Ask MetaFilter posts tagged with gift

Cubs fan gift ideas under $100

I_Love_Bananas — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 08:23:45 -0800

Best Cubs gift for my boss under $100 Help me find the best, coolest gift for my Cubs-fan boss. Points for something he can display in his office.

It cannot be over $100 and I'd prefer no shipping hassles (large artwork or posters probably won't work). Thanks!

A gift for Mom and Pop

rinosaur — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 09:48:16 -0800

My parents' 25th wedding anniversary is Tuesday and I'd like to get them something significant but not typical. I'm not opposed to sticking with the "silver anniversary" theme, but I'm not looking for traditionally silver items... frames, clocks, silverware, etc. Mom and Dad are mid-40's Philadelphia suburbanites. Mom loves to garden and dote on her children and dad loves fast cars and good food. They both love Key West and their farm house/vacation home in the PA mountains (something for the house would be great - silver wind chimes is all I could come up with but I'm not sure thats feasible).

Ideally I could pick up the gift locally as there's little time left for internet shipping. My budget is up to about $250 if need be, but in the interest of sparing my undergrad sister from sticker shock, anything around $100 would be great.

Thanks AskMe!

awesome present for an awesome kid?

mustcatchmooseandsquirrel — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 09:54:34 -0800

What present should my mother get for her 13/14 year old nephew? Complications within. Mom is visiting Russia tomorrow for a month. She hasn't been there or seen the family since 4 years ago and she doesn't really know his interests (other than that he likes chocolate). Also, his parents give him everything he wants/needs generally.

She needs to buy this present today and I'm guessing wants to spend less than $60 (she rejected my iPod suggestion). Any ideas, metafilter?

Best men's watch for $1,500?

20something — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 17:32:46 -0800

I have approx. $1500-2000 to get my fiance a nice watch for a wedding gift. Help me choose the best men's watch for this price range! I have approx. $1500-2000 to get my fiance a meaningful wedding gift. I am thinking of getting him a nice watch, something dressy that he can wear on special occasions as he is not a 'daily' watch wearer.

What brand/model would give me the best bang for my buck? I know nothing about men's watches...

I am open to other gift ideas as well. he is a 26 yr old, Canadian male.

Gift for parents' 30th Year in Canada

krunk — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 06:18:42 -0800

How can I help my parents celebrate their 30th anniversary of emigrating to Canada from Britain? They're having a party at the end of July, coinciding with both of their birthdays and their wedding anniversary. I suspect that none of their old friends from England will be there, due to travel costs.

I have 2 weeks to get something together. Any suggestions on a Canada/UK themed gift?

What's a good gift for a first-time author?

melodykramer — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 22:13:47 -0800

My friend has her first novel coming out soon, and I want to get her a neat present to celebrate her major-publisher, first-time author status. Any suggestions? This book is the first of three she has coming out....and I think it's important to celebrate this milestone in a memorable way.

If you're an author, did anyone get you anything incredibly mindblowingly awesome? I've thought about a print of the cover from the artist or maybe asking some of her favorite authors to send her a note? Is that weird? I don't know.

When she found out the books were going to be published, I got her some "This Book Belongs To" insert cards and a lovely journal made from a book, but this is a step up. We're talking major bookstore release, press, the whole shebang. I want to commemorate it in some tiny way.

Thoughts?

Ideas for awesome gifts for our bridesmaids and groomsmen?

Tren — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 14:55:50 -0800

My fiancee and I are getting married in a month. We have kind of an embarrassingly large bridal party but we love them and want to give them cool presents! We're on a budget (we could probably spend up to $40 per attendant). We are open to creative ideas. Wedding is in San Francisco, and many attendants will be flying in from distant places.

Big-city livin'

showbiz_liz — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 10:03:31 -0800

My boyfriend is moving to Chicago from NC. I want to put together a kickass care package for him. We both go to school in Chapel Hill, and have lived in North Carolina our whole lives. He's moving to Chicago at the end of July to pursue improv, and I plan to move up there as well when I finish school in a year and a half.

I want to put together an awesome gift box for him, which would ideally include things that:

Would be useful in a big city (we've both only lived in semi-small cities)
Would be useful in a northern winter (it rarely gets below 40 degrees here)
Would be generally useful for starting 'real life' after college
Would remind him of NC
Would remind him of me (obviously this is more personal)

Some ideas so far:

Really nice gloves/scarf
T-shirts from our favorite places around Chapel Hill
Framed photo of us (obv)
Possibly two sets of the first season of a TV show we haven't seen, so that we can watch it 'together'- this is probably too expensive though
In the same vein, two copies of Guide to Getting It On
Nice pillows for his bed
Gift card for some neat Chicago/Midwest-only chain store

So, that's a start, but I could use more ideas, especially in the big-city and northern-winter areas.

I was thinking of spending $75-$125 on this. Gotta save up for plane tickets to visit him...

Additional stuff about him- he'll be living with two female friends (so he won't need dishes or throw pillows or things like that), and he's very into video games, comic books, and of course improv. And he'll be living in Wrigleyville.

How to reward from afar

pencroft — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 06:00:14 -0800

What is a good gift for a bunch of web developers in India? My US-based company is about to launch a site that has taken many many months and jumped way beyond the initial scope. The site has been developed by a firm in Dehli and I would like to send the team a gift. Ultimately, I'd like to make sure the team knows that we appreciated their hard work and I want them to be recognized by their senior management?

Wedding/anniversary gift ideas for hard-to-shop for couple!

pseudostrabismus — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 14:47:03 -0800

Gift ideas for close friends' wedding / first anniversary, please! I didn't get my friend a wedding gift (she demanded that her bridesmaids not get gifts) but it's almost a year later & it still bugs me. Their first (paper) anniversary is fast approaching, and I'd like to get them something special.

Budget = under $200.
I'd be happy to get them some kind of experience rather than an object. Maybe a meal somewhere? I have thought about this daily for over a year, and I have NO idea what to get.

About them:

Her: 30, actor, very urban; likes cooking, dancing, shopping, film, Alvin Ailey dance company. Dislikes camping, wilderness, hunting, plant life, computers. Taste in home decor runs towards "South Asian hippie bordello" - dark, carved wood, bright fresh flowers, coloured glass jars, candles, rich, intensely-coloured indian silks draped over Xmas lights. Fave colours: baby blue, grass green.

Him: 40, animation painter, very nature-oriented. Loves camping, wilderness, hunting, canoeing, guns & crossbows, painting. Dislikes urban life. Taste in home decor runs to "Hunting Lodge"- canoe strapped to the ceiling, dark distressed wood, paintings of pine trees, antlers on the wall. Fave colours: chocolate brown, moss green.

They are both gregarious, playful, messy, funny, laughing, lovely party animals, generally adventurous & up for anything. They both like good food (avoiding refined sugar), dancing, and Christmas. They tend to be a little strapped for cash. They both tend to dislike "cookie cutter presents" like alcohol or gift certificates. They have a black lab which serves as a fur-child for her and a hunting dog for him.

Ideas I have considered:
Portable dishwasher - this would have been ideal but they got one from someone else, dang!
Maid service (I think they'd appreciate it, but it seems weird)
Small video camera or lomo camera (they don't really take photos, though)
Vintage steamer trunk (this would be pretty good but I dunno where to find one)

What the heck should I get them? This is in Toronto, by the way.
Thanks!

Australian Gift Card

mai — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:33:15 -0800

How do I acquire a gift card to an Austrailian home-goods retailer for a friend who is moving there? My friend is getting married and will soon be moving to Australia. Because it is so expensive to ship things there, she doesn't want anything material, but I would really like to give her a gift.

I thought it would be nice to give a gift card to a store in Australia that sells home things (dishes, etc.) that I know they will need, so that they can choose something when they get there.

However, I know nothing about the Australian retail landscape. Please recommend a nice store that would sell a gift card to me, paying from here in the U.S. My budget is between $50 and $100.

What is a unique or more tangible Air Force or “Support our Troops”-related sympathy gift?

texas_blissful — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:58:14 -0800

What is a unique or more tangible Air Force or “Support our Troops”-related sympathy gift? A dear friend of the family recently lost her father in an unexpected accident. Her dad was a retired Colonel from the Air Force, which of course played a huge part in his life and was his passion. He took historic flights …in particular with the B-47. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, they would like contributions made to organizations that support our troops. I found that the Air Force Aid Society is the official charity of the US Air Force. I could always just make a donation to them in his name, but I still feel like that isn’t quite “special” enough. I would like to find something where I could purchase a personalized brick for an Air Force memorial fund, or buying a tree in a special location…..something along those lines. But I haven’t found anything in my google search. Thoughts?

Also, what is generally considered a decent amount to spend on a bereavement gift (be in flowers, donations, food, etc)?

Adult grad gift ideas.

thewalrusispaul — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 19:54:05 -0800

Help! I need suggestions for a college graduation gift for my 48 year old brother in law that says... I'm really proud of you, you beer drinkin', deer huntin', north woods redneck, wall street worshipin', 80's caine sniffin', Reaganite, mustachioed, b@strd. From your loving, granola crunchin', sandal wearin', organic pimpin', Utne reading, Wellstone worshipin', green believin', bleeding heart, pain in your arse little sister in law. I love you man, way to go!

Suitable gift for Irish teacher

KTrujillo — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 07:43:44 -0800

My children are finishing the year at a primary school in Ireland. Their teachers have been wonderful and I want to give them an end of the year thank you gift. In the U.S. gift certificates are popular but I'm unsure of the etiquette surrounding gift giving in this situation. Please advise. Thank you!

Last pre-fatherhood birthday gift recommendations?

penciltopper — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 11:22:41 -0800

Birthday gift recommendations: this will be the last birthday before he starts getting Father's day presents too. Expectant father.
37 year old male.
Mac geek.
Quitting smoking.
Seattle resident, formerly Canadian.

Hive mind, what's a gift you got/gave or wished you'd got before the baby arrived?

Wedding Gifts

tastybrains — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 19:17:53 -0800

Please help me find something decent to get my sister & brother-in-law as a belated wedding gift. Just as a disclaimer - I have looked over lots of other wedding gift idea threads here. There are some good ideas, but none that really seemed right.

It's really hard to explain why I am having such a hard time finding them the right gift. It would be harder to do if I didn't explain that they have very East Coast expectations of weddings and wedding gifts. So, my budget of ~$150-200 is kind of pathetic compared to what they expect. In fact, normally I would love to give more, except that I catered to all of their previous expectations in terms of a lavish shower and bachelorette party, and spent a lot of money I don't have ALREADY. So, my budget might be a little small based on East Coast fancy wedding standards, but it's a lot to me right now.

I think if this was just any couple, or even just friends, I could find something and just buy it and not worry too much. But because this is my sister, I feel like it needs to be at least sorta good. But these days, I feel very alienated from my sister.

Here are ideas I've ruled out:

So, I can't give money, because (1) I don't like to give money unless I can cover the cost of my plate at the wedding [it's a NY / east coast thing, I think], and $150-200 doesn't cover that, and (2) I don't want to be too obvious about not spending a lot.

I can't give something off their registry, because everything has been purchased off of their registries. Literally, EVERYTHING. Except gift cards, but that presents the same problem as giving cash.

The other wedding gift idea I liked was one that was given to us -- a gift basket of wines to celebrate different milestones in our wedding. However, I already told my sister about this idea, and she's actually used it for wedding gifts for other people, so it wouldn't really seem very fun or creative at this point. Next time I'll keep my big mouth shut.

-----

In terms of what they do like -- I don't know what to tell you. My sister loves different kinds of food and wine, but my brother in law refuses to eat anything but hamburgers and chicken parm, and I don't even think he drinks anything but crappy beer. Their tastes clash so dramatically that I am afraid to give them anything artistic or decorative. They have a dog. That's all I've got.

What I do want is:

- Something I can purchase online.
- Something that can be delivered to NY/NJ
- Nothing to "weird" as that doesn't go over well with the groom

Thanks!

Come away, O Human Child...

shiu mai baby — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 11:52:55 -0800

I need a snippet of a poem or quote from a children's book about wishes. I'm giving this totally cute pewter bubble wand as one of several gifts for my goddaughter's christening in a few weeks. I figure it's a slightly more whimsical take on the pewter/silver gifts that are typically given at a christening.

Since she's too young to appreciate it just yet, my current plan is to put it in a shadow box, the back of which I was thinking of lining with some cool handmade paper, and scribbling a quote from a children's poem or book (alternately, I might write the quote around the edges of the glass) on the paper. I've been searching, but I've yet to happen upon something lovely and inspiring. I'd like to stick to the dreams and/or wishes motif, but I'm open to suggestion.

The quote needs to be fairly short, as I don't have a whole lot of room to write. I'm trying to avoid the more obvious stuff -- e.g. preferably no Disney, no Pooh, etc. I've always loved Yeats's "The Stolen Child," but the bit about the world being full of weeping seems a little bleak for a baby gift.

Any particularly appropriate quotes leap to mind?

Thank-you gift for a performer and opera-lover?

muddgirl — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 10:52:40 -0800

I'm looking for a thank-you gift to give to my good friend, who is an aspiring vocal coach and a big fan of the opera. I don't know what's in his record collection or anything, and I don't want to get him just any CD or DVD, but an interesting item that he can either use or display. Price range between $30 and $60, but I'm willing to go a bit higher depending on the gift.

He is a recent graduate in his mid-twenties, working as a waiter while auditioning for parts and saving money for a graduate program in Music Education. His favorite diva is Beverly Sills.

(I apologize for the vagueness, but I've got absolutely no idea about what's out there. Any suggestions will be gratefully considered.)

Men, what would set your hearts aflutter?

n'muakolo — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 03:30:01 -0800

What is the male equivalent of jewelry? My boyfriend is making a big sacrifice for me, my job, & our relationship and I would like to give him something durable, valuable and sentimental to express my thanks. In a similar situation years ago he gave me earrings and a necklace, and I still treasure them and when I wear them I think how sweet it was that he gave me that jewelry to express his thanks. I want the exact same thing for him, but not in the form of earrings and a necklace.

A watch might be the obvious choice, but he has a decent one and doesn't wear it now that he has a cell phone on him all the time. We've talked about fancy watches, and he doesn't really seem interested. He's not the kind of man who wears jewelry, so I can't get him a ring or necklace or something. He recently got himself a new wallet, so that's out.

I know there are a kagillion "gift" questions on AskMe but I didn't find this one answered.

Bonus points for links to an actual item for sale!

Remember that gift certificate you gave me?...

thetenthstory — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 04:34:14 -0800

My boss and his wife just had thier second son. What can I get him (or his child/wife) as a gift? I have been working with him for a little over a year. I am a male still in my early 20s and oppose gifts such as a "onezy" with teddy bears printed on them. I would like a gift that says my mother did not pick it out for me. So, what would you get him AskMe?

6th wedding anniversary gift

dougiedd — Wed, 28 May 2008 14:25:51 -0800

My 6th wedding anniversary approaches. Looking for interesting ideas for traditional 6th year gift which i understand is iron. We have a full set of iron cookware already which we love.

Party favors for "Death & Taxes"?

Jaqi — Mon, 26 May 2008 12:50:27 -0800

I need ideas for creative (and cheap) party favors for a "Death & Taxes" party I'm hosting early in June! Early in June, my sweetie and I are having 40 of our closest friends and relatives over to our place for a themed party, and we'd like to leave everyone with a token of our appreciation for their travels and attendance.

Relevant notes:
- We'll be having a fun competition at the party, so we could have one set of prizes for the winners (there will be two teams of 20 each) and another set for the "losers", but we want everyone to get something

- The group will consist of folks of all ages, so the gifts need to be "good" for a wide variety of people

- We're cheap, so the more thrifty / frugal, the better!

- The party's going to be themed as "Death & Taxes," but if you have fabulous party favor ideas that you just know'll knock their socks off, don't hold back.

Gift for the New Orleans-bound?

MaddyRex — Thu, 22 May 2008 11:19:27 -0800

NewOrleansFilter: What should I get for my girlfriend, who is going to New Orleans for the summer? My girlfriend is going to take a summer job working for a public defender in New Orleans. She's a law student and this will be her first time in New Orleans. I want to get her a present that's appropriate to the setting.

Difficulty: She doesn't like jazz.

When you care enough to send... um..

FortyT-wo — Sat, 17 May 2008 10:20:11 -0800

Am looking for something nice I can send to someone to thank them for a wonderful kindness, but it probably shouldn't involve food or flowers. Any thoughts? I'm getting married in a couple of weeks. The groom's father has been incredibly kind and is hosting the reception at his house. Immediately afterwards, we're going away for a week on a cruise. Which is also a gift from him. I'm not really even sure how to thank someone properly for such a wonderful thing.

I would like to send him and his wife something nice while we're away to thank him, but he's going to be swimming in leftover food and flowers after the reception. I'm looking for suggestions on what we might send him instead.

Thanks in advance!

Graduation gift for a future homeless counselor?

scottso17 — Wed, 14 May 2008 09:43:22 -0800

My sister graduates college this week, and I want to get her a gift that will be useful for her at work. She'll be counseling homeless people at various shelters and other locations in Washington DC. Besides pepper spray (our running joke), what are some practical gifts I could get her? Price is not important. This will be her first time in the workforce, so some general work stuff might be good, but I'm at a loss for ideas. Also -- something that a mobile worker (i.e., without a regular desk) could use might work too.

I tend to buy her techie gifts, but that's certainly not a limitation. She's very stylish and loves trendy things.

Thanks for your ideas.