My SIL will be 38 this week and I was trying to think of something to get her. The family always just puts cash in cards and I think that for adults cash seems a little pointless. I had thought of a gift cert for a pedicure but since I've never had one, I had no basis for predicting if she would like one. I could get her a mall gift certificate but that kind of feels like a cop out. Any suggestions?

By Trina~moderator on Monday, June 7, 2004 - 03:52 pm:

I don't think a mall gift certificate is a cop out! I myself would LOVE to spend a day at the mall without the kids wandering aimlessly with a little cash.

A pedicure would be a nice treat. My SIL (Eve) and I treated ourselves to one for Mother's Day a few years ago. LOL!

By Amyj on Monday, June 7, 2004 - 03:59 pm:

You could do a "favorite things" basket. I have done this for my SIL. I put nail polish, bubble bath, a good CD, wine, wine glasses, a great book, candles, her favorite perfume....
You could come up with many different things. If she loves to garden you could do a gardening basket. Put in a gardening book, gloves, tools, seeds, gardening shoes, a fancy flower pot...
Just a few ideas. Hope this helps.

By Colette on Monday, June 7, 2004 - 04:01 pm:

I'll be 38 this year and I love gift certificates. Is there a special restaurant she likes or a hobby that she does that you could personalize the gift certificate?

By Emily7 on Monday, June 7, 2004 - 04:45 pm:

A gift Certificate for a day spa
She could get a massage, manacure, pedicure, body wrap ect...

By Eve on Monday, June 7, 2004 - 04:55 pm:

A mall gift certificate sounds fabulous. You can't mess up by choosing the wrong store. A pedicure sounds SO good right now, I would choose that!

By Mommyathome on Monday, June 7, 2004 - 04:56 pm:

I'm 27 and would love to get a card stuffed with money or a gift certificate to the mall!!

By Kellyj on Monday, June 7, 2004 - 05:19 pm:

Oh Amy I like the idea of the favorites basket! Maybe cash or a gift certificate wouldn't be such a bad thing either. I guess I think about how I feel when I get those things. While cash is nice, it seems like I never spend it on me. And after being the only at my in-laws on xmas eve to always get a mall gift certificate, mall certificates kind of make me feel like I'm not good enough to have any time spent finding out what I like or what I want. I wanted to get something that will make her feel special. I think that the basket idea might just do the trick! Thank you so much!

I just noticed how long this turned out! Sorry I can be so wordy!

By Amecmom on Monday, June 7, 2004 - 07:28 pm:

Gift certificate gets my vote. She can get what she likes and not feel guilty doing it. Cash is never a bad gift either ...
Ame

By Children03 on Monday, June 7, 2004 - 08:45 pm:

You can add to your favorites basket a gift certificate to the movies or to her favorite restaurant. Everyone enjoys a movie night, especially when it is a gift.

By Yjja123 on Monday, June 7, 2004 - 10:37 pm:

I don't know about anyone else but when I get cash I always end up using it to pay bills. I just never seem to be able to use it for me. I think it is rather impersonal. My inlaws always hand me a check and buy gifts for everyone else. It makes me feel like I am not worth shopping for.
I like a gift certificate better than cash(although I prefer a personal gift) because most of the time I will use it for myself.
A gift certificate to someone's favorite store or restaurant at least means you thought about where they like to go.

By Tink on Monday, June 7, 2004 - 11:35 pm:

I like the basket idea, especially if you want a personal gift. I agree that a gift of cash can appear to be impersonal and I think a gift certificate can be, also, if you don't think about what she would like best. I always buy clothes, which I always need, if I get money or a GC so I think a basket could be full of things that she wouldn't necessarily think to get for herself.

By Vbw1978 on Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - 03:36 pm:

the basket idea is good !!!

By Amecmom on Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - 03:44 pm:

Guess I'm in the minority. Cash in a nice card, with something written by the giver is never impersonal. It shows you respect the person enough to go out and get something he or she would really like.
I love getting cash, and I do spend it on myself. I'll put it aside until I see something want and then go out and get it.
I'll usually call the person who gave it to me and thank them again for the gift and let them know what I got.
I'd rather get cash or a GC than something frou frou that might be nice to have, but is not something I really want.
Ame