What to get for Mrs. Curley?

December 21, 2005 9:16 AM

What can I get my wife for Christmas? I'm stuck so I'm thinking jewelery, but that kind of says "I couldn't think of anything else."

Quick rundown: We're recently married. She's early 30's, white, leftist/progressive. She has an mp3 player and an adapter for her car stereo.

She likes (in no order) animals (esp. cats,) hiking, gardening, baseball, cooking and fiction. She is speciically interested in anything concerning the city of Philadelphia, the Red Sox, England/Wales, zoos and flowers/plants. She doesn't like to watch movies/DVDs unprompted and she uses her computer only for light web browsing, email and MS office.

What could I get her for our upcoming carribean vacation? What else might she want for the MP3 player? What is a cool gadget for the kitchen that she might want? Anything else to suggest, whether it relates specifically to her or just generally interesting gifts? Let's shoot for under 200 bucks.

Oh, and if you got something cool for your late-middle-age dad, let me know about that too please.

posted by Mayor Curley to shopping (38 comments total)

Adopt an animal at the zoo or local cat/dog home in her name.
posted by oh pollo! at 9:18 AM on December 21, 2005

What about a nice sweater?

Or a smartwrap for her headphones?
posted by bshort at 9:20 AM on December 21, 2005

I bought my girlfriend an iBook. She loves it.
posted by The Jesse Helms at 9:24 AM on December 21, 2005

Let's shoot for under 200 bucks.

Well, why not a round trip ticket to somewhere nice? A weekend in New York or Vancouver will make her love you for at least a couple of weeks ;)
posted by The Jesse Helms at 9:26 AM on December 21, 2005

It's a little far away, but you could get her tickets for the New England Spring Flower Show. You could also get her a membership to Zoo New England that will get you into the Franklin Park and Stone Zoos.
posted by FreezBoy at 9:26 AM on December 21, 2005

How about some light beach reading?

Praying for Gil Hodges : A Memoir of the 1955 World Series and One Family's Love of the Brooklyn Dodgers
posted by googly at 9:27 AM on December 21, 2005

Adopt a Critter or search mefi for the other 10k gift idea lists.
posted by kcm at 9:33 AM on December 21, 2005

What kind of stuff does she like to cook? She might appreciate a really nice piece of cookware like this le creuset pot (if you guys don't already have some). this le creuset spatula is my favorite tool in the kitchen. i use them for baking, cooking, and basically everything because they're super heat resistant and easy to clean, and won't scratch non-stick surfaces.

If you want to get her something related to your vacation, I would suggest getting her some ON the vacation rather than for it, beforehand. For example, give her a really nice card with a handmade coupon stating that you'll buy her a piece of jewelry of her choice on the trip that will remind her of it, like a tahitian pearl necklace (or whatever destination-appropriate thing).
posted by booknerd at 9:33 AM on December 21, 2005

I've had a fake pashmina wrap for the longest time and recently upgraded to a real one. For travelling they have been the most useful thing I have ever owned. The wrap could be used to keep warm on the plane or in the office or as a skirt wrap on the beach.
posted by Alison at 9:36 AM on December 21, 2005

Do a twist on normal gifts. You know, get her jewelry, but get several different pieces, all with some common theme (bugs are cute). For Hannukah, I've gotten 8 gifts with a purple theme (I won't list them, since MrsMoonPie is a MetaFilterian).
posted by MrMoonPie at 9:36 AM on December 21, 2005

Can you think of her tastes in clothing/colors she likes/materials she covets/designs she is drawn to? I think it's fun to give gifts the person can wear that maybe could be something they wear everyday but also feel just slightly extravagant. That means something that is perfectly matched to their style but nicer than they might get for themselves. Jewelry, yeah. But also really nice scarves, pretty gloves, handbag, whatever.

I know this doesn't suit the interests you listed, but a well-chosen gift of this sort will show a different sort of intuition about the tastes of your wife.
posted by fireflies to stars at 9:40 AM on December 21, 2005

Here are some ideas from similar posts about gifting cherished women.
posted by cior at 9:42 AM on December 21, 2005

Some online stores that may appeal, either in focus, social responsibility, or both:

Treehugger
Etsy
Velocity
Sprout
Novica
posted by desuetude at 9:42 AM on December 21, 2005

If you're recently married you might alreay have one but man do I love my KitchenAid mixer. I can think of no person who likes to cook who wouldn't welcome one into their kitchen with open arms. I also second the le creuset reccomendations. Good stuff.
As an aside to the vacation related gift - what about gift certificates for spa treatments at the destination - or some other cool activitiy she would enjoy but maybe think a bit too extravagent to sign up for herself.
posted by Wolfie at 9:43 AM on December 21, 2005

Are you married to me, Mayor Curley?

Trip to NY for the weekend of Feb 13 to see the Westminster Kennel Club dog show? A jewelry box? something cashmere? a carribean-holiday themed box full of beach reading, new sunglasses, sunblock, some sort of thematic liquor and a gift certificate to buy mp3s?

I personally don't like recieving kitchen stuff unless I've asked for it.
posted by gaspode at 9:47 AM on December 21, 2005

She likes animals, zoos, hiking, flowers and plants...How about some sort of safari? And/or a nice digital camera with which to record all those things she enjoys?
posted by Gator at 9:55 AM on December 21, 2005

You might be able to get a Kitchenaid stand mixer for $200.00. Bed and Bath seems to send out 20% off coupons every week.

For gardening, if you can get out to Garden in the Woods in Framingham you might be able to get her a gift card or something else. That place is like Toys R Us for my wife. It's run by the New England Wildflower Society and even as a non-gardener I think it's a pretty cool place.

For hiking, a weekend at Heidi's Farmhouse in Twin Mtn. NH will put her up in the heart of the Whites at a lesser-known B&B. If she's into X-country skiing there's a few tracks around there.

For dad, I bought mine some 3 Stooges DVDs this year. Picture Homer Simpson eating donuts, that will be my dad when he opens his gift.

On the Carribian vacation, you could reserve a day in a spa for her.

Your dad might not be an idiot though, in which case that might not be a great gift.
posted by bondcliff at 9:56 AM on December 21, 2005

Heifer Project
posted by matildaben at 10:14 AM on December 21, 2005

If your wife likes jewelry, get her jewelry. There's a reason it's a classic gift. I love jewelry and can never recieve too much. When I'm buying it for other people my rule of thumb is to buy something that looks (to me) like something they already own. Invariably they love it. And think it's unique.
posted by selfmedicating at 10:21 AM on December 21, 2005

If you're going to the caribbean, I'd definitely second the sunglasses, and maybe get her a custom case.
posted by tetsuo at 10:26 AM on December 21, 2005

Your wife sounds like a blend of me and my husband.

I would recommend maybe getting her a snorkel, mask, and fins for your trip, and perhaps an underwater field guide (they make ones that you can take underwater...pretty cool).
posted by nekton at 10:41 AM on December 21, 2005

I don't know if it's the height of romance, but if she enjoys cooking, great knives can make your time in the kitchen that much more enjoyable. Professional Cutlery Direct has an array to choose from. (On a a related note, I got this electric knife sharpener for my birthday, which I was super delighted with. I know this is even less romantic, but if you're looking for gadgety things, it is pretty cool.)

How about a ten-year sponsor subscription to Brick Magazine?

A cashmere wrap? Mine is indispensable to me in the winter, especially given the unpredictable office temps in my building. It's gorgeous, soft and warm and can be worn with just about anything.

Does your wife like perfume? (You mentioned she likes flowers.) If so, perhaps you might consider a bottle of perfume from Frederic Malle. Available only at Barneys or through their Web site, Frederic Malle has 15 perfumes. Many of them are completely amazing and beautiful.

Perhaps I'm sublimating because this is what I want for Christmas, but check out Le Parfum de Thérèse. It's a wonderful, soft floral (not overpowering) that starts out with a fresh, watery melon smell. It's one of those scents that most dedicated perfumeheads agree is "full-bottle worthy."

Plus it has a lovely back story to go with it. One of the most esteemed parfumers of the modern era created it for his wife and would allow no one else to wear it but her. Only since his death has it been commercially produced.
posted by Sully6 at 10:46 AM on December 21, 2005

Meh on the adopt-an-animal thing, because it seems like a cop-out gift to your wife; but I like giving and getting "real" gifts, so call me frivolous. I'm identical to your description of your wife except I like dogs.

Useful, kitchenish/utilitarian presents *I* want:
- This Nat'l Gallery of Art engagement calendar
- Good sharp scissors
- Wire whisks with rubber/silicone-dipped tines
- galoshes
- a large swiss army knife, non-girlie

Unuseful/expensivish presents I would love to receive:
- Emma Bridgewater mugs (esp the animal ones), because I drink loads of hot drinks and never can find a decent-sized mug. Ebay works here.
- a Gaiman book
- a China Mieville book
- The Historian by Elizabeth K.
- massage/spa gift certificate
- Social stationery

Dull list, but it's what I want this year...
posted by mdiskin at 11:03 AM on December 21, 2005

If she likes Wales and flowers, then maybe some ceramics - a vase? - from the Welsh village of Portmeirion, which is an odd little 19th century Italianate fantasy town.

The ceramics are widely available and classically atractive.
posted by Rumple at 11:24 AM on December 21, 2005

- Cooks Illustrated subscription, if she has that, get her some of the Christopher Kimball books, they're all pretty great and he's a local guy.
- 50 Hikes in Massachusetts (what I am getting my Mom) with IOU/coupon book good for one carrying-the-backpack hike a month or something.
- KitchenAid mixer if she/you didn't get one as a wedding present. They rule. Spring for the bread kneading attachment.
- Membership at the Arnold Arboretum plus a good pair of binoculars

My Dad got himself a video iPod two weeks before Christmas, so I can't help you there, mine is impossible to buy for, though standard stuff for dads if yours doesn't have them (weather station, satellite radio, MP3 player, digital camera and/or printer) would be a recommendation.
posted by jessamyn at 11:50 AM on December 21, 2005

This woman makes very cool silver jewelry in NYC.
posted by gottabefunky at 12:43 PM on December 21, 2005

I second the Heifer Project idea. Especially if she's the progressive type - you're doing good at the same time. (Plus, how many people can say they got their wife a cow/goat/lamb/insertfuzzyanimalhere for Christmas?)

You mentioned she likes Philadelphia. Has she read Buzz Bissinger's book, A Prayer for the City?

From thone of the reviews on the site:
After following the administration of Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell for four years, he provides a passionate account of big-city life and politics in the 1990s that puts a human face on the problems and promise of urban America. From his portrayal of the mayor's anguish in comforting the families of slain and injured police officers, which serves as a prolog, to his discussion of union negotiations, crime fighting, and economic decline in later chapters, Bissinger offers a compelling narrative. Scholars will appreciate the inside political story, and lay readers will appreciate the heroes. Highly recommended for all collections.
posted by tozturk at 12:50 PM on December 21, 2005

Bed and Bath seems to send out 20% off coupons every week.

If you need one, let me know, I have a ton. (They have expiration dates on them, but Bloodbath and Beyond will accept them even if they've expired, and while each one's good only for an individual item, you can use as many as you want at a time.)
posted by kindall at 12:53 PM on December 21, 2005

A piece of art? A piece of furniture?

And another vote for Kitchenaid mixer or Le Creuset anything.
posted by kmel at 2:07 PM on December 21, 2005

A date with manny.
posted by justgary at 2:15 PM on December 21, 2005

Mayor Curley, there are some very cool globe-shaped tree ornaments and votive-candle holders that are hand-painted inside with a picture of Fenway Park. They are sold at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, among other places. My brother and my nephews completely flipped over them, and I assume they'll be lighting some candles in prayer tonight over the Johnny Damon tragedy.
posted by wryly at 2:42 PM on December 21, 2005

I think the best gift is something that shows you remember/ understand something about the person you are giving it to. Does she have a favourite story, anecdote that you could inspire you? Can you think of something from a first date? Is there anything she complains about.

Sorry if this sounds pedantic, but I have great luck getting my straight guy friends laid by suggesting sentimental gifts. I also know from experience, cashmere is almost always a good idea when you can't think of anything else.

As for Dad-- mine is impossible. He buys himself whatever he wants, and really doesn't like "things" anyway. All he really wants is to take his dog for a walk in the woods. I got him a great wind-up flashlight at Home Depot, because he is famous for producing flashlights with fading batteries whenever a working one is needed most.
posted by gesamtkunstwerk at 3:01 PM on December 21, 2005

This is a pretty vanilla suggestion but if she likes Philadelphia and cookbooks try the Philadelphia Symphony Cookbook. It is a good, reliable cookbook that is definitely local and can be paired with more interesting things in an array of gifts.
posted by jadepearl at 4:45 PM on December 21, 2005

I agree with the post two above mine. I try to get something that I know they will like because of something they said. If I ever hear a friend of mine mention a movie they like, or some they see at the mall or anything, not matter how small or big I make a mental note of it. If i give it to them six months later They will love the fact that i remembered it. Perhaps theyve forgotten about it. There are two great things about this, first you KNOW theyll absolutely love the present, and second, it makes them feel particularly good that you care enough about them to remember something like that.

I was at a "Dollar Store" with my friend and she noticed something, so later I went and bought it. She had forgotten about it, and it was just a dollar, but she loved the fact that I remembered it.

Being married to her, hopefully you can think of something like that. :)
posted by JokingClown at 5:27 PM on December 21, 2005

for the Caribbean vacation -- some really nice designer sunglasses (the new Miu Miu line is really cute, Gucci is always good). or, a really nice solid white, flowing shirt at a place like Thomas Pink -- Egyptian cotton, really good cut, etc.
formal stuff, but she'll also be able to wear it in a very casual way (think Jackie Kennedy's white shirts, Hyannisport circa 1957).

for the kitchen -- one of those awesome Gaggia coffee grinders (get Gaggia, it's flawless stuff and not crazily expensive) or one of those new snazzy Siemens-Porsche Design electric juicers or blenders. they look sleek, minimalist and very elegant.

vintage bakelite jewelry is always appreciated

since she's a progressive, and a woman, a donation in her name to NARAL or Planned Parenthood or similia -- women in Roberts'-Scalia's-Alito's America need all the help they can get

merry Xmas, and have a great vacation Mayor
posted by matteo at 6:36 PM on December 21, 2005

oh, your dad: a really cool black stylish windbreaker jacket from A.P.C. (Stel's on Newbury carries A.P.C. -- they keep women's, too, so you can check stuff out for your wife)

www.apc.fr sells stuff online, too. and they have a store in nyc
posted by matteo at 6:45 PM on December 21, 2005

How about a gift certificate for a spa day?
posted by Radio7 at 11:24 PM on December 21, 2005

You mention all the gizmos but didn't mention a Digital Camera. Just developing film is so much that I consider it a necessity for a trip. If she has one already maybe pay for a flickr account so she can share her pictures of the trip. (our trip to Mexico).

Check out the puzzles at Stave. They're beautiful custom made, wooden puzzles. They're not your run of the mill puzzle. Ten-percent of the pieces in a puzzle can be custom pieces such as a name or a silhouettes of cats, your Caribbean island, or England. Maybe you can pass the time during a tropical storm assembling the puzzle together?

P.S. My wife would not consider jewelry to be any kind of a cop out gift; I've gotten a lot of miles out of a $200 bracelet that I presented her with.
posted by deanj at 5:09 PM on December 22, 2005