<p>My mother is getting a gift card from her local greenhouse. MIL is getting a cute red paper shredder from Office Max, which was on her wish list and was only $39 plus $8 for shipping.</p>
<p>For my H’s grandmother, who also had everything she needed, we tried for things she really used. A bottle of wine or two was good - she had a glass every night(& lived to 96!) and stamps -since she was a stickler for remembering birthdays and anniversaries by sending cards.</p>
<p>Looks like flowers this year for my mother…been sick in bed and now too late to mail anything :(</p>
<p>Edible Arrangements are a nice alternative to flowers. We usually get both mom and MIL a bouquet of pineapple daisies, grapes, cantaloupe, honeydew and chocolate covered strawberries. I just ordered them yesterday. Use INET0508 to save $4 through Friday.</p>
<p>My sister’s often get our mother tickets to something…a show, a play, a lecture. She has a performing arts center in her town and they have many wonderful speakers, musical events, etc that offer many opportunities for gifts.</p>
<p>Same thing for my Mom for every birthday, Christmas and Mother’s Day.</p>
<p>Gift certificates to Barnes & Noble (and any coupons I might have from there).</p>
<p>I asked her several years back, what do you really want for these occasions? This is what she wants. My gift is always the favorite of all my siblings :D</p>
<p>My mother doesn’t “need” anything. Her house is full and if she wants something she gets it for herself, so it is always difficult to come up with an idea. In the past I would take her to the Designer Showhouse in our city. This year she thought it might be too much for her so I was stumped.</p>
<p>I thought of things she had been talking about and came up with this.</p>
<p>I called her yesterday and gave her three choices.</p>
<ol>
<li>I would take her to the Bare Minerals store and have her matched and get her the foundation. She has been complaining about her make up not looking “right”.</li>
<li>I would take her out to lunch and then just poke around at some favorite shops. My dad has early Alzhimers(sp?) and she never gets away from him.</li>
<li>Take her for a morning of garage sales. My friend and I go to garage sales every week and we are always finding great stuff and she always says “I wish I could find stuff like that, you all have so much fun”</li>
</ol>
<p>We would do which ever she chooses the week following Mother’s day, that way the stores, etc. won’t be so crowded. I am waiting for her answer.</p>
<p>I like the idea of the calandar with the grandkids on it and I like the electronic picture frame. Also tickets to a performance (3 tickets so my dad can go too and one for me so I can drive them). I will keep these ideas in mind for the next gift giving occasion.,</p>