What are good gifts to send to the States?

I'm trying to come up with some relatively inexpensive gifts to send back.  Don't want to send something like a miniture double decker and contribute to the misconception that living in the uk=living in london.  Not looking to send a t shirt with the flag on it, or a Beckham anything.

Any ideas?  Maybe just HobNobs? No that won't work, I used to buy those in San Francisco.

Thanks for any help.

I just sent gifts through Amazon.com this year. It's fabulous. I sent Godiva choccies to my mom through the site, as well as clothes to my dad. A lot of items/companies are offered with free shipping to entice customers to order their products. It was great seeing what I could send after seeing what sterling could buy.

Sorry if this isn't helpful as it looks like you might be asking about traditional English gifts. I thought about sending these in the past, but shipping is sooo expensive.

Jenninberks

Food gets tricky these days. You have to apply for some food wotchie; the Post Office has details. So, I've given up sending food.

One thing I've given are local calendars, not the ones available in the US...the ones of my area.

I've also brought magazines with me on trips back and they get gobbled up by everyone; they are almost like gold and I swear my sister-in-law is avoiding me because I gave my mother the magazines. My mother shares them with a neighbor who used to live in England, the next town over from us. (This magazine is particular to our area: Wiltshire Life, and it's got all the local stuff like people events and stores information and property for sale, but it's done very nicely, class.)

I've also given CDs done by local choirs, like Christmas music done by the choir in Salisbury Cathedral.

Here in Coventry we have a Coventry Monopoly game. You can learn about Coventry while playing the game. Its really neat. Dont know if you have something like that in your area.
I always send my family tons of Cadbury chocolate. I also found some cheapy things in the outdoor market in town.

For the men, I send back cuban cigars.  I never have any problem getting them through and they are a real treat for my brother's and encles as they can't get them in the US.

I also like to give things like lush cosmetics as they are not that available in the us (there are a few stores, but none in Iowa and who doesn't like glitter?!?)

The other thing that ges over well are "design icon" kitchen/housewares.  I am sure you know the things I mean--the super flash mortar and pestel, those herb chopper things nigella uses, the manolo blahnik shoe horn from habitat...the sheer "cool" factor of these items masks the fact that they are just everyday kitchen/household bits and pieces. 

Hope that helps

Here in Coventry we have a Coventry Monopoly game.

you're kidding. Just out of curiousity, what do they consider to be the more expensive properties?

We have a Kent Monopoly.

you're kidding. Just out of curiousity, what do they consider to be the more expensive properties?

lol. Certainly not my street! Maybe yours? I dont have the game. I just saw it last week at the Coventry City shop at Highfield Rd. Im too cheap to buy it.  (£25.00)

Well, I rent in the less posh side of Earlsdon (actually there are at least three invisible borders there). The only decidedly expensive area are the houses near Memorial Park. But if they use city centre, what could possibly by the properties? Spon St? I'm not even sure that I could even name enough distinctive geographical sites to fill the board.

I send a 1 year subscription to "This England" magazine.  Or I renew the existing subscription.

They are beautiful; Americans and Russians alike absolutely *cherish* them.

Check the sample issue at:  http://www.thisengland.co.uk/homepag2.htm

We're giving my parents and grandparents local calendars from a local charity showing scenes from the Northeast.  The scenes can be used as postcards once the calendar has been used and there are recipes from "celebrities" (like Judy of Richard & Judy fame!) on each page.  And for the younger peeps (13, 15, and 16)--they always like "ENGLAND" branded stuff, so we stocked up on shirts during Euro 2004 and found some really inexpensive (big) St. George's cross flags in ASDA.  My stepbrother (16) has an England t-shirt, Union Jack swimming trunks, and England socks--he wears them all at the same time and looks like a total weirdo, but hey, he thinks he looks cool!   

My grandma collects teapots, so I sent her a beautiful Wedgwood teapot once.  And my mom loves tea, so a nice selection set is always a good idea for her.

lol. Certainly not my street! Maybe yours? I dont have the game. I just saw it last week at the Coventry City shop at Highfield Rd. Im too cheap to buy it.  (£25.00)

I've seen it in the WH Smiths in Coventry as well.

I like to give music from British artists that don't get as much publicity in the US.  For example, my best friend is a major R&B artist.  I got her a Beverly Knight album that she really enjoyed and may not have otherwise heard.  This year, it's the latest Jamalia album. 

And for the younger peeps (13, 15, and 16)--they always like "ENGLAND" branded stuff, so we stocked up on shirts during Euro 2004 and found some really inexpensive (big) St. George's cross flags in ASDA.

i only wish my nephews embraced the fact i'm in england.  they want nothing to do with me now that i'm gone. 

then again, they are only 4 and 8. 

i only wish my nephews embraced the fact i'm in england.  they want nothing to do with me now that i'm gone. 
then again, they are only 4 and 8. 

Sorry to hear... mine's kind of the other way 'round.
I lived 1/2 hour away, never saw them.  Now that I live in England, I'm an interesting mystery.  And now that I've sent the ten year old a Real Madrid Beckham shirt for his birthday, I'm super cool Auntie E who lives in London!  And now the six year old is jealous....
Now I have to figure out how to even it out between the two for Christmas.