The perfect gift for a guy?
Jul 21st 2008
Nicole JordanMy Life As A Plebe
Do you have trouble finding gifts for the guys in your life? I sure as heck do! Maybe I’m missing the gene the lets me come up with creative ideas for presents. Or maybe(even though I don’t like generally like to stereotype people) guys are just harder to buy for.
My dh just had birthday. You know – one of the big ones with a zero at the end. And I wanted it to be special. He’d already bought himself his major b-day present several months ago, a new pair of skis that he’d been lusting 
after. So I had to wrack my brain trying to come up with something he might like. End result? Some of giant oatmeal raison cookies. A big bottle of his fave bourbon. And ME all to himself for a full day and night with no computer in a cabin up in the mountains. We had dinner and breakfast out, and a beautiful morning hike in between, so I guess I was successful this year. But what about next year?
And what about all the other guys in my life? A good friend of ours just retired from a university professorship and we threw him a lovely party. Thankfully he wanted no presents, so we just had all the guests
bring gag gifts, which turned out to be great fun and lots of laughs. But if we’d had to be serious, I wouldn’t have had a clue what to give him!
52 Comments »
52 Responses to “The perfect gift for a guy?”
Karen Hawkins on 21 Jul 2008 at 3:52 am #
Happy Big O to your hubby, Nicole!
My guy has no many interests that he is easy to shop for. My brother, on the other hand, is single and has his own funds, and buys himself a lot of everything, so he’s tough to shop for. I’ve been getting him antique and rare books for his collection, but that’s about all I’ve been able to think of. Oh, and I got him a snuggly throw rug for his favorite chair for Christmas, which he liked. But frankly, he’s tough.
I think men are less precise when they tell you what they want, so yes, they can be tough to shop for. Uber!
Anyone make their guy put together a list for their special days? I’m going to ask my bro to do that. It would sure help the rest of the fam!
DebMarlowe on 21 Jul 2008 at 5:37 am #
Hi Nicole–Happy Birthday to the dh!
My own dh is into tons of activities and SHOULD be easy to buy for. The problem is, he’s always buying stuff for himself! Darn that internet shopping! I have to remind him to hold off on a few things for the rest of us!
Gannon on 21 Jul 2008 at 6:38 am #
Happy birthday to your hubby, Nicole!
My dh should be easy to buy for, but like Deb’s husband, he buys things for himself. Or sometimes he’ll say, “I really don’t need anything”, and then he pouts when he doesn’t get what he wants! Men!
Emmiebee on 21 Jul 2008 at 6:48 am #
Luckily, my DH is easy- books, games, movies, music- lots of choices! My brother always wants some new do-dad for his motorcycle restorations, so he’s OK. My male friends, though, were more difficult- who knew what they had just Googled and bought THIS week? So, I’ve been happy to find that many of them have “Wish Lists” on Amazon.com, where I can pick out something that I know they want! I need to convince my Dad to make one up, as he is the hardest to shop for of all (except for chocolate- Dad always loves chocolate!)
-Emmiebee, Lazy Shopper
Margaret Garland on 21 Jul 2008 at 7:06 am #
I thought it was just me who had a hard time shopping for guys. For a good number of years, I was in charge of buying gifts for all the family for one of my stepsons. This is because he bought his 3 yr old nephews water soaker guns for Christmas one year. Bought at the bargain bin by the cash register on Christmas Eve. I took the job away from him. Much to his relief. He’d give me X amount of $ and I’d shop, wrap and give him a list of what he got. LOL
I even did it for a couple of years after he married. His bride said she didn’t know the family that well at first. Then, she was pregnant.
The men were the hardest to buy for. I really tried, but usually ended up with sweaters, shirts, slippers, etc. Boring stuff. And I knew them! The family finally got too big and not everyone has the kind of money to shop for 25 people. Now, I run a Christmas Angel swap. And they love just buying for one family member. Anyone under 18 is exempt & can get gifts from the adults.
Margaret Garland on 21 Jul 2008 at 7:12 am #
BTW, have any of you noticed that men’s hobbies require really expensive stuff to maintain? Power tools, photography equipment, golf items, boating things, ski equipment, classic car bits, etc, etc, etc.
Give me some bits of fabric for quilting or some yarn for knitting & I’m happy. Well, I do like my bazillion $ Bernina. And my serger, and the pricey Addi Turbo circular needles. And I want a ball winder and a yarn swift. But then I’ll be happy. I promise. Maybe a pattern or two. A Rowenta iron ($130). Just a few things to pleae an old lady. Is that too much to ask?
Oh yeah. Lots of lovely gcs from Amazon.com so I can buy lots of lovely books & keep my goddesses & other writers going. I’m a great supporter of the writing arts.
Louisa Cornell on 21 Jul 2008 at 8:15 am #
LOL Margaret! I want what you have on your list!
My DH was SO easy to buy for! Books, CDs, Stuff for his stained glass hobby, chess sets he collected.
My brothers are harder, especially the older one who buys whatever he wants and always has. I do love to torture him by buying his wife the biggest and most complicated birdhouses I can find as he is the one who has to hang them and climb the ladders to put the bird seed in them.
The younger brother is a hunter so I can usually do well with hunting equipment.
My nephews are easier. One collects knives and the other shares my interest in reptiles.
Thank goodness I don’t have a lot of men to buy for! They ARE harder to find something appropriate for that isn’t “boring.”
Louisa Cornell on 21 Jul 2008 at 8:16 am #
I am coming up on a big 0 birthday in December, Nicole. Tell your DH - commiserations on his big 0 and I hope he has many, many more!
Lisa H on 21 Jul 2008 at 8:16 am #
Nicole, it sounds like you came up with a wonderful gift for your husband.
I have such a hard time buying for men. Luckily my husband is not picky and is always happy with his gifts, but I do wish I could really wow him on Christmas or his birthday.
My father sounds like your brother, Karen H. If he wants something, he buys it so its impossible to find something to get him. He collects coins, but I never know what he has pre-ordered and what he has…sigh
Beth C. on 21 Jul 2008 at 8:37 am #
Happy Birthday to the dh.
My dh likes ‘useful’ gifts. Usually Home Depot/Lowes gift certificates or B&N gift certificates. Do you know I can get at least 4 paperback books for the cost of one of his computer books? (Used to be more but prices have gone up.)
Occasionally I will get him a nice polo type shirt when they go on sale. Being a computer geek, his usual attire is t-shirts (usually free from conferences he’s been too). But there are times when he needs to meet with execs or customers so he needs to look nice. For father’s day we got a nice shirt on sale
Within budget and great for the kids to help pick out. They got to choose the color.
Ronlyn on 21 Jul 2008 at 8:48 am #
My biggest issue is that my DH tends to buy items he wants as he sees them for a good price. So, I’ll have it in my mind to buy him that 5 drawer tool chest he’s been eyeing, but he happens to see a sale and will come home with it.
We’ve had to make the rule that he can’t buy anything for himself one month before any gift giving events.
Other than that he’s pretty easy, mainly because he says, “Honey I want the blank & decker power drill, it’s orange, has a radio in the charger and is on sale at Lowes for $30.” All I have to do is find time to make it to Lowes. LOL
The little boys are harder, simply because they HAVE SO MUCH. Ugh. And they share really well (at least for the moment) so it’s like they each have twice as much stuff. Everywhere. My goal is to clear some of this stuff out before Christmas this year.
cail on 21 Jul 2008 at 9:04 am #
my family also does a christmas lottery type exchange. one gift per person who has hit 21. (which usually means, graduated from college and has a job). its getting to the point where there are just 3 under age now. give it 10 yrs and there will be a bunch of babies around i’m sure.
my dad is pretty easy to buy things for. his birthday is right around fathers day so i used to get him baseball tickets on one of the days and then we’d have a dinner the other night. this year the yanks were out of town so i brought home lobsters from new england for his present. he LOVED it. my brother on the other hand neither gives nor receives gifts. in the 22 yrs hes been alive i have received one present, a pair of sweatpants with his college’s name on it. needless to say, i don’t try to hard to find him things when his birthday comes around.
my dearest is pretty good to shop for. not quite sure what i’ll get him for the next exchange, but im sure i’ll think of something.
Nicole Jordan on 21 Jul 2008 at 9:49 am #
Thanks for the bday wishes and commiserations for my dh, y’all!
And I’m glad to see I’m not the only one who’s gift challenged. My mom is a piece of cake to buy for, she loves Barnes & Noble gift certificates. But other family members are a lot harder.
Sabrina Jeffries on 21 Jul 2008 at 9:50 am #
My hubby is very picky about everything, so he’s really hard to buy for. Fortunately, he has an extensive Amazon wish list, so if I want to, all I have to do is purchase whatever’s on it, or whatever he’s got marked at ebay. Since I find that boring, I usually try to pick ONE small additional present he likes. I’ve been surprisingly successful with that, although not always.
I swear, he’s a bear to pick presents for!
SuzyQ on 21 Jul 2008 at 9:53 am #
My dh is very easy to buy for. He loves gadgets and tools, so I can always find him something.
My dad on the other hand is impossible. When he sees something, he buys it. And he is very picky, especially with clothes. So us kids usually pool our money together and send him on a golf outing or something similar. We knew he enjoys it and he will use it.
Nicole Jordan on 21 Jul 2008 at 9:56 am #
>>>The men were the hardest to buy for. I really tried, but usually ended up with sweaters, shirts, slippers, etc. Boring stuff.
Lol, Margaret… my sentiments exactly.
Ronlyn, I like your idea about putting a moratorium on buying a month before.
Louisa, that is wicked about the birdhouses, lol.
Cail and Margaret, the lottery/angel swap idea is very cool.
And Emmie, the Amazon wish list is also great. In fact, I might appropriate this idea for this Christmas for a few of my dh’s family members. Thanks!
SheridanLA on 21 Jul 2008 at 9:58 am #
I will go with men being a pain to shop for. My brother is easy - Elvis and aliens and anything odd. Dad is a pain. My boss is worse. I finally went to all the fast food places and got him gift cards… he is all about his KFC, Del Taco, Pollo Loco and Wendy’s.
The wife of the photographer next door got him a cool gift for one of the 0 birthdays… a race car driving course/workshop. He got to go to some track and learn how to drive really fast cars around the oval. I would not mind that one. You can send em off to golf/sport workshops, etc as well.
Julia London on 21 Jul 2008 at 10:22 am #
Thanks, Nicole. I am so stealing that idea. Jack London just bought his birthday gift from me to him. That’s what he told me — this is your birthday gift to me. Don’t argue. It is a motorcycle. I haven’t seen him since he rolled into the garage Friday/
That takes the pressure off today (his birthday), but its always a problem.
Nicole Jordan on 21 Jul 2008 at 10:35 am #
Wow, Sheridan, I didn’t know KFC and Wendy’s sold gift certificates! And that is a very cool idea about giving a course/workshop. I’ll have to think about that one for my dh. There might be some things around here he might be interested.
And SuzyQ, I also like the idea about sending him on a trip somewhere. That sounds great for your dad.
I remember one year, I forgot his bday completely… didn’t even get a card, which I remembered late the night before. So I stuck a postit note on the bathroom mirror telling him this was his card and that I loved him. He kept that note for several years until we moved, lol.
Have any of you ever forgotten a big bday for one of your family members or good friends? How did you get the egg off your face?
Nicole Jordan on 21 Jul 2008 at 10:41 am #
Wow, Julia…. a motorcycle! That’s a pretty darn big gift. I hope he’s happy. Is this something he’s always wanted?
>>>BTW, have any of you noticed that men’s hobbies require really expensive stuff to maintain? Power tools, photography equipment, golf items, boating things, ski equipment, classic car bits, etc, etc, etc.
Margaret, normally I would agree with you 100 percent, except that my horse stuff trumps a lot of my dh’s stuff! And I’m wondirng if for men and women it evens out over the long run? Our everyday stuff — clothes, shoes, jewelry, cosmetics, etc. — are more expensive than everyday guy stuff. Or maybe we just need/want more of it??? *grin*
ct009ct on 21 Jul 2008 at 10:56 am #
This is the perfect blog for me!! Thank You! I’ll be watching for hints all day.
My husbands birthday is today (funny coincidence, Julia). Mine’s 55.
Lucky for me, he’s out of town and we won’t be celebrating until Friday, so I have 4 extra days this year. (not that it helps)
We’ll do dinner with all the family, cake and presents, then go out dancing. But the gift part is tough.
He wants a new tattoo, but our kids are getting him that (our daughter already made the appointment).
So I’ll end up having to get him his favorite cologne, if I can’t come up with something great. I’ve been racking my brain to come up with something different. Wish me luck!
Time to text him another message - check back later for inspiration.
dbrown3400 on 21 Jul 2008 at 11:00 am #
Happy bday to your husbands, Nicole and Julia. My ex wasn’t too hard to buy for even though his hobbies were painting and golf. There are small items you can buy for each without spending too much money. One year I splurged and bought him the Lladro Golfer. That was one of his all time favorite presents. I also had luck in the clothing department. Generally, we would go out to dinner for his bday, even after we had the girls. Birthdays were always a family affair.
dbrown3400 on 21 Jul 2008 at 11:02 am #
And Happy Birthday to your husband, ct009ct.
Claudia Dain on 21 Jul 2008 at 11:11 am #
My DH is impossible to shop for. If he gets what he truly wants, that is. I usually just buy him clothes, which is what I think he should want.
He has such specific wants, like he doesn’t just want a wrench, he wants a 1.7 millimeter, chrome, 8 inch handle with a counter clockwise action and an adjustable plackety brackety blidget wrench made by a small company in Botswana.
This past Father’s Day, my daughter called me from an aisle in Home Depot, sobbing that she couldn’t find the exact tool her dad told her he wanted. Sobbing! I told her to march right out of that store and go somewhere she felt safe, like Marshall’s, and buy him a sport shirt. Since he’s always under a car with a wrench, he needs lots of ungreasy sport shirts. He can buy his own plackety brackety blidget wrench.
ct009ct on 21 Jul 2008 at 11:18 am #
Dang! Where are my manners???
Happy Belated Birthday to your husband Nicole.
And Happy Birthday to your husband Julia.
Nicole Jordan on 21 Jul 2008 at 11:35 am #
ROFL, Claudia!! I’m so sorry about your poor daughter, but I can so relate. Last week I spent nearly an hour in the Smiths super store scrounging the isles, esp the grilling dept, to find something my dh might like with no luck. I finally went next door to the bakery and liquor store.
And CT, I can truly relate to you, too! Happy bday to him and hope you think of something he’ll love.
Donna, I don’t know what a larado golfer is, but it sounds cool!
Kay on 21 Jul 2008 at 11:36 am #
happy birthday to all the DH’s out there!
My DH and I have a big anniversary coming up. I surprised him with a very nice diving watch–he doesn’t dive, but he needs to have a water-proof and hock-proof watch for work. He LOVED it.
I have to pick put his present from my parents for Christmas (we don’t know what he needs…) and I had to pick out his present from his mom before she passed away. Can you imagine–picking out THREE presents for my DH every Christmas for 18 years? AGGGGGGGG!
My solution was The List. By Halloween, he had to give me a list of 5 things. or else suffer from my perception of what he “needed” for Christmas. It worked, LOL, when he got new Pjs, a robe & slippers and a couple of books. Now he hands in his list. He loves to fish, bike, and kayak, so there are endless things he needs for each activity.
dbrown3400 on 21 Jul 2008 at 11:52 am #
Nicole, Lladros are fine porcelain sculptures made in from a certain region in Italy. The one I gave my ex was about 12 inches high of a golfer standing over a ball getting ready to make a putt.
Suzanne Enoch on 21 Jul 2008 at 12:08 pm #
Gift cards. I’ve given up trying to find the one thing that my dad or bil don’t already have. So I give them Home Depot, Starbucks, and Borders gift cards. Not always, but they make a good supplement.
colinfirthfan on 21 Jul 2008 at 12:17 pm #
I have told my DH that Christmas presents we are buying our own stuff. I can barely do birthday presents for him. He is very particular about everything and returns everything I buy so I stopped getting him “things”. One year I sent him sky diving for his birthday. He loved it. The year before last I gave him 4 golf lessons with the pro at the country club golf course - he hasn’t used it as yet and it’s been 2 years! So last year I told him no presents unless he uses up that present.
(normally that’s what he gets me but since this show was leaving in a few weeks - I jumped in before him. 
)
This year I bought tickets and the two of us went for a Broadway show that is touring here.
But what to do next year?
Happy Birthday to all the DH’s having birthdays. Julia, a motorcycle? Very cool!
Meg on 21 Jul 2008 at 1:03 pm #
It’s always hard for me to buy for any grown male in my family. The young ones are easy. Usually any game they want or a gift card to EB/Gamestop.
When I was married, my husband and I made a deal. Our big vacation every year was in October so we decided that we would stop buying for ourselves when we got back. That way, anything we saw and wanted after vacation could be bought by the other. Or even told to the rest of the family who were hunting for ideas. We also worked birthdays into that as well. Since we went ALL OUT for vacation, we decided that for our respective birthdays that a card and dinner out would be fine.
Or course we were always buying stuff in between, too, so we always had surprises for each other.
Oh! And Happy Birthday to all celebrating today!!
Mike on 21 Jul 2008 at 1:15 pm #
Speaking from the male POV (the only one I have experience with), I have to say that many of these are excellent suggestions. And I plead guilty to “he buys himself everything” syndrome, too. But perhaps the Goddesses and acolytes are so locked in to understanding Romantic women’s desires so well that you’ve forgotten the essence of manliness. That is, we are really, REALLY simple creatures at heart. On the next big occasion, and not when kids or in-laws are present, try this one:
Lingerie. No, not for him, silly (unless… well, THAT is none o’my business).
I mean in your size, with you in it. As a longtime dh, I can safely say that a preplanned, carefree, naughty Hot Time On The Old Town can be more fun and memorable than any cool gizmo. A couple years back, after more than a decade of marriage, my dw surprised me by packing the kids off to my parents and reserving a suite at a totally tacky Poconos resort. We were only there for less than 24 hours; best present ever.
Margaret Garland on 21 Jul 2008 at 1:16 pm #
Nicole, I am one of those people who remembers all sort of stuff. Birthdays, anniversaries, phone #’s, all 50 states & their capitals. LOL I can’t balance my checkbook with all that clutter in my brain. The gks are constantly amazed when I point to some building tell them what else used to be there. Or who lived there, etc. Useless, useless info.
The Christmas Angel swap is run by me. I begged, pleaded, whined for them to let me do it. Alright, I didn’t have to very hard. Or at all. I may have been elected in absentia. I send out letters to all in October to ask if they want to be included this year. Several long time SOs. They get a choice. Family doesn’t. The gift range is $20-$25. Won’t break anybody’s bank. Last year, I sent SASEs enclosed & asked them to write down 3 things they wanted. Nearly everyone wanted gcs. Boring, but I love them. In Nov, I draw the names and send them out to the gift givers. The fun for me is I’m the only one who knows what’s what. hee hee
Margaret Garland on 21 Jul 2008 at 1:21 pm #
Nicole, you are probably right on it all coming out even in some way. I was thinking of my oldest DS, the golf fanatic. Nothing is too expensive for him to get. His wife, my sweet DIL, is a penny pincher in the extreme. I’m sure she got her Christmas shopping done right after Christmas. She’s forever buying me mostly junk fabric at yard sales because she doesn’t know the difference in good fabric and eww fabric. Having said that, she’s decorated her house in stoneware and splatterware that she bought at auctions. A couple of antique, marble-topped coffee tables she found at a flea market. She’s very good at that. But she doesn’t spend $$$. Bless her heart.
I have a friend who’s DH is into photography. She balances that out with fabric, sewing machines, trips to quilt shows, etc. Works for both of them and marital harmony. LOL
Nicole Jordan on 21 Jul 2008 at 2:03 pm #
Kay, I LOVE your idea of making a list of five things. That might actually work for me. But I can’t imagine doing what you did… buying gifts for his family for so many years! I make my dh buy gifts for MY family and his, too. Seriously. I just don’t have the gift-giving gene.
Donna, those Lladros sound gorgeous!
Suzanne, the gift card idea is great. I need to think of more places.
What I want to know is, if your friends/family make a wish list on Amazon, how do YOU get to see their lists? I thought you had to have a password.
Nicole Jordan on 21 Jul 2008 at 2:06 pm #
CFF, the skydiving thing sounds so cool. And that gives me an idea. My stepdaughter once won some tickets to go hot air ballooning in Missouri, and we have those here in Utah, where the scenery will be a lot more dramatic. So I’m gonna think about that for next year. I’ve never been up in a hot air baloon myself, although I just had to write a scene in my current wip where my hero and heroine get carted away in one. So that could be really fun!
colinfirthfan on 21 Jul 2008 at 2:15 pm #
Nicole, hot air ballooning sounds nice! This year I asked my DH if he wanted to go hot air ballooning or get flying lessons. He said No to it all.
Mike, I think my DH might agree about the “best present ever” .
Nicole Jordan on 21 Jul 2008 at 2:15 pm #
Meg, your method of gift giving sounds lovely. I sure wish I had time to take vacations. Most of our trips recently have been to visit family, which I don’t consider a vacation. Sounds like you have a great relationship with your dh.
Oh, Mike, I am soooo glad you posted your thoughts! And that makes perfect sense, spending romantic time alone and making good use of lingerie. That really helps me a lot in ideas for future years! I guess I get too wrapped up in material things when I think of gifts, when the romance is so much more important. Thanks for the reminder!
One thing my dh said this year was that the best bday present I’d given him was my new haircut. Of course, he doen’t know how much my new hairstylist charges…. but just the fact that he thinks it makes me look more attractive is priceless.
Margaret, your job as Xmas angel would boggle my mind and send me screaming off into the wilderness, but I’m in awe of you, lol. And I don’t have the antique gene, either. I can’t tell junk from really good stuff, sad to say.
LisaK on 21 Jul 2008 at 2:28 pm #
Happy belated Birthday to your DH!
Okay, I’ll make this short: I mostly don’t find good gifts for either guys or girls…
Margaret Garland on 21 Jul 2008 at 3:27 pm #
I don’t have the antique gene either, Nicole. There are tons of antique shops around Lancaster. When I’ve ever entered one, I wonder why in the world anybody would want that old junk. It all looks pretty much like it should be hauled to the nearest landfill. I can’t decorate either but don’t care anymore.
My mother was a yard sale junkie in her later years. She & my cousin went every Friday they could manage. When she died, I was hard pressed to figure out what was her garage sale stuff (no emotional ties) and things she’d had forever. TG 2 of my female cousins were on hand to help out. I was going to sell a tiny green oil lantern. Turned out it had been given to my mother on her 5th birthday in 1912. Yikes! I still have it. Every so often, I wonder what it’s worth. Not enough to fork over $50 for a pro to tell me.
The Christmas Angel thing keeps me off the streets & out of the bars. *G*
Margaret Garland on 21 Jul 2008 at 3:31 pm #
LOL, Mike. I can only imagine which tacky Poconos resort you and your DW were cavorting in. Big Champagne beds and in-room hot tubs?
I always wanted to do that but we never did. How great that you two went for it.
I love the Poconos!
Margaret Garland on 21 Jul 2008 at 3:32 pm #
LOL, Mike. I can only imagine which tacky Poconos resort you and your DW were cavorting in. Big Champagne glass beds and in-room hot tubs?
I always wanted to do that but we never did. How great that you two went for it.
I love the Poconos!
Claudia Dain on 21 Jul 2008 at 3:39 pm #
On my DH’s last birthday, each of the kids called him to wish him a happy. He had tears in his eyes by the end of the day, so touched that they’d thought of him all on their own and called to wish him a lovely day and tell him that they loved him. A little gesture like that was the best gift ever. And isn’t that the way it normally is? Just to be remembered with love is the worth more than anything.
MarthaH on 21 Jul 2008 at 3:58 pm #
Nicole, I have to say buying gifts for women is sooo much easier than for men. My guy is one of the fussiest (is that a word?) people around. I generally start thinking about his gift months before his BD which is in September and I’m already thinking about it and once the BD is done it’s on to Christmas!
Past hits have been;
Collectible memorabilia (He loves anything Pepsi)
Magazine subscriptions (Hot rods, muscle cars, etc)
DVD collections (his favorite old shows - Carol Burnett show was a big hit)
For his 50th it was a trip to Vegas and having him enter in some poker tournaments (2 years later he’s still talking about it).
Hiring a lawn service so he wouldn’t have to cut the acre of grass we have
A personalized travel coffee mug
Tonneau cover for his truck
Sateliite radio
Concert tickets to his favorite performer - Elton John
Misses;
Clothes
Cologne
Surprise birthday party - won’t do that again!
Sporting event tickets (he’s not really into sports)
slippers
Santa on 21 Jul 2008 at 4:10 pm #
My DH is easy to shop for because he has so many interests. Admittedly, I hav no idea what he may or may not need for any of his passions so I end up giving him a gift card at his favorite shops. He enjoys going in and testing stuff out and generally playing around. He really gets a kick out of whatever the kids come up for him. That coupon book of hugs is always a hit.
On the other hand, my brother is a pain to shop for because he gets whatever he wants or needs whenever he pleases. I can’t tell you how many birthdays and Christmas presents were too late for his latest shopping spree. He also has very expensive tastes which means most of the stuff he buys for himself are out of our league. Still he did like the Donut Tower cake his nieces and nephew got him for one birthday and the ‘Beware of Attack Uncle’ sign.
Happy Birthday to your DH and many, many more!
Nicole Jordan on 21 Jul 2008 at 5:04 pm #
Love your list, Martha!
And that Beware sign is really cute, Santa!
One of the gag gifts someone got our retiring prof friend was a car bumper sticker that said something like “My wolf is smarter than your honor student” since he owns a wolf.
Nicole Jordan on 21 Jul 2008 at 5:06 pm #
Oh, and thanks for all the bday wishes for my dh! I’ll tell him you goddesses said so. I know he’ll be tickled. Even though he said this was a bday he wanted to forget that had ever happened.
Karen Rose on 21 Jul 2008 at 6:08 pm #
My husband makes me lists and emails them to me - with URL links to the online shopping site, LOL. He knows me after 22 years. I really hate to shop. Mostly he wants collections of movies - he is a big time foreign film buff.
Happy birthday to your hubby, Nicole! As for the passage of years, as they say - it’s better than the alternative
Every year on Dh’s birthday I have to pause. It’s three days after our anniversary and right about the time we learned he had cancer 18 years ago. Every birthday since has been precious to me. My birthday isn’t too long after his - and just getting there with him is all the present I need.
But I’ll take a gift cert from Coach, ha!
Mike, your point is Very Well Taken. Thank you!
Meg on 21 Jul 2008 at 7:21 pm #
I know this is WAY off topic, but we were talking movies the other day… I just got back from The Dark Knight and WOW!!! I will absolutely be going to see that movie again. I was so close to buying a ticket for the next show and going right back in to see it tonight. If you haven’t been, GO! Of course I could go on and on, but I won’t. Thanks for letting me get that out.
Kimmy L on 21 Jul 2008 at 9:52 pm #
I agree men are hard to buy for. I usually buy cologne or just give them a gift card to their favorite place. My son is easy. I just get him clothes or video games.
Kimmy L on 21 Jul 2008 at 9:53 pm #
Depending on what the occasian is if he’s a sports fanatic get him sclothes with his fave sport logo or tickets to a game.
TinaLouiseF on 21 Jul 2008 at 11:09 pm #
The only person that is easy to shop for is my best friend.
My niece and nephew used to be easy to shop for before they became teenagers.
My dad is difficult to shop for, he dislikes christmas and his birthday is four days later.