AIBU to ask you what you would ask from the States?

[Newforestdonkey]

My husband is off to NY for work for 4 weeks, and I thought that the least he could do was to bring back some things for me and the children (young) but I don’t know what! Please tell me what you’d like to get!
(The children have enough clothes, I really don’t think I should tell him to get those…though I really like Carter’s)

Thank you!

If he's going now, he'll be there when holidays start. (More and more are creeping before Thanksgiving.)

A PP was absolutely right about the museum shops--they're great. Tell him to go to the Met and get whatever their holiday snowflake ornament is.

Other things I'd want:

If money were no object, and I couldn't just bring back cheese/deli:

A pair of cashmere gloves from Bergdorf Goodman.
Boots or ballerina pumps from Maryam Nassir Zadeh
Clogs from No. 6
A sweater from Meg
Candles from Roman and Williams Guild
A poster from the Strand
Something fun from Artists and Fleas (gotten silly mainstream, but still good finds)
A gadget from Kikkerland
Kids' clothes at Little Moony
Kids' toys from Kidding Around

Some of these things are $15. Some of these things are $800. All of these things are great.

If he's going to get melatonin, tell him to try this one. It's the only one that works for me. It has melatonin and chamomile extract. I got it at Walgreens, but I think that might be called Duane Reade in NY. They also have it at Target and I'm sure CVS.

Definitely get any cough medicine with DM in it..clears mucus like nothing else & not available in the UK.

Duane Reade’s has more or less gone now and they’re all Walgreen’s

This thread makes me chuckle. I live in the US and stock up on sweets, chocolate, lemsip and savlon when I come to the UK! I actually never buy that stuff in the US (though I do buy the big bottles of acetaminophen and ibuprofen, they’re actually not any cheaper than the equivalent quantity in the UK, I’ve found).

Ulta is vastly superior to Sephora in my experience, and carries a lot more cruelty-free brands.

Someone mentioned Loft- I think they ship to the UK. Ann Taylor is Loft’s slightly smarter big sister. White House Black Market has some nice stuff. DSW and Nordstrom Rack are great for shoes, and Dillards are pretty good too. If you’re outdoorsy people, REI is your place. Not sure whether they have stores in New York though.

Camera gear and other electronics- B&H. Closed on a Saturday.

Pocketbacs from Bath & Body Works

I know other posters have said this, but See's Candy!!!

''Slap Ya Mama'' food seasoning
Egglife Wraps for low carbing
NoSalt for pure potassium (LoSalt here is not the same)
Pork rinds they do really big bags over there
Adidas t-shirts they don't twist like the regular ones made on a tube

@AnyOldPrion

My ex came back with huge bottles of paracetamol and ibuprofen. It was mega useful, though admittedly not very romantic.

Incidentally, both types of tablet did taste a good deal better than the Hershey’s chocolate he brought.

Lmao. The Hersheys I've tasted has been OK, but UGH their idea of cereal is totally weird! Lol

Considering the poor guy is going for work and not holiday, I'd ask him to stay safe and just to bring himself home safely!!
If he got enough time off to browse the shops, then a keepsake from there, like a nice ornament then maybe some toys for the children to cherish!

Please don’t self prescribe antibiotic cream. It leads to resistant strains and can cause a lot of issues. There is a reason why you cannot buy in the uk otc. It is available in us as people have to buy all their own meds if they don’t have insurance. You do not need to buy it so don’t.
You also need to be careful about bringing any medication into uk bought in USA due to custom and excise rules. You aren’t allowed to bring in stuff that you can’t buy in uk otc in most circumstances. If you get found out in duty control you’ll likely be detained for hours for questioning and checks and potentially have illegal stuff confiscated or be levied with import charges for legal stuff
Really you don’t need to do this. Forget meds. You can buy otc meds in this country legally at cheap enough prices

OP's going to have enough to start her own chemist / sweet shop that's if she gets through customs

The overdose damages your liver, enough to necessitate a transplant. You’re unlikely to die from say an ibuprofen overdose, but the health consequences can be severe.

Three wick Candles from Bath and Body Works. A specific lip salve/gloss from Co Bigelow you can get in B&BW too however there’s actually a CO Bigelow store in NYC. I am obsessed with it and currently have to import it via eBay at astronomic posting expense.

@Disastermagnet27

Swedish fish!

Most ikea's sell them though

Walgreens own brand cold and flu day and night powered sachets. Like lemsip but 100 times better - the best thing to get you through the flu!

@mowly77

Different flavours and types of Oreos! Extra triple stuffed etc. Birthday cake flavour. Lots not available here. And Everything Bagel topping. In the spice sections. It’s a delicious mix of sesame seeds; dried garlic; onion etc - all the things on everything bagels but you can put it on anything. I love it and put it on everything. Eggs; rice dishes etc. Very light and inexpensive too!

Sounds fantastic!!

@MrsSchadenfreude

Oh yes, a Tide pen for getting stains out of your clothes!

Done!

@jamandmarmalade

OP's going to have enough to start her own chemist / sweet shop that's if she gets through customs

🤣🤣🤣 they are sending my husband straight to prison for smuggling medication and sweets

@IMarchToADifferentDrummer

Considering the poor guy is going for work and not holiday, I'd ask him to stay safe and just to bring himself home safely!! If he got enough time off to browse the shops, then a keepsake from there, like a nice ornament then maybe some toys for the children to cherish!

He’s definitely not a ‘poor guy’ and he’s not going to the moon so I’m confident that he will be safe! He has three weekends so I’m sure that he’ll find the time to do some shopping…

Newforestdonkey

i think your husband will have enough to keep the wolves at bay...

@KobaniDaughters

Brit here living in the US (west coast) for a decade but moving home next year 🤞🏻 And have already started compiling my list. A few of these already mentioned but worth mentioning again:

Melatonin (get 5mg and 10mg so you can work out what works best for you, I never go above 5mg but DH needs the stronger stuff) and melatonin for kids

Everything but the bagel seasoning

Furikake seasoning

Almost everything in trader joes (oh good I’m going to miss it!) but especially the just mango dried mango, the cashews almonds and cranberries trail mix, trader joe’s O’s in multiple flavours, Green tea mints for DD

Kimchi siracha from wholefoods

Fruit roll ups

Elderberry gummies and cough syrup

….having said this there is a LOT I’m looking forward to getting regularly again in the U.K.

I so want all of this now

Haven’t thanked everyone individually but I’ve learned a lot from all your suggestions!!

As for medication, I come from a European country where I can buy medication different from what I find in the U.K. and have done on plenty of trips. For example. I can buy contact lenses without prescription, so I always stock up. One needs to be sensible, but there are pros to having other countries’ medicines.

@jamandmarmalade

Newforestdonkey

i think your husband will have enough to keep the wolves at bay...

🤣🤣🤣 Frankly, I’m not so sure that I have a home Big enough for all this but I will solve that problem after he comes back!!

Ooh how lovely for your DH. Shame you can’t all go. I find American brands like Michael Kors way cheaper in NYC than here. Particularly Handbags. If you send him to Macy’s he can get a day discount pass which will save him the sales tax. I also found Abercrombie kids much cheaper. There are also some great artists selling work near the highline in the meat packing district if you like modern art/street art.