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?

My relative brings a tub of 500 ibuprofen each time he comes over. Cheap as chips.

For me it's seasonal bath and body works. I know Next have started selling sone but it's not the autumn and Christmas ranges. Also I love and my kids love the mini antibacterial gels con there in so many scents. Love Americana style Xmas decorations too- and Spode Christmas tree crockery is vast in US bits that's quite niche to me.

There's not much worth bringing back these days, everything worth having is available internationally at it's not even cheaper usually as they price for the local market. Some make up is worth buying, and melatonin is worth buying if you need it. I was in New York this year and nearly everything was cheaper in the U.K. (was googling in the shop!)

In Texas they had a load of free museum days and the museum shops had lots of lovely bits and bobs, generally local. I also found tk maxx cheaper for things like Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren. Basically American brands. I'd insist on a gorgeous cashmere Ralph Lauren jumper if I was pushing the boat out.

Peppermint Joe Joe's from Trader Joe's, seasonal M&M flavours

FIL brings us ranitidine, ibuprofen, nesosporin, white cheese popcorn, jerky and american candy for the kids which is mostly horrid and goes in the bin. When the kids were younger we got loads of clothes from the Childrens Place and Old Navy but I don't think it would be worth it anymore.

In Mexico yes, not in the UK.

Peppermint Bark from Williams Sonoma! Actually, anything you can carry for Williams Sonoma.I love their entire Christmas/Holiday food selection.

I also second Pottery Barn for seasonal decorations - I live in the US and Americans love that kind of thing. Decorating your house for the season seems to be hugely frowned upon on Mumsnet, but people love to do it over here, so you can get things like beautiful velvet pumpkins for Autumn.

Can't speak to the UK/US price difference, but Anthropologie's home department does lovely Christmas decorations.

I second the Williams Sonoma and PB suggestions. They do nice wreaths.

Melatonin - YY, available in Walmart in several strengths.

You can also find excellent kitchen ware in Home Goods, TJMaxx, and Marshalls, but a week before Christmas these three would be heaving.

Look up Sephora online to see makeup and toiletry ranges.

It might be a good idea for DH to look for a REI store in Austin, if you think you could use some good quality snow boots, snow bibs, and cold weather gear in general. Excellent for camping stuff, etc.

Do you like fancy candles? Any good department store would have lots. Airport security will pay a lot of attention to them though - just be warned, tell your DH not to wrap them as they will very likely be inspected.

YY to Anthropologie.

Ooh DH brought the DCs and I festive spatulas back from William Sonoma whilst on a work trip one year. Love that shop 😍

I live in the US and never bring anything from there to the UK when I visit. A lot of the clothing here is very poor quality and made in China. Even the supposed designer brands. You have to spend a lot to get clothes that don't fall apart after a few wears, and with the poor exchange rate you won't be getting a bargain.

As for chocolate, a lot of the cheaper stuff here has an ingredient that makes it taste like vomit. But Ghiradelli squares taste ok (haven't had them in years though) and come in nice, travel friendly bags. Jelly beans might be good too.

Do you like to cook? If so, there are lots of great food magazines here, especially around Christmas time.

DH brings back hugh tubs of ibuprofen, paracetamol and gaviscon. All cheap as chips and no limit on quantities to be sold in one go, and come in 'blue gel' form which seems to me to be more powerful (I know, I know).

Melatonin if you are likely to have trouble sleeping or adjusting to time zone changes

You can check the price of almost anything online, things likely to be cheaper there are also some cosmetic brands which are premium in uk and routine in US, it's worth checking anything you can think of in the makeup / face and skincare sphere. Just seen PP mentioned Sephora.

Although this shop is available in the UK.

Sephora usually have great Christmas sets. They also have far more rollerball perfumes than here.

Not gift like at all but Tide stain pens are great. I always bring back a few.

Thank you all for the suggestions. Good call on the over counter meds, I take a lot for chronic pain so that’s a good call. I’m definitely keen on Christmas themed items so will give him a list of places you guys have suggested and see what he can squeeze in during his visit. I think the DDs lists might take priority, they have had no problems listing things for him to buy.

See's candy and melatonin.

My dad's boss used to send us one every year. They are delicious.

Melatonin. It's on my business trip list for America each time I go. Varying doses for each member of the team!

Family....not team! I don't buy them for my colleagues, I leave them to sea with their own insomnia!

Isn't 'Our Genaration' the English alternative or atleast fairly similar.

Definitely Bath & Bodyworks candles, the black Cherry merlot is the best smell in the world. I always get a big bottle of Naproxen, you can’t get the OTC here, and Tylenol PM is awesome if you’re in pain and want a good nights sleep.

If your DDs are into dolls I would get DH to get American Girl Dolls.

@ITSSSSCHRISTMASSS tell your DH NOT to bring back Hersheys chocolate as it's so vile it actually smells and tastes like vomit! He could bring Cheetos which are tasty American cheese puffs...

Other stuff such as Adidas runners and most sports wear are much cheaper than in the UK and also most perfumes are cheaper. Your DD's provably like all the celebrity branded lip balms and body sprays so they might be a good idea...

My girls that age love the bath and bodyworks range, we always get our friend to bring us their foaming soaps that last for ages and smell amazing. They have seasonal smells eg. peppermint or cinnamon apples in pretty bottles . You can get cute anti bacs for hands. Our soap sits in a cool holder. And we get the bars. We love it and it’s much cheaper than the imported stuff here.