Gift Guide #9: The Impossible-to-Shop-For Crowd (You Know Who You Are)

For a funny gift for a friend, I bought for several people as a joke this year from Amazon bangles that are a flask. They come in a variety of colours and even come with a little funnel! They have been a big hit. My hairstylist screamed that it was even better than her engagement ring. I got the idea from the Shahs of Sunset tv show of all places.

I love your gift guides– but I still feel lost regarding what to get my son’s daycare teachers. I want to get something a bit more than a gift card– I mean they’ve changed ALL those diapers, haha! And really provided a home-away-from-home for my son when I’m at work.

As a teacher, THANK YOU for the great suggestions — I’d love any of those. In addition to mugs (and Bath & Body Works products and Yankee Candles, womp womp…) I get sooo much SUGAR. Chocolate bars, boxes of chocolates, homemade cookies, etc. etc. I end up giving it all away… would much prefer some flowers or a gift card.

This is amazing…and free…printable posters of Maya Angelou, RBG, Frida Kahlo….but the artist has a beautiful online shop. https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=19631&fbclid=IwAR04hMKq4xxka4PPL-jrCcRtfQC2Si6PWUiRI3Tqx_Rxrlh6A_ItVb-G8FE

I always try to buy sentimental gifts for my parents. It’s sometimes hard to think of something new and thoughtful every year. I ended up finding a music crank that plays the song (What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong) that my dad and I danced to at my wedding. I can just see him now opening the box, his head tilting to one side, and saying “awwwwww”.

I work on the marketing team at Aura Frames and saw this comment thread come up in my google alerts.

“Kelly” please reach out to me directly via support@auraframes.com – I would love to help you gift an Aura frame for your grandpa this holiday. All he would need is a WiFi connection to receive real-time photos from family members. It’s a very easy way for him to stay connected with you all.

Best,
Christine

I love the reading pin!

Rebecca

I wore the heart of gold bangle for my wedding as my only jewelry because I listened to the song non-stop during wedding planning. I thought at the time that I should buy something more “precious” but I like wearing it now in my normal life with a toddler and remembering how it felt to put it on the first time.

This website gives me life. If you are Latino or identify with our culture, check this out. They have Selena Loteria, Chespirito Loteria, Selena prints and air fresheners! Perfect white elephant gifts, stocking stuffers!! https://www.ruthlezzsociety.com/collection/la-washing-machine

My parents got my MIL a gift card to the local car wash. I think it was her favorite gift last year! I only wish I had thought of it first.

For those of you buying a teacher or teacher’s aid a gift card would you feel comfortable saying how much you are spending? My kids are in Kindergarten so this is our first year giving teacher gifts and wanted to see what the norm is.

I also send food to people like my mother, in-laws, etc. like Omaha Steaks. My grandmother lives states away and can’t cook much but she can put their premade meals in the oven and easily eat them. Also, I always send these a couple weeks after someone has passed away. They not only have meat dishes,but also fish, chicken, sides, and crock pot meals. It is always a winner.

Also cheese! I have family in Wisconsin and there are tons of places including Wisconsin cheese mart that send a variety of gifts all around the country. Sending some sort of food from your area to a family member in another part of the country is always nice.

I would also like to mention don’t give food or cookies to teachers. I have a lot of friends and family who teach and they all say they have to throw out any food gifts for a variety of reasons, so I would give them a gift card, even just for $5.

The other great gift is to create an event! Plan a day with someone and it doesn’t even have to cost much!! Museums usually have free days or evenings, so and offer to spend time with that person at that free museum and then do some research and grab a happy hour
meal or a cool take away that has to do with the museum in some way. Another great idea is to make a meal for someone at your home and play games after. Don’t have any games? Play charades!

You’re a musician? Write a score for a friend or family member? Artist? Paint a small picture! A friend composed a piece for my wedding and it is my ultimate favorite and most memeorable gift!

But the ultimate favorite is to watch your nieces and nephews or friend’s kids for X number of hours so they can have time on their own. Child care is expensive and this is always the favorite BY FAR!!!

Non monetary but meaningful gifts are all around, just be creative!

HELP!!! What to give my step dad in law? He cooks a lot, from the Americas Test Kitchen type cookbooks, and freelance edits, but anything he might need or want he buys himself! He doesn’t really watch movies, TV, or read; he is a homebody. Also, my uncle? He is always so hard to buy for; my aunt can’t even come up with ideas! He is up in the wee hours every a.m. baking bread for their deli and then crashes. He is interested in finances/money/saving/business. Thank you for all the tips from teachers/day care educators. So helpful! I promise never to buy another mug!

COJ post request!! I usually get tickets as gifts for my boyfriend – we love date nights where we go do or see something new! So I’m wondering, what are some of COJ’s top recommendations for tickets/events/concerts/shows?

What I’ve been jumping on recently – upcoming artists playing at locations like Bowery Ballroom ($18-25 tickets!) or SoFar Sounds! I also recently started trying to get tickets for The Magician at the NoMad which I hear is the ticket of the year!

I am loving reading these suggestions, so I thought I’d share what I got for these people. We are on a tight budget as my husband is in medical residency.
For my MIL—a board game to play at our Christmas get-together; a pair of socks that say, “If you can see this, bring me my yarn” (she’s a big knitter and loves “themed” gifts); leather earrings
For my FIL—a T-shirt made in the city we moved to a few months ago. It says, “The Mountains Are Calling,” and we hope he understands that by “mountains” we mean “your grandchildren” and will come visit.
For the teacher—a target gift card wrapped up in a pretty plaid hand towel with a Santa spatula
My own mom got an art print from Minted and my dad got a mug with the grandkids’ pictures…he seriously has everything he could ever need and more.

That Heart of Gold bangle is beyond perfect!! Getting one for my mother in law and a few more for future gifts. Such a nice, heartfelt message on a simple, classic piece. Thank you!

Who else bought themselves a Christmas gift? I generally lay off buying anything I need in November or December, in order to have gift ideas to give people for me. Over the last two months, I kept coming back to the idea that I’d like to put a big art puzzle together after Christmas, so I bought myself one when doing my other shopping. I am wrapping it and putting it under the tree. Thanks, Santa!