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  What to get the hard to buy for...

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  In my case it's my super hard to buy for sister in law. She has very expensive tastes, which I can not afford, but she doesn't use what she gets for more than a few months. She just HAD to have the Twilight books last Christmas but still hasn't finished reading them. So she's not much of a reader, she's 34 (but seriously she acts like she's 15 most of the time) she's divorced and has no kids. I would like to get her something that's nice, not too pricey, but I am out of ideas. PLEASE Help if you can. Also, who is your hard to buy for person and how do you get around it?

  Sarah G started this discussion 2 years ago. ( reply | permalink )

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  Laurie W 

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  How about a gift certificate for a pedicure, facial, etc. She can pamper herself and it shouldn't cost too much. Most spas offer mini service, which are less time and money!

  My husband and older boys are the hardest. They don't want much or it is very expensive.

  posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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    nutmeag 

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    I agree with Laurie. Gift certs for pampering are rarely a miss with women. Or if you want something more personal, put together a pamper kit--homemade foot scrubs, lotion, a calming CD, cold eye masks, etc.

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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    Karen J 

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    I agree too. You can't go wrong with a make over. When I was a nail tech people would buy packages for the hard to please.

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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    Sarah G 

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    That's a good idea! She's a massage therapist so she never gets pampered herself. I should look around for some package deals. I would try the do it yourself kits, but I have no clue how to make the foot scrubs and all that.

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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    nutmeag 

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    You can find tons of recipes for that stuff online; just Google it. Foot scrubs are super easy: sea salt or sugar, oil (grapeseed, olive, anything but peanut or veggie), and scent of your choice. Put it in an airtight container, add some ribbon and call it a day. I did that for my sis and she loved it.

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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    Laurie W 

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    Glad you liked the idea. I love pampering and I don't think I know a woman who doesn't :)

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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    Tenia F 

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    I wish someone would get me that for Christmas! I sooooooooooooooooooooooooo need it after this past few months. And I had to laugh-a coworker came back from vacation and brought everyone a present but me. I'm sorry but it just takes to much time for me to delibertally think about leaving someone out-like a child on the play ground.

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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    Sarah G 

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    Ok, I found a pretty good deal, I think... I can get her a massage deal... it's a little more than I wanted to spend but if I save on a couple other gifts I think I can get it for her... it's a Half Day - includes a massage, pedicure and manicure Package Price $90. It's regularly $105. It's their Christmas special. Plus if I make her some home made foot scrub and some lotion I think that's a good enough present. I normally wouldn't spend that much money but she just got divorced and is having a hard time getting clients and finding another job to make ends meet and I KNOW that she's stressed out so I think she'd really appreciate it.

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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    Jennifer H. (Jen-ney) 

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    Can I be related to you??

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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    Sarah G (edited)

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    lol sure!! wanna be my sister or my cousin?? lol or my aunt? or ??? ;)

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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    Jennifer H. (Jen-ney) 

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    Hehehehe sister baby!

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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    Sarah G 

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    YAY!!!! I have another sister!!!! :) I only had one sister and one sister in law.

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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    Meghan K 

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    *Raising hand*

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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  racethom 

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  Whoo.
  I too will get gift certificates when I get desperate.
  There are some gift certificates that are good for multiple stores.

  My hard to get for: guys.
  Period.
  They're tough unless you are swimming in money.
  Even then ... tough.

  posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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    nutmeag 

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    I drew my brother's name this year for family Christmas, but luckily my mom makes us each send out a list of things we want, so I know exactly what to get him. Even if we didn't do that, I could ask his wife and she'd know something. She's good like that.

    The boyf was pretty easy to shop for. I wanted to get him Dallas Stars tickets, but then I lost my job and couldn't afford it, so he's getting t-shirts with funny sayings on them (he loves 'em) and a blanket that I'm crocheting. Maybe I'll be able to afford the tickets for his birthday.

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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    Meghan K 

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    I agree Amy. Men are hard to buy for.

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Katy M 

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  My brother and my father are so hard to shop for!

  posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Vonnie 

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  i usually don't have trouble buying people stuff but my stepdad is the only one that i have to pull my teeth out just trying to come up with something he would like AND use.

  posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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    nutmeag 

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    Dads are annoying like that. My poor dad gets golf stuff pretty much every present-giving holiday. Good thing he adores golf. ;-)

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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    racethom 

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    I'm tired of getting my husband golf, basketball, and running stuff.
    Besides, he pretty much has everything he needs.

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Bellatrix LeSnape! 

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  if she's that picky i would just chuck some money in a card then she can get what she wants.
  I get in a panic when i'm shopping for prezzies I go out with a clear idea what to get people but when i'm out I cant actualy afford half the stuff I want and on my budget its hard to find anything decent for people luckily alot of people have told me what they want this year, i'm still strugling though =(

  posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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  WonderBunny 

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  My parents. I gave them a gift certificate for a super nice restraurant last year (and made sure it would cover the bill completely) and they haven't used it.

  My boyfriend's mother is also difficult. She likes jewelry and since I design my own, I've given her jewelry many times now but I hate falling back on that every year and would like to do something different.

  posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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  nutmeag 

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  Trying to think of something fairly inexpensive to give to the boyf's parents (whom I've never met or even spoken with), since I'm spending Christmas with them. It may just end up being a bottle of wine . . . but I'll ask my boy for ideas first.

  posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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    racethom 

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    You do need to check with him first.
    I remember people giving my parents bottles of wine in the past.
    They don't drink alcohol and never have.

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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    nutmeag 

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    Hehe, oops. Yeah, I asked him and he said they drink some wine, and would appreciate a holiday bottle for Christmas dinner. I thought I'd go with a local vineyard to make it a bit more unique.

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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    WonderBunny 

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    Nut, I would pack it up with something just for them, like nice local chocolates or something.

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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    Sarah G 

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    That's a really good idea.

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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    racethom 

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    Nutmeag ...
    Do you have a place like Kegg's over there in San Antonio?
    Kegg's is a purely Houston phenomenon but I'm sure there are plenty of chocolatiers in other towns that make their products on site.

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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    nutmeag 

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    No chocolate place I know of. There is nothing original about San Antonio. All of our stores are chains. :-(

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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    racethom (edited)

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    Not even down near the Riverwalk?
    Oh wait!
    I haven't been there for a while (it's probably been a couple of years) but wasn't there a store on the street level near the Riverwalk that specialized in local food items?

    Collin Street bakery in the town of (between Houston and Dallas) is famous for their fruitcakes and pecan pies.
    They ship.
    http://www.collinstreet.com/pages/about_us
    Honest to goodness.
    They have great fruitcake.
    They don't make the mock fruitcakes that people make jokes about.
    That's at least in Texas.

    Another idea would be that great Luling's BBQ.
    http://www.lulingcitymarket.com/
    That's closer to San Antonio than to Houston.
    They're great :)

    It looks like Kegg's chocolatiers here in Houston will ship too.
    http://www.keggcandy.com/

    Oh ... and there are all those great wineries in and around the Hill Country.
    That area is getting to be quite the wine area.

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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    nutmeag 

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    Thanks!

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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    racethom 

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    You're welcome.
    I don't know if it'll help but it may get the ideas rolling.

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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    nutmeag 

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    Yeah, I'm going shopping today. I don't think I'll be shipping anything (otherwise I would have shipped a cheese basket from my hometown's cheese factory), but I'll definitely be getting some wine (local) and probably something else local too. Oh dear, now I have to worry about them liking me. It's one thing to be meeting your boyfriend's parents, but your fiance's . . . eek!

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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    racethom 

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    I'd be a bit nervous too.
    Do you have a Spec's Liqour Warehouse there?
    I know they've expanded from Houston to Austin and maybe Dallas.
    They've got a great selection and knowledgable people.
    Well, the Houston downtown location does at any rate.
    They have food items too.

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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    nutmeag 

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    They just opened one about a mile from my house. I've been there once (to get Thanksgiving beverages) and plan on going there today for the gift. I was going to go yesterday, but spent the majority of it ring-hunting. More hunting today, but I'm going in the same direction as Spec's, so I'll be sure to drop by!

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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    racethom 

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    That should work out for you :)
    Less travel, less stress.

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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    nutmeag 

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    Yes! And the less stress the better. Tensions are already mounting between my dad and I over this wedding thing, so I'm trying to keep the rest of my life pretty calm. He's happy I'm getting married, but he's going to be father-of-the-bridezilla, I'm afraid. He's all about tradition and I'm . . . not.

    But, the gift is bought, so that's good. Apparently the fiancé's parents are bourbon drinkers, so I got them a nice bottle of that along with a bottle of wine. Yay.

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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    racethom 

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    My view on the wedding is that it's YOUR wedding not his BUT I'm not your parent either.
    That's just how I'm doing it with my kids.

    That's great about the present.
    So very Kentuckian in taste :D
    (That's where I originally came from.)
    If I drink alcohol at all (and that's extremely rare), and were to pick out something in the harder set, my vote is for Glenlivet.
    Scotch that is.
    Minimum 12 year old.
    With a water chaser.

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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    nutmeag 

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    Yeah, I keep telling him it's my wedding, but for some reason he doesn't believe me. ;-) I've put my foot down the ceremony and said I'm doing things my way, but I'm letting them do all the planning for the reception. Easier anyway since they live in the town in which it is taking place and I do not. I still know I'm probably going to be trekking up and down Texas quite often for the next 8 months . . .

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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    WonderBunny 

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    Meag, your father would have gone nuts with my siblings. I have one sister that got married in Vegas - in a little white chapel. I had another sister that also got married in Vegas... through a drive through. My brother when from living with my parents to owning his own home and he and his wife got married in the backyard. He wore black leather pants, white button up/no collar shirt, sunglasses and a leather jacket. His best man was his best friend and she looked great in her top hat and tails suit. His wife wore a white dresses with little embroidered bats all over it.

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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    nutmeag 

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    Hahaha, yeah. That would've made him catatonic.

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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    Guinevere 

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    Gift cards never fail! If your traveling find stores online in they can shop at...even if international. I'm spending time with my dreadful family in Germany, plus I get to meet some of my BF family in Frankfurt... I'm really nervous! Best wishes Nutmeg finding something for them!

    Happy Holidays to all=)

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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  racethom 

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  If I can summon up the energy, I'm going to make a memory blanket for my son.
  I'm going to piece all those boy scout shirts and patches plus all those AIA sandcastle t-shirts and make them into a quilt.

  posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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    Sarah G 

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    My dad wants one done of all his old fireman shirts. I don't really know how to make them or I would love to do it for him... :(

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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    racethom 

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    I'm trying to figure out how to work with all those different fabrics myself.
    I think I'm going to make a patchwork of the sandcastle T-shirts on one side and back it with a solid cotton sheet.
    The other side will be a strange concoction of everything else (mostly scouting stuff).
    That will be backed up with a sheet AND the stuffing material.
    After that, I'll sew the two pieces together at the edges.
    If anyone sees a flaw in this reasoning, please chime in.

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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    Sarah G 

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    Like I said, I don't know how to quilt but that sure sounds like it would work. When I married my husband one of his mom's friends gave us a super big and SUPER warm Levi quilt that she cut up old pieces of Levi's and sewed them together and then it's just a cotton piece on the back like you said. I can't tell if anything is underneath it or not. She also tied it to hold the filling in place.

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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    racethom 

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    Hmmm ... no batting.
    That's an idea.

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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    Sarah G 

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    I think because of how heavy the Levi material is it doesn't need it. I'm not sure though. lol I could be totally off base!

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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    WonderBunny 

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    My mother is making quilts/blankets for Christmas. They are mostly flannel or cotton. The fabric has been cut in to 10x10 squares or bigger. The squares are then stacked with one or two inbetween and the top and bottom show the proper fabric face (so the right fabric face is showing on the bottom and the right side is on the top too). Anyway... they sew them together about 1/3 inch from the seam and then wash them and you get a frayed look. They look very cool and are actually pretty heavy too.

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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    racethom 

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    Sarah ...
    OMG!
    Denim as the backing!
    That would last a while.

    Wonderbunny ...
    You lost me.
    Does this mean you end up having raised fabric at the edges of each square?
    How do you keep the whole thing from fraying?

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )

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