Whether this is your first Valentine’s Day or you have been together for years, have kids or not, Valentine’s Day is and always will be a stressful day.
I always try to do something more special than the previous year. I have a list of requirements for myself. A gift I buy, a gift I make (check out those in my other blog posts Here) and I must make a new food dish I’ve never attempted.
To add to my stress I also have to plan, at the same time, our anniversary and her birthday which all fall within a week on one another. Why? because I have to make sure that the gift I give doesn’t outshine what I do for our anniversary but is more heartfelt than her birthday all while making sure all 3 are special.
Does she require this? No of course not. Does she deserve it? most definitely.
I find putting this much thought into a gift is healthy for your relationship. Even if she doesn’t know I put that much effort into figuring it out, it shows just by how smooth it went even when I bomb.
Trust me I’ve had some bad gifts both bought and made. I’ve had some bad meals too. I have been so broke that the gift I bought was not a gift I’d prefer to give to show how much I care. I’ve been so broke the only thing I could afford was to give a foot rub.
She cut herself on a bracelet I made because I didn’t file the edges down. I attempted to make a dozen origami roses and failed to make even one. I made a Dutch baby for breakfast, see below, and it didn’t quite do what the picture showed it should look like (tasted ok though).
However, what important is to try, and if it bombs then try harder next year. Some years it sneaks up on you quick and you’ll scramble to find or make something.
To help I’ve come up with a list of things that may be just the thing to get or might spark an idea of the perfect gift either way I hope it helps.
The adventure challenge
This has been popping up all over the place online and one I’m going to get this year. There are a few ones you can get like one for the family or a couples one. They also have one with a camera. What it is though is a scratch-off adventure book. Inside is 50+ surprise adventures, tear out love notes, and other things to help you connect. All hidden until you scratch them off. Like the scratch-off tickets your mom use to get. Even though we still have the spark in our marriage after 20 years together Theresa and I will enjoy trying things that will take us out of our normal routine.
goldbelly.com
This one is for the food lover in your life. They have some cool treats, unique food subscription boxes. From Duffs Goldman cakes to Maine lobster rolls this thing has it all. They ship almost anywhere in the lower 48 and the prices are not terrible considering what must go into shipping some of these items. Is it something I’d do all the time? No. However, to do it once a year for the wife and me to try something we otherwise would never get a chance to try would be worth it. Their subscriptions are interesting too. They have Pizza, sandwiches, pies, and a lot more. I mean they have a bacon subscription. Who doesn’t love bacon?
Tea subscription boxes
If your significant other is a tea lover this would be a great gift. Tea is one of those things you can drink any time of day and the variations are endless. I use to get this tea from a specialty tea store that had hand-rolled hibiscus dragon balls with a green tea. It was one of the best teas I have ever had.
There are a bunch of different tea subscriptions to choose from. Because I haven’t done it myself I will link here to The Spruce who did a very in-depth review and give you their top picks. While my wife is pregnant, breastfeeding, and taking her multi-vitamin she was told that green tea can block the absorption of certain important vitamins. If you spouse is pregnant, breast feeding, or taking vitamins check with your Dr. prior to getting her green tea.
Premium coffee
Did you marry a coffee lover, a self proclaimed coffee connoisseur? Getting them a really good coffee or a subscription to a nice coffee is alway appreciated. If a premium coffee isn’t their style maybe a mug that keeps their coffee at the perfect temp for them. Perhaps a French Press. Maybe your spouse is a veteran who’d love a engraved stainless steel canteen cup with black rifle coffee. Ok, maybe not.
Pens or stickers for planner lovers
Does you wife love those ever so popular planner sticker books for working in her planner/calendar? Or maybe it’s a particular brand of colorful pens with a fine tip? Getting her something that allows her to have time to herself doing something she enjoys is always a welcomed gift.
Instant pot
This is an amazing item. It cooks everything, if you time is limited for cooking, or your tired of the same meals. This thing is a pressure cooker, rice cooker, slow cooker, steamer, egg cooker, it really can do just about anything. You can even get a air fryer lid to increase even more what you can do. We just made fried wings and they were better then most restaurants I’ve been to.
Relaxing gifts
With everyone washing their hands so much every day she’d love her favorite lotion or another quality lotion. A basket from her favorite spa and offer the foot rub that goes with it. Another addition could be a great pair of comfortable night clothes.
Useful gifts
I hate to gift something to someone that thye only use once or that isn’t used consistantly. I usually like to find a gift that my wife will find useful on a day to day basis. Something that will make her day easier trust me when you have kids if you get something that makes life easier you will appreciate it.
Ju-ju-be Bag
This brand has probably the best stylish diaper bags on the market today. Well that is affordable and not crazy expensive. My wife has gotten in to collecting them. They are well thought out from a parents standpoint, easy to wash, and durable. They have a ton of different type of bags to fit almost any need. They even have ones for dads. I have 2 bags and some smaller bags that I use as a work bag and another bag I use as a lunch bag.
Luxury bath towel
There is nothing better then after a relaxing bath that you let her have without the kids nagging her then drying off with a really nice bath towel. You could get one that is soft, made from a nice material, large, and looks nice. Add with it a moisturizing bath soap and you got a great gift. If you find a good one let me know I’d love to find one for my wife.
Personalized water bottle
All of us should be drinking lots of water each day so why not get her a personalized water bottle. If she’s one of those people that doesn’t like plain water get one with a infuser in it. That way she can add fruit, cucumber, or whatever else she wants in it. You can find a ton of styles on Etsy.com
Reset her wedding ring
Perhaps when you first proposed and got married you two were just starting out in life. Young fresh out of high school or college. No savings but you still scrapped up enough to get her a decent ring just not as big of one as you hoped.
I’m right there with you. When we got married we had NOTHING. We where in college, I was shipping out for Iraq and had almost no time to get married so I got a credit card so I could make payments on a small set of rings. A proposal ring and our wedding bands. We got married by a justice of peace with just her parents, and a few of my closest buddies from my unit. Not a day goes by where I wish I could have given her more. A real wedding with all our family, a wedding cake, and a big diamond ring.
However I can’t, what I can do is take her ring and get it reset. Add or replace the diamond while keeping the sentimental value of the current ring. It can be expensive but far less expensive than buying a whole new ring.
Jewelry
This is a given but put thought into it. If you have kids have their birthstones, names, or birth date on it. If you yet have kids then find something she’ll like. Think what fantasy character she likes, for instance mermaids. Jump online and look for mermaid rings, or mermaid inspired rings. Disney jewelry is another one. Who doesn’t like Disney. Also look on Etsy you can find anything to fit your budget.
It’s hard finding a gift to express how much your spouse means to you especially if you have been together for many years and you have already exhausted your list of things she loves. Add to the the craziness of life with kids, work, and still finding time for yourself it can feel impossible to find time to look for a gift. I hope these ideas inspire you and you find a gift that means as much to your spouse and she does to you. Let me know in the comments below what the best and worst gift you ever given or received was.
