Trying to cheer myself up - ideas for my cousin’s birthday

[nervousbreakdown]

My cousin turns 17 in May and her school prom/ball is about three weeks after . I’m hoping to get her a box of some sort from TK Maxx and fill it with ‘prom essentials’ ... I’m not sure what and hoping you lovely lot might have some good ideas !

So far I have:

Blister plasters and gel cushions for feet
Kirby grips and safety pins
Miniature posh shampoo and conditioner
Face mask
A bath bomb from lush
Body or face glitter
Lip balm, hand cream
Party lashes
Some sort of make up
Tic tacs
£10 for a taxi and chips
Hot chocolate sachet , cosy socks and two paracetomal for bed

I’m not sure if there’s anything I’m missing ... to add to the fun her brother turns 13 a week before so I am thinking along similar lines for him , but like a teenage boy survival box ...

Eg

Deodorant (not lynx)
Face stuff
American sweets
Trivia book
Puzzles
Socks
... and then I’m clueless - I know he likes computing, skiing, skateboarding, Lego, marvel comics and fortnite ... I haven’t a clue what I could actually get along those lines .

Probably thinking about a £50 budget for both maybe less , my aunty would freak if I spent any more than that I think as I’m a student and not working - I see them as being like my niece and nephew as I will never have that , they’re a lot younger than me etc so it’s nice to be able to treat them ...

Would love any ideas at all - I’ve had a horrible few weeks so trying to distract myself with nice thoughts !

I don't want to piss on your chips, but those lists are quite detailed. My DD had her prom at 16 (are you in the UK???), and the big deal was buying the dress/shoes. All the stuff on your list sounds lovely, but quite superfluous. [I'm not saying this to be nasty, it's just how it was for their evening]
Because for DD the 'fun' part was getting changed with friends and having photos together and then a sleepover/mull the evening over afterwards.

Maybe offer to pay to have a nice photo blown up and framed instead? Or, if you're good at that kind of stuff, offer to come over and do their hair and make-up?

The only item I could think of to add to your list was totally yuk, and it was condoms (sorry! Not actually suggesting you provide those!)

I did think condoms as well 😂 but I think my aunty would be devastated as much as she will be seventeen ...

I know what you mean - I am too far away to do hair and make up though ... yes I’m in the UK - we called it a school ball when I was that age (eleven years ago) but think prom much the same ... I have to admit I have been looking at Pinterest lists a bit though so probably more Americanised ideas !!

That said my grandma graduated teacher training college in Edinburgh in 1960 or something like that and my mum has her graduation dance bag - which has much the same stuff , minus the make up though ... none of it used at all though so maybe that should tell me something !

I think her friend’s relative is a professional photographer (I am pretty sure) so probably not worth me offering £ for that . Her mum is also v v good at photos .

I do know what you mean though that it might not be much fun for her maybe to open all that - it’s not all that exciting maybe ... unless I go v expensive with make up etc (she likes Mac, Benefit, Lancôme etc) .

Disagree with PP and think the prom box is a very sweet and thoughtful idea. All useful stuff anyway :)
Can't advise RE the boy one though!

I think the boxes are a lovely idea... and surely at 17 even if she doesn't use it all for her prom she'll have lots of other opportunity to use it all?

If you want to go down another route, could you take her shopping for a nice piece of jewellery or a clutch bag to go with her outfit?

For the 13 yo, you can get Fortnite tshirts in Primark and Tesco atm which might be cool and a gift card f9r Xbox/playstation so he can buy some V-bucks (Fortnite currency).