romantic gifts

Give That Man a Hand: Surprise Trip

05.17.11

It has been a while since we’ve featured an incredibly thoughtful man giving an incredibly thoughtful gift. When Liz of Arty McGoo sent me a note with this story, I had to share. And for any man who happens to be reading, I can tell you as a woman, authoritatively, this is the best idea ever.

superstar husband John and the lovely Liz of Arty McGoo

So, last Friday John says, “We need to go to Wal-Mart to get some things.”
Little did I know when I got in the car that he was going to wifenap me and take me away

for 4 days.

Instead of driving to Wal-Mart, he drove for 3 hours with me asking questions like, “What in the world are you doing???” “Where are we going?” After unsuccessfully trying to get information out of him, I resigned myself to being blissfully ignorant of where we were going or what we were doing.

After 3 hours of driving north we reached an Olive Garden and I’m thinking, “We drove 3 hours for Olive Garden???” John’s parents were there and they took the kids. “Bye kids! I love you! I don’t know where I’m going or when I’ll be back, but have a good time with grandma and grandpa!”

Then, John drives to an airport and I say, “Am I flying right now? Am I getting on a plane???”

John just smiles a smug little smile. And moments later I’m going through a security checkout and getting on a plane headed for Scottsdale Arizona!!! Carrying bags that John packed for me!!!

… Now, I am not picky and no fashionista, but I find some bizarre clothing choices and see that most of the items in my suitcase were destined for the Salvation Army. He packed a pair of gi-normous OVERALLS! a pair of jeans with a HUGE rip in them, a too small swimsuit, and some tiny T-shirts. Ugh! I was going to look really cute on this super mysterious trip he planned. To his credit he did pack one of my favorite dresses and heels.

After making a quick 11:00 p.m. trip to the 24 hour Wal-Mart (we did actually end up going to Wal-Mart!!!) for some cheap clothes that fit me, we had the most amazingly fabulous weekend. Arizona is where we lived our first three poor, silly, crazy newlywed years.

We visited all our old haunts, favorite restaurants, went to a Coyotes hockey game, Ostrich Festival where we saw camels, zebras and ostrich races (it was hilarious) went swimming and hot tubbing all hours of the night, ate milk and cookies, people watched at the über swank Fashion Square, saw old friends, shopped, ate horribly, and generally had a fantastic, fun, and carefree weekend. It was INCREDIBLE!

+++

Here’s to one rock star husband, from all of us.

Thank you to Liz (and John!) for sharing. If you haven’t been by Liz’s blog, Arty McGoo, head over now, and don’t miss all her yummy baking.

{ 4 comments }

Give That Man a Hand: Proposal by Their Tree

05.19.10

While we are the topic of weddings for a couple weeks, I thought we’d feature a couple of your proposal stories and congratulate the men who went out of their way to be incredibly thoughtful.We’ll start with this one, from Erica. It involves a tree with names carved into it and an impressive collage-style gift that any scrapbooking woman, let alone man, would be proud to have created.

+++

“Jon and I had been dating for 5 years, so I knew that we’d be getting engaged pretty soon. It was August and we were both preparing to move overseas (to different places) for a few months. Two weeks before I was scheduled to leave, we went for a walk in the forest preserve near his house. While we were walking, he suggested we visit “our spot,” a tree in a little grove where he’d carved our names a few years prior.

As we neared our spot, I could hear faint music playing. We came around a bend and I saw a table and chairs with decorated for dinner. On my chair was a gift—a picture frame. Jon had framed 59 ‘Remember when…’ memories from our 5 years of dating (we were in the 60th month). He got down on one knee, proposed, and handed me a ribbon that said ‘Remember when I asked you to marry me.’

There’s nothing like a man who appreciates the value of a homemade gift.”

Jon, congratulations on pulling off a stellar proposal. This is for you.

Look for one more story to come this week. In the meantime, if you’re new here, don’t miss the other stories of thoughtful men in this series. And if you have any stories that you think might work for this series, if you know a dad, husband, uncle, or friend who gave a great gift, I’d love to hear the story. Send me a quick email.

{ 7 comments }

Glamping

05.11.10

Um. Can I please have a re-do on my honeymoon?

I love the idea of ironed sheets, fine china, and the great outdoors.

from here

from here via here

from here

from here via here

Are you the camping type? Are you not? I’m curious to hear from campers and non-campers alike, are you tempted?

{ 19 comments }

Custom Snow Globes

05.10.10

I find snow globes to be utterly romantic. Partly, I think, because they can be so cheesy if they try. (Isn’t that what love is, after all?) But globes can also be plain beautiful. Like these. I think a custom globe could be the perfect bride-to-groom or groom-to-bride gift on the wedding day (see a few other ideas here). I also love this wedding that used them to mark seating assignments. I have been scouring the web for custom snow globe makers, somone who might be able to encapsulate a piece of a couple’s history, and have found one. But one is enough, right? Along my search I also found Marcus Poston (see his flickr here) who made the butterfly globes pictured. Which I adore.

butterfly globeses by Marcus Poston

first images from parcel post/west elm and from style me pretty

{ 1 comment }

Reader Question: First Anniversary

04.30.10

“It is our first wedding anniversary coming up soon and I would love to give my husband a wonderful crafty but also thrifty gift. The first anniversary is symbolised by paper and so I was thinking of something along that line. I plan on making him origami flowers, do you or your readers have any other ideas? Thank you! ” —Gemma, London, UK

Hi Gemma. Congrats on your first year! And what a good woman you are to be thinking of something sweet and handmade. I love these hand-cut silhouettes from PaperCutsbyJoe. You might have to trick the hubby into posing for the perfect picture if you don’t already have one. But I’m sure there are plenty of other lovely ideas out there. Readers, is there anything you’ve given or seen that might work for Gemma?

{ 12 comments }

Give That Man a Hand: A Work of Art

04.23.10

I just loved this story from Vanessa, an expecting mom, and knew you would too.

+++

“Leslie Patricelli is my favorite children’s author and illustrator. For last Valentine’s day, Paul contacted Leslie and asked to purchase an original painting from one of her books. The 2 kids in the painting look like my kids and the Teddy Bear in the painting is supposed to be baby #3 on the way! He had it framed and Leslie wrote ‘to Abbi, Jack & baby’ on the mat.”

Paul, you totally rock. This is for you.

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

If you’re new here, don’t miss the other swoon-worthy stories in this series. I have more great stories on the way, but am looking for more. Here, in particular, are a few I’d love to hear.

1. Mother’s Day stories: Anything special your man or dad did to make the day special? After we all ooh and awe over your story, we might happen to forward it on to our own men, you know, just to get them thinking. A subtle hint never hurt.
2. Stories of something special from your dad. Any special gift or thoughtful thing your dad has done for you or someone else.
3. Wedding proposal stories. I love a good engagement story. I’m hoping to feature one or two, if it involves a gift, all the better.

{ 7 comments }

13 Ways To Celebrate Landmark Birthdays

04.07.10

Make them a beautiful countdown calendar to their big day.

Call friends and family and commission three-minute speeches and serenades.

And while you’re commissioning, get a portrait of them from a talented artist or from a group of loved, less then professionals.

Host an art gallery of their life. Hang pictures on walls, prop them on tables, or wear them. (I had fun browsing this collection of photo pendants. UPDATE: you can have one personalized for just $15.)

Serve from a menu of their life. Do a cookbook.

Get their picture in the paper on on a blog that is awesome.

Run a race together, make it somewhere pretty or for something important.

Get away for a road trip.

Write their name in lights.

Get something signed by someone important.

Host an improptu photo shoot.

Or a paint fight.

Decorate something big.

More ideas to come. Stay tuned.
(images: lemon fluff from here, signed book from here, phone from here)

UPDATE 03.21.10
Here are just a couple more big celebration ideas I love.

A birthday card where everyone pitches in

A birthday call where everyone pitches in

{ 9 comments }

Give That Man a Hand: A Very Special Bench

03.19.10

Wow do I have a story for you. Once you read it you will never forget it.

If you’ve been around here a while, you may remember the lovely Crystal. She’s the one who knits the yummiest kidswear, which you can see at her shop, Darling Clementine. (And have you heard of Tot Toppers? I just discovered this knitting phenomenon. The Cabled Tweedy Topper and the Master Charles are the kind of thing that make me say, forget girls, I want to have a whole slew of boys so I can dress them up. Look for the toppers soon at Darling Clementine.) Crystal emailed with the most amazing story. I can’t wait for you to read, so without further ado, here is Crystal.

+++

When my husband & I were first dating, we went on a walk around my sister’s neighborhood (I was staying with her at the time). A few streets away, there was a large house on a corner lot that had a park bench situated right next to the side walk and it was just begging us to stop and sit. Neil & I obliged and ended up having our first kiss on that bench.

Fast forward. Neil & I are married. It is Valentine’s Day and it’s an extra snowy winter. I come home from work, open the door to our little apartment and see an old, weathered park bench sitting in our living room. I was so confused. After asking Neil about it, I learned that he had been driving around my sister’s neighborhood each day after work for the past two weeks, trying to find the house with our bench again. It had been quite awhile since our first kiss by this point, and given that the city was blanketed in tons of snow, it made locating the bench very difficult.

He finally found the house and knocked on the door and asked the homeowner if he could buy their bench. The woman was a little confused and told him that he could buy park benches at any major hardware store. He went on to explain why he wanted to buy her bench. The woman thought that was the sweetest thing she’d ever heard and called her daughter on the phone to tell her what Neil was doing. She let Neil take the bench free-of-charge. He loaded it up into our tiny Honda CRX, drove across town, dragged it up to our third-floor apartment, and even had a little plaque made for it that says, “First Kiss, July 1, 2002.” So sweet, right? I love my Neilio.

Accolades are in order. Neil, this most official document is for you, and will arrive in your mailbox shortly.

If you have a man you’d like to gush about, and think it might work for this series, be sure to pass the story. I’d love to hear.

{ 13 comments }

Give That Man a Hand: A Year of Letters

03.10.10

All the ladies in the house, tell me this. How much do we appreciate a man who can pick up on a hint?

How nice it is to mention your favorite flower, and then be presented with a bouquet of them? Has anything similar ever happened to you? Men, if you’re paying attention, we like you to read our minds. And if you can’t do that, listening to our hints is almost as good.

I had a lovely reader tell me this story about her man, who not only followed through on a hint, but took it to the next level. Michele was once a journalist, is now a calligrapher (her work is beautiful, be sure to check it out). Michele mentioned to her husband, Todd, how she’d love a handwritten letter from him as a gift. And he delivered. Not only with a one hand-written letter, but one every month. And I have for you here, a picture from Michele of the real, actual year of letters.

(thanks for the picture, Michele, totally beautiful)

In Michele’s words:
“As 2009 unfolded, on the first of every month I found a handwritten letter waiting for me. The letters were wonderful and completely heartfelt. I consider each one a total treasure. So you can imagine how pleased I was when, in his December letter, he revealed that he would be renewing my “subscription” for 2010. Hooray! I couldn’t ask for a better gift or a more thoughtful husband!”

Way to go, Todd! This is for you.

If you have a man you’d like to gush about, and think it might work for this series, be sure to pass the story. I’d love to hear.

{ 0 comments }

Last-Minute Valentines Gifts

02.13.10

Just incase you’re still searching, I wanted to throw these out.
I’m your wingman.
er, wingwoman.

Last Minute Valentines Gifts for Her
1. Serenade her. If you can’t manage that, at least watch a movie that involves a serenade.
2. Make her a mix CD, stick on a pretty, free printable cover (found via here).
3. Go to a salon, pick out a super nice and yummy smelling shampoo. While you’re there, pick up some tips on giving a good hair wash.

Last Minute Valentines Gifts for Him
1. Three words: bacon-wrapped steak. (Or if he’s vegetarian, try something with three cheeses).
2. Take your man to the grocery store. I know, it sounds a little crazy, but I can totally see this idea working (thanks, Shannon!).
3. Serve him breakfast. Ask him about something you usually don’t have absolutely any interest in listenting to (for me this would have to be family finances, isn’t that terrible?) Act fascinated.

Hmmm. I think I might do one of these for myself.

For more last-minute gift inspiration, visit here in the archives, or here in the index. Hope your Valentines is great.

{ 1 comment }

Give That Man a Hand: A Story of How They Met

02.12.10

I heard about this and had to post immediately. Did you see what Hil’s husband made?

It’s the story of how they first met. His version. And with illustrations. Wow.

If you want to hear her version, you’re in luck. Hil has shared it this week in honor of Valentines Day. It’s so fun. I love her adorable note about him not liking her cookies.

{ 1 comment }

Wearing My Love + Romantic Gestures

02.11.10

I make Brent solemnly swear to stay away from this blog during certain times of the year, namely Valentines and Fathers Day. Which is why it’s okay to share this.

I saw this idea on Stephmodo and had to try. But I had a bit of a mishap. The fading effect on the heart was not intentional (i’m not sure if you can tell, but it bleeds). It came from holding a 6-month-old and peeling off the freezer paper while my acrylic heart was still wet and vulnerable. (btw, I first got hooked on freezer paper from this tutorial). Then in my frenzy to fix it, look what happened to the back.

The heart came through, quite cleanly, and on the left side too. I stopped my frenzied washing and found I was pleased with the whole thing. Here’s the final product.

Do you like my new do? It’s a little different than last time and I am still learning how to do a bob.

I’m looking for one or two more Valentine surprises. Ideas? What are you doing? Let’s workshop.

Here are a few all-time favorites.

Am thinking of a romantic gesture from my blog archives. Maybe dessert in bed?

I was also revisiting this post and remembering this great idea for a floating valentine.

And this idea for commemorating every year of your love. Though I’m not sure I could pull it off by Sunday.

Also liked these 14 ideas. Especially the one about the slurpees. And also her idea of photos of places from your romantic history.

Or a book of printed romantic emails. Might do this one. We don’t have so many lovey dovey emails, but a good many about what makes us happy and where our life is going. Come to think of it, maybe this idea could work for friends, not just lovers.

Or another kind of book. A friend showed me a book she made of reasons she loves her valentine. She’s doing 101 reasons in a scrapbook and it turned out so much cuter than I could ever do. But I think I could pull off this version of 52 found via here. I really like the look.

Don’t forget, one more day to stop by here and enter my giveaway.

Deb picked the Ashby Inn in Paris, VA, where she and her husband would spend their days rock climbing.

{ 12 comments }

Give That Man a Hand: Loveletter Book

02.11.10

I’d like to take one post to applaud my own man.

Since he is currently kicked off this blog (for the purposes of being able to be surprised on Valentines day) he will have to accept our congratulations next week. But I really wanted to share something he did.

A few years back he gave me this. It is a love letter book. His dream was that we’d compose lengthy epistles of affection to each other often. We’d write a love letter then leave the book on the pillow for other person to discover. I have to admit, it’s pages aren’t full yet, even after a couple years. But it does have a good twenty or thirty good pages of solid love letter material. And all in one place.

Don’t forget to go here and enter my $100 Bed & Breakfast giveaway by tomorrow.

Celia thought La Zarzuela looked like a good place to stay.

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

Give That Man a Hand: A Homemade Telescope

02.11.10

I know this has been blogged a time or two already, but I find it so romantic I have to add it here. Average Jane Crafter’s husband made her a telescope of her very own. Yes, that’s right, he made it. Isn’t it beautiful? And what could be more romantic than an evening of stargazing? (Through something you made!!!)

Don’t forget to go here and enter my $100 Bed & Breakfast giveaway.
Just stop by this post and
1. Mention an inn you like, or
2. Mention a favorite item from my gift or wrapping guides, or
3. Twitter about it, or
4. Post about it on your blog along with a favorite local shop or restaurant of yours.
Winner chosen tomorrow.