<p>There is one in Redmond just east of Town Center (right near Fred Meyer) and one in downtown Bellevue just north of the square on 8th</p>
<p>I spent many happy hours in Cost Plus, when I lived in SF. All of it. Ages ago.
Wanted to share this, which D2 sent me: <a href=“30 Signs Your Mother Is The Best Person In Your Life”>http://elitedaily.com/women/30-signs-your-mother-is-the-best-person-in-your-life/</a></p>
<p>Nice article, looking forward. D did admit she lives going clothing shopping with me over her friends. With them, it’s purely social. With me, we are actually in buying mode. ;)</p>
<p>There was that giant CP own near the marina in SF</p>
<p>Cost Plus has these <a href=“http://www.worldmarket.com/product/saltworks+salts+of+the+world+6-pack.do?&refType=&from=Search”>http://www.worldmarket.com/product/saltworks+salts+of+the+world+6-pack.do?&refType=&from=Search</a> and these <a href=“http://www.worldmarket.com/product/signature+salt+sampler%2C+5+pack.do?&refType=&from=Search”>http://www.worldmarket.com/product/signature+salt+sampler%2C+5+pack.do?&refType=&from=Search</a></p>
<p>Yup, down by the marina, worked near there. Acres o’ fun. And oh-so-cheap. I’ll have to pore over the online site.</p>
<p>There’s also one in Renton at the Landing. I get many of my stocking stuffers there. They have small sizes of everything from hot sauce to imported chocolate and no matter what people like you can find something to tuck in their stocking. That’s the set I saw on their site, jym.</p>
<p>OP, it has been four days since you sent the email… have they responded? I am sympathetic, I have done some gentle prodding of my own for my two Ds after one year when they essentially forgot my birthday. I do try to remind and drop some hints of what I might want (hoping for Penzey’s mulling spices or a new glasses case for next present giving event). But it does hurt when it seems they can’t be bothered when I would never forget their special days.</p>
<p>Side- related topic. Just shipped a big box o’ stuff to DS because we will be out there for thanksgiving and it was easier to ship gifts now and wrap them there. Gifts include thank-you house gifts for the people inviting us to thanksgiving, and 2 other brunches. Now DS and his fiancee feel bad b/c they havent gone holiday gift shoppuing. The intent was not to make them feel bad and not to even deal with any bigtime holiday gifts (the gifts aren’t really anything big-. I told them we didn’t want anything-- but they know I don’t show up anywhere empty-handed. </p>
<p>Salt fans, I have to put in a plug for this company:</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.maineseasalt.com/”>http://www.maineseasalt.com/</a></p>
<p>I use his plain sea salt in several textures, and the smoked salts --which are wonderful–also. Really nice people making a great, earth-friendly product in a place where it is not easy to make a living!</p>
<p>I grieve that the old Cost Plus is gone. It was wonderful.
Now, might have been mentioned upstream (a looong stream!), but tell hubby to instruct his sons to do better. Holidays are coming up. Mothers’ Day. They can’t pull this again. 
</p>
<p>I’m sorry about this OP! I think my mother’s own birthday is never that big of a celebration for her because it’s a mere week after my older sister’s, but we do try. One thing I’ve realized lately is that my mother cares more about getting a card than pretty much anything else. If I send her a present she loves but there’s no card with love and birthday wishes, she’s a little disappointed. I’m glad she let me know that, because it meant that even at times when I didn’t have that much cash on hand for a present, I knew I could brighten her day with a call and a $3.00 card. Perhaps that sort of advice about the type of generosity that gives you the most joy would help your sons. </p>
<p>And maybe encourage them to remind each other! My sister and I were pretty much brought up to behave as a unit, so we’re huge on this. I’m not sure if my parents think it’s weird that we still buy presents together when we haven’t regularly lived in the same house for 6 years, but with both of us on the lookout, it’s easier to make the big days count.</p>
<p>I know that some people don’t like the card-giving aspect because they don’t know what to write, and to just sign your name to some pre-written sentiment seems lame. </p>
<p>My H always writes paragraphs and paragraphs in his cards to me, and I can barely spit out a few sentences that at some point don’t sound repetitive or trite. I’m just not a mushy writer. I much prefer thinking of gifts that he will surely like and enjoy. </p>
<p>Such differences in personal preference. My mother told me a few years ago she’d prefer a card to a phone call. She just signs her name on a card so I don’t think it’s about a heartfelt message and we haven’t exchanged gifts since I was a teen. I value a phone call much more than a card. My circle of friends finally dispensed with exchanging gifts but we do give cards with the emphasis on humor. If we have a group birthday dinner, the cards always get passed around as they’re not personal, just funny.</p>
<p>OP, I do hope you’ll let us know if/how your kids responded to your email.</p>
<p>I’m thrilled if my kids just remember my birthday with a phone call. I’m not much one for gifts. </p>
<p>Just want to say that I empathize with the OP’s dilemma. I appreciate this thread as it has made me think more about my own family’s gift-giving traditions and how they’re working for us (or not)!</p>
<p>Was jsut about to head out to look for more gifts to bring to DS #1 and fiancee, DS#2 and gf, etc, and realized… hey waitta minute. I gave DS#1 some rather valuable family diamonds to make into his fiancee’s ring. I guess my work here is done :)</p>
<p>Well, just came home from a nice dinner we took the kids out to, celebrating both their Bdays, which were earlier this month bit was a nice way of welcoming S for his 2-week visit home. It was delicious and fun! </p>
<p>Not sure if we have any family diamonds–if so, I haven’t touched or had access to any of them yet. 
I do have some other family rings in the SD box at the bank. Sadly, most of the jewelry MIL gave me was burgled. H has been busy acquiring other lovely jewelry. </p>
<p>OP - I like to hear from my kids (call, card. text… or visit if practical) on my birthday. If there is not gift, that’s ok with me. For you obviously a gift means more, so your sons should be sensitive to that. But my thought is that for the son attending a funeral (usually unexpected), it might have been a good year to let it slide. </p>
<p>
That’s easy–they can discuss these changes at my funeral.</p>
<p>More seriously, these family traditions can change–but by mutual agreement, not by kids simply stopping sending gifts, or cards, or whatever has been the family tradition. That’s the problem.</p>
<p>By the way, I have to point out that there is really no excuse for anybody who has a smart phone forgetting any date that is important. Tell your kids to program a reminder a week out from the birthday. (I think I’ll do that with my kids.)</p>