Okay, so my sis is turning 18 in a couple of weeks and I want to get her a cool, meaningful present. I wanted to get her a book on "being an adult" or voting and understanding politics, since she'll be able to vote, but I think she might get pissed if I get her that.

Anyway, does anyone have any ideas? What did you get for your 18th? Have you given any cool presents for this occasion to anyone?

Thanks.

11/8/2005 10:51:25 AM

if those ideas dont seem condescending i dotn know what does...you're not that much older than her.

[Edited on November 8, 2005 at 10:54 AM. Reason : how about a car, id like that]

11/8/2005 10:53:46 AM

yeah, i mean that's why i don't want to give her those things, it's not that i'm just older, she's just not very involved in politics, and now she gets to vote, so i thought she could learn about parties and different positions and think about which ones she agrees with and all that, i don't mean for it to be condesending. But i think she wouldn't like it too much because she thinks politics is "my thing" and i just don't want to feel like i'm imposing that on her. It's just the kind of present that I would have thought cool at the time, but i understand that she might not agree. That is why i am asking for ideas.

11/8/2005 11:05:20 AM

That's more of a just because gift. Buy her an Ipod.

[Edited on November 8, 2005 at 11:06 AM. Reason : ?]

11/8/2005 11:06:36 AM

its not condescending, its coming from her older sibling.

11/8/2005 11:07:32 AM

11/8/2005 11:08:15 AM

^^ id be annoyed if my older sibling got me something like that. she probably wont like it either way.

you are a girl though and still close enough in age...should be able to think of something.

11/8/2005 11:10:19 AM

get her drunk and get her a stripper.

that will be more meaningful then a book on politics.

11/8/2005 11:10:44 AM

Quote :

"^^ id be annoyed if my older sibling got me something like that. she probably wont like it either way. "

same.


The gift should be about her likes and interests, not yours.

11/8/2005 11:20:09 AM

Yeah so we need her likes and interest, plz.

11/8/2005 11:22:56 AM

have her get dressed up and take her out for a nice meal at a nice restaurant, some place she has never been. take some pictures, make a nice memory for her.

earrings, a nice leather purse, perfume, tickets to a concert, a dig. camera.

it depends on how much you want to spend and what she likes. definitely agree that you should be thinking about her likes and not yours.

11/8/2005 11:48:11 AM

not liking it != condescending

11/8/2005 11:50:56 AM

carton of cigarettes?

11/8/2005 11:53:26 AM

Those are good ideas, but i want to get her meaningful, i mean it's a milestone, she'll be coming to college next year. I don't want to just get her stuff, i get her stuff all the time just for no reason, so i don't think any "thing" would stand out.

I want something that she will remember, that will stand out. I want something that will help her acheive her dreams, etc. That's why i wanted a really good book, but i agree, i don't think anything political would be good. Or some really cool expereince, not sure though.

She's interested in sewing, (she made her own [very cool] prom dress,) hanging out with her bf, becoming a teacher, puzzles, she reads fantasy books, she does like cool clothes, but i get her clothes all the time. I can't spend too much money, i just want something really effectual.

11/8/2005 11:53:57 AM

get her a plane ticket to visit me..Ill show her everything she needs to learn about life.


but seriously though, do it.

11/8/2005 12:02:39 PM

Well, if she's interested in sewing, maybe you could try to sign her up for some sewing classes or something. It may sound a little dorky, but if she likes to sew, then giving her the gift of better skills is pretty meaningful.

Another less dorky, more risque approach to celebrating her 18th birthday would be to take her out one evening to do everything that 18 year olds can do that they couldn't before:
-buy a pack of cigarettes
-get some porn
-go to a strip club
-go to a dance club
-register to vote (this could obviously be done online before the evening starts)
-etc.

11/8/2005 1:15:53 PM

Quote :

"Another less dorky, more risque"

Quote :

"-register to vote (this could obviously be done online before the evening starts)"

11/8/2005 1:34:59 PM

^Yeah I know. Doesn't really fit with the whole "risque" thing, but it does involve having to be at least 18

11/8/2005 1:41:58 PM

no cigarettes, my dad just quit smoking after 20 years, i'm sure she would flip out if i got her some, she's totually against them.

porn, haha, she's 17 and has the internet, i don't think it's an issue.

maybe a club, but i don't know any good clubs in charlotte, any suggestions.

yeah, i'll help her register to vote.

but i still want something "oomphy."

Has anyone read any life changing, inspirational books? Any suggesntions?

11/8/2005 2:24:30 PM

You want a meaningful present? Just wrap up an empty box and give it to her. When she opens it tell her thats how the world is; life isn't fair, shit happens, and then you die.

11/8/2005 2:35:26 PM

haha

11/8/2005 2:39:36 PM

^^Brilliant.

11/8/2005 2:48:52 PM

11/8/2005 3:03:06 PM

Quote :

"Has anyone read any life changing, inspirational books? Any suggesntions?"

Oh the Places You Will Go!--Dr Seuss

11/8/2005 3:04:44 PM

My sis's 18th was in October, I sent her a porn care package.

11/8/2005 4:21:04 PM

18th birthdays are overrated...I am just fine without having anything special given to me for mine!




and that includes from all of my 8 siblings, I cannot remember one thing that I got that stood out. I was just happy that they were there.

[Edited on November 8, 2005 at 4:34 PM. Reason : /]

11/8/2005 4:34:00 PM

no fucking book jesus christ a book. are you fucking kidding. anything but a book on your 18th.

11/8/2005 4:41:45 PM

yeah i would be pretty pissed if i got a book on politics. that has to be the most boring shit ever. my brother got me a drinking game book. now that's a present.

11/8/2005 4:45:44 PM

Quote :

"Oh the Places You Will Go!--Dr Seuss"

please don't give her that! I have like five of those due to graduating from different things

I think an awesome present would be a vacation of some kind. Since you said you are on a budget, maybe you could take her on a road trip. Maybe to Florida for the beach or to another state to see a band she likes in concert.

You said before that you don't want to get her a thing. I agree. Things break, get lost, ect. But good memories last a lifetime.

11/8/2005 5:13:40 PM

"Rilke? That tortures me. Every Christmas, some asshole gives me this copy of Young Poet with this patronizing note on the flap about how it's supposed to change my life."


http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0393310396/qid=1131488221/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-6982287-7260936?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

11/8/2005 5:17:47 PM

Quote :

"get her a plane ticket to visit me..Ill show her everything she needs to learn about life. but seriously though, do it."

^^ I fit both those qualities in regards to the vacation

[Edited on November 8, 2005 at 5:40 PM. Reason : hnmth]

11/8/2005 5:40:13 PM

I have always believed in giving unique gifts. So I always know where to look for one:

http://www.iwantoneofthose.com (the wackiest)

http://www.hammacher.com

http://www.levenger.com

http://www.sharperimage.com

http://www.brookstone.com

Quote :

"She likes... puzzles"

GIVE HER A PUZZLE SHE CAN'T SOLVE! I HAVE IT... IT IS GREAT!

Quote :

"The Bedlam Cube has 19,186 different solutions! ( http://www.bedlamcube.com ) This brilliant puzzle is so compelling, so complex, and yet so seemingly straightforward, that you'll be poring over it forever. We still haven't cracked it, yet with 19,186 solutions, it has to be possible. In our defence, we have to get some work done round here from time to time. It's infuriating, utterly compelling, and a wonderfully brain-testing challenge. ( http://www.iwantoneofthose.com )"

Available in some 10 different colors and/or materials (wood, plastic, multi-color, national colors, etc). Some of them:










[Edited on November 8, 2005 at 6:02 PM. Reason : ]

11/8/2005 5:49:23 PM

My mom paid for my tattoo for my 18th birthday. That was the only thing I remember getting, and it was way more meaningful than the vast majority of presents I've received.
If she's not into politics you can't force her into it. I vote, but I hate politics, find the whole subject to be insanely boring. Don't buy her what you want, buy her what she wants.
A spa day package would be cool. I've been wanting one of those for YEARS and have yet to give myself one, or receive one.
If she's interested in sewing you can get her a book about sewing, a book of patterns, a gift certificate to a crafts store.
More than likely a book is not going to help her achieve her dreams. In fact, unless you're able to give her unlimited funds to do whatever she wants, more than likely anything you give her on her birthday isn't really going to do much for her life goals.

11/8/2005 6:41:51 PM

Do they allow gambling at 18 in Atlantic City?

That would be a fun trip to make, maybe not so much in winter though.

11/8/2005 9:27:39 PM

cash, lots of cash.

11/8/2005 11:26:26 PM

I vote the spa thing for you and her

11/8/2005 11:59:05 PM

LET ME BANG HER LIKE A SALVATION ARMY DRUM

11/9/2005 12:02:45 AM

Would your sister appreciate a nice piece of jewelry, like a very "grown-up" pair of earrings/necklace/bracelet? I know when I was a teenager, I just had stuff from places like Claire's, and several of my aunts bought me "real" jewelry for my 18th birthday.

11/9/2005 12:27:40 AM

My sis took me to see a male review for my 18th

Ohh, what authors does she like? I read a ton, if I knew what she liked, I bet I could suggest some authors (if she doesnt have them already)

[Edited on November 9, 2005 at 12:41 AM. Reason : sd]

11/9/2005 12:38:12 AM

Get her a book that says, "All politicians are bastards against God, and you'll be less likely to go to hell if you don't vote for any of them."

11/9/2005 1:06:16 AM

Quote :

"Would your sister appreciate a nice piece of jewelry, like a very "grown-up" pair of earrings/necklace/bracelet? "

If she doesn't wear jewelry, don't buy her jewelry. I've been wearing the same jewelry since I was in ninth grade, and my dad bought me a ridiculously expensive pink pearl necklace as a graduation present when I graduated from college. Right now that necklace is in a safe deposity box 6,000 miles away, and I've never worn it.

11/9/2005 2:53:57 AM

how about































me

11/9/2005 2:59:20 AM

good luck with this...my brothers didn't put thought into anything i got when i was 18... but, then again, they didn't buy me anything.

honestly, if she likes sewing, i'm trying to think of something that would be real cool to have. (I'm in TAM, and sewing's becoming a hobby of mine). Honestly, sometimes a gift certificate and something else, some cool experience (Concert, trip, etc) would be cool.

11/9/2005 8:18:42 AM

Thanks for all the tips, i'm really thinking about that cube thingy, though i don't know if there is enough time for it to ship from the uk. I'm trying to figure an experience. I was thinking skydiving, but she doesen't like that, she doesn't even like roller coasters, maybe a hot air baloon ride? Maybe take her to a strip club , i dunno yet, but keep em coming!

Thanks!

11/9/2005 9:08:55 AM

Quote :

"and my dad bought me a ridiculously expensive pink pearl necklace as a graduation present when I graduated from college. Right now that necklace is in a safe deposity box 6,000 miles away, and I've never worn it."

you have to wear pearls or else their appearance faulters. that would be a waste. it needs the oils from your skin to stay hydrated, but not too much.

Quote :

"Pearls will get brittle and crack when they are dehydrated. Never keep the pearls near heaters or in places that get strong exposure under sunlight. A safe deposit box is always dry. Try to take the pearls out of the safe box and get exposure under a moisture area regularly. Since pearls are soft gems, they should be stored out of things that can scratch them. Soft jewelry pouches or bags are a good choice for pearl storing."

11/9/2005 11:27:05 AM

Quote :

"i'm really thinking about that cube thingy, though i don't know if there is enough time for it to ship from the uk"

aha i win!

as for shipping, don't worry, as it takes 5 business days to reach any US address from UK

see http://www.iwantoneofthose.com/help_us_delivery.jsp

you can read testimonials of people as well who got their items in 4-5 days.

GO FOR IT!

p.s. there are other puzzles (or other cool unique things) on that website also, so get her the cube and some other stuff also. there is something for everyone on there.

[Edited on November 9, 2005 at 1:11 PM. Reason : ]

11/9/2005 1:10:00 PM

Quote :

"I was thinking skydiving, but she doesen't like that, she doesn't even like roller coasters,"

Holy crap, stop thinking of things she doesn't want!!!
You know, you could call her and ask.

11/9/2005 3:54:13 PM