Only in the US

[ITSSSSCHRISTMASSS]

My DH has just informed me he is going to be going to the US for work before Christmas. I’m looking for inspiration of what he can bring back for myself and 3 DDs, 5, 8 & 10. I certain the girls won’t have a problem putting a list together for him but I’m not sure what I’d like. I’d like him to bring me something back I wouldn’t be able to get in the UK. It’s also my birthday.

So if you were to ask someone to bring you something back you could only get in the US, what would it be?

The only stuff worth hauling back from the US in my view are pharmaceutical products and junk food. Which might not be very Christmassy.

What do you like? How much money?
Almost everything is available internationally, but the US is much cheaper now, so would you be happy with something that would cost more in the UK?

Also, how much time has he got and where can he get to?

Coffee Nut M&Ms
A jar of apple butter
Bloomingdale’s Little Brown Bag
Dunkin’ flavoured ground coffee
Coffee creamer in fancy flavours
Glossier make up
Ghiradelli peppermint bark
The Ordinary face oil

@KickAssAngel the opposite is true - dropping value of the pound makes us goods much more expensive than they were, and it was rare for there to be much difference in price for most goods before the currency shift. The only things that might be cheaper will be things made in us and rare here - like maple syrup. I do tend to bring back maple syrup when I go home btw, not just for cost reasons but because you can find much higher quality stuff at local markets in New England.

For your older girls I would look at American Girl dolls? I haven’t seen anything similar (well made, high ends dolls) here, but would love to be corrected if I am missing something =)

If it was me it would be this weird artificial runny cheese in a tin with chillies and hand dyed yarn. Probably not very helpful to you though.

The crashing pound will not work in your favor.

American Girl dolls are very popular if that is something that would appeal to your dc ( they also have a high resale value)

Melatonin is useful.

M&M's do a variety of different flavors.

I love Collins St Bakery Christmas cakes. They have got very expensive here.

Hershey's christmas candy cane kisses.

If you wanted some fun cheap stocking filler type things for the children, things like grape flavoured kool-aid sachets, or fun flavours of Jello powder for making jelly or puddings as well.
Grape flavour is something you don't get here, the Smuckers Jam is good.

When my husband went just before christmas he also got gift boxes in Macy's for the pretty scarves he bought for his Nanny etc, they looked nice and made an impression.

And yes, gifting aside, giant tubs of paracetamol and ibuprofen are available and usually pretty cheap.

Thanks

I considered the American girl dolls, my older 2 liked the OG ones and we have one AG doll, all were put in the attic this week though as not been played with in ages.

kids watch a lot of YouTube so was thinking American sweets & junk food could be ok as a treat. Also thinking merch from some of their favourite channels sniper wolf, Rebecca Zamarlo, Chad wild clay….They love their Beanie Boos so I suppose US ones we can’t get here.

im the type of person who struggles justifying spending £12 on a new top. But, DH treat himself to a very expensive toy this month, £500, so I’m thinking I could do with something nice too. What jewellery like over there with cost? I always thought it was cheaper but if it’s not I will leave it.

I will definitely ask him to look out for Christmas decorations for me.

He will be there 7 days and based in Austin.

Look at Pottery Barn for Xmas decs and home stuff. They do lovely Christmas decor

As mentioned above, most things will be either cheaper or about the same price over here

All the things they sell in J Crew. I was devastated when they closed the London branches.

They have the most beautiful clothes. For ref, I'm a size 10 and wear Small in their clothes.

Happy choosing!

You can get the most incredible tree decorations there, from the big dept stores, or souveniry ones from destinations.
DD1 lives in NYC and brings some back every year (she’s travelled around quite a bit and always gets something from the places she’s visited)
Also, not a gifty thing but sales of stuff like paracetamol & ibuprofen aren’t restricted like here, so you can easily buy packs of eg 100 or 200, even in shops like Lidl! (Saves a lot of faffing when someone’s ill)

I would suggest snacks from Trader Joe's (US-only supermarket)!

I've always wanted to check out pottery barn after watching friends. I will have a look online and see what DH can get.

OMG I love! We have lots of decorations from our travels so I definitely want him to pick up some new ones for me.

The best Christmas present I had last year was a really thick warm dressing gown Dh got from Bloomingdales in NY.

If it was me, I’d send him into Williams Sonoma with a long list. Or Pottery Barn, look at their website first. The £ is very weak at the moment so it will be expensive.

Chateau - I was going to suggest Williams Sonoma too, then thought an All Clad frying pan might impact his luggage weigh somewhat

I bet you can get great cowboy boots in Austin, if you like that kind of thing.

I bought Xmas decorations in Liberty's this week and carefully brought them back to the USA in my hand luggage.
I honestly think they are much nicer and cheaper in the UK.

You can get nicer popcorn in the USA if you like that?

Haha true, dh has had to carry their All Clad range in his luggage in the past! I still need a second mini saucepan….

I was thinking festive spatulas, tea towels and chocolate bark

We bought cowboy boots in Dallas, leather belts and toy armadillos.

A friend once made their DH buy them a kitchen aid. We were living in Mexico at the time.

Blimey! is it even the same voltage? I had a problem running my kitchen stuff in the US.

I bought most of my All Clad when we lived in Texas, the exchange rate was such better for Brits back then.