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RE: Christmas gifts - 12/5/2011 1:47:55 PM   
agirl


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quote:

ORIGINAL: Iamsemisweet

Tequila, tattoo session, something pornographic, along with a fishing lure and a Jimmy Buffet CD (thanks Windchyme), I think we have a winner!  The get drunk and get a tattoo basket will be perfect.  And it certainly is the polar opposite of personal training sessions.  


Yeyy....This is right along the lines for M this year. I can't even hint here as he noses around reading these forums and it's going to be such a surprise.

I can almost promise you that giving him something no-one else could/would will be* oh so special*.  Glad that you've found a solution.

Just an anecdote......Years ago my ex-brother-in-law used to get lots of stick from the rest of the family for liking a drink or two, smoking and having a smutty sense of humour. I used to carefully wrap up a bottle of whiskey, a packet of cigs and a cheesy porn mag. He has always said that Xmas wasn't Xmas without that package to unwrap on Xmas morning.....lol

agirl




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RE: Christmas gifts - 12/5/2011 1:50:51 PM   
LafayetteLady


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Joined: 5/2/2007
From: Northern New Jersey
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quote:

ORIGINAL: windchymes

If he wants Tequila, then he should have Tequila. Maybe you could splurge on a really good kind, which I know is sort of a "duh" thought, don't mean to imply that you'd run out and buy a cheap bottle, lol. Maybe some with the real worm in the bottom, then some really nice shot glasses, some really good salt, etc. You could build a whole gift basket around it?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3HM25EnxFc




Very good idea windchymes.  If he likes Tequila, and given the OP's budget, she could make a tequila "sampler" basket of sorts.  A couple of good bottles of tequila, different brands, good margarita salt, and good salt for licking.  Find a recipe book that he could use tequila in since he likes to cook.

The whole idea of gifts (to me) is to find something the person might enjoy or find useful but would never think to get for themselves.  Even a simple bottle of tequila can be ramped up if you think about the other things the person likes to do. 

All it really takes is the desire to put the effort into making something really special out of something simple.


< Message edited by LafayetteLady -- 12/5/2011 2:37:31 PM >

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RE: Christmas gifts - 12/5/2011 2:30:40 PM   
agirl


Posts: 4530
Joined: 6/14/2004
Status: offline 		Some people are really superb at gifts. I'm not one of those people. I really want to be but I have quite a few hours of angst until I get a teeny germ of an idea then I'm away and running.

It's not lack of desire or lack of effort, it's getting the germ of an idea in the first place. I can do my own thing really easily from thereonin.

My ex was the most amazing gift-giver. He was never short of ideas for the perfect gift for anyone at any time for any occasion. I've never quite had his gift for gifts....lol

M doesn't know it, but he spawned his own gift this year :)

agirl


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RE: Christmas gifts - 12/5/2011 2:40:04 PM   
LafayetteLady


Posts: 7683
Joined: 5/2/2007
From: Northern New Jersey
Status: offline 		The trick is that when those little germs of ideas occur, either write them down for later, or act on them.  I'm assuming that sometimes while out and about, you might see something and think, "hmm, that and such and such or doing this might make a really neat gift."  I used to shop year round for Christmas or whatever, and put the gifts aside for when the time to give came up.


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RE: Christmas gifts - 12/5/2011 2:48:20 PM   
agirl


Posts: 4530
Joined: 6/14/2004
Status: offline 		Nah, I don't tend to think that when I'm out and about.

Also, once Xmas is over, that's it as far as I'm concerned. The last thing I want is to do is think about gifts during the rest of the year.

agirl


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RE: Christmas gifts - 12/5/2011 2:54:27 PM   
LaTigresse


Posts: 26123
Joined: 1/15/2006
Status: offline 		Ya........I tend to avoid shopping and when I have to do it, I am a woman on a mission. I've literally walked right past people I know and LIKE.........because I've been so focused on getting what I need and getting the hell out.

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Just because you are well educated, articulate, and can use big, fancy words, properly........does not mean you are right!

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Profile   Post #: 46
RE: Christmas gifts - 12/5/2011 2:57:47 PM   
LafayetteLady


Posts: 7683
Joined: 5/2/2007
From: Northern New Jersey
Status: offline 		Hell, I was so focused on what I needed to get while out shopping one day, I slammed into one of those lolly columns in stores and nearly cracked my collar bone.  As it is, I bruised the ribs up there really bad, there was a bruise in the shape of the gauge on the fire extinguisher I slammed into.


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RE: Christmas gifts - 12/5/2011 2:59:09 PM   
Iamsemisweet


Posts: 3651
Joined: 4/9/2011
From: The Great Northwest, USA
Status: offline 		I am not much of a shopper myself, but I am kind of excited about this gift idea.  Only, I think I will call it the "What would Jimmy Buffet do?"  gift basket (fishing lures, tequila, margarita mix, gift certificate for a tattoo, Jimmy Buffet CD, sex toys).  My love really likes Jimmy Buffet, and has that kind of persona himself.  I am now inspired.

Hopefully, he will buy ME some personal training sessions.


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RE: Christmas gifts - 12/5/2011 2:59:54 PM   
LaTigresse


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quote:

ORIGINAL: LafayetteLady

Hell, I was so focused on what I needed to get while out shopping one day, I slammed into one of those lolly columns in stores and nearly cracked my collar bone.  As it is, I bruised the ribs up there really bad, there was a bruise in the shape of the gauge on the fire extinguisher I slammed into.




Ouch! I can totally relate.


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My twisted, self deprecating, sense of humour, finds alot to laugh about, in your lack of one!

Just because you are well educated, articulate, and can use big, fancy words, properly........does not mean you are right!

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Profile   Post #: 49
RE: Christmas gifts - 12/5/2011 3:12:18 PM   
LafayetteLady


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Joined: 5/2/2007
From: Northern New Jersey
Status: offline 		Yea, you don't really know how much the muscles across your chest are used to help you get up from sitting until you do that and are screaming in pain from it, lol.

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RE: Christmas gifts - 12/5/2011 3:45:00 PM   
DesFIP


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Joined: 11/25/2007
From: Apple County NY
Status: offline 		If he's big on hunting and fishing, then what about a gift certificate to a local taxidermy shop? Or a nicely framed print of a trout leaping? Antique fishing decoys? Although they're pricey. Man cave sort of stuff.

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RE: Christmas gifts - 12/5/2011 3:51:38 PM   
agirl


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quote:

ORIGINAL: LaTigresse

Ya........I tend to avoid shopping and when I have to do it, I am a woman on a mission. I've literally walked right past people I know and LIKE.........because I've been so focused on getting what I need and getting the hell out.


That's me. I can't stand *browsing*. Hate it, hate it, hate it. Get in, get it and get out....lol

agirl











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RE: Christmas gifts - 12/5/2011 6:47:58 PM   
littlewonder


Posts: 15659
Status: offline 		I admit I'm pretty good at gift giving. What i do is pick up on little things people mention throughout the year and once I clue in on something I usually keep it in the back of my mind or I look it up online and make sure to put it in my favorites for a gift later.

This year my daughter just got her car fixed from an accident and now she's all into spiffying it up to the way she wants. She had her hubs painted pink and so to help out with the glitzing I'm going to buy her pink carseat covers and a few other things like that for her car. She'll absolutely love it.

I can't say what I bought Master because he reads everything I write...geez...can't get away with anything LOL....but for his bday I bought him a new mattress because he has been telling me how much he loves mine and how his sucks which it did lol.

You just have to listen and tuck away the information.




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RE: Christmas gifts - 12/5/2011 8:31:06 PM   
TreasureKY


Posts: 3032
Joined: 4/10/2007
From: Kentucky
Status: offline 		To reiterate some thoughts I've previously posted about gift giving...

It's wonderful to have your existence recognized as being important to someone else, but I think that the more often that is done on an everyday basis, the less "necessary" it is to have a special day set aside for it.

As far as presents, I don't like being asked what I want.  My view is that a present should be a demonstration of the giver's thoughts and feelings of you... what they believe will be representative of what you and your presence in their life means to them.  Whether large or small, to me the "successfulness" of a present is wrapped up in the effort made... considering whatever level of effort the giver might make at any other time. 

Disappointment comes when the effort made demonstrates a lack of interest in me less than what I would hope it would be.  In the case of a partner, I would hope that he has a level of interest in me at least equal to the interest I have in him.

Effort doesn't have to mean work and/or expense.  It can mean that in the midst of his busy life and a myriad of distractions, he remembered that during a conversation at dinner two months ago I mentioned a book I'd heard about that sounded interesting to me.  The effort isn't in stopping by a book store on the way home from work to buy the book... it's that he paid enough attention to my life to make a mental note of something that interested me, and to know that I'd not yet gotten the book.

For Firm and I, neither of us wants to receive presents from each other simply because a holiday says we need to give something.  Of course, it's harder for us now because if there is something we want, we buy it... so we have pretty much everything we want.  Well... except for those things we can't justify spending the money on.  That need for justification doesn't change just because it's Christmas. 

In lieu of having a specific list of wants, I think I might shy away from a handful of odd items in order to reach a specific dollar amount.  It is sort of a dead giveaway that you had no idea and just picked up some random items that seemed okay but no single one contained the impact value you wanted to portray.  A collection of items is different... a nice collection of liquors and decanters for a personal bar, for example.  Or a leather-bound set of Heinlein's Future History series. 

Which brings to mind books... always a good selection for someone who likes to read.  If he has an all-time favorite, perhaps locate a first edition copy for him.

Personalization can also take an item to the next level.  How about a set of monogrammed bar glasses?  Or a vintage wood tackle box with his name embossed on it? 

There's a reason for the existence of the saying that, "the way to a man's heart is through his stomach".  I don't know a man who doesn't have a litany of favorite snack foods.  Try putting together a basket of his favorites?  Better yet would be goodies you've made specifically for him. 

Or you could simply prepare a spectacular meal of his favorites, and present yourself with nothing on but a bow. 

(in reply to littlewonder)
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RE: Christmas gifts - 12/5/2011 11:02:18 PM   
Iamsemisweet


Posts: 3651
Joined: 4/9/2011
From: The Great Northwest, USA
Status: offline 		I actually really dislike people giving me food as a gift, since I am pretty careful about what I eat. I avoid it as a gift for other people, too.

_____________________________

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The Cat: Oh, you can't help that. We're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad.
Alice: How do you know I'm mad?
The Cat: You must be. Or you wouldn't have come here.

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RE: Christmas gifts - 12/6/2011 3:22:24 AM   
needlesandpins


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quote:

ORIGINAL: TreasureKY


As far as presents, I don't like being asked what I want.  My view is that a present should be a demonstration of the giver's thoughts and feelings of you... what they believe will be representative of what you and your presence in their life means to them.  Whether large or small, to me the "successfulness" of a present is wrapped up in the effort made... considering whatever level of effort the giver might make at any other time. 

Disappointment comes when the effort made demonstrates a lack of interest in me less than what I would hope it would be.  In the case of a partner, I would hope that he has a level of interest in me at least equal to the interest I have in him.

Effort doesn't have to mean work and/or expense.  It can mean that in the midst of his busy life and a myriad of distractions, he remembered that during a conversation at dinner two months ago I mentioned a book I'd heard about that sounded interesting to me.  The effort isn't in stopping by a book store on the way home from work to buy the book... it's that he paid enough attention to my life to make a mental note of something that interested me, and to know that I'd not yet gotten the book.


that is pretty much how i view it too. but said much better than i would have.

needles

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RE: Christmas gifts - 12/6/2011 3:33:21 AM   
needlesandpins


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quote:

ORIGINAL: Iamsemisweet

I actually really dislike people giving me food as a gift, since I am pretty careful about what I eat. I avoid it as a gift for other people, too.


you seem to be missing the point on what gift giving is about. it's not about the things you would like or not, it's about what the person you are giving to would like. who cares whether you'd like food as a gift? if he would like that then it's something you can do. the fact is that you don't just give anything, but note something that would be considered a real treat, maybe it's a favorite thing of their's.

i bought my mum's hubby a bottle of extra virgin olive oil that had been grown and hand pressed by a greek family who have a stall in our town. it was in a lovely gift bottle and he said it was the best gift he'd had that christmas. i got it because i'd listened to something he'd said in passing about his love of dipping bread in it, but considered it too much of a luxury to buy for himself.

my boy and i did them a food hamper, but we made all the things that went in it; chocolate muffins (my own recipe that is a bit of a secret), mince pies, raspberry vodka, lemon curd, lime curd, sloes socked in gin, loganberry sauce and a couple of other things. they loved it because we had made it and it was things they could use.

my mum loves to soak in the bath and treat herself with scrubs and such. it's not something i would want, but i get them for her because she likes them.

it's about being personal to them, not you.

needles

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Profile   Post #: 57
RE: Christmas gifts - 12/6/2011 4:03:29 AM   
LaTigresse


Posts: 26123
Joined: 1/15/2006
Status: offline 		I think there would be a mutiny at work if I didn't do my usual food baskets for the guys and their families. It's going to be bad enough that there were no apples to make and can applesauce this year. If I didn't make the pralines, fudge, and quick breads..........I best not ever return to work.

The other day I made a comment to my lead pressman who has been diagnosed with diabetes recently and very diligently following doctors orders, that I needed to find some special recipes for his treat basket, was there anything he'd found he loved. I got an, eyes wide open, panicked look. He told me not to change a thing. He will just nibble carefully and that it will just make the goodness last a lot longer.

Some people really really adore getting food. Especially my pralines and fudge apparently.

_____________________________

My twisted, self deprecating, sense of humour, finds alot to laugh about, in your lack of one!

Just because you are well educated, articulate, and can use big, fancy words, properly........does not mean you are right!

(in reply to needlesandpins)
Profile   Post #: 58
RE: Christmas gifts - 12/6/2011 6:17:08 AM   
Iamsemisweet


Posts: 3651
Joined: 4/9/2011
From: The Great Northwest, USA
Status: offline 		If someone wants to give me food, I can't stop them, I know it is a gift. I don't think I am "missing the point" by prefering that they don't. I would certainly not be ungracious about it. But if it is sugary, fatty, unhealthy crap, it is either going to be regifted or thrown in the garbage. I would probably have kept the olive oil, though. Balsamic vinegar would also be fine, so I guess not all food gifts would be a problem for me.
It is a little ironic to me that giving a gift of fitness (personal training) can be construed as an insult, but giving someone a gift of calorie dense, unhealthy food is considered acceptable. Lots of people struggle with their weight, you know.
quote:

ORIGINAL: needlesandpins


quote:

ORIGINAL: Iamsemisweet

I actually really dislike people giving me food as a gift, since I am pretty careful about what I eat. I avoid it as a gift for other people, too.


you seem to be missing the point on what gift giving is about. it's not about the things you would like or not, it's about what the person you are giving to would like. who cares whether you'd like food as a gift? if he would like that then it's something you can do. the fact is that you don't just give anything, but note something that would be considered a real treat, maybe it's a favorite thing of their's.

i bought my mum's hubby a bottle of extra virgin olive oil that had been grown and hand pressed by a greek family who have a stall in our town. it was in a lovely gift bottle and he said it was the best gift he'd had that christmas. i got it because i'd listened to something he'd said in passing about his love of dipping bread in it, but considered it too much of a luxury to buy for himself.

my boy and i did them a food hamper, but we made all the things that went in it; chocolate muffins (my own recipe that is a bit of a secret), mince pies, raspberry vodka, lemon curd, lime curd, sloes socked in gin, loganberry sauce and a couple of other things. they loved it because we had made it and it was things they could use.

my mum loves to soak in the bath and treat herself with scrubs and such. it's not something i would want, but i get them for her because she likes them.

it's about being personal to them, not you.

needles


_____________________________

Alice: But I don't want to go among mad people.
The Cat: Oh, you can't help that. We're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad.
Alice: How do you know I'm mad?
The Cat: You must be. Or you wouldn't have come here.

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Profile   Post #: 59
RE: Christmas gifts - 12/6/2011 6:29:40 AM   
GreedyTop


Posts: 52100
Joined: 5/2/2007
From: Savannah, GA
Status: offline 		the point was that whether or not YOU like getting food as a gift, someone else MIGHT. Perhaps your love would like a gift basket of (healthful?) goodies that you prepare yourself? or even some not-so-goodies, if he is inclined to nibbling on stuff you deem unheathy.

The gift is about the receiver more than it is about you. the ONLY way the gift should be about you is in the way it shows that you've paid attention to the recipients likes/desires/etc enough to know what suits.

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Profile   Post #: 60
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