Help what to get DD 18

[JeannieNM]

I am trying to come up with some small clever ideas and a couple big significant gifts for DD 18. She has a Iphone and macbook and does not want to replace them until she heads off to college in the fall so they are out. She is not a gamer. She dances and does theatre. She asked for a ticket for a 3 day out of town concert but they are not on sale yet. She just had her birthday so I am low on ideas. Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

 

[clh2]

I am trying to come up with some small clever ideas and a couple big significant gifts for DD 18. She has a Iphone and macbook and does not want to replace them until she heads off to college in the fall so they are out. She is not a gamer. She dances and does theatre. She asked for a ticket for a 3 day out of town concert but they are not on sale yet. She just had her birthday so I am low on ideas. Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

What about money for the ticket for the concert?

 

[uromac]

Hi!

Some Ideas - My 20yo dd loves her circular monogram necklace which we gave her last year for her birthday & many of her friends have them also:

http://www.evesaddiction.com/wendywilliams.html

Or: Pandora starter bracelet, or stackable Alex and Ani bracelet (made in US, and has charms with inspirational charms on it in gold or silver - BTW, the Disney ones you now can get online at the Disneystore.com (I have to still get her this! But am looking for the WDW Castle, and the swirly Mickey - they are on her wish list approx. $29 -$39)

Another idea is a North Face Backpack/or a Bag she can carry her books in - e.g., the Longchamp foldable large Pilage bag is very popular for the college age group here in the NE, and is used for overnights and books, laptop, during the week

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/longcha...ferralID=d98bb888-4d9e-11e3-9f1f-001b2166becc

Another idea: Shoes/Boots eg Uggs

Also you can never really go wrong with trendy make-up kits & hair tools - Right Now I'm thinking of getting my dd the Conair infiniti Pro Curl Secret as one of her presents for doing her and her friends hair for special nights out, etc. this looks easy to do and gets good reviews:

http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/pro...479910&cadevice=c&CA_6C15C=330000200000003164

And of course Gift Cards to stores, Starbucks, Ulta, etc...

Hope this helps - I know it's not always easy buying gifts for our daughters !

 

[mdrob214]

Shoes. Purses. Gift cards to Ulta, Barned and Noble, iTunes, favorite restaurants, gas cards.

 

[Ladygoldenhair]

Not the 18th Birthday, but I bought my dd a birthstone ring. It was over $200 and she cherises it. I had a pearl ring my Mom bought me for my 21st that was special. When I was younger she gave me a real nice 10K simulated birthstone I Looovvveeeddd! It was special for me to have the ring.

I am trying to decide for this year too, she actually wants a collector year Barbie. We would get them every Christmas. This year we are considering having the retired 99 Camry detailed and give it to her with her graduation key ring. Tights, boots, gloves, scrapbook.

 

[elphaba91]

Maybe a nice piece of jewelry? I got my first Pandora bracelet (I now have three!) the Christmas just before my 18th birthday. I also love Pandora rings and earrings. Otherwise, maybe something like a pair of Tiffany earrings? If you do want to get her jewelry, you might want to consider actually taking her shopping with you. I know it's not a surprise, but at least you will be guaranteed that she'll like it! My mother took me to buy my Tiffany necklace for my 21st and it was really nice (although, going the day before Valentine's Day was not such a good idea!).

I know she's got an iPod and computer, but what about an iPad mini? She can use it as a e-reader and use it more for fun stuff than her laptop.

Umm...a nice quality bag? A good hair straightener (e.g. a GHD)? Tickets to a musical? Otherwise you could just give her an IOU for the concert tickets.

 

[Patience]

My oldest daughter was 18 last Christmas and already in college. One of the gifts she really liked was a gift certificate to have her teeth whitened. She also really liked the monogram necklace we gave her. Hers is from Moon and Lola and they are really popular on her campus.


This year she is getting a Michael Kors purse, boots, a Patagonia jacket, a gold iPhone, an Urban Decay eye shadow palette from Ulta, as well as a few small items for her stocking (clear phone case for the iPhone, perfume, chunky necklace, small gift cards to restaurants near her college apartment, etc).

 

[mom2t]

Ask friends whose kids have left for college things they needed generic that would fit any college and start stocking up for next fall.

 

[barkley]

try the playbill website for some unique smaller ideas. playbill is the company that does the theatre programs for professional productions, and their website has what is for sale at the shows as well as other theatre related items.


we've gotten dd some t-shirts for shows she loved (and had either seen or was looking forward to when they toured our way) but one her favorite gifts was 3 or 4 'best of broadway' dvds that were a collection of years of performances from the tony's. she LOVES watching musical numbers often being performed by those who originated the roles, or were then up and coming performers and are now multi tony award winners

if she dances some gift certificates for shoes or practice wear is always a great gift. when I did theatre in college having my own basic kit of stage makeup and brushes was great to have (Ben Nye), that way I didn't have to use the icky stuff everyone else was sharing. I also had a smallish rolling 2 drawer plastic bin that I took to performances so I had a self contained private area for my items, as well as a small collapsible folding clothing rack so all my costumes could be in one place.

 

[uromac]

More ideas:

Another thing is perhaps a coupon for a mother/daughter date to get a mani/pedi and girl's night out to a dinner/show/movie.

If not, just a gift card for a nail salon/hair salon for herself to get her ready for college with a new look - and if she already knows where she's going to college - a t-shirt/sweatshirt, decals for car, mascot, etc.. from that school (which if it is far away you usually can get in online or call the bookstore!)

 

[pjlla]

I would definitely go in the direction of buying things that will be needed next fall for college. Assuming she is going away to school, how about luggage (if she is going to be flying a lot) or perhaps a new alarm clock/docking bay for her iPhone or iPod... maybe a radio/alarm clock/speaker/lamp combo thing. Gift cards for places she will need to shop before school starts.... Target, BB and Beyond, Staples, Barnes and Noble.

Maybe stuff for the dorm.... mongrammed towels (nice ones at LL Bean), pretty framed mirror, poster/print of something she loves, small locking safe for the dorm (something that has a cord that attaches to the bed frame (DD has emergency cash, emergency credit card, and her passport in hers). (Comforters and other decorative stuff I would wait on, since some girls like to coordinate these things with their new roommates.)

Love the PP idea of the mother/daughter mani-pedi gift certificate. Cherish these last few months with her, before she is gone away to school!.....P

 

[wiigirl]

Shoes. Purses. Gift cards to Ulta, Barned and Noble, iTunes, favorite restaurants, gas cards.

 

[HM]

Does your daughter like shoes? That seems to be a running theme in my daughter's lists each year. DD18 wanted some Frye boots last year. This year she asked for Duck shoes from LLBean, since she hates her rain boots.

She also loves totes and bags, and even though she has a ton of them, she always seems to have another she wants.

 

[Patience]

Does your daughter like shoes? That seems to be a running theme in my daughter's lists each year. DD18 wanted some Frye boots last year. This year she asked for Duck shoes from LLBean, since she hates her rain boots.

She also loves totes and bags, and even though she has a ton of them, she always seems to have another she wants.

I agree with the shoes/boots thing. My daughter wanted and received the LL Bean boots last year and she also has a pair of Hunter boots for rain, tall leather riding boots and cowboy boots. This year she wants a new style of Ugg boots. She goes to college in a colder climate and boots of all kinds are very popular.

I also agree about the totes and bags. My daughter has a Vera Bradley duffel bag that she uses a lot but I forgot to list in my post above that I have a Victoria's Secret overnight tote for her for this Christmas that was a free gift with purchase. She really liked the bag when we were in the store so I went back and purchased some bras I needed and saved the tote for her. I know she'll like it.

If the OP's daughter has already been accepted to college, college hoodies and sweatshirts are a good idea too. Based upon my daughter, you can apparently never have too many.

 

[JeannieNM]

Great ideas!!!!

Last year when she was headed for her summer intensive she said she wanted new luggage. Her big suitcase is decorated by her with puff paint when she first went to sleep away camp in 4th grade. but she was clear she wanted to pick it out. When I brought it up she looked at me like I lost my mind because she totally forgot.I wonder if I could successfully pick those out without her help. hmmm We/she does fly a lot.

She won't know which college she is going to until March, they are all in warm climates so maybe an assortment of flip flops.

Keep the great ideas coming.

Thanks so much for the help.

 

[mdrob214]

Great ideas!!!!

Last year when she was headed for her summer intensive she said she wanted new luggage. Her big suitcase is decorated by her with puff paint when she first went to sleep away camp in 4th grade. but she was clear she wanted to pick it out. When I brought it up she looked at me like I lost my mind because she totally forgot.I wonder if I could successfully pick those out without her help. hmmm We/she does fly a lot.

She won't know which college she is going to until March, they are all in warm climates so maybe an assortment of flip flops.

Keep the great ideas coming.

Thanks so much for the help.

Just bought my 19 year old a Vera Bradley Weekender. I got one and she admired it. Found a pattern she loves and if you watch, VB has good sales.

 

[Patience]

Great ideas!!!!

Last year when she was headed for her summer intensive she said she wanted new luggage. Her big suitcase is decorated by her with puff paint when she first went to sleep away camp in 4th grade. but she was clear she wanted to pick it out. When I brought it up she looked at me like I lost my mind because she totally forgot.I wonder if I could successfully pick those out without her help. hmmm We/she does fly a lot.

She won't know which college she is going to until March, they are all in warm climates so maybe an assortment of flip flops.

Keep the great ideas coming.

Thanks so much for the help.

A set of nice spinner luggage would be a great gift for a college girl who travels a lot. Heys makes nice ones.

Also, since your daughter will be going to a warm climate college, does she like Toms or Chacos? Those are popular shoes/sandals during the warmer months on my daughter's campus, although she doesn't personally like the Chacos.

 

[FourBees]

If she is a coffee or tea or hot cocoa drinker you could get her a Keurig for her dorm. Also a wireless printer might be good so she can print her stuff and not have to go to the library. A new bed set for school. Most all are twin xl. A fan for her dorm room as most are not air conditioned but that is up north here maybe they are down south. These are all some of the things I remember my girls needing. Oh also command strips are a great stocking stuffer as they are very picky about what you hang things with and if you do damage to the walls using nails or tape they will charge you.

 

[sk!mom]

My DD17's big gifts will be Justin Timberlake tickets and a Jon Hart backpack. The concert won't be until next Summer and right before she leaves for college. The backpack is supposed to last forever and will be good for college.

Small gifts- her own Garmin since she'll be at college in an unfamiliar metro area, new Toms (these have been a staple for every occasion for years- her go to everyday shoes), a Vera jewelry bag, an Origami owl necklace, earrings, a college shirt and yoga pants. That's all I have planned so far.

 

[AllyBri]

Hi!

Some Ideas - My 20yo dd loves her circular monogram necklace which we gave her last year for her birthday & many of her friends have them also:

http://www.evesaddiction.com/wendywilliams.html

Or: Pandora starter bracelet, or stackable Alex and Ani bracelet (made in US, and has charms with inspirational charms on it in gold or silver - BTW, the Disney ones you now can get online at the Disneystore.com (I have to still get her this! But am looking for the WDW Castle, and the swirly Mickey - they are on her wish list approx. $29 -$39)

Another idea is a North Face Backpack/or a Bag she can carry her books in - e.g., the Longchamp foldable large Pilage bag is very popular for the college age group here in the NE, and is used for overnights and books, laptop, during the week

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/longcha...ferralID=d98bb888-4d9e-11e3-9f1f-001b2166becc

Another idea: Shoes/Boots eg Uggs

Also you can never really go wrong with trendy make-up kits & hair tools - Right Now I'm thinking of getting my dd the Conair infiniti Pro Curl Secret as one of her presents for doing her and her friends hair for special nights out, etc. this looks easy to do and gets good reviews:

http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/pro...479910&cadevice=c&CA_6C15C=330000200000003164

And of course Gift Cards to stores, Starbucks, Ulta, etc...

Hope this helps - I know it's not always easy buying gifts for our daughters !

Do you know if the Disney charms work on the Pandora braclet?
Thank you.