Gift Help: What do you give for a surprise party?

Im going to a girls surprise party. We are friends but not great friends. Her husband is throwing the party and told us gifts are optional...which means i must get her something.

EVERYTHING she buys is designer. She doesnt really have any hobbies that I know of.

What should i get?

Re: Gift Help: What do you give for a surprise party?

If it's a 'gifts are optional' type thing...I'd make it a gift bottle of a good liquor/wine or something to that effect....

Re: Gift Help: What do you give for a surprise party?

Speaking as the least creative person in the world, I would give a gift certificate to someplace like Bloomies where she has a million possibilities to choose from, and can choose to spend only what you gave, or add to it and get something more expensive.

The amount would depend on the relationship you have with the birthday girl.

Re: Gift Help: What do you give for a surprise party?

A nice bottle of wine is always nice. Candles are always a good option too.

I just went to a 40th Bday party and gave 40 silver dollars. Sometimes we just put instant lottery tickets in the card also.

Re: Gift Help: What do you give for a surprise party?

Normally I would do the liquor...but we are going to a restaurant for the party, so I dont feel comfortabe bringing in a bottle of wine to a restaurant.

I dont think she would use the candles unless they were teh really expensive kind (think $50 candles!)

She already has a lot of $$ so she doesnt need my lotto tickets.

All good idea though - she is just a tough one.

Anyone else?

Re: Gift Help: What do you give for a surprise party?

i agree with the liquor suggestion. thats what i give when i don't know the person very well.

Re: Gift Help: What do you give for a surprise party?

A new best seller book? its a long shot I know...but you have a difficult dilema - Unless she's really picky, most people appreciate any gift

Re: Gift Help: What do you give for a surprise party?

I would get her a bottle of nice champagne- whether it's in a restaurant or not- they come in boxes, so you can wrap it.

Either that- or get her a mani/pedi gift certificate.

Or go to sephora and get her a few nailpolishes.. or some very nice lotion/bath oil...

Re: Gift Help: What do you give for a surprise party?

I like the book concept but I dont think she reads best sellers so that might be a tough one.

A nice bottle of champagne is going to cost more than I am willing to spend (no more than $50) but maybe I can do the wine thing.

I think she goes to Red Door for her mani/pedis...so my chinese nail salon GC is not gonig to be appreicated.

ahhahaha


Sort of hard to shop for someone when i think they spend too much on everything :D ahhaha

Re: Gift Help: What do you give for a surprise party?

Tell her Surprise _ I have nothing for you

Re: Gift Help: What do you give for a surprise party?

How about something monogrammed or a charm bracelet or something. Nordstrom has these new charm bracelets that are really nice (just got mine last weekend!!).
You can put her name on it - it's a band and you slide on the letters of her name. The band comes in different colors (she can buy others and mix and match) and the letters are sterling silver with cz's.
The band is $15 and each letter is $5. I checked the nordstrom site but they don't have it on there.
I think it'll be a big hit and not that expensive (depending on how long her name is!).

Re: Gift Help: What do you give for a surprise party?

You can get a good bottle of champagne for $50 or a little less-

Moet & Chandon NV Nectar Imperial
Perrier-Jouet Grand Brut
Piper Hiedsieck
Veuve Clicquot

these are all great French Champagnes and are ALL under $50...

Or I would even get her four of those mini Piper Hiedsiecks with the straws- so cute!

Re: Gift Help: What do you give for a surprise party?

The name bracelet is cute but I dont know her well enough to know if she would love or hate that.

Wacky: I like your idea best :D J/K

Sassy: What are Piper Hiedsticks? Edited to add - nevermind...i cant read right today. Thanks for those names :D

Re: Gift Help: What do you give for a surprise party?

A wine basket. If you do it yourself -it's not too expensive. Wine, wine toppers, basket, grass, clear wrap, wine decorations (for the glasses), a wine opener, you could even add some cheese and crackers.

Maybe a GC for her hair salon or nail/ped. salon. Good luck!

Re: Gift Help: What do you give for a surprise party?

I 2nd Veuve Clicquot - it comes in a box so it would wrap up nice.

Picture frame? GC for music or books? Flowers? Coffee Table book - something in fashion or NY or some place she has visited?

Re: Gift Help: What do you give for a surprise party?

I like the wine idea the best...and you can wrap it so that you don't notice it is a wine bottle...

otherwise...what about a GC to their favorite restaurant ?

Re: Gift Help: What do you give for a surprise party?

I have a good one. Richart truffles. They are 'designer' truffles - little squares hand painted and they come like 20 to a box - there are a bunch of varieties....


www.richart.com

Re: Gift Help: What do you give for a surprise party?

I definetely think you can bring wine/champagne to a restaurant party- just wrap it. That's what I would do. I also like the truffle idea and I think flowers would be appropriate too. What about stationary or a pretty journal/ blank book thing? A funky sun glasses case?

Re: Gift Help: What do you give for a surprise party?

How about a box of Godiva chocolates? They usually have boxes prewrapped with a birthday bow and ribbon and flowers.

I have a lot of hard-to-buy-for friends. Chocolate never fails!

Re: Gift Help: What do you give for a surprise party?

So what did you decide?? How was the party?

It's so hard buying gifts for people you don't know well.