haha doesnt it seem like this is something most of us go through? So my mother in law is as sweet as can be but is a stinker when it comes to being picky. My husband and I are racking our brains with what to get for her and her hubby(who could care less...go figure).
We were thinking a fruit of the month club or a bed and breakfast gift certificate, but I am afraid she will say that we didint get them presents to open...that has been said before. I cant spend a fortune, I was thinking aboutt $150.00 .
Any ideas?
Everybody Loves Raymond had an episode involving the Fruit of the Month Club. LOL "What will I do with all this fruit?"
150$???
presents to unwrap?!?! seriously, what are they, 4?
buy them what you want to buy them. they (or anyone else) do not have the right to tell you what and how to get them presents! that is SO rude!
if you so desire, wrap the gift certificate in a series of boxes. that would actually be fun.
Does she like things like the fruit of the month? If not it could be an insult. Does she collect anything that you could add to the collection? Maybe take a look around her house for figurines or vases for her taste and find something that goes with it. Do you ever go shopping with her? If you haven't recently then you should go shopping and for lunch or something and watch her go through the store and watch for reactions. Then go back and buy the thing she picked up and loved but put back. It has worked great for me with my mom and best friend. I surprised them by remembering something the loved but forgot about. Good luck.
If you decide to go a fruit of month or whatever, check out Zingerman's bakery on line...actually it's in MN somewhere, so maybe you know about it...but it rocks. I've ordered a few things from there and they are all tasty. They do coffee cakes, etc. You could do a similar thing to what Bethany said and wrap up some coffee beans and some mugs with a catalog that says what they'll be getting. It's sort of the best of both worlds! You could also order an extra coffee cake or whatever and wrap that up for them to open so they can try it and know what they're in for!
How about a great picture of your family in a really nice frame as something for them to open...and then do something with the fruit/nuts or bed and breakfast to go with it?
I have picked gifts that are practical, gifts that are luxurious, gifts according to her interests, gifts I think she would like to get, NOTHING is ever right. There is always a comment. So I finally figured out that it isn't me, it is HER. Now I just buy a gift in November to get it over with, knowing it isn't the perfect gift, and I know it isn't me, it is her.
Sorry - wish i had better advice, but seriously, if people are the type that would complain about a gift instead of just saying "thank you", it is their problem, not yours.
Purchase 1 gift with good thoughts in mind, be done with it, and enjoy the season no matter what!
Merry Christmas! :)
I love the B&B idea. To give her 'something to open' you could put the gift certificate into a small box, wrap it and put it into a larger box. Then wrap THAT box and repeat as many times as you like :) tee hee
If you do the bed and breakfast idea, you could package it up with the info, a couple of coffe mugs, maybe some candles and a bottle of champagne. She'll have something to open, and everyone wins. :)
Love the gift certificate idea for bed and breakfast. Maybe you could get them monogrammed robes (although those can be pricey), coffee cups w/their initials...or something that interests them or...you could do a basket w/items they might use while they are away for her to open. Then, he could open the gift certificate (which is wrapped in a box of course-so he has a present to open!). It's the best of both worlds. Sorry you have picky gift "getters". People just need to be a little more grateful in my opinion...
Ha - your inlaws sound alot like mine!! Very hard to buy for ... although they always act as though they like the gift but then end up returning it or never using it!! About three years ago I thought it would be nice to get them a gift certificate for an overnight stay (including a dinner / theatre package too) and they loved it!! My husband has two older brothers so we all go in on the gift certificate together!! We do this every year now and it's something they look forward too!! I'd say go for the bed and breakfast gift certificate ... who doesn't want some time away??
As for the fruit of the month club idea ... great idea and I've also thought of doing that for my parents ... do you watch Everybody Loves Raymond?? If so have you seen the episode where Ray and Debra sign Ray's parents up for the fruit of the month?? Their reaction is the best and just remembering it has made me laugh!!
Fruit of the month sounds great!
Especially if they like the kinds of fruits that will be sent.
As for something to open on Xmas Day (or eve),
wrap up a couple of apples or grapefruits or whatever
and put them in a gift-wrapped box
along with the notice that they will be getting fruit every month
for the next year.
It would be a cold day in you-know-where before I would stress over it that much. She sounds like an ungrateful you-know-what to me.
How about this idea: NOTHING!? There are no universal laws that state that everyone that expects a gift gets O..
Love the framed family picture idea...or just go buy anything and include a gift receipt since she'll probably return it anyway.
I don't suppose you can just ask them what they want? Otherwise, I would get them something that they can open from a store they like and then include the gift receipt so they can return it if they don't want it. I think that's more personal than a gift card but with most of the same benefits.
Try getting a gift card. You can open them and spend them however you like. I wouldn't rack my brain every year if i'm going to get the same results. They have restaraunts in gift cards. Find out what she's into and go from there.
Good Luck
Are they wine drinkers? Check out www.winecountrygiftbaskets.com. They have lots of gift baskets (with and without wine) that have a side variety of crackers, chocolates, cheeses, coffees, teas, nuts, etc. They come in nice baskets or tins. Some also come with things like cheese knives, cutting boards, coffee mugs, etc. They range in price from $20-$300. There are a lot of really nice baskets in the $50-$75 range. That's what we are doing for some of my in-laws. If I get anything from some of them it is a gift card. After years of putting a lot of thought into my in-law gifts and having them not even say thank you (or worse), I don't put much effort into it any more. It seemed dumb to me to just exchange gift cards so we are going to try these this year.
Give her the Key to the Secret Fountain of Youth. It Works!
You can't go wrong here. She will love the way she looks and how her skin will take on its own youthful glow. Making her feel young again. What better gift is there.
A $299.00 Value For Only $99.00!
Let It Glow Holiday Gift Package
For those on your list whom deserves a bit of pampering, treat them to the luxurious, naturally based It Works skincare line.
The Let it Glow Holiday Gift Package includes:
...1 box of Facial Applicators, 4 per box,
1 Bottle of Cleanser Gel, 1 bottle of Hydrating Toner,
and 1 jar of Lifting Lip and Eye Cream.
http://secrefountainofyouth.itworks.com/
The Name Says It all IT WORKS!
Good Luck in your Search. L. W
