Present for Mother in Law..

I'll bet that the good old American dollar still spends pretty good over there! why don't you send some of it, with a note about how she should have a night out of the kitchen on you!

I make knitted cloths which were originally used to wash dishes, clean counters, etc. however I use them to clean anything including my eyeglasses because they are knitted from 100% cotton yarn which makes them perfect for many things. They are light and would be easy to ship without worry. They are simply a square knitted diagonally. Perhaps I can help you out.

A friend of mine gave me a wind chime that has such a
sweet ring. She died 3 months later, unexpectantly.
Every time I hear the ring I think sweet thoughts of her.
It doesn't have to be a death, but I think it would be
a nice reminder that someone very far away loves her.
good luck.

I think a scrapbook is also a wonderful idea for anyone. I made one for my father and he's the type of father that doesn't usually show emotions. I got pictures of him when he was younger and some with his mother who has past on, he loved it so much it brought him to tears. If you need ideas on creating one go to www.twopeasinabucket.com and go to their member gallery. They have a tons of ideas on any theme you can think of.

go to walgreens.com and make her a photo book
or some type of photo gift that is not glass
I did this for all of my father's day gifts and everyone LOVED them!!!
You can make them really easy by uploading your digital photos.
You can also have walgreens ship it (I am not sure if they ship out of the country but you can call the toll free number and find out)

I went to a lady’s house and she was hosting piggies & paws. It’s a picture of your child hand or foot print made into a picture. Ex Angle, Pirate Ship, Flower. It is very cute and is something she can have for ever. Good Luck.

My mother-in-law has very limited English too, but the one thing that brings her much joy is pictures! Does she have a computer? Get video cameras for you and her so you can communicate "Live". Another computer thing, is there are numerous "photo albums" on the web that you can buy! Snapshot is another.

If computers aren't a choice, do it the old fashioned way...a scrapbook. You can find poems and translate them to add to it! This is something you can add on for each holiday, birthday, etc. There's nothing better that seeing something "daily" that you don't get to see very often in person! Best Wishes!

What about something Texan? I know lots of people in other countries and they've always liked something peculiar to TX. There's edibles, shirts, frames, lots of stuff. there's three stores in the Houston Galleria http://www.simon.com/mall/directory.aspx?ID=805 I found these listed under Gifts, Home Furnishings, and Specialty shops categories on the above link.

Texas and the Territories
http://www.texasterritories.com/indexf.asp

Gifts of Texas

Texas Souvenirs Unlimited

There are other such shops around town and you can buy online too, but it's nice to know there's one place you can go and shop at three different tx stores.

S.

Most of my family that are from another country, love our tennis shoes. The style is different and usually better quality than what you can find in any other country. Makeup is also another thing that people flock to buy. I don't know what country you are sending it to or what region, that may help to figure it out.

I have a clean burning candle that she will not be able to get in her country. They are made with vegetable wax. No Soy or Prafin. So this would be unique for her. It is clean burning (no black soot) in 100 different scents. We pack our candles individually for shipments so they don't get damaged or break. Let me know if this is something that you would consider. ____@____.com or www.epssouthtexas.com

Birute,
I am not certain if Barnes and Noble or Books A Million has a Europe division. Perhaps an online book service does. Most everyone has shipping and delivery. Some of it is at no charge. It might be worth looking into, which would be easy given the Internet and all.
How about a favorite book that you like that is translated into her language ?
Does she enjoy cooking or cleaning ? Is she a spiritual person ? What about something along one of those lines ?
If none of these is a good match, why not try something about her culture or customs or history or famous people of her generation, etc. ?

None of those ideas suitable ? Photos of you, your husband, your child or children ? I'm thinking action photos of some of your friends out together, favorite places, Americana, a mini scrapbook of your life ?

Alrighty then, none of the above appealling, suppose any major bank would do exchange for Euro dollars, perhaps the banking institution has some promotional items.

I'm running out of thoughts here. Hope some of these brainstorms could be helpful. I would Google in overseas deliveries and see what companies offer these services and at what prices. That could be a deciding factor in your selection.

Are there any online gift services or personal shoppers ? I don't know because all of my family came here many years ago and we are all well established.

Good luck, God bless, and best wishes Birute. Have a wonderful week.

There are some great food items available. It seems that for the past several years all we can give our parents is a nice food/fruit/wine basket of some sort. For overseas, there is a great variety of Texas foods that are bagged or in jars. A nice jelly or meat seasoning or sauce. They will ship for you, so you can order, pay, and track the shipment until it is delivered. My husband's parents, in particular, are not as likely to purchase nicer food items because of their income, but they always enjoy a tasty treat when Christmas, birthdays, and Mother's and Dad's days roll around.

What about a scrapbook of your life here. If you aren't into making them by hand, there are quite a few services that make digital scrapbooks as well. Maybe your husband could provide the text. Taking pictures of where you live and landmarks as well as your family so she can show her friends.

Maybe some CD's of de music she enjoys. My father is turning 70 and for Father's day I gave him CD's of all de record he used to listen too.

Perhaps a good book. Does she garden? Cook? Maybe a new kitchen set. Maybe something she can use around de house.

For Christmas last year I went on to kodak easy share and made a photo book, with pictures of the kids and grandkids for my inlaws I even borrowed a couple of old pictures from them without them knowing, it was a hit! this year I will work on a memory maker bracelet with photos of all the babies on it!

Yes you can send a gift card. Master Card, Visa etc. all have gift cards in many amounts that you can send and let her do the picking as to what she would like to get for herself. Not a mail problem either. Have done this myself to son that lives overseas.

Hi Birute!
What about a James Avery Charm Bracelet?
You can start out by giving her the bracelet and a charm with the initials of your child's/children's first name(s). This is something you would be able to add to for future occasions, too.

You could also make a scrapbook of family pictures.

Or have the children write stories and make a book and add photos.

Just a few suggestions. :o)

Have Fun!
D.

My bosses daughter use to send her little photo albums every now and then. She really loved them. It was a quick and easy way to show off her grand daughter. They were very nicly put together. You could do it as simple as you making one or sending some away to have made into a little hard back book. There are all sorts of places that will personalize stuff for you too. Good luck. Also if she is a drinker some fancy glasses or fun shot glasses from TEXAS. I also knew of some people that wanted a thimble from Texas. They were from England. Apparently it was a rare thing for them to have!

The euro is very strong right now against the dollar and things are still very expensive in Europe. If she is practical you might ask what kind of things she cannot get there or are just too expensive. My inlaws are from Europe and such things as jeans and makeup have been appreciated. We also do shopping on Amazon and send over.

If you have children, pictures in frames....if you wrap in Bubble Wrap almost anything can arrive in one piece.

Do you know if is anything she likes to do.. like gardening, etc. You could send a comfy knee pillow or trowel....

Shawls are popular overseas....... Is there anything that they cannot get in her country easily.

I sent my son in law various cereals when he was in Israel because the selection over there was very limited and very expensive..and he said it was the best Birthday gift ever.. He rationed them....

J.

how about:
a photo collection of things your children do on a daily basis
"a day in the life of..."

a donation to a favorite charity in her name

send her "Grandma, Tell Me Your Memories" by Kathy Lashier...or something like it... surely, somewhere, they publish one in foreign languages, or maybe someone could translate...

i don't know how technological she is ... record your children's voices... singing songs, telling stories, saying "i love you" in her language... who ever hears that enough?!

start a fund to help finance a visit here to the states...

send her a recipe for GUACAMOLE!!! and get some avocadoes delivered!

maybe some food from texas? chips and salsa and jalapeno potato chips and stuff like that?

Give her a scrapbook with family photos.

A friend of mine recently received a sweet necklace that she considers a prized possession. It's a little pricey, but very thoughtful here's a website you can purchase them at:

http://www.signals.com/signals/Item_Bell-Necklaces_HA1912...

I always try to find something special. I make a lot of gifts also. You could make a picture frame and put a family photo in it. I did that at a scrapbooking store and it was a big hit for my m-i-l and my mother. Happy hunting!

I love this website!! www.bags-purses-totes.com
Can't go wrong with a personalized carry on bag or or purse!

How about a beautiful scarf. I don't know how much you want to spend but you go to a nice store like Saks 5th Avenue or if you knit or crochet, you could even make her one. I had a friend crochet a scarf for me years ago and it is still my favorite. You could also check out a store like Pier 1. They have so many beautiful things for reasonable prices. A lot of their things are iron or wood, so they would make the trip fine. Best wishes, I know you will find just the right thing!

A photo album would be an awesome way to connect and celebrate with your mother in law. If you need any ideas, let me know. D. K

Hi Birute,,
Do you know if she has any hobbies ,does any kind of crafts,, ?????you can go on internet to town she lives in find out stores,restaurts they have and get gift cards that way ,,books too you used the internet to ask now let it help you
good luck L.

My mother in law lives in Holland, and doesn't understand English either. But, she LOVES the storybooks I send her each year of her grandkids!

Please check out my site: www.MyPhotobookStory.com. The software is amazing, and the templates are 100% customizable, which I Love! Plus, it's all online - no downloading.

Watch this 5min video to give you an idea of what we are about! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Irdqtq7mF6Y

For more information, please contact me at ____@____.com

You could make her a book with pictures of your family. I use Heritage Makers. :-)

www.rememberingyourroots.com

Pictures, scrapbooks, homemade items, knitted or crocheted,

Is she a Christian woman?? If so you could always but her a beautiful wooden cross at a Christian store and send it.

How about a personalized, embroidered apron with her name on it? That's always a hit with anyone of any age. You can go to my website at www.baseyembroidery.com and see my products. I'm a stay-at-home mom with my embroidery business out of the house. I'm located here in Round Rock. Thanks! J.

A picture of your husband and yourself (including children) in a lovely frame

Hi Birute,
Since I don't know what country your MIL lives, I can't suggest specific ones, but how about ordering flower bulbs? They would ship them at the time for planting where she is. Once planted, they rebloom year after year. If it will be months before the flowers bloom, send her a picture of the flowers in bloom in her card so she will know what to expect. Flowers speak every language. ;) HTH

Birute,
I have to tell you...I have a friend from Holland and she once gave me a wonderful tonic to put on my baby's head that smelled so good and I treasured it like gold...I also have a friend from Maldova who gave me a hand lotion that I could not get enough of...I have another friend from here who went to Paris recently and brought me back some unforgettable perfume. My point being that woman love pampering products from other countries that they cannot get at home ~ these products become special to them. I am a personal shopper here in Houston and one of the lines I carry is Mary Kay. If you would like, we can put together a gift basket of lotions, and/or other pampering items that smell good and feel good. If you already have a MK rep., you could call her for some suggestions.
That being said - I really didn't mean to give you such a sales pitch - but seriously, even if you don't go through me in buying something, you should really consider something like this anyway - it is so personal and loving. Also, you could send some family pictures in beautiful frames or special items that the kids, (if you have any) can make. You could even send a gift basket of dry-foods that she can't get there but she can make once she gets them...example...cake mixes, muffins, special types of foods only found in the US. (I heard you can only get peanut-butter here.)
Those are all I can think of for now. If you would like some help, (just as a friend, not selling my service) I would be happy to assist you - I love this kind of stuff! My cell # is ###-###-####
Best of luck - I know you will find a great answer that she loves!
D.

My sis-in-law came up with a book from tabblo.com for my bro-in-law. It was about ten pages of pictures of his dogs. It was soooo cool. It doesn't have to contain words, just pictures of loved ones.

I'm looking forward to doing that at Christmas for the grandparents of my son. I think it's one of the most meaningful gifts I've ever seen.

My sister also took a nice quilt and sewed family pictures that were printed on cloth onto it and put lace borders around it. She got the cloth at Hobby Lobby. Most craft stores should have it. She just ran it through her printer. She also included some broaches and things that were my grandparents who'd already passed.

One thing me and my sister used to do when we didn't live in the same town was exchange teddy bears. We judged a teddy bear by squeezing its paw. Each time we squeezed the paw it was a hug from one to the other. So we were sure to get teddy bears with really soft warm cuddly paws.

Good luck! I know you will come up with the perfect gift. I can tell it means a lot to you and it will her, too.

Perhaps some coasters, a fabric sock looking holder with holes on either end for storage of plastic bags, a calendar of your kids and you on every page. You can make the calendar on Shutterfly. She'd LOVE that! Perhaps a steamer with an electrical converter? Some new knifes. Cooking utinsels...

What about a beautifully framed photograph of your family? It's a great gift for the person who has "everything" ~~ Also, easy to pack and ship overseas! Hope this helps!

How about a book about where you live - with lots of pictures. Try to give her an idea of what its like in the States.

A card (blank and you can write something in it)with money, maybe.

Maybe even something cloth like a cloth bible, or even a stuffed animal with....I really don't know cause I don't know what she likes...a necklace w/earrings to match.

But if all else fails, send her a dozen roses or a dozen of her favorite flowers.

What about flowers? I know these won't last, but I once received flowers from a friend overseas and it made me feel so special.

My mom is also from Europe, and she too is very practical. When she comes to the US, this is what she likes to get for her friends/herself :

Towels (decorative towels, you can get a set at walmart, target, kohl's...)

Sets for kitchen (kitchen towel, oven mits...)

These are useful, inexpensive, easy to ship and there just isn't the same selection back in Europe.

Good luck
A.

Photobooks are popular right now. Being so far away, I bet she'd love pictures of things you and your family are doing. The photobooks are really cute and longlasting treasures.
J. Williams
###-###-####

I am the age of your mother in law and I would suggest a beautiful picture album of your family . Either make a scrapbook type album, or make one on kodak easyshare, or shutterfly. Even if she does not speak English, she will appreciate the pics. J. K. :)

you can create a photo book that is published like a book at snapfish or costco I think. Ceate a story including your kids (if you have any). I just bought my parents a webcam so that they can talk to and visit with the Grandkids and the kids can see who they are talking to. That way the relationship can still exist and it isn't so strange when they come in town. It may be a great way for your husband and her to connect as well.

Don't know if you have kids but if you do, how about a scrapebook or photo album. Have the kids help and have your husband translate. I know I don't need any more "things" but sure do treasure personal stuff from the family.

what about a photo book from walgreens, pick your favorite picture I think it is 10, they will take these pcitures and make a beautiful book out of them. Any grandma would be thrilled.

We gave our mom a coffee mug with our child's artwork on it and she uses it as a pencil holder on her desk... it's really personal and I think she really liked it. We got it at www.sharemykidsart.com which is nice because it also lets you store, organize and share your child's art. Good luck!