<p>Fall is right around the corner and D will be turning 21 while away at school. I really have no idea what to do or what to buy for her. I’d love to hear what others have done.</p>
<p>A few ideas I’ve tossed around:</p>
<p>MacBook Pro?</p>
<p>A short trip, but it would have to wait until spring?</p>
<p>Turn my engagement ring into a necklace (her dad and I are divorced. Does that make it unlucky)?</p>
<p>Cash?</p>
<p>Hire a limo at school for a night on the town?</p>
<p>Please help!</p>
<p>I’d take the MacBook Pro (depending on what laptop I already have), but I’m a 17 year old guy so your daughter might want something else.</p>
<p>A promissory note for a wine tasting trip with her mom in the spring? :)</p>
<p>Does she drive? Someone er age would love to have a brand new car. Maybe even something like a 2014 Prius.</p>
<p>My D and her friends (all turned 21) went to Las Vegas for the weekend with a pair of parents. They all rented one suite that they all shared and had a blast. It wasn’t my idea but I didn’t veto. Don’t recall what S did.</p>
<p>I’d hold off on making you engagement ring from your ex into a necklace for your D. If she’s anything like my D, they still tend to lose a LOT of stuff and it would be sad if it were lost in the many moves before she settles down. </p>
<p>I’d save the ring. Ask your dtr what she would like. My son had a shared credit card with me, so he “treated” his friends to a dinner. </p>
<p>Oh, my goodness! A trip with mom to a winery would be so much fun! Maybe even invite a few close friends?</p>
<p>Bookmarking as S is turning 21 at the end of August and I have no idea what to get him (and he already has a car and that is the last one I am buying him.) </p>
<p>I do like the idea of treating all his friends to dinner out. He’ll be leading an AESOP trip for incoming freshman on the day but all his friends will be back on campus a few days after. </p>
<p>I can’t afford the Prius!! She has my old car that somehow survived 12 New England winters!</p>
<p>I love the winery idea, except I haven’t had a drink in almost 15 years and I’d be bored. Maybe a spa getaway instead?</p>
<p>Las Vegas sounds interesting. Since we’re in NE maybe we could combine one of the CT casinos with a show and spa!</p>
<p>Keep the ideas coming, please!</p>
<p>Make it a girls’ trip! Spa! Drinks! Dinner! </p>
<p>Make it a whole experience. :)</p>
<p>glopop, there is a really nice spa right near Foxwoods. </p>
<p><a href=“http://www.thespaatnorwichinn.com/experience_areaattraction.aspx”>http://www.thespaatnorwichinn.com/experience_areaattraction.aspx</a></p>
<p>We gave D1 a bar tab and a pair of Tahitian pearl earrings. We weren’t invited to her party.</p>
<p>I wanted to surprise her, but I think I’ll ask her what she wants, mentioning the spa/casino trip and a few other things. Thanks for the great suggestions!</p>
<p>As somebody who is about to turn 21, a Macbook pro seems like the way to go! The idea of a spa/winery/etc weekend getaway also sounds great, if your daughter is somebody who likes to relax and be pampered. Las Vegas is another great idea. It’s literally the perfect spot for a 21st birthday if a little bit of drinking and gambling is what your daughter likes! </p>
<p>Personally, I asked my parents for a special piece of jewelry- one that has meaning and that I will be able to pass down in the future. An heirloom piece. 
</p>
<p>There was a thread here recently by a girl who wanted a nice piece of jewelry for her 21st birthday - is that something your daughter would like?</p>
<p>We live near a resort area and my soon to be 21 year old asked if she could bring some friends home for a birthday weekend. We ended up hosting 12 college kids! Everyone had fun and everyone behaved. DH and I were exhausted It would have been cheaper to buy a MacBook Pro!</p>
<p>Great example as to why you limit those you invite!</p>
<p>Las Vegas is fun for more than just the drinking and gambling. The spas are great, and of course the shows are so much fun. </p>
<p>Last time we went to Vegas, we were so surprised and pleased to score 4th row center tickets to the Blue Man Group on the day of. We arrived at the show, and when they saw our tickets, they said, “here are your rain ponchos.”<br>
“WHAAAAT?!”</p>
<p>Yeah, we needed them.</p>
<p>D turned 21 earlier this year. She went out to a bar and then got dinner with friends that night. We had a wedding to attend that same weekend - so we met her for the wedding in New Orleans and had a fun weekend. Got her some simple pearl earrings (not too expensive - if she loses them, oh well!). Also got her diamond earrings and a pendant - those are currently stashed away in the safe deposit box She’ll get them once she sort of settles down in one place I guess…</p>
<p>I told D about this thread and read some of it to her. To my surprise, she has no interest in a spa, Vegas or jewelry! There was some interest in the Mac, but in her words “I don’t really need it.” This LAC has turned my trend loving girly-girl into a down to earth peace loving hippie! </p>
<p>She wants to go bar hopping. Since there isn’t much of a bar scene near her school, I’m getting her a hotel room in a college town about 45 minutes from her school where she and her friends can bar hop in relative safety. </p>
<p>I will probably also get her a meaningful piece of jewelry, in some sort of hippie theme I suppose!</p>