... in which I introduce the world to a long-standing family tradition

My family is sometimes odd. Ten years ago my aunt bought my mother a really ugly seashell-shaped nightlight from the Bahamas, beginning a long tradition of tacky gift giving. My mother and I countered with a giant pencil from the Mall of America. My first solo contribution was a t-shirt for my aunt from Kathmandu. It was in the style of Hard Rock Cafe shirts, but said Hard Yak Cafe. It was brilliant, believe me. Since my aunt died three years ago, my mom and I have continued the contest in her honor.

The contest rules are simple. Whenever we travel anywhere, we look for tacky gifts. But not just any tacky gifts, they have to be useful, so that you can't hide it in a drawer or box it up, you have to display it. We have a $10 price limit, and you get bonus points if the destination name is on the item. Airport gift shops are usually the best place to find these objects, I've found.

Now, there is some debate as to who's winning right now. On a recent trip to Tulsa for a conference, I picked up this gem at a rest stop in Oklahoma. I thought it was a pencil holder, my mom thinks it's supposed to be a votive candle holder. I paired it with a tin pencil sharpener in the shape of a saddle. I think it doesn't get much more tacky than this...

My mom believes she has won with a lobster shaped magnet she acquired for me on her last trip to Maine. She included a note in the package written on the lovely Montecello notepaper I got her for a previous contest entry, using a pencil she sharpened in the saddle-sharpener. While this does earn her bonus points, I'm not so sure she should win this round....

So my question to you is this... which Tacky But Useful gift should win?