OT: Christmas shopping for your Spouse/Significant other...Let's hear your ideas.

Submitted by Blue in Yarmouth on

So Christmas is approaching fast and OT season is upon us so I thought this may pass as acceptable. If not the mods can remove it, but given the state of things lately, removing ourselves from discussions about UM football probably isn't a bad thing.

So my wife and I have been married 12 years and together for 20. I used to be really good at buying gifts that she loved but the past two years I have been altogether stumped as to what to get. After 20 years I'm just fresh out of ideas. She seems to have everything she wants but I really want to get her something that shows I put a lot of thought into it....

Soooooo,  here's what I have in mind for this thread. Anyone shopping for their wife/girlfriend can let the rest of us in on what you're thinking. Perhaps you'll find a good idea you neevr thought of, or maybe you'll put others onto a great gift idea for their significant other. You can also post some previous gifts that were a particular hit with your wife/girlfriend that maybe the rest of us have never thought of. Anything to help eachother out when trying to make the women who put up with us feel special at Christmas. 

For my part, the biggest hit in a while was pretty much a throw away, last second thing that my wife loved. It was a kitchen Aid mix master and she absolutely loved it. I was jsut out of ideas and saw one on the shelf and thought "what the hell...I can give it to my mom if she doesn't like it". 

Also, to the ladies out there you can play a vital role as well by telling us what you're looking for this year or what your favorite gifts were. In return we could help you if you were at a loss as to what your boyfiriend/husband might be looking for. 

So Mgoblogger's, let's work together and make this Christmas a special one for our significant others. 

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JeepinBen

December 3rd, 2013 at 2:20 PM ^

Got us Winter Classic tickets. More for her, as I'm a Chicagoan and Blackhawks fan, but should be a fun time. She's a big Wings fan and I like hockey, so it works.

Joined: 01/22/2010

MGoPoints: 32227

goblueram

December 3rd, 2013 at 2:42 PM ^

I'm heading back from Chi for the Classic as well.  I seem to remember you are a fellow goalie...are you playing this winter?  I signed up for the Chicago outdoor league again, but they moved our division down to the southside at Bobby Hull community rink, which is a hike.  

Joined: 08/18/2009

MGoPoints: 11701

goblueram

December 3rd, 2013 at 3:23 PM ^

Similar living situation here.  I don't have a car, so I always ask for a ride.  Generally, people need goalies so they are willing to give me a lift, but it really prevents me from playing as regularly as I would like.  The whole hockey availability situation has been the toughest thing for me coming from suburbia/Ann Arbor to the city.  

Joined: 08/18/2009

MGoPoints: 11701

BallZDeeP210

December 3rd, 2013 at 3:03 PM ^

Just picked it up actually. Friends have been playing for years and have been asking me to join them. Played football through college and semi-pro but never any hockey. I took to it quite well actually and once I got the skating down my skill level increased very quickly. Never watched a hockey game before either but I am really enjoying it. Watched the Ohio game last night but I still don't know much about the game. I know this really has nothing to do with the topic but I'm loving hockey and this is the first time I've gotten to talk about it here.

Joined: 07/14/2009

MGoPoints: 236

LSAClassOf2000

December 3rd, 2013 at 2:27 PM ^

Because my parents read this blog, the secret might get out, but whatever - I will likely go with some form of jewelry as a lead-in to plans for wedding anniversary #10, which will be in early April. I will probably also get her some merchandise for her obsession with the CW show "Arrow", because for the moments when I am checking in and writing / modding, she will at least have something which reminds her of / depicts Stpehen Amell. 

Joined: 01/07/2011

MGoPoints: 130627

MGoJen

December 3rd, 2013 at 2:36 PM ^

Dude, all we really want is something meaningful.  That's how I approach gift-giving--I look for something that has meaning.  We don't care how much things cost.  Things are things; they're ultimately inconsequential.  But if you can think of something that's meaningful to her, well, that will be the jackpot gift.

For example, the best gift I ever got anyone was a 1981 Lite Brite from Ebay. My buddy posted a picture of himself as a kid holding up his (then) new Lite Brite he got for Christmas.  So I found the same one and had it sent to him complete with Star Wars picture cutout things.  He totally got a kick out of it.  Was it expensive? Not really.  Did he ever actually use it? Unclear.  Was it thoughtful? Absolutely.  

No one remembers gifts that aren't meaningful.  If you get someone a necklace or a sweater or some perfume, will that really stick out ten years from now or even next year? Probably not.

That's why no one else will be able to tell you what a great gift idea is for your wife.  If she's really your person (and I'm presuming she is!) you'll just KNOW.  You'll pick up on something that she maybe mentioned in passing once upon a time or find an original print of her favorite book. That's what will stick out and that's what she'll remember.

Joined: 11/23/2008

MGoPoints: 1833

Blue in Yarmouth

December 3rd, 2013 at 3:02 PM ^

I agree with you completely and think you would be 100% correct if it were most women. I don't want to paint my wife in a poor light, I married her after all, but she is a bit of a princess. She came from a very well-to-do family who only knew how to show their love by spending money. No hugs, no kisses, no affection whatsoever. I love you so here's a car type of business. 

Now since her time with me and being around my family for 20 years that has changed to a degree, and I always try to throw thoughtful gifts in when I am shopping, but at Christmas time she often reverts to that girl who only knew she was loved because she got lots of presents under the tree. 

So I will be trying to pick out those sentimental type gifts, but sadly I think I need some other ideas as well. 

 

Joined: 02/18/2009

MGoPoints: 6527

M-Wolverine

December 3rd, 2013 at 3:23 PM ^

Why not come to Ann Arbor for the Winter Classic? Or more generally, DO something, rather than get her a THING. Once you have enough stuff, it just becomes more stuff. But what does she like to do? Does she love concerts, or the theater? Get great tickets to a show she really like.  Anywhere she has ever really wanted to go? Plan a trip. It can even be next summer or something.  Another city, another country. You're a big spender, you don't acquire more junk in the house, and you create memories that are probably more valuable than another piece of jewelry that will sit in a safe or something other than the one time a year she wears it.

Joined: 10/04/2009

MGoPoints: 42190

jabberwock

December 4th, 2013 at 2:04 PM ^

but it's also nice to make it a combo.

My wife likes jewelry, but of course it's just a meaningless thing.  
So, add some meaning to it by making it part of a memory.

First find a babysitter, then go out for dessert/drinks, then go for a walk or take her ice skating at night outside on Christmas eve and give it to her there.  That can be  x100 more meaningful than during the kid-inflicted chaos that can be Christmas morning.

Seroiusly, $100 bracelet + $50-100 misc, = $1000 memory.

Joined: 07/04/2008

MGoPoints: 51146

bluenbama

December 3rd, 2013 at 2:38 PM ^

Damned girly but I've bought her several things so far. Let's see, a Kate spade purse, some fancy clogs she wanted, some fresh(that's a brand name) perfume and a rain jacket. Probably gonna add some random and or unique patterned socks. As well as some chocolate and other filler thingies. Nothing too big. Just random things I know she wanted.

Joined: 07/10/2009

MGoPoints: 860

GoWings2008

December 3rd, 2013 at 2:48 PM ^

My wife makes it easy because of her hobbies.  She's into fitness, so I'll get her things that she needs for working out, not just clothes but maybe the latest piece of technology (she wants a FitBit to use for her workouts). 

My next piece of advice, if you run out of ideas of THINGS you can get her...but get something that will give her memories of your time together.  A spa day, I saw up above, is a good one or dinner at a nice place followed by a night at an expensive hotel...a Stay-cation type of thing.  Signals are there, we as men aren't always tuned into hearing them very well...

Joined: 01/26/2011

MGoPoints: 69700

B-Nut-GoBlue

December 3rd, 2013 at 3:01 PM ^

I'm such a fashion-ista that I'm able to buy clothes/shoes for my gf/future wifey.  It's a bit weird at times when I realize that I'm in the huge minority of males who can do so and not screw up royaly, but it helps in that I can always fall back and find something when nothing else comes to mind for gifts.

Joined: 09/30/2011

MGoPoints: 43697

janel

December 3rd, 2013 at 3:07 PM ^

I like to get kitchen items.  I know some chicks hate that, but I love functional things I can really use.  Le Creuset is pretty and works wonderful!  A dutch oven and cast iron skillet is essential.  They are expensive but will last a lifetime, check outlet stores for a deal.  They also make nice bakeware.  Plus Cobalt and Dijon make a fine color scheme!

KitchenAid stand mixers are boss.  High quality cookware, silicone utensils (no melting in a hot pan, fun colors, easy to clean) and GOOD knives, none of that cheap crap.

I also like getting some warm fuzzy socks and a good book.  I don't do purses/shoes but for many that is an easy way to impress.

My husband is getting the empty PS4 and Xbox One boxes cause I'm nice and he using them already.

Joined: 11/14/2008

MGoPoints: 162

reshp1

December 3rd, 2013 at 3:38 PM ^

Protip 1: If she has a pinterest account, it's basically like a wishlist.

Protip 2: Men tend to want stuff they can use for something, women often just want pretty things simply to possess them. You might be racking your brain to figure out what she needs, but what you really should be doing is figuring out what her aesthetic style is and buy something that fits that.

Joined: 10/31/2011

MGoPoints: 34177

MGoCombs

December 3rd, 2013 at 4:48 PM ^

Ding Ding Ding.

If your significant other has a Pinterest, figure out how to browse it. Since I've realized this, shopping for her has been a breeze.

If she doesn't have a Pinterest, try really hard to get her to start using it. I don't really get it to be honest, but I know if I go to her Pinterest, I can find a ton of gift ideas, usually with a link to purchase the item right there online. You could have all of her gifts purchased in an hour or less.

Joined: 08/13/2009

MGoPoints: 3849

reshp1

December 3rd, 2013 at 8:44 PM ^

My wife explaining pinterest to me was actually what made me realize my 2nd protip above. It's basically a way to collect all the pretty things in the world and "own" them in a way. She said it satisfies a lot of the same desires as shopping does. As soon as she said that, I got why women love it so much.

Joined: 10/31/2011

MGoPoints: 34177

Roy G. Biv

December 3rd, 2013 at 3:41 PM ^

I'mma get Mrs. Biv a pair of those blue booty pants with "HAIL" on a leg that the girls wear to the football games. Admittedly this is at least as much for me as it is for her.

Joined: 09/03/2010

MGoPoints: 6961

Bluemama

December 3rd, 2013 at 3:44 PM ^

My husband bought me a blue kitchen aid mixer I really wanted this year and I love it. Here are some suggestions of things I think would be fabulous.

  1. Spa day... it shows you feel she deserves to be pampered.
  2. A beautiful picture frame with the two of you or your kids bonus points if you do both and tell her she is a wonderful wife and mother to your kids. Its inexpensive but it would be very heartfelt.
  3. A beautiful handmade quilt ordered from a place like ETSY ( its a website artisans use to sell their handmade crafts) Women love etsy and pinterest. This would be so amazing. It would feel special to me that my husband took the time to hunt and pick out something so romantic. It could become a family heirloom and its more of a unique idea than a peice of whatever popular jewelry is out there at the moment. There are quilters who will do custom quilts according to your color preferances or I have even seen Michigan theme quilts before. I would die of happiness and my husband would earn infinate brownie points if I was given a quilt.
  4. If she is a reader get her a book by her favorite writer,some colorful wool socks and a mug with specialty Coffee or Tea.

Joined: 04/27/2013

MGoPoints: 390