Question: birthday gifts

[MrsK]

I'm very close friends with a family that has two children. Their kids were in our wedding and the daughter is named after me. Until this year, I attended every one of the children's birthday parties and I always send them Christmas gifts.

The boy turned 9 earlier this month and I sent him a Battleship board game. He called to tell me that he loved the game because he enjoys strategy and putting things together and, although he'd played the game at friends' homes, he didn't have it himself. The game cost about $14 and whatever I paid to ship it to him.

The girl is turning 11 in December. She's girly-girl and she's begun to carry a cel phone (from which she texts me all the time) so I was thinking of getting her a purse. I found a cute little Vera Bradley purse for $18 (http://www.verabradley.com/product/S...Ascending.uts#). I think she'll like it and that it's age appropriate. Of course, I don't know whether her friends will think it's cool but her friends are mostly boys so I'm not worried.

Here's the question. The purse is normally $45. Will it appear as if her brother got a raw deal if I send her the purse for her birthday?

[L.Jane]

I truly doubt the boy would know how much the purse usually costs. It sounds like he really liked his gift, so I wouldn't be concerned. If the parents ask why you spent that much, tell them about your amazing bargain shopping.

[Meenah]

I agree the little boy will not notice, to him it will just be a purse.

[Deebs]

Send her the purse.

[TigerLily]

yeah you should totally send her the purse! He won't notice, and I don't think boys care as much about how much things cost.

What an awesome gift idea!!

Are you going with the Owl print one or the Latte one?

[MrsK]

The owl print. I just ordered it. I'm sending it early with a note that says I wanted to make sure it arrives before their Christmas gifts. She'll get it early/mid November. Her birthday is just before Christmas. Last year, her birthday gift arrived late and her brother taunted her. He said that he got gifts for his birthday AND Christmas but she'd only get one gift because her birthday was so near to Christmas. She's smart and she told him that she's known me two years longer than he has and she knows that I wouldn't do that. Hilarious since I asked their mom for advise when BabyK was scheduled for a Christmas delivery.

[v-girl]

My girls love Vera Bradley! They'll be getting duffle bags to use for ballet as their big Christmas presents.

[MrsK]

My girls love Vera Bradley! They'll be getting duffle bags to use for ballet as their big Christmas presents.

Oh, good to know! I was worried that she'd think it wasn't cool but she's about the same age as your girls.

[v-girl]

Maggie has the "Maggie" in Frankly Scarlet and Ella has some small, cute purse in Puccini. They want Very Berry Paisley and Twirly Bird Pink for their duffle bags.

I have the Vera in Baroque. Love love love it!

[scarlett09]

Maggie has the "Maggie" in Frankly Scarlet and Ella has some small, cute purse in Puccini. They want Very Berry Paisley and Twirly Bird Pink for their duffle bags.

I have the Vera in Baroque. Love love love it!

Love Frankly Scarlet, I'm sad I can't really find it anymore.
Ohhhh you have a Vera in Baroque, so jealous! How do you like the print so far? I need to get a fall purse, but was torn between the Very Berry Paisley and Baroque. I will hopefully make a decision in the next few weeks; I have prepped for my new purse by buying Twirly Bird Pink accessories for it, lol!!! Oh boy, do I have an addiction to Vera!!

I don't think the boy would notice the difference. You got a really good deal and it is really cute!! I know it is not the exact same age bracket, but I see a lot of college girls carrying Vera.

[v-girl]

I love the Baroque. I was torn between Symphony in Hue (but wasn't sure I liked it in the Vera), Slate Blooms and Barcelona. My winter coat is red. I don't need it often, but I'm not one to change out my purse because of what I'm wearing. I did consider buying a new coat though....

[MrsK]

The purse was delivered yesterday -- earlier than I expected, about 6 weeks before her birthday. She called yesterday to gush about how beautiful it is and how the owls are "so cool." Her mom said that when she got it she immediately started talking about getting a birthday gift for BabyK (whose birthday is exactly 10 years and 1 day after hers).

And - crud, would you believe that the purse was just further reduced to $10!

[v-girl]

I ordered the small duffle for each of the girls for their big Christmas present (we don't go overboard at Christmas or birthdays). Maggie gets http://www.verabradley.com/category/...703/pc/639.uts and Ella gets http://www.verabradley.com/category/...658/pc/639.uts

[scarlett09]

MrsK, I'm glad to hear she loved the purse! You did the right thing getting it when you did though - you can never tell when they are going to completely sell out of a pattern online.

v-girl, have you ever compared the small duffle to the weekender? I have a weekender and I really don't like it. I can never fit everything in it - a toiletry bag, PJs, and a change of clothes are a tight squeeze. Maybe I just need to pack less...or invest in a large duffle.