I haven't been able to go out with my SO very much this month because I've been pretty sick. Since I haven't been feeling well my SO has been seriously pampering me--bringing me movies, my favorite foods, and little gifts.
Today I received a gorgeous orchid plant. I've always thought that flowers were a paltry gift because it doesn't require must thought, but I was honestly ecstatic when I saw them (go figure). Anyway all this attention has got me thinking about what makes for a good gift. Thoughtfulness is probably the most important factor in gift giving. You should always think about what the person would truly enjoy when selecting a gift. It doesn't have to be expensive, but it should always show that you care. A handmade gift can often be a person's most treasured item (I've kept every mixtape and card I've ever been given).
Now as I was saying before: I've never thought of flowers as a good gift because it seems so obvious. That doesn't mean they shouldn't be given. But I think they're better left for spur of the moment/get well soon rather than holidays, birthdays, or anniversary's. For me, flowers are too transient to mark significant events. Though I can't deny their power to brighten up a room. The same goes for chocolates, delicious but best gifted with something else, even if the something else is a simple card.
It can be hard to pick out jewelry (and clothes) for a woman: unless you really know she wants something specific, I suggest asking her friends for advice. Or give her something simple. A while back my SO brought me a ring from a coin operated machine. It cost 10 cents, but is priceless to me. Ditto for: The Arnica Rub, the Happiness Pocket Buddha, my baby basil plant, that precious Munny doll, and countless other things (Thanks Eli).
A few more quick ideas: gifts that pamper (i.e spa certificates, bath salts/bubblebath, body products), a coffee table book on a topic that interests her, art with her as muse (this can take the form of a caricature, blurry pastels, stick figures--whatever you choose, she'll feel special), a homemade meal (it doesn't have to be fancy, breakfast in bed works well), a mixtape/cd.
I'm not saying these idea will work universally: all women are different, they enjoy different things. Pay attention to your lady and you should have no problem selecting the perfect gift. But no matter what the gift is, it should be given with love. Keep the receipt (just in case). Remember gifts aren't just for special occasions. And don't slack on presentation!
What's the best gift you've ever received? What do you consider the perfect gift?
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Comments (15)
I'm a complicated person to shop for. haha But I love it when he surprises me with little things out of no where because it shows he listens to me when I talk to him, that I'm not just talking to a brick wall.
I was, and kinda still am, in a long distance relationship. So, when he'd come visit it was always hard when he left, but every once in while he would, and sometimes still does, leave me notes to find. They can just say "I love you" but those are my favorite gifts from him... little scrap peices of paper, lol.
It doesnt matter to me what my husband gets me as long as its from the heart, obviously he was thinkig about me when he was getting me the gift so it means alot to me to know that im always on my husband mind like he is on mines =) Even if its just a card i will accept it and be warm hearted because its from my wonderful husband =)
But the best gift i recieved which is kind of hard to answer because all of his gift i got from him are special but anyways on mothers day he had ran out real quick to go pick up his friend and he was suppose to come right back so we can spend time together but being that he took so long i copped an attitude and when he walked thru the door i gave him a ugly look and if looks could have killed he would have been dead lol, anyways he walks over to me with a little box in his hand and he hands it to me, and i open it and its a beautiful heart diamond white gold necklace (pink diamonds, which is my favorite color btw) from kays jewlery store and i was shocked as hell and I gave him a huge hug and felt sooo bad about getting so mad at him, of course i wasnt mad at him after that, how could i be lol. but yeah that was my number one favorite gift from my wonderful husband. i still wear it and it never comes off unless to be cleaned =)
this is good advice, i agree completely. although i do adore flowers on every occasion. preferably white roses.
but for my ex's bday.. i made him 3 tapes. one of songs that remind me of him, one of a cd for his car that i deemed appropriate (we had different musical taste, this cd was like a gag gift cd), and the last was blank and i wrote 'you can burn our song on it when we find one.' and he thought it was adorable and said it was the best birthday present. it took me awhile to think of it, but i realized i would treasure thoughtful gifts over giftcards any day. that's the biggie - no giftcards! unless its like in additon to something. but that's just my opinion.
I prefer really practical gifts, but I do like impractical things like flowers, too. I also love getting gift cards to places like art stores, bookstores and sporting goods stores.
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The best gifts I've ever gotten were the poems my boyfriend wrote for me ^^
When I was sick, I posted on facebook that I really wished I had cough drops. The next day at school, my best friend of 3 years showed up in my first period class with a giant bag of them. We are now dating (6 weeks strong!).
And then the other day, he gave me one of his most treasured possessions: a fortune from a fortune cookie which read "You look pretty". Haha.
my mom wrote me a letter about how much she loved me, and believed in me. And she acknowledged that I had faults, and how she believed I had grown, and would continue to grow, as a person. It wasn't for a holiday. It was spontaneous.
I love practical gifts.
I LOVE gifts that have meaning. Flowers, chocolates, and stuffed animals worked in middle school, but now I'm expecting more. I could care less how much it costs - honestly, I just want to feel as if he put thought into it. I'm a bit of a romantic, so a homemade meal at home with my SO all dressed up would be the cutest thing everrr. Too bad he hasn't figured that out yet...
A GUY NEEDS TO WRITE A BLOG LIKE THIS! I'm always clueless to what I should give him...
A teddy bear has allwayyss been one of my favorites (: a cake (or cupcake!) that he made and decorated himself for my birthday or an anniversary is good also (: Just little things with thought.
Hmm... I dont care for expensive stuff, or flashy objects. Yeah sure I love them but at the end of the day, I just want to be able to curl up into bed with her, hold her, and kiss her lips, I'm a huge romantic, I'd rather, her take me out some-where, go on mid-night walks, dance on the sand at a beach, that kind of mushy stuff. I guess I dont like her buying me things, I hate having the money spent on me, but I'll surely go out and spend the money on her, to buy her a nice bracelet, which Ive just done. I write and give her poems constantly, and I love it when she returns that, its the best, it makes me so happy. I guess the best gift she could ever give me, would be to hold onto me always, and tell me that she loves me everyday, knowing that it comes from the heart, its the best gift ever, she is the best gift I could ever have.
@katberg@xanga - I second that. It's hard to figure out what to get a guy, personally. XD It's not that I don't want to get him stuff, it's just that I want him to like it, too. :P