Bought tickets to Hamilton in SF and Rent in Honolulu. We enjoyed both shows!
@momofsenior1 My daughter also loved the bubble tea kit I got her That was a hit along with the Italian cheese making kit (which I gifted both her and one of my friends).
I have always enjoyed hearing my kids responses over the years when someone asks them “what gifts did you get?” or “what was your favorite gift” - it’s interesting to hear what they mention. Not always the biggest or most expensive thing but sometimes it’s the “surprise” item.
H and I have been into doing jigsaw puzzles lately. My mom got us a wooden jigsaw puzzle! We’d never heard of such a thing, but it’s SO COOL. The pieces are so incredibly intricate…Like this.
https://www.libertypuzzles.com/wooden-jigsaw-puzzles/sea-turtle
@college_query My D mentioned AWAY. I think that will be her b-day gift that is coming up shortly. Did you get a hard case or soft?
Clothes that cost more than we would normally spend are always a hit. D21 loves her two new pairs of Lulu tights and a new Patagonia jacket and LL Bean 1/2 zips were big hits with S19.
A little gift was a big hit. My D and her fiancee love to do puzzles. I make up a 1,000 piece puzzle of one of their engagement photos through Shutterfly and they were thrilled.
Igloo, my son asked for the Big carry on Away bag a few years ago. This year, for his BD, he requested the full size bag. DIL also has Away bags. All are hard case
We got 21-year-old D a robot dog. She said that years ago her dad said he would get her one and he never did. So he found one this year! Of course, it’s much better than the one she would have gotten back then. She loved it. She can’t wait to show it to her friends at college. Our real dogs were not impressed.
Thanks, @bookworm. My D was complaining a lot about her full size over the xmas. I don’t think she meant to suggest for her BD but it is as good a present as any.
12 yr old and 19 yr old boys: Air Pods w/ the fast wireless chargers. Big hit!! Just don’t buy the skins. They were a waste. Wouldn’t fit or didn’t stay on.
DH and 12 yr old boy: Echo dots. DH put his in the living room and uses it for just about everything including telling our S to come down for dinner instead of yelling ourselves hoarse.
Once we’re in our new house DH says he’ll put the echo in his office and get the bigger one (Hub, I think?) to be linked to things like the doorbell, lights, etc.
My favorite gift made me cry. My mom sent me a photo album chock full of my baby pics up to my wedding. She also sent the cheerleading sweater she knitted for me when my dad was coaching. The kids laughed and asked why grandma had sent old doll clothes. Yes, I really was that tiny.
My daughter loved the gift certificate to the Indian restaurant recommended on here that is in Washington DC and tickets to see Capital Steps. Thanks CC’ers!
@Iglooo - I got my D the larger hard sided carry-on suitcase, and my DIL the smaller hard sided carry-on suitcase (each the size they preferred). I have the hard sided medium suitcase - I’ve had it for a year and I love it.
The thread helpful. Some gifts could be good for birthday ideas too,
For stocking, I got a tin of tabasco flavored chocolate. I think we found it at World Market, but we bought a single tin, not the 6pack in this link
https://www.worldmarket.com/category/food-and-drink/gourmet-miniatures.do?template=PLA&plfsku=428979&&mrkgcl=660&mrkgadid=1710760341&camp=ppc%3AGoogle%3APLA%2BMerkle_Shopping_PLA%7CBrand%2BBrand_All_Products&product_id=428979&adpos=1o1&creative=62747531219&device=c&matchtype=&network=g&gclid=Cj0KCQiAgebwBRDnARIsAE3eZjQfwT1ujpDYOq5vn3Qc-1RsJIedD-6PEenp5kro3u6kdgTs62Ib8TcaAvGcEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
My favorite gift was a food sealer so that I can take advantage of Costco. I have already sealed up a bunch of meat. Freezer burn away!
@JustaMom5465 - I just looked up Liberty Puzzles and am in love! I have a friend who is really into jigsaws, I passed the link…she’s bought 2 under the impressionism category!
Our family tradition is to do a jigsaw puzzle on new year’s eve–and try to finish it by midnight. This gives me some ideas for next year. (This year we finished after 1 am --D chose an unused puzzle she found in our basement. There was no lid on the box/no picture to go by, so that made it extra challenging. Plus the fact that it was half cloudless sky…)
My favorite gift was a flashdrive of our childhood photos from my sister. This included photos of our parents’ wedding onward-- many special occasions, birthdays and holidays–so many memories of our relatives who passed on long ago. I loved seeing their faces again. I went through all the photos several times, and cried looking at them.
Gifts of photos of loved ones or beloved places are truly a labor of love.
Our D has our family dog and he sheds terribly. She moved into a new apartment with her bf and they were having a problem with all the hair. I bought them a robotic vacuum for the holidays and they are thrilled. They said it works really well. Will definitely keep it in mind as my other kids settle.
This sounds stupid, but it was a big hit with my siblings (in fact, my sister just wrote me the sweetest thank-you note where she praised my “thoughtful gifts.”):
Personalized luggage tags from Shutterfly. I made one for each family member, where one side was a picture that meant something special to them (a pet, a picture from a recent trip)and where the other side featured a picture from their childhood.
Inexpensive but time-consuming (and yes, thoughtful).