If your crafty maybe you could make a cool scrap book with pics of her from birth until now. Include pics of her with friends if you have any. And maybe you find old report cards, art work she made as a kid, tickets to concerts or movies she went to, or pics of of her going to her first school dance. Things like that.

If I think of any other ideas I'll get back to you!

If you asked my twelve year old, she would suggest a dog..

Jeez, I don't know all boys here, I was going to suggest a nice sterling silver charm bracelet, but? Sorry I 'll think about it a little more, What does she like to do? Maybe there are some CD's she would like or a Itunes card if she has a ipod-guess that's not to meaningful but...I like the keepsake album idea posted by sugarland ;0)

When my niece turned 13 I took her to get her ears pierced with my SIL's permission but I can see that might cause issues with some parents.

Well some meaningful gifts we have given the kids and they loved are:

I have made photo albums for each of them of their favorite pictures, they keep them on their bookshelves in their rooms

I took my sd's to the fabric store and had them pick out fabrics they liked and we worked together making curtains, pillows, and comforters for their bedroom that matched and looked really nice. Since they went with all purple and pink we also took some of the old picture frames we had around the house that were not being used and painted them with purple and pink paints. Then we went through all our pictures and they picked their favorites to blow up and put into the frames.

One of my sd's is really into High School Musical, so as one of her Christmas presents just me and her went to see High School Musical on Ice and she got a souvenier and I took some great pictures and made her an album with them

And on each kids birthday they always get a choice of whatever they want for us to make for dinner that night.

Also, we have wrapped up a homemade giftcard for a certain amount and told them they can pick what we do for a day and that is how much money they have to spend (not a shopping spree---but a trip to the movies, bowling, lunch, or whatever they choose for us to all do together) They can pick if they just want a daddy and me, mommy and me, or a family day with that gift card.

Hope that helps!

This is kind of shallow but I know 13 year olds like MP3 players, new cell phones, & nice purses. Have you thought about sending her flowers & balloons at school? Girls love to feel special. How about Build a Bear with you & Dad telling her how special she is on the recording? Have you ever gone to shutterfly.com? I made my mom a photo book & it turned out awesome. It's like a scrapbook but not as difficult. What about stationary & note cards w/ her name on it? What about a new camera? There are so many things I can think of but better stop here. Hope it helps. Also, do you have a Michaels. They have candy making classes that the two of you could take together. It's alot of fun.

God this sounds horrible . . . SD has most of the things mentioned, and we have done almost all others!! Her mom has already purchased an ipod, Coach purse, balloons at school, gold chain . . . she is very into the showy type of gift.
We got her a camera for Christmas and made a Shutterfly book from the Christmas shots (I also did these as gifts for grandparents, they are the COOLEST!), just went out and bought fabric for her new room in our new house a couple months ago (still haven't made them though!!). Her aunt got her a charm bracelet when she was born and gets her a charm each year (love that!) We did a beading class at Michaels last month with my co-workers and their daughters (such a fun time!). The Build a Bear could be an idea though as she has often said while she is at her moms she wants to call just to hear our voices, but I fear it might get the same treatment as her cell phones and get washed. Mom2 you also gave me an idea - Hannah Montana 3D is coming that week I think - we could make a fun night of that! We saw her in concert 2 years ago and had a great time. I also love the gift card idea - that is special.
Thanks for all the ideas guys - please keep them coming!!

Sometimes I give my children lessons, such as horseback riding, guitar, snowboarding, martial arts. If you commit to a limited period, it is not that expensive. Of course if they really love it, it is hard (or impossible) to not keep going.

I think the silver charm bracelet sounds like a very good idea, but only as an extra. If you can get her a charm that represents the day she was born, a charm that represents something she loves like sports or hobbies, then leave the rest of the spaces for her to add charms as she grows older. Other than that I have no idea, no girls here.

For my SD's birthday this year, I am taking her to the salon for a "girl's day out", and we are going to get pedicures. Ever since she overheard me telling my husband how wonderful the pedicure I got before the wedding was (I had never had one, and they are GREAT!!!), she has been dying to go for one. The salon I went to with the relaxing massage chair and bubbling foot bath doesn't allow children under 10, so this year, when she turns 10, we're on our way!!

A Girls Day Out sounds good. Or dinner out at a great restaurant.

I've had a full-blown crash course in the teenage stepdaughter department!!! For a girl that has so many material things already?? Something meaningful??? My bet would be time - the most precious commodity of all!!! Spend the day with her - get her nails done, get her hair done, window shop, grab a pretzel at the mall and buy her that horrible blue/black nail polish she's been begging for!!!! Sometimes the most meaningful and memorable things are the times spent together - focus all your attention on her and make her feel like the princess she knows she is!!

I would say time as well . . . but this year is her year to spend her birthDAY with her mom. Mom is then bringing her to the party that evening . . . more on that to follow. I also want something that DH can share in and he just got his toes done last week! :-)

It is truly hard as her mother is a big buyer of *things* so when you want a *thing* to buy they are already purchased. Christmas is a nightmare. It also causes SD not to value the *time and effort* type of gifts as much because she is a teen ager and is all about possesions, and she gets those from mom. This makes me truly sad.

I found a bracelet on Thngs Remembered with her birthstone that I can have engraved so I may go that route even though I know she will lose it - it will hopefully at least be meaningful when she opens it. Bonus is that it's on sale. . . . :-)