what to buy for my girly-friend?

December 31, 2006 1:38 PM

what do I buy for a beautiful, single 30 year old woman? Under $100.

she is 35, single, urban, gorgeous, thin, funny, loves gadgets (but prefers to select her own), she likes pink flowers and fixing cars. She's super-smart, quick and likes cats. She is sensitive, strong and smells good. She likes men and computers and driving fast. She is not musical, but loves music, she has little time to read or relax, she is a treehugging citygirl. She has most of the stuff she needs and wants, so it's pretty much just extras and fluffy stuff left to add to her life.

posted by henryis to Shopping (25 answers total)

The best type of gift for someone "who has everything" is something intagible, e.g. a service, subscription, event tickets (concert, ballet, sports, theatre), pedicure, spa day, etc.
posted by winston at 1:41 PM on December 31, 2006

My sister's that kind of woman, but ten years younger ... and she works on bikes, not cars. ;) For miscellaneous gifts or if she hosts us for a night, I'll get her a bottle or two of a unique, well-regarded wine... especially if I'm driving through the town she lives in on my way from Texas, because I can stop at one of the wineries on the way.
posted by SpecialK at 1:43 PM on December 31, 2006

How about a massage?
posted by black8 at 2:01 PM on December 31, 2006

Some might think it's a cliche, but most woman really like to receive jewelry. In addition to be something that she can wear, and maybe show off, it may become a keepsake. Earrings, a simple necklace or a nice watch might be appropriate for her.

Also, flowers delivered to her at her workplace, can be pretty exciting, especially if she doesn't get them very often, and also if there are coworkers there to admire them.
posted by 14580 at 2:14 PM on December 31, 2006

she likes pink flowers

Pink Peony print

Pajamas

Pink floral stationery
She is sensitive, strong and smells good.

Bliss World gifts

Date Night

Grace
posted by LoriFLA at 2:18 PM on December 31, 2006

Vibrator? Depending on her sense of humour, it might go down well as a teasing, "since you're single..." kind of way.
posted by modernnomad at 2:45 PM on December 31, 2006

If you know here well pink Lingerie. If not maybe a day pass to a city spa. e-vouchers maybe for buying music or cd's online. Ticket to a concert. Some retreats accept donations only so maybe book her into one. Or maybe a male stripper. If you know here birth stone maybe get her some ear-rings or something. Maybe some burlesque classes or pole dancing classes. The list is endless!
posted by mycapaciousbottega at 2:58 PM on December 31, 2006

forgot to add, voucher could also be for her regular h/dresser (that would make me uber happy) -
posted by mycapaciousbottega at 2:59 PM on December 31, 2006

I think it's fun to give people an "experience" instead of something they don't really need or want that will just take up clutter. So I would go with tickets to something fun, a spa gift certificate (this is what I would want), restaurant gift certificate, etc.

Or you could get her a fun & unique vase and fill it with some pretty pink flowers. Flowers aren't just for significant others!
posted by tastybrains at 3:02 PM on December 31, 2006

I'm gonna suggest you skip any pole-dancing classes. I just... gah... don't go there.

All suggestions about spa/massage/event tickets are good. For very pretty, unique jewelry, have a look around etsy.com. There's some gorgeous little necklaces on there as well as other fun trinkets that you never knew you wanted until you saw them.
posted by amanda at 3:12 PM on December 31, 2006

The pink floral stationery recommended above looks lovely. I was going to suggest something along those lines - nice notecards and such.

Anything nice for the bath would probably be appreciated. The Body Shop has tons of great things and they're against animal testing, which is great for the treehugging types. I use the mango bubble bath on an extremely regular basis and it's amazing without being overly fruity. Also, their body butter blows all other lotions out of the water.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 4:27 PM on December 31, 2006

...by the sound of it, a really inexpensive enagagement ring. (Seriously.)

Find out if she's 30 or 35 beforehand, tho. (I keed.)
posted by turducken at 4:51 PM on December 31, 2006

iPod shuffle, one of the cool new small ones.
posted by procrastination at 5:20 PM on December 31, 2006

Give her a gift certificate to design her own pair of Chuck Taylors at Converse; they let you customize every part of them right down to the logo. It's creative, they're classic shoes, and they have an urban appeal.
posted by B-squared at 5:49 PM on December 31, 2006

something from here might be cool


all sorts of fun treehugger products :)
posted by andythebean at 5:55 PM on December 31, 2006

Depends on your relationship, really.

If she dresses well then a really, really nice scarf might go down nicely this time of year, and it's intimate without being a sledgehammer.
posted by Leon at 5:56 PM on December 31, 2006

We got my mom these Tiffany earrings last year for Christmas. They are classic, and come in that oh-so-alluring blue box!
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 6:40 PM on December 31, 2006

$99 of pink flowers, as many varieties as your favorite florist can lay her hands on--

Highly recommended: snapdragons (really fresh ones should smell like candy), roses, tulips, peonies (the last, dubious this time of year, but, oh my, try for them)

Make sure you don't deprive youself of the trip to the flower shop to pick them all out.
posted by Julie at 8:04 PM on December 31, 2006

I do hate to put down the hive but in this case i am pretty sure you are all a little off. At thirty five Im looking for quality, 'experiance' gifts are clever but Im not so attracted to clever these days. I know what I like and how to take care of what I need. So, what is the gift you seek?

A $100 goose down pillow and case. Not the fine fluffy underfeather stuff. Go with the cheaper rougher stuff that feels like its tiny quills are just about to poke out.

Finding the right one might take time, dont rush this, she will think of you every cold lazy morning. Pillows, the best gift.
posted by nintendo at 4:57 AM on January 1, 2007

LoriFLA: You are now officially in charge of all my gift buying.

nintendo: I like the way your mind works.

Also, since you are a female as well, I think you could get away with the vibrator mentioned above. If she's as progressive as you make her sound, there's no way she would be offended.
posted by Ynoxas at 7:25 AM on January 1, 2007

I would go for the new Bose in-ear headphones - they're $99, they make the apple ipod earphones sound like they are full of molasses, and they are so new that not that many people have them, so if she likes gadgetry she would be an early adopter of these. since they're an accessory to an existing gadget you're not really selecting a gadget for her.
posted by chickaboo at 8:03 AM on January 1, 2007

LoriFLA: You are now officially in charge of all my gift buying.

It would be an honor. :-)
posted by LoriFLA at 8:23 AM on January 1, 2007

I found Surprise.com a few years ago and was delighted with the suggestions. They were a user-driven site at the time, and seem to have changed into pay-for-placement, but the content is still mostly good.
posted by Myself at 12:08 PM on January 1, 2007

You can't go wrong with jewelry. Sorelli is very "in." Get her a Sorelli bracelet.
posted by wsg at 2:25 PM on January 1, 2007

My phone number. (Kidding, but she sounds like a cool girl.)

I like giving simple (silver) necklaces and bracelets; adjust to her tastes, of course. You can find great deals on neat jewelry on eBay.
posted by LordSludge at 7:55 AM on January 2, 2007