Ladies.. Would you want this for Christmas?

[pooh17]

This is back on the monogram idea....

My favorite gift received last year is a set of monogrammed travel bags from pottery barn. One is good for makeup, the other is big enough for packing hairspray, brushes, deodorant, etc. Great for travel (even if just overnight). You could easily fill with bath and body works stuff. Good quality and reasonably priced.

http://www.potterybarn.com/products/channel-quilted-velvet-cosmetic-bags-set-of-2/?pkey=ggftofgper

 

[december]

Someone mentioned Yankee Candle....I've been with dh for over 21 yrs and I've bought my mil tons of Bath and Body Works type things and candles. Dd9 emailed her the other day about her Yankee Candle fundraiser, and mil emailed me to tell me NOT to buy her any of that for Christmas, or anything with a scent, because "as you know I'm allergic to all perfumes." Um......nope, didn't know that (dh says she isn't), but thanks for the memo!

My paternal grandmother used to put everything my mother gave her in her yearly yardsale, with the tags still on!

My step-mil gives only used gifts (at least to me and dh). I didn't know that the 1st year we were married. I opened my recipe box, and there was a card inside with someone else's name on it. I was so heartbroken. The next year I figured out it wasn't just me!

OP, in-laws are so much fun

 

[Rora]

I like the baking idea much more than any scents unless you know of a specific fragrance that she likes.

If you're going to check luggage, baking supplies shouldn't be any problem. If you're carrying on, check the TSA website to be sure. There are definitely restrictions on the amounts of liquids and gels you can carry on. Not sure about powders.

Good point about the scent! I figure I'll check my luggage and put the stuff in my luggage and then pack up her gift at the house.

I like the baking idea too................ you could add a new spatula or a calphalon baking pan, cake decorating kit, other things too.......... like chocolate chips or ingredients for her fav. thing to bake............. Williams Sonoma has a lot of little things you could get to make up a basket.................

http://www.williams-sonoma.com/shop/cooks-tools/baking-pastry-tools/

http://www.williams-sonoma.com/shop/bakeware/baking-pastry-tools-bakeware/




Also, for shipping, could you just ship a box to YOU - at the location where you'll be staying?

Thanks for the links!! I guess I could ship it to their house but if I don't get too crazy I should be able to fit it in my suitcase, let's hope!

What about a bread bag with an apron, the book "The Art of French Cooking" by Julia Child and the Julia/Julia movie.

Good thinking!! I know she liked that movie! Happen to know if it's out yet?

 

[TheBigBadWolf]

The best "gift" I ever gave my MIL is a letter I wrote her our first Christmas together. I thanked her for raising such a wonderful man. (It was sappier than that) well we've been married for 19 years and she still has that letter framed in her room!

I would skip the bath and body works stuff for a tough one to please. Does she entertain? Perhaps you could get her a serving platter. Does she drink? You could buy her 2 flutes from Tiffanys for about $30. And that looks nice. Anything in that box I think looks nice.

I love these ideas. If you want to buy her some good smelling shower gels, try Philosophy instead of B&BW. They smell sooo much better.

I also love the Penzey's spices idea.

 

[EthansMom]

Personally, I don't like scented items as gifts.... Many of my family members are allergic to scents and I, myself, am very particular about scented items. I have donated and regifted more body lotions and candles than I can count.

Does your MIL have any other hobbies or interests beyond cooking? For instance, I knit. You wouldn't believe how much good yarn costs. One of the most thoughtful gifts I got last Christmas was from my MIL who gave me enough good sock yarn (she'd found on sale) to knit a pair of socks. I still haven't used it, but it did show a lot of caring and thought!

If it's just cooking... I'd go with the previous posters' suggestions. Maybe a new cookbook, an apron, some new spices, dish towels....

 

[crz4mm2]

Well, I am a MIL... I don't want "stuff" anymore. I have enough stuff. I have knick knacks and STUFF that I have no place to put.
I would LOVE a picture frame that holds several photos.
I would also like the spices (I cook too) and a gift certificate for a massage or pedicure is always great

I would not like a monogram bag..... just not for me.
And do NOT get me bath and body unless I specifically tell you what to buy. I am VERY picky about fragrances.

I am actually going to ask for a big deep frying pan..... from MY MIL>

 

[minkydog]

Well, I am a MIL... I don't want "stuff" anymore. I have enough stuff. I have knick knacks and STUFF that I have no place to put.
I would LOVE a picture frame that holds several photos.
I would also like the spices (I cook too) and a gift certificate for a massage or pedicure is always great

I would not like a monogram bag..... just not for me.
And do NOT get me bath and body unless I specifically tell you what to buy. I am VERY picky about fragrances.

I am actually going to ask for a big deep frying pan..... from MY MIL>

I'm with you--don't get me anything from B&BW. I like certain products, but their fragrances are overwhelming. I regift all B&BW gifts to other people who I know like them. I wouldn't care about a tote either.just not my thing. And DH is extremely sensitive to scents, so no candles either.

However, I do like the "gift of warmth" that someone else mentioned (robe, slippers, etc.) You might even want to add some really nice hot cocoa and a great mug to go with it. I like the suggestion of fine spices, too.

I received an apron last year. It says "Don't make me poison your food!"

 

[Imzadi]

I'm not into scented items either. They would be very hard to buy unless you know specific scents & brands she likes.

Ditto on the monogramed tote. Bags are very personal to me. They have to be the right size, have the right amount of pockets, etc.

I DO like the idea of assorted bakeware and gadgets she might not normally have. there is a whole range of new silicone bakeware and baking sheets. They seem weird and floppy, and not rigid like the traditional alluminum pans, but I've read once people try them, they LOVE them.

Also, do note, baking is very different from cooking. Someone who bakes may not necessairily like to cook very much. Baking is a very precise art, requiring exact measurements and proven recipes.

Cooking can be more improvisational, tossing in new spices here and there. The chefs on Top Chef are all great cooks. Most of them really hate to bake. If she's not an improvisational/intuitive kind of a cook, she may not appeciate the Pensey's spices, no matter how wonderful they are. The may end up in the back of the cupboard, never used.

 

[Jockaroo]

Please, please, please stay away from any scented gifts (perfumes, candles, lotions, body washes) unless you know a specific scent that she adores. Most women have a signature scent. Also, we deal with fragrance allergies. Some people get very ill from scented items--migraines, nausea, not just a few sneezes.

Stick with ideas for cooking/baking. If she loves to bake you could look for a new-this-season Nordic Ware baking pan and build a gift bag around it. Also, if she is older, she may not have many of the silicon baking items (mats, rolling pin, hot pot holders). Find out from your fiance what her cooking/baking passion is and build on that. Cook books are good.

Here are some links to one of my mother's favorite cooking supply companies (she loves to make cookies and candies):
http://www.kitchenkrafts.com/catego...d=CLqVttPizJ0CFSnKsgodSwsKsg&bhcd2=1256081143

 

[luvmy3]

I think there are some great suggestions in this thread, ONLY if they match her interests. Have you asked your DF what future MIL loves?

I think the letter is a great idea, and if you could get a nice photo of her with your dh (maybe when he was a baby), have it enlarged and put in a nice frame to go with it.

 

[JerseyJanice]

I am actually going to ask for a big deep frying pan..... from MY MIL>

One of the best gifts I ever got was a Calphalon grill pan (from my brother). You could get her a very nice pot or pan from Bed, Bath & Beyond using one of their 20% off coupons. Ask your DF about the types of food she enjoys to cook and that will give you a clue about some piece of cookware that could be special to her.

I received an apron last year. It says "Don't make me poison your food!"

 

[Sparx]

http://www.nordicware.com/

these people make a lot of fun cake pans, if she likes to bake. mostly bundt pans, but they're very fancy and very heavy duity, and definitely shapes that the woman who has everything doesn't have.

 

[golfgal]

If she likes to bake, perhaps a gift crate with some spices would be a nice gift? I usually buy these from penzeys. Here's a link to their page of gift boxes. You can click on them to see what's inside. They have everything from small boxes with four spices/flavorings up to huge wooden crates filled with just about everything imaginable. I gave my sister the bakers crate for Christmas one year and it was a huge hit:

http://www.penzeys.com/cgi-bin/penzeys/c-Gift_Boxes.html?id=F7LhazBi

I was going to suggest this too. They have a lot of great gift boxes and unique spices, blends, etc. Check to see if they have a store near you-we are lucky and have one about 4 miles from us . I give these as hostess gifts a lot too.

Just a word of advice-not that you asked about it-you know she get offended by everything, do your best to get her something you think she will like and then blow off the comments made later-your life will be much easier in the long run.

 

[Imzadi]

Stick with ideas for cooking/baking. If she loves to bake you could look for a new-this-season Nordic Ware baking pan and build a gift bag around it. Also, if she is older, she may not have many of the silicon baking items (mats, rolling pin, hot pot holders). Find out from your fiance what her cooking/baking passion is and build on that. Cook books are good.

Here are some links to one of my mother's favorite cooking supply companies (she loves to make cookies and candies):
http://www.kitchenkrafts.com/catego...d=CLqVttPizJ0CFSnKsgodSwsKsg&bhcd2=1256081143

Great minds think alike with the silicone bakeware.

OP, there is a good chance, if she's really into baking that she already has the traditional basics of items. She may have looked at the new silicone items and gadgets when they first came out to see what all the hype is about. But, when they first hit the market, woowee! they were expensive.

No one wanted to buy a silicone rolling pin for $25 when your old wooden pin worked fine. Same for the $8.99 silicone spatulas or potholders. These were definitely "splurge" type items.

Which make them perfect as a gift. Now that they've saturated the market, the prices have gone way down. (Which is great for your budget.) I've gotten most of my silicone stuff from Big Lots and the Dollar tree for cheap!

Silicone tipped tongs that used to be $14.99 are now down to $5. They are wonderful. I don't have to worry about accidentally scraping the non-stick grill while turning chops. Lots of silicone bake pans are down to $5.

I got assorted sizes of silicone spatulas (still $8.99 at Amazon,) at the Dollar Tree for $1 each. The silicone potholders are great. If I accidentally dip a corner in grease or drop one, they clean with a quick rinse. They also double as hot pot trivets.

If future MIL decorates cakes, she may like some fancy decorator tips and decorating gadgets she might not normally buy for herself, but, again would be a nice splurge to get as a gift.

 

[ChristmasElf]

Great idea about Yankee Candle!! And I LOVE your idea about Monster in Law!!! If only!

Your post actually made me laugh out loud!!
All she likes to do is bake, shop, and sit around. I'm not kidding or trying to be petty. That's what she does. I should also add that I think she has everything in the world when it comes to baking so I couldn't even get her some fun kitchen gadget. AND, she's offended by gift cards so I can't do that either.

EDIT: She doesn't work and she doesn't like to eat out because she believes it's her duty to do the cooking (can't complain- she's a great cook! ).

Get her an apron, a great new cookbook,since she likes to bake maybe get her a few baking gadgets or a fancy pie dish or maybe a pretty cake plate. (Places like Marshalls or Home Goods has these for $10 or so)

 

[N.Bailey]

I do like some of the photograph ideas and the letter idea (but agree it should be saved till marriage), but I find it hard to believe that people who feel you're unqualified to pick out bath and body scents think you'd be capable of picking out spices and cookware.

Unless you know what your MIL already has. What she doesn't. What she's interest in and what she's not interested in as far as cooking/baking goes, I think you'll have as much luck getting nice scents as you do spices/kitchen gadgets.

Since you want to stay within budget, I think you should stick with more inexpensive items, and let her regift later. That's what she'll end up doing with anything you get her if she's not interested in it, be that the cheapest item in a store or the most expensive.

I do highly suggest you not buy her an antique potty chair however.

 

[Mom-to-2-Princesses]

If she likes to bake, perhaps a gift crate with some spices would be a nice gift? I usually buy these from penzeys. Here's a link to their page of gift boxes. You can click on them to see what's inside. They have everything from small boxes with four spices/flavorings up to huge wooden crates filled with just about everything imaginable. I gave my sister the bakers crate for Christmas one year and it was a huge hit:

http://www.penzeys.com/cgi-bin/penzeys/c-Gift_Boxes.html?id=F7LhazBi

I received the spice assortment last year -- oh, my she will love you forever! The cinnamon is to die for!

 

[quasar4legs]

As someone who loves to cook, you can never have too much kitchen stuff, or cookbooks.

What about some
italian aged balsamic vinegar,
porcini powder,
preserved lemons,
a moroccan spice kit,
a mandolin,
valrohna or amedei chocolate for cooking
a good virgin olive oil
some tahitian vanilla beans
a selection of teas or coffee
jars of stuffed olives
titanium gelatine leaves
champagne vinegar
verjuice

I would also love any kind of food or fruit hamper.
Wish you were my future daughter in law

Hope you all have a great christmas.

 

[MrsPete]

To put this nicely, she is a very fussy lady who doesn't seem to approve of anything or anyone (UGH. That's all I'll say. ). I'm at a loss as to what to get her for a gift.

We have one of those in our family too, and after years of gift-giving, we've stopped trying. Since nothing is going to be good enough, we just grab the first thing we see from a clearance aisle and wrap it up. Why work hard AND be subjected to the "not quite good enough, but so kind of you to try" attitude? I'm sure it's not much fun for her to get these same lackluster things from everyone in the family, but she did bring it on herself.

On a larger scale, I'd ask whether this "nothing's good enough" attitude is JUST about gifts, or whether it extends into other areas of this person's life. This person must have SOME good qualities -- after all, you do admire her child-raising abilities. Otherwise you wouldn't be marrying her son. Do look for those good qualities. Maybe you'll never "connect" with gift-giving, but hopefully you'll find other things in common and will have a good relationship.

In the case of our relative, nothing is good enough -- not what we cook, not how we dress the kids, not the activities we enjoy, not the restaurants we like to visit, not the way we manage our money, not the way we keep our houses . . . it's a pattern of behavior. She married into the family, and she is nothing like the rest of us. We've tried. We've offered many olive branches, and they've all been rejected. Hopefully you'll have better success than we have, and you'll become friends with her -- even if you always consider gift-giving a little snafu in your otherwise good relationship.

 

[MrsPete]

As someone who loves to cook, you can never have too much kitchen stuff, or cookbooks.

What about some
italian aged balsamic vinegar,
porcini powder,
preserved lemons,
a moroccan spice kit,
a mandolin,
valrohna or amedei chocolate for cooking
a good virgin olive oil
some tahitian vanilla beans
a selection of teas or coffee
jars of stuffed olives
titanium gelatine leaves
champagne vinegar
verjuice

I would also love any kind of food or fruit hamper.
Wish you were my future daughter in law

Hope you all have a great christmas.

I love to cook, and I do think you can have too much kitchen stuff. I also have too many cookbooks.

But I would LOVE fancy kitchen consumables -- things just like you mentioned: fancy oils, etc. Perhaps a couple items with a theme. If you know she enjoys Italian, some good olive oil, capers, artichokes. Or baking would be a good theme -- include some difficult-to-find cinnamon chips and some other niceties. That sounds like a wonderful gift, AND it doesn't matter if she already has some of these things -- she can always use more.