Gifts from Texas

Hoping all those from Texas (or any others!) might be able to help.  I'm not from Texas so having a bit of trouble here. My mom is looking for some small gifts for DH's mum at christmas. MIL has already been to Iowa where I am from so gifts from there are kind of old. My mom is going to TX and thought it would be neat to find some gifts for christmas to bring over.  Any ideas?

not from there, but been to visit - there's  plenty you can get from tourist shops that would be good - t-shirts, caps, american football jerseys, photos (in frames), christmas ornaments (one of my fav gifts), typical knicknacks from tourist shops

More expensive: cowboy hat, cowboy boots, belt buckles, leather products etc...

Armadillo droppings.

http://www.texasgiftitems.com/mall/food-misc-3285.asp

Also, Texas hot salsas, BBQ spice rubs, etc - you get the idea.

I'm not from Texas either, but I've spent more time there than I care to recall.  Also if she's going near the Mexican border at all, or near San Antonio - then there would be further cross-cultural possibilities available from the shops there.

Armadillo droppings.

http://www.texasgiftitems.com/mall/food-misc-3285.asp

Also, Texas hot salsas, BBQ spice rubs, etc - you get the idea.

I'm not from Texas either, but I've spent more time there than I care to recall.  Also if she's going near the Mexican border at all, or near San Antonio - then there would be further cross-cultural possibilities available from the shops there.

Excellent link Carolyn!  Totally forgot about anything armadillo related!!

Excellent link Carolyn!  Totally forgot about anything armadillo related!!

Heh heh, my boyfriend is making their website right now! It'll be up in a few days so wherever you are you can get some armadillo candy </shameless plug>

Livedin Houston for 14 years almost, the one thing I still have are these really lovely ceramis coaster with blue bonnets on them. Got them in Fredricksburg at a little tourist shop when we went to my ex's aunt's funeral. Other good ideas are these really cute cloth wine gift bags with the state flag on them. And of course, like others mentioned things like real bbq sauce, salsa or hot chillis are always good although I am never sure about bringing food things into the UK. I'm sure she'll find plenty of cute things.

Oh my gawd I am from Fredericksburg, Texas.  I must now shamelessly plug all that is bluebonnet! 

Really I have an apron of the Texas Flag.  What does your MIL like?  Then I am sure a gift can be mentioned.  I got my H a really nice cowboy shirt and belt with the silver trimmings.  Plus my Mom, who must really really love H, gave him my Grandfather's dress cowboy hat. 

Oh my gawd I am from Fredericksburg, Texas.  I must now shamelessly plug all that is bluebonnet! 

Really I have an apron of the Texas Flag.  What does your MIL like?  Then I am sure a gift can be mentioned.  I got my H a really nice cowboy shirt and belt with the silver trimmings.  Plus my Mom, who must really really love H, gave him my Grandfather's dress cowboy hat. 

MIL is, how should we say, a bit on the upper middle class side.  She was raised in a rather posh household but loosened up over her adult years. (me, I am just middle-middle class) She doesn't like things too tacky.  I think things like t-shirts and ballcaps would be out of the question for her. She used to be a cook in a manor house for an esteemed family so I know she likes things that revolve around food novelty.

This may be silly but remember how big Dallas was here? Maybe some Dallas related stuff would go over well with some.

If San Antonio is on the trip list, some very lovely Mexican artwork, ceramics, etc can be found throughout the city.  There is an awesome market downtown called El Mercado:
http://www.sanantonio.gov/dtops/marketsquare/mercado.asp?res=1440&ver=true

A wonderful place to find some great unique gifts.

Shameless plug for my hometown!

Dar, San Antonio is actually one of the (very few) things that I really genuinely like about Texas!

If not for San Antonio, I'd be all for giving the whole state back to Mexico & throw the entire Bush family in with the deal as a 'bonus'! 

My Mom collects cookbooks.  Have you thought of buying her a tex-mex cookbook and some of the items needed to make some of the dishes. 

Dar, San Antonio is actually one of the (very few) things that I really genuinely like about Texas!

If not for San Antonio, I'd be all for giving the whole state back to Mexico & throw the entire Bush family in with the deal as a 'bonus'! 

Most of Texas want the Bush family to move back to New England!  But the New Englanders don't want them either! 

I love San Antonio and I love Austin.  Otherwise, that is about it!  San Antonio is very unique and an incredibly friendly place and Austin is just very different (it is like the black sheep of the state with its liberal ways!).  Glad you liked San Antonio!  How many margaritas did you have while there? 

I love San Antonio and I love Austin.  Otherwise, that is about it!  San Antonio is very unique and an incredibly friendly place and Austin is just very different (it is like the black sheep of the state with its liberal ways!).  Glad you liked San Antonio!  How many margaritas did you have while there? 

LOL!  See I never got around to Austin, but I thought I'd probably like it too.  I've spent a fair bit of time around Dallas/Ft Worth -- because some in-laws (first marriage) lived near there, and my brother lived there for a long while due to his job, not because he liked it.  I've also been to the Corpus Christi/Mustang Island area, Houston, and have cut through the panhandle on the way to New Mexico before.

I like San Antonio so much, I took DH there once before we married (we were in Texas anyway visiting my brother at the time).  Margaritas?!  Who can remember that?   I've had breakfast, lunch & dinner there in the El Mercado area before, done the Mission Trail, love the Riverwalk, etc etc.

Margaritas?!  Who can remember that?  

Good girl!!  That's just what I wanted to hear!