| Author |
Family Matters:  The DH Gift Dillema  |
|
Dusky Beauty
True Blue Farmgirl
1108 Posts
Jen
Tonopah
AZ
USA
1108 Posts |
 Posted - Nov 30 2011 : 7:03:09 PM
|
Ok, it's official. This is my 9th Christmas with my other half and it seems the well has run dry on gift ideas.
It can't be only me. Sound off if you're having trouble this year, gift ideas you've used before so the rest of us can get ideas, or be a voice of reasonable opinion.
This year I have a couple ideas, but nothing really pops out at me as perfect.
I'm thinking about:
~A jerky making starter kit including a food dehydrator, thin cut steaks and some marinade. (Is this really considered a him gift if I don't have a dehydrator yet?)
~A radio control boat. He can play with it in the swimming pool (even during winter here)Kinda similar to the RC helicopter he got last year that he loved, but sits in his desk drawer un-charged.
~ A skinning knife (He's a knife snob, if it isn't good quality I shouldn't waste the money.)
That's all I've got so far. :( He doesn't have time to read books, his only real hobby is video games and I haven't had any luck shopping for one he'd enjoy. He usually buys them himself with his employee discount anyway.
Every year I usually get him a bag of fancy coffee, fancy chocolate, a new t-shirt, and something snuggly to wear at home. He's due for some slippers this year.
Past hits include retro board games, retro atari stuff, and one year did a foreign beer sampler.
I don't mind making stuff but the cheesy "coupon book" idea is out. I don't think random acts of love are random or particularly loving when they are compulsory.
"The greatness of a nation and it's moral progress can be judged by the way it's animals are treated." ~Gandhi
http://silvermoonfarm.blogspot.com/
"After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good he started roaring. He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him. The moral: When you're full of bull, keep your mouth shut.” ~Will Rogers |
|
|
oldbittyhen
True Blue Farmgirl
1511 Posts
tina
quartz hill
ca
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - Nov 30 2011 : 7:09:00 PM
|
My late hubby and I made "coupon books" for each other, with all sorts of fun ideas, camping, massages, weekends with no kids, and other "I won't mention " fun ideas, along with several that cost basicly no money, so use your imagination...OOPS, just saw that you don't want a "cheesy coupon book idea", our love was so strong and complete, nothing was ever considered "Cheesy", sorry...
"Knowlege is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad" |
Edited by - oldbittyhen on Nov 30 2011 7:11:38 PM |
 |
|
|
Dusky Beauty
True Blue Farmgirl
1108 Posts
Jen
Tonopah
AZ
USA
1108 Posts |
Posted - Nov 30 2011 : 8:19:29 PM
|
Sorry my feelings were delivered a little roughly Tina, we're just spontaneous people and don't like to plan ahead acts of tenderness that most people use homemade coupons to enforce. Everybody is different <_<
"The greatness of a nation and it's moral progress can be judged by the way it's animals are treated." ~Gandhi
http://silvermoonfarm.blogspot.com/
"After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good he started roaring. He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him. The moral: When you're full of bull, keep your mouth shut.” ~Will Rogers |
|
|
|
Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22944 Posts |
Posted - Nov 30 2011 : 8:50:00 PM
|
Jen- is your husband a PC video game lover or a xbox or? Doug just got himself a early christmas present of SkyRim that he is loving.
Good luck finding ideas because I am struggling this year too. :(
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
|
|
|
|
MagnoliaWhisper
True Blue Farmgirl
2817 Posts
Heather
Haysville
Kansas
USA
2817 Posts |
Posted - Nov 30 2011 : 11:41:56 PM
|
My husband likes RC stuff and video games too. But, I must say a GOOD knife is used a lot more and always appreciated. We just spent a ton of money at the state fair on GOOD knives, but I am loving them and so is hubby. He surprised me by letting me get so many!
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
|
|
|
Fiddlehead Farm
True Blue Farmgirl
4562 Posts
Diane
Waupaca
WI
USA
4562 Posts |
Posted - Dec 01 2011 : 04:02:12 AM
|
I got mine a home brewing kit a few years ago and it has been great home brewed beer ever since!
http://studiodiphotosite.shutterfly.com/
farmgirl sister #922
Don't go with the flow...you are the flow.
I get up every morning determined to both change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning my day difficult.
- E. B. White |
|
|
|
Simply Satisfied
True Blue Farmgirl
427 Posts
Emily
Montana
USA
427 Posts |
Posted - Dec 01 2011 : 06:15:08 AM
|
I have requested a gift certificate to a rustic resort about an hour from our house for the last few years. My inlaws provide babysitting for 24 hours they buy us a fabulous dinner out that just happens to be about a hundred yards from a rustic yet nice cabin with a fireplace and no phone, tv, etc. This year while I was making my list I forgot the cabin/date request. My husband who of course has been my tagalong each year quickly reminded me that I should ask for our date. He loves the quiet and time to just be us without the daily chores we find to do at home. We usually squeeze in some cross country skiing too. We have found our extended date is so refreshing for us and really restores our energy to come back home and enjoy all that we have there. I don't know if an extended date would be good for your husband as a gift but I know mine loves it. (this is our ninth Christmas together too, congrats!)
Emily
Farmgirl # 3591 |
|
|
|
FarmDream
True Blue Farmgirl
1085 Posts
Julie
TX
USA
1085 Posts |
Posted - Dec 01 2011 : 06:32:17 AM
|
I like the jerky making kit idea. What about a magazine subscription to a knife magazine? Is there a knife magazine out there? Guys like to drool over magazine pics just as much as us. A gift certificate/card to a knife shop.
~FarmDream is Farmgirl Sister #3069
Live Today, Cherish Yesterday, Dream Tomorrow
http://naturaljulie.etsy.com
http://julie-rants.blogspot.com |
|
|
|
FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
Posted - Dec 01 2011 : 06:34:01 AM
|
I'm really struggling this year for gifts, too. This will be our 11th Christmas together. I always like to do one "special" gift and the rest, things he's needed throughout the year and then fun stocking stuffers. The special gift I'm thinking of this year (and I'd better stop "thinking" and start acting) is a print of a painting of his family's church in Mt. Adams, an Irish/German suburb of Cincinnati, painted in the 1890's on a very wintery night. Everyone in the Lynch family has been married there, christened there, and had their funeral services there, as well as many of his uncles serving as Priests of the parish. It's an Irish Catholic congregation. Since both his Grandmother and Grandfather passed away this past year, I thought it might be a good rememberance for him.
As far as the rest of it goes, he makes WWII model airplanes, so he will get one of those, and some new dress clothes for work--a new sports coat, some sweaters and some new dress pants. I did get a really cool vintage Wade pottery egg coddler (made in Ireland in the 1960's) since I can't make a poached egg to save my life and he loves them! That goes in his stocking :)
"Hey, I've got nothing to do today but smile..."
The Only Living Boy in New York, Paul Simon |
|
|
|
Ms.Lilly
True Blue Farmgirl
826 Posts
Lillian
Scotts Mills
OR
USA
826 Posts |
Posted - Dec 01 2011 : 07:53:37 AM
|
DH and I don't buy gifts for each other. We just feel that a lot of money gets wasted on trying to get the "right" gifts. So instead we purchase something that is needed/wanted like a new tv. The last few years we have taken to purchasing for others, last year we purchased two goats for someone in another country and this year we will be funding a micro-loan. Really makes you feel good.
Lillian |
|
|
|
GaiasRose
True Blue Farmgirl
2552 Posts
Tasha-Rose
St. Paul
Minnesota
2552 Posts |
Posted - Dec 01 2011 : 08:55:56 AM
|
I am getting Travis the Leatherman 21 tool multi-tool and making him a sweater that won't be done until June lol...I am also making a smitten and matching glittens for him...
~*~Brightest Blessings~*~
Tasha-Rose
Farmgirl Sister #88
Blogs:
http://omgsitstasharose.wordpress.com
[url=http://lilypie.com] [/url]
|
|
|
|
MrsRooster
True Blue Farmgirl
1168 Posts
Amy
Seabrook
TX
USA
1168 Posts |
|
|
Dusky Beauty
True Blue Farmgirl
1108 Posts
Jen
Tonopah
AZ
USA
1108 Posts |
Posted - Dec 01 2011 : 11:02:36 AM
|
I knew I came to the right place ^_^
I thought about a beer making kit but decided to let it go for a couple of reasons-- for one, we share a house with extended family for now and there isn't a place where he could just leave a project like that sit, 2, I don't know how regularly he could come back to a long term project. He's employed full time plus carrying a 4.0 average in school full time.
Alee, we are big gamers so we have every system (including our "married" pair of gaming PCs-- and yet I don't have a cow! TSK!!)We're both on our second playthrough of Skyrim LOL!
I'm still liking the knife idea the day after. He used to manage a cutlery store so he defenitly has some strong opinions on knives! LOL I've decided to try telling him that we've got a thread here asking about husband gift knives. Let's see if I can trick him into picking his own knife? I'm setting him into a $50 cap, so lets see what he can come up with.
"The greatness of a nation and it's moral progress can be judged by the way it's animals are treated." ~Gandhi
http://silvermoonfarm.blogspot.com/
"After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good he started roaring. He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him. The moral: When you're full of bull, keep your mouth shut.” ~Will Rogers |
Edited by - Dusky Beauty on Dec 01 2011 11:19:23 AM |
|
|
|
Ninibini
True Blue Farmgirl
7577 Posts
Nini
Pennsylvania
USA
7577 Posts |
Posted - Dec 01 2011 : 11:54:27 AM
|
You know, when my son was a baby, our best man brought my husband a gift of the electric train set they used to play with as kids. I then followed with a Christmas gift of a HO scale starter set that year, thinking he would just set them both up under the tree and play with them with our son at the holidays. Well, as chance would have it, it has turned into his favorite hobby! He now has an incredible train set-up in our attic. I never in my life anticipated what it would become. He really enjoys adding to his collection, and it gives me plenty of inspiration for gifts on birthdays, holidays and "just because" days. He will squirrel himself up there in the dead of winter and make the most incredible layout additions – including lighting and moving parts. He has created a replica of our house from scratch, included a baseball field with my son's friends as players, and has even now begun a working carnival set. It is his pride and joy, and all kids - very young and old alike - love to come see it. In the summers, he scours the yard sales and flea markets for broken pieces and used parts, which, during the cold months, he transforms into the most miraculous creations. I search the internet for interesting new pieces and inspiration for him, too. It can be a REALLY expensive hobby if you’re not careful, but my husband is really happy with second hand kits, and he’s very creative, so he doesn’t mind “bits and pieces,” if you will – they’re actually a lot of fun for him!
SO – my point in all of this is that if he likes to be crafty (in the GUY sense, of course!) maybe a train set or some other hobby starter (wood burning, stained glass making, etc.) or a gift certificate for classes to learn a new handicraft would be a great gift for your hubby this year… And it could lead to many new exciting gift prospects for the future! :)
Good luck!
Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
www.papercraftingwithnini.myctmh.com
|
|
|
|
Dusky Beauty
True Blue Farmgirl
1108 Posts
Jen
Tonopah
AZ
USA
1108 Posts |
|
|
traildancer
True Blue Farmgirl
485 Posts
Loyce
Glide
OR
USA
485 Posts |
Posted - Dec 02 2011 : 09:37:15 AM
|
Last year I got my husband a gift certificate to a local used book store. He likes true WWII books and I haven't the faintest idea which ones he has read. He liked that.
Does your husband shoot? How about a box of ammo and maybe a package of targets or clay pigeons and a thrower?
Years ago I gave him a hand-crank ice cream maker. He wasn't too impressed and I use it more than he does although he always eats what I make!
The trail is the thing.... Louis L'Amour |
|
|
|
Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22944 Posts |
|
|
Montrose Girl
Farmgirl Legend/Schoolmarm
1360 Posts
Laurie
Montrose
CO
1360 Posts |
Posted - Dec 03 2011 : 09:45:56 AM
|
That's funny Alee.
We received several catalogs/advertisements right after Thanksgiving and DH circled things he liked. Great, this gives me ideas. Then he proceeded to go buy what he wanted. For other hints he's dropped, I managed to find a few things, but every time we go to a store he says we need to go look for this or that. I hemmed and hawed about it, finally having to tell him Santa was coming so no, we weren't going to go look at that item.
We've both just gone and picked up whatever we've needed over the years so this is all new to him.
Laurie
http://www.inntheorchardbnb.com/ |
|
|
|
jessabelluh
True Blue Farmgirl
349 Posts
Jessica
South Dakota
USA
349 Posts |
Posted - Dec 03 2011 : 09:54:11 AM
|
quote:
Originally posted by Montrose Girl
DH circled things he liked. Great, this gives me ideas. Then he proceeded to go buy what he wanted. For other hints he's dropped, I managed to find a few things, but every time we go to a store he says we need to go look for this or that.
lol Men can be so funny that way!
~jess |
|
|
|
acairnsmom
True Blue Farmgirl
1319 Posts
audrey
cheyenne
wy
1319 Posts |
Posted - Dec 10 2011 : 9:41:37 PM
|
Jen, just saw this post. My DH likes knives and is particularly fond of any Marble knives. He also like Marine KBar knives.
KBars can be found here http://www.grunt.com/kabars
A site that carries Marble's http://www.uparchery.com/index.php?cPath=75
Let us know what you decide. I bought my DH a wind proof jacket (Irish Setter brand) at Sierra Outlet on Black Friday. So he's all set
Audrey
.jpg) Good boy Hobbs! I love and miss you. |
|
|
|
Dusky Beauty
True Blue Farmgirl
1108 Posts
Jen
Tonopah
AZ
USA
1108 Posts |
|
|
one_dog_per_acre
True Blue Farmgirl
1572 Posts
Trish
Sandpoint
ID
USA
1572 Posts |
Posted - Dec 11 2011 : 04:37:50 AM
|
I'm getting chickens, so what he really should get are bees or a goat! He is really into customizing and putting together AR-15s. I made him order two things he wants for his guns online. Lame, I know, but I want him to get exactly what he wants, instead of me wasting $ at Cabela's.
“It always looks darkest just before it gets totally black.”-Charlie Brown |
|
|
|
Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Dec 12 2011 : 03:48:30 AM
|
Tuck this one away for future reference too.
There is a magazine out there for knife collectors
I collect knives odd for a hetero female I know
It's called Blade
Haven't seen it in a while, but it was a good read with great articles and all kinds of nice knives for use and display
|
|
|
|
Dusky Beauty
True Blue Farmgirl
1108 Posts
Jen
Tonopah
AZ
USA
1108 Posts |
Posted - Dec 14 2011 : 11:56:15 AM
|
If someone else wants some knife type stocking stuffers I think I have some cold steel demo DVDs still! LOL!! We ended up keeping the shop videos which show them slicing up watermelons, bottle of soda, coconuts etc. I haven't looked for them since we moved in but I bet they're still on my DvD shelves.
"The greatness of a nation and it's moral progress can be judged by the way it's animals are treated." ~Gandhi
http://silvermoonfarm.blogspot.com/
"After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good he started roaring. He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him. The moral: When you're full of bull, keep your mouth shut.” ~Will Rogers |
|
|
|
Lieberkim
True Blue Farmgirl
839 Posts
Kimberly
Sunnyside
WASHINGTON
USA
839 Posts |
Posted - Dec 14 2011 : 12:18:02 PM
|
Every year my hubby makes a list. He even will go on the internet and find the exact thing and the price and everything so that I can easily find exactly what he wants. He gives me several options so he won't "know" what he's getting but I'll know I'm getting him something he wants. This year I deviated from the list and went WAY over budget. He's been saying for ages now that he'd like to have an electric fireplace in our bedroom for those romantic evenings..... reminds us of our honeymoon *blush* So I ordered an infrared electric fireplace. I'm just waiting on pins and needles for it to arrive. Can't wait to see his face on Christmas morning. One of the things he mentioned on his list was a Ducati (not expecting it of course) so I told him I got him one. LOL He knows I'm lying but it's fun having him wondering what it might be.
PS a Ducati is a motorbike.
Excuse the mess & the noise, my children are making happy memories |
|
|
|
batznthebelfry
True Blue Farmgirl
1257 Posts
Michele
Athol
Ma
USA
1257 Posts |
Posted - Dec 15 2011 : 11:31:12 PM
|
My hubby is hard to buy for as he is a tec-no head...computers, video games ect...But he wanted to learn to make beer...that kit stayed in the basement for over 10 years now, same as rootbeer kit & hot sauce kits he wanted...lol...Since he is returning from Afghanistan in less than 2 weeks i went ahead & got him a re-conditioned laptop computer thur Dell since the one he took with him is full of sand now & to clean it will be more than its worth....I got him DVD's also since I know he will watch those buts he's hard to shop for....One year I got him a small 24 bottle frig wine cellar & its still in the box! as well as the mini frig for his game room....& forget about him shopping for me...after about 15 yrs of marriage i started buying my gifts & just tell him what he & the 'kids' got me...this year its a small fancy jewelry grinder/polisher...lol...It works best this way cause i get the things I need like a small butter churn, bread maker, wheel barrel ect & I don't have to return it!....Michele'
Chickens rule!
The Old Batz Farm
Hen #2622 |
|
|
|
Family Matters: The DH Gift Dillema |
|
The DH Gift Dillema
