shopping - finding "something that lasts"

[Marasme]

I ve been SI and in bed and have watched all Netflix. Help me pass the day thinking about how to slend a birthday voucher to John Lewis?

Voucher is for £80 (for my 40th, quite a few months ago) and came with the suggestion "hope you can get a lasting reminder of this birthday".

I don t always shop in JL so not super aware of the shop. On the same bday, DH got me a much lusted after (for about 15y!) Kitchen Aid that I love. I saw that JL has extra bits for it, but this does not exactly screams "lasting reminder of bday" does it?

I like cooking, home decorating (i already have much much soft furnishing), books and artefacts, and tech gadgets. We also have a small garden. Our walls are too small (more windows and doors than wall) for art.

I am not a fan of cosmetics, jewelry, clothes, sport. I also don't drive or have a particular fancy hobby (i read and used to travel, basically).

My DH suggested waitrose wine - but that won't last, will it??

What yould you suggest I spend my £80 on? (and i d love to know what you would get for yourself)

Get wine or just Waitrose shopping with the voucher and just spend £80 in cash anywhere you like.

If you don't have a kindle, you need one of those.

A lovely version of something useful in the kitchen? We got a beautiful Le Creuset lasagne dish for a wedding gift that we use frequently and it makes me smile every time. Or a fancy picnic hamper?

I actually do think that attachments for your kitchen aid do say “lasting reminder of birthday”. Assuming they last many years you know you’ll still be using them regularly for ages unlike other items where your tastes may change. Plus every time you get them out to use you will think of your birthday!

Some of my favourite items are my functional ones. They make a job easier and that makes me happy.

Agree with TimeToParty - KitchenAids are generally built to last - if they’re accessories you probably wouldn’t but otherwise, but that will make you smile and that you will enjoy using, go for it!

lovely ideas...

i ll go check Le Creuset and the Kitchen Aid attachements (i fancy the pasta making one - i have a manual one which i never used super successfully).

@BarbaraofSeville - i have the kindle app on my phone - are kindles very different?

It was my 40th a few weeks ago and with my birthday vouchers and money, I'm planning to treat myself to a bissell carpet washer.

Oohhh i love a carpet washer!! there is sthg fascinating about the amount of grim they get out.

Some kind of durable ornament for the garden? Disclaimer, I haven't looked at the website, so I don't know what is available.

Good suggestion, @SpongeBobJudgeyPants

i m adding it all in a basket as future "ideas/subtle suggestions" for DH

I think the Kitchen Aid accessories fit the bill. I have a Kenwood mixer that has been passed down 3 generations and is about to be handed to the fourth. It has many happy memories associated with it.

I often get JL vouchers at Christmas and have used the last few pounds up by buying a Christmas decoration in the sale. Most of our baubles have a story behind them and it's lovely remembering them when we decorate the tree. Maybe you could do that if you have a tiny balance to use up?

I would get a Kitchen Aid attachments. Or a extra bowl for Kitchen Aid.

Thanks. Please come back and show us what you decided. I have a landmark birthday early next year, and will probably be in the fortunate position of deciding! I love my kitchen bits, but as I get lazier, they get used less, and I have most of what I know I will actually use (as opposed to pasta makers etc, which I would probably use about twice then store ). I also think i have gotten to a point where I know there is a finite amount of jewellery I can wear on my one neck and two ears