Community Chat

[elainemasey]

Help. No ideas at all. My Mom (86) wants to get my brothers housemate ( not girlfriend ) a little Christmas remembrance. Problem is I know very little about her. What I do know is that I think she is in her 40's, never married- no kids, good job - making good money. Originally from China, maybe a Dead Head and maybe shops on the more organic side. Last year Mom ( I ) sent a pashmina. I have asked dear Brother for some ideas but he was totally unhelpful. Wouldn't even tell me if she was more on the girlie side or sporty. Please, all ideas welcome. Mom just wants her to have a little something to open on Christmas. Thank you.

[hckynut]

Can never go wrong with the green stuff that is now seldom used. It is called ""cash/$$$$"".

[Kachina624]

How about a gift card to one of the organic grocery stores? Some really nice cloth grocery bags?

[Peaches McPhee]

Beauty supplies/ bath stuff / pampering. You can probably find natural or organic stuff without too much difficultly. Everyone loves to be pampered.

[JamicaJammer]

How about some pretty bath towels? Surely your brother can tell you the color of her bathroom, right?

[chrystaltree]

Do not give her a gift card and do not give her cash. I like the set of bath towels that someone mentioned. I'd give her gloves or a silk scarf or or a wallet. Something that everyone uses. You don't know her, she doesn't know you; so it's just a "thinking of you" gift. If she re-gifts it, that's okay.

[Vamp]

Since you know very little about her, give her a gift card. Personally, I do not want more bath/beauty/spa products. I have plenty, and I prefer to pick them out myself. And, yes, everyone uses a wallet, gloves, and silk scarves (really?) but she probably already has those things. Again, it sounds like you don't know her well or her tastes, so why guess? Since she is not a personal friend, why get her a personal gift??Just give her a gift card. I'm sure she'll appreciate it, and she can pick out something she really wants or needs.

The end.

[elainemasey]

Thank you everyone for your suggestions. I have given gift cards for many occasions but I don't think they accomplish what Mom was looking for. I was concerned that beauty products are too personal or allergies. I bought the pashmina last year so I was thinking a scarf was too similar. Is it? Not sure how much storage room she has for extra towels. She rents a small room in his house. I think I'll just go with some organic hand cream and such and stop thinking about it. Thanks for your thoughts.

[GCR18]

Organic hand cream sounds good.

[goodstuff]

I think gift cards are excellent gifts for people we don't personally know very well. Almost everyone will enjoy and use a gift card to a bookstore, a movie theater, a coffee shop, or a local specialty store.