Personalized Photo Gifts

Never underestimate the importance of a personalised present.

Your digital camera could be the way into a whole genre of thoughtful gifts for your wife. Photo companies offer a huge array of products these days- they’ve moved on from the chunky coffee mug to an array of high quality products that, when used with a good image, capture a special moments forever and make beautiful and thoughtful gifts. This article presents some photo gift ideas from PhotoBox.co.uk- the only company I use and recommend to friends and family.

Laser-etched Photo Gifts

Take, for example these solid glass, laser etched photo gifts- the photo of your choice is laser etched into the middle of a glass cube, glass paperweight or a glass frame making a timeless classic and elegant keepsake. These are particularly good for photos of your children or wedding photos.

Handbag Photo gifts

Does your wife like bags? If she does then PhotoBox.co.uk make personalised handbags, totes and shopper bags in a variety of shapes and sizes- all with the image you choose to make any style statement you like.

Even if you’re not so good at taking photos yourself (although it’s worth giving serious thought to this as a life worth living is worth recording…!) you can easily procure photos from friends and family via social networks like FaceBook and on photo sharing places like Flickr and Picasa .

Fashion Photo gifts

Everyone does personalised T-shirts but now you can get a much wider selection: create your own catwalk worthy designs for kitchen aprons, bibs, fashion tops. Choose a design, pick a colour, add an illustration or photo, a few well chosen words and you’re done.

Try to get into the habit of asking people for their photos after get-togethers and build a library. I use Picasa on my PC and iPhoto for Mac users looks great. With such programs you can favourite the best ones and then when you need to make a photo gift you can just browse through your collection.

Personalized photo gifts make fantastic presents for your wife- just get yourself a system for keeping digital photos and it’ll make an invaluable source of wife gift ideas that you can rely on for all sorts of occasions.

Giving Flowers

Sometimes it seems that flower gifts are less well-regarded than they used to be, often viewed as cliché or the last-minute option found in sad little bunches at petrol stations and it appears they can even have a stigma attached to them.

My husband noted a strange atmosphere in the shop the last time he bought me flowers- the women serving him practically accused him of trying to make up for having done something dishonourable, all very good naturedly, but even so.

Why is it that flowers have slipped in our estimations? Well I think it’s time for a flower revival: everyone should give more flowers and crucially, inject a little more imagination and thoughtfulness into the act. Here’s how:

Flower Gifts

It’s hard to think of a more versatile gift: from the simple posy of free field flowers that say “I was just thinking about you” to a gorgeous designer bouquet with a somewhat grander statement, giving flowers can suit all sorts of moods, occasions and women.

At the florists

When you walk into a florists, don’t feel pressured to go for a ready-made bouquet- you can just make your own selection and have the florist put it together for you. Men very often go for red roses because they have been told that these are the flowers that mean romance, but don’t be tied down by such limiting ideas.

Of course if your wife loves roses then it would be wise to include some, but flowers change with the seasons so take advantage of those in season- they’re at their best and they cost less too!

Make use of the florist’s expertise- they are a wealth of information on the best combinations of flowers, how to make a small posy look bigger, which flowers have the best scents, which flowers are in season etc.

Flower Ideas – Name

For ideas on which flowers to buy consider things like your wife’s name- are there any flowers that sound like that? Also does her name actually mean flower?

Flower Ideas – Birth Month

What about the month she was born in? Did you know that there is a traditional flower for every month of the year?

Take a look at the Birth Month Flower Table below:

Flower Ideas – Places

Perhaps there’s a place which holds some significance for your wife e.g. where you spent your honeymoon.

Find out which plants or flowers originates from there or are indigenous to that place. The beauty of a gift like this is that every time it blooms it will remind her of the time you had together and of you.

Flower Ideas – Favourites

Giving flowers that are her favourite colour or even her favourite flower is a simple idea that’s sure to be a winner!

Don’t Cut the Flowers!

Some women don’t like cut flowers so find out beforehand. Of course, this doesn’t mean that you have to give up on the idea of giving flowers, you can still buy a potted house plant, a flowering plant for outdoors or even seeds.

Plant Gift Ideas

There are too many plants to list but here are just a few ideas I thought of that would make thoughtful presents.

Blooming Good luck!

Find great savings in the OASIS Summer Sale – now with an extra 20% off for a limited time only!

Oasis is a clothing store but did you know they now also carry the Odille range of luxury lingerie? Well there’s a sale on at the moment, and as of today, there’s an extra 20% off.
Perfect for summer wife or girlfriend birthdays or just one of those “saw this and thought of you, darling!”

Hurry, sale stock is limited and the sale will finsih by the end of July 2009.

Gift Chocolates

Chocolate has to be one of the most universally appreciated gifts, and it’s so versatile: from the humblest little “saw this and thought of you” bar of organic chocolate to the “huge statement” enormous box of fancy and expensive truffles. Read on for more tips.

Chocolate Preferences

If your wife has specific chocolate preferences then make sure to take these into account when buying!

When buying chocolate for your wife you have to realize that there is an added depth, that you as a man may not appreciate. It’s not just chocolate to women; chocolate is a sensual substance.

This means that getting personal preferences right is very important!

Dark, White or Milk? Many women have a preference for dark or white chocolate, some are so picky as to set a minimum percentage of cocoa solids that it must contain- whichever end of the scale your wife is at, find out before you shop.

Here’s a list of common chocolate objections:

• chocolates with liqueur filling,
• chocolate with nuts,
• chocolates with coffee flavors
• chocolates with fondant filling,
• chocolate with raisins,
• chocolate with mint.

Again, it’s best to know these preferences before you buy.

Chocolate Ideas

Make her a chocolate cake or chocolate cupcakes!

I have made some of these chocolate cake recipes so many times and it always turns out great- in fact I even used this recipe to teach some kids how to bake and, in spite of several mishaps, the cupcakes turned out perfectly!

This makes a super-thoughtful gift as not only are you giving the gift of chocolate but you also took the time to make something creative!

Gift For Expecting Wife

Your wife is pregnant and it’s her birthday but plenty of the usual options are completely out what with the expanding belly, limited mobility and the big list of foods and activities she can no longer partake in- what to do? This article will give you plenty of gift Ideas for your pregnant wife.

Vouchers/Cash for Clothing

With her body about to change rapidly, she will be unable to wear the vast majority of her wardrobe- this will seriously affect even the least girly woman. A mini shopping spree at your expense will definitely help. Choose a shop that is easy to get to or go fo an online option but make sure it has a no-hassle returns and exchanges policy.

If you hate the cash or vouchers option then soft and comfy clothing items like maternity trousers, tops or hoodies are versatile and hard to beat. Choose items in her favourite colours, or the colours she wears habitually and when purchasing get help on the sizing if you’re not sure.

Another ideas in this category is an elegant nightgown and slippers- for when it’s time to go to the hospital and for afterwords.

Pampering

Pregnant ladies very often have problems with their skin be it dryness, oiliness or stretch marks. A trip to a beauty salon or spa could work wonders especially if they have a package or options for pregnant women.

If your wife like to paint her toenails a large belly will make this impossible! Score a  pile of thoughtfulness points with a voucher for a luxury pedicure.

Note- long, hot baths to soak in are a no-no so bubble bath and the like are out, as are most heavily perfumed products. Natural is best.

Books

As mobility becomes more of an issue, reading becomes a pastime for many pregnant women. Go for a browse in Amazon for some recommended books on parenthood, pregnancy or pick the latest work of her favouriete author.

Tip- if you haven’t a clue what to buy then just get the titles and authors of some books she has read and then get suggestions from Amazon of other books that other buyers also liked, it’s not a hard and fast guarantee but the odds are in your favour that you’ll pick something she’ll like this way.

Another thing to consider is an ipod, or music for the ipod if she already has one like some relaxation music.

No-Nos

There is a tendency for everyone to buy only practical gifts related to the pregnancy or for items for the baby. If it’s your wife’s birthday then keep the focus on her and get her a gift that is solely for her, this way you can help her to feel like the woman you love.