Need help with xmas present ideas

[jeff_is_smiling]

As with all threads I start, I have confidence that this one will die a quick, agonizing death. However, as I am fairly desparate for present ideas, I'll take the chance.

What I am looking for are unique present ideas...either from you or to you. The reason for the gift would be helpful also. If someone gave you a particular gift for a specific reason, or you gave someone a gift for a specific reason - I'd like to know. It might generate ideas for me.

As an example, last year my GF gave me a custom car wash - inside and out - where they came to my house to detail the car. She knew my car was always a mess, so SHE did something about it. I LOVED that gift.

So, anyone willing to share their story of meaningful gifts they have given or received?

 

[veryviolet1]

I'd love to help, but I suck at gifts...

 

[jeff_is_smiling]

but have you received good gifts...gifts that were for a specific reason? I could use those ideas as well...

 

[koalabear]

Diamonds, rarely will they not be liked.

 

[jeff_is_smiling]

Diamonds, rarely will they not be liked.

True....OK, what about for my son and brother?

 

[fungatorgurl101]

Based on my job I often get headaches and my sister in law knew this.... She gave me one year what has turned into something I love and use often ... It's called Origins Peace of Mind ... It is an aromatherapy treatment for headaches. I have started buying it and giving it as gifts. I sometimes just use it when I am stressed and need something to relax also.

Not the most conventional gifts but something I like to give and receive.

 

[jeff_is_smiling]

Based on my job I often get headaches and my sister in law knew this.... She gave me one year what has turned into something I love and use often ... It's called Origins Peace of Mind ... It is an aromatherapy treatment for headaches. I have started buying it and giving it as gifts. I sometimes just use it when I am stressed and need something to relax also.

Not the most conventional gifts but something I like to give and receive.

Great idea....that is what I am looking for - the story that goes with the present.

Thank you!

 

[Lily13]

The best gifts are something meant just for me (thoughtful). Maybe something made or designed with me in mind. It could be as easy as words on paper. A song written for me is one of my most special possessions. I do the same as well. If I know you like something, I'll either make it if I can or design it for someone else to make.

I do go big sometimes and once stole my husbands car for his birthday and had a sound system put in, because he absolutely adored music.

 

[veryviolet1]

but have you received good gifts...gifts that were for a specific reason? I could use those ideas as well...

Sadly no... The hubs and I don't exchange gifts. We buy for the kiddos and the rest of the fam. I'd say we would rather spend time together than money on each other.

 

[jeff_is_smiling]

The best gifts are something meant just for me (thoughtful). Maybe something made or designed with me in mind. It could be as easy as words on paper. A song written for me is one of my most special possessions. I do the same as well. If I know you like something, I'll either make it if I can or design it for someone else to make.

I do go big sometimes and once stole my husbands car for his birthday and had a sound system put in, because he absolutely adored music.

OK, this is working for me.....good ideas...thank you....

 

[jeff_is_smiling]

Sadly no... The hubs and I don't exchange gifts. We buy for the kiddos and the rest of the fam. I'd say we would rather spend time together than money on each other.

So, a new twist...it doesn't HAVE to be a present...spending time together could be the present....thanks....

 

[fungatorgurl101]

One of my favorite gifts I have given My dad rebuilds old hotrods and takes great pride in his shop. He has antiques and things that he keeps in the office. So one year I had a sign made for him personalized about it being his shop his rules and all that. He hung it proudly and more people have asked him about where he got it. So made me happy he loved it too.

 

[jeff_is_smiling]

Another present example...my GF did this for her family...her mother had passed away that year, and there had been a bit of a tussle over her mom's cookbook. Seems her mom was a great cook who used to file/squirrel away recipes she knew her family liked on slips of paper...so my GF was given the cookbook.

Her idea was to make copies of the favorite recipes and give them to her family (a large family). I took the recipes to work and made scanned, color copies of them - probably 200 pages in total. I made a large number of copies in color. The color was important since that way you could see everything that people remembered - from scribbled notes in various ink colors, to the oil and splatter stains on most of the recipes.

We had them bound and made about 50 copies and gave them away at the next holidays. it was a surprise for everyone.

Not a dry eye in the house that year....people still talk about that present.

 

[jeff_is_smiling]

One of my favorite gifts I have given My dad rebuilds old hotrods and takes great pride in his shop. He has antiques and things that he keeps in the office. So one year I had a sign made for him personalized about it being his shop his rules and all that. He hung it proudly and more people have asked him about where he got it. So made me happy he loved it too.

Another great story....you are definitely helping me out.

 

[perkyT]

Do the giftees have a special passion for something, a fav hobby or sport?


An ex-bf gave me a sleeping bag, marshmellows, graham crackers, and chocolate. I had to figure out what the actual gift was...camping.

You could do the same for a concert, a game, an event...you know.

 

[respeito]

hi, jeff. i wasn't sure if you were looking for something for your girlfriend or not but, homemade gifts can be meaningful. also a day at the spa can be a good gift idea if she's into spa treatments, and because it's the holiday season, they may be running a special on spa packages.

bath and body works is always a go-to for a lot of men, mainly because you can't really pick a bad gift from there, just grab something that smells nice and you're set.

you could maybe put together a package of natural products for an intimate night together. there's a website that sells eco-friendly toys; i can share those links with you, if you want.

you can always give a gift based on hobbies or interests she may have. if she's a reader, and doesn't already own one, a kindle/nook may be an option. if she loves to garden, you could put together a package of gardening supplies. if cooking is her passion, cookware.

purses, watches - they don't have to be super expensive. fossil sells really nice watches at reasonable prices. we have a store here in the mall that sells gift items (silver cups, glassware, pens...things like that) and they can be engraved right in the store. i gave a friend of mine a small, silver picture frame to her and her husband with the their names and date they were married on it as a wedding gift.

a lot of people are shopping online for their gifts; amazon.com, and overstock.com offer good prices.

let me know if you'd like those links, and i'll gladly share them.

 

[LiFeNdEaTh]

keep it classic, buy her some roses an wine.

 

[jeff_is_smiling]

Do the giftees have a special passion for something, a fav hobby or sport?


An ex-bf gave me a sleeping bag, marshmellows, graham crackers, and chocolate. I had to figure out what the actual gift was...camping.

You could do the same for a concert, a game, an event...you know.

Very good - a new entry into ideas - Theme's! I like it....very interesting....that immediately got me thinking.

Thank you!

 

[jeff_is_smiling]

hi, jeff. i wasn't sure if you were looking for something for your girlfriend or not but, homemade gifts can be meaningful. also a day at the spa can be a good gift idea if she's into spa treatments, and because it's the holiday season, they may be running a special on spa packages.

bath and body works is always a go-to for a lot of men, mainly because you can't really pick a bad gift from there, just grab something that smells nice and you're set.

you could maybe put together a package of natural products for an intimate night together. there's a website that sells eco-friendly toys; i can share those links with you, if you want.

you can always give a gift based on hobbies or interests she may have. if she's a reader, and doesn't already own one, a kindle/nook may be an option. if she loves to garden, you could put together a package of gardening supplies. if cooking is her passion, cookware.

purses, watches - they don't have to be super expensive. fossil sells really nice watches at reasonable prices. we have a store here in the mall that sells gift items (silver cups, glassware, pens...things like that) and they can be engraved right in the store. i gave a friend of mine a small, silver picture frame to her and her husband with the their names and date they were married on it as a wedding gift.

a lot of people are shopping online for their gifts; amazon.com, and overstock.com offer good prices.

let me know if you'd like those links, and i'll gladly share them.

I do a lot of the things you are suggesting...good ideas all. What I am thinking about is tying in a gift to a person because of some reason. Like your Kindle idea for readers. I am enjoying the responses because they help me think thru things. I am usually very good at gift ideas myself, but I have sorta come up blank so far this year.

Everybody is helping me out though....

 

[jeff_is_smiling]

keep it classic, buy her some roses an wine.

OK, another good idea...and one that could be given before xmas at work....keeping it classic is a good idea...

 

[Aquagal]

Every hand tailored item of clothing I've made as a gift has been appreciated. I took the time to pick out the fabric especially for that person and project and poured my love into it.

I once made a matted, framed list of 50 things I loved about them .

Things I've received that I've loved.

My Mom took an old wooden wine box from a local winery. Slid the lid off and hand painted a chess/checker board. She then used some wood making tools and hand carved chess and checker pieces. They are stored inside the box and the lid slides back on.

My Dad used to raise sheep. He dyed the wool and his wife wove a looks like welcome mat sized rug, I hung it up on my wall as art instead.

I've received an outfit with matching shoes, accessories and underthings and dinner plans with intent that I should wear that to dinner.

Mostly things that were made by artisans or that persons specific likes must be kept in mind. One of a kind pressies.

 

[MsQuote]

I don't ask for or expect much in the way of gifts. But, for example, I love jewelry. I'm be much more impressed with something that was handcrafted than something purchased in a store.

My sweetheart is a tech/gadget junkie. Back in the spring, he sent me a Nook for "no particular reason." Every once in a while, he'll send me a book or a juicy story he wrote just for me. It's the gift that keeps on giving ... and the e(rotic)-stories he writes for me are the most awesome gifts of all!

I have two daughters-in-law to-be. They both like getting gift boxes of scented lotions, soaps, etc. I usually try to get them a set that's a little more exclusive than the kinds of things they would get for themselves.

Several years ago, my oldest asked for satellite radio. I renew his subscription every year.

 

[lacandy]

My favorite gifts that I've given are all ones that are from the heart gifts.

In my family there are (were) only 4 girls. My mom, my aunt, my cousin, and I. My grandmother passed away many years ago (like 30 or so at the time of this gift). All the other cousins and relatives were boys, so the four of us are all really close. So one year for Christmas I wrote a poem about the women in our family, bought one of those multi-picture frames, put the poem in one opening and then found pictures (including of our grandmother) in all the others.

Or I have a great friend who loves my writing and I wrote her a story just for her, printed it out and then found pics to go with it and made her her own book.

This year, I am so excited because I have had an amazing year in my job and am going to be getting a cruise for my mom and I (and inviting my cousin - her mom has passed away). It's something that she's always wanted to do, and I know that she would never get for herself. I feel very lucky to be able to do that for her.

 

[jeff_is_smiling]

My favorite gifts that I've given are all ones that are from the heart gifts.

In my family there are (were) only 4 girls. My mom, my aunt, my cousin, and I. My grandmother passed away many years ago (like 30 or so at the time of this gift). All the other cousins and relatives were boys, so the four of us are all really close. So one year for Christmas I wrote a poem about the women in our family, bought one of those multi-picture frames, put the poem in one opening and then found pictures (including of our grandmother) in all the others.

Or I have a great friend who loves my writing and I wrote her a story just for her, printed it out and then found pics to go with it and made her her own book.

This year, I am so excited because I have had an amazing year in my job and am going to be getting a cruise for my mom and I (and inviting my cousin - her mom has passed away). It's something that she's always wanted to do, and I know that she would never get for herself. I feel very lucky to be able to do that for her.

You sound like a talented woman, being able to do those types of presents. Being a guy, I have no talents to speak of. But the idea of specialized presents is what I am after.

Thank you...

 

[jeff_is_smiling]

Every hand tailored item of clothing I've made as a gift has been appreciated. I took the time to pick out the fabric especially for that person and project and poured my love into it.

I once made a matted, framed list of 50 things I loved about them .

Things I've received that I've loved.

My Mom took an old wooden wine box from a local winery. Slid the lid off and hand painted a chess/checker board. She then used some wood making tools and hand carved chess and checker pieces. They are stored inside the box and the lid slides back on.

My Dad used to raise sheep. He dyed the wool and his wife wove a looks like welcome mat sized rug, I hung it up on my wall as art instead.

I've received an outfit with matching shoes, accessories and underthings and dinner plans with intent that I should wear that to dinner.

Mostly things that were made by artisans or that persons specific likes must be kept in mind. One of a kind pressies.

That wine bottle box was very clever...and easy to do....I like it.