Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with gifts

Help me please my wife without buying any pills.

HopStopDon'tShop — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 05:16:28 -0800

2010 is the year of My Happy Wife. Oh Wives, Girlfriends and other partners, help me find things - large and small - I can do with/for her, and give her, that will help make this her best year ever. What has your partner done for you, or given you that has really made your day/week/month/year? If you're the giving type, what have you done that really cut the grade? (And, by the way, how did you get to thinking of that great thing?)

Before we continue, let me tell you a few things about my lady.
1: she hates surprises. Really. There is no 'good' surprise as far as she's concerned, I've tested this.
2: she has rather expensive taste and we have recently embarked on an attempt to reduce the clutter in our lives by only buying good quality stuff, so random trinkets are, kind of, out.
3: she (well, we) travel quite a lot, so it would be hard to set up a "weekly massage" or something similar as we'll be on the road for almost half of this year.
4: we recently (yay) had a baby (she's 7 months old and awesome).
5: she works part-time from home in a job that she doesn't find quite as challenging as the one she had before the baby.
6: she loves jewelry (how strange!) and bags, but, see points 1 and 2 above.
7: we live in a place where there are limited 'cultural' activities like concerts, opera, plays etc (all of which we both enjoy). We usually engage in this stuff while we're traveling but now we have a baby with us and we're not quite ready to use dial-a-babysitter type services.

Okay, I hope there are some success stories and ideas out there that I can put to good use.

Thanks in advance, as always.

Cool Greeting Cards

ecollie — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 06:36:55 -0800

I live in North Dallas, and went looking for holiday cards and birthday cards in the last couple of weeks. I am sick of the Hallmark/Bible Belt type crap. Anybody aware of a cool/hip place for cards and gifts?

Best of: Engagement Gifts

kgreerRN — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 02:25:07 -0800

Your best engagement gift or suggestion for a gift, for true great friends. This is the couple; 3 years ago you would bet your life savings they would NEVER even get along as friends. And now they are so endearing, so genuine and so good to each other. He loves local live music, also Flogging Molly, Lucero, Dropkick Murphys etc, he plays guitar, classic rock. His greatest hobby is breading and raising beautiful fish...think 4+ tanks!
She is a party girl turned domestic goddess! She loves decorating their new home, boating and photographs.
They are very close with their families, love bonfires and proud of their Irish heritage.
I need some great suggestions for gifts, tangible (art/home goods), service or memory etc.

Interesting gifts to bring home from Korea?

scblackman — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 06:14:57 -0800

What unique gifts should I keep an eye out for when traveling to Seoul? I'm headed to Seoul next week and having never been to Korea, I'm curious as to what would be some unique gift-y type things that I should keep an eye out for (for my wife, my 3-year-old daughter, and for various nieces/nephews aged 4-6 years).

Does anyone have any suggestions for things that are uniquely Korean that can't be easily obtained in the US?

On a similar note, any unique alcoholic beverages that are worth brining back for the bar at home?

Shopping in Aspen

pyrom — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 18:16:40 -0800

I'm on a ski trip in Aspen for the week, a vacation that my mom helped fund. What's a gift within the $50 range that I can bring home to show my appreciation? I'm planning a jaunt around the towns in the valley sometime within the next week.

Thanks!

Happy Feet slippers around Austin?

sentient — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 10:21:42 -0800

Where can I buy Happy Feet slippers in or near Austin, TX? Alternatively, where can I buy other fun/novelty slippers for kids in or near Austin? Hoping to luck out on this one. Is anyone aware of where Happy Feet slippers are for sale in Texas, ideally within an hour by car of Austin, TX?

The slippers look like cartoonish oversized sneakers, and I've seen them in other states in mall kiosks.

The website doesn't list locations, although an article [pdf] about the company says that there are 190 locations in forty states.

I tried the 800 number and got voicemail (large volume of holiday calls, etc.), and I emailed them to ask. No response so far. The website's "Live Chat" feature is offline as of this post.

Has anyone seen them? Any tips? I'd like to get them today!

As a backup, what places in Austin definitely sell fun/novelty slippers in big kid sizes? (Animals, paws/claws, giant-and-fluffy, look like other stuff, that kind of thing.) Thanks!

Shops that make and sell individualized, eclectic hand-made jewelry in the Portland, Oregon area

Auden — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 20:21:07 -0800

Shops that make and sell individualized, eclectic hand-made jewelry in the Portland, Oregon area? (... X-mas gift help request) It's Christmas and I'm agonizing over my 60-something Mom's gift, my original plans having fallen though.

Mom is now of the age and attitude ("When I am an old woman I shall wear purple With a red hat which doesn't go") where she likes to wear the occasional dramatic unusual, artistic jewelry. So I'm thinking of finding her a necklace (under 150$), something hand-made, arty, brash/dramatic/eclectic/unique. (I have no idea if this price limitation is unrealistic, but that's my budget)

I'm looking for local crafts-people or shops where I could look for this kind of jewelry in the Portland, Oregon area. (and a big thanks in advance!)

Sweet and Sour Gift?

furiousxgeorge — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 14:38:00 -0800

Looking for gift ideas for a pollyanna. The theme of the gift is "sweet and sour." Any ideas, mundane or weird are welcome.

Mad Men Themed Gifts for a man

Dukat — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 22:05:40 -0800

Ideas for a Mad Men/early 60s themed gift for an early 20s man? Seeking gift ideas related to Mad Men for my boyfriend, who is in his early 20s. He loves Mad Men, the early 60s, wears cardigans and Oxford shoes. He doesn't have the show, despite having watched it for almost 3 years, so I was thinking:

-Season 1 of Mad Men
-a skinny tie

? Anything else along the same lines? He smokes, so I was thinking about throwing in a pack of cigarettes. However, I know nothing about such things--are Lucky Strikes even still around?

Also, Mad Men themed/60s alcohol ideas? He is a seasoned drinker.

Thank you in advance!

Art project, of a sort

hapax_legomenon — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 15:55:10 -0800

Please help me think of words with which to complete this sentence: "This coupon entitles the bearer to: ________________________. I'm making a coupon book for my (new, long distance, we're both 42, have known each other since sixth grade, midwestern small-town neighbors, reconnected on FB in August, have seen each other three times since then, and are both feeling it) "boyfriend." He's a jiu-jitsu instructor and lives in the south. I live in Northern California in the best city in the world. We've been physically intimate. He's very funny and people love him. Says it like it is.

So, that's my audience. What do you think he would like? So far I've come up with one coupon that he can give me when he doesn't want to hear me make fun of the shit beer he drinks (that one's tough). Another one for a foot massage (he's into feet). Another for me to make him dinner (he recently asked if I would make him chicken noodle soup if he was sick. I said I would. I think I passed.)

Please help me think of other good, non-boring ideas!

(Oh, and I'm using some cool old-timey alphabet rubber stamps to make the cover, and an old typewriter to make each of the coupons.)

You are talented in many ways. In bed.

iamkimiam — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 15:15:15 -0800

Give me your best fortunes! I bought some beautiful ceramic fortune cookies to give as holiday gifts this year. I need some good fortunes to put inside them. I'm looking for short phrases that are sweet and funny. Nothing directly sexual or romantic, but bonus if they sound better with 'in bed' at the end.

Whisky Me Away

spamguy — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 08:14:21 -0800

What's a good scotch (or non-scotch) whisky that I can get for $15 - $20? It's Secret Santa season at my office, and my meta-boss is my target. Instructions are to secretly give sub-$5 presents Monday through Thursday, and a more expensive present on Friday. My target enjoys his booze (responsibly!), so I plan to give him $15 to $20 worth of pleasurable scotch whisky or whisky whisky.

I suggest both because, really, I don't know or care. I'm not much of a drinker, and when I do drink, you could convince me turpentine was a fine liquor. This is a double challenge because I realise $20 doesn't go far, and I'd like to avoid the swill water. Even a 300mL flask of something quality would be great.

Which type of whisky should I aim for? What's a good brand that's easily acquired for $15 - $20? By 'easily acquired', I mean I'll probably be hitting up Spec's in town.

Pick our presents!

mittenbex — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 17:49:24 -0800

We're getting married! GREAT. Now, what do we register for? We're 25 and 31. Both out of our parents house for years but neither of us are what can be considered 'well stocked' on the housewares front.

Between us we have two lamps, two twin beds (yikes), a futon, coffee table, an oldddddd recliner that I'm afraid will NOT be joining us at our future mutual home, several TVs and limited amounts of cookware.

We know to register for all the 'regular' stuff you see on those 'suggestion' lists provided to you by the stores when you register.

We're looking for unique items you might have obtained over the years that you find to be godsend. Couldn't live without or wouldn't want to at least.

Items of any sort. We are not opposed to asking for fun stuff!

We: both like to cook, go camping, have movie marathons, read, have an appreciation for the 50s and 60s type Americana decor.

I know he'd love to be set up with a good tool set but isn't really a hand person (more would like to learn to be) so he'd like to know what are the essential things to obtain.

So - either suggestions for lesser known items. OR recommendations for brands of cookware/towels/bedding/etc thare are good quality but not too pricey. Neither of us are into the whole fancy schmancy brand stuff. We are both practical but still appreciate quality.

Thanks guys!

Xmas gifts under $100 in DC?

metajc — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 09:15:31 -0800

Anywhere good in Washington, DC to shop for Christmas stuff? I moved to DC from Baltimore recently and found myself driving back up to Baltimore because I couldn't find anywhere to shop for Christmas junk in DC. I used to get coffee and wine and weird gifts from places like Hampden, Wine Source and the Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore.

I saw this post, from last year, which is good for scarves and stuff like that:
http://ask.metafilter.com/108499/Crafty-DC-Shopping

Any other ideas for shopping locally in DC?

Food? Local-specific stuff? Stuff for under $100 (or cheaper) that you can only find here? Stuff that would actually make relatives want to visit?

Other sites that might have this covered?

Small gifts that recipients are likely to hang on to?

Xere — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 16:48:18 -0800

Help me, MeFi elves! What are some tiny, practical, long-lasting, and fun gifts for twentysomethings? Specifically, gifts that are not likely to get thrown out or given away, due to moving far away - so, no books or voltage-specific electronics. I've already done the Swiss Army Knife, and a USB drive is a little too practical. What now?

Santa would've brought gifts if given enough warning!

beautifulcheese — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 14:00:33 -0800

My family decided in November on not buying Christmas gifts this year as we are all adults and have what we need anyway. I get paid once a month and right now am living cheque to cheque. So I spent the money I had saved up on extra credit payments. Now they've changed their minds and all want gifts. I have 25 dollars to last me til the 30th. How do I get through this holiday without being as bitter as I am now? And not feel like a loser for no one having a gift? To top it off I'm struggling through a bad bout of SAD on top of a good two decades of on and off hard depression that is just beginning to ease w/ the miracle dose of pills we've found. I want to crawl into bed and tell them all off. I certainly have absolutely no energy to make some 10 odd gifts for xmas.

I thought of skipping the whole thing but I've been told repeatedly in the past that I am selfish to not share my company with family on the holidays. Plus family will be staying with me and I can't find a way around that.

I really loathe the holidays. Yet feel guilt that I don't enjoy my family either.

Am I being overly sensitive to the change in minds? Or what the lack of gifts on my part will mean? What can I say when someone hands me a gift from under the tree when I have nothing in return?

Give the Gift of Green (Planet)

DetonatedManiac — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 13:31:22 -0800

I am looking for good/effective/interesting environmental charities to donate to as Christmas gifts to family and friends. Working on 2 tracks 1) Charities that do the most actual good 2) charities that would give unique swag or "works-in-their-name". ~$25-$50 per person. In my family we have made a stated effort to reduce our carbon footprint for X-mas and not give too much "stuff" that people don't really need. Since we are all environmentalists I thought donations to a Green Charity in other people's name would be a good gift.

Still, I'm used to giving something tangible to people, especially something unique. Some thoughts I had were:
-Share of stock (and certificate) in a green energy company
-Certificate that says you have saved 1 acre of rain forest, or saved a baby seal, or planted trees as carbon offsets, etc.
-Something else that is unique, or gives an interesting keepsake, or just doing really really good work.

ON THE OTHER HAND. I realize that many charities that indulge in this type of swag marketing are not as effective. Obviously they have to spend some overhead to design, print, distribute the certificate or whatever. And you run the risk that they may be selling the swag more than they are actually doing good work.

So Hive mind, give me some good recommendations that let me give the gift and save the planet at the same time. I am aiming for 5-7 gifts at $25-$50 a pop, but could maybe do one or two bigger gifts for the whole family.

Foam Bookmarks, the fewer the better!

librarylis — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 13:17:35 -0800

Can you help me find these foam bookmarks in quantities of less than 72? I need to find foam bookmarks--preferably in quantities of five or less!--for a gift.

As these bookmarks will be replacements of ones lost on a trip recently, she has a specific image of what she wants in mind already. These bookmarks are exactly what she had, but 72 bookmarks would last her the rest of her life.

The name of a manufacturer might help narrow my googling down, but really what I want is to know if anyone, anywhere sells foam bookmarks in the style noted above, but in smaller quantities.

The birthday in question is before Christmas, so bonus points for something I can go out and pick up (in the greater San Diego area) rather than order online. This is not a deal breaker, though.

The perfect novel?

Anonymous — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:28:34 -0800

Help me find that perfect novel for a Christmas present. Sorry to post this anonymously, but someone close to the recipient is one my contacts!

Now, I spent a good part of yesterday perusing book stores, eventually walking away empty handed.

The person receiving this book is a mid-fifties male who is an avid reader of good popular fiction. E.g. really likes Frank McCourt; really dislikes Dan Brown.

I considered Netherland by O'Neill but decided against it because I haven't read it and thought it might be too political. (Is it?) So if you need a gage to go by then it'd be McCourt.

The suggestion needn't be a heavy story, for well-written, humorous, insightful prose works just as well. What I want is a story that will stick with this person for time to come.

Thank you in advance for your suggestions.

A gift idea to last throughout the ages

AnnaRat — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 01:15:28 -0800

What gifts do you give (or receive) either every year to the same person, or gifts that you always give to people at a particular age? Or, are there any products or books that are released each year that you think are worthwhile. I am, of course, after suggestions of things you like / the receiver genuinely appears to like. For example, does the newest baby in the family always get a Bunnykins set for their first Christmas? Does your aunt always get you a pair of cashmere socks for your birthday? I've nearly finished my Christmas (and Quonsar) shopping. I would like to streamline my gift shopping a bit more though, for future years (and birthdays). While finding something perfect and new each year is great, I do also like creating a bit of a tradition with a gift that is appreciated, though not unexpected.

On my part, I always buy my parents the latest release of Quaff: Best wines in Australia under $15. I used to always get money from my aunt from the teenage years through my twenties, as she said her grandfather had always done that and she could rely on it for buying a good pair of shoes each year. As a kid, our neighbours used to give me a Darrell Lea Bo-Peep Jar of rock candy, and I used to always look forward to it. I buy my grandmother, who is difficult to buy for, a beautiful boxed flower arrangement of miniature roses for her birthday each year (the shop was near my work and is filled with gorgeous flowers and makes you want to buy the lot and fill your house with flowers - if you ever need to order flowers online in Melbourne, this is it).

I have from <1 year old nephew through to grandmother to buy for each year. Stocking stuffers to major gifts, suggest away, please!

Jingle Noms - share yours?

Mysticalchick — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 10:38:30 -0800

Our office wants to give the UPS, Fed Ex and postal carrier food gifts this year. Any great suggestions? I have a catalog from Boston Coffee Cakes - looks yummy. What kinds of food gifts have you gotten that's been extra awesome? Thanks for the suggestions!

What retailers offer random surprise boxes of merchandise?

IndigoRain — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 14:13:03 -0800

What other retailers offer surprise boxes of random merchandise, such as Archie McPhee's Surprise Bag and Jumbo Mystery Box? The only other one I know of is Strapya World's Lucky Bag.

Also, not interested in Woot's Bag of Crap... I'm looking for boxes/bags that are available all the time or else at a certain time of year (like how Strapya's is only available in December.)

Help me find some fabulous oatmeal!

bookmammal — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 06:43:56 -0800

Where can I find instant oatmeal packets in interesting flavors? As part of my Secret Santa office gift this year, I want to include several individual instant oatmeal packets in different flavors--but a step or two up from the usual Quaker Oats-type brands. The catch--I need to have them in hand by next Friday 12/11. Any ideas of actual stores that may carry these (I'm in suburban Chicago) or online sources?

Secret Santa Anonymous Shipping

Anonymous — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:17:57 -0800

I would like to ship a gift to my family secret santa from amazon.com, but I can't figure out how to do it anonymously. I looked at their help files and it says you can't ship anonymously to prisons which implies you can do it to other addresses. Does anyone have experience with this?

Note, we don't do a reveal until later, so just having my name on the order would suck. Also, I really want to use Amazon.com because I get free shipping and therefore there would be more bang for my buck in terms of the spending limit.

Marriage gifts for coworkers in India

hackwolf — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 07:31:37 -0800

Help me find excellent wedding gifts for my coworkers in India! Both of the guys that I work with in India are getting married next week, and I just found out about it. I live in the US, so obviously I can't attend, but I'd like to get them each something nice for their wedding and as a thank-you for a year of hard work on this project. I'd like to keep it around $100-150 USD per person if possible, but they don't have wedding registries and I'm culturally clueless (even about my own culture).

I've been working with both of them for about 9 months now, but we've only met face-to-face once and I don't really know that much about them other than they're nice enough to chat with in the company canteen, so I don't know of anything really personal that I could get them. I'd be happy to give them cash, but I'm not sure how that would be taken, and if $100 would be seen as too stingy or too generous as a personal gift. We're all employees of HugeComputerCompany that has an employee discount store, so there isn't much in the way of consumer electronics they can't get for themselves cheaply. If it helps, one of the guys is local to Bangalore, the other is from up north (though I can't remember exactly where); one is an arranged marriage and the other is a love marriage. Also, I'm not their manager, but I am the technical lead on the project they're working on.