57 replies to this topic

[Princess7915]

I always have touble with my Mom's husband (married like 5 years -I'm 29 so not really a step dad). Seem's like there's one on everybody's list. Most years he ask's for Amazon GC but I feel like it's always a cop-out. I know he likes them but sometimes I wish I could get him something that was a little more personal. He likes sweets and we have a nice chocolate shop and last year I got him something from there. So some "problem" males with sweettooths may really like some specialty chocolates -not the typical Godiva or Lindt stuff.

[MathGirl]

I always have touble with my Mom's husband (married like 5 years -I'm 29 so not really a step dad). Seem's like there's one on everybody's list. Most years he ask's for Amazon GC but I feel like it's always a cop-out. I know he likes them but sometimes I wish I could get him something that was a little more personal. He likes sweets and we have a nice chocolate shop and last year I got him something from there. So some "problem" males with sweettooths may really like some specialty chocolates -not the typical Godiva or Lindt stuff.

Green and Blacks Chocolates are very good! I also like Vosges Chocolates (My favorite is the Barcelona Bar, but they are all yummy!) Does he like Toffee? Enstroms Almond Toffee melts in your mouth! We received a box a few years back and OMG! I could have eaten the entire box. So good!

http://www.vosgeschocolate.com/

These sets are cool.

http://www.vosgescho...dy_bar_box_sets

http://www.enstrom.com/

http://www.enstrom.c....aspx?page=dark

I just saw that they have Toffee Popcorn!!!

[nick_jenni_jocelyn]

That is really nice of you- I will take my set in a blue My mom is so picky about her dang sheets all of a sudden- she has gone to the extent of giving them away when they don't feel right after washing. Too funny! Did you find any good deals on the ones you are giving?

I got the sheets from amazon for something like $65 for the 1,000 count sheets.... if you do a search for them, i think they are still that price. the down blanket i got off QVC. I got it a month or so ago and its sooooo soft, I am kicking myself for not getting myself one, lol.

[wldfire68]

ok here are two suggestions.... last year my brother and I went in on the "12 days of christmas" for our parents. We spent about 300.00 total. Some things were little and others were bigger. We picked some things for our dad and some things for our mom so it was even. 12-bottle of beer, 10 lottery tickets, We bought picture drink coasters for the 8th day. There were 4 in each box so bought 2. Put pictures of the grandkids in them. 8 drink coasters, Made up some coupons for help around the house... 6 hours of help. for the 1st day we gave them each 50.00 in chips from the casino. They really enjoyed that. We sang the song as we showered them with the gifts. This year we are doing a "restaurant of the month club". We are going to their favorite restaurants and getting them gift certificates, then we are going to have a calendar made with pictures of the grandkids and attach one gift card on each month. We will probably make up some story about how they have won this "fabulous dining experience to their local establishments"... They have everything they could ever need so we just try to go the more creative route. Its fun to do for them and they REALLY enjoy it. Good luck!

[MathGirl]

ok here are two suggestions.... last year my brother and I went in on the "12 days of christmas" for our parents. We spent about 300.00 total. Some things were little and others were bigger. We picked some things for our dad and some things for our mom so it was even. 12-bottle of beer, 10 lottery tickets, We bought picture drink coasters for the 8th day. There were 4 in each box so bought 2. Put pictures of the grandkids in them. 8 drink coasters, Made up some coupons for help around the house... 6 hours of help. for the 1st day we gave them each 50.00 in chips from the casino. They really enjoyed that. We sang the song as we showered them with the gifts. This year we are doing a "restaurant of the month club". We are going to their favorite restaurants and getting them gift certificates, then we are going to have a calendar made with pictures of the grandkids and attach one gift card on each month. We will probably make up some story about how they have won this "fabulous dining experience to their local establishments"... They have everything they could ever need so we just try to go the more creative route. Its fun to do for them and they REALLY enjoy it. Good luck!

Very cool idea! I bet it is fun coming up with all the great ideas!

[tokanm]

This year I am doing a years subscription to Netflix and I am doing a movie themed basket with candy and popcorn:fluffy: They can order whatever they want to see and it saves them for going to the movies or the video rental store. It is especially nice when the weather is crappy and they do not want to go out. Now you can even order instantly online or via an Xbox (they don't have Xbox) I called and asked if I should do the one or two movies out at a time and since the distribution centers are so close they advised one at a time as their will be a 1-2 day turnaround. I think they will enjoy it Plus I always do a magazine subsciption..Dad National Georgraphic StepMom.. Womans Day

[ohitsunshine]

ok here are two suggestions.... last year my brother and I went in on the "12 days of christmas" for our parents. We spent about 300.00 total. Some things were little and others were bigger. We picked some things for our dad and some things for our mom so it was even. 12-bottle of beer, 10 lottery tickets, We bought picture drink coasters for the 8th day. There were 4 in each box so bought 2. Put pictures of the grandkids in them. 8 drink coasters, Made up some coupons for help around the house... 6 hours of help. for the 1st day we gave them each 50.00 in chips from the casino. They really enjoyed that. We sang the song as we showered them with the gifts. This year we are doing a "restaurant of the month club". We are going to their favorite restaurants and getting them gift certificates, then we are going to have a calendar made with pictures of the grandkids and attach one gift card on each month. We will probably make up some story about how they have won this "fabulous dining experience to their local establishments"... They have everything they could ever need so we just try to go the more creative route. Its fun to do for them and they REALLY enjoy it. Good luck!

What a cool idea- I have never heard of anything like that. I may have to remember this one!

[ohitsunshine]

This year I am doing a years subscription to Netflix and I am doing a movie themed basket with candy and popcorn:fluffy:
They can order whatever they want to see and it saves them for going to the movies or the video rental store. It is especially nice when the weather is crappy and they do not want to go out. Now you can even order instantly online or via an Xbox (they don't have Xbox)

I called and asked if I should do the one or two movies out at a time and since the distribution centers are so close they advised one at a time as their will be a 1-2 day turnaround. I think they will enjoy it

Plus I always do a magazine subsciption..Dad National Georgraphic
StepMom.. Womans Day

Hmm, good idea, especially since they would never get that for themselves but they love movies. I had Netflix and loved it, but it got put on the back burner when we moved!

[ginabarrett]

ok here are two suggestions.... last year my brother and I went in on the "12 days of christmas" for our parents. We spent about 300.00 total. Some things were little and others were bigger. We picked some things for our dad and some things for our mom so it was even. 12-bottle of beer, 10 lottery tickets, We bought picture drink coasters for the 8th day. There were 4 in each box so bought 2. Put pictures of the grandkids in them. 8 drink coasters, Made up some coupons for help around the house... 6 hours of help. for the 1st day we gave them each 50.00 in chips from the casino. They really enjoyed that. We sang the song as we showered them with the gifts. This year we are doing a "restaurant of the month club". We are going to their favorite restaurants and getting them gift certificates, then we are going to have a calendar made with pictures of the grandkids and attach one gift card on each month. We will probably make up some story about how they have won this "fabulous dining experience to their local establishments"... They have everything they could ever need so we just try to go the more creative route. Its fun to do for them and they REALLY enjoy it. Good luck!

My mom did something similar for us one year... each month we'd get an envelope and in it was a gift certificate for a restaurant and some other thing, like the movies, museum, or a gift of some sort that went along with it... and the best part, each month included 1 month of housekeeper services!!!!!

[Karmarose]

How about finding an artisan in FL where you are going and buy a great piece of art? I bought my parents a tiki this year. I live in FL and I'm trying to convince them all to move here so I'm doing FL themed gifts. I bought the tiki from a great local artisan and I know they'll love it. I'm sure you could find a glass blower, wood carver or sculptor local to where you're going. Oh, and beach family pictures are great and not at all inexpensive. lol GL

[dmmiller]

I had mine done at treasureknit.com
But there area LOTS of places online to get it done. They are all about the same price, give or take a few bucks.
Treasureknit is very helpful.. I've been communicating with a lady via email and she's been most helpful with the whole thing. VERY good customer service. I should get
the product back by monday (cuz of a rush service), so I can let ya know how the quality is.

That would be great, thank you

Well I just wanted to update.. I never got the blanket, even after ordering "rush" service.
Customer service went down the drain, after I was singing they're praises last week.
If your going to order this blanket, order from another company other than treasureknit.com. They are avoiding giving me any answers and now it seems my blanket will be here a week later than promised.

[ohitsunshine]

Well I just wanted to update.. I never got the blanket, even after ordering "rush" service.
Customer service went down the drain, after I was singing they're praises last week.
If your going to order this blanket, order from another company other than treasureknit.com. They are avoiding giving me any answers and now it seems my blanket will be here a week later than promised.

Oh my- that is terrible! Thanks for sharing that, its too bad. I hope you get it sooner than later!

[allshoppedout]

ok here are two suggestions.... last year my brother and I went in on the "12 days of christmas" for our parents. We spent about 300.00 total. Some things were little and others were bigger. We picked some things for our dad and some things for our mom so it was even. 12-bottle of beer, 10 lottery tickets, We bought picture drink coasters for the 8th day. There were 4 in each box so bought 2. Put pictures of the grandkids in them. 8 drink coasters, Made up some coupons for help around the house... 6 hours of help. for the 1st day we gave them each 50.00 in chips from the casino. They really enjoyed that. We sang the song as we showered them with the gifts. This year we are doing a "restaurant of the month club". We are going to their favorite restaurants and getting them gift certificates, then we are going to have a calendar made with pictures of the grandkids and attach one gift card on each month. We will probably make up some story about how they have won this "fabulous dining experience to their local establishments"... They have everything they could ever need so we just try to go the more creative route. Its fun to do for them and they REALLY enjoy it. Good luck!

That is an absolutely fantastic idea, doing the 12 days of Christmas--and it obviously can be affordable and fun, rather than outrageously expensive.
I am sure they loved it.
The giftcards/calendar is great as well. I am going to pass these on to friends who are stuck on what things to do.
You are very inventive.

[hopeky94]

Another suggestion I've seen that's similar to the "12 days of Christmas" is doing a small gift for every letter of the alphabet. I originally saw that suggested for a baby shower, but I think it would be just as much fun as a Christmas gift! BTW, wldfire68-- do you happen to remember what gifts you and your brother did for the rest of the "days of Christmas"? I want to talk to my brother and sister about the idea... Thanks!!

[dmmiller]

Oh my- that is terrible! Thanks for sharing that, its too bad. I hope you get it sooner than later!

Just got the blanket. Its a bit smaller than I expected, but it looks really nice.
Too bad this company cant hold to their promises.

[tlklcox]

I'm not sure if this is the correct forum for this.....I am totally drawing a blank on what to get my dad and step mom this year. I usually send them something that I order online but I am drawing a blank for a unique gift this year. They have cats so I have to be careful about anything poisonous regarding flowers. We aren't extremely close my parents divorced when I was very young and I didn't seem him much as a child. Just started to try to recover a relationship with him when I was an adult and it has been a 10 year process to get to where we are which is cordial. I think they want to have a better relationship but it is just hard to get there. They aren't really "kid people" and I have 3 with one more on the way. Any ideas....no suggestion at this point could be a bad one. It's like I want to get something special but just can't think of what it is........frustrating!

[Kandy]

What about a family portrait in a nice frame, something for their cats, then gc to a local restaurant. It's not really a unique gift though

[littlesdcen]

IF they have cats, what about a automatic selfcleaning litter box?

[bovichtj]

What about something food, like Omaha Steaks? Cat friendly (LOL) and adult...

[noehlp]

What about a family portrait in a nice frame, something for their cats, then gc to a local restaurant. It's not really a unique gift though

I like the portrait idea. Or a calendar you make with various photos of you and the kids.

[mudechevy]

Breakfast is always good. http://www.wolferman...me__10053_10005
My sister and I split the cost for a basket for our aunt last year.

[mom2maddynsky27]

how about a digital picture frame loaded with pics of you and your kids?

[elena_398]

Digital photo frame where you can already download pics for them (to start them off). Pics of them, family members, and of course they furbabies.

[elena_398]

Something personalized with a pic of their furbabies.... Personalization mall is great. I've ordered from them before.

[vsa3janes]

What about a donation to a charity in their name? I donate to American Cancer Society, our local Children's Hospital and Disabled Vets. They all send a nice card to the person you list letting them know a donation was made and how grateful they are. This could start a new tradition for you and them. It would be great if there was a cause memoriable to you and them.

[siczlo]

GPS navagation unit, restaurant gift card, hotel accomodations near your house so they can visit (if you want them too, LOL) A homemade DVD of the kids wishing them a Merry Christmas. One year I sent my aunt a family photo in a recordable frame with the kids singing "We wish you a Merry Christmas" She loved it, and enjoys it every Christmas when she puts it out. I don't know where they live but maybe tickets to show like Blue Man group or Wicked.

[MathGirl]

Breakfast is always good. http://www.wolferman...me__10053_10005
My sister and I split the cost for a basket for our aunt last year.

Yummy!

[fluffkin79]

How about a movie basket. Choose a movie (or a few), a toasty throw blanket, and some popcorn and/or snacks. I just tried Dale and Thomas popcorn - it is yummy! Or Aldi has a 3.5 oz bag of chocolate drizzled carmel popcorn for .95. I just finished a bag and it's pretty good. Do you know where they like to go or what they like to do?