Birthday Parties & Celebrations

[chattycathy]

My dd is invited to her friend's 11th bday party.  This girl is so hard to buy for!  Her parents are very well off so she pretty much has everything and wants for nothing.  Her mom is no help, she said she doesn't need anything but we can't show up empty handed!  I need some ideas.  My dd was going to ask her today at school so hopefully we'll get some ideas.  TIA!

[Carleon]

Maybe a book your daughter enjoyed or thinks she might enjoy.  Or a series?  I always like giving useful things like a hat or mitts and then if the kid doesn't like them, they can be donated somewhere hopefully.  A nice set of pj's works well too, guess at a size that has room to grow.  My Mom got my daughter a lunch bag which we appreciated eventually (after the current one's zipper died).  Depending if she has long hair or not, maybe some clips, barrets, etc...  The more mature type ones go over well usually.

Hope that helps!  It really makes me feel poor when my kids get invited to wealthy family's parties!  My 4 yr. old got invited to a friend's in house party and my whole house (bedrooms included) would have fit into their living room!  Lucky them!

Take care, Carleon.

[Moominmama]

An iTunes gift card?

A gift certificate for zoo / museum / science centre admissions?

A coupon for a "movie date with popcorn" with your dd?

Or, best yet ... a Kiva gift card. Kiva is a micro-lending site that allows people to choose a small business-person in the third world to lend money to. As the money is repaid, they can then re-lend. And then get repaid, and re-lend. And so on, forever, changing lives and helping make the world a better place.

Miranda

[Engmama]

Adopt an animal.  There are several organization who do it.  World Wildlife Fund is one.

Just something different and fun.

[Sarah]

Movie tickets are a great gift! We have started asking for no gifts, and a lot of our friends do this as well, or a donation to the food bank instead of a gift. It has made birthdays much nicer not having all the "stuff" that goes along with it!

[straightjacketmommy]

or a book.

Melissa

[Guest_18478]

Chapters - or if your school holds Scholastic Book Fairs, then a Scholastic gift certificate.  One can never have enough books - and its more fun to pick them out yourself!

[max3]

I would definitely ask the bday girl.  I'm sure she will be wishing for something.  But otherwise, I'd go for the experience gift.  It could include your dd if they are good friends but otherwise, I'd make it just for her. 

My dd gave a friend a cupcake decorating class for a recent gift.  Was a hit!

[chattycathy]

Thanks for all the ideas everyone! 

[Valeria Cis]

I hope it's not too late for this reply, but I can suggest some rubber stamps I sell on etsy:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/LaCasuniTienda?section_id=8051012

or the prints:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/LaCasuniTienda?section_id=8051015

kisses!

Valeria