HEATHER’S HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE: Gifts for parents + in-laws
The following holiday gift guide (Gifts for parents + in-laws) contains affiliate links. If you purchase a product from one of these links, I may receive a small commission from the supplier. As always, all opinions and dowdy nightwear preferences are my own.
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You know who’s hard to shop for? PARENTS.
And by “parents,” of course, I don’t mean “me and other 30-somethings with little kids.” I mean OUR PARENTS — and our in-laws — and their frustrating tendency to (A) have everything (B) have too much already (C) not want anything.
If you’re stumped on what to get your mom, your dad, your mother-in-law, your father-in-law, your aunt, your uncle, etc., here are 10 gift ideas I hope they’ll like …
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1. A funny book.
Very British Problems is my pick. They have several books out, and they’re awesome. (I bought one for my dad two Christmases ago!)
I follow @SoVeryBritish on Twitter and it’s one of my favourite accounts. They GET ME.
2. A cozy LONG nightgown.
I look like a Grandma when I’m sleeping — I’m about the long nightgowns and I don’t care that they’re not sexy — so I feel like I can identify with what the 55+ set wants to wear to bed, you know? I love this one from La Vie en Rose.
3. A great meal at home.
Sometimes it feels like meal delivery kits — like Hello Fresh — are designed for the go-go-go working professionals, young parents, etc. But just because someone’s retired doesn’t mean they WANT to spend a lot of time meal-planning and grocery shopping. I think giving a week’s worth of Hello Fresh meals would be a fun gift ANDDDD introduce them to some delicious new recipes.
4. A great meal OUT of the home.
For Christmas last year, we gifted Darling Husband’s parents with a Bertossi Group gift card. It’s accepted at all four of their restaurants — La Frasca Cibi & Vini, The Bicycle Thief, Ristorante a Mano, and il Mercato Trattoria — so they could chose where to enjoy a night out. Sometimes a pre-paid date night is better than any “stuff” you can buy — especially if your parents/in-laws, like mine, have everything.
5. A snuggly sweatshirt.
Name a person, young or old, who does not own a cozy sweatshirt. You can’t do it! Sweatshirts are universally loved, and especially helpful in Canada. My dad and stepmom have specific warm sweatshirts they pack to visit us because our house is cold(er than they’re used to). True story.
I love the sweatshirts at My HOME Apparel, which is right here in Truro, NS. The quality is great and they let you proudly show off your HOME. Plus, 5% of the profits from every product sold is donated back to initiatives to help end homelessness in Canada.
6. A donation in their name.
If you really and truly can’t think of ANYTHING your parents/in-laws need or want, well … they’re very fortunate people. Now how about making a donation in their name to a great cause, like Feed Nova Scotia? (I do their Give12 program where a donation is automatically taken from your bank account.)
7. A token of pet-parent love.
If they have a beloved dog, order a custom mug, T-shirt or accessory from Dog Love HFX. I’ve written about Tiffany’s fantastic new business, and she even sent me my own Boster Terrier Mom shirt (LOVE IT). Plus, $1 from every sale is donated to ElderDog Canada.
8. A great pair of socks.
“Christmas” and “socks” just go together, but these super-soft Supima crew socks from MeUndies would be a great gift for adults of any age.
9. A tip-top water bottle.
Everybody drinks water, and most people aren’t drinking enough. Make it more fun for your parent/in-law to hydrate with a S’well bottle, like this cool teak one.
10. Tickets to a show.
Experiences > stuff, especially if you’re comfortably settled in a home with lots of stuff. Theatre tickets are a GREAT GIFT. I love buying Neptune Theatre gift certificates because you don’t actually have to commit to a specific date/time or performance for the recipient. They just cash it in for tickets to whatever show they’d like, and enjoy an amazing show. This year, the big spring musical is Mamma Mia! Great show for any age, but I think parents/in-laws are especially fond of it.
2 Comments on “HEATHER’S HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE: Gifts for parents + in-laws”
So what do you think?
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Heather's Handmade Life 
We love to do experience gifts for my parents and in-laws such as what you’ve mentioned here – Neptune or restaurant cards, or we have done upcoming concert tickets too (such as Blue Rodeo last year or Bruce Guthro’s songwriters circle). I am leaning towards tickets to the ECMA awards night since it’s in Halifax this year.
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Oh that would be a wonderful gift! Experiences are so much more meaningful — and don’t require storing/dusting/guilt when you want to part with them. 😉
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