GardenersCardiff answers:

Olive Garden gift, at least you can return it to the rightful owner…. Can’t take back having to sit through a Pearl Jam concert. BQ I really want a vacation.

GardenersCardiff answers:

Garden Bon Bons – look like candies, but are seeds for growing Italian Herbs or Herbs for Tea
http://www.uncommongoods.com/product/garden-bon-bon-sets

Chicobag Produce Stand www.chicobag.com $15.99 – machine washable 3 reusable bags in a cute pouch – reusable collection is very cute

Wrap-n-Mat – www.wrap-n-mat.com – reusable sandwich and snack baggies $6.99-$8.99

Electric Candle/Scent – Warmer Pots with scent bars http://scentsy.net/ (Pomegranate, Mochadoodle and Gingersnap are my favorites)

If you have an Olive Oil & Balsamic Tasting Gallery near you, go and get either Blueberry or Raspberry – they are great on salads and unbelievable on ice cream. Here’s what it looks like: http://oliversevoo.com/

Gift card to her favorite store or restaurant

Make a ‘love jar’ and fill it with origami hearts, flowers and slips of paper with notes of appreciation written on them or ‘I love you’ written in different languages (on the back write which language it is).

Http://www.ehow.com/how_2061320_fold-origami-heart.html
http://www.bloom4ever.com/how-to-make-origami-rose.php
Say I love you in different languages

GardenersCardiff answers:

Would be nice if you gave it to him and maybe went with him, I don’t know how long your visiting. It may also be nice to give him a nice picture of you to keep.

GardenersCardiff answers:

It depends on where you are going. You’d need to find out what the seeds are (what herbs) and then contact the agricultural department for the country you are going to and ask them if the seeds are allowed. Not all countries allow all plants.

GardenersCardiff answers:

I like that soup that has the little dumplings in it. {but they could easily cut out some of the salt in it; and it might even be better.}

For the main course, go for something that is more meat, cheese, and sauce. A chicken entree would probably be your best choice there.

GardenersCardiff answers:

I don’t think it would be in very good taste. Many people don’t bring gifts at all – they bring cash in a card, and it’s really not polite to open cash gifts in front of others. That’s best done at home, in private, for both etiquette AND security/safety purposes. You don’t want to be walking out of some family restaurant with wads of loose cash!

Also, remember that guests have plenty of time after your wedding to send a gift on. If someone wants to wait (say, until their payday) to buy and mail a gift, it would be very uncomfortable for them to have that fact highlighted by their gift not being there at the time of the opening.

Follow your mum’s advice, she knows what she’s talking about.

GardenersCardiff answers:

If you can use the gift card at more than one restaurant owned by the same company it will say so somewhere on the card. If you don’t like Applebees and would prefer a gift card for a different restaurant, there are websites where you can sell gift cards for cash or exchange them for gift cards from other companies. If you want to check some of the reputable companies, here is a link with more information: http://www.squidoo.com/unwanted-gift-cards

GardenersCardiff answers:

I usually figure in $15-$20 per person when I give a gift card, with a minumum of $30-$40 (enough for two people). If they have a family then I usually give closer to $70 so they can bring their kids and it will cover some of that, too.

Even if they are single they will more than likely go with somebody so I would think $30 minimum.

GardenersCardiff answers:

Those look fine , but give her a basket full of gardening things like seeds , cute shovels ,etc.

GardenersCardiff answers:

Does she have ergonomic garden tools? I saw an article about them in an issue of Organic Gardening. They had them for the disabled volunteers that worked a community garden.

I too have arthritis but in my back, so I find it easier to sit and do my gardening. Bending hurts after a while.

GardenersCardiff answers:

I don’t think it is inappropriate. I use to babysit pretty often and I would buy little things like that for the kids I babysat. If you feel like it may be a problem, just ask the parents where the children cant hear if its okay for you to give them those things. Don’t worry about the price. The kids don’t know the difference, and with children, it really is the thought that counts.

GardenersCardiff answers:

No! Maybe give it back to the person who gave it to you. Perhaps they could use it, or give it to someone who would appreciate it. Yes, you could use one of those sites that buys them from you, but they don’t pay the full value of the card. Here’s a crazy idea… Go to Olive Garden and use it! You could go with a friend and share it. Pay the check using the gift card, then have your friend pay his/her half of the bill minus the $25. That way, not only are you using the gift, but you’re sharing it with someone else.

Here’s a Google list of sites that buy and sell gift cards.

Http://www.google.com/#sclient=psy-ab&hl=en&source=hp&q=sites+that+buy+gift+cards&pbx=1&oq=sites+that+buy&aq=2&aqi=g4&aql=&gs_sm=c&gs_upl=1166l3445l0l7254l14l9l0l3l3l0l255l1399l2.4.3l12l0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fp=79a914ef1cf0f6d4&biw=1280&bih=819