Gift Ideas for Men

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Kris’ Take:  Women always want to know what to get their man for holidays, I’ll do the best I can to provide some general ideas that may help you out.  You’ll have to gauge your guy to make sure these fit with his personality or career, but I think this will be a decent start:

• A nice watch (Laura got me a very nice one and I loved it!)
• A new briefcase (This is better for businessmen so get this if it’s needed, or if it’s better than the one he has.)
• A nice suit (Men like looking good for their women, so if you had him a suit that you say is hot, he’ll probably like it.)
• A better phone (These have become integral to businessmen)
• New shoes (I wear my shoes until the sole is gone, Laura doesn’t let this happen to me anymore.)
• A nice wallet (Nothing worse then a businessman busting out his gray nylon wallet with blue trim.)
• Cologne (This is kind of a last ditch effort unless the guy doesn’t shut up about it.  Laura had to skew the truth for a whole year about a cologne I liked.  She kept telling me she didn’t like it so I wouldn’t buy it so she could get it for me.  She actually loves the stuff.)
• Something from one of his hobbies or (I hate using this idea, but it’s safer if you’re unsure of what to get) a gift certificate to one of his favorite hobby stores.
• If he needs or uses tools a lot you can speak with a home improvements store employee about what tools are nice for his trade.  They can make recommendations on things that can make the job easier, or just upgrade what he already has. (Be sure to keep receipts just in case.)
• Things for his vehicle like satellite radio, GPS, or various decorations to enhance the look.  (Men typically like their vehicles a lot, and getting things to enhance the ride or make it look nicer are usually a pretty safe bet.)
• A sentimental gift like a picture frame with your names engraved (As long as your man doesn’t smash beer cans on his head.  Laura did this for me and it sits upon my desk, I really like it.)
• A vacation. (A little more pricey but fun for you both!)

Those are my ideas for now.  As I think of more I’ll be sure to add them, and if you have any ideas or ones that really worked out well leave them as a comment and I’ll add those too.

Christmas reminds me…

Kris’ Take:  In America, where we are surrounded by advertising and glittering images, we are constantly pressured to buy, buy, buy and keep up with the neighbors.  It can sometimes become very easy to fall into this trap.  When people fall into this trap I call them an Uberconsumer.  That is a word that I completely made up on my own so I know it won’t pass spell check.  When you’re an uberconsumer, you completely lose sight of what is truly important.  People begin to covet their iphone and Dolce & Gabbana sunglasses.  Sometimes I find myself in this position where I am blindly driven to succeed and few times do I ever really sit down and define what the word succeed means.

 Sure, the world says that succeeding is acquiring large amounts of money, power, or a combination of the two.  I know for some people that is success, but I think to myself, what is truly important to me?  I would rather have loving children and a faithful wife rather than a million dollars.  I know money is necessary to properly supply the needs of the people that you love, but a line must be drawn.  I know there is some guy out there that is working tirelessly to shove millions in the bank for the family that he has at home.  What he doesn’t realize is while he is slaving away, the kids are growing up, the wife is developing new interests that she isn’t able to share with him because he isn’t around, and all this is doing is widening the gap between him and the family that he thinks he is doing this all for.  It’s really a catch 22.

 There needs to be a balance.  I’m a highly driven person, and that is probably one of my biggest blessings, and one of my biggest flaws.  I need to know how to balance my drive to provide and succeed financially, and also make ample amounts of room for attention and quality time.  I think of the plant analogy:  You buy a plant and put it in the window so that it is sure to have plenty of sunshine.  Then you go to the river to get it water.  But wait, a gallon is okay but you will need plenty of water to sustain it throughout its whole life.  So you hurry home and drip a couple of drops on the plant and you run back out to the river. 

You collect hundreds of gallons of water, every once in a while running back to drip a few drops onto your plant.  You’re too busy to notice that the plant is beginning to brown and wither.  It doesn’t matter how much water you gather, it won’t save that plant without the right amount of attention.  In this case the plant was only receiving a couple of drops a day at best.

 This Christmas I went to my mother’s house and it was nice spending time with her.  I don’t get to see her often and it reminded me of just how nice and important family is.  I see it everyday, celebrities that “have the world” but in all reality, they are unfulfilled.  Look at Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.  They will be going to Louisiana to help rebuild, I think that is fantastic, but examine that a little further.  All of the money, and sway that they have, they must be fulfilled, right?  They have the ability to live their lives completely for themselves and not lift a finger, yet they choose to do the opposite.  This shows me that no matter how much money a person has, there is far more to life.  I know this is an obvious conclusion, but look at how many people spend their lives, lose their lives, and lose their families because they love money more.

 Christmas reminds me that it’s okay to work for the money you need, but to remember to put everyone that you truly love before it.

Merry Christmas!

Kris:  Sorry about the lack of updates but we all know how this holiday season can get!  I had a very lovely time with Laura.  We did our gift exchange and talked quite a bit about the things we received.  She did the most amazing job of getting me a gift that I wanted… while I was there.  Worse yet, the gift was probably about a grand total of 4 feet away from me the whole ride home  WHOLE 45 minute ride home!  I had no clue either just because she is that crafty!  I was in complete disbelief when I opened it and she started telling me the story.  It’s like one of those movies where you don’t understand how everything happened.  Then, as it starts unraveling it shows you all of the obvious clues that were laid out before you!  Then you’re thinking “UUHhhhh, how did I not know!?”  Anywho, my Christmas was grand, if you’d like let us know how yours went!  If you guys did anything romantic and creative let us know too!  Until next time.

What do you want for Christmas?

Laura’s Take: Don’t know what to get your lovely wife or girlfriend for Christmas? Jewelry is always a hit, which unfortunately makes it very predictable. Think, what has she mentioned earlier in the year? Buying something she wanted a while ago, is always a great way to show you listen to her and you care enough to remember. Can’t think of anything? Think about what things she likes to do, such as baking, painting, or gardening and buy her something she could use for such. Still perplexed? Just ask her mom. Mother knows best!

By the way, If she specifically says she wants something, don’t be daring and buy her something else. Women know what they want, they can spend hours shopping to find that perfect dress, necklace, or watch. So if she says, I want this dress, don’t try buying a different one. No, the element of surprise isn’t there, but she’ll be much happier getting what she really wants. She knows what she wants, and it’s a black and teal sequin cowl neck cocktail dress!

 Kris’ Take:  Wow!  I better read carefully here, I hope there’s nothing I’m forgetting :-/  But I must agree, it’s kind of obvious, once the princess puts her foot down, it’s best to abide.  But I must also say the same thing for men.  We will drop hints constantly, just short of holding up signs neon signs.  Men like lots of things such as: TVs, Video Games, Some like jewelry, lots of practical things like tools, and for those married couples I’ve never heard of guys complaining about Lingerie, but not for the guy…  Short of all of those ideas each man is unique, they have hobbies, buy something that will enhance that for them.

When push comes to shove, if someone absolutely wants something, I think it’s better to get that.  You can always save the element of surprise for a different day.  It never hurts to bring home a surprise boquet of flowers when she’s had a bad day.