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Post by iamkristinl16 on Dec 15, 2023 19:40:56 GMT
The women on my mom’s side of the family always have a gift exchange. My grandma died this year and they decided that the theme of the gifts should be something that reminds you of grandma. I am having a really hard time with this. Obviously none of you know my grandma but can you help me out? Why are some things that remind you of your grandma? Or any kind of sentimental gift idea that could go along with the theme? She likes to play cards, read, sew and garden. She was also a teacher.
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Post by KiwiJo on Dec 15, 2023 19:46:51 GMT
The gardening thing would be an obvious one for me. So many things if the giftee has a garden - trowel, watering can, gift voucher, assortment of seeds….. If they don’t have a garden I would thin’ about an indoor plant.
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Post by iamkristinl16 on Dec 15, 2023 19:48:17 GMT
I should add that it’s a round robin type of gift exchange. Everyone draws a number then you choose a gift to open. You can either “steal” something someone else has opened or open a different gift.
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wellway
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Jun 25, 2014 20:50:09 GMT
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Post by wellway on Dec 15, 2023 19:50:36 GMT
Did she wear a particular scent? A certain colour?
Was she a wearer of something that isn't so common now, e.g. an apron, a hat.
A sewing book with patterns that she liked to make. If someone else likes to sew, a bundle of nice fabrics.
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Post by JustCallMeMommy on Dec 15, 2023 19:51:42 GMT
My grandmother loved playing cards with her friends, and she used high quality plastic cards, so I might consider those. She also made the best cheese straws, so either making some with her recipe or buying some pre-done would be an idea. You could also think of things from where she grew up, if there are some unique things about that area.
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Post by dewryce on Dec 15, 2023 19:52:31 GMT
My Granma also had a garden and made the best dill pickles. Now, whenever I have a quality locally made dill pickle I think of her. What kind of cards did she play? There are lots of variations for card games, like Rummicube, or however it’s spelled. Was she big on handwritten notes? Some nice stationary, stamps and a pen might be appreciated. Sewing is hard, because that’s a very specific thing to enjoy. Unless you purchase a locally made item that reminds you of her. Did you draw names? You could get some books for that particular person. Or in your Grandma’s favorite genre, about a topic she loved that others might find interesting. Or, there are a couple of best reads of 2023 threads with lots of ideas. The only issue there is hard copy or ebook.
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Post by librarylady on Dec 15, 2023 19:53:02 GMT
Don't know how much you want to spend, but cards, card holders (those circles that hold a handful of cards), trowel, garden gloves, kneeling pad are some ideas.
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leeny
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Jun 27, 2014 1:55:53 GMT
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Post by leeny on Dec 15, 2023 20:02:23 GMT
If it was me, I would stroll through a thrift store or antique store and look for a little something grandma might have had in her home. My grandma had all these little glass candy dishes with lids and had wrapped hard candies in them. My Mom has them in her home now!
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Post by Lurkingpea on Dec 15, 2023 20:05:41 GMT
Did she have a favorite book? Can you find a special edition of the book if so? Did you play a certain game with you? What about a certain food or beverage? I have an empty can of my grammas favorite Ovaltine type drink. I love it and it reminds me of her.
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Post by iamkristinl16 on Dec 15, 2023 20:09:31 GMT
If it was me, I would stroll through a thrift store or antique store and look for a little something grandma might have had in her home. My grandma had all these little glass candy dishes with lids and had wrapped hard candies in them. My Mom has them in her home now! That reminds me that when I was a kid she always had those little candies that were in wrappers that looked like strawberries. Does anyone know what they were called? |
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scrappinghappy
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Post by scrappinghappy on Dec 15, 2023 20:12:37 GMT
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Post by magenta on Dec 15, 2023 20:21:08 GMT
If it was me, I would stroll through a thrift store or antique store and look for a little something grandma might have had in her home. My grandma had all these little glass candy dishes with lids and had wrapped hard candies in them. My Mom has them in her home now! That reminds me that when I was a kid she always had those little candies that were in wrappers that looked like strawberries. Does anyone know what they were called? I just googled and sometimes they're called "Strawberry Bon Bons" or just strawberry hard candy. It looks like you can find them at places like Walmart and Michaels. You just brought back some nice childhood memories.  Whatever I choose would be wrapped in a Royal Danish Butter Cookie tin. Do you know how many times the grandchildren experienced pangs of disappointment when opening the tin and finding anything but cookies?! Sewing supplies, pamphlets, pens, coupons, jewelry, condiment packets... anything but cookies. |
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scrappert
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Post by scrappert on Dec 15, 2023 20:27:13 GMT
My thought was an ornament, either card themed, teacher themed, garden themed, and have her name put on the ornament. Then you could add into the gift hard candies or something else to go with the theme.
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StephDRebel
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Post by StephDRebel on Dec 15, 2023 20:34:25 GMT
Is there a price limit?
For my Gram I would do a pretty baking dish with rice Krispy treats and the recipe (or a cookie she used to make for yall?) My family would wrestle over this, I may actually make it for my sister.
What are your best family memories? Did you do trips or meals? Anything you always did, ate, or that she wore or used when you were at their place?
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Post by femalebusiness on Dec 15, 2023 20:41:23 GMT
If you have some pictures of her you could make a scrapbook of pictures and her favorite things or stories about her. Anyone who loved her would probably like to have that
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Post by kitkath on Dec 15, 2023 20:58:05 GMT
One of my Grandmas liked to play cribbage so I would buy a cribbage board. She also knitted, so some yarn or knitting needles. My other grandma always had fancy towels and hand soaps in her bathroom. She always had Reader’s Digests so a subscription to that magazine would remind me of her.
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Post by airforcemomof1 on Dec 15, 2023 21:03:35 GMT
Mine loved pretty dishes (as do I. Probably got it from her). So I would look for a pretty serving bowl or maybe a tray.
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The Great Carpezio
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Post by The Great Carpezio on Dec 15, 2023 21:10:53 GMT
You probably don't have time for this now, but there are some cool gifts where you can take a handwritten recipe and have it made into artwork, or make a coffee table book with special memories/photos of her. Not sure of your price range... A nice pen/assortment of pens (teacher) A basket of popular novels from this year or a genre she liked Crabtree and Evelyn Gardeners hand cream A cute garden gnome (also once someone brought one of those wooden "gardener bending over" signs at a white elephant I was at and it was a hit.) A cute planter with a nice plant (CP in SR has some cute ones) A "card" game: www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-card-games/ |
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Post by mayceesgranny on Dec 15, 2023 21:20:08 GMT
My grandma always had a stash of candies, Circus Peanuts, Orange Slices, licorice...
She always wore an apron and she smelled of Lily of the Valley.
She was also famous for her trays of Christmas cookies and tins of Chex mix she made for everyone.
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Post by iamkristinl16 on Dec 15, 2023 21:24:18 GMT
Is there a price limit? For my Gram I would do a pretty baking dish with rice Krispy treats and the recipe (or a cookie she used to make for yall?) My family would wrestle over this, I may actually make it for my sister. What are your best family memories? Did you do trips or meals? Anything you always did, ate, or that she wore or used when you were at their place? I think typically around $25 |
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Anita
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Post by Anita on Dec 15, 2023 22:30:51 GMT
Given what you've said, I would have a deck of cards printed with your favorite picture of her. That way the recipient could remember her when they played her favorite card game.
My whole family was big into playing cards, and that would be a big hit with them.
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Post by christine58 on Dec 15, 2023 22:52:33 GMT
The women on my mom’s side of the family always have a gift exchange. My grandma died this year and they decided that the theme of the gifts should be something that reminds you of grandma. I am having a really hard time with this. Obviously none of you know my grandma but can you help me out? Why are some things that remind you of your grandma? Or any kind of sentimental gift idea that could go along with the theme? She likes to play cards, read, sew and garden. She was also a teacher. my grandma loved to play gin rummy, she had a favorite handcream, and I can’t remember the name of it, but even today when I smell it, I think of her, she always had hard candy all over the house, and she was a wonderful cook. My other grandma was an amazing Italian cook. she always had fresh homemade bread in her house and her homemade pasta was awesome |
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Post by lisae on Dec 15, 2023 23:16:55 GMT
Before I even got to your list, playing cards came to mind. One of my grandmothers forbid cards in the house (she was very religious and strict), but fun grandmother and I played Old Maid together. So some kind of card game would be my suggestion. I don't think it has to be the exact game your grandmother would have played. You are using her likes as inspiration.
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Post by ScrapbookMyLife on Dec 16, 2023 2:19:34 GMT
When I think of my grandmother, I think of.....
Her favorite candy in her fancy candy dish. (I have her candy dish, it is a much treasured item).
Bingo (twice a week).
Weekly hair appt.
Hanging clothes outside on the clothes line.
Marble cake from the store bakery section....was a occasional fancy treat.
Going to Woolworths store.
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Post by iamkristinl16 on Dec 16, 2023 3:03:07 GMT
Thanks, you guys have helped spark some more ideas. She loved Casey's pizza (a gas station), a specific kind of pie, feeding birds (my mom is getting a bird feeder for the gift idea), those candies, etc. I think I will get the candy and a pie unless I find something else at the store that CareyAyn suggested.
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