What X-Mas Gifts do you purchase for Your Spouse....

[lefty]

.... who already has EVERYTHING and hates Clutter?

I'm very fortunate that my Wife is not into expensive jewelry or clothing. One year (early in our dating) I bought her a bottle of Chanel perfume,,, (because that's what Women WANT :thumbup ). The next year I bought her another bottle of the same thing. When we got back to her place, she went to her bathroom and showed me the bottle from the previous year, that was 100% full.

So, I got some fantastic advice from a BARFer about making Books. I have tried to make her a book every year, but sometimes I run out of ideas.

One year I made a book titled "The Woman Who Lives in the Woods, who likes to Sleep, ALOT". It was a story about a VERY Handsome Man who meets this woodland creature while on a solo backpacking trip and he brings her back to civilization and she falls asleep alot. It was filled with pictures of her from our various backpacking trips, but 80% of the photo's were these really funny pictures of her sleeping in odd locations. She works like crazy and if she sits still for too long, she will start snoring.

Another year I made a cookbook called "Cooking with Sally". Sally was her 14 y/o Beagle who would spend her evenings with me in the kitchen. I would always take pictures of the food, with Sally in the background. That actually made her cry- and she is NOT a crier (I'm the crier).

I make donations to the Animal Shelter in her name.

So, I'm stumped regarding what to do for this year. Costco has some hideous Women's PJ's, so I bought her a pair. I'm trying to think of other gift ideas. What about you, what do you?

 

[WoodsChick]

Wow...you are the best present-giving husband! So thoughtful and personal. Not sure how you're going to top those previous gifts :laughing

For our first Christmas together Eric gave me a beautiful antique rose gold locket.
He put a photo of us in it. He'd taken a photo of me standing in front of our fireplace. On the mantel behind me was a framed 8x10 photo of us together in the pits at the Grand National Final at Road Atlanta. He cut that part of the photo out and put it in the locket :love The locket was fabulous and I wore it forever until it got stolen out of our house, but it was the thought and creativity that went into getting that tiny photo into it that really made it special.

Over the years we'd get each other gifts, mostly riding gear or parts, then we started getting one item together that we both wanted for camping or riding or something for the house. We've continued doing that and it's worked out great. We tend to put more emphasis on birthdays as they seem more special and personalized, not just mass consumerism.

You gave me a great idea while typing this up, Lefty! I'm going to make a book for Eric. He reads all my ride reports and he always picks out a favorite photo that sums up the trip, or captures the mood the best, or is just his favorite for whatever reason. I think I'm going to take those photos and make a book for him Thank you for the inspiration!

 

[auntiebling]

holy shit leftimus, i can't believe it took you so long to be permanently removed from the Market with gift giving talents like that.

i don tnothing. i detest mandatory gift giving "holidays" and try to get something unexpected for my wife at a random time elsewhere in the year. she's more or less on board with that approach, fortunately for us both.

 

[mikev]

Perhaps a bowling ball or a vacuum?

 

[TylerW]

Stop buying things, treat her to experiences.

It's been a stressful year - get her a spa day with a 2 hour massage. Get her a certificate for a glassblowing class at the Crucible.

I don't know what she likes, but you surely do. Stop filling your lives with clutter and treat her to something fun and unexpected, hopefully rewarding.

 

[HappyHighwayman]

A bible

 

[weasel]

I'm going to tune her piano. And no that's not a euphemism.

She has a birthday in December too. I was thinking about taking the diamond from my mom's wedding ring and turning it into a necklace or something

 

[Bubba_s]

Stop buying things, treat her to experiences.

It's been a stressful year - get her a spa day with a 2 hour massage. Get her a certificate for a glassblowing class at the Crucible.

I don't know what she likes, but you surely do. Stop filling your lives with clutter and treat her to something fun and unexpected, hopefully rewarding.

Sorry, someone else usually does this, but...

PIIDB?

 

[mlm]

Perhaps a bowling ball or a vacuum?

Only if you haven't already given her a gun

 

[lefty]

Woodschick and Auntiebling-

You are both so kind.

Tyler- I agree with you, but since I did not add to the human population problem (vasectomy in my 20's), I allow myself to buy her a few things every so often.

MikeV- Last year I bought her a Roomba Vacuum, and she promptly told me "where to put it". LOL!!! She is awesome. I often buy her Clorox Bleach and Laundry detergent and wrap it up. She always has the same response.

I love all of the great responses- I'm getting soo many great ideas!!!

 

[Pushrod]

1974 did a pencil portrait of her,
1980 " " " "
1990 ditto
2000 water color
2010 acrylics

But the one she loves is the one I did of her mother. Pen and ink, color wash, artistic license was used when I put her mother in a witch's habit with symbology and accoutrements. (MIL loved it, to my great astonishment!)

And, yeah, intervening years was the standard high quality jewelry. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER appliances or household goods.

 

[easter bunny]

Stop buying things, treat her to experiences.

I also vote for this. Take a ballroom dancing class or one of those drink-and-paint things. You can also make custom things like M&Ms or stamps and put your/her/dogs picture on them. Personal and practical.

 

[dravnx]

I load up the kayaks, fishing gear and get her out of the country. We leave for Baja just before Christmas and get home a day or two after New Years. Can't stand the Christmas BS.

 

[JMack]

Paying attetntion to this thread as well!

I suck at buying gifts!

 

[lefty]

I load up the kayaks, fishing gear and get her out of the country. We leave for Baja just before Christmas and get home a day or two after New Years. Can't stand the Christmas BS.

WOW!!!! I would love to do that as well. One thing that I find odd, is that my Wife Loves to watch me fish???????

We backpack into lakes and I fish all day. I bought her a float tube, but she hates the idea of 'hooking' a fish.

I love watching the YT vids of guys fishing from their Kayaks. Do you use paddles or peddles?

 

[cheez]

Cameras, camera gear, laptops, nice jewelery, technology items, trips to places. Things she'd never spend the money on herself.

Her using her birthday gift this year on a weekend trip to Mendocino:

 

[Removed 4]

the last Christmas I spent with my ex, I bought her baking stuff and some of those slidy things for furniture feet

I was shitty on purpose

 

[stangmx13]

I usually buy her things for us to do - things that she loves and arent my thing. Last time was a wine & art class and a glass blowing class. Another gift for her this year was a vacation to Montana, but COVID delayed that one. Sometimes I can think of something that she wants/needs but wont buy herself, but its not often. She has this habit of buying half the things on her bday/xmas list in the month before. Then the rest of the list is taken by her family and our friends. So I usually always go off-list with things to do. She likes new experiences a lot, so it makes her happy.

And ya, I spend twice as much cuz I need a ticket for myself as well. But thats ok. One time she took a girlfriend though :laughing

 

[Kenny94945]

Contrary to the OP's comments:
1) Tiffany (brand) jewelry... no substitute of brand... any item ear rings, rings, bracelet, etc they always smile.
2) Coach, Gucci (best designer) purses. Buy mom, wife, daughter, (and mistress) the brand and watch them all smile.
That's the best suggestion I have.
Otherwise, as this is a motorcyclist site, one word, leather
Gift buying can be a challenge as the OP has found.
Good luck.

 

[Kim]

Thankfully my husband knows me well enough to know that a coach purse or tiffany jewelry would not be a good gift for me. Sure id smile, to be nice but inside id be so disappointed/upset that he spent that kind of money on something like that as opposed to something i actually like or want. :laughing

I love your previous gifts Lefty! they are thoughtful and cute! :love

My vote also goes towards an experience/memories. Thats what I always ask for, for my Birthday (its the day after christmas so i dont need another gift.)