Help me shop for BM gifts...

jemmini6

I have one MOH and two BM's.  MOH's gift is done, but I'm drawing a total blank on what to get the other two.  I got all three of them a personalized tote bag (it was free on VP, so I don't really count it) as well as a citrine necklace for each of them (each a different style that fits with their normal jewelry taste, it's to wear in the wedding, so it's really only 'half' counted as a gift).  Then I'm also getting them each an 'individual' gift as I would if it was Christmas or something, and this is where I'm coming up short. So here's some background about the other two so maybe you can give me some ideas?  Also, I'm looking to keep the budget around $25 and I'd like to get them a physical gift rather than a gift card if possible.

BM#1 (older sister):  She's a SAHM, they never go out anywhere, she never dresses up, and almost never wears makeup.  Her hobbies are basically her kids and watching movies.  I have no idea what movies she has or doesn't, they wouldn't go to a theater (because of the kids), I think most of the time they just rent from Redbox. 

BM#2 (college friend):  She is a single mom of a 6 month old boy, so that pretty much takes up most of her time now outside of work.  We used to do happy hour together at least once a week, but now I don't get to see her as often because of the baby and she moved to the opposite side of town.  We still talk, but most of it is about her son (totally understandable, he's ridiculously adorable and growing so fast).  She will definitely NOT want anything 'smelly' as she used to work at Bath & Body Works and is probably stocked for the rest of her life on those products.



Any ideas???

[Deleted User]

BM #1- How about a fun movie basket? You could get a couple DVDs from target (with gift receipts so she can exchange for whatever she wants), some popcorn, her favorite candies, some bottled sodas and maybe even a cute pajama set/comfy sweats outfit or a cozy blanket so she can snuggle up on the couch with her new videos! We got my grandpa some popcorn "bowls" one year that were so cute....you could throw in a couple of those too. Or add a gift card to somewhere like Target/Wal-Mart for other flicks and she can spend it on whatever she wants.


 BM #2- How about a spa certificate or an "at-home" spa basket for her to pamper herself? You could get her a nice new bathrobe, a nice PJ set, some fun new nail polish, a foot scrub, a face mask, a nice manicure set...the list goes on and on. I'd also throw in a "coupon" for a free night or 2 of babysitting so she could go out after she gets pampered without having to worry about her little man at home. 

[Deleted User]

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_shop-bm-gifts?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:136Discussion:ea1f11cc-93cb-4cb5-a17f-da371246860fPost:64388605-465e-477b-989f-c4d4768f7b2f">Re: Help me shop for BM gifts...</a>:
[QUOTE]BM #1: What about a Netflix subscription? You could put that with a bag of some fun popcorn (like, caramel or something). Or maybe, like, an air popper for popcorn? You can get those for around $25. (Just trying to think of the movie/snack theme.)  BM #2: I don't know if she is breastfeeding and choosing not to drink or whatnot, but if you guys used to do cocktail hour would she maybe like a nice cocktail shaker and like a drink mix or something? They have some neat ones at C&B like this:  <a href="http://www.crateandbarrel.com/kitchen-and-food/cocktails-beverages/frontera-margarita-drink-mix/s442112" rel="nofollow">http://www.crateandbarrel.com/kitchen-and-food/cocktails-beverages/frontera-margarita-drink-mix/s442112</a>
Posted by LivLeighton[/QUOTE]

Apparently we're on the same wavelength with BM #1!

bawidget

Like your sister I watch movies all the time! Why not make her a basket of nice little movie related things.

microwave popcorn and favorite movie snacks, a boxed set of something she and husband can enjoy together, a year netflix membership if they don't have one. I think stuff like that is the absolute cutest.

csousa1

Do either of them drink? You could get them a fun-night-in care package of relaxation, and throw in things like of a bottle of wine, nice chocolates, a newish girly movie, a candle, some fuzzy slippers - maybe combine it with an offer to babysit for a few hours on the night they choose to do this. That could be kind of cheesy too, though  - I just know a lot of my friends that would like that as a gift, especially those that are moms who don't get much relaxation time.

Do they like to cook/are they foodies? Get a gourmet food basket with some hoity toity rare oil, or spices, maybe some baked good (pumpkin!) and a specialty recipe book. And again, wine.

I know you live in AZ and your wedding is moving more toward the winter months (how cold does it get out there?), but at a wedding I attended recently, the bride got her BMs a beachy care package, with flips flops and beach towels for everyone, a framed picture of all of them at the beach, some kind of summery drink mix and things like that. A summer themed thing would probably be pretty silly in November, but I loved the idea of a care package type thing like that.

lunarsongbird

What about a couple of beautiful pashminas? I love pashminas....anyone could use a lovely scarf/shawl.

jemmini6

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_shop-bm-gifts?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:ea1f11cc-93cb-4cb5-a17f-da371246860fPost:887ad713-876f-42d4-8722-ae7a3a31826c">Re: Help me shop for BM gifts...</a>:
[QUOTE]What about a couple of beautiful pashminas? I love pashminas....anyone could use a lovely scarf/shawl. :)
Posted by lunarsongbird[/QUOTE]


I like them too, but I honestly can't picture a situation where either of them would use one, particularly my sister.

lunarsongbird

Would they be interested in a gift certificate to possibly get family portraits done? Family seems to be a pretty big deal. And then you could offer to go shopping with them to buy outfits for the picture.

I'm trying to think out of the box. LOL.

lunarsongbird

Or something cutomized with the children's names on it...hm...a nice fruit bowl from etsy... ::thinking, thinking::

jorja86

BM#1: I think the idea of a movie kit is great...I bought this book for one of my college roommates a couple of years ago, and she loves it!
http://www.amazon.com/Cinematherapy-Girls-Guide-Movies-Every/dp/0440508509/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1316644919&sr=1-1

BM#2: Could you get an "at home" type cocktail kit for her, and go over there sometime after the wedding to do happy hour at her house? Does she ever get a babysitter for her son? Could you get her a gift certificate for your favorite happy hour place, and an IOU for paying for a sitter for her so the two of you could have a night out?

jemmini6

Thanks for the ideas! 

I think I'll definitely do some type of movie bundle for my sister.

I'm still not sure about my friend though.  She's like me in that I never drink at home, only out in social situations, so I'm not sure a cocktail kit would work.  However, we do have a favorite brewery so I thought about maybe giving her a gift card to the brewery with a growler of their Pumkin Porter beer (which is heavenly, it's seasonal and just came out this week and should last through mid-December maybe).  She lives kind of far from the brewery now though, so I'm not sure if it'll be that great of a gift.  Thoughts on that?