Need Gift Ideas for MIL

Amy,

I've got plenty of ideas for gifts that she has never had and didn't even know were out there. I don't want to just send you a laundry list without hearing more about what she likes, contact me at ____@____.com or by phone at 877-736-7630 or ###-###-####. I'm not available between 11:00am and 4:00pm CST; that's when I'm working the JOB. We'll kick a few ideas around.

Best wishes,
W.

Amy -

At Michael's or Hobby Lobby they have these kits that the kids can make their handprints in concrete and decorate them with tiles and stones. We have three and did this for my MIL and she put them in a flower bed by the front door. You can get them in different shapes, but they all make nice gifts - and they are easy and will cost you about $9-$11 a piece.

B.

I ran out of ideas besides photos long ago, especially when I found my MIL has a cabinet with some of our knick knack gifts in it unused from 5-6 years ago. :-(

We began getting her gift cards for stores she likes, we still send professional photos at holidays and birthdays, and I usually go to Oprah's website and run through the list of her favorites for the past year and get my MIL something off that. It seems like a good thing we got her a watch off the list, and some popular perfume that was featured on the list, she raves about both. Plus the list has things I would never think of and some are so unique.

Also they just started advertising a edible bouquet here in our area, made of fruits, looks like a floral bouquet, she may like that. Occasional flowers are also a hit with my MIL, it's not something we do yearly, but she enjoys it.

i don't know about yours but my mom in law loves sweets, nuts, etc...we got her a gift of a year of treats from harry and david's. if a year is too pricey, they have 3 and 6 month options.
you get fruit or nuts,candy, fudge whatever...all packaged in neat little tins or boxes. each month she gets a new treat. we started out with just a gift basket. she raved about who good every thing was and started 'hinting' around holidays/birthdays that she 'sure did like those treats!' well, we got her the year's worth and she hasn't stopped talking about how much she loves it!

Here are some winners for my MIL over the years.

Custom calendar with candid shots of our child and family you make yourself (a creative twist on the photo option) www.ofoto.com

Try www.exposuresonline.com

They have great frames and photo accessories. You may think photo gift are redundant but your In Laws may look forward to the gifts.

Gift card for starbucks
Pedicure/manicure gift card to a nail salon near her
gift card for her favorite restaurant
plane tickets for them to visit us
jewelry (they make a ton of reasonable mother's jewelry with birthstones or photos)
a Favorite bottle of wine

or you can focus in on a hobby or something she likes and get a gift related to that. My MIL likes to cook so we have gotten her some cooking items over the years from Williams Sonoma.

One time we paid to have them included in our family photos since it had been so long since MIL and FIL had their photos taken. They loved that.

The Courtyard in Southaven has really cool gifts. They have great candles too! They will also gift wrap it for free. Good Luck!

I had my kids make a bear from both Grandma's at Build-A-Bear workshop. Recorde their own voices saying "happy birthday Grandma, we love you". They also loved the "talking" christmas ornaments we gave one year ... picture and a recording of the kids voices. This is sort of fun stuff when they are at the new to talking stage!

I was going to suggest the same thing as Cindi B. Things that would treat her to the things she likes for herself, favorite resturaunt, hair/nail salon gift cards, something that pampers her a little. Maybe a day at the spa with you or another female. I know as a busy and tired wife and mother I would love to receive things like that. Or maybe if she likes to read a gift card for the book store. Although I think home made treats especially those of memories are priceless gifts also.

C.
Nashville

Hi Amy,

My MIL loves pictures too, so we gave her a gift certificate to a GREAT photography studio so that she and my FIL could go with all of the grandkids and have their pictures made together. Big hit!! If you are in Atlanta, try Portrait Innovations - they have I think 3 locations around town. They are great!
Good luck!
Nancy

I am not sure if anyone has already suggested this but one day I was in a studio painting pottery and there was a group of kids that were painting what ever they wanted on a small tile square (about 4x4 inches). They all were using the same 3 colours (that went with the decor of their grandmas house) and then they placed it in a frame around a mirror.

It was extremely cute and had a bit of everyones personality, even the baby i think about 9 months put his foot print on one!

That might be an idea to keep it personal but not the same thing!

Good luck.

What if you let your children go wild on some decent paper with crayons or paint and have the piece of art framed and matted with their name and age printed on the matting. You would be amazed at how beautifully something like that will turn out. Hope this helps!!!

I have the perfect gift for you, it is a grandmothers bracelet. It has all the stones of her grandkids on it. I made one for my mom and mil and they both love them. I especially like over hearing how they showed it off. Check out my website at: http://www.freewebs.com/eadesignsbracelets/
I started this business after my hobby for making stuff for my own daughter took off!

I am not sure if you have already found a gift for your MIL but I have created a new business that prides itself on Exceptional gifts for Exceptional people. Visit my web site and you will see many unique things. I have a flowering organic tea- you steep the hand sewn teas in water and they bloom into a beautiful flower. I also have a great assortment of chocolate body truffle bath products if she is a chocolate lover. Thanks and good luck! M.
www.liselottegifts.com

how about make a picture frame for all the pics! try a place like seize the clay or paint a piece and let the kids paint it or they can put their hand prints on a piece such as a plate,pitcher, etc. also you can get a frame engraved at things remembered at oak court or wolfchase mall. once we made one that said i love my gran-gran and took a pic of them together for her to put in the frame.

Find out what your MIL likes, hobbies, etc.. get her a book by her favorite Author if she reads, or cookware if she likes to cook, or spend the day with her, and do what she chooses.

What about a name bracelet with the children's names on it? That way she is always thinking of them.

My MIL loves gift baskets from Bath & Bodyworks. She really likes the pear/raspberry scents. Or gift certificates to nice restaurants. We tried giving her a gift certificate to a spa once, but I don't think she ever even used it.

I loved these shirts we made for our grandmothers. We bought white cotton t-shirts in their sizes, and Fabric paint.
Wrote: Hugged By "child's name" on back of shirt and placed handprints underneath, so when they were worn, it looked like they were hugged by child. Both grandmothers wear them proudly, and my daughter gets a kick out of seeing their handprints!

I'm going to guess that you still want your kids as part of the gift. Here are some creative gifts grandmothers love:

1. Go to the local paint-your-own-pottery place and have handprints of the kids put on a platter. She can use it and display it (put the year on the back)

2. You can do the handprint idea for an apron too (Buy pain ones at a pain store and use fabric paint)

3. There are websites that give great ideas for holiday crafts with kids and they have lots of ideas like making reindeer with baby footprints, etc.

Good luck!

Yes, there is a place called Ladybugs & Lollipops www.ladybugsandlollipops.com . The have photo bags & purses along with other items. I have one with my son on it that I adore. Best of Luck!

I have found that stationery is always a good gift. Depending on how far you plan in advance, you could get personalized notecards or paper. Other ideas: costume jewelry (which won't be as expensive), scarves, a purse, perfume. Does she have any hobbies? If so, you could always get something to support it. HTH!

Depending on your budget:$50 and above try puying your MIL a massage or a day at a spa:facial,manicure,facial,and/or a massage.It feels really great,my mom enjoyed it when we gave her one for mother's day.And for less than $50 try:a gift certificate to her favorite store.Can't think of anything at this time.