40th birthday gift ideas - help!

skintchick

My friend turns 40 in January and I have to get her gift before Christmas.

She is a size 18 and on a diet so nothing foodie, and she doesn;t really drink so no alcohol.

I always buy her jewellery so don;t want to get her any more as it looks like I have no ideas.

SHe has three children, is married, loves singing but has no other hobbies.

I can spend up to £30. Any ideas?

skintchick

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Bump!

rainmac

How about a journal in a jar? You type/write lots of prompts on paper and pop them into a jar and include a notebook for the recipient to write the answers down http://organizedchristmas.com/printable/adult-journal-jar. I made one for my friend's 40th and for other people for Xmas.

Name a star - http://www.freenameastar.com/register.php

Sorry brain gone, will pop back if I think of more!

discountshoppers

I was 40 a few years ago and I'm worse than your friend to buy for as I hate getting presents, don't like jewellery, can't drink a lot and didn't want clothes as put on weight.

My friend put together a really nice scrapbook - it was a very posh hardback one and put in all the pictures of us and put some comments by each one and also put in bits and pieces that we had a joke over at the time.

It was brilliant, I loved it. It showed she had really thought about it and it was much better than anything she could have bought from a shop.

KARENW_3

How about a spa day not as expensive as it sounds! Boots are doing a gift voucher for 2 people to use a Hilton Hotel spa for the day for £20.
http://www.boots.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10052&productId=29284&callingViewName=&langId=-1&catalogId=11051

Tra77

How about a digital photo frame (should be able to get one for £30 if you shop around - ebuyer etc.) and load it with loads of photos for her (nights out of the two of you, special occasions, family get togethers etc.)

Or if she like singing get her an hour in a recording studio (or club together with another friend or her partner). My son got 3 hours @ £25.00/hour at a local studio (google recording studios in your area and ring around a few - much cheaper going direct rather than buying as a 'gift experience'), they'll provide backing tracks etc. (if you require) and a cd of the recording at the end of the session.

pinksteviegirl

:T A friend of mine recently turned 40, he's hard to buy for as he has or gets everything that he wants. Knowing that and the fact that he is kind and always helps those in need I bought him a goat from
http://www.musthavegifts.org/WorldVision/Default.aspx

He was over the moon, and whilst he didn't have some extravagant gift he had the good feeling that a family would survive thanks to the gift of a goat - his words were ' one of the best gifts I've ever had!'

I don't normally do a gift like this, and I'm not trying to do marketing for that particular website - there are plenty others out there but if someone bought me something similar then I would be totally over the moon and would certainly have a feel good factor!:A

perfectlypoor

how about singstar for the playstation if she as access to one?

skintchick

THanks for the ideas, sadly none of them are very 'her'. She loves singing but wouldn;t want the recording thing or singstar. I dont; have loads of pics of her as she hates having her picture taken - size 18 is the smallest she's been for years. And if I got her a charity gift she'd never speak to me again!

I'm so stuck! I have no idea what to get for her.

panpipe

What style of singing does she like to do? Maybe you could get her a consultation lesson with a private teacher? If it's classical, you could try approaching universities or music colleges for contacts, or go into your local music shop as many of them tend to have lists of teachers in the area.

Why not take her out for the day, a treat for the two of you, maybe to a matinee performance of a show?

skintchick

She doesn;t need singing lessons, she is fantastic. I'm not sure I could afford a show, plus she has three kids and a policeman hubby so babysitters would be an issue. It's a nightmare!

SHe does like having her nails done so maybe I'll pay for a manicure, it just doesn;t feel very special.