This time for a girl turning 12.
I know that she’s into American Girl dolls, but I probably can’t afford one, and I don’t want to be so socially clueless as to get her one that she already has or get the “wrong” one.
Cut-out dolls, Barbie clothes, fashion design books for dolls, maybe something along those lines. My price limit is about $20.
Damn, I HATE buying gifts for teenage girls. I just so can’t relate.
I think she’s too old for Barbie stuff (at least my niece was at that age).
Does she have an Ipod? I think you can buy download certificates
Cell phone minutes
CDs
Maybe a gift certificate for a local nail salon
Is a big “tween” concert coming to town? Might be a little pricey, but it’s worth a look.
Movie passes
Roller rink passes
When I was very much into American Girl dolls (Kirsten hasn’t come out of her storage trunk in years now, I swear), there were always little accessories and outfits for the doll that I lusted after. I would have loved a gift certificate so that I could pick out the one I liked best.
Jewelry? My girl has always loved accessories; it doesn’t have to be real anything as long as it’s shiny.
The new American Girl movie is coming out any day. Tickets to see it? Lunch after seeing it? Some of the sure-to-be-everywhere merchandise associated with it?
It is summer – what about some pool/beach gear? A big colorful beach towel, a pool/beach bag from Target, cheap sunglasses and cute flip-flops (if you can get her shoe size).
Normally I’d say avoid fashion-related stuff but swim stuff is something you can always use more or.
Hmm, American Girl gift certificate. Great idea. In the impulse buy section, I also got the two T-shirt deal (one girl-sized, the other doll-sized) for an additional $18. Add about $10 for 2-day shipping (her birthday is Thursday), and an additional $6 for gift wrapping.
We’re up to over $50 for something I can’t even hand to her. Cancelled.
Gift certificates for stuff local to her would be tough – she lives a good bit away from me, and her mother is in no position to cart me around her town before then. I need to find a brick and mortar store local to me. I’m going to a very small Dopefest tonight in Harvard Square and will have some time to shop.
Jewelry – awesome idea. I’m pretty sure her ears are pierced, and I know the types of things she likes to swipe from her mom. Dangly and shiny might just do the trick.
She’s seen it.
But merchandise? Where would I go to find it?
Also, Target has lots of cute cheap general purpose totes – something like this girly one or this tweeny-hispter one. throw in some apple-scented shampoo from Bath and Body Works, you’re all set.
I don’t think you can go wrong giving fun earrings to a 12-year-old. You might want to confirm her ears are pierced, but other than that, this is an excellent idea.
tdn check out Bath and Body Works. I don’t think there’s is a store in Harvard, but there is one at Downtown Crossing and another in the Cambridgeside Galleria. They have a line of “American Girl” bath products. You can get what you can afford–and no more. If you only get shower gel and lotion, so be it. I got a bunch of this stuff in trial size bottles for my cousin for her b-day and it was a big hit. I think the semi-annual sale is still going on right now, so you may even be able to score discounted stuff.
Wondering about accessories. E.g. maybe you couldn’t afford a cell phone, but maybe the case for it or the bling to decorate it with.
ETA: Target sometimes has great stuff, discounted, at the ends of the aisles.
Found the site, but holy crap is that stuff expensive. Costs $22.95 to subscribe to the magazine; if she doesn’t have that, you could give her a subscription and just send her a card telling her. No mailing worries.
Just spoke to the girl’s mother. She owns every freakin’ AD accessory ever made.
Earrings it is. As long as they’re hypoallergenic, they’ll be fine.
Thanks for all the suggestions.
Ooo, now what kind of earrings will you get? Do you know if she’s a silver or a gold? What is her coloring, so you pick the right shade of any colors on the earrings? What store will you be going to?
All good questions!
I’ll look for something around Harvard Square tonight. Her skin tone is medium to not quite fair. Her hair is black, eyes are blue. Over all she’s kind of dark.
I know that she likes dangly stuff, but her mom said studs would be OK too. I’m going for sterling because I can’t afford 24k gold.
Well, this is fun. This place
http://www.zinniastores.com/enww/dept.asp?dept_id=160
has a few cool silver and amber earrings for just under $25. That combination would look great on darker skin/hair.
Or this one–among the higher ones are a few silver <$30 ones:
http://www.zipajewelry.com/
Feel free to ignore me; I just like looking at bright shiny things. 
When I was in Harvard Square two weeks ago I went to a Curious George store. They had lots of Hello Kitty and related stuff, and I went crazy buying gifts. Check it out.