Let's help each other buy present for our friends and relatives.

[JoeSki]

Here’s what I propose:

I give you every detail I can think of regarding who they are, what they like, and the type of personality you have, and whoever thinks they know the sort of person I’m describing can throw in a suggestion. Likewise, if any of you have a friend or family member who has you stumped on what you should be getting them, tell us about them and we’ll try to help you if we got a good feeling for who they are and what they would like.

Here we go:

Brother: A hard person to shop for; he buys everything he wants himself! Very entrepreneurlly minded, straight laced, business guy. Very fashionable, very stylish, but never wears anything outlandish. A very open minded person who is self driven. Very clean, neat, tidy, and organized. He does have a wilder side. He likes to skydive, go on cruises, try new foods and seeks out adrenaline rushes. He probably takes around 5 vacations a year. It is rumoured his favorite color is blue. He does not enjoy reading very much, nor is he the biggest fans of movies. He is very much a hands on learner. Likes bitter, red wines. When I asked him what he wanted he jokingly told me he wanted a yacht, though he would accept a kayak.

Sister: A proud mother of my one year old nephew! But no baby stuff! Her kid has everything a baby could possibly dream of having. No joke. My sister…loves Mexican food, guacomole especially. She likes drinking too, though she can’t do it as much as she did since she has a child now. Describes her personality as “plain”, and “normal”. She likes to look nice, but doesn’t like to stand out. She has lots and LOTS of good energy. She’s a full time mommy AND a full time professional. She has a constant sunny disposition. She usually wears colors with deep reds. She also likes cruises. She lives with a boyfriend. If possible I would like to get them both something.

Family Friend: Sailor, pilot, engineer, redneck, dirty old man, philosopher, bigfoot hunter, romantic, nerd, gun nut, fan of bad sci fi movies, pack rat, master of the make shift solution, carpender, automobile specialist, afiancado of food, literature, and life, member of the Coast Guard Auxillary. He’s taken me out to eat more times than I can count and I love him like a father. No matter what I get him, he’ll love it.

I only have between $30-60 to spend on each person :(.

[Spice_Weasel]

I’ll play, though I admit your brother sounds really hard to shop for. Does he like brain teaser puzzles? Maybe you could get him some kind of building kit or something else that will require him to fiddle around with (you mentioned him being a hands-on learner… so you could get him some kind of kit that purports to teach him some skill in a hands on way.)

For your sister, it sounds like she could use a mini-getaway with all she’s got going on. Take her to the spa. Another idea would be a Mexican cookbook.

For your friend, the obvious choice seems a collection of bad sci-fi movies, or maybe even some good sci-fi stories (you mentioned he liked literature.) Also, does he like games? Star Munchkin perhaps?
Me, I need lots of help with my sister-in-law. It has to be a big, ridiculously awesome gift because it’s a combination 18th Birthday/Christmas present. My girl is very strong, athletic, and beautiful. She’s a size 0 but she can pick up my husband and carry him around effortlessly. She has an aggressive, outgoing, fun-loving personality. She’s into punk fashion, skateboarding, soccer, animals (she loooooves her doggie) and electronic gadgets. She’s an undergraduate student wrapping up her first semester at University of Southern Florida, and she misses the girlfriend she left behind in Michigan (she’s out to everyone and is not the least bit shy about expressing her sexuality.) She has a lot of cool stuff already – guitar, XBox 360, PS2, Ipod, skateboard, snowboard, digital camera, GPS system. We have $200-300 to spend on her (we do not typically spend that much on gifts, but her 18th Birthday is a big deal, and she is one of the most important people in our lives, thus we spoil her whenever possible.)

Well?

[Mr.Duality]

Everyone should have a coprolite.

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[JoeSki]

@olivesmarch4th

I’ll play, though I admit your brother sounds really hard to shop for. Does he like brain teaser puzzles? Maybe you could get him some kind of building kit or something else that will require him to fiddle around with (you mentioned him being a hands-on learner… so you could get him some kind of kit that purports to teach him some skill in a hands on way.)

For your sister, it sounds like she could use a mini-getaway with all she’s got going on. Take her to the spa. Another idea would be a Mexican cookbook.

For your friend, the obvious choice seems a collection of bad sci-fi movies, or maybe even some good sci-fi stories (you mentioned he liked literature.) Also, does he like games? Star Munchkin perhaps?
Me, I need lots of help with my sister-in-law. It has to be a big, ridiculously awesome gift because it’s a combination 18th Birthday/Christmas present. My girl is very strong, athletic, and beautiful. She’s a size 0 but she can pick up my husband and carry him around effortlessly. She has an aggressive, outgoing, fun-loving personality. She’s into punk fashion, skateboarding, soccer, animals (she loooooves her doggie) and electronic gadgets. She’s an undergraduate student wrapping up her first semester at University of Southern Florida, and she misses the girlfriend she left behind in Michigan (she’s out to everyone and is not the least bit shy about expressing her sexuality.) She has a lot of cool stuff already – guitar, XBox 360, PS2, Ipod, skateboard, snowboard, digital camera, GPS system. We have $200-300 to spend on her (we do not typically spend that much on gifts, but her 18th Birthday is a big deal, and she is one of the most important people in our lives, thus we spoil her whenever possible.)

Well?

A building kit for my brother could work. Perhaps I could find a cheap kayak that just needs to be fixed in a spot or two. Not here in Orlando, that would be inpossible, but finding a cheap boat in Brevard County is fish in a barrell if you have the time and know how.

I’m not sure if either of those suggestions work for my sister. She just got back from a cruise so a get-away- thing is right out, and I think a cookbook is something that should accompany something else.

Your sister-in-law sounds like an amazing person, by the way. Does she have an artsy streak? I would poke around Instructables.com and see if perhaps there’s not something on there that would make a cool personal gift. Or if you see something you think she would like to make herself, you could just buy the supplies for her.

Perhaps you could send her to Discovery Cove in Orlando to swim with some dolphins? If you think that sounds like a good idea shoot me a response because I could potentially help you out there through my job.

Does she have a gym membership?

Has she ever been on a cruise?

[Queen_Tonya]

Perhaps your brother would like some consumable stuff he might not have found on his own, Joe? I bought Toad Sweat ice cream hot sauce for my father after seeing it recommended here, and he liked it so much he finished it and bought more. If your brother buys everything he wants himself, maybe the key is finding stuff he just hasn’t found for himself. He’s adventurous with foods, so that might be an idea.

For your sister, a Mexican food cookbook might be accompanied with some specific spices or oils that she might not have already around. Like pepper-infused olive oil in a pretty bottle, mole sauce, a selection of peppers?

Olives how about a travel gift so she can come back home to see the folks she misses? Find a good deal on airline tickets, arrange transportation to/from the airport?

[Kalhoun]

@JoeSki

Here’s what I propose:

Brother: A hard person to shop for; he buys everything he wants himself! Very entrepreneurlly minded, straight laced, business guy. Very fashionable, very stylish, but never wears anything outlandish. A very open minded person who is self driven. Very clean, neat, tidy, and organized. He does have a wilder side. He likes to skydive, go on cruises, try new foods and seeks out adrenaline rushes. He probably takes around 5 vacations a year. It is rumoured his favorite color is blue. He does not enjoy reading very much, nor is he the biggest fans of movies. He is very much a hands on learner. Likes bitter, red wines. When I asked him what he wanted he jokingly told me he wanted a yacht, though he would accept a kayak.

I have a brother in law a lot like your brother. Do you think he might like a massage? Also, he probably uses a daytimer of some sort. Find out which one he uses and buy him the 2009 guts.

Sister: A proud mother of my one year old nephew! But no baby stuff! Her kid has everything a baby could possibly dream of having. No joke. My sister…loves Mexican food, guacomole especially. She likes drinking too, though she can’t do it as much as she did since she has a child now. Describes her personality as “plain”, and “normal”. She likes to look nice, but doesn’t like to stand out. She has lots and LOTS of good energy. She’s a full time mommy AND a full time professional. She has a constant sunny disposition. She usually wears colors with deep reds. She also likes cruises. She lives with a boyfriend. If possible I would like to get them both something.

Dinner at a nice Mexican restaurant and you can babysit so she can kick back a bit.

Family Friend: Sailor, pilot, engineer, redneck, dirty old man, philosopher, bigfoot hunter, romantic, nerd, gun nut, fan of bad sci fi movies, pack rat, master of the make shift solution, carpender, automobile specialist, afiancado of food, literature, and life, member of the Coast Guard Auxillary. He’s taken me out to eat more times than I can count and I love him like a father. No matter what I get him, he’ll love it.

Dinner. With you. Maybe a gift certificate for Borders.
I only have between $30-60 to spend on each person :(.
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