Lelo Lily

Can we extend this thread to include gifts? not jus tstocking stuffers -- I have never had such a hard time coming up with ideas!

Caveat: I don't do expensive gifts in stockings.

I try to give everyone a meaningful ornament every year. Something that reflects a hobby, event or trip. That way when we look at our tree, we see some family history.

Good chocolate. Gourmet oils and vinegars, gourmet sea salt. I've done jars of dip from the gourmet store.

My mom and aunt are sensitive to fragrance, so I will give them high quality, unscented lotions and creams that I think they'll like and use.

Fuzzy slipper socks (her feet are always cold, but she hates wearing shoes or real slippers).

Crossword puzzle or sudoku books.

Oxo kitchen gadgets are a big hit with my parents. The trick is to find one that they'll use that they do not already own.

Microplane? They are awesome and would fit in a stocking.

If I ever find one, I would be my mom's hero for putting a suede case for a nail file and clippers in her stocking. She's had one for 30 years and it is falling apart.

I do tiny bottles of nail polish; ditto on the lip balm; small reusable nilon bags that can be rolled into a ball; some good chocolate; stuff in travel size that are not common.

World Market for food things: hot chocolate packets, mini condiment bottles, etc.

I also buy things I think she'd never buy for herself: the new mascara that I discovered this year that is fabulous, expensive hand lotion, mini perfume bottles, great eyeglass case.

Online stores like Uncommon Goods, Spoon Sisters, Perpetual Kid and Think Geek have cute stocking stuffers too.

My mom wants Ugg Gloves and my Dad needs a new toaster. I really need some creative yet not too expensive gifts for them!

Wow some of you give expensive stocking stuffers.

Last year I put in my moms stocking: a dish towel that matched their new kitchen, one of those little hooks to keep in your purse to hang it from the sides of tables, Christmas peeps (shes a fan) and an ornament.

Home goods store...new dish towels, new wooden spoon, some random kitchen gadget

If she's anything like my mom, one hundred thousand sticks of lip balm so she'll stop stealing mine every time she visits because she always forgets hers and can't be without it. Joking aside, I think small toiletries or other consumables are good only IF you know it's something she uses a lot of and has a favorite of - I hate getting random stinky lotions, but I do like it when someone knows I like X pens or Y lip balms.

Lottery scratchers

Earrings

this flipper (AMAZING!!)
http://www.amazon.com/Orka-All-Purpose-13-Inch-Turner-Flipper/dp/B000RYNOI4

Tiny bottles of liquor

Gift cards to her fav restaurant/store

Candy/chocolate

Personalized stuff from Etsy

"Coupon" for time with you...i.e. Coupon for a manicure together, coupon to make dinner for her sometime, etc.

Wow, I could be your mom. So, besides what you mentioned, here's what I would like in my stocking. A pair of earrings or necklace that is handmade, a scarf, a pair of warm but not too snug fitting gloves, a keychain, some good chocolAte because I still haven't gone through menopause and get PMS, a nice pen, some new sunglasses, biking gloves or a biking jersey from someplace I've visited, lipstick.

A gift certificate for a professional massage (maybe pricier than a stocking stuffer, but still would be very welcome!). Gourmet chocolates or other fancy candies. Other little gourmet treats like fancy jams or curds, mustards, teas, etc.

If you're just looking for inexpensive gadgets to fill up the stocking, I've found that the Container Store and Restoration Hardware usually have some fun little things that are a bit different.

I think the tickets/events theme is a great way to go. A gift card to a favorite restaurant or movie theater near her? A gift card to a center that offer arts classes? A coupon for a mother-daughter excusion to a museum or to afternoon tea? (Actually this last one could also include a box of nice tea and/or an infuser, so you are giving her a whole little theme.)

I am trying to come up with some creative smaller items for my mom this holiday season. Even when I do google searches most of the items listed are pretty lame that I know she wouldn't like. (Candles, Picture Frames, Lotions etc)

What have you given women in their mid 50's that they have enjoyed?

Usually I do tickets to a show downtown and a gift certificate for a resturant. This year all I have so far is a pair of shoes she wanted (Which she was with me when I bought them) and a custom Iphone case created from a favorite photo she has.