perplexed to see an old toy car I had already played with many times when I was younger. Then, I read the note that said, “There’s a truck coming with a gift for you!” Laughter ensued.

Dad hadn’t ordered my new book on time (there was no 2-day delivery back then), but he still found a creative way to give me a present to open on Christmas morning. I got to wait eagerly for a few more days to get a brand-new book. Books were always a favorite present. I loved science fiction and fantasy most of all. Other favorite gifts included arts and crafts items like sketchbooks, new crayons, pens, and markers. 

Sharing What’s Important

Do you remember a favorite gift from childhood? If so, consider taking a minute to share the memory with your own child. Perhaps it will spark a conversation about interests and passions that bring you closer together. No matter what’s under your tree, we hope it inspires wonderful moments with your loved ones.