Need ideas for birthday gifts that I can order online
September 8, 2013 9:10 AM   Subscribe

I am going to be away from home on business travel during my wife's birthday this year. I would love to get some ideas on any surprise/gift that I can get delivered to our house on her birthday.

I have already bought a birthday gift. But I would like to surprise her during the day. Simple ideas that I am considering:

Get a bouquet of flowers or a potted plant delivered in the morning (Question: Who are the reliable vendors for timely deliver of fresh flowers? I haven't bought any flowers online in a very long time. Would appreciate any recommendation.)

Pastry delivered in the morning (Any idea on who can do this well in Plano/Dallas suburb)?

Anything else that you can think of? would love to have some other ideas! ....
posted by justlooking to Shopping (11 answers total) 2 users marked this as a favorite
 
Wantful.com has been so much fun for my friends.

Zingermans is always amazing.
posted by superfille at 9:46 AM on September 8, 2013


Best answer: While you can order flowers on-line, you might also consider calling a florist in your neighborhood and asking them about delivery. I've sent flowers both ways, and found I got a better price and less tacky arrangements (e.g. no teddy bears, mugs, or baby's breath) by actually talking to someone.
posted by The corpse in the library at 9:55 AM on September 8, 2013 [1 favorite]


Best answer: You can order some amazingly nice orchids on Amazon. There are other colors and types under "Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought."

I ordered these for my mom when she was in the hospital. They arrived fresh, on time, with each stem in its own little water vial, and lasted for weeks - even after she brought them home. (Orchids will last longer than any other cut flower - MUCH longer than roses, and I think they're far more elegant) For $20, they put anything available at the local florists in her Midwestern city to shame.
posted by caryatid at 10:15 AM on September 8, 2013 [1 favorite]


Best answer: I have, on occasion, enlisted friends to just show up at work or home with whatever the thing was. This is often less expensive (even when tipping/paying the friend) and it means you can set it up just the way you like it and you can patronize local businesses. I'd usually suggest local florists too for the same reason. FTD or Proflowers can always get you stuff there and on time but sometimes they're in kits you need to assemble or just aren't quite right. My favorite thing in these sorts of instances are "I was thinking about this beforehand" sorts of things like you give her a card that says "Look in the sewing kit" and there's some little gift there or something neat that you had to have thought of, bought, wrapped and hidden beforehand, those are always specialmaking feelings for me,
posted by jessamyn at 10:15 AM on September 8, 2013 [3 favorites]


Less traditional, but you could have amazon deliver a second gift on that day, and if you have prime, you can pinpoint the delivery date with the free two-day shipping.

For figuring out what someone might really want but wouldn't buy for themselves, I like looking at their pinterest account or their amazon wishlist (I believe the default privacy setting for the latter is public).
posted by homodachi at 10:52 AM on September 8, 2013


Looks like wantful.com has suspended operations, which is a shame.
posted by lizifer at 11:26 AM on September 8, 2013


And, after the flower delivery...
Long Stem Red NOSES!
posted by calgirl at 11:26 AM on September 8, 2013


Oh my gosh, Wantful closed.??!! So upset!

Sorry to sidetrack. By the way, I also use proflowers and find their quality to be good.
posted by superfille at 11:37 AM on September 8, 2013


Response by poster: Thank you very much everyone for your suggestions.

Enlisting a local florist and a friend sound seem much better than the online shopping that I was thinking of. Much nicer. (I can probably also enlist ask my 5 year old to hand her a card that has the location for the gift!).

Love the orchids idea! May not order it off Amazon for next week, but I am sure I'll get to use it sometime ...

Thanks a lot.
posted by justlooking at 2:25 PM on September 8, 2013


Best answer: Get her a panini press from Amazon. Only $30 and everyone loves paninis.
posted by AppleTurnover at 5:00 PM on September 8, 2013


You mentioned pastry, but I think it would be lovely to get a local baker to deliver a beautifully decorated birthday cake. Most bakers deliver.
posted by vignettist at 10:38 PM on September 8, 2013


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