I need your good ideas

[sister_luck]

Finding the perfect birthday gift is often difficult.

My stepmother's 60th birthday is coming up. I don't have any good ideas. Do you?

She's very active and sporty, but alas, she works in a shop selling sports gear, so that's out of the question. She likes reading, but doesn't have the time really. There's always DVDs, but with a special birthday it seems a bit lame - and anyway, I haven't got a brilliant DVD idea. She likes arthouse stuff, preferably sad and romantic.
She isn't big on makeup and stuff like that and I highly suspect that her friends are giving her a giftcard for some sort of spa/sauna place.

I'm a bit at a loss.

Also, she's got a twin, so I need something for her sister, too.

Come on, help me please!

Comments

[comava.livejournal.com]

Off the top of my head, a few things:

It's more of a Christmas gift but I like buying empty calenders (you can get them in most stationary shops) and personalizing them. You can add photos, art, quotes, stock images, basically you name it. You can tailor it to fit the person you're giving it to, it's creative and person and a fun gift besides, not just a dust catcher. But unless she's quirky like that, it might not be a fitting gift for a birthday in summer!

As for DVDs, I noticed that "Paris Je T'Aime" just came out, which is pretty romantic arthouse-y. Since it's divided into different segments, there is sure to be something for everyone!

Or you could give her a certificate for an outing together where you'd take her out to dinner or to do something she likes. Tickets to events she's interested in might work as well.

[sister-luck.livejournal.com]

Thanks a lot!

Hmm. Calendars are traditionally a gift for grandparents in my family, but I've thought about doing something like this - though Christmas is a better time, I think.

I'll do some research into the DVD and into upcoming cultural events - that's something she enjoys, too.

[emilyire.livejournal.com]

How about making a collage of pictures of her friends and family?

[sister-luck.livejournal.com]

Hiya Emily, haven't seen you around much! Nice to see you again.

Thanks for your idea.

My dad is the family photographer, so that's more something for him to do.

[kazzy-cee.livejournal.com]

A newspaper or magazine from the day she was born? I did that for my Dad and he loved reading the old adverts and news. You should be able to find a company online who do those as gifts.

Does she have a garden? Perhaps a little garden fountain or wind chime?

[sister-luck.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. The newspaper/magazine thing is definitely a classic. I'll have to think about that, but I think it might be a little late for that. The party's on Saturday!

And well, she's got a small balcony, so maybe something for that.

Gah, this is hard.

Thank you for helping me!

[frances-lievens.livejournal.com]

We got my Mama a a gift certificate for a night in an expensive hotel in Brussels. She didn't use it yet, so we haven't paid for it either (we made the gift ertificate ourselves). We really should get her come to Brussels one of these days or we'll end up with a gift that wasn't.

That's how far my ideas go. Got my sis a Brompton bike when she got thirty...

[sister-luck.livejournal.com]

Hmm. Travel gifts. Maybe that's the way to go?

[lijability.livejournal.com]

Or in that same vein a day at a spa.

[sister-luck.livejournal.com]

Well, she's bound to get something like that from her friends, but my dad said she doesn't have to do it all on the same day...

I've found something else though - hopefully I'll get concert tickets for her. *fingers crossed*