The "What to get someone that has everything" thread

[golfgal]

I know this comes up a lot for various people over the Christmas season, the REALLY hard to buy for person. What fun, funky, unique things do you get people that really have everything. In my case we are trying to come up with something to get my step-mom. We usually give her gift cards but we really want to give her "something" this year. The problem is, she has so much stuff already, is trying to downsize for their move in the next year. We will still get her a gift card but what else. It is just nice to have something more to open on Christmas.

Last year it was my dad and we got him some Heirloom Flower bulbs based on recommendations from the great DIS'ers.

So, what fun, funky, unique thing are you getting someone on your list-with hopes that it might spark ideas for the rest of us

 

[momof1princess]

i always give my dad and step-mom pajamas. i know it sounds boring, but they live on fixed incomes and this is something they won't buy for themselves. i almost bought them something else last year, but my dad said "no! we look forward to our new pj's every year!" LOL

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

i always give my dad and step-mom pajamas. i know it sounds boring, but they live on fixed incomes and this is something they won't buy for themselves. i almost bought them something else last year, but my dad said "no! we look forward to our new pj's every year!" LOL

That's so cute!

 

[Jill in Chicago]

Food. Whatever it is she likes, buy the best, the fanciest, homemade.... You could do steaks, or fudge, or fancy candies, or homemade bread, or a fruit of the month club..... As long as it is something the person particularly enjoys food goes over well.

 

[jme829]

BIL and his gf and MIL and her bf are all getting Omaha steak packages this year. We always get the brochures in the mail and had ordered one for our realtor when we bought this house as a thank you (and we got one too) and we really liked them.

We're getting the the "taste of the grill" pack or something like that for $60 and they ship in a really nice foam cooler with dry ice.

We figure they should each get 5-6 nice meals from it.

 

[MinnieMe87]

My boss is like this. He buys whatever he needs or wants throughout the year. This year I bought him a tin New York Yankee trash can (He's a HUGE Yankee fan) and I'm going to fill it with treats. He has a big sweet tooth and loves having snacks at work to munch on and he can keep the trash can in his office, or take it home for his study.

 

[castmemberb4]

DH's father and step Mom are in this catagory
He flys RC planes so DH knows what to get him that he'd
never ask for. Step Mom well she loves RED so any thing sparkly
red that she can wear or add to her house makes her happy.
I guess my advice is play up a hobby or favoite color.

 

[tinatark]

I know it's *stuff* but I love, love, love the gift we bought for two couples who have everything... I found a lady who takes pictures of natural or architectual details which form a letter (imagine a swirly building detail making a "C", etc.) - framed/matted these forming their last names. Very cool.

 

[marybet]

I have this problem with MIL & FIL. We have sent them gift cards but they don't always use them, a year later she'll tell me she still has it. They were down for a vist and she mentioned that she likes the Temp-taions cookware on QVC. I sent her a piece for her birthday and she liked it. So I am going to get her some of it for Christmas. No idea what to get FIL.

They usually just send us a check but DH wants to send them a present he just never has any ideas either. I would just like to stop exchanging. They don't need anything and neither do we.

 

[MOMTOCUTESTDOGEVER]

My dad is incredibly difficult to shop for. This year I ordered a fleece blanket that is printed with a collage of pictures from some of the trips we have taken over the past few years. I got mine at Walgreen's.

 

[SC Minnie]

Last year I got my mom /stepdad & dad/stepmom calenders with the grandkids pictures on them. I got in touch with the stepparents children and had them send me pictures of the grands from their side. In the calendar I included everyones birthday and anniversaries. They both seemed to really like it. It took a lot of work to pull together but in the end wasn't very expensive and something they use all year.

I am planning to do it again this year.

 

[hopemax]

We have two people to shop for, who are very anti-clutter and want useful items.

The last couple of years, I made my Grandmother various types of cards because she has a million people to send cards too and probably keeps Hallmark in business just on her own. However, last year, she said she still had some and didn't want to receive more, so I got her other types of paper (toilet paper, paper plates, paper towels, napkins) and she loved it! This year, her gift is a digital picture frame because she enjoyed seeing all the pictures when my parents were visiting, and they had their laptop.

We are getting SIL a selection of Penzeys Spices. http://www.penzeys.com/ She also mentioned, without knowing that I was already planning on getting her spices that she would like fancy oils, spices or coffee. She loves to cook.

Another idea would be "events": movie tickets, local theater/opera, zoo membership, whatever her interests are.

 

[ready123go]

We stopped exchanging a few years ago because the in-laws were just too difficult to buy for and the gifts they got us were just weird. However, the final year we exchanged MIL asked us what we wanted and our answer was, "table saw or other tools." (We had just bought a 100 year old fixer-upper). So, of course, MIL got us non-returnable, non-exchangeable $300+ black plexi-glass backed piece of pottery wall art - huh? Is this a trivet and I just haven't figured it out yet??
The next year, when asked we said, "I think we'll pass on the exchange this year." After the world began turning on it's axis again, FIL said, "Oh, too bad, this was the year we were going to get you some tools."
Yeah, right, for the first time in ten or twelve years of ridiculous, extravagant, impractical gifts, this year was the year we would actually get something we asked for.
Ever since then, I've joked with DH that we should get them one of those amazing Japanese toilets... that way they can take a you-know-what on us every day...

 

[golfgal]

We have two people to shop for, who are very anti-clutter and want useful items.

The last couple of years, I made my Grandmother various types of cards because she has a million people to send cards too and probably keeps Hallmark in business just on her own. However, last year, she said she still had some and didn't want to receive more, so I got her other types of paper (toilet paper, paper plates, paper towels, napkins) and she loved it! This year, her gift is a digital picture frame because she enjoyed seeing all the pictures when my parents were visiting, and they had their laptop.

We are getting SIL a selection of Penzeys Spices. http://www.penzeys.com/ She also mentioned, without knowing that I was already planning on getting her spices that she would like fancy oils, spices or coffee. She loves to cook.

Another idea would be "events": movie tickets, local theater/opera, zoo membership, whatever her interests are.

We already got them hooked on Penzey's a couple years ago . They took us to this store: http://www.vomfassusa.com/ when we were down there in October. I might order something from here but they REALLY liked their specialty spirits so I might see if they can send a gift card (can't order one on their website??).

If anyone knows anyone that likes to cook and is looking for a unique gift for them, Vom Fass is a specialty cooking oil and spirit store. In the store you can sample anything you want. It is pretty cool. They have some fun, funky bottles and you fill them with what ever oils you want.

 

[texasthumper]

Solar powered garden gnomes!

Boy will my relatives be surprised!!!

 

[golfgal]

Solar powered garden gnomes!

Boy will my relatives be surprised!!!

 

[NAB]

My mom has everything too. So the last two years I bought her big jars of her coffee and her hair dye she always uses. This stuff can add up on a grocery list and I knew she would use it and she loved it.