Question of the Day - Tuesday, November 29

Greetings! Last Tuesday of November!


Dun dun duuuuuuuun.
 

For gifts (Whether Christmas, Bday's etc):

Who are the hardest and easiest to buy for among your family and friends? 

Easiest: My mom. I like spoiling her when I can with beauty stuff, cozy stuff, pretty stuff  etc as she hardly ever spoils herself. And she likes a lot of hobbies and activities, like gardening and decorating, so is always happy to get useful/fun stuff for that.

Hardest: For this seasonal year, probably my 91 year old grandmama, who is still mentally sharp as ever. Past couple of times I have gotten her some really nice moisturizing creams, but want to get her something different this time. Something meaningful and pleasant, a little bit practical (But not too practical, don't really want to constantly remind her of her so called "feeble" age. My other family members are slightly over fussing with that at the moment. I'm happy that they care, but shall we not make a big deal and act like she might keel over anytime, 24/7? Highly doubt it is good for her emotional state. Let's just enjoy life instead of engaging towards some sort of impending gloom!) she is already very well to do, with a full life of travelling, so in the stuff department she is pretty set and has help from housekeepers and whatnot. I know in context she probably wouldn't want or need any gifts, but I still would like to think of something as she has done so much for me.

Second hardest, and thankfully not common anyhow, is for kids in general. I don't like children soooo....  


 

Hardest: I believe that would be my grown sons. They already have everything they need, and I don't know their clothing sizes anymore to buy them something fun. 

Easiest: My ten-year-old grandson. I can find something he would like anywhere.

One of my sisters. She just isn't into anything specifically.  Her poor husband. Over the years he's purchased more gifts that have annoyed her than is reasonable. Luckily, we're not a gift giving family anymore - once you reach adulthood, it's zilch for you LOL

Easiest? The furkids. I know what they like. 

Hardest? DD. She's a pain and it's like pulling teeth to get her to say she likes anything. 

She already got 2 presents from me. A pair of some of the ugliest shoes on earth and new glasses. I also bought her a waffle iron for when she goes out on her own. She loves Belgian waffles. I don't know what else to get her. Maybe a gift card and I'll take her out for waffles. 

These are the ugly shoes. She loves them and I guess that that is what matters. 

   

My grandchildren. They don't live close by so I don't really know the things they like or dislike. I never get helpful suggestions from the parents. It is the same this year. So I am always on my own in trying to choose something. Their parents buy them every toy and gadget on the market so I am not going in that direction. I have decided this year to buy them pajamas. I will pay with cash, guess what size, pass the receipt to the parents and tell them if they don't fit, buy them something else they can use. I know that sounds terrible, right. :lol3:

@blueyedgirl5946  - I don't think that's terrible. If the parents can't be bothered to keep you informed, then they can't be picky about what they get.

Hardest is my grown sons, like @DreamerRose.  They have done well for themselves, and pretty much buy whatever they want when they want it.  Easiest is my granddaughter.  She's 15, and wants cash more than anything else.  She says that she changes her mind so much, that's the best thing, and I honor that.

Hardest is my Dad, no question. To make things even harder, his birthday is this weekend, and having birthday and Christmas so close together when he's already impossible to buy for is just :scratch:

The easiest are a couple of my close friends. I'm always seeing or thinking of things they'd like, and regularly have to 'edit' their gifts so I don't got totally overboard :lol3: My young cousins are really easy too, as they love getting Amazon vouchers so they can pick out what they'd like

Hardest is my husband, he's a grinch.

Easiest are my my grown kids.  Of course, the animals are easy too and they never complain.

i really don't have but less than a handful to give Christmas gifts to. there's my cats, of course. they're the hardest, because i spend a lot of time thinking and pondering about what they'll enjoy most. the easiest is our vet's and staff, because i always bake them something and they're always happy and excited about their gift.

Easiest are my kids and my Mom!  My Dad is definitely the hardest.  

Neely said:

 
Hardest is my husband, he's a grinch.

Easiest are my my grown kids.  Of course, the animals are easy too and they never complain.

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Dang...I can't believe that I left Hekitty off of the easy list!  Get her a buck-fifty bag of Temptations and she thinks you've brought her the moon and stars.  NO WONDER I prefer to live with a cat!

I always know what to get my daughters because they send me ideas,     but it's nice to throw in a couple of surprises. This year I'm kind of stumped,though.

 The easiest to buy for are Paula and Chula who are getting a new scratching post and a light up ball.  

To the OP, does your grandmother like flower arrangements? Or flowering bulbs, that kind of thing? I think flower arrrangements are so nice to receive because it's not the kind of thing one buys for oneself.

Well Cally is getting a handmade fuzzy toy with catnip. Tiger is getting an old style rolly poly. My feral Smokey, is get two little blankets for his cat house. They are my children Oh Peppy always get treats.

Primula said:

To the OP, does your grandmother like flower arrangements? Or flowering bulbs, that kind of thing? I think flower arrrangements are so nice to receive because it's not the kind of thing one buys for oneself.

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She isn't a plant person, unfortunately! Granted, it is a lovely idea for a gift altogether - Think I shall do that for someone else. Thank you for the suggestion in the meantime!

@Cassiopea, does your grandmother enjoy noshing? Does she like to snack on crackers or chocolates? What about a basket of little things she can munch on while she's watching tv or reading? You can put together something small for her; it doesn't have to be big to mean something. Try to remember what she really enjoys snacking on and put those items into a basket. (Some people would be offended by that; I know my mother would have been because she would have thought that I thought she didn't have any money to buy her own food. Some people can be like that.)

I'm thinking of Rick's mom here.....

• Does she like to read? Maybe a book she likes? 
• We bought Rick's mom a Kindle one year; she loves that thing as she is an avid reader. I go in and put books on it for her from the library.
• Does she like to get her hair done? (My MIL still does) Gift certificate. If she does her own hair, her favorite shampoo, conditioner, a really nice brush, comb, etc.
• Does she polish her nails? Gift certificate. Or a package of nice manicure-type items for her.
• Does she like going out to eat? Maybe take her out to lunch or dinner. Or bring something for lunch or dinner to her and have the meal with her. (My MIL is quite the junk food junkie and she just loves Wendy's. On Saturdays sometimes, when we're out running errands, we'll stop in at Wendy's, grab something for her and us and take it out to her and we'll all have lunch together. We need to let her know ahead of time, though, so she can tell the kitchen she's having lunch with us.)
• Is she in assisted living or some other type of facility? I'm planning on calling into my MIL's facility to tell them that I'm going in next Friday to have lunch with Evelyn. I pay for my lunch, but she really enjoys it. And I think she likes "showing off" her DIL
  
   and having somebody visit with her for lunch. My sister and I also did that for an aunt who was in a nursing home and for our mom when she was in a nursing home.
• Rick's mom loves wine, especially fruity-type wines. So when she's coming down for dinner, I'll run out to the winery and grab a bottle of elderberry wine for us to have with dinner. Elderberry is her favorite. She's not allowed wine at the facility and I think she likes having a glass (or three
  
  ) every now and then. Perhaps a nice bottle of her favorite wine with a pretty wine stopper.

It doesn't have to be big or exotic. Something to say, "I care about you and I love you."

Winchester said:

 
@Cassiopea, does your grandmother enjoy noshing? Does she like to snack on crackers or chocolates? What about a basket of little things she can munch on while she's watching tv or reading? You can put together something small for her; it doesn't have to be big to mean something. Try to remember what she really enjoys snacking on and put those items into a basket. (Some people would be offended by that; I know my mother would have been because she would have thought that I thought she didn't have any money to buy her own food. Some people can be like that.)

I'm thinking of Rick's mom here.....

• Does she like to read? Maybe a book she likes? 
• We bought Rick's mom a Kindle one year; she loves that thing as she is an avid reader. I go in and put books on it for her from the library.
• Does she like to get her hair done? (My MIL still does) Gift certificate. If she does her own hair, her favorite shampoo, conditioner, a really nice brush, comb, etc.
• Does she polish her nails? Gift certificate. Or a package of nice manicure-type items for her.
• Does she like going out to eat? Maybe take her out to lunch or dinner. Or bring something for lunch or dinner to her and have the meal with her. (My MIL is quite the junk food junkie and she just loves Wendy's. On Saturdays sometimes, when we're out running errands, we'll stop in at Wendy's, grab something for her and us and take it out to her and we'll all have lunch together. We need to let her know ahead of time, though, so she can tell the kitchen she's having lunch with us.)
• Is she in assisted living or some other type of facility? I'm planning on calling into my MIL's facility to tell them that I'm going in next Friday to have lunch with Evelyn. I pay for my lunch, but she really enjoys it. And I think she likes "showing off" her DIL
  
   and having somebody visit with her for lunch. My sister and I also did that for an aunt who was in a nursing home and for our mom when she was in a nursing home.
• Rick's mom loves wine, especially fruity-type wines. So when she's coming down for dinner, I'll run out to the winery and grab a bottle of elderberry wine for us to have with dinner. Elderberry is her favorite. She's not allowed wine at the facility and I think she likes having a glass (or three
  
  ) every now and then. Perhaps a nice bottle of her favorite wine with a pretty wine stopper.

It doesn't have to be big or exotic. Something to say, "I care about you and I love you."

Click to expand...

Ohhhh, a little basket of things sound great! And books! Books are a great idea too, can't believe I hadn't thought of that!


She still lives on her own condo And she usually already goes out frequently to nice restaurants. Lot's of other folks get her wine already (Especially her sister, aka my great aunt). Mmmm, she isn't one to get her nails done persay, but a gift certificate for something like a pedi or mani does sound really lovely, since you get other pleasant things like a soaking and massage. She has never had either one before, and might be nice for spoiling. She lives about three hours away in another province, but mayhaps I can consider pre-weaseling my way into one of her local spas.



Thaaannk yoouuuu so much for taking the time to offer suggestions, absolutely grand 

 

You're very welcome! I'm glad I could help!   It's hard to buy for somebody who has everything. 

I think we're going to go with the small basket for Rick's mom this year. She's always calling me to ask for something from the store, whether it's crackers or clementines or protein bars or something chocolate. She is an avid reader and she loves having something to snack on while she's reading. And she just adores chocolate (well, she likes any kind of sweets really, but man, that woman is one serious chocolate hound ).

So I suggested to Rick that we get a small basket and fill it with things we know she likes: clementines (she loves them!), a half-pound of chocolate-covered pretzels, some specialty crackers, some cashews. 

We're going to try roasting our own peanuts this year (it was always something Rick's mom and dad did for the holidays and Rick wants to try it). If it works out OK, we'll throw in a pretty container with some peanuts. 

And then I'll scatter some Hershey's kisses around the basket, too. A pretty bow and that should do it.

We always get some kind of centerpiece for our Christmas dinner table and she always takes that home...we can't keep it here anyway because the cats will attack the thing and destroy it. So between the basket and the centerpiece, she should be pleased.