What do you give your very conservative, 40-something sister for Christmas?

November 16, 2011 10:24 AM

What do you give your very conservative, 40-something older sister for Christmas?

I'm very liberal -- I read the Dish and Salon.com, love Stewart and Colbert, and am secretly plotting to destroy America. She's very conservative -- includes "Focus on the Family" among her interests on Facebook, never married, votes Republican. We weren't raised together and don't know each other well, but she recently gave me a very thoughtful (nonpolitical) gift, and I'd like to return the favor this Christmas.

We both like cats. We both live in cold northern climates. So far that's all I think we have in common. I know she's been under a lot of stress lately, caring for a demanding elderly parent (not one of mine), so I'd like to get her something helpful, or at least cheerful.

Thanks in advance!

posted by theletterfour to Human Relations (22 answers total)

Food of the month.
posted by k8t at 10:26 AM on November 16, 2011

A Happy Winter Nighttime Kit: mug, luxury hot chocolate mix, fluffy slippers, and a soft blanket.
posted by yarly at 10:28 AM on November 16, 2011 [7 favorites]

(all she has to add is the cat on her lap.)
posted by yarly at 10:29 AM on November 16, 2011

. I know she's been under a lot of stress lately, caring for a demanding elderly parent (not one of mine), so I'd like to get her something helpful, or at least cheerful.

Spa day gift voucher ?
posted by infini at 10:29 AM on November 16, 2011 [2 favorites]

A really nice robe. Something she wouldn't necessarily buy for herself but will use every day.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 10:29 AM on November 16, 2011

Cold weather comfort gifts with no political overtones: silk long underwear, warm socks (with cats on them), high end cocoa.
posted by Scram at 10:34 AM on November 16, 2011

I don't get what your politics have to do with this. But my one beloved luxury item is a cashmere scarf.
posted by chickenmagazine at 10:35 AM on November 16, 2011 [10 favorites]

Seconding roomthreeseventeen. I just bought my 40 something sister a really cozy soft robe for Christmas. Since your sister is under stress it would probably be nice to have a big soft robe to get into at the end of the day and you could add a mug and hot cocoa mix and warm socks as others have suggested. I love gifts that tell you to relax and take a load off!
posted by daydreamer at 10:42 AM on November 16, 2011

Best answer: Robe, scarf, extravagant body cream and bath lotions/potions, CDs of great classic American singers (Ella, Frank, etc.), DVDs of film classics from the Golden Age of Hollywood,bacon of the month--really the list is endless. I don't see where politics or what websites you read come into this at all.
posted by Ideefixe at 10:47 AM on November 16, 2011

i am maru
posted by Dolley at 10:48 AM on November 16, 2011

Mani/pedi or massage or spa gift certificate.
Amazon or Starbucks gift certificate.
Is she a foodie? Any food basket from Zingerman's
A nice bottle of wine.
Restaurant gift card from a local restaurant.
Anything cashmere
posted by LittleMy at 10:49 AM on November 16, 2011

Response by poster: That was fast. Thanks everyone! Obv I am bad at coming up with obvious ideas for gifts.
posted by theletterfour at 10:53 AM on November 16, 2011

Two of my favorite gifts last year were a very nice new leather wallet (in a cool color combination) and a plush, cozy throw blanket -- both simultaneously pratical and a little luxurious.
posted by scody at 11:28 AM on November 16, 2011

Seconding cashmere. A scarf or gloves is just such a nice everyday luxury.
posted by Duffington at 11:42 AM on November 16, 2011 [1 favorite]

Super-nice cashmere hat or that and a comparable matching scarf. (I was struck by how much a really nice hat made cold weather more bearable.)
posted by ambient2 at 12:23 PM on November 16, 2011

Cashmere scarf! Yes, I couldn't imagine living without mine now!
posted by Windigo at 12:27 PM on November 16, 2011

A Kindle with some books she might like preloaded.
posted by cantthinkofagoodname at 1:23 PM on November 16, 2011

I'm kind of coveting down slippers like these. Or the uber-slipper, a pair of Minnetonkas!
posted by jabes at 2:32 PM on November 16, 2011 [1 favorite]

Nice gloves. Great potholders. Fancy teatowels. Good cheese.

Tip: Don't get stinky cheeses if you're not sure she likes them. We spent $60 on nice Stiltons, etc, only to be told they'd been thrown out because "they were totally rotten & must have gone bad in the (overnight, December) mail."
posted by small_ruminant at 3:36 PM on November 16, 2011

And smartwool socks, they have changed my life.

Other things people have given me: immersion blender, stuff for my sewing room, awesome fig jam, excellent spices, great towels, heated blanket, extra nice booze, tickets to events, magazine subscriptions, luscious night face cream, nice sheets...
posted by barnone at 5:15 PM on November 16, 2011

Does she cook? Would she like cooking stuff, a cookbook, special food? I'd love a non-political immersion blender, myself. A really nice LED flashlight, lantern or emergency radio, in case of power outage, end of the world, or participation in local Occupy encampment. Really nice scented candles. Or send a holiday decoration that will smell good and will be gone by spring, or bulbs that bloom and can be planted outside in the spring.
posted by theora55 at 6:44 PM on November 16, 2011

How about putting together a gift basket full of tasty goodies? I also have ultra-conservative parents, and they love the gift baskets I've put together for them. I'm starting mine for them this year already- I've got a couple little sample boxes of chocolates and peppermint bark. I'll probably add things like some decent cheese and crackers or a little bottle of wine. Just shop around and see what you can find that she would like. Other things you can't really go wrong with: soap, hand lotion (something she can pamper herself with a bit), or a gift card to a fave bookshop or something. Best of luck!
posted by chatelaine at 4:16 PM on November 17, 2011