I've often gone with candles/holders. OH! One of the nicest and most useful thank-you gifts I've received was a pretty glass cutting board. Something like this? [link]

Oooh, good ideas. Keep 'em coming.

I did think about fruit. She apparently does her shopping at Whole Foods, and I was all "Great! There's one right by my house!" But apparently only Whole Foods stores on the West Coast have gift baskets in-store.

For floral arrangements -- an uncle bought one as a hostess gift for my mother that was all dried flowers, and we kept it for years. So it doesn't have to be a "needs maintenance" or temporary thing. In fact, I think there were candles in it too.

She apparently does her shopping at Whole Foods, and I was all "Great! There's one right by my house!"

Whole Foods gift card and beautiful flowers/candle/card?

Whole Foods gift card and beautiful flowers/candle/card?

Ooh, that's a good one.

I love getting gift cards. I think, "Oooh shopping spreeeee!"

The problem with a gift card is that there's an element of "Here's how much I value what you've done for my parents! It's worth this many dollars and cents."

I try not to let that bother me, but it's also kind of a knee-jerk thing with my husband, so we've gotten into the habit of avoiding gift cards.

I try not to let that bother me, but it's also kind of a knee-jerk thing with my husband, so we've gotten into the habit of avoiding gift cards.

Hmmm. Is there some music thing that would be nice? Do you have a recording of yourself? (I mean, in a chorus. Or solo, whatever.)

Oh, good one. (I'm running all of these past my mother.)

OMG I'm so bored. I'm not usually one for doing much work, but I wouldn't mind doing some.