gift for 13th birthday?

FuzzieAlum · #1 03-26-2002, 08:01 PM

I need help here!

My SO's daughter is turning 13 next week and I have no idea what to get her for the occasion. She's a little young (like she has no interest in makeup or anything yet). She is totally into Harry Potter, but she has all the books and is too old for the kiddie toys.

I'm not going to spend a lot of money (I'm NOT getting her the pony she wants!) and I don't want to get her anything that her dad might feel she is too young for.

Any suggestions???? Thanks!

KillarneyRose · #2 03-26-2002, 08:07 PM

Maybe a leather bound journal, photo album or scrapbook?

greeklawgirl · #3 03-26-2002, 08:09 PM

What about a pair of pearl stud earrings? They are relatively inexpensive (usually under $100). Pearl studs are a must in any wardrobe of jewelry, and she is *at that age* where she can really appreciate them.

I'm a sucker for giving my nieces jewelry, because I know how much I loved getting it when I was young. It made me feel special and very grown-up.

Peaches-n-Cream · #4 03-26-2002, 08:34 PM

Jewelry is good. How about one of those Tiffany bracelets engraved with 'Happy 13th Birthday, Her Name'? It doesn't need to be a real Tiffany.

FuzzieAlum · #5 03-26-2002, 08:53 PM

Hm ... I love jewelry, but her dad is a guy and doesn't "get" jewelry, so I'm afraid anything real (Tiffany, sterling silver, pearls) would strike him as kind of outrageous. She and I aren't that close yet, either.

A jounal would be nice ... I'll have to think about that.

Thanks, everyone! I'm totally new at this "dating someone with kids" thing.

33girl · #6 03-26-2002, 09:06 PM

I was going to say stationery, but these youth of today don't write letters, they email.

Bath and Body Works really isn't makeup, so that might be good. (I've never met a girl who doesn't like bubbly bath stuff.)

Harry Potter - see if they have any figurines (like Precious Moments, only H.P.) or something she could sit on her desk. That wouldn't be too juvenile, I don't think.

Jewelry would be good - but not too expensive. Try getting some of the pieces from The Limited or Express - maybe matching necklace & earrings. This isn't outrageously priced, and she will like that it came from a more adult store.

HeidiHo · #7 03-26-2002, 11:20 PM

Maybe a small birthstone ring? I got a saphire ring for my 13th. I still have and love it.
H

bgsugirlie · #8 03-26-2002, 11:28 PM

I would go with a Bath and Body Works basket filled with little lotions, sprays, and lip glosses. When I was that age, I loved things like that.

KappaStargirl · #9 03-26-2002, 11:32 PM

I see nothing but teens day in and day out

so I'm hoping I'm semi-qualified to answer this question...

A journal. Specifically, one with black paper and a cool cover that comes with at least one brightly-colored gel pen

Of course, the answer I have to give: BOOKS. Some great not-too-serious titles are:

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli (hence my sn)
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares
The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot
What My Mother Doesn't Know by the very fabulous Sonya Sones
Bobbi Brown's Teenage Beauty: Everything You Need to Look Pretty, Sexy, Natural, and Awesome by Bobbi Brown
Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging and the sequel On the Bright Side, I'm Now the Girlfriend of a Sex God by Louise Rennison, the funniest books I have seen in a long time
If she likes Harry Potter, she may also like Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer, an absolutely wonderful fantasy adventure from an Irish author
books from the Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
If she likes a good scare, try the Cirque du Freak novels by Darren Shan

The camera is a GREAT idea! I got one when I was about that age and got really into photography.

Gift certificates to places like Barnes and Noble or clothing stores like American Eagle Outfitters or Forever 21?

CD's of her favorite bands.

When I was that age I loved anything that had my name on it, especially jewelry...should be pretty easy to come by unless her parents named her something like Carlisle (gee Mom and Dad, who would ever name their kid that?

)

Does she like Hello Kitty stuff? Sanrio has stores all over the place.

The birthstone ring is a great idea, too. March's birthstone is the aquamarine, it's beautiful and not too expensive.

Good luck, let us know what you choose.

aephi alum · #10 03-26-2002, 11:48 PM

Hmm. Some of the Tiffany silver accessories are very nice and relatively inexpensive... how about a "Return to Tiffany" keychain?

Could she use a PalmPilot? I swore by my electronic organizer when I was in high school... PalmPilots hadn't come out yet... if she's like me, she'll need a way to keep track of everyone's phone numbers

Or, if her dad is agreeable, you could take her to a beauty salon for a facial or a makeover (just go light on the makeup, a 13-year-old doesn't need a lot).

It all depends on what her dad agrees to and what you're willing to spend.

Betarulz! · #11 03-27-2002, 12:29 AM

My little bro is 14 so I guess I have an okay idea of what's good.

This might be a little much but how about a cell phone? Sprint PCS is having a $50 mail in rebate on nearly all their phones, so you could get a phone for 49.99 and get their cheapest plan. However that is one of those gifts that just has to be kept on being given. The $50 rebate ends on March 31 so you'd have to hurry.

On the topic of books: The Redwall Abbey series by Brian Jaques is really good - kind of a romanticized fuedal period series only with animals...some of my favorites when I was that age.

Also perhaps the Harry Potter Computer game?

Despite what some others have said, pearl earings are too much at for a girl that age who isn't already in to make up and jewelry. However, maybe taking her out to get her ears pierced (if she doesn't already, or perhaps holes 2 and 3 on one ear...) and then allow her to pick out a couple pairs of earings from a place like Claire's or Afterthoughts might do the trick.

Also, I'm not sure when the Harry Potter movie will be out on DVD or tape, but you could pre-order her a copy or something of that sort.

newbie · #12 03-27-2002, 02:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Betarulz!

Also perhaps the Harry Potter Computer game?

Despite what some others have said, pearl earings are too much at for a girl that age who isn't already in to make up and jewelry. However, maybe taking her out to get her ears pierced (if she doesn't already, or perhaps holes 2 and 3 on one ear...) and then allow her to pick out a couple pairs of earings from a place like Claire's or Afterthoughts might do the trick.

Also, I'm not sure when the Harry Potter movie will be out on DVD or tape, but you could pre-order her a copy or something of that sort.

I totally agree with Betarulz's post. I was (and still am) a total girly-girl, so I was into makeup and hair stuff and bath stuff and jewelry at, like, age 12. But I had friends at that age who weren't into that stuff and didn't like when people gave them bath stuff/lipglosses/jewelry for their birthday. They were like, "Geez they should know better than to give me girly stuff when I'm not a girly-girl." I think Betarulz's idea for a Harry Potter computer game is excellent.

Also, maybe you could take her for a day out to an amusement park????! Just a thought

. I know most kids would be delighted with amusement park tickets...unless they are afraid of roller coasters. It's not too expensive if you get those 20 dollar-off coupons from Taco Bell or something.

Let us know what you get her! Good luck!

justamom · #13 03-27-2002, 07:56 AM

I like the tickets idea and though not familiar with all the books-books are good.

Some of these ideas ar great, but not what I would define a inexpensive!

At 13, my daughter liked the throw away cameras, this age loses things. Hair accessories were big and FAD jewelry. At the B-day parties you would see tons of these plus pillow cases that were decorated with the girl's name and stuff that fit their personality-big hit at spend the night parties.

They also liked to get cute tops that were in style. Journals and unusual picture frames were great.

FuzzieAlum · #14 03-27-2002, 06:13 PM

OK, thank you so much, everyone!

I ended up getting her Artemis Fowl (I thought about getting a couple of paperbacks instead, but hardcovers are nice) and a Hogwarts bookmark.

If the boy and I are still together this time next year (knock on wood) or even at Christmas, I'll definitely see about getting her some jewelry or something girly! Her dad isn't any help, bless him, and neither is her mom for that matter.