So - how can I handle this type of Christmas present - UPDATE post 25

[chamonix]

I like Sundance catalog jewelry (and clothes, etc) i prefer to be surprised, and always hate what dh picks out so here's what we do:

I go to the Sundance website at my leisure and browse, putting items in a "wish list" (like a shopping cart). I pick items in a range of prices. The website allows you to then send your wish list to someone else by email. Dh then has a bunch of items he knows i like to choose from, and I'm still surprised what he buys. He usually gets me a few items from the list, maybe one expensive item and a couple cheaper items too. I think on average i put 30 items in the cart. If nothing else, even if he didn't buy from that website, he gets a "feel" for what I'm interested in or what i like.

I'm sure other websites have this wish list feature too, i seem to recall using one on the Blue Nile website too (which is great for high end, gold/silver/certified diamond type stuff) The best part is, no one has to find time to go to the mall, which we both hate!

 

[MM27]

In my family, when we got to a certain age, my mom would allow us so much money for Christmas and we would either tell her what we wanted or we would go shopping with her for our gifts. Believe me, to a teenager it doesn't lose anything to get to pick your own gifts out.

She still made us wrap the presents to open on Christmas and we always acted like we had never seen the item(s) before

 

[Planogirl]

I'd give her a gift certificate for an "experience". A day shopping with mom, maybe with a pedicure or a nice lunch thrown in, and a "gift certificate" for a necklace of her choosing up to X dollars.

I love this!

You can wrap up the gift certificate so it will be a package she can open.

 

[disneyhand]

I am planning on buying necklaces for my Daughter and my Son's Girlfriend for Christmas. I have been researching because I want it to be special but not too pricey.

I found this website in a magazine; store.nashelle.com and I love the necklace options. Not too pricey, but really neat. And I love that I get to customize it.

I'll probably go with the girls initials and birthstones, but not completely sure about that yet.

One of my magazines had a discount code as well, let me know if you're interested and I'd be happy to provide it. It was either 10 or 15%.

I also think it would be funny to make gag gifts that she opens first like the pasta necklace you mentioned, a candy necklace and/or even one of those light up funky Christmas ones.

 

[clh2]

OP here!

We purchased our DD a "toddler" snap-together bead necklace for her gift from Santa. She was a little confused at first, but then we explained that she could "trade-it-in". Santa only handles "toy" requests...

We went shopping today at the mall. DD found something she liked at Macy's - but she wanted to keep looking. She found something she liked better at a jewelry store - but wanted to keep looking. She found "THE" necklace at the next jewelry store, and did not want to keep looking.

It was a blue-saphhire thing, with a sterling silver chain. She is over the moon. I am so glad we let her pick this gift out. And...I am so glad we didn't try to "trick" her into picking something out before Christmas. She had a ball at the mall looking for her necklace.

And...the cost of the necklace was about 1/2 of what we told her was the limit, so we let her also pick out something else too (she wanted some boots too!) Our little shopping expedition was just as much fun for her as it was for DH and me. And, since DD is now 16 - this will be a nice memory.

And...eventhough DD wanted to wear the necklace out of the store - the choice was to wear it or have it put in the box...I did have to step in and request the jewelry box. DD did, however have it on before we left the parking lot of the mall.

I am SO glad we did this as her main gift. SO glad...And, I think DD is very appreciative that we did not pick it our for her.

I would post a link - but this particular jeweler, eventhough it is a nationwide chain - just doesn't have an on-line catalog.

 

[nancys]

Thanks for the update! It sounds like you had a wonderful shopping experience with your DD, and made a beautiful memory for the future!

 

[indimom]

OP here!

We purchased our DD a "toddler" snap-together bead necklace for her gift from Santa. She was a little confused at first, but then we explained that she could "trade-it-in". Santa only handles "toy" requests...

We went shopping today at the mall. DD found something she liked at Macy's - but she wanted to keep looking. She found something she liked better at a jewelry store - but wanted to keep looking. She found "THE" necklace at the next jewelry store, and did not want to keep looking.

It was a blue-saphhire thing, with a sterling silver chain. She is over the moon. I am so glad we let her pick this gift out. And...I am so glad we didn't try to "trick" her into picking something out before Christmas. She had a ball at the mall looking for her necklace.

And...the cost of the necklace was about 1/2 of what we told her was the limit, so we let her also pick out something else too (she wanted some boots too!) Our little shopping expedition was just as much fun for her as it was for DH and me. And, since DD is now 16 - this will be a nice memory.

And...eventhough DD wanted to wear the necklace out of the store - the choice was to wear it or have it put in the box...I did have to step in and request the jewelry box. DD did, however have it on before we left the parking lot of the mall.

I am SO glad we did this as her main gift. SO glad...And, I think DD is very appreciative that we did not pick it our for her.

I would post a link - but this particular jeweler, eventhough it is a nationwide chain - just doesn't have an on-line catalog.

What fun! And I like the pop-together necklace on Christmas day.