aggieamy Posted October 3, 2018 Share Posted October 3, 2018 We have a darling girl from Madrid living with us for the year. She's turning 16 next week and I want to make her birthday special since she's away from home. I need some present ideas. Help! She likes makeup a lot and other beauty products. She likes puzzle books. She enjoys reading but has a ton of things on her kindle already. It doesn't have to be big ... just something for her to unwrap at dinner. DD likes the ideas of getting her fun beauty products but I'm a bit of a plain jane and don't really know what would be cool or interesting for a 16 yo. It can't be too much of anything because she's got to pack it back across the ocean in May. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PinkTulip Posted October 3, 2018 Share Posted October 3, 2018 Maybe a gift card to Sephora or Ulta where she can have the dual experience of picking out what she wants and shopping at an American Mall? 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junie Posted October 3, 2018 Share Posted October 3, 2018 For dd16's birthday I bought her some new dresses and matching (costume) jewelry, so maybe you could find a fun necklace or bracelet. Also, we bought several bouquets of flowers (different varieties) and each of my girls got to make their own flower arrangement. They all seemed to enjoy that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peaceseeker Posted October 3, 2018 Share Posted October 3, 2018 Maybe one of those gift box subscriptions where she gets a small box of beauty products to sample each month? They are usually sample size so maybe she could use them up while she is still here but she might find something new she likes in the process. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happi duck Posted October 3, 2018 Share Posted October 3, 2018 (edited) Good ideas upthread! I feel like flowers, chocolates/candy, and fun makeup are all consumable and won't be an issue for packing. If you want her to have something to keep I'd add a cute necklace and also take a nice birthday photo to frame. Edited October 3, 2018 by happi duck 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie G Posted October 3, 2018 Share Posted October 3, 2018 A little bouquet of flowers with an Ulta gift card tucked in would be sweet. Then you can take her and let the Ulta salesgirls pamper her- she can try out all kinds of things. It’s hard to pick out makeup for someone else and people who like that kind of thing usually enjoy choosing it- it’s part of the fun. If you want a little piece of jewelry, can you find a Sweet Sixteen necklace or bracelet? Maybe on Etsy. Sweet 16 is kind of an American thing and it would be a nice remembrance that she turned 16 while here. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted October 3, 2018 Share Posted October 3, 2018 A charm bracelet (the old fashioned kind) with a charm or two representing her visit. Etsy has a variety to peruse ~ https://www.etsy.com/search?q=sterling charms Regards, Kareni 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiguirre Posted October 3, 2018 Share Posted October 3, 2018 Going in a completely different direction, does she have enough t-shirts and hoodies with her TX high school's logo on it? They sell them for our local schools in our supermarkets. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vonfirmath Posted October 3, 2018 Share Posted October 3, 2018 12 hours ago, happi duck said: Good ideas upthread! I feel like flowers, chocolates/candy, and fun makeup are all consumable and won't be an issue for packing. If you want her to have something to keep I'd add a cute necklace and also take a nice birthday photo to frame. The birthday photo could be emailed/sent back to parents overseas sooner as well so the parents can see their daughter is well taken care of. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mumto2 Posted October 4, 2018 Share Posted October 4, 2018 I think I would go with a fun really American birthday dinner with a well decorated cake. An American cake with what many consider disgusting white icing......think Target bakery. ? Since I know you guys like board games, maybe a travel sized game you all enjoy. Maybe play the game for an hour or two after dinner with the big version. Someplace Dh and I have a travel sized London Monopoly from our honeymoon that is about the size of a kindle that we keep lugging around with us, it’s special. If you can’t decide on a small gift and your dd is excited about the makeup idea I would probably pack both girls off with modest gift cards to an Ulta and let them pick out some new makeup together. If she hasn’t already been Ulta is such a girly experience and you can send your dd with someone who will love it! Sort of a win win. ?. Plus the makeup will be consumed by May..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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