Baby Shower host gift ideas for a kinda weird situation?

[Mosaic]

Long story short, my husband's office is throwing us a semi-surprise baby shower on Friday. I'm shocked, as this is our second baby, another girl, and I have 2 whole days to prepare.

I would really like to give them something nice for putting this together, but I'm a bit stumped.

1) It's a work function and my DH is a manager, so gifts that I would give my girlfriends wouldn't really be all that appropriate for a work environment.

2) I don't know yet how many hosts there are putting this together, and even then I've only met them a time or two, so I don't really know what they like.

3) The main contact for the shower is someone DH manages and, well, their working relationship has been rocky at best. I think it's nuts that she is putting this together, but DH thinks she is trying to show that she's putting in more effort.

For these reasons, I could really use some advice on what would be appropriate but nice and thoughtful gifts.

Also, while I'd love to give them something at the party, I'm thinking it might be easier to send their gifts to the office with DH on Monday, after we know exactly who the hosts are. Do you think that would be ok?

[alexisfaye]

hrm

That does sound awkward, but I think you're right about it being easiest to wait till Monday. If it were me, I'd do something "office-wide" though, since those people will also feel obligated to buy gifts. I'd probably send a thank you note with some sort of nice baked good or other edible. Cake, cookies, etc. Office folk usually LOVE treats like that. We sure scarf 'em down in my office

[sarahb918]

I agree with the note and an edible gift that can be shared among everyone in the office.

[MacKinnon]

Office wide thank you on Monday that is edible would be my vote too! Can't go wrong and they get eaten up at our office too

[MammaB21]

A card and an edible gift would be great! You could also do a gift card instead that would be meant to share in the office. Maybe to a nearby restaurant for a lunch break. I'm not sure what the environment is there, but where I used to work we used to get insentives like that a lot. We would either all go out together, order in, or use it individually by just splitting up the total on the gift card between employees.

[gorgorita]

We had a baby shower thrown for us at DH 's work and the situation was very similar. He is friends with some and there were also many with whom he had been too strict.
Anyway, Dh told me about the party a week before and i was surprised but decided not to make any gifts but send thank you notes written by hand and personalized. He also brought breakfast treats with him on Monday.
I thought that was appropriate and sufficient
I wouldn't do gifts. It's way too hard to find something for friends let alone for people I don't know.
The party was weird though and I wish they didn't do it.
I didn't know many people there and conversations were awkward.

[mclisa]

http://www.ediblearrangements.com/

They have made for a great thank you from me on more than one occasion.

[MaerynPearl]

Originally Posted by mclisa

http://www.ediblearrangements.com/

They have made for a great thank you from me on more than one occasion.

I hear their chocolate dipped strawberries are the best ever...

[Pinoikoi]

Fruit basket

[theoldmommers]

Originally Posted by mclisa

http://www.ediblearrangements.com/

They have made for a great thank you from me on more than one occasion.

In fact I'm hoping someone gives me one!

[MammaB21]

Originally Posted by mclisa

http://www.ediblearrangements.com/

They have made for a great thank you from me on more than one occasion.

Ooohhh....yum. That's really cool, but spendy. Yikes. I'd wouldn't ever buy one anyway because I'd be afraid they waist a lot of food and I wouldn't want to support that. But that's just me. I don't buy baby carrots for the same reason. That could be a fun thing to try and make on your own though, if you're up to it. I have an aunt who has made them for showers and holidays before quite successfully.

[hotharmony]

I dream about their chocolate dipped pineapple!

[Mosaic]

Thanks for the thoughts, all! I don't know why I didn't think of food! These folks are spread in a few different departments, but I think DH could still bring something in and email folks so that they know to come and get it. That plus personal thank you notes should be good, right?

[lunarlady]

I would say make sure to get the names of the people who gave gifts, then take the weekend to write thank you's for each person. Then send DH to work Monday with the pile of notes and a box (or 2!) of doughnuts or other treat that he can set out in the breakroom with a sign saying "Thanks from the _____ for the baby shower!" That way people who maybe wanted to go but didn't for whatever reason will still feel thanked. Make sure you send enough of whatever that everyone in the office can have some.