Hi there guppies. I need help yet again. I was wondering what to buy my dear mother in law as a gift? Occasion, you ask? None, xcept if you count that I will be visiting her for the first time ever since my marriage. We have yet to meet. She lives abroad so this means no desi gifts. She can buy herself pashmina shawls, nice jewelery etc..I want to give her something different, something unique that you may not get back home or if you do its better here. Lets start off by describing her. Hmm, she is a simple, humble, older lady. I don’t think American perfume or jewelery would be right. She is a seedih sadhi gharelu person. I love her so much and she is very kind and loving. All her life she has given herself up for her kids since her husband died. I want to make this special. I know many of you would think that if she is simple then she would be pleased with anything I get her but you know, I want it to be something so nice that she can use over and over and be reminded of me. Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks!!
Re: Saas ke liye tohfa!
P.S.-nothing too bhari as I will have other gifts for my hubs family that I will carry..
Re: Saas ke liye tohfa!
I'm sorry I didnt really understand if she lives in Pak or in the west? Does she live in a climate that has winter? Down comforters are lovely, so are electric blankets...or towel warmer (the sell really beautiful ones that look lovely in a bathroom, plug them in and they warm the towels for after-bath luxury).
More details about her please! then we'll see what else we can come up with!
Re: Saas ke liye tohfa!
My mother in law does NOT live in the west. If you can see I said I want to get her something NON desi as she lives in a desi country where she can buy pashmina desi shawls or nice desi jewels. Thanks for your input and help but it does not get cold enough in the east to use a down conforter. Also, I would like to travel light as I will have lots of other gifts for my hubbies family. Thanks again
Re: Saas ke liye tohfa!
P.S.- At this point in our lives, my hubs and I live comfortably and not luxuriously. I would like to buy her something nice but not something $100..I have a budget as I will get gifts for almost ten other people which will total $300 and thats already alot for us but I want to get some nice things for his family members because I love them and they are now just like my family. :-)
Re: Saas ke liye tohfa!
How about a really nice cardigan?? They really love cardigans from the west as the material and designs are so much nicer!!
Re: Saas ke liye tohfa!
Phooljari..........you said your MIL is a simple woman. So how about getting her a n attractive dinnerware set (dishes, cups, etc). You can find pretty ones that are reasonably priced and light weight. If you live in the US, you can try Bed Bath & Beyond....where you'll get nice deals and coupons/discounts.
I know you said that it doesn't get cold enough for a down comforter...........but you can get a very lightweight bed spread..........or how about a lovely bed sheet/pillow case set? It would be light weight.......and there are nice varieties in the West.
Some decorative pieces? Such as decorative candle ornaments or mosaic frames?
Bath and body sets?
I think that the west has much more variety in purses..........a nice purse always makes a good gift.
You don't have to get her just one gift......it could be a combination of gifts that fit your budget.
****** The type of gifts are common everywhere. You can find purses, dinnerware, bedspreads in almost every country. But what makes the gift unique is the style....and of course the thought counts as well.
Re: Saas ke liye tohfa!
what about a frame with your pics or family pics in there, or make her a family album...with all her fave pics in there, or find the islamic meaning of her name and get the name and meaning framed,,,,its beautful, i got my mums name framed with the meaning too....it looks stunning, if you do it well...xx
Re: Saas ke liye tohfa!
Hmm. Do you know her shoe size? Get her nice comfy but cute shoes...like Aerosoles, Easy Spirit or something similar. I know my MIL loves shoes from here as they are so much more comfy then the ones available in Paki. I also agree with the nice cardigan from here, with good fabric that doesn't get lint and doesn't wear out quickly (good fabric, good design). Perhaps even a unique yet functional household item from Bed Bath Beyond.
Re: Saas ke liye tohfa!
you could buy her a lovely purse with matching wallet, put photos in the wallet and a little bit of spending money. Also put in some nice bath salts/ bubble baths/lotions, maybe a pumice stone or exfoliating gloves, you can make a really lovely "gift purse" with not much cost.
Re: Saas ke liye tohfa!
a digital photo frame pre-loaded with family photos.......
cost-effective, lightweight and cherished forever.
Hi there guppies. I need help yet again. I was wondering what to buy my dear mother in law as a gift? Occasion, you ask? None, xcept if you count that I will be visiting her for the first time ever since my marriage. We have yet to meet. She lives abroad so this means no desi gifts. She can buy herself pashmina shawls, nice jewelery etc..I want to give her something different, something unique that you may not get back home or if you do its better here. Lets start off by describing her. Hmm, she is a simple, humble, older lady. I don't think American perfume or jewelery would be right. She is a seedih sadhi gharelu person. I love her so much and she is very kind and loving. All her life she has given herself up for her kids since her husband died. I want to make this special. I know many of you would think that if she is simple then she would be pleased with anything I get her but you know, I want it to be something so nice that she can use over and over and be reminded of me. Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks!!
with all these details i'm sure she might like a grandchild...grandson preferrably :@:
Re: Saas ke liye tohfa!
^ lol! haha
how about some nice earings or even a bracelet? i know u can get that from pakistan, but its nice when its coming from overseas..
and actually, if she's in Punjab, it can get damn cold in the winter! trust me...everytime ive gone its winter and I freeze!
how about gold ear rings or kangan...in usa you can find many from indian shops and people in pakistan really like it
A bahu that loves her MIL? 
Re: Saas ke liye tohfa!
How about a very pretty watch?
Re: Saas ke liye tohfa!
I will echo some suggestions made above bcos I think they are suitable.
Cardigan - NOT ACRYLIC - should be cotton or wool (but wool will probably not survive the washing regime there).
Comfy good quality shoes / sandals.
Handbag
Watch
Ring would b good but may be out of budget
Soaps - some decent scented ones, along with talc powder gift set (where would an old fashioned pakistani woman be without her talc???)
Also consider a good quality grooming kit - for women - with tweezers and manicure stuff in it.
Fragranced body oils to apply as perfume.
About dishes, its very likely that your MIL would love a dish set, but its risky to take as it may break.
How about some serving spoons or cutlery? There is often a marked difference in quality between cutlery from the west and the commonly available stuff in paks. It won't break either. And MIL would be pleased to show it off to her guests also.
Also - a PAN set - stainless steel guaranteed type - but that might b too heavy.
I once took my MIL one of those single person teapot set things - a teapot which sits inside a cup, on a saucer - for some strange reason she absolutely loved it.
Re: Saas ke liye tohfa!
When you meet her for the first time, you could give her flowers. :)
Yes, I do LOVE my mother in law and its not such a hard concept. In my family mother in laws are prized, well more like respected but respected because we love them.Love them sincerely. We try our hardest to form a bond with them like they are our own mothers. It was so cute when both my chaachas wives set up a special room in their house for their inlaws who were coming back from a month long visit to Pak and fought over who keeps them at their place. They had new sheets, flowers, a nice dresser and side tables and a Quran by the bed. Nicely done because they truly had a bond and love for them. Haha at Mabrook. My mother in law is the best. She has not asked about children from me for the year I have been married because she knows when the time is right, it will come. Plus I am not ready for children. Sure I will be a good mother IA and if it happened now I would do well but honestly I would rather wait till I am done with my masters degree I am pursuing and get a decent job and move closer to my family.(all won’t be possible until a long time from now) As for everyone else, thanks soo much for your suggestions. I love some of them. Perhaps I will get her a nice sweater, a purse with some nice things in there for her and maybe a picture frame of my hubby and I at our wedding since she could not attend. Now I have to think of my bhabi. She already has a list of thing she says she needs, not wants..haha..Love you all..thanks, I will think it over more.
I once took my MIL one of those single person teapot set things - a teapot which sits inside a cup, on a saucer - for some strange reason she absolutely loved it.
Freak coincidence - I took one of those for my chai loving MIL as well on my last trip and she too loves it (obviously not for using though as it's far too special for that now)