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guitarnan
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| Posted: Dec 07 2009 at 5:39pm | IP Logged
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Yup, it's that time of year...time to shop for parents who don't need anything, love to read and never cook at home.
I bought some CDs for them (show tunes, etc.) but would like to add to this, particularly since they will only listen to the CDs in the car.
All ideas welcome...and I may use them for others on my gift list, too!
Thanks!
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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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never cooking at home means that some homemade goodies might be welcome? maybe something that they could use for entertaining a non cooking snack or such.. like.. hmmm a bottle of wine and cheese and crackers..
hmmm or maybe the above wine and cheese and crackers but since you already have music adding a candle? a bit of good chocolate (chocolate goes well with red wine).. a bit of romance in a box?
silly me.. wine and cheese and crackers aren't homemade  I was thinking homemade bread or rolls or a quickbread.. something they could freeze and bring out when they wanted whether for dinner or lunch or because someone was coming over and some homemade bread with some simple spreads could make a nice appetiser platter etc.
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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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Nique
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How about a gift certificate each to a bookstore (got any Catholic ones in their neighbourhood)  along with a homemade bookmark from your kids?
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I had always thought that once you grew up you could do anything you wanted - stay up all night or eat ice cream straight out of the container. ~Bill Bryson
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guitarnan
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If anyone has good books to suggest (Catholic or otherwise), I'd appreciate the suggestions. They don't have a Catholic bookstore but there's a good independent one nearby, a bookstore they like to support.
I'd love to give them food but we live on opposite coasts. Sigh. It's hard to mail baked ziti!
Candles are a good idea...let me ponder that...(as I head off to light a candle...)
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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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teachingmyown
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I do photo gifts for grandparents these days. This year, I made collage photo calenders at Snapfish. Last year, I did photo mouse pads and mugs. I also gave my dad a digital frame.
I used to send food gifts, but I am not really sure how well they were appreciated. I was just projecting my wants. I would love a Harry and David gift tower!
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In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
Remembering Today
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ekbell
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guitarnan wrote:
I'd love to give them food but we live on opposite coasts. Sigh. It's hard to mail baked ziti!
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Some baked goods can travel.
The small fruit cake that I baked, wrapped in plastic wrap and foil, and packed into a small round Christmas tin, seems to have survived it's trip from Calgary, Canada to New Orleans. [Granted a well 'basted' fruit cake will survive most indignities- including being forgotten in an attic until June]
Cookies packed in tins between layers of waxpaper and padded with tissue paper can also travel well.
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anitamarie
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What about a membership to some place they like to go on regular basis, like a Botanical Garden, Museum or something like that. We're giving our folks with everything a gift certificate to the symphony. They can pick what concerts they'd like to go to and when that way. Good Luck!!
Anita
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guitarnan
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Anita, your suggestion is wonderful...maybe I should look into the Hollywood Bowl. They have tix to the Pasadena Playhouse and Huntington Library already, but I should think about other venues!
ekbell, the only fruitcake my mom has ever liked was a recipe from a friend of my M-I-L that had coconut in it. Sadly, this friend would not share the recipe and she passed away several years ago. I've been looking for a similar fruitcake recipe ever since. (Maybe someone reading this thread can help!)
Molly, I love your photo idea...but that would mean I'd have to take photos of my kids. This is not a hardship for me, but they hate posing! (Okay, I need help, right?) I take tons of photos for my writing work but there are no people in said photos. I'll have to look at my files from this year and see what we have...thanks!
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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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Paula in MN
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How about airline or travel agency gift certificates so they can visit you?
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 Paula
A Catholic Harvest
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CrunchyMom
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I just saw a really neat popcorn maker set in the Williams-Sonoma catalog. I know that they never cook at home, but it occurred to me that even a non-cooking couple could enjoy such an appliance.
There would also be the option of something like Harry and David.
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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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Theresa H
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Nancy,
Here is a recipe for fruitcake with coconut. I'm not a fan of fruitcake and I like this one.
Texas Fruit Cake
1/2# candied cherries
1/2# candied pineapple
1/2# pitted, chopped dates
1 Tbsp flour
4 1/4 cup pecans, chopped
4 oz coconut
1 -14oz can condensed sweetened milk (Eagle Brand)
Stir candied fruits and flour together. Add pecans & coconut, stir. Stir in condensed milk. Pour into a greased & floured tube pan (angel food cake pan). Bake at 250 degrees for 1 1/2 hours. Cool in pan. Remove and refrigerate for at least two weeks before eating.
We have even frozen this after two weeks. Hope this might be the recipe you're looking for. Not sure how it would ship to parents though.
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Theresa from OK
Married to Bill(92), 4 children: ds(94), ds(97), ds(00) & dd(06).
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SusanJ
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What kinds of books do they like to read?
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Mom to Joseph-8, Margaret-6, William-4, Gregory-2, and new little one due 11/1
Life Together
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hylabrook1
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Gift certificate to a favorite restaurant or to one they'd like to try? Donate to Heifer International or something like that in their name? We know people who are delighted to have a flock of ducks or some such thing given in their name.
Peace,
Nancy
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CrunchyMom
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I think Heifer International is a great idea. I've done it where I give a small nice gift along with the Heifer gift. Like, you could give a nice wool scarf with a sheep or some nice beeswax candles along with a bee hive, etc...
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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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Lavenderfields
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What about Descansco Gardens, I just love those gardens, there is a small catholic bookstore in Monrovia, very small, but they have some wonderful old books. Are they Rose Parade fans? Maybe tickets to see the Parade. Those are the first things that come to mind.
God Bless
Robynn
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: Gifts for Active Parents With Everything
