Need gift suggestions

18 years ago

Here is the story:

We are going to San Diego next weekend. My best friend and her boyfriend live in Tennessee and will be in SD to celebrate Christmas early with his parents. About 6 months ago, his Mom sent me some carpet spotter (they have a carpet cleaning business). We struck up an email friendship as a result. She has invited us to surprise my best friend and her boyfriend when they get to SD.

I want to take them a gift for allowing us to infringe on their Christmas. I don't know if they drink wine...I don't know if they have food allergies...I don't know a lot about them, other than I know they are in their late 60's and still work. I am emailing their son to see if he has any suggestions. But I am hoping I can get some from some of you. I am thinking a gift basket maybe?

Thanks in advance!

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Comments (5)

sheilajoyce_gw
18 years ago
I have learned that people who both work are often short of homemade goodies. Bake some interesting breads and take them for the freezer or to serve. I like to make pumpkin bread, zucchini bread, banana bread and nut breads. Some gals like to make that jalapino (SP?)jelly. Others make toffee or carmels. At this time of year, it is nice to help those who work to celebrate the holidays with your gifts of time consuming homemade goodies. If it is something they cannot eat, they can use it to serve their guests.
glenda_al
18 years ago
I was in a dilema as to what to give to my neighbor and his ladyfriend. They have given me some nice gifts.

So went to winery, yesterday, they were having an open house, and thinking a bottle of their blueberry wine.

BUT spied a beautiful bottle of grape seed oil with a jar of 4 dipping seasonings. You know that you see in Italian restaurants, to mix with the oil to dip you Tuscan bread in.

$14.95, which wasn't bad and I have a beautiful wine bottle stocking to put it in.
Mighty pleased with my gift :o)
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It's a good idea this year NOT to buy gift cards to specific stores. There's really no way of knowing which ones will still be around in January. I don't think a gift card is really the right way to go for the kind of situation you describe, but if you do feel that's the best choice, get a MALL gift card--that way, it can be used in any store, for clothes, books, music, etc, and all the stores in any given mall are unlikely to go out of business. For kids that age--if you can get an idea of sizes, casual clothes are always good. A winter coat might be needed and appreciated. Girls--maybe a craft kit to make jewelry or something else sparkly, or any bath, body, nail, make-up stuff is generally up their alley. Boys--sporting goods. Books, if you think they'd enjoy them, although picking books for kids you don't know is a challenge. Would you be allowed to buy tickets to a play, concert or sporting event and take them yourself? That would be an awesome gift, but it might not be possible in the situation. Of course, if you can find out what each child's specifically interested in, you'll be home free--much easier, if you can get that info somehow. And thanks for taking an interest and helping someone who surely needs someone who cares.
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uxorial
18 years ago
If you're driving, I'd get them a big poinsettia plant. In San Diego, they can probably keep it all year long.

Or how about a gift basket of goodies that you can get only where you live? I did that for my MIL's birthday a couple weeks ago. I just went to the supermarket and got things that are made in my state, like cookies, chocolate-dipped strawberries, marionberry jam, wine, and a snack mix.
okwriter
18 years ago
I like gift baskets that are regional - in other words, with treats that are grown/made where the giver lives.
(Man, that is hard to say! Giver lives, giver lives, giver lives...)

:-)
bestlawn
18 years ago
Sparking cider is good substitue for alcoholic beverages. I like giving wine or champagne along with a couple appropriate glasses. Sparkling cider w/ champagne flutes or grapes juice in wine bottle w/ wine glasses. Mikasa is my favorite stemware because they always such interesting designs. I love their current Agena design. My set is Park Lane and is less than half price because it's an older design, so you can get two for $6 each.

Something else they both can use is a
.

Need gift suggestions

Comments (5)

sheilajoyce_gw

glenda_al

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uxorial

okwriter

bestlawn

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