Help! Need Suggestions for Anniversary Present.

[MrP]

My anniversary is this weekend. I need to buy my wife several small presents. I am having the equivalent of writters block! Any small in expensive presents that you have bought your wives that were a big hit?

 

[Golfgar4]

Mike,

I got my wife a nice "anniversary" ring for our last anniversary. It had a few small diamonds in it, but it didn't cost over $100.00. You can find them at any department store, even Wal-Mart's and such.

BUT, it wasn't the ring itself that was the big hit. I wrapped up some smaller gifts, each one under $25.00. Then I hid them around the house. I wrote up little poems that were clues to where she could find the next gift. All in all, I think I gave her 4 gifts.

BUT - that wasn't what made it work. It was the fact that (now these are her words!) I thought of it all by myself and did it without any help or suggestions from her.

They don't really care how expensive it is. What they really want to know is that we (men) care enough to do something special without having to be told.

And asking advice on TBN doesn't count as being told!! /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Good luck!

 

[mikim]

6pack of chainsaw oil -- but then she's a bit different -- she likes all this tractor and chainsaw stuff -- I knew I'd met the right one when I met a girl that owned her own chainsaw. (Our last anniv. was our tenth and I bought her an aniv ring that had 10 diamonds in it and set me back a bunch - but I wasn't able to afford a nice wedding ring 10 years ago so this made up for it) good luck

mike

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

I have a very practical gal who enjoys the outdoors......
Last fall she made a comment while we were out cutting wood she wished she had a chain saw. So I bought her one for Christmas....... Then one of my friends who was with me when I bought it started giving me a rough time at the tavern about it. So, just to be sure I had my bases covered I made to Victoria Secret.......

Tom

 

[Richard]

Since this is a public forum, use a touch of imagination.. but I once wrote my (now) wife some coupons.

one for nice back massage
one for dinner at her place of choice
one for shopping spree at her favorite place
one for foot massage
you can be as creative as you care/dare?

A dear old friend once told me the perfect gift you can get someone is something you know they want but will not buy themselves.

Two years ago for Christmas, she gave me NO hints at all on what she might want.. soooooooooooo, she had a HUGE box under tree & another smaller but VERY VERY heavy box... little did she know, she had a brand spanking new shop vac AND (yes, no holds barred) battery charger!!!

Suffice it to say, her memory failures for ideas has suddenly had an absolutely perfect record!!! (meaning I now ALWAYS have a catalog with dogeared page & SOMETHING marked) Evidently she does NOT want me to use my newly found creativity now that we're married...I think she preferred my PRE marriage ideas much better!!! /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[frank_f15]

golfgar gave u good advice> it don't matter the cost, just make it special to her. i remember 1 year i took and made a bunch of notes, telling her how much i loved her, then i stuck them in all kinds of places, she was finding them for months. guess it was ok as we have been togeter for 39 years.U GUYS AINT GOING TO THROW ME OFF THE TRACTOR FORUM FOR BEING SENESTIVE ARE U?

 

[bgott]

He11 no! You showed all the married guys how to score brownie points and not spend one red cent!!! /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

 

[Frank_Mulligan]

Sorry I can't help you. My wife always picks out her own (generally expensive) gift, so there are no disappointments. I the month of May is her birthday, our wedding anniversary, and mother's day! (3 strikes, I'm out!). She showed me a flyer from Macy's that had 2 Gucci watches on the back page. Both were listed for $695 each (an acceptable price for 3 gifts in one). Both her and I agreed we licked the one with the small diamonds on it, as opposed to the other one. Went to the store and found that it was a misprint, that one was $1300!. Guess which one she ended up with!/w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif

 

[rancar]

Mike....

Apart from the ring or momento you'll give her, one other thing that you can give her (and it's free) is a big kiss and telling her how much you love her. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Bob

BTW, my anniversary also is this weekend on the 29th.

 

[Golfgar4]

<font color=blue>"It is a phony deal and not official with any REAL astronomical society in good standing in the scientific community but she might get a kick out of having a star named after her. You get an official manuscript detailing the coordinates of HER star. Guys might think it silly but broa uhh errrahh ladies go for that sort of thing. I've seen the reaction on women, quite positive.... HER STAR!!!!"</font color=blue>

YIKES! /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif/w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif Watch out for that one!

I thought it might be fun to do that for my wife on her last birthday. Not as the main gift, but as an added little thing. Luckily I asked a few of our friends what they thought about the idea, and EVERY one of them said not to do it. Oh yeah. All the friends I asked were ladies.

Well, I didn't do it. Later, after her birthday, I casually asked her what she thought about having stars named after someone. Her comment was - "It's chintzy!"

 

[patrickg]

golfgar4,
Hmmm. Different strokes. My observed sample over several years is 5. All exhibited positive reactions. A couple were pretty darned thrilled and thought it romantic. My wife got interested due to the reaction of the others (herd instinct) but when I explained that it wasn't sanctioned by any REAL astronomical group just a commercial company she dropped interest but then she has been surrounded by scientists and engineers and likes star parties and such.

Goes to show you when you think you understand women you are confused. The more you think you understand them the more confused you are. Even when all parties are native English speakers.

Patrick

 

[Golfgar4]

Patrick,

I didn't mean to imply that these star services weren't for everyone. I was in a bit of a rush as I replied with my last post, and didn't really get a chance to say what I wanted.

I thought it was kind of a novel idea. Something a little different and unique. I was surprised at the reaction of the women I talked with. In fact, in an attempt to keep things a little on the light side, I commented to her that I thought her reaction was a little snobby. OH, OH. Wrong thing to say!/w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif/w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif It wasn't discussed any further - and not much else for awhile either. /w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif

All I wanted to get across was to make sure it would be something that a particular lady would want. Do a little homework before deciding to do it.

Maybe this is one of those regional things!? /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[patrickg]

GOLFGAR4, I too find this a less that perfect medium and often would prefer you to see my eyes and body language and hear my voice inflection rather than read cold words. I got your meaning, both times. Their is a wide spectrum of potential responses from the distaff side and often are unpredictable. The wisest words in any of our posts on this topic are yours regarding being careful to custom fit to the lady. I note you (he he he) give no instruction on how to achieve that!

Patrick

 

[drpepper]

The first year we moved to the country, I gave my wife a pair of Carhart insulated coveralls. She likes to hang out in the unheated barn with the horses and cats. Should of seen the look she gave me! Well, after a few days of wearing them she has never stopped thanking me for them. If that doesn't work, can't ever go wrong with roses.

 

[Golfgar4]

O.K. Mike,

The anniversary weekend has past. Now we all want to know what you finally decided to do. After all, we all have more anniversaries coming up each year - at least I hope we do!/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[MrP]

Ok guys: I kinda took all the suggestions.

1. I bought multiple cards and hid them in not too hard to find places.
2. In one of the cards I put a $20 gift card for a local bookstore. I know she will spend 4 hours spending that $20.
3. In the "last" card, I wrote a little something extra to tell her how great it is to be married to her (for 12 years).
4. We got a babysitter for our 14 month old (first night away).
5. I took her out to her favorite, quiet, romantic restaurant.
6. Oh, yeah, on the way to the restaurant I had a CD in the player set for "our song".

With the baby and her now a full time stay at home Mom, the budget was tight, so we had to get creative.

Thanks for all your help and suggestions.

 

[Golfgar4]

<font color=blue>"With the baby and her now a full time stay at home Mom, the budget was tight, so we had to get creative."</font color=blue>

Hey, those are the best memories you'll have Mike. Sometimes it takes us awhile to figure out that its' not the $$$ we spend, but what we, as 1/2 of a lifelong team, bring to the other 1/2 from our hearts!

Excellent solution. I'm sure the Mrs. appreciated everything you did for that occassion. You'll be paid back ten fold for your efforts! /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif