Hey mamas,
Quick question here. I was given solid wood bunk beds by a friend recently. I was sooooooooooooo beyond blessed and happy to recieve them as both my boys now have really nice, hardly used new beds. Anyhoo, I went to a birthday party of the little girl of my friend the following weekend and I took a gift for the girl of course and a thank you card with a gift card for dinner at a restaurant inside for my friend and her hubby. I gave her the card while she was in the midst of throwing the party, not a good call I think, but that is what I did bc I didn't want to forget. I went in the house for something and saw the unopened card sort of sitting haphazard by some trash. I moved it to a safer location and then when I went out casually told the mom where I stuck it, which is in plain sight. SO, my question is this, it has been several days and I have seen here since and she didn't mention it at all. That is totally fine of course!! But as I gave it to her at a kind of bad time, should I ask if she got it? I hate to think it might get unopened or unused, or accidentally trashed as it was actually a monetary gift. Or will it be tacky to ask about it and I should just hope for the best? Thanks!
Maybe just start by thanking her again for the beds and say something about did she enjoy the dinner out? or does she need a babysitter to enjoy the dinner out?(if you are willing to babysit)
I like the approach that suggested mentioning to her how much you're loving and appreciating the beds and say if she needs a sitter to use the XYZ gift card to just let you know!
I think this has happened to me before and I just asked her "hey, did you find that card I stuck on your counter ( or where ever)? I just wanted to make sure you found it", kind of thing. She sounds like a good friend so I don't think she'll take that in a weird way...you're just making sure she got it so she can enjoy it. That's understandable.
Maybe offer to watch her daughter for her when they want to use the gift card you gave them. I guess you know if it's possible for you to babysit or not, but offering would be a good way to bring it up in a non-accusatory way. If not, I think I would still ask just to be sure it did get found. She sounds like a close friend, so I doubt she would feel weird. Good luck!
Yes, you should ask her just casually like "Just checking to be sure you did get the card because it was chaotic when I gave it to you".
When I gave my sister and her husband two gift cards at Christmas a few years ago, I never saw her open the gift bag they were in. She never commented and I thought maybe I picked a bad restaurant (one they didn't like). Almost a full year later, she said "did you give me gift certificates last year?". When I said yes, she said "Thank you" I just found them. She didn't know for almost a year that I had gotten them a very generous gift (they went out at least once a week and never knew the cards were there). I learned my lesson...when in doubt just ask.
BTW, in the future you may want to hand things like to the friend at a different time. I have a relative that tries to hand me stuff when she walks in regardless of how busy I am, what is going on, or how late she is (which means party is in full force). It is a horrible time because it requires me to stop what I am doing to accept it/put it somewhere when I am in the midst of other things. Not to sound ungrateful but it is stuff that I don't typically need and could definately wait until the end or another day.
I'd give it another week and then just ask her.
Why be coy about it?
Or heck, I 'd ask her now. Your perfect reason for asking is because of the chaos that was going on when you gave it to her... I'd use that as the premice for asking.
"Nancy, you did get the gift card that I put in your card that night of the party didnt you?... I meant to ask you last time I saw you but it slipped my mind."
Easy and not Cheesey :)
I would ask her if she'd gotten the thank you card.
I lilke the idea of bringing it up by offering to babysit while she and her hubby use it....but of course if that is not an option, then I think I would just leave it since you already told her where you placed it. And if she did by chance lose it, unless you intend to get her another one then I just wouldn't bring it up.....
I do not think it would be tacky to ask her about it! You want your gift to go to good use. It was very sweet of you to give her a gift, and of course you want to know if she received it. Definately ask her. Say something like, "I know I gave you a thank you card at a bad time, since you were busy with your daughter's birthday party, but I am wondering if you received it." Go ahead and ask!
You might off-handedly ask if she was able to find the card, and that you are sorry that you handed it to her at such a busy time. Any other way will sound like you are asking for a thank you for your thank you. Always a touchy thing.
It is perfectly reasonable to ask if they've had a chance to enjoy their dinner, because you want to know how they like the restaurant, maybe. Once you get whatever confirmation that they are in receipt of your gift, you should let it go. We like to keep up with how our gifts are used, but you should cut the strings. Would you want her to take issue with how rough your boys might be with the beds? You have given the gift, and now your part is done.
Love Lynn's answer. Doesn't hurt to ask since it was a monetary gift/ thank you.
Next time, I'd probably mail it or give at another time. But you will from now on, as well. ; )
just thank her for the beds, and ask her politely if she got it, tell her where it was put if she didn't and leave it alone after that
Updated
just thank her for the beds, and ask her politely if she got it, tell her where it was put if she didn't and leave it alone after that
Just ask her!!!
That way you'll know.
What I would do in the first place when I give a gift card or monetary gift is to immediately let the person know "Hi, I just wanted to thank you again for your gracious hospitality/thoughtfulness and just wanted to give you a little something to show my gratitude..." & that way they'll know (or SHOULD know) there's something in there besides a card but as you may not have thought of that, what I would do is call her up & just say something casual at first then broach the subject perhaps saying something like this: "Hi, I just wanted to call & say thank you again for inviting us over for the birthday party & just wanted to also see if you had enjoyed the gift card I had given you yet?..." and leave it at that & if she says "what gift card?" just say "Oh the gift card I had placed in the thank you card I gave you at the party the other day..." If she threw it away then she wasn't very appreciative of your thoughtfulness. I always open the card at least while the giver is there so I can thank them in person or if no time, I at least call shortly thereafter & thank them over the phone. Sometimes ppl just don't have manners or think of the other person, I hope she didn't throw it away unknowingly but hope this reply helps! Good luck!!
I would also suggest to casually ask "have you had a chance to go to dinner with the gift card yet, if you need a babysitter let me know" something like that in passing, just in case! I'm with you I'd want to make sure they got it and it didn't get lost in the shuffle!
