Choosing just the right item for Grandma can be complicated, as she is probably the first one to say that she wants for nothing.  Her sweet, giving nature is what prompts grandchildren to want to find the perfect present.  However, by keeping some general concepts in mind, it is certainly possible to find something sure to make Grandma smile.

Many grandmothers remain wedded to the tradition of the weekly hair setting appointment.  Gift certificates to her favorite salon for her weekly beauty ritual would surely be gladly received.

No Grandma’s home is complete without shelves of framed photos of family members. Thus, updated images of cherished loved ones easily processed and attractively made, serve as highly personal and welcome gifts.

Treating Grandma to a pair of tickets to a concert or a musical is a great way to help her enjoy a favorite pastime, as well as provide some wonderful bonding time with one of her grandchildren.

Flowers and plants are gifts that may seem predictable, but are actually well loved by many grandmothers.  Choose arrangements with her in mind, and be certain to incorporate her favorite, signature blooms.

Jewelry that incorporates a meaningful element, such as birthstones, beloved gemstones, or a particular metal can be a wonderful way to give Grandma a sentimental keepsake that she can wear everyday.

Taking Grandma out for dinner at her favorite local haunt can serve multiple purposes and make a wonderful gift for any occasion.  Such an outing provides uninterrupted time to catch up and bask in family memories, but it also gives Grandma a welcome break from kitchen duties.

A gift certificate to an audio book store can be a thoughtful present for grandmothers with fading eyesight, but whose love of books shows no sign of abating.

Arranging a weekend excursion for Grandma to visit distant family members is an ideal way to ensure that she gets to spend quality time with all of her extended brood, and is a gesture that she would be certain to love.

Orchestrating a grand dinner party in Grandma’s honor, to which the entire family is invited may be the best way of all to show her how much she is loved.  This can be done at relatively little expense, and can be a delightful way to get everyone involved in celebrating the family matriarch.

Fortunately, last minute gifts for Dad can be found online quickly and easily if you’re using the right websites.  As usual, I highly recommend Amazon.com because they provide such a wide variety of options.  Plus, with Amazon you can always check reviews and see what other buyers have said about a product before you buy it.  This is especially important when you’re buying a gift for someone else because you might be purchasing something out of your usual category of interests.

The types of gifts you can buy for fathers are as varied as the interests of men all over the world.  While it may be true that men are interested in the same things, let’s be honest — just because you’re a guy doesn’t mean you like all the same things as the next guy on the block.

Let’s start by tackling the important last minute gifts for Dad you should AVOID:

• Ties
• Golf Accessories
• DVDs

Unless your Pops is in serious need of a new necktie as a gift… unless he is getting very serious about his golfing game… unless he is a DVD collector of some extravagant means, please please please avoid buying these usual gifts.  Since you’re already doing research about finding a great last minute gift for Dad, let’s get serious here and try to put in a bit more effort to find that gift that’s going to really turn his head.

Since women are usually the featured gift recipients, unfortunately men are often overlooked in the gifting department — especially the man of the house.  This is a great opportunity to make Dad feel really special by getting him a gift he’ll never forget.

Let’s consider some questions you should think about before choosing a gift for Papa…

• Has he mentioned anything he would like to have lately?
• What are his lifelong interests?
• What are some of his newer interests?
• Has he lost anything lately that could be replaced?

Sometimes that great gift idea is lurking right under your nose.  Use these questions as a starting point for coming up with ideas to make your gift purchase go as well as you would hope.

Here are some of our recommended last minute gifts for Dad:

Picture Frame
If you have any old or new pics of you and the old man lying around, this could be a great time to frame it up and surprise him.  Or, maybe there’s some other pic he’d like to have framed.  Him and mom from days gone by.  Him in the old Porsche cruising down the canyon road.  Or him as a young boy sporting his stuff.  As long as the pic is special, he’ll love this one.

Grip Master Hand Exerciser
Is your father carrying around lots of tension every day?  This grip master exerciser could be a great way for him to alleviate some of his day-to-day stress and start feeling better.

Family Tent
Does your Dad enjoy gifts for the outdoors?  If so, a new tent for his camping expeditions could be exactly what he needs!  There are tons of options available, so be sure to pick one that fits his style.  Is he a solo camper or more of a family man?  Find the right tent camping gift for your Dad.

Bowflex Treadmill
Is he an exerciser extraordinaire?  Or is he looking to start feeling better and working out more every day?  Consider hooking him up with a treadmill.  This bowflex workout machine is one of the most highly recommended of its kind on the web.

Swiss Army Knife
Maybe you’re looking for something really simple but highly useful.  If so, this swiss army knife could be a great last minute gift for Dad.  Check it out!