Need a Gift Idea for 100 year old...

[MicheleMal]

Hi all---

My husband's grandmother is turning 100 next month and there is going to be a big family gathering for the big day. Unfortunately, she lives 5-6 hours from us and we don't see her as much as we should.
Between grandkids, great-grandkids and great-great grandkids, we are expecting over 150 people there. She still lives by herself--amazingly--and is quite frankly healthier than me.

I would welcome gift ideas from anyone. She is a very frugal person and yet probably doesn't **need** anything as most of her needs are met by the grandkids that live close by. So I am in a complete quandry as to what to get her to celebrate her big day.

Ideas/suggestions anyone?

 

[blanq]

Wow, to live to 100 is quite an achievement! My great grandma lived to be 103 and she was a simply amazing woman. I think that someone that age might enjoy a food basket of some kind, with maybe some speciality items she would like but might not buy for herself.

Some prepackaged meals for the freezer, in small quantities (for one, or two in case she wants to a friend over) might be good too. Do you have one of those meal-to-go places near you, like Let's Dish, where you make the food and take it home and freeze it? You could that for her. Or, there are even some great mail order food delivery places that make small portions, like www.impromptugourmet.com

 

[Hannathy]

Lottery tickets! Anyone lucky enough to live to 100 is bound to be lucky in other ways. But of course you are buying them so maybe her luck won't extend through you.

Maybe some candy that was popular when she was a child.

 

[Aliceacc]

I agree with the food idea.

How about hitting the local gourmet store/department (or Trader Joe's if there's one nearby.)

Put together a basket of jams and jellies of different flavors. Throw in some muffins or bagels.

 

[StephMK]

This is one of those suggestions I can happily throw out to you but am not nearly creative enough to pull off myself. However, maybe you can because I think it's a neat idea.

When my great-grandmother turned 100 many years ago, my great uncle was an artist & created a picture for her. There was a poem about her life and the border he drew small pictures of things that had been invented in her lifetime. As a kid, I always thought it was so cool to look at all the things around now that she saw just coming into existence. I guess like my kids are already amazed at how we ever got along w/o computers or remotes on TVs or DVR/VCR/CDs.

Anyway, it doesn't take up much space, let's her know you're thinking about her & makes a good conversation piece. Happy Bday to her!

 

[merekc]

Stamps and cards (if she likes to write cards). Gift Certificate to her beauty shop, grocery store, any place she still gets services. She might appreciate having a onetime housecleaning. Does she have pets? Pet food, kitty litter, etc. Gift certificate to a restaurant that delivers. Prepayment on utilities, newspaper, etc. Also, many older people just appreciate cash.

Photos, scrapbooks, etc are also always a hit.

 

[newscick27]

How about making a donation in her honor to her church or a favorite charity?

My grandmother lived to 102 and I think that was something she would have appreciated.

Laura

 

[Hannathy]

A lot of my Mom's friends liked the magazine Reminisce. A subscription to this might be an idea.

 

[WeRblam]

This is one of those suggestions I can happily throw out to you but am not nearly creative enough to pull off myself. However, maybe you can because I think it's a neat idea.

When my great-grandmother turned 100 many years ago, my great uncle was an artist & created a picture for her. There was a poem about her life and the border he drew small pictures of things that had been invented in her lifetime. As a kid, I always thought it was so cool to look at all the things around now that she saw just coming into existence. I guess like my kids are already amazed at how we ever got along w/o computers or remotes on TVs or DVR/VCR/CDs.

Anyway, it doesn't take up much space, let's her know you're thinking about her & makes a good conversation piece. Happy Bday to her!

I like this idea too, you could even make a memory album on DVD for her - see if you can get pictures of her when she was young and throughout her life. CVS, Walgreens can put pic's on DVD's for you if you don't know how.

 

[ncbyrne]

Someone else mentioned Reminisce magazine and I think it's a wonderful idea!
It's perfect for senior citizens who love to "reminisce" about the good old days. It's published by Reiman Publications. All of the magazines are wonderful and there is NO advertising. Every page is chocked full of interesting articles. Here is the page ofr Reminisce. You can order online, or it's even easier to call the #800.
http://www.reimanpub.com/Revise/Magazines.asp?RefURL=&KeyCode=&tdate=&PMCode=&OrgURL=

 

[mrsklamc]

By far the most popular gift we've gotten my grandparents is a digital picture frame. We took care to get one that all you have to do is put in the memory card and hit 'enter' for the slideshow to start.All each family has to do to keep grandma and grandpa up to date is fill up a new memory card.

 

[gk90]

I like this idea too, you could even make a memory album on DVD for her - see if you can get pictures of her when she was young and throughout her life. CVS, Walgreens can put pic's on DVD's for you if you don't know how.

My SIL made one of these for my grandmother's 90th birthday, together with pics of all her kids, grandkids and great-grandkids. It was shown at the party for her 90th and was a big hit, everybody loved it!

 

[Plantlady]

For my grandparents' 70th wedding anniversary, I asked each family member to write down their favorite memory of my grandparents. Some members submitted photos as well.

Then, I bound all of the writings and photos in a book at Kinkos. They loved reading about how much they were loved.

 

[MicheleMal]

Thanks for all the great ideas! I am going to try the dvd idea. It will take a lot of cooperation from alot of people, but I think I can pull it off. Thanks again!
This is such a great group of people!

 

[blackforest]

Can't take the credit for this idea.

Have the grandkids/greatgrandkids paint their hands with fabric paint and then stamp them for all her wonderful years. With the words on the shirt reading:

"Grandma (Nana, Mamaw - her special name) is this many!"

You can also have each child print/write their name. This way everyone can be included. Any babies? What about toe prints!

If everyone is too spread out, this could be mailed around to all the families, then brought with the last group for the big day.

 

[malibuconlee]

Not exactly budget, but for DH's grandfather's 90th we had 90 balloons delivered to his house. We weren't there to see it, but it apparently lit up his face.

I've ordered a birthday flower cake for DH's grandma when she was in her 90's.

100 is great!! DH's grandmother passed earlier this year at 95.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

I would collect photos from everyone send them to Snapfish and have them made into a beautiful book.

 

[sbpuckett]

I'd say a type of timeline scrapbook that would list each decades details and maybe a couple of pictures of your grandmother during that decade. If you did it by decade instead of year, it might not take so long. This would be good for kids to help with as well, a good history type project It amazes me how much society has accomplished and changed in the last 100 years. Good luck!!

 

[Danemom]

For a relative's 100th birthday, the family had fake $100 bills made up with her picture on it. They were cute. Not sure if that would work as a gift idea though.