Christmas 2021 - Gift Ideas?

Due to be going to the US for Christmas this year (we're just over 2 weeks out WOOO!) and I've got the nieces and nephews all sorted for presents. My family also does a yankee swap with a value up to $30 (give or take). I am at a total loss of websites (other than Target, Etsy, and Amazon.com) that I can find fun and interesting gifts to browse (I order from the UK on my UK card and have it shipped to my moms in the US). I am totally clueless as to what I want to trying to get some good ideas on websites I can actually shop on and I'm at a loss...haven't tried to properly buy to send to the US in ages.

Any website suggestions? Can be gag stuff, useful stuff, etc.

Alternatively, any gift ideas for what would work for males or females aged 40's to 70's? We've got a pretty broad range of interests as a family and good sense of humour so hard to mess anything up but I feel like I always buy similar stuff....I don't think booze really lands over there as it does back here. Any inspiration you can give me would be greatly appreciated.

Ideas I currently have are (just roughly as money doesn't seem to go as far in the US lol):

- Anti-screen time box (self care stuff that doesn't involve a screen...E.G. shower steamers, a fun/funny/interesting puzzle, had a few books and gag stuff in mind as well as some board games and general comfort stuff like a blanket). If I don't use this for a grab, I'm thinking of doing a small one for both my sisters.
- Wine and cheese set (cheese board, wine glass that also has cooking measurements, bottle of wine, print out some recipes that use wine, maybe grab a small card game to play while enjoying the cheese and maybe try to find some cheeses)
- A coffee box (coffee or cold brew fancy drip thing with a nice mug, coffee, and chocolates to go with it)

I genuinely just want to do something that is more useful but am having a total brain melt LOL

Can't go wrong with a kite!   https://www.atbshop.co.uk/power-kites/hq-symphony-beach-power-kite?opt1=1.3m%20Rainbow&gclid=CjwKCAiAnO2MBhApEiwA8q0HYTr75Jfkjozlavsoa_5Gu31sy8FjdL57VBPyofkuzCHYSwEPD82OMRoCON0QAvD_BwE

Can't go wrong with a kite!   https://www.atbshop.co.uk/power-kites/hq-symphony-beach-power-kite?opt1=1.3m%20Rainbow&gclid=CjwKCAiAnO2MBhApEiwA8q0HYTr75Jfkjozlavsoa_5Gu31sy8FjdL57VBPyofkuzCHYSwEPD82OMRoCON0QAvD_BwE

I've just edited, I meant to put $30 (not £!) - I'm having a massive brain fart haha

I think it looks super fun but I've got a feeling it wouldn't get the love and use it deserves, sadly I'm trying to think of useful indoor stuff that they don't all already have and I'm strugglingggg. Also trying to not bring stuff from over here as I don't want to use up suitcase space.

Do they still have the cheese boards in the state shapes at Target? I LOVE my Florida one.

Let me find the maker. Is your whole family in the same state?

Do they still have the cheese boards in the state shapes at Target? I LOVE my Florida one.

Let me find the maker. Is your whole family in the same state?

Yeah they are all in MA. I didn't see it on the target website. Was just going to go with one that looked like the top of a log and had an axe as the cheese knife hahaha

I've just edited, I meant to put $30 (not £!) - I'm having a massive brain fart haha

I think it looks super fun but I've got a feeling it wouldn't get the love and use it deserves, sadly I'm trying to think of useful indoor stuff that they don't all already have and I'm strugglingggg. Also trying to not bring stuff from over here as I don't want to use up suitcase space.

Don't worry, if people don't want to kite they shouldn't get one, like a puppy. 

Not to highjack but seeing as that’s what we do….

@jimbocz my kids want a kite.  Any recommendations?  Let me find what they did have for a few years. It was great.

Not to highjack but seeing as that’s what we do….

@jimbocz my kids want a kite.  Any recommendations?  Let me find what they did have for a few years. It was great.

Don't worry! This thread can be used for any and all christmas gift suggestions

Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk

Any reason you don't want to bring UK stuff for your swap?  It's totally unique and fun!

In the past I have brought food stuffs (all kinds of everything from chocolate, M&S stuff, tea, Mr Kipling, etc), Harris Tweed gifts, funny things like UK puzzles, or games like the British version of Monopoly, local books, hand crafted items, Gin/Whisky you can only get here, etc. 

Not going to the US this year, so I bought some stuff off Etsy (checked the shop was in the USA and that it shipped to the USA) and Uncommon Goods and shipped to my sister's house. 

Have a great time!

Not to highjack but seeing as that’s what we do….

@jimbocz my kids want a kite.  Any recommendations?  Let me find what they did have for a few years. It was great.

I clicked through that link and there's an awesome octopus kite in the frequently bought together. It looks amazing, giving it serious consideration for myself!   

I clicked through that link and there's an awesome octopus kite in the frequently bought together. It looks amazing, giving it serious consideration for myself!   

Which link?  I clicked through Jimbo's and searched for octopus... I need to see it!  Link! 

Any reason you don't want to bring UK stuff for your swap?

More just because it adds to the stress of if something happens in transit. E.G. it breaks, gets confiscated for some unexplanable reason, bag gets lost, etc.. I don't really want to have to physically go into shops - especially due to a last minute present panic - so was trying to avoid it but it's not out of the question (especially as it seems money maybe goes a bit further over here - at least for certain items).

Also, when it comes to snacks and stuff, I've done that before and my family don't really care for them either way so it ends up just being a waste, unfortunately saying that - however - I may bring some snacks anyways. I wish they were more impressed with british goods!! LOL

I'm thinking I'm going to lean into the cheese/win/hosting thing.

I'm going to make a resin like this ( https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1056820054/resin-epoxy-with-flakes-wine-bottle-and?gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_uk_en_gb_-home_and_living&utm_custom1=_k_CjwKCAiA4veMBhAMEiwAU4XRrzI2HRt31kZlDfyKlszzAQ8qxu80YVysV_SOAn7RGqwrNFyI3V-RlBoCHfsQAvD_BwE_k_&utm_content=go_14821442085_125173007022_549119977872_pla-303628061699_c__1056820054engb_479531364&utm_custom2=14821442085&gclid=CjwKCAiA4veMBhAMEiwAU4XRrzI2HRt31kZlDfyKlszzAQ8qxu80YVysV_SOAn7RGqwrNFyI3V-RlBoCHfsQAvD_BwE ) as my niece has the moulds so that will cost very little.

then I'll get some type of cheeseboard, a bottle of wine and maybe some local beers from over here that pair well with cheese (so that there's something for everybody that receives it), and a small board/card game so it makes a nice date night type pack. This is where I might bring a few snacks or something from over here.

Unless anybody can think of anything else that's interesting to go in a wine/cheese pack. The company FRED used to make such good but funny cheeseboards but they're so hard to find now (like a mousetrap one).

Was thinking of doing a pizza set but might give that to my husband as an idea.

Not going to the US this year, so I bought some stuff off Etsy (checked the shop was in the USA and that it shipped to the USA) and Uncommon Goods and shipped to my sister's house. 

Have a great time!

Will check out this website as well btw!

Thank you!

(sorry hit send on my post too quickly).

just got this cheeseboard at £5. bargain. Nearly ordered one for myself LOL.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/115063005165?hash=item1aca4a1fed:g:zHMAAOSwygBhdoDz

Unfortunately, I'll have to take it with me but it was either this or pay literally 2 - 3 x the price + shipping (while this was free shipping). At least if it goes missing, it was only a fiver!

just got this cheeseboard at £5. bargain. Nearly ordered one for myself LOL.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/115063005165?hash=item1aca4a1fed:g:zHMAAOSwygBhdoDz

Unfortunately, I'll have to take it with me but it was either this or pay literally 2 - 3 x the price + shipping (while this was free shipping). At least if it goes missing, it was only a fiver!

Love it!