The holiday season has come and gone, and the spring semester is now in session, but some Penn State students may still be thinking about the gifts they collected over the winter break.

"I received an overabundance of socks," Ryan McKenzie (sophomore-secondary education) said. "I'd say I got about 15 pairs, and I was already doing fine in the sock department."

Socks were not the only gift students found disappointing.

"The worst present I got was an enlarged ugly Santa ornament from an out-of-town aunt," Maureen McCormick (freshman- business administration) said. "I felt like I was a grandma."

Food products as gifts did not sit well with some Penn State students.

"I got a package of Slim Jims this year," Brad O'Connor (freshman-engineering) said. "I don't really know why."

Some gifts surprised students over the holidays.

"I got a self-portrait of myself from my ex-boyfriend for Christmas," Michelle Woolford (sophomore-advertising/public relations) said.

Other students exchanged their unwanted gifts for things they actually wanted to open this year.

"I returned a shirt at Abercrombie & Fitch and got a sweatshirt instead," Jackie Thompson (sophomore-division of undergraduate studies). "I wear it almost every day."

Some students took a different approach and returned items in hopes of finding something they would want in the future.

"My mom got me this book she thought I wanted from Barnes & Noble, but I returned it for a gift card instead," Woolford said.

Just as Santa ornaments and Slim Jims were unwanted surprises to some gift receivers, many stores found that some products did not sell as expected.

"Toy sales were not as strong as in years past," said Brad Swanson, manager of Target, 315 Lowes Blvd.

Although toys were not as popular as expected this year, other products boomed off the gift-giving charts.

"We sold an abundance of iPods, LCD televisions and Xbox 360s," Swanson said. "The only problem with the Xbox 360s was that no one could get their hands on them before they sold out."

However, some were able to snag the popular item this holiday season.

"I got an Xbox360," Eric Lutsey (freshman-mechanical engineering) said when asked what he received for the holidays.

Besides the many technological presents given and received throughout the holidays this year, stores like Access, 224 E. College Ave., had success in selling their fashion products.

"Jewelry was very popular this year, especially the long, beaded necklaces," Kara Boots (senior-media studies), an Access employee, said.

"Bath and body products also sold very well; however, clothing did not seem to sell as much."

Students were excited to receive gifts that would help them relax this semester.

"I got massage oils from Bath & Body Works," Woolford said.

Students appreciated receiving gifts that provided the financial backing for travel.

"I bought a plane ticket to Miami for spring break with the money I got as a gift," Thompson said.

Some gifts, however, were less common than jewelry, cash and beauty products.

"I would say my best gift was a didgeridoo that my brother got me," McKenzie said. "It's an Australian aboriginal instrument that sounds real cool. I really don't know how to play it yet, but it looks awesome. Either that, or the Spider-Man Band-Aids that my dad put in my stocking."

Besides receiving gifts, students had to figure out what presents to give their friends and loved ones.

"I gave my friends shirts that say 'I love Intercourse,' and at the bottom, it says 'Pennsylvania' really small," Lutsey said.

Other people took a different route and gave handcrafted presents to their family members.

"I made my mom a pair of earrings," Woolford said.