Help me be the "Golden Child"

[jnorth1007]

Here is a little background. My maternal side of the family is full blood Italian. My grandmother was raised by two parents who can straight from Italy. I hate to say it but she if very often the stereotypical Old Italian Lady. She is my hard Christmas Gift buy each year. She has a house full of stuff she has been buying for the past 80 years and never got rid off. My aunt who never married lives with her and is well on her way to becoming my grandmother. They do everything together. They go to casino's ("on the bus" if you know what that means), they eat out sometimes, they used to bake a lot but now only do it when they find someone who "deserves" it.

With that in mind I want to play "Help Janet be the Golden Child with Grandmother". I always have been because I spend months finding gifts for their birthdays and for Christmas. Last year on her birthday I gave a beautiful necklace with a large pendant on it that was part of the Vatican Collection at one of the department stores and she loved it and shows everyone all the time. Last year for Christmas I gave her a digital picture frame preloaded with pictures of all of her grandkids and great grandkids but now she brings it to me every couple of weeks to update for her so it has become a job. Help me find something on the SR shopping site that I can buy and get rewards on for her. She isn't technologically advanced.

I don't have a prize for the winner but I will give you and SR and the merchant you choose a shoutout on my blog to the person who chooses the best gift. Just post the merchant and the gift here. Thanks guys! I can always count you all to help me in a sticky situation.

[sammielynn]

This will require some deep thought. I have a all day meeting starting at 9:30, so I will have plenty of time to dwell on ideas.

[fourfoxesinpa]

It sounds like she doesn't need any more "stuff." How about one of the food merchants - do they sell authentic Italian cannoli kits where you can stuff the shells, one at a time, when she's hungry? Or, some real buttery Italian cookies?

Or, make her a casino road trip bag. Stick one of the electronic slot machine games in the bag. They're inexpensive, not techie at all and lots of fun. This one has a big screen, so if her eyesight is not what it used to be, she can still have fun with it. Get her a gift certificate with the bus company, throw in some rolls of quarters, a puzzle book, her favorite snacks that she can enjoy on the bus and find a themed tote and she'd probably be thrilled.

http://www.amazon.com/Radica-I5037-B...092370&sr=1-10

[~Kathie]

I have the same problem with my in-laws, my mother and our aunts/uncles. What to get for people who have everything and don't need a thing. When they do need something, they go out and buy it.

For me the answer has been food. I've given Harry & David, Omaha Steaks, Cheryl's cookies, popcorn (not so much to the older folks but to my nephews and nieces that live out of state). The biggest reaction was to the Omaha Steak gift packs. It's something they won't spend the money on for themselves, and it's a big treat for them.

BTW..........one aunt is a diabetic....solution......Cheryl & co has sugar free cookies. And you would never know they are sugar free. My aunt is thrilled because she can eat them.

I've used other companies from SR too, but Harry & David, Omaha Steaks and Cheryl & Co are my favorites.

[m 'n c]

First suggestion was a photobook from any SR merchant that has these since she loves the digital photo frame. She can throw it in her bag on her casino trips and show people as they drive to the casino of the day.

I'll keep thinking.

[jnorth1007]

For those of you suggesting food items here is a question. She is very wierd about food. When my mom cooks Italian Gravy on Sundays my grandmother won't eat it if my mom doesn't put it in the fridge within a certain amount of time because she says it goes bad (we are talking within a very short amount of time after it being turned off the fire). I haven't ordered food products before because of my concern that she will think it isn't safe to eat because it wasn't refrigerated during the delivery. How can I combat that concern? Should I have it sent to me and repacked the baked goods so she doesn't think they spent time on a delivery truck? LOL

Told you she wasn't easy to buy for!!!

[PSL1013]

Does she like to drink? Coffee/tea...you could make a coffee/tea basket/bag with all the appropriate things that can go with it. Some kind of wine/liqueur basket...my grandmother loved Creme de Menthe over vanilla ice cream every night after dinner.

Does she like to read...put together a bag with books, magazines, bookmarks, booklight etc.

Does she like to do puzzles...find some nice Italian scenery ones.

How about making a booklet with tickets to the movies, bus tickets, gas cards, grocery store etc. Maybe Pay one of her utility bills or cable bill if she has one or telephone bill for one month.

[sunshinecindy]

Since shes concerned about the food spoiling, what about something like the dried fruits and nuts baskets or some the cheese and fruit baskets. Hickory Farms has a free shipping over 50.00 going on for the Holidays.

[~Kathie]

Omaha Steaks comes frozen packed in dry ice. Mine has always been frozen when it arrived, even if it has sat out on the porch for a few hours after being delivered.

HTH

[spring]

No real suggestions, Janet, but as I was reading your description about all the "stuff" she has accumulated over the years, the first thing I thought about was a "POD," lol.