ChristusG Posted November 8, 2009 Share Posted November 8, 2009 DH didn't actually meet his father till he was about 18 years old. They live about 3 hours away from us, so we do not really have a close relationship with them. We see them maybe twice a year for a few hours each time. They are nice people, not religious, had good jobs till FIL got laid off a few months ago. So they have everything they really NEED. We usually just get them a gift card. Sometimes we do framed photos of the kids too. But the GC's are so impersonal. Yet we are not close enough to them to know them too personally. I'd like to get them something unique that they can actually use. After FIL married his wife (about 7 years ago) we got them a name plaque for their home. Not sure if they use it or not since we never go to their home. Any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFSinIL Posted November 8, 2009 Share Posted November 8, 2009 Is there a way to hint around and see if they could use a magazine subscription to National Geographic or Smithsonian??? Otherwise a nice fruit basket.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Rat Posted November 8, 2009 Share Posted November 8, 2009 I second a magazine subscription. Maybe Reader's Digest? My FIL gets this for us every year and we love it! Harry and David also has nice fruit baskets for a little over $30 my FIL is very picky and loves them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kim in SouthGa Posted November 8, 2009 Share Posted November 8, 2009 We do gift cards for a lot of family, but to make it more personal, we add it to a bag of homemade goodies: candy, gingerbread, body scrub or lotion, soap or candles. This year we are going to try to make coasters out of self-hardening clay with either a Bible verse or their last initial on them (supposedly this is very easy using rubber stamps-we'll see). It's a great way to get my daughter involved and we have a lot of fun doing it. We have a couple of cooking days and make tons of stuff, then fill baskets with just the goodies for church folks & friends, then add gift cards for close family members. Oh, last year, I took a really beautiful painting my daughter did and made reduced-sized copies for book marks. This year we are going to make some of those stretchy bookmarks with beads on them. We also found some cute notepads and magnets at Michael's in the dollar bins that we added. The whole basket cost less than $10 (I didn't count the food), so you could do something like that and a $20 gift card to their favorite restaurant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TN Mama Posted November 8, 2009 Share Posted November 8, 2009 We make a photo calendar from VistaPrint, Snapfish, Kodak for the grandparents. They have everything they need, but never tire of photos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer in MI Posted November 8, 2009 Share Posted November 8, 2009 Can you sew? We're making cloth napkins for family members. They're very easy - just a bit time consuming. We're going to make napkin rings (do a google search - there are tons of ideas) and personalized coasters (again - do a google search). I'm going to organize them nicely in a gift basket with a bottle of wine or vinegar/olive oil or nice pastas, etc. You get the idea. It's been time consuming, but I have 6 families to do this for!! Or, you could always go with something Disney-themed! :lol::lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EarleneW Posted November 8, 2009 Share Posted November 8, 2009 Photo calander, digital frame illed with pics.............I am waiting for all your suggestions too! My inlaws are the hardest ever to buy for! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OrganicAnn Posted November 8, 2009 Share Posted November 8, 2009 I would send them something from Harry & David or another mail order place. If they have any health/eating issues, I would see if H&D still have their baby veggie basket. There is a cookie place Cheryl & Co that I like, but I think it is more just the midwest. You want to take into consideration shipping when ordering, because that could limit your choices. Another thing depending on their likes and dislikes, we giving really good steaks. We have a local meat store were you can get very high quality meat. Two Delmonico steaks and a bottle of steak sauce. I think older people who probably have all the stuff they need, it is nice to give them some really good food. Whether that is a gift basket or meat or a gift certificate to a restaurant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChristusG Posted November 8, 2009 Author Share Posted November 8, 2009 Thanks for all of your suggestions! I wonder if DH will hint around about what type of magazines they subscribe to. However, that will seem sort of odd to FIL because they do not usually talk about things like that. I also thought of a cookie bouquet....wonder if they would like that? We've done the snapfish books before, but I'm not sure if I have the time to put one together this year.....I usually start doing that in early October. I'll have to see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FriedClams Posted November 8, 2009 Share Posted November 8, 2009 a magazine subscription to National Geographic or Smithsonian :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aggie Posted November 8, 2009 Share Posted November 8, 2009 I would send them something from Harry & David or another mail order place. If they have any health/eating issues, I would see if H&D still have their baby veggie basket. There is a cookie place Cheryl & Co that I like, but I think it is more just the midwest. You want to take into consideration shipping when ordering, because that could limit your choices. Another thing depending on their likes and dislikes, we giving really good steaks. We have a local meat store were you can get very high quality meat. Two Delmonico steaks and a bottle of steak sauce. I think older people who probably have all the stuff they need, it is nice to give them some really good food. Whether that is a gift basket or meat or a gift certificate to a restaurant. I love this idea! If FIL is out of work, they might appreciate a nice dinner or food basket that they wouldn't get for themselves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsmom3tn Posted November 8, 2009 Share Posted November 8, 2009 I think the magazine subscription is a great idea, or you could get them a 3-month membership to Netflix or Blockbuster online. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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