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guitarnan
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| Posted: Nov 30 2015 at 10:15pm | IP Logged
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I'm in a rut. I give my parents and mother-in-law pretty much the same things every year. (Books, scarves, accessories, music, food) While I plan to keep the food gifts (Mom loves her Virginia peanuts!), I would love to change things around a bit...but it's hard to find good gifts for parents who have everything and don't have many hobbies.
All suggestions welcome!
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: Nov 30 2015 at 10:39pm | IP Logged
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I wouldn't change books simply because I love them and those are always welcome. But maybe change up the type of book?
What about other types of food.. not just snacks but maybe something they can't afford to get very often? a steak? some shrimp? or maybe a gift card to go out to a restaurant?
Is there any sort of show around there? maybe a community theatre? or orchestra that they might be able to go see?
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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guitarnan
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| Posted: Nov 30 2015 at 10:55pm | IP Logged
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My parents have season tix to their local playhouse, which is quite good. In my MIL's home town, which is fairly remote, the community theater groups don't sell season tix or gift cards, sadly. I wish they did.
One angle I haven't been able to research is helpful gizmos...things you can buy to help make life easier with arthritic hands or vision issues (sort of like electric can openers, but less obvious).
Little comforts would be another theme...not fleece throws (they have them already) but something nice like that for cold evenings or for those days when joints feel a bit achy.
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: Dec 01 2015 at 12:02am | IP Logged
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oh new soft comfy slippers are always so nice.. even if you have a "perfectly good pair" there's just something about the softness of new.
what about jar openers? Not sure if there's any that are good but that's one that's hard to do.. or a back scratcher or a grabber thing (love my technical terms?)
long handled shoe horn?
I'd also consider looking into a soothing lotion.. maybe something with lavender or frankincense or arnica that would soothe the aches without the strong smell of menthol.
fingerless gloves can help keep hands warm (which helps with aches) without losing dexterity
lovely socks (look for smartwool at sierra trading post.. good price for good value and they're warm and sooo soft.. even my don't-let-wool-touch-me girl loves them).
the ladies might like a pretty shawl or a soft cardigan.. oh what about a nice looking winter hat.. sometimes just have a pretty item means you want to use it instead of "should".
a nice basket with a good cup (my grammy loved the old tupperware plastic mugs because they were so lightweight) and favorite warm drink makings?
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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SeaStar
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| Posted: Dec 01 2015 at 5:21am | IP Logged
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Omaha Steaks has nice gift packages in all price ranges... those always make a fun gift.
Hot/cold therapy pads (can go in the freezer or microwave) save my life the winter... I make them with rice and pretty fabric covers that can be removed to wash. Pop them in the microwave for two minutes, and you have a hand/lap/neck warmer that is wonderful.
Fruit of the month clubs are also a good gift. Gift card to their favorite restaurant?
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
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CrunchyMom
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| Posted: Dec 01 2015 at 6:36am | IP Logged
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We did a holiday wreath one year. We have also done pears from Harry and David. This year, we are doing chocolates from a place my husband discovered while on a trip to New Hampshire.
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Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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CrunchyMom
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It really can be a challenge. We sent a box of treat from Harry and David one year with the knowledge that the ILs have too much stuff already and thinking that "disposable" gifts were best only to come almost a year later and discover that MIL couldn't throw the box away because it was so pretty!! Sometimes you really can't "win" no matter what you choose.
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Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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mom2mpr
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My parents recently moved to independent life care. My mom misses gardening so I saw some kits at BJ's with all the "ingredients/supplies" for some planters with herbs/flowers she can put in her window.
I was also planning on getting them The National Catholic Register for this election year. They love following the news and mom was reading mine(I wasn't sure she would be able to with her macular degeneration)when they were here last weekend.
Restaurant gift cards are usually a hit--mom loves Red Lobster.
Photos of family. Even older ones. Their memories are starting to go and we spent a lot of time in "memory" mode this weekend. (it was either that or hear about doctor visits for hours  ). So I was thinking of collecting some older photos for a slide show they could watch on their TV or make a scrapbook--I pulled a few of those incomplete baby scrapbooks off the shelf and mom especially enjoyed that.
Thats all I got. Back to lurkdom!! 
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Anne, married to dh 16 years!, ds,(97), Little One (02), and dd (02).
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CrunchyMom
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One idea that occurred to me this morning was pretty stationery. This could be as big or small a gift as you want, depending on what you choose. I recently sent some pretty cards to our elderly neighbor, who is currently living with a daughter, that reminded me of the Christmas cards she sends. She still relies on snail mail for most of her communication with friends and family.
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Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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anitamarie
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I gave my grandmother one of these wraps a few years ago. She loved it.
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Erin
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Pictures of the grandchildren.
Soft towels, pretty tablecloths. Pretty vases.
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Erin
Faith Filled Days
Seven Little Australians
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St. Ann
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My 83 yr old father in law requested a huge new edition atlas. He loves looking up places he hears about in the news. One can spend hours with a good atlas.
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Stephanie
Wife and mother to Hannah '96, Maria '99, Dorothea '01, Helena '03
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Topic: Christmas gift ideas for aging parents?
