HELP - ideas needed

My granddaughter is graduating from Monmouth Univ in NJ on 5/21, and I am at a total loss as to what would be a good/appropriate graduation gift. She is going from living in north Jersey, back to living at home, as she has been accepted into the Masters program at Wilmington (DE) Univ, for mental health counseling, and will be going straight from graduation to more school, so there won't be any post graduation vacation/trip that she could use money for. She's not really big into jewelry, and I already gave her a diamond pendant that I had custom made with the diamonds from my mothers engagement ring, for her high school graduation, and she never wears watches either. I'm stumped, and really need some good ideas. Any and all are welcome.

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Originally Posted by pomtzu

My granddaughter is graduating from Monmouth Univ in NJ on 5/21, and I am at a total loss as to what would be a good/appropriate graduation gift. She is going from living in north Jersey, back to living at home, as she has been accepted into the Masters program at Wilmington (DE) Univ, for mental health counseling, and will be going straight from graduation to more school, so there won't be any post graduation vacation/trip that she could use money for. She's not really big into jewelry, and I already gave her a diamond pendant that I had custom made with the diamonds from my mothers engagement ring, for her high school graduation, and she never wears watches either. I'm stumped, and really need some good ideas. Any and all are welcome.

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A custom-made gift certificate for a fancy dinner/tea with her favorite grandmother?

A "Spa day" certificate if she'd enjoy that?

A framed photo of the two of you together?

A "weekend getaway" certificate for some place she'd like to go?

A new scrapbook that starts with an early picture you have of her, then a current, then the rest of the pages to be filled as she progresses?

A gift certificate from her fave store?

If she has particular hobby gift certificate for supplies?

A Cross pen was the traditional college graduation gift way back when.

I still use both of mine. ;)

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Originally Posted by Freedom

A Cross pen was the traditional college graduation gift way back when.

I still use both of mine. ;)

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LOL - I remember that very traditional gift. That is what my son suggested, too, since she is eventually going to be a counselor and would be taking a lot of notes on her "patients".

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Originally Posted by pomtzu

LOL - I remember that very traditional gift. That is what my son suggested, too, since she is eventually going to be a counselor and would be taking a lot of notes on her "patients".

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Yes! I got one of these when I graduated as well! Is she paying her way through the program or taking out loans? Money is still always a good gift, particularly for poor college students who have loans to pay off or simply to put away in savings. I don't know if this would apply, but does she have a 529 account? Any money put into a 529 account can be used for educational expenses. These are typically created to build up savings for a college fund when babies are young, but if she has a few more years of schooling - every bit counts!

I like the weekend getaway or spa day idea too if she's not going to have much gap between finishing one program and starting another. Sounds tiring! A spa day or weekend getaway would be a nice reprieve! Good luck and congrats to her! :)

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Originally Posted by Freedom

A Cross pen was the traditional college graduation gift way back when.

I still use both of mine. ;)

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I received one, too and still use it. That's a great idea. My brother and sister-in-law gave me a framed color pencil drawing of a cat, which I treasure. I received a carry-on bag as a high school graduation gift that has traveled a lot of miles with me over the years. Since she's starting graduate school, a briefcase? (Do people even carry briefcases anymore?) A Vera Bradley or Scout bag? Congratulations to her and best wishes for graduate school!

p.s., I'm reading these suggestions with double interest because my niece is graduating from college this weekend. I have no idea what her future plans are. She has two majors and I'm not sure which one she wants to pursue.

Ellie, thought of your thread when I saw this, GMA steal and deal online only offer, good today and tomorrow.

For $10 plus shipping and handling, you can order a tote with a photo you have. Tote is a good size, and holds up to 50 pounds. Maybe you have a good photo you could use for the gift - something of both of you, or one of her as a child, etc.

http://gma.yahoo.com/gma-deals-and-s...5836.html?Vp=1

I think there is a pillow too, see myrume.com Be sure to click the GMA link for the discount.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone - a lot of good ones. I'm still undecided.

And Sandie - I see you moved to GMA. Much better than your previous morning show - right??? :D

Sorry-- a bit late with my answer. I guess we all own a Cross pen , I still have mine, seems like they lasted forever.
If not a cross pen maybe you could get her a Smart Pen-- she will be taking lots of notes down so that would be so handy. Less paperwork.You could also get her a real nice leather briefcase if she doesn't already have one--- in her chosen line of work she'll make good use of one .

Or one of those small tape recorders to take down all notes and stuff so she can save on the writing.....comes in real handy and they're so small now, not much bigger than the one for a Holter :)

The only other thing I could think of was a gift card for her favourite clothes store----they never have enough clothes :D

Problem solved - hooray. :D

She already has the nice pen set that Steve (her dad) gave her when she was in high school - even he didn't remember - but luckily Tammi (her mom) reminded us. So I had to ask her what Tia would like, and she said that she really loves the Alex and Ani bracelets,, and only has one and was looking for more. I never heard of them - so Google to the rescue. They had so many to choose from, so I ordered 2 for her - the "granddaughter" and the "tree of life". Figured I couldn't go wrong with either of those themes.

Steve was going crazy trying to figure out what to get her too, so he asked her if she would like to have her diploma matted and framed, and she was very enthusiastic about that. He's going to let her pick out what she wants, then he'll have it done at a shop in Dover that specializes in this - they do awesome work. :)

Aww, sounds perfect! I bet she will love them!

A puppy!! (JK JK JK of course)

I'm glad you were abe to find something for her, sounds like a great gift!

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Originally Posted by snakemama

A puppy!! (JK JK JK of course)

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Oh yeah - she would definitely love that - and/or a kitty. She lost her little dog Lily last year, and her Mom is still working on Joe (her husband), to get another. They will eventually. But Joe is allergic to cats, so until Tia has her own place,, then that's out. She gets her puppy and kitty fix when she comes here. :D

Looks like you found the perfect gift POM--I'm sure your granddaughter will treasure the bracelets and she can add to them whenever... maybe when she gets her little dog :)

Congrats Pom on your granddaughter! I still have a cross pen with my name engraved on it that I love. I need to google the bracelet I love bracelets. I am taking my daughter to Cabo for her graduation, just me and her and my new 117 pound lighter body with ...drumroll... a two piece bathing suit! haha

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Originally Posted by caseysmom

Congrats Pom on your granddaughter! I still have a cross pen with my name engraved on it that I love. I need to google the bracelet I love bracelets. I am taking my daughter to Cabo for her graduation, just me and her and my new 117 pound lighter body with ...drumroll... a two piece bathing suit! haha

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Congrats to your daughter on her graduation, and to you also on your new look. You must be so proud - of your daughter and yourself.

This is kinda funny to me, but Tia hasn't even "officially" graduated yet (Wednesday is the BIG day), and she has already started in her Master's program (last Wednesday). It tires me out to just think of her schedule and how she manages to balance everything so perfectly. Some semesters she carried a packed schedule and worked 3 jobs on top of that. :eek: