Several suggested a "gift bag" with several items inside. I like that idea. She is starting off on a "new life" -- a gift bag filled with several items suggested is great. My son (okay a BOY, not a GIRL) for his 18th b-day got "A Can, A Man, A Plan". What an AWESOME cookbook idea that ended up being. In fact, there is one recipe in it that has become a family favorite! I also ended up giving the same cookbook to my nephew when he turned 18. Its a favorite amongst the young! So...a gift bag filled with "starter" things she'll want/need, like nice soaps, lotions, pampering stuff, etc. I think is a great suggestion including a few things she would not probably buy for herself... And a wonderful, personal note inside from her Aunt about "coming of age" =)

If you have a KMart, check the book section. I found lots of neat books that she can push the big buttons and some tell colors, some tell letters and the books have big, bright pretty colors. My Greats love them. Also they like the toy telephones they can push the buttons and it talks back. Not into dolls yet--just pushing buttons. Love animals especially those when you open the page and you can "feel" something--furry, rough, smooth etc Good luck

Yes, I did briefly (and now even more) worry about overspending on one. At my local S.A tree they have sibling tree cards together. My gal Natie was not a combo. So, Tina, should I just not give the wish list part (camera or skates) but give the rest to my girl? Not give poor little Natie these very cool skates? Boo hoo. Really though, I have spent enough. Or, should I take what I have to the gift Tree volunteers, show them what I've got and ask if it should be split? Edited to add: strangely there were mostly boys left on my local angel tree. I'm wondering if it's because their wish list had some expensive things on it. Not much under $140. I know this because my squeaky butt husband was standing at the tree looking stuff up on his phone and then being embarrassingly loud about it. Or, maybe people just prefer to buy for girls? I did ask the volunteers about the many boys on the tree and she did say that every year they have all been taken up by givers. I'm thinking with all the money in my area of Florida combined with the large percent of snowbird wealthy retired people that angel tree kids around here tend to get overspent on. I do think it's a bit more normal. My husband along with others does a toy drive every year and just off that one place three large truck loads of toys will go out. There are hundreds maybe thousands of such toy drives in my county. Mtn, I have always in the past just given money to different causes at Christmas. This is my first time actually getting a kid, a kid with a name and sizes and wants. It's so very addicting!!! In fact it's even more than that as I'm an empty nester. I don't have any kids to buy for and that bites.

I am using just a standard clip on reflector unit with a standard 'daylight' led bulb. The plants like it fine and they actually look real colors rather than that weird 'blurple' coloring. With a 100 watt equivalent ( 15W actual) I get 12000 lumens with lamp 6 inches from plants and no heat problems. This is nearly 50% of average winter daylight in my area. I'm planning to try a 'Night Chaser' bulb as soon as it arrives. 250 watt equivalent at 27W actual should gove at least 20000 lumens or near true sunlight intensity. Although a shade low in blue light, these daylight bulbs seem to have all the wavelengths the plant needs.