luxury

I am trying to figure out the most luxurious gifts I can give to some special people in my life: my husband, my sister in law, my sister, and two precious friends who have been with me through thick and thin.

So, my question is: what is your definition of luxury? What would be a luxurious present for you?

A friend who is mom of 4 under 12 says Oil of Olay bath gel and the time to take a bath in it without kids interruptions is the ultimate luxury...

What are your suggestions and ideas?

Thanks,
.(`'·.¸(`'·.¸*¸.·'´)¸.·'´).
><:}}}>*Janie*<{{{:><
.(¸.·'´(¸.·'´ * `'·.¸)`'·.¸).

Wow....Luxury...That would be someone to do the mowing and trim in our yard for a year!

Off subject: We're having a DG get-together here in Newark some time in January. You're welcome to come, Janie! Anyone in the general vicinity is welcome. Right Flowox? LOL

Luxury is something which we actually do not need or rarely necessary in daily life. Luxury is almost synonymous to 'expensive'.

I agree about the bath. When my first four children were all under 4 years of age, I read a poem in Good Housekeeping, which was a luxury in itself on our budget, and the last line is all I can recall: "And most of all a quiet time in which to take a bath." For a long time, I kept that in my wallet, laminated and read often. An IOU for a weekend of baby sitting would have been wonderful, although I would never have been able to stay gone that long. Just having someone to provide two of the dozen extra hands I needed would have helped. A special box of candy, rich and expensive, back when I didn't need to count calories. A pretty scarf of silk, one that would go with many things. Film to capture my children and processing already paid. A good quality album to store the photos and display them on the coffee table we didn't have.

Well, the mowing and trimming of our yard would be a luxury to us, Dinu. My husband and I both have health problems and I do well to get my plants in the ground in the spring and take care of them in the summer. Having someone take care of our mowing and trimming would be a real luxury to us, especially since we can't afford to pay someone to do it!

GW, I wish for you a gardener helper! One who will mow, trim, edge, rake, prune and all the things that are too much to handle when you have health considerations.

Janie - For the ladies, what about a day trip to a luxury spa where she could have her hair done, get a facial, a nice manicure and hand massage, and all that good stuff? Couple that with a tin of really delectible goodies...Mmmmmmmmm.

Or for the group - a trip somewhere together? Somewhere special where you'll all be pampered?

Or book them all into a top class hotel for the weekend over Christmas!! I think that would be my idea of luxury!! No cleaning, no cooking, no washing up!! Sounds like heaven to me :-)

Janie,
If you can't afford the luxury spa or hotel, this mother of four under nine thinks a really nice gift would be if a trusted friend babysat for a few hours or even overnight (like Aimee said). Are you close enough to take the kids shopping for awhile or out to a movie or something? Or even have the kids to your house for a bit and give her the bath stuff too. For the others, you simply have to think or listen. Maybe there is something they have mentioned or that makes their eyes light up, that they just wouldn't get themselves. :)
Good luck.
Michele

Present buying is a bone of contention for me. I used to spend a lot of time and effort finding the 'right' present for everyone, and always enjoyed seeing people genuinely pleased at what they recieved. I usually get a years worth of socks with complaints that I'm difficult to buy for LOL.

Now, I don't put so much effort into it, not so much because of the socks, but because its too much stress. Like most people I'm always on a tight budget so I buy several small presents for each person. In recent years it been luxury food, the men in my family appreciate a small truckle of Stilton (or other) cheese and a bottle of port or wine, than anything else I could afford to buy and I know it will be eaten. Women get speciality foods and herbs/spices, which they like but never get round to buying it for themselves. I try and present them nicely in a small basket so its that little bit more special. Bathroom products presented like this are nice too.

Small gift hampers are easy to find if you don't have the time.

A luxury for me would be a half day of babysitting so I could browse at the local bookstore or antique mall. There isn't enough time for us moms to be by ourselves.

Something that even a man would like is a swedish massage. They average about $60 per hour, so they aren't cheap, but it's a great stress buster.

Luxury doesn't have to be expensive, though. Plan to fix a special meal and invite all the important people in your life to enjoy it with you.

An idea I used once was to have a "spa treatment" for ladies in my church who were busy, tired, etc. I had two Mary Kay ladies come and do facials (and satin hands - like a hand massage) and I hired two teenagers to bathe and massage feet. I offered herbal teas, fresh fruit and other assorted goodies. I also brought a massage therapist in, but that isn't necessary. It was great.

Get creative, not expensive.

How about a dinner at some wonderful restaurant that they wouldnt go to themselves where you have called ahead and made all the arrangements. Keep the kids over nite and make sure when they get home from dinner there are flowers, bottle of wine, candles, clean house and soft music......
Gosh it sounds so good I might give it to myself!!! :0) Meems

Oh Meems!! Send me that gift! Even if I get none but the clean house, I would think Santa came! LoL

Wow you guys are giving me a lot of great ideas. Meems, where do I purchase your gift as described? I think I will send it to myself, too! Wow!

Oh yes Louisa,I'm waiting for the limo to drive me too,lol'

I just remembered something a woman in my church did for me that was such a wonderful gift almost 40 years ago. It wasn't for Christmas but could have been. She knew I had a sick little one, and she took it upon herself to come to my house every cold morning and fix lunches, help dress kids and drive them to school. I always drove them if the temp or wind chill was below 40. Four were in school, and one was barely two, then there was the little one. The two year old always was my friend's favorite, so she dressed her along with the "big kids" and took her with them, then took her to either her house or maybe to shop or visit or whatever the friend had planned for the day. As she had a bunch of boys and only one girl, she enjoyed this and I had time to devote to the new baby. Two year old came home just in time for a nap, and we could have a cup of tea to talk about what they had done. Wonderful gift, low cost, mutual benefits. I think she did it until spring, every single cold blustery morning. Some variation of this would never be outdated.

GW, I forgot to mention that luxury is something which is meant for material pleasures. I understand your plight.