<p>My son works for my husband’s long-term business partner. His wife is turning 50 in a few weeks, small party planned, son is invited, we’re not because we don’t live locally(we co-own one of several businesses). The wife has been lovely to my son, includes him in family meals regularly, and makes jokes about him being her third son.</p>
<p>I’d like ideas for a nice but serious present for her, to come from my son, which means it needs to be reasonably affordable for a recent college graduate employed in a startup company. I would also love ideas for a nice present for her from myself and my husband. She is the youngest of the four of us, and their third or fourth date was to our wedding 25 years ago, but she and I are not close.</p>
<p>Gift giving is a hard thing. I have spent hours trying to think of the right gift for special people, and usually don’t come up with anything that fabulous. Besides price, the qualities of the person are a major consideration:eg. a sporty type vs. a pampered type, a career type woman v. ladies lunch type, well to do vs. extremely well to do v. not so well off.</p>
<p>That said, generic type things that are likely to please are gift certificates to a store or other place (spa, restaurant, hotel) that the person might go to. More generic still are things like crystal candlesticks, picture frame, nice pair of wine goblets - all of which come in various price levels from Macy’s to Tiffany. (Even in Tiffany you can get a crystal gift for under 200).</p>
<p>anothermom2 has some great ideas–you can add a personal touch–like putting a great photo in that frame, adding a personal inscription to a book, monogramming a piece of jewelry or leather goods.</p>
<p>D and I were on a trip for my 50th. I asked H if he would take my car in for a checkup, have the oil changed and have it detailed. It was a great gift.</p>
<p>Well, I can only tell you what not to do. For my wife’s birthday I got her a print from a famous artist, and I had famous artist sign it to my wife: “Happy 50th birthday wife of NJRes”… beautiful artist signed print went straight into the closet. Maybe I can take it out now and have it framed (6 years later). :(</p>
<p>From your son: A book that would meaingful to her (hobby, favorite author, travel, etc.) with a letter telling her how much he appreicates being her “third son.”</p>
<p>From you: Can you find out which charities she supports? A nice card will be sent to let her know how you honored her birthday. Or do you have a picture of them at your wedding? Framing that photograph would be a very nice gesture.</p>
<p>Thank you all for the ideas! Kate, funnily enough, the ONLY picture I have from our wedding is sadly faded, but you can see the two of them smiling at each other in the background over our shoulder. I also like the book-and-letter idea. Whether my son will… I don’t know. Writing is not his strong point.</p>
<p>Do they like theater or Broadway shows? Are there any good upcoming shows in their area that your friend can enjoy with her H? If you know the ansewr to these questions, gift certificates or show tickets could be a good gift.</p>
<p>I have ordered their “perfect pastel” journals with name engraved as Bat Mitzvah and confirmation gifts. They do a beautiful job and it comes quickly. They have many lovely photo albums, too.</p>
<p>Here are some thoughts of things I would like to get.<br>
Bose headphones… </p>
<p>nice charm bracelet with an initial charm on it… </p>
<p>I just received a wonderful bangle bracelet that has a saying stamped on it… from a local artisan type jewelry/craft store… I love it… they have many different sayings available, “When you pray, move your feet” an African saying… or John Lennon, “You can say I am a dreamer, but I am not the only one” and several others…</p>
<p>if they like to drink wine, your son could offer a day of winery tours, where he acts as chauffeur/ designated driver… </p>
<p>perhaps your son could buy/order the floral centerpiece for the party? </p>
<p>nice crystal vase for flowers?</p>
<p>a good friend of mine celebrated her 50th for a year…she called it her Golden Jubilee year… come up with a couple of theme things around Jubilee idea? The Queen had a Prom Concert for her 50th and also a Concert in the Park…they are both great DVD’s…
perhaps a set of rock n roll DVD’s of groups she liked? Sting, The Beatles First Tour of America, Joni Mitchell, Bruce Springsteen etc…</p>
<p>Find something special from the year of her birth. I did this for my father and it was a bottle of port wine. Might not work out so well for a woman, but there must be other things, the best selling novel of that year in a the original edition? I just went to a party where they had cupcakes with a chocolate portrait of the birthday boy. That was quite nice and I am sure cupcakes can be shipped everywhere.</p>