Present for MIL - help please!

[kimlouiseb]

Hello,

I've only got a few people left to buy for now - one of them being my MIL who I'm really struggling with this year.

Have a budget of £40.

She is late 60's, likes reading, travels quite a lot and is scottish (although no longer lives there) if that helps.

I don't want to do a grandchildren style present as we made her a photobook with photos of them for her birthday in July and there is a new grandchild due at the end of December, and wouldn't want to leave them out.

All the appropriate things I can think of (bag, scarf, nice smellies, candles ....)we've bought her in the past, although I suppose it doesn't matter, does it?

I was thinking of a nice silk scarf but I crocheted her a woolly scarf last year and I can think of at least one other occasion when we have bought her a scarf. But then I think maybe a silk scarf has a different purpose and is more versatile than a woolly scarf? What does everyone think?

My other idea was a nice cosy throw, they've got some nice ones here(and I have a 20% off code)but think it might be too old ladyish?

Maybe I am overthinking it (I have a habit of doing that!)

All opinions/ideas gratefully recieved!

I'd personally stay away from the scarf if you've done that a few times in the past.

What about making a gift bag up with a nice fleece/furry blanket (you can get some lovely bright colours), some books, chocs, wine if she likes it etc.

Magazine subsrcription

have you looked in Pastimes? I feel smug cos dh has to sort his own family out
i have loads to buy for in my family so there is no way i'd do his too

voucher for a favourite restaurant with smaller token gift to unwrap?

Something for the garden?

this is a lovely website for gardeners and other 'nice' things

£40 is a lovely budget for books - how about a new biography? I won't make a suggestion as don't know her taste. Plus another more general history book.

Theatre voucher

Potted rosebush/tree

Something cashmere

Perfume/perfumed body cream

Thanks for all the suggestions and good ideas. Am now thinking of L'Occitane En Provence stuff (just opened a shop in my town and lots of good offers on) or magazine subscription/books or something gardeney. Hmmmmmmm

voucher for a manicure or similar

Could you stretch to £49? This is the cost of Royal Horticultural Society membership - you get The Garden mag sent and free entry to their gardens in:

RHS Garden Wisley in Surrey, Harlow Carr in North Yorkshire, Hyde Hall in Essex and Rosemoor in Devon

if she lives near any of those.

My MIL (similar age to yours) has a Good Housekeeping subscription which she really enjoys. Don't know if there is a good mag for travellers but that might be worth a look. The other thing that I have bought for someone else was a day long workshop for a hobby as a gift - I looked at their local college and bought a digital photography course for them so that might be worth thinking about.

subscription to Scotts Magazine, I love it as do all the oldies I know.

Thats a good idea giggly. Just been looking at the website. Never heard of it before - whats it like?