I too was saving up for the most expensive act1 items to craft. As it turns out I became ill a week ago and ended up spending 4 days in the hospital. I'm only just back home. As it is I chose to spend donuts to get the orphans. My two other games were so far behind I hadn't even earned the reindeer or finished the snowman so no gingerbread house.
The daily challenges forced me to craft items I already have from last year (bells/lamp post) and didn't want and now the items I wanted are no longer available.
The gifts are a great idea but they are so small, unless they have been dropped by the Simpson's house it's almost impossible to find any stray presents making it harder to earn bows.
I do like the fact that the tasks are in the four hour+ range. The other events crafting items every hour (for three games) while working my usual 10-12 hour days (which funds this gameplay) has been very stressful.