Calling Female Du'ers, I need your assistance.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

Ok, men too if ya want. I have one and a half days left to finish getting xmas gifts for my wife. I'm usually really good at it but this year I just can't think of what else to get! I've gotten a mp3 player and some cd's she wanted and am toying with the idea of getting her another watch. I need some more ideas though before time runs out! She's 32 and doesn't have any real hobbies or real passions that would make it easy.

I just want you women out there to start listing all sorts of gifts you wish you'd get for xmas and I'm sure I'll spot one that she'd want!

C'mon DU, throw out the ideas!

Thanks :)

[bleedingheart]

1. I want a Tahitian black pearl...but that ain't going to happen...hee hee

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. Jewelry

Perfume - if she wears it. Those are female gifts men seldom buy.

You know what I just bought myself for Christmas? A clean car. I went to the car wash and paid for the works. My car is spotless inside and out. It cost $35 and was worth every penny. I would have loved to receive that as a gift. hint hint

[RevCheesehead]

3. Some ideas that may or may not work:

EIGHT GIFTS THAT DO NOT COST A CENT

1. THE GIFT OF LISTENING…
But you must really listen. No interrupting, no daydreaming, no planning your response. Just listening.

2. THE GIFT OF AFFECTION…
Be generous with appropriate hugs, kisses, pats on the back, and handholds. Let these small actions demonstrate the love you have for family and friends.

3. THE GIFT OF LAUGHTER…
Clip cartoons. Share articles and funny stories. Your gift will say, “I love to laugh with you.”

4. THE GIFT OF A WRITTEN NOTE…
It can be a simple “Thanks for the help” note or a full sonnet. A brief, handwritten note may be remembered for a lifetime, and may even change a life.

5. THE GIFT OF A COMPLIMENT…
A simple and sincere “You look great in red,” “You did a super job,” or “That was a wonderful meal” can make someone’s day.

6. THE GIFT OF A FAVOR…
Every day, go out of your way to do something kind.

7. THE GIFT OF SOLITUDE…
There are times when we want nothing better than to be left alone. Be sensitive to those times, and give the gift of solitude to others.

8. THE GIFT OF A CHEERFUL DISPOSITION…
The easiest way to feel good is to extend a kind word to someone. Really, it’s not that hard to say “Hello” or “Thank you.”

[auntAgonist]

12. those are the best gifts of all.

I wish them ALL for you too Rev!

Merry Christmas.

aA

:hug:

[RevCheesehead]

15. Don't they really speak to our heart's desire?

With a little creativity, you could write these out on paper, and wrap them up in individual boxes... like the empty valentine's day heart boxes, or one of those fancy foil boxes at the store.

Give more attention to the person, not the gift, and you'll win, every time.

(and thank ya, AA - I truly wish the same for you as well!)

[Missy Vixen]

16. I love #4

>4. THE GIFT OF A WRITTEN NOTE…
It can be a simple “Thanks for the help” note or a full sonnet. A brief, handwritten note may be remembered for a lifetime, and may even change a life.<

DH is really good at this. He's not a professional writer, but even just a few words from him scrawled on a piece of paper make my heart sing. :cry: Of course, I save them all and they've been read and reread more times than you'd ever believe.

If you're not sure about the whole writing thing, another poster suggested getting your wife something she typically wouldn't buy for herself. I agree.

Julie

[khashka]

58. Oh good gods she does it again!

But Rev is right. Everything she said can be summed up very simply: Give her yourself. And give her respect.

Khash.

[RevCheesehead]

60. Thanks, darlin.'

:hug: Bestest of days to ya!

[LaraMN]

4. I want metallic knee boots and a fire topaz necklace,

but that's not happening! Does she have a favorite perfume?

[tigereye]

23. who knew there were so many boots?

and so little time.




from another boot fanatic (no heels for me, though)

[LaraMN]

55. Look at these, tigereye!

*Drool*

[tigereye]

74. ooh, very very nice!

I have a pair of black riding type boots that are very similar to those!

Happy Holidays to you!

[dpbrown]

42. Darn it! I already got you an alligator pool toy!

:evilgrin:

[LaraMN]

56. You're not supposed to tell me!

You have ruined the element of surprise. :spank:

[gollygee]

5. Gift certificate for a massage from a day spa

or a for a facial, or a pedicure, or some combination.

[bicentennial_baby]

6. i second this one

i would loooooove someone to get me something like that...anytime of the year! :D

[liontamer]

7. third eom

[serryjw]

62. I fourth it

No one has enough pampering! Want to REALLY make her happy...get a LIMO to pick her up and take her home!

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

13. Hmmmm. That's A Possibility. I did that 2 years ago for valentines, but

I could always do it again :)

[NewJeffCT]

17. I'd agree on that one

sounds like a good idea.

[liontamer]

8. lingerie eom

[LeftyMom]

9. I enjoy cooking, so I'd love stuff for the kitchen

I got silicone baking pans last year and I love them. I'd really appreciate a food processor or a stand mixer. I could also use some new pots and pans.

Hope this helps.

[seemunkee]

10. Does she have a favorite author

Get her a book on something that is of interest.
Or
Jewelry

[katejones]

11. I would second the

Perfume idea or spa certificate. We women work too hard and don't take enough breaks usually.

Check out www.marykay.com/jenniferpaul

I know- shameless plug but awesome stuff.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

14. Unfortunately I work for a fragrance manufacturing company

We have all the perfume/cologne we'll ever need! LOL

[CAcyclist]

18. Get her a bicycle

and get one for yourself - then you guys can go for rides.

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

19. Sephora gift certificate

www.sephora.com

I think she can use it online.

[Pithlet]

35. I love Sephora.

That's a great idea. :hi:

[Orsino]

20. Ultimate Last Minute Gift Idea!

http://www.yirmumah.net/ultimate-last-minute-gift-idea/

[pitohui]

21. NO perfumes, nothing that smells!

the watch sounds great, check out some of the movado watches

if you want to spend...the best gift is an itty, bitty digital camera that can go anywhere...in a judith leiber bag

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

25. judith leiber...

only if she likes really overdone designed bags, with lots of materials that clash with each other...

otherwise, i'd advise not ;)

i apologize to the original poster of the suggestion... living in new york has sort of turned me into a critic of designers, and i was never like that

[pitohui]

44. oh come on

what abt bjork's owl bag from judith leiber, don't even pretend that wasn't cute

:-)

[RebelOne]

22. Expensive perfume.

At least, that is my preference whenever anyone asks me what I want for Xmas or my birthday.

[tigereye]

24. most years my husband keeps handing me little bags

of really cool jewelry. It's fun. Or he gets me great pottery and handmade bowls and plates made by local potters.

[babylonsister]

31. I'd love either of those! nt

[tigereye]

72. hope you received good things to make you happy!

:hi:

I got some very nice Celtic jewelry that my guys picked out.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

39. I love pottery and little trinkets!

One of my favorite things that Mr GoG got for me was a little cat carved from a piece of fire opal. It doesn't have to be pricey to be a hit!

[tigereye]

73. hey hope you and your family are having a great holiday!

I am done cooking for the family feast ( we did Christmas Eve dinner)and now I can be a slug.

The guys picked me out some really pretty Scots brooches and amber earrings!

:hi:

:toast:

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

26. Marc Jacobs' Blush perfume

250 bucks.

Or you could get it for me, and I'll just write a letter to your wife explaining that your gift to her was making others happy. That you are a philanthropist.

[pitohui]

43. seriously ?

if my husband wasted even $25 on a perfume i might have to bring the uzi into play

nothing that smells for xmas, it's pretty simple, i think it's even mean when you give perfume to the first grader's teacher

but give it to the wife or girlfriend and call it a gift, ugh, that's just...unacceptable

i guess it takes all kinds

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

50. I was half joking

but it does smell pretty amazing...

[beckajane14]

27. Gift certificate

That's it, that is all we want...please please don't ever shop clothes for us.

[LostinVA]

28. Gift card to a local spa for a massage or.whatever you can afford

[LostinVA]

29. Do you belong to a gym?

If so, then a personal trainer session.

[babylonsister]

30. OK -

-Uggs, or something similar, to be worn as slippers or to knock around in when it's cold
-Bathrobe/nightgown
-I love my Sonicare electric toothbrush I got a few years ago. The hubcaps, not so much. :)
-A puppy!!

[flvegan]

32. Multiple orgasms.

Sure, not so easy to wrap and put under the tree, but a great, um, "gift" to give a girl.

I think it's one of those things that a woman can never get enough of, often enough.

Yup, took a perfectly innocent thread RIGHT into the gutter.

[LeftyMom]

33. :checks mailbox again:

Damn.

[flvegan]

36. If I could send them to you

I would. Sorry, gotta be there in person.

Okay, changed my mind. I wouldn't send them. I'd want to deliver them myself. Give new meaning to "coming down your chimney."

Okay, that was bad.

[LeftyMom]

37. Damn it, now I'm all sticky

'cause I had to wipe vanilla corn syrup off the floor.

What? :shrug:

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

38. Nah, It's Easy For Her, I have no problem on that end.

I know, lucky her right? LOL And we're all mature enough here for the gutter... No biggie :)


Maybe I'll do it without her having to do anything back. That would be a change of pace enough to make it christmas worthy! LOL

[pitohui]

45. doesn't count as a gift

it's like giving yr husband socks

presumably he's going to give her multiple Os anyway, so it's a cheat, he is just sliding out of getting a real gift

[Maine-ah]

34. gift certificate for a massage

that's what I would love, I'm your wife's age. Good luck & Merry Christmas!:hi:

[dryan]

40. Have your house...

cleaned by a professional service.

[MrScorpio]

41. A Chrysler Hemi 300C

Black on black

[pitohui]

46. we have a winner EOM

,

[UncleSepp]

47. Listen to her for long enough to know the answer to your own question

Seriously. If I could have one thing from my husband, it would be an hour of his undivided attention.

How would one woman know what another one wanted? I had this same conversation with a salesperson in Tiffany's at the mall. I went in to look at sparkly things and found the men roaming around very funny - they were obviously hoping that any shiny gewgaw in a blue-green bag would please the woman they had put off shopping for until today. The salesperson told me she couldn't count the number of men who asked her, "I need a present for my mother/wife/sister, what would she like?"

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

48. Thanks for the shot, but it isn't accurate.

I listen to her just fine, which is how I know what cd's she wanted, and the mp3 player. But she has no real hobbies, no favorite makeup, doesn't much like jewlery, isn't really passionate about any one thing above another, and has gotten so many gifts from me that there really isn't much else that I can think of to be that 'can't wait till she opens it' type gift.

I listen to my wife and other wives have constantly told me how good of a gift giver I am and how they wish their husbands put that much effort into it. Fact is I always come through, but this year though I've gotten some stuff, I don't have that one gift that I'm realllllllly excited about for her. I care enough to want to get that really great gift, but am having trouble this year. That's why I called on DU for some stuff to see if anything stuck out. I did get the spa treatment for her today though, so that was something.

Sorry you felt the need to take my good intent and use it for good ole fashioned male bashing. But I'm not one that deserves it. :)

[UncleSepp]

63. What bashing? There was no bashing. I was trying to HELP.

Why is it that whenever someone says such basic things as "women aren't all the same" and "listen to your wife", it's perceived as male-bashing? What bashing? You asked for an answer, I made an answer that was heartfelt and thought out and based on my experiences, and that's bashing? If my statement had come from Uncle Joe instead of Aunt Jen, would it have fallen differently on your ears? Please think about that. It's an honest question, and I have a really serious reason for asking it. My answer was intended as a one-guy-to-another bit of HELP, not a man-bashing.

Here's another secret, and I hope to hell you don't take this as a bashing, either. This is an absolute honest attempt to fill you in on some of the stuff women don't tell men. Women in general aren't as much into showy gestures as men in general seem to think they are. It's the every day caring and thinking and listening that counts, not the big show at the holiday. Give yourself a break - the perfect exciting gift just might mean more to you than it does to her.

Thanks for crapping on me when I was trying to help, buddy :cry: Here I thought I could take my shitty lousy rotten fucking experience and use it for some good, but no... I get shit on by someone I don't even know. Happy Holidays to you, too, I hope it works out.

[AlienGirl]

65. You are 100% right about the everyday caring being most important

There is nothing sweeter than someone consistently demonstrating caring and attention, and nothing can possibly substitute for it.

Tucker

[UncleSepp]

66. How about gift coupons... for time, for concessions?

I've seen that done. Coupons for "one night out, your choice", a free "Let's do it your way" card, or a "Get out of the doghouse" token.

[AlienGirl]

67. A well-thought-out playlist of songs

And a letter that explains why each song is meaningful...that's what Xen just gave me and it moved me to tears.

Tucker

[UncleSepp]

68. Awwww!! That's beautiful!

It would go well with the iPod, too.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

69. No Offense Intended And I Apologize For Hurting Your Feelings, But

I did take the original post you wrote as a knock against me. It was assuming I didn't listen to her, don't pay attention enough to her to know what she'd want, am inattentive, or just clueless in some way such as they guys at the makeup counter.

I took issue with that as I listen to her intently, am constantly caring and sweet, am quite attentive to her needs, etc.. and I didn't like the assumption that it wasn't the case.

I did not, however, mean to upset you if you had the best intentions and were trying to help, and thank you for it. I just really took it at first as a "well if you just listened to her you wouldn't have to come in here and ask" type post. I hope you can understand why I may have misread it that way.

Regardless, god bless you and thank you for trying to help, and please accept my apologies.

:hug:

[UncleSepp]

70. Thank you for answering, Mindcrime

No knock intended, seriously. Merry Christmas, I hope you and your beloved have a happy one!

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

71. With 100% Sincerity, Merry Christmas AuntJen!

May you have a wonderful christmas as well :)

[UncleSepp]

64. Here's some female bashing to even it out

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=4486135&mesg_id=4487228

The same answer applies to LionessPriyanka. Is that female bashing? No. It's about taking people as individuals.

[leftofthedial]

49. get her season tickets to your favorite team

or how about a subscription to Playboy?

or maybe a couple of cases of your favorite beer

[lakemonster11]

51. My vote would be for some sort of leisure activity that you

could do together.

Maybe tickets to a play or a concert, a gift certificate for massages at a spa for the two of you, maybe an overnight stay or weekend trip to a local romantic spot or place of interest, or even just a hand-written card promising to take her out to some extravagant local restaurant you think she would like. Similarly, you could get a dual membership to a local art museum you think she would be interested in, and then make a point to take her there when each new exhibit opens---or if she's an animal lover, you could get a dual membership to the zoo. A gym membership would be a good idea if she has expressed interest in getting into better shape (avoid this if you think she will take it the wrong way).

As far as "stuff" goes, I'm always happy to get:
- a cashmere sweater (it's the sort of luxurious item a lot of people feel guilty about buying for themselves, but they're very warm, comfortable, and classy. And most stores have them on sale right now.)
- chocolate (not candy bars---real chocolate, like Fran's or Godiva.)

Good luck! :hi:

[REP]

52. $20 of Regular Unleaded

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

59. LOL I think I'd get beaten down for that one!

[KitchenWitch]

53. Does she like theatre

I you have a community theatre, I would get two season tickets to that theatre's productions.

[samplegirl]

54. Under the kitchen counter

CD Player with T.V.
They have them at Target.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

57. I'd love to get the following:

1) Series tickets to something you both enjoy--music, theater, sports It's a way of saying, "I want to spend my leisure time with you."

2) Clothes that you think she'd look good in (but peek into the closet to see what size she wears for the item you are planning to get.

3) A weekend away at some nice place

4) A gift certificate for a spa

[Mobius]

61. Male Stripper

:D