Oh and I forgot to mention that I have to get something for her from the kids and she has a birthday at the beginning of January. I really get hit all at once.

Get her a massage and a pedicure... ;)

LOL, Eileen, she could probably use it. I know I'm one of those weird people who HATE massages and have never had a pedicure because I can't stand people messing with my feet or rubbing my back.

I'd say go with what she mentioned, which is the dehydrator. I have one and I love it, my old one got used so much it just caught on fire and melted. Besides fruit leather she can make all kinds of dried fruit, gummy candy out of zucchini (yeah, I did that), and jerky, all kid friendly foods.

However, if you really want to keep your bread machine, you might want to go in that direction...

I have a Zojirushi and love it, but I bought Makayla a brand new one at GoodWill for $7, not a Zo and it makes one loaf but it works just fine.

Annie

Annie I've been checking Goodwill, Salvation Army store and consignment shops but found no bread machines. I did find a Hamilton Beach breadmaker on sale at Sears for $59.99. The breadmaker looks pretty good and does have a WW cycle which mine doesn't have. I also found a Nesco dehydrator on walmart.com for about that price too but I know nothing about dehydrators. I know she mentioned making fruit leathers for her daughter because most of the ones you buy have apples in them and GD is allergic to apples.

bryansda - as simple as your daughter's needs are, any dehydrator would work well for fruit leathers. And, annie1992's zuchinni candy is nutritious and easy to make, plus, plain old fruit of any kind dries well and they make great healthy snacks for the kids.

A toaster oven with a good book on what to make in it might be something else to consider. The kids are just about old enough to make their own English muffin pizza's, baked potatoes, or toasted cheese sandwiches. I found a snazzy Black & Decker one at K-Mart for less than $50. Intending it to be a gift, it decided to live with me after thinking about the little things I make that need cooking/broiling/toasting but not with a microwave or a kitchen full of heat from the big oven.

Annie1992- I'm with you - I don't want anyone but those I love touching me with massages. Manicures and pedicures are out since I never have any nails and certainly would pop fake ones off in an instant, and, feet are ticklish.

Gift certs for hair cut/style once a month would be an astonishingly wonderful gift for me. I'll have to talk to Santa.

Nancy

If you know she would like a dehydrator that is definitely what I would get her. You know that she will appreciate that you bought her something that she really wanted.

Ann

What about a juicer/smoothie machine. I have a juicer and I love it. It makes me feel like I get some of those recommended amounts of vegetables and fruit in a day that I would not normally consume. I also make some fruit juice when the grand kids are here and add some vegetables and they never even know they are drinking their veggies.

Any nice kitchen gadgets, baking pans or wonderful knives are also gifts I enjoy.

I also love candles so anytime someone puts together a beautiful gift of candles for me, I'm happy.

I'd say get the dehydrator for her holiday present - the Nesco brand is one I've heard others say that they have. Then get her something more personal for her birthday gift. If you have a day spa nearby, they may offer a number of services that could pamper her.

Another vote for a dehydrator if that is what she asked for... it sounds like it would get a lot of use!

Alexa

Get her what she asked for....and if you still want to buy her something else...how about an item of clothing ...something extra nice she wouldn't buy herself.
As for a pedicure, you might be surprised...she might love it! Nothing makes you feel more special than having smooth, callus free feet....with pretty painted toenails!

I would be thrilled with any and all kitchen items..

And I would decline the pedicure/massage..people touching me gives me the creeps..LOL

I don't use my dehydrator all the time..but I'm glad to have it..
I miss my bread machine..I think with two young boys she'd appreciate "the extra hands"..and if you noticed her spatulas/rubber scrappers are getting a bit stained, cracked or flimsy..replace a few of those things too.

I'd go for the dehydrator, if that's what you know she'd like.

A nice gift for the whole family is a gift card to a local movie theater in her area in an amount to cover both tickets and snacks. There are always some new family movies out around the holidays.

You may also want to check Craig's List, The Penny Saver or Scottsman or Freecycle for the dehydrator, roaster & bread machine.

Here's another vote to get her the dehydrator since she has mentioned she wants one. The children could get her a nice book on dehydrating and a do-it-yourself pedicure kit from Wally world. Could you afford to get her the bread machine for her birthday from you and the grandkids?

Another vote for the dehydrator. I love mine! Check out Amazon for the Nesco dehydrators and accessories. To make fruit leathers she will need those solid sheets. Amazon has pretty good prices and lots of information about dehydrators.
There is a thread either here or at the Harvest forum about dehydrators that will give you some more info, since you said you know nothing about them. A search will turn that up for you.
Since you are also doing birthday in January, do the kitchen thing for Christmas and a more personal gift for her birthday.

Thank you very much for the ideas. I've been checking around at Goodwill, consignment shops, etc for a bread machine, roaster and dehydrator with no luck. I may have better luck after Christmas or in the spring for what I don't get now. I saw a Hamilton Beach bread machine at Sears for $60 that looked nice, but haven't made a decision yet.

I liked the ideas for the personal things but since we live in different towns I have no idea where she gets her hair cut or pedicures. The only clothing I would dare buy without with me are PJs. We have totally different body builds and tastes in clothes. I did get her a purse last night. She called and was going to a big sale at Macy's and wanted to know if I wanted to buy her a purse...LOL. Not much of a surprise, but I do know she likes it.

The dehydrator she only mentioned in passing that's why I'm not sure how much she would use it. I do need to snoop around in her kitchen and see what she needs replaced after the ex took things. I'm sure she could use a few new pots and pans since he ruined 2 sets while they were married. If we get to go there this weekend I'll try to do some snooping around.

If she mentioned it to you then I would get her the dehydrator. We have the Nesco brand and just love it. Besides jerky, fruit slices and leathers we use it to speed the drying time for our biscotti. For her birthday does she have a favorite restaurant she likes. A gift card to it would be nice. How about a couple of movie tickets and a card saying you will babysit that evening? NancyLouise

There are several Goodwills and Sal.Army stores around here and I can't recall seeing bread machines in them, except for one at the Goodwill, didn't look too good. They seemed to have mostly clothes. I happened to go into a Hospice thrift store and they had a lot of bread machines for about 7 or 8 dollars and much more houseware and dishes than at the other more common stores.