Hi, we will have a neighborhood teen cat sitting for us when we go on vacation. We are, of course, paying her. But we'd also like to get her a little thank-you gift. We are going to the beach. Any ideas?
She's 16, plays softball and is into theatre (actor in school plays/musicals), and is a really nice person. But I am not having any luck turning those great qualities into a good gift idea.
A special food item from the location, like fudge if there is a famous fudge shop there. Or some other item that represents the area.
candy. shell earrings. tie-dye t-shirt. ankle bracelet. something with cats on it.
i mean, you're just looking for a little fun something, not a gift that will make her gasp and remember it throughout her whole life, right?
i wouldn't over-think it.
khairete
S.
I wouldn't bring her back a souvenir from a trip she didn't go on. But if she does a good job, and if upon your return you find your cat well-cared for and the responsibilities fulfilled (litter box changed, cat food neatly put away, etc), I'd include a nice tip, over and above what you agreed to pay her. Don't spend the money on stuff - give her a 15 or 20% tip.
My thought is, I'd just pay her what you agreed on, and if she did a good job, pay her a tip - that way she'd be more than likely to do it for you again if you ever need her to. My teens would prefer the money (why they are likely doing it in the first place).
If you really want to, or she's a friend of the family's or something, then if you see something that looks like her, I'd get it - otherwise, just the tip.
My dd watched a neighbor's cat and they got her a t shirt from their trip and a starbucks gift card.
I'm going to go with a different approach from everyone else, see what you think. You say she likes theater. Why not buy her a ticket to an upcoming play? Ask her if there are any upcoming plays she may be interested in and buy her a ticket to the theater. You could also treat her with a pair of movie theater tickets so she can take a friend. Maybe La La Land is something she is interested in, since it's a musical.
By the way, Fathom Events is a production company that broadcasts operas, Broadway musicals, plays, and more, all on the big screen, through AMC movie theaters. That way, she can see one of these productions in the movie theater, which won't cost as much, and she can dress casually. Here is their schedule of events, just make sure there is an AMC movie theater close by, so you know she will use the gifted tickets: http://www.fathomevents.com/list-all
You could also give her a gift certificate to one of the local sporting goods stores so she can buy herself softball equipment she may need throughout the year.
I don't think she needs a souvenir of your beach trip. Souvenirs are to help people remember what they did, and something from the beach would just say to her, "We went here, and you didn't."
I think a nice tip on top of the agree upon price would be fine. Teens just want money. If you know her tastes, you could get earrings, but I wouldn't get more personal than that. If she likes music, you could get an iTunes gift card. If she's close to being old enough to drive, a gas card would be fine. Or, you could call her parents and say you'd like to get her a little gift and ask if there's a store at the mall that she likes.
If she wears any kind of jewelry, maybe get her a pair of beach themed earrings or a pendant/charm from your destination. Starfish or sand dollar earrings, or seahorse, or something like that? We live near a State Park barrier island, and in the visitors' center they have a gift shop that carries T-shirts, necklaces, earrings, wine glasses, etc. I think most touristy places have a kitschy gift shop or two. A "token gift" doesn't have to be non-kitschy. Sometimes those are the best for occasions like this.
Then again, just b/c something comes from a kitschy gift shop, doesn't mean it has to be a tacky gift, either. I picked up some beautiful(!) glass wine glass markers at our gift shop (we live here, but they were so pretty I had to buy them).. you know, the little rings you put around the stem to indicate whose glass is whose...
A pedicure? Not sure who wouldn't love that.
If it is a little thank you from your vacation, how about a trinket from the location. A magnet that says 'Beach City' or something like that.
An Amazon gift card will get her almost anything she likes.
Salt water taffys or fudge?
