I got crappy Shampoo & Conditioner from my sister. Literally. I got like 3 bottles of each and it's the kind that jacks up my hair to no end with the shampoo and then I have to use 1/2 a bottle of the conditioner to get it to make my hair feel right. I was like "You gotta be joking me right now... A $10 gift card would've easily sufficed, dude. At least that's what I got -you- anyway." I'd even gone so far as to order one from Bonefish Grille (one of the few places that has a decent gluten-free menu).

I was really tempted to re-gift them back to her later, but I didn't. She made up for it the year after that though when she gave me another of her 8 million Coach bags she doesn't use.

I'm a gift-card person. IDK what people like or if they'll love or hate what I give them, so I just go the gift card route... It's rare that I come up with something cute/thoughtful..
I think the last time was the 1st Xmas I spent with my ex. He'd gotten a new printer for his laptop, so I bought him a package each of printer & photo paper, extra ink cartridges, a photo album, and had some of the pictures of him & his son printed off from his digital camera & put them in the album & put it all in a big basket for him along with his favorite snacky foods. Creativity & thoughtfulness only happens with me like once every 5 years or so.