While the wife and I are generally pretty practical with each other, I do have a few golden rules I like to follow...
1. I always get her at least one jewelry item. Typically, it's a few items, nothing too crazy mind you, but has to be real, as the fake stuff tarnishes on her quickly.
2. I always try and get her at least one really sentimental gift. Something that shows a lot of thought and effort. In this case, I'm trying for two. One is one of those books that illustrates what you love about someone, hardback, and personalized. (Lovebookonline.com). It's pretty damn cool, and should make her cry (which is the goal here, but tears of happiness, etc.). The second, is I found a pretty good pic of all of us (including our deceased son), that (with a bit (OK, a LOT) of editing) should eventually be the big family portrait she always wanted us to do (that his work schedule never really allowed for). So getting that done, and in a nice frame, etc.
3. We are board game fanatics, so I try and get her at least one new game or an expansion for an existing one we have. These aren't your normal Monopoly, etc. games, but very complex ones (and generally start at about $40 each or more).
4. Stockings are like a little mini Christmas. Little odds and ends that we know everyone likes. It can take an hour just for all of us to go through our stockings (youngest to oldest).
Really, the wife and I are kind of getting ourselves that fancy Shark vacuum, the one on TV that sucks up pool balls, and doesn't get tangled with pet hair. That's just something we NEED vs. want. We have burned out numerous ones, even pricier ones, trying to do this.
Our daughter just wants a lot of household stuff, but we'll get her some fun stuff too. Like us, she's a big geek, so it's fun to shop for her.
It's going to be a rough holiday without our boy, but I'm hoping we can find a little joy during it.
So what are all of you guys getting your spouses, family, etc.?
1. I always get her at least one jewelry item. Typically, it's a few items, nothing too crazy mind you, but has to be real, as the fake stuff tarnishes on her quickly.
2. I always try and get her at least one really sentimental gift. Something that shows a lot of thought and effort. In this case, I'm trying for two. One is one of those books that illustrates what you love about someone, hardback, and personalized. (Lovebookonline.com). It's pretty damn cool, and should make her cry (which is the goal here, but tears of happiness, etc.). The second, is I found a pretty good pic of all of us (including our deceased son), that (with a bit (OK, a LOT) of editing) should eventually be the big family portrait she always wanted us to do (that his work schedule never really allowed for). So getting that done, and in a nice frame, etc.
3. We are board game fanatics, so I try and get her at least one new game or an expansion for an existing one we have. These aren't your normal Monopoly, etc. games, but very complex ones (and generally start at about $40 each or more).
4. Stockings are like a little mini Christmas. Little odds and ends that we know everyone likes. It can take an hour just for all of us to go through our stockings (youngest to oldest).
Really, the wife and I are kind of getting ourselves that fancy Shark vacuum, the one on TV that sucks up pool balls, and doesn't get tangled with pet hair. That's just something we NEED vs. want. We have burned out numerous ones, even pricier ones, trying to do this.
Our daughter just wants a lot of household stuff, but we'll get her some fun stuff too. Like us, she's a big geek, so it's fun to shop for her.
It's going to be a rough holiday without our boy, but I'm hoping we can find a little joy during it.
So what are all of you guys getting your spouses, family, etc.?
