Planning my neighbour's birthday present
By Boingboing
@boiboing (13153)
Northampton, England
November 13, 2015 8:06am CST
Do you ever struggle to come up with ideas for presents for people you OUGHT to know well but don't?
My husband and I and our friends who used to live next door have been invited to another neighbour's birthday party on Saturday night. She's having a 'do' at a very posh hotel about 5 miles from us. We've known her for many years as we have a mutual pet-feeding arrangement and we've seen her kids grow from tiny toddlers to the eldest now being a teenager. Whilst we have a great neighbourly relationship, I'm not sure that I could really say that I know what she likes.
The task of finding a gift from the four of us falls to me and the other wife - doesn't it always? Neither of us can think what to get her so I have come up with the idea of 40 gifts for her 40th birthday.
My friend Lorraine and I are going to aim to find half of the 40 things around our homes - I have a lot of nice smellies and make-up and some scented candles and pretty notebooks, and Lorraine will find a few face-packs and other goodies. We'll count what we've got and then go out and buy the balance to bring us up to 40.
The party is on Saturday and if my maths is correct, one present a day for 40 days will bring her to Christmas. We'll wrap all the gifts, put them in a box with a 'hand hole' in the top, and she can pick out one a day - like an extended advent calendar.
Would anybody like to suggest some goodies we can include in her 40@40 gift box?
8 people like this
8 responses
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
13 Nov 15
@NeldaHoxie and @gudheart - I hope she agrees.
1 person likes this
@NeldaHoxie (1381)
• United States
13 Nov 15
candy bars or any kind of chocolate.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
14 Nov 15
england, ok so winter time, lip balm (I always lose this), gloves (I lose these too), traveling nail file (one in a case to put in your purse), candy, some of that candy that looks like coal because funny, small lotion (again purse sized is perfect for this kind of thing), pens (something in a fun color), fun socks (aka those warm fuzzy socks in bright cheery colors), etc etc
2 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
14 Nov 15
@boiboing we used to get advent calendars from mom each year growing up, 25 days of presents in Dec, got all kinds of fun small things! I might be a tad late though
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
14 Nov 15
@Jessicalynnt That was what I had in mind - a sort of grown up and extended advent calendar.
1 person likes this
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
13 Nov 15
I would do a couple little $5 or $10 gift cards, like to a coffee place or a video rental if they still have them, or Amazon. I love gift cards!
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
13 Nov 15
T"hat's very creative - love it and I'm sure she will also - have a wonderful time at the party.
2 people like this
@jstory07 (134233)
• Roseburg, Oregon
13 Nov 15
Go to dollar tree and you can get some really nice stuff there. A nice mug and some cocoa to make one day. Some body wash that smells
good. Lots of nice things for a dollar each.
good. Lots of nice things for a dollar each.@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
13 Nov 15
A mug - now that's a good one. We already have the smellies but a mug and some hot choc is great.
