40 flamingo things

[TheOrigRights]

It's my little sister's 40th at the end of Sept.
I'm one of 4 sisters (and a brother who keeps out of the way!) and we are clubbing together for a day out to celebrate - meal, event etc, but we all do something individual as well.

I want to get her 40 flamingo things; maybe one or two things up to a tenner or so and then a bunch of stuff (bookmark, pen, lip balm, candles, that sort of thing).

All idea welcome - daft or otherwise.

@BeenAsFarAsMercyAndGrand

The thing is, I can see how it kind of sounds nice initially. But imagine sitting there while your sister gradually unwraps 40 tiny presents, none of which are big enough or special enough to spend long looking at/talking about.

How long is it going to take? At least half an hour, maybe longer.

Is she going to have to react to each one? How long before it gets a bit dull and she's literally just picking up presents, opening them, putting them down and moving on to the next one.

Oh wow! A flamingo lip balm!
Oh wow, another flamingo!
A flamingo hair clip? You shouldn't have!
Ah, another flamingo.
And another...
And another...

I also don't think it changes anything that the gifts are 'useful'. Lots of things are useful, e.g. sanpro, but that doesn't mean I want them as gifts.

I'd also question whether randomly given reusable shopping bags, flasks etc. are actually useful tbh.

Take bags for example - like most adults, I have several bags for life, and a handful of fabric tote bags for shopping. Another one would be theoretically 'useful', but it wouldn't be needed. Unless you've noticed that she doesn't have a flask, or her flask is old and falling apart, a new flask isn't actually 'useful'.

Exactly. All of this.

I like cats. I've had more than my fair share of cat mugs, ornaments, calendars etc etc given to me over the years and 90%+ of it has been a total waste of money.

I'd much rather have none of it, or certainly a very small percentage, and the rest of the money donated to the rescue charity that I foster for.

Because what makes me happy is not a cat themed coaster/hair clip/bookmark/whatever but money for the rescue that allows us to pay out vet bills and meet our other costs.

Sorry OP, I would absolutely hate this too. It happens to me every year from one family member and most of it gets chucked/charity shopped immediately. I desperately wish they would stop wasting their money or at least spend the sum total on one nicer gift or voucher so I don’t end up with a bunch of shit I don’t need or want. It genuinely makes me dread my birthday and Christmas. Don’t be that person!

I always laugh in the charity shop when there is a frog, pig or cat collection. Usually new with tags and someone who can take no more themed gifts donating

We once had a real flamingo land in the pond near us. That would be cool

Flamingo storage bag: www.ocado.com/products/rex-flamingo-bay-jumbo-storage-bag-407569011

@BeenAsFarAsMercyAndGrand

The thing is, I can see how it kind of sounds nice initially. But imagine sitting there while your sister gradually unwraps 40 tiny presents, none of which are big enough or special enough to spend long looking at/talking about.

How long is it going to take? At least half an hour, maybe longer.

Is she going to have to react to each one? How long before it gets a bit dull and she's literally just picking up presents, opening them, putting them down and moving on to the next one.

Oh wow! A flamingo lip balm!
Oh wow, another flamingo!
A flamingo hair clip? You shouldn't have!
Ah, another flamingo.
And another...
And another...

I also don't think it changes anything that the gifts are 'useful'. Lots of things are useful, e.g. sanpro, but that doesn't mean I want them as gifts.

I'd also question whether randomly given reusable shopping bags, flasks etc. are actually useful tbh.

Take bags for example - like most adults, I have several bags for life, and a handful of fabric tote bags for shopping. Another one would be theoretically 'useful', but it wouldn't be needed. Unless you've noticed that she doesn't have a flask, or her flask is old and falling apart, a new flask isn't actually 'useful'.

Totally agree with this, it’s a horrible idea

We do this with MIL, but we only get practical things. Recent things I have found:

Cup measuring set for baking - Tesco
House plant watering can - Amazon
Oven gloves - TK Maxx
A wooden craft build and paint your own flamingo - Tiger
Duct tape - Lidl

We bought her a duvet cover set to surprise her with next time she comes to stay with us .

I would imagine things like maybe a loofah, pocket mirror. As long as it's practical and not landfill tat.

Flamingo is a funny word isn't it 🦩

I like the tree.

We do this with mil

Every birthday? blimey she must have a Hell of a lot of useful stuff by now. At least Op was doing the 40 things for 40years as a one off!

The Range has loads of flamingo stuff

I have lovely flamingo glasses (for drinks
Not eyes) from ikea

This is such a tacky idea. I’d be really gutted.

I see you've gone which is understandable but just in case you're still reading: I've got an amazing pair of flamingo tweezers. Not tat, used often, not plastic.
God there's been some fun sponges on here, I'd love a load of flamingo stuff! Hope your sister has a great 40th🦩

A trip to Flamingo Land!

Or maybe you can adopt a flamingo at a zoo?

Not just birthdays. Just random gifts if we find something flamingo themed . In fairness, it cheers her up too! But always useful things. They may be tat, but useful tat.

I’m another that thinks this is an absolutely horrible idea in its original incarnation but the flamingo tree is a lovely idea.

A friend of mine was given a duck mug and used it on the same day she had a duck tea towel out and a friend visited. This friend then assumed she loved ducks and bought her duck themed everything and because she had so much duck stuff everyone else bought her duck stuff. Years later, at friend’s hen do the whole thing was duck themed

Friend now absolutely hates ducks but is too nice to say anything

Beware!

Another one who would hate this type of thing. Please be thoughtful with your purchases

Just random gifts if we find something flamingos themed That sounds more manageable. I had visions of you wrapping up 70 odd flamingos utensils every birthday

My dad's wife used to love pigs and there was a stage where everyone seemed to buy her pig themed items; for the kitchen, artwork, tea towels, pig cards, ornaments. Then gradually all the pigs disappeared from their house and her love of pigs isn't mentioned now.

I assume she went off pigs.

Shirleyphallus ha ha sounds like your friend was all ducked out. I think that's what happened to my step mum with the pigs. Pig overload and sick of the sight of them

sounds like your friend was all ducked out.



@SmileyClare Luckily she lives far away, so we usually have stuff delivered to her, or ask SIL to buy it locally. Which reminds me: when face masks became a thing I ordered her a flamingo mask. However, we are seeing her soon, only about a month before her birthday, and I found a roll of flamingo wrapping paper in Waitrose. So that's that sorted.

sounds like your friend was all ducked out.

ThatFriskyFeline

Was it this flamingo mask?.

Why are people sometimes such dicks on MN lol
"Does she even LIKE flamingos?"
Well, um, yeah, I'd have thought OP would have taken that into account and not just gone "I know! Let's just randomly get her 40 flamingo things!
"I don't like tat! Don't get her tat! Terrible idea!"
Um, you're not her sister (presumably?) Plus one man's tat is another man's treasure.
Or something

I'd say

• How about drinking glass such as wine or gin with flamingos on

• Flamingo notebook and pen

• an apron or oven gloves if she likes cooking/baking?

I'm betting she will hate flamingos after her birthday