Frivolous gift ideas please!
 

I know, it's another what shall I buy for so and so thread, but I could do with some ideas please.

As many of you know my Mum has been ill for quite sometime. This year we are going back for crimbo as her time is running out and we want to give her a great last Christmas. She's never been one for wanting gifts, usually pop socks and a pair of leather gloves.

She's not got much appetite and only really like Toblerone and Mon Cheri chocolates and then not too many, they go on booze cruises, so alcohol is not needed.

What completely frivolous, just for her gift could I get for her, I don't really want to get her jewellery as she never has really worn it and she's not really up for days out any more.

I am drawing a complete blank. I'm thinking of getting her pop socks and a pair of gloves from me and my sister anyway, more of a gag gift.

Re: Frivolous gift ideas please!
 

A dressing gown and slippers, nicer than she'd buy for herself?

If you want to go for the comedy route, get her a snuggie and those light up slippers MMC was after.

<yes, I know I'm the worst one to give gift advice>

Re: Frivolous gift ideas please!
 

An original 1960's John Cooper S, Mini

Re: Frivolous gift ideas please!
 

Let's not forget La Senza stuff :D

Re: Frivolous gift ideas please!
 

Ignoring the post above, you should order a pair of these shoes/slippers for her.

I'm getting my mum some for Chrimbo

http://www.padraigcottage.com/

Re: Frivolous gift ideas please!
 

We got her a snuggie when she was here in the summer as a joke, my sister has confirmed it is in regular usage:rofl::eek:

My sister had also said she would like to look into getting her a dressing gown like she used to have when we were teens, like a movie star from the '50's with swans down trim etc, the closest I've found is from Harrods but it's not quite frivolous enough as there is no glitzy trim, so do you know where a glitzy trimmed dressing gown can be bought?

She can't drive a standard anymore, in fact with all the morphine, I don't think she should be on the road at all:rofl::eek:

I love those slippers, that's a complete me type thing, however my Mum would prefer something like these:http://www.gina.com/shoes.aspx

Yes she does wear similar whilst being wheeled in her wheelchair:cool:

I really appreciate the replies, keep thinking!:thumbsup:

Re: Frivolous gift ideas please!
 

hahah = love your mum's style ;)

how about mani - pedi so toes look good ??

Re: Frivolous gift ideas please!
 

Bells, one of her bucket list things was a Spa day, we did a mini one when she was here, maybe I'll ask her again, all three girls could go to a proper posh place for a day.

She's very particular about her nails - feet and hands, she likes them long (probably because she can grow those and she stopped growing at 4'10"):rofl:

Re: Frivolous gift ideas please!
 

I just bought my wife a pair of Manolo's. They seemed to go down well :)

Failing that, treat her to a nice blue rinse.

Re: Frivolous gift ideas please!
 

What about one of the "fashion shoot" days. All 3 of you? You get pampered, lunch etc and then you will gave some fab memories? Xxx

Re: Frivolous gift ideas please!
 

Afternoon tea at The Ritz (or similar) and a London show? Although I am not sure where you are based when you are back in the UK so maybe not a good idea! Tea is good for little appetites - you can just nibble, while the rest of you can hoover up the leftovers! I went to Claridges this year. Lovely service and a live music. It was very special.

Re: Frivolous gift ideas please!
 

Oh I just saw she's not up for days out, so scrap my idea! How about a Kindle - does she read?

Re: Frivolous gift ideas please!
 

Some talc.

Re: Frivolous gift ideas please!
 

Look at you eh....Manolo's. Suits you Sir :D

Re: Frivolous gift ideas please!
 

There was a lot of mileage in the stuff on the "as seen on TV" website in the tread last week... comedy gold.

more pointless crap than you can shake a stick at...
http://www.asseenontv.com/

Re: Frivolous gift ideas please!
 

I really think there should be a wiki on this, seeing as buying decent gifts from abroad seems to be an issue which affects so many. The website you reference above is a wonderful resource, one that I feel could make the lives of expats across the country a whole lot easier.

I am giving serious consideration to the dog snuggie.

Re: Frivolous gift ideas please!
 

Guys! Guys! Something classy please!:rofl:

Thought about maybe Manalos or Jimmy Choos, but she does love her Gina shoes (about 50 pairs).

She's a young 60 with very little hair (thinned and baby birdish from all the treatments she's had).

She's always been particularly hard to buy for as she never wants anything, she doesn't read (much) or really listen to music, we want to get her something that my Stepdad can't sell after and really we want it just for her, she's never really faffed with herself, to the point she used to wash her hair and leave it wet when she went to the hairdressers (used to come down to her bum).

She's just an awkward women, she loves to cook but now she has no appetite and little energy that joy seems to have left her now. It's really crappy.

Re: Frivolous gift ideas please!
 

How about a tattoo?:sneaky:

Re: Frivolous gift ideas please!
 

Now there's a thought:sneaky:

Re: Frivolous gift ideas please!
 

With all that in mind, then I think the spa day is perfect. A bit of pampering for her and time spent with you.

Re: Frivolous gift ideas please!
 

The kindle fire from my playing around with a colleagues one he received on Monday, is actually half decent. It's not an iPad slayer, but for the amount of formats it supports, the ability to show up on your PC as a flash drive, and the cataloguing system, makes it worth the $199 price

http://photos.pcpro.co.uk/images/fro..._169270_52.jpg

Re: Frivolous gift ideas please!
 

I like the spa day, to splurge even more you could have a chauffeur come & collect you in a stupidly large car:)

I am sure you going to visit is more than she could ever want for, make some good memories, no one can ever sell or take them away from you.

Helen

Re: Frivolous gift ideas please!
 

your time with her will be the best gift she could get.

when my gran got older, for her birthday i used to take her out for afternoon tea, then to the hairdresser to get a shampoo and set. some very happy memories of lovely afternoons spent just me and my gran.

Re: Frivolous gift ideas please!
 

So sorry to hear about your Mum, it must be heartbreaking for all of you.

I think the spa day is a great idea and also the idea of having a group picture taken by a professional - perhaps they could supply your Mum with a wig or a fabulous hat so she wouldn't feel so bad about losing her hair.

Is there something else on her bucket list that you could fulfil? One of the crazier things?

Do you have any photo's available of you and your sister and Mum (and Dad?) when you were growing up? Perhaps you could have one blown up and framed for her. Another alternative would be a photobook of your family when you were growing up.. sweet memories that she could look at, or a digital photo frame preloaded with the same kind of memoriable pictures that she could have next to her bed.

:)

Re: Frivolous gift ideas please!
 

feel for you, I have been there so my two penneth:

DVD of slides / photo books of cherished family / friend memories

time / days planned for friends to visit (treats of special splurge foods)

luxury pampering cosmetics - hand creams - some french stuff, the name escapes me:blink: - ah, L'Occintene, those microwave warmers, perfumes etc went down well with my mum as it just helped her feel a little better each day
!
new nightwear/slippers / duvet for same reason as above

new phone / tv for bedroom / kindle similar idea

Re: Frivolous gift ideas please!
 

A nice woolly hat. Everyone likes woolly hats - they keep your head toasty and warm.

Re: Frivolous gift ideas please!
 

I know people have touched on the whole photo album thing but I made one of these for my Mum a couple of years ago. It takes quite a bit of work but she loved it!
http://photo.jessops.com/photo-books.html

Re: Frivolous gift ideas please!
 

A vajazzle?

Re: Frivolous gift ideas please!
 

Had to google - HOW do you know about these?:ohmy:

Thanks everyone else, the photo thing was done last year for her 60th, my niece did the most amazing collages (too many photos for one) poster sized, I have also got a photo book started for her Birthday in January.

I'm really liking the limo to spa day thing, she does want to do in door sky diving but I don't think they'll let her, we will find out though.

Thanks for the good thoughts, she has done us all proud with the way she has handled the whole thing and she still is showing no signs of giving up mentally, she's one strong little lady!:wub:

Re: Frivolous gift ideas please!
 

pmsl

Re: Frivolous gift ideas please!
 

what was wrong with this one ??

Re: Frivolous gift ideas please!
 

I love the idea, but ever since time begun my Mum does the whole camera avoidance tricks and now she looks twice her age and can't even find clothes that work, I don't think she would go for it. She is stressing about what to wear for Christmas day as it is, at 4'10 she has always struggled with clothes (hence the heels;)) now she has no meat on her it`s even worse and she is also quite often a yellowish colour too.

The only way we got lots of pics this summer is my niece who just took pictures non stop.

Re: Frivolous gift ideas please!
 

aaah ok !!

Re: Frivolous gift ideas please!
 

that's a brilliant one and if she doesn't want to eat she can just enjoy the ambience

Re: Frivolous gift ideas please!
 

The Sanctuary in Covent Garden is lovely...

http://www.urbanpath.com/london/spas/sanctuary.htm

Re: Frivolous gift ideas please!
 

She used to meet her Dad for breakfast there.:blink:

Re: Frivolous gift ideas please!
 

haha, well that should bring back happy memories?? (or not)

Re: Frivolous gift ideas please!
 

Maybe:confused: She doesn't do well with pomp, she'd more likely show us up and get us kicked out. Also a little far for her to travel, she's just outside Lincoln.

I really appreciate everyone's input:thumbsup:

Re: Frivolous gift ideas please!
 

lol, Mums are so adorable, haha ;)

Re: Frivolous gift ideas please!
 

So take her for afternoon tea at the poshest hotel in Lincoln that does afternoon teas.... after her spa-day of course...