So, I’m a guy. Broke up with a very long term girlfriend recently, and have become fairly close friends with 2 girls from work that have recently gone through relationship issues of their own, so we bonded. I mentioned that I won’t have to stress about thinking of Christmas gifts for her this year, so they decided they want to do a little gift exchange with the 3 of us, $50 limit. Women :rolleyes:
What the hell do I get them? I’ve really only bought gifts for the girlfriend, my mom and my sister. Any suggestions for platonic female friends, one is 29 one is 36?
Not jewelry. Any kind of jewelry (even cheap costume or silver-cart-in-the-mall stuff) from a male to a female will be interpreted as a strong sign of interest. This could make things awkward.
A framed 8x10 portrait of yourself? I’ve always wanted to give that as a present to someone but have never had the courage. It would be fun (in an evil way) to see them stammer and try to think of something nice to say about the present.
Otherwise, I would go for books or videos. Something from the classics. Something with a female character.
Like Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe (book or movie), Middlemarch by George Eliot (book)
Anyway, if they’re your friends, you should know the things they like. Does one love reading? Get them a book or Borders gift card or such. Is one a computer geek? Get her something related to that.
Basically, just like a gift to a male friend - something that reflects their personality and interests.
Am I the only woman who hates getting gift cards? I think that is an unimaginative short-cut that shows the gift giver doesn’t value me enough to learn about me.
I think that anyone giving gift cards is just taking the easy route out of gift-giving. There are a ton of interesting things that could be done, which – granted – just take a little time and thought:
A basket with a mug, some tea or coffee, and a book that YOU like with a note why you think your friend might enjoy it. “Brew up this tea and curl up with this book and cherish the warmth of our friendship…” or something like that.
Food: Cost Plus Imports and similar stores sells a ton of smaller-sized packaged food. Even if they don’t cook, there are cookies, nuts, condiments, and more. “You have a spicy personality” and the basket could include spiced nuts, a collection of spices, and a some spiced wine.
Does any of them travel? A small travel diary with an elegant pen and a leather folder for their passport.
Into sports? Regalia tschotskies.
You must know SOMETHING about these girls and anybody – not just women – like gifts that showed you put some thought into the gift, even if it is something they may not necessarily use. Moreso than a gift card, I think…
One, very much into music and I thought of something along that approach. Otherwise much of her life is consumed by her 5 year old daughter (single mom).
The other, big into excercising and adventure sports type things.
Our time outside of work is generally hitting nyc restaraunts, bars, movies, etc. General hanging out social type things, nothing specific or themed.
I wish I could say “do this” instead of don’t do that, but its all I really know. Money, gift certificates, etc, bad idea unless they know you are totally clueless & ask for it. (I had some nieces who always wanted Best Buy gift certs, but thats them.)
Accept the things that you cannot possibly know or get right: fashion, music, whats ‘hot’. Avoid these like plague as you have a better chance of getting the steel ball all the way to the end of the hardest level of Labyrinth on the first try. Instead, go with what you know.
I ask, “Is it funny? Is it cute? Is it something they’d use? Or will it collect dust or be re-gifted?”. I’m often wrong (Why should reality be any different? Go figure.) but I feel that a laugh is at least worth something and it will make the opening of packages more fun.
Friend 1: An hour of housecleaning services (check bulletin boards or ask friends for recommendations)
Friend 2: 2 month membership at a climbing gym to chase those winter excercise blahs away
Not a chick, but I always go with Bath & Bodyworks gift cards.
It shows you care enough to embarrass yourself by walking into a girly store for them, but isn’t skeezy becuase you only bought gift cards and weren’t trying to pick out something a little too personal.
EDIT: Alternatively one of the B&B baskets of stuff isn’t a bad choice either.
Well, it can be personal, but only if you know someone well enough to get a card that’s as much an experience as it is stuff. Things you know they enjoy the process of shopping for, supplies for things they enjoy doing, that sort of thing. I’m meh about cards to clothing or book stores. I’ll use them and be entertained or not naked or whatever, but I’d really just as soon you went through the process of picking them out. But cards to the fabric store, or to Lowe’s are awesome. I love the process of shopping for fabric–all those colors and textures, so much potential inspiration–and then of course there’s actually using the fabric and using or gifting or selling or donating the final result. And Lowe’s cards tend to go toward stocking the garden–the whole process of choosing the plants, digging in the dirt with the sun on my face, cooking with things I grew with my own hands is something I find immensely pleasurable and having someone subsidize it for me is like having Christmas all over again in the spring.
But if you’re asking people on a message board for gift ideas, you don’t know these women well enough to pick that sort of gift card, so I wouldn’t go that route.
How about just taking everybody out to a special restaurant? Something you wouldn’t normally choose - new and itneresting experiences are great.
Is there a pottery place near by that lets you paint or make pottery by the hour? It would be especially wonderful if they coudl bring the kids.
One of those “Dinner done” type palces. They do “parties” where you go cook with a couple of friends, and they walk away with food for a couple of weeks, and hopefully having learned some new techniques or recipes.
A cooking class, like at the local Whole Foods. Or maybe a car repair class throught he county or local community college.
I always think offering knowledge and/or experience is the bestest gift ever.
