The Gift Suggestion Thread

[batmom]

Thanks guys - all good ideas. I got him the National Geographic DNA test a few years back but the Ancestry one is different. He might find that more interesting. I'll needle him and see if he's interested.

Batgirl and I were at a craft fair this weekend and there's a map maker there who's turned maps into really cool prints and we got him one of Victoria, where my dad grew up and lives now. Including the link because he also does some cool prints with dinosaurs and star wars that may inspire some of you.

[Ginger]

Batmom, if your dad is as much like mine as it sounds, that map is the perfect present. My dad once got a laminated wall map of all of the towns in Massachusetts, his home state, and did show and tell with that thing to every guest that came over for years. He looooved it.

[chonies]

I'm looking for leads on a good subscription box for my mom. She's almost 71, has retired to an artsy/outdoorsy town and appreciates that stuff but doesn't really participate in it actively. Her hobbies are genealogy and reading, and she has memberships to things like the arboretums and botanical gardens, travels as she pleases, and eats enthusiastically, which is probably the feature that is easiest to please, giftwise.

Is Nature Box any good? They sponsor some of the podcasts I listen to but I've never tried them. We had three months of Try the World, which was mostly good but one month was kind of a bummer, but I'm looking for something like that.

[mrspickles]

I saw a monthly mystery subscription box the other day...I don't know if that works, but I thought it looked really fun.The Mystery Experiences Company

[ladyboy]

That looks cool. I tried the Hunt A Killer thing but it was ongoing and therefore, quite the investment and cancelled it. I think I'm going to get one of these and invite friends over to do it with me.

[chonies]

That definitely looks interesting--I'll investigate further. She likes mysteries generally but if there was a forensic science box, I would pounce.

Related: I had no idea there were so many subscription boxes. So very, very many. I ordered Try The World snack version for my mom, and Naturebox for myself. There was a heat box that looked good for Mr Cho but it looks like the company is out of business.

[mrspickles]

I had never heard of Hunt a Killer, either.

Choices!

[Ginger]

I'm extremely frustrated trying to find a gift for a coworker. I got a new job this year and she's mentored me and given me all kinds of help, so I want to get her something nice to truly show my appreciation. The problem is, we don't work in the same physical office and I've only met her in person one time.

I'm looking for something I can order on Amazon and get delivered, but I know almost nothing about her real life. I don't know what her hobbies are. I don't know whether she's a vegetarian or a diabetic or a coffee drinker or a tea-totaler. I don't want to get her the dreaded candle....

[chonies]

Is she in the same city as you? I know gift cards might be kind of tacky, but I'd recommend something specific to wherever she is, like an indie bookstore or a parks pass or whatever; maybe there's a food-selling place that's gluten safe and also vegan, just in case. At least it would have currency if she wanted to pass it along.

Orrrrrr...this could be a bit too precious, but if you could find something like a historical book of wherever she is, and a note with something like, "thank you for helping me find my." Maybe a print or historical map from Etsy? Is there something specific to your shared job or industry?

This *is* hard. Worst case, you could always think of buying something that you would appreciate, and find a literary way to make it relevant--binoculars? a somewhat upscale planter and plant? The Harry and David pear box?

That said, the other day I picked up a $7 christmas cactus for a friend's birthday--nothing special, I got it at the supermarket and I chose a bright pink one. I thought it was a nice thing to do. She was totally into it for reasons I didn't know about (grandma memories), and kept talking about it. I felt kind of bad, because someone else put together an elaborate balloon display, and the cactus got far more attention.

[Ginger]

Dec 16, 2017 21:31:10 GMT -4 chonies said:

Is she in the same city as you? I know gift cards might be kind of tacky, but I'd recommend something specific to wherever she is, like an indie bookstore or a parks pass or whatever; maybe there's a food-selling place that's gluten safe and also vegan, just in case. At least it would have currency if she wanted to pass it along.

Orrrrrr...this could be a bit too precious, but if you could find something like a historical book of wherever she is, and a note with something like, "thank you for helping me find my." Maybe a print or historical map from Etsy? Is there something specific to your shared job or industry?

This *is* hard. Worst case, you could always think of buying something that you would appreciate, and find a literary way to make it relevant--binoculars? a somewhat upscale planter and plant? The Harry and David pear box?

That said, the other day I picked up a $7 christmas cactus for a friend's birthday--nothing special, I got it at the supermarket and I chose a bright pink one. I thought it was a nice thing to do. She was totally into it for reasons I didn't know about (grandma memories), and kept talking about it. I felt kind of bad, because someone else put together an elaborate balloon display, and the cactus got far more attention.

I don't even know where she's from, only where she works! Obviously I'm going to have to make a real effort this year to find out more about her.

I bit the bullet: live orchid from Amazon, delivering to her office this week. No gift options, unfortunately, so the stupid receipt will be in it. Heartfelt card sent separately with a little drawing of an orchid saying it's from me.