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Ladies, if you were graduating from college...

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Ellen

Ellen

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What would you like to receive as a gift?

My niece just graduated. She''s going on (more schooling first) to be an Orthodontist. I am stumped on what to get her. She is very special to me, and I want to get her a memorable/meaningful gift, but I don''t know what. Budget is up to 150.00, but it doesn''t have to be that much, I''m more concerned with the gift, not spending money. Any ideas?
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I graduated from College a year ago, and my favorites gifts were:

Luggage
A monogrammed jewelry box
A set of nice pots (finally!)
 
Ellen,
What a sweet aunt you are!! Honestly, college students need money especially if she is going on to do more school to become an Orthodotist; I would give her money. If you still want to give her a meaningful gift I would give her $100 check/cash and then a meaningful gift of $50.

eta: Cleopatra Luggage is nice; I always use mine that someone gave me.
 
Skippy, that''s exactly what my uncle and aunt did for me - they bought me a monogrammed jewelry box and stuffed some money inside! It''s exactly what a broke college student would want!
 
Thanks so far guys. Couple things, her parents are doing very well (dad is ortho also), they're not going to let her starve.
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And the last present I got her, at xmas, was a really nice traveling jewelry case...so while that was a great suggestion on the jewelry box that I might have taken, it's kind of out.

Keep em coming!
 
how about a silver piece from Tiffanys? I got my bridesmaids some beautiful necklaces for about $150 and at least that way she could keep it forever and always remember why she got it.
 
This might sound a little strange, but when my then-bf and I (now DH) graduated and moved out to Cali to start our post-college lives, the best gift our parents got us (in retrospect) was a couple of sessions with a good financial planner who taught us the basics of how to manage our money. Anyway, I know its not a traditional gift, but it honestly meant a lot to us because it showed the trust they had in us to learn this important aspect of being adults and living on our own.

Otherwise, I like the kitchen things idea - if your niece loves to cook, you could get her a fancy kitchen toy of some kind. If she is more clueless in the kitchen, maybe a "starter kit" - a couple of decent but not fancy pots/pans, some basic utensils, and a cookbook for beginners?
 
I got some great gifts from my last few graduations

1)Desk set (note holder, pen, business card holder, clock) from my alma mater to use at my new job!
2)Tiffany & Co Bracelet
3)DVD of my life before and during college...
 
Ok, just mulling over the T&Co. aspect. I''m looking at their site, under graduation gifts. If I went the necklace route, would you want a "whatever" necklace, or something like this. They have a bracelet like this too, but it''s way over budget.

And thanks for the suggestions ladies!
 
Ellen, I probably just have one of their generic necklaces. I love the little bean ones. I got my bride''s maids the little silver tear drops. I think they are really elegant and go with anything. I love the jewelry idea (obviously!) and think it will be perfect since you have her a travel case for x-mas.

Also I thought maybe a really nice leather planner or something that would be helpful in school. Fancy pen maybe?
 
I only got one gift for graduating from college: a fountain pen. I love that pen. Still have it. Means a lot to me.

Gawd, I only wish I had got boxes stuffed with cash! My MA in England was EXPENSIVE.
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I would either do earrings or something like a pen. Something small and portable (remember, she''ll be moving!) that she can keep forever.

Tiffany has some great silver ball earrings for about $100. My fave on line pen store is Daly''s pen shop in Milwaukee. http://www.dalyspenshop.com/home/
 
I''d definitely get one that didn''t have the year on it--I''ve received a couple of year-specific necklaces in the past and they almost never got worn because after the first year, they got "dated" (literally!)

I love the idea of a silver necklace from there, though--I''m sure it will be much appreciated!
 
I would go with any necklace w/o a date....
 
Ok, great, no dated necklace. Thank you. Having all boys has not helped in knowing what girls want sometimes.
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I LOVE this necklace, and it is SO her. It is also way above budget, as is everything else I''ve liked so far that I think she''d like.
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But I''m not done with necklaces, and still have to go through earrings.

Thanks guys!
 
What about this one-it has a different chain but it''s kind of similar here
 
Date: 5/15/2008 11:48:34 AM
Author: Tacori E-ring
Ellen, I probably just have one of their generic necklaces. I love the little bean ones. I got my bride''s maids the little silver tear drops. I think they are really elegant and go with anything. I love the jewelry idea (obviously!) and think it will be perfect since you have her a travel case for x-mas.

Also I thought maybe a really nice leather planner or something that would be helpful in school. Fancy pen maybe?
Click to expand...
Tacori, did you get the solid one, or the open?
 
Date: 5/15/2008 12:09:19 PM
Author: bee*
What about this one-it has a different chain but it''s kind of similar here
Click to expand...
I missed this the first time through, but I do like that bee! Thanks, that may be a contender.
 
I love the little tear drop one-these are the three necklaces that I bought for the bm''s

threebridesmaidsnecklaces.JPG
 
Date: 5/15/2008 11:58:00 AM
Author: Ellen
Ok, great, no dated necklace. Thank you. Having all boys has not helped in knowing what girls want sometimes.
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I LOVE this necklace, and it is SO her. It is also way above budget, as is everything else I've liked so far that I think she'd like.
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But I'm not done with necklaces, and still have to go through earrings.

Thanks guys!
Click to expand...
What about this one:

http://www.tiffany.com/Shopping/Item.aspx?sku=GRP01646&mcat=148204&cid=287465&search_params=s+5-p+9-c+287465-r+101323338-x+-n+6-ri+-ni+0-t+

Really similar design, but smaller. Pretty!

ETA: A friend of mine got his girlfriend the Frank Gehry Fish necklace () http://www.tiffany.com/Shopping/Item.aspx?sku=21100439&mcat=148204&cid=287465&search_params=s+5-p+19-c+287465-r+101323338-x+-n+6-ri+-ni+0-t+ ) for Christmas last year and she LOVED it.
 
I got a leather portfolio for interviews etc with my initials in gold and a nice pen. I have used it ALOT.
 
oh and the elsa perreti K necklace that I have since lost.
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Ellen, I got the open ones. I think it''s really pretty. If I were to buy one for myself it would probably be the bean though. I love how fluid it is.
 
For college graduation I am getting my daughter''s friend something from Tiffany. Cash is nice but gets spent quickly and there is no memorabilia to look at. A nice piece of jewelry can be worn now and saved later. I think the Tiffany necklaces are perfect.
 
SDL, my good friend had one of these from her mom until her roommate stole it. Whats awful is that we have proof that she stole it, because she''s wearing that exact piece in half of her myspace photos.
 
Ellen I got them this.

It is MUCH prettier in person.
 
Maybe it is just me, but as a recent grad, jewelry was not really what I needed or really wanted. Do not get me wrong, I do love the earrings I got, but for me who was afraid to start in the real world, having something practical was my prefference. I didn''t get a leather portfolio and so I had to buy one. I have worn the earrings a few times, but I use the portfolio every day. Mostly I got cash, but that was what I wanted. But then, maybe because she will be getting practical gifts she would like something a little more "frivolous" so she doesn''t feel like she is so adult she can''t get fun gifts as well. Just think about her personality.

It is that you care and are proud of her that is most important, or at least it was to me.
 
I''m a new college graduate myself (hee!), and the most meaningful gifts are the useful ones. My family/Godparents/FI got me things off my wedding registry. So I think gifts like a fountain pen, a portfolio for interviews, or cash would be more appreciated than jewellery.
 
Thank you all, I really do appreciate your thoughts and suggestions.

Just a quick question, from one who is not in the know about a lot of things, but especially jewelry from Tiff's. What do the letter necklaces mean? I mean, there are only two, right? Why the a and k??



bee, I like all those necklaces!


ladyp, the first link won't work, but I did see the fish, and found it very unique. I like!


Tacori, I like the bean too. Another unique piece.


swingrl, we are on the same wavelength. I too love giving gifts that last. Tweny six years later, I still think of my girlfriend that gave me a pewter melted butter server when I got married, every time I use it, and I just love that.

I know kids like cash, and can always use it. But she comes from a huge family on both sides, plus many friends. She will get lots of cash, and I'm affraid someone might already think of the briefcase, portfolio or fountain pen. So I'm better off getting something I think won't be duplicated.



I think she will like whatever I end up getting her. She has told me on more than one occassion I give the best gifts. She has no idea that I probably enjoy giving them to her more than she does getting them.
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My favorite graduation gift was a big Coach tote for interviews/to use as a briefcase (I'm a college instructor and it's PERFECT for carrying everything I need for class). My mom gave me an inexpensive tote (I asked for one from St. Jude Hospital) when I graduated from undergrad since I'd be continuing in grad school because it is not exactly cool for grad students to carry backpacks. I don't really know anything about ortho school, but I'd assume that it's just as uncool to carry a backpack in all facets of post-undergrad education. :)You could definitely find some nice professional tote bags for $150.

I also second the idea of a planner...I've been coveting Coach/Kate Spade planners for years.

I also second the idea of something "grown up" for her home - although you may want to give her something that only she'd use if she'll be living with roommates (Freke's story reminded me of how all my airbake cookie sheets somehow ran off). Pots and pans, matching dishes, a silverware set, new towels (by the time I was done with grad school, my towels that I got at the beginning of undergrad were SO raggedy!), and you can get AMAZING deals on a KitchenAid stand mixer at Amazon.com if she loves cooking (I told my MIL once that to me, owning a KitchenAid mixer was the sign of being an adult - so it was what she gave me at my bridal shower. I think the KitchenAid is my favorite item, other than jewelery, in our entire house).

And..the other graduation gifts that I loved? Target giftcard. I know it's not very personal, but man, did I need those and appreciate them when I moved into an apt by myself and started grad school.

OH- one other idea - perhaps ortho is different, but where I live there's a school of chiropractic and I notice that whenever I see students, they're dressed in business casual attire. If she doesn't have a business casual wardrobe and will need one, a gift card for Ann Taylor, Talbot's, etc might be a great gift, too. Almost all the clothes in my closet are 2 years old, because when I started grad school I realized I owned NOTHING but jeans and hoodies from my alma mater and had to do some serious shopping for a professional wardrobe.
 
I''d go for the little silver something in the blue box! I received some cash and some practical gifts which I VERY much appreciated at the time. Over ten years on though, they''re pretty much worn out, but I still have my little silver locket, a gift from my Godmother. It''s very special.

I''d agree with the no engraved date sentiment, since you want this to be worn in 10, 20 years time without giving away her age LOL!

Happy searching - it''s always fun to pick out a special gift for someone you love.

Jen
 
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