What do I want for my birthday?

[Discontentedpony]

It's next week and family are asking what I want. The whole year I covet things that are too expensive or I consider too much of an extravagance then when it comes to my birthday I can never remember them.

Can I have some ideas please?

Husband is buying me lovely smelly body butter, so I could get more smellies.

What about some lovely stationery? Where can I get lovely notebooks from? Can I have some stationery inspiration?

Nice plant pots for my houseplants?

I'm miserable, tired and feeling too old (46). What will cheer me up? Can I have some ideas please?

I’m going to add a new lightweight raincoat, oil diffuser, Richard Osmans second book, new Opi nail varnish in red, garden centre vouchers to choose your own pots, jigsaw puzzle and gorgeous stationery, and lastly Morrison’s jam and fresh cream Swiss roll which is one of the best cakes I’ve ever tasted and I do have a lot of cake experience.oh and anything from Oliver Bonas as per pp.

@pinkcattydude yes!! I had to comment after I read a PP say Paperchase. I mean, Paperchase is fine for your basics but Papier is another level. Their custom cards are great, and they even do bespoke if you just ask them.

@kitchenplanner @pinkcattydude what’s the link for Papier please? It’s a really generic term to Google.

Here you go! www.papier.com/stationery/

@DappledThings

I never understand these threads. Surely if you don't know what you want then you don't want anything. It's OK to now want anything. It's OK to want lots of things but why force yourself to want something if you don't?

I agree with you, but we'll be in the minority

If I don't want something enough to actually remember what it is then I don't want it! My ILs have very different attitudes. FIL has no wants whatsoever and thus is on the receiving end of telling off by MIL for having "boring" requests. MIL, without fail, can come up with a keeping-up-with-the-Joneses wishlist of £££ "stuff".

I've learned to come up with a long list of consumables for her to buy me but she still thinks an occasion isn't truly marked without a £50 candle.

I’m with you @DappledThings, my mum and mil have both asked me this week what I want for my birthday and I’ve just been honest, I don’t want anything. I’ve said if they really want to spend the money then to donate it to someone in need. Mil has done that. I’m not being worthy for the sake of it, if I want or need something I just get it.
I’m not a presenty person, I think dh has rubbed off on me!
What I actually want is to book a luxury weekend break for 1 at a nice remote quiet little hotel somewhere which I’ll do at some point when work is quieter and the dc are all okay.
Hope you’ve found some inspiration though op, but it really is okay to say you don’t want anything if you actually don’t!

Thanks all for your fantastic suggestions.

I remembered about the plant pot from Oliver Bonas I'd been hovering over buying myself and it's now on sale so mother in law has kindly bought it for me, hooray!

Lots of other lovely ideas here too, glad people are finding some inspiration.

For stationery, also check out personalplanner.com

www.personalplanner.com/EN/mixbook_editor/?step=2

You can create personalised notebooks, lovely for gifting.

It's nearly my birthday so I'm looking for inspiration. A PP's comment about Lego reminded me that they have a Lego vintage typewriter which I have been coveting.

Mine's in a couple of weeks. I'm getting a cashmere sweater and if I like it, I'll order another in a different colour with birthday money from MIL. Oh and my lovely sister bought me a garden swingseat a few weeks back so I could get some use out of it.

It was mine a couple of weeks ago, and I asked for a everyone to just chip in for me to go to London for a couple of days to see a show. My dh has been in hospital for 4 months this week (he's in good health, just awaiting physio rehabilitation now) so it's been me and dh and running around doing everything, her appointments, visiting him and I just asked for a babysitter and a break.

I'm not big on presents as such as I've gotten older, because I just buy what I want. So I'd ask for something I wouldn't get myself, or something you've wanted for a while but keep talking yourself out of.

@DappledThings I find these threads so useful that I actually search for them when it’s my birthday.

I’m the sort of person who can’t always think know I want when people ask but then as soon as it’s too late I remember how much I love X or that Y would be so useful for a hobby and how nice it is to be treated.

My friend at work got 2 apple trees and a plum tree for his birthday, I would love a gift like this

I use elfster to build a wishlist which I add to when I'm out and about or I remember something I want. My birthday is in December so I need double the gift ideas. I'm currently listing after a pair of turtle doves fingerless cashmere gloves, some new make up and a load of books.

On my list recently...

CBD oil (insomnia help??)
vent-mounted phone holder for SATNAV functions
Southern Comfort
oxfam Goats -- i honestly would love this!

My Christmas list...
A steel water bottle with sports cap
A Superdry cable knit jumper
Sing Backwards & Weep - Mark Lanegan's autobiography
Le Creuset bakeware