Cool Last Minute Gift Ideas for the ’08 Holidays
By Nicole Unice
The day after Thanksgiving, I sat at my kitchen table, armed with coffee, pen and notepad adorned with dancing Christmas gifts. I fired off the names on my gift-giving list: parents, nieces, nephews, neighbors. I quickly filled the front and spilled over to the back: in-laws, teachers, babysitters, kids. It wasn’t until the third go-round that I realized with horror that I had forgotten the most important person on that list: my husband!
It’s easy to give your most-loved the worst treatment in the frenetic holiday season. In years past, the best I could muster for the man I love was a wrapping-paper scrap with an IOU statement.
Women are often responsible for the lion’s share of gift giving, and that’s exhausting! You want to do right by your sweetie, but you are out of ideas and energy. So in honor of women like me: here’s a list of tried-and-true gifts for him that you’ll both love:
 Get Jiggy: Can a rhythm-impaired husband really enjoy an evening of dancing? It is possible with a little extra help. In just an hour’s time, Eleanor Robertson, owner of Rigby’s Jig, gently guided my husband and me through the basic steps to dancing with style. Dance with a group or take a private lesson customized for your skill level. Research shows that doing something new together and getting exercise both contribute to a healthy sex life. It’s a win-win! You’ll get a little romance, he’ll get…
 The built-in babysitter: Are your pre-schoolers making it difficult to string more than two words together without interruption? If your budget makes it tough to pay for a babysitter and a nice date, consider this: Cartwheels and Coffee, a new café & play area in Carytown, offers gift certificates in any denomination. Kids can play in a clean, fun environment while parents enjoy great coffee, snacks and even wifi….wait; you are supposed to be connecting. Leave the computers at home!
 Something personal: Tabitha Geary has truly one-of-a-kind photographic creations. All orders must be in by 12/15 to receive in time for Christmas and all customers must mention this ad on Richmondmom.com in order to receive the special pricing: http://www.tabithageary.com/
Plus, they are offering: Free gift wrapping on Thursday nights from 6-8 at the showroom. Not just Tabitha Geary gifts--all your stuff! Here are a few of the items:
*Bag Tags and Christmas Ornaments-- 1 for $20 or 3 for $50
*16 x 16 Canvas (1 image)-- $85
*24 pg (12pgs front/back; max 50 images) softbook -- $50
*Dry Erase board (1 image and text)-- $35
*52 week/52 picture Dayplanner-- $60/ $50 for additional copies
The Empty Bag: Head to your favorite lingerie shop for some pretty (sexy) underthings. Just the sight of that lovely box will get him excited about what’s inside, and when he opens it, he’ll find it empty…because you’re already wearing his gift! You get pretty lingerie, he gets…
The Gift That Keeps Giving I: How about a microbrew of the month club? A quarterly gift membership gives you twelve innovative beers delivered every three months. A friend gushed, “It’s like Christmas every time it comes!” Check out Flying Noodle or Great Clubs for more info. Not a beer drinker? Try wine, coffee, or even pasta!
Date Night In: Put together a basket with some great date materials: snacks, your favorite drinks, a movie and an all-in-one remote (make sure you program it to work!). Snuggle up. Pick a movie that allows for plenty of make-out time that you initiate. Don’t be afraid to use the pause button if needed!
For The Love of Shoes: Every girl’s leg looks better in a pair of great heels. Buy yourself a very sexy, very high-heeled pair. Use your digital camera to take some pics of you in the shoes…feet only, feet and legs, what you take is up to you. If you are feeling creative, tell a story with the pictures so that your husband knows what these heels mean for him. Wrap up the pictures and the shoes. Even better, combine the high heel & dance lesson gift for a date—and night—he’s sure to remember! You get great shoes, he gets…
Guys Night In: Feel like your hubbie needs some man time? Plan a guy’s night in. You get the poker tables or check the sports schedule and invite over his buddies. You provide the drinks and all the snacks he likes, and then take the kids upstairs—or even better, vacate the place totally. No complaining about how late he stays up or how loud they get, and you clean up. You get: cool-wife status with his buddies. He gets…a guilt-free night of guy-time!
The Gift That Keeps Giving II: Nothing feels better after a stressful day than a great massage. Buy a book on reflexology and massage and include some hand-written massage coupons with your gift. Feeling especially generous? Create a twelve-month calendar with a “spa treatment” of the month. One caveat: when he cashes in the coupon, you have to deliver—and he’ll love you for it!
I’m ready to check my husband off my gift-giving list, confident that I’ve got plenty of great ideas for a gift he’ll love! Hmm, now about those in-laws…
Now tell us: what’s the best give you’ve ever given, or received? Got any tips? One reader will be chosen at random to win a $25 gift certificate to Monograms for All Occasions! Click here: Richmondmom.com ’08 Gift Survey!
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