Amaryllis bulbs (similar to paperwhite idea above, but amaryllis don't have a fragrance). You can get kits, or you can get IKEA pots / vases ($3 or less) and mail-order fancy varieties.

Please, no more candles or stationery.

I like candles and stationary. Please don't give me jam, cookies or nail polish.

Lately I am into giving little things that are inexpensive, but expensive for what they are. So fancy salts, fancy oils, etc. I would never spent $16 on salt for myself, but would love using some someone else gave me.

Yankee Candle?

Go to World Market. Get a little $3 basket for everyone.

Fill each one with different things that amounts to $10: teas, candies, cookies, sauces, salts, a beer, whatever each woman likes. You seem to know them well enough to individualize this. World Market has TONS of cheap little things. This should allow you to put about 3, maybe 4, things in each basket.

Add a $2 scratch off lotto ticket to each basket.

Tell them that they can trade amongst themselves if they want to.


I was also going to say give them a Birchbox but you can't do a single month, you must do 3/$30. They have some neat gifts under $15. Here are a few:

- This emergency kit - http://www.birchbox.com/shop/featured/25-and-under-1/pinch-provisions-stud-muffin-minimergency-kit

- This tea - http://www.birchbox.com/shop/25-and-under?dir=asc&order=price&p=8. You can include a mug with this).

- These matches - http://www.birchbox.com/shop/featured/25-and-under-1/illume-boho-matchbook-set - plus a votive candle or two.

I also really like the idea of baking supplies like sprinkles, cupcake wrappers, and vanilla. That'd be $15 or so.

And you could also get a little water bottle for $10-ish and add some Mio or Propel powder or whatever.

I'm still hung up on the fact that no one that OP works with drinks coffee. OP, do you work in a Mormon collective or on Mars?

Anonymous wrote:A work emergency kit: Tide to Go pen, Kleenex, Excedrin, Vitamin C, chapstick, double sided tape, safety pins, stuff to fix broken heels in a pinch, snag puller, clear nail polish for hosiery snags, thumb drive, etc...

You can individualize or generalize.

Not OP but I like this.

A work emergency kit: Tide to Go pen, Kleenex, Excedrin, Vitamin C, chapstick, double sided tape, safety pins, stuff to fix broken heels in a pinch, snag puller, clear nail polish for hosiery snags, thumb drive, etc...

You can individualize or generalize.

A couple bottles of fun colored nail polish.

These "wishes do come true" star ornaments from Red Envelope: http://gifts.redenvelope.com/gifts/mini-star-wish-ornaments-28375862?sk=&ref=REDorganicgglunkwn&prid=rbseogu&tile=hmpg_hero1&viewpos=6&trackingpgroup=RCORN. One star for each co-worker.

A pretty dish towel or set of two. Anthropologie always has some really pretty ones.

A bottle of sparkling wine, like a Cava or Prosecco. Riondo Prosecco is pretty good and pretty cheap ($12 or $13/bottle).

A specialty food item, like an interesting honey or maple syrup, unusual chocolates or spice mix, etc.

An interesting non-fiction book that relates to your/their work, or a particular interest of theirs.

Anonymous wrote:No more junk please. Gift card to somewhere near work for lunch.

+100

Either that or a lottery ticket. No more crap.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here: everyone has office umbrellas already, no one drinks coffee, no clue what kind of music they like, and we've done the soap and lotion to death.

Anonymous wrote:OP here: Thanks for the suggestions! Unfortunately, everyone has office umbrellas already, no one drinks coffee, no clue what kind of music they like, and we've done the soap and lotion to death. Any other ideas? Here's some more information about my coworkers...

There. I fixed that for you, you ungrateful person. I wasn't even one of the PPs. Just tired of this attitude.

LOL!

Anonymous wrote:Every year I give my colleagues a card with a Powerball ticket inside.

+1, or even better, scratchoffs.