The full Spring 2010 collection is now live at Cath Kidston!
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, there are some beautiful wife gift ideas for you to choose from.
Click any link to go to the Cath Kidston site- home of one of Britain’s leading and most loved designers.

Is there anything as simple and as sure to please as chocolate? It’s an indulgent gift and if you’re out of ideas then make visiting the Green and Blacks store a priority. They have a gorgeous selection of gifts from non-nonsense slabs of chocolate to more dainty selections, and with some of the gifts you can even specify milk, white or dark chocolate preferences. Which is key, if you wife has a distinct preference.

Love Letters of Great Men

If words fail you when it comes to telling your sweet how you feel then why not get a helping hand from a few of the late greats? It was a ploy used by the main male character in the Sex and the City movie and it worked for him!

Heart Hot Water Bottle

Containers for warmth in bed were in use as early as the 16th century. The earliest versions contained hot coals from the dying embers of the fire, and these bed warmers were used to warm the bed before getting into it.
Even though their use has largely died out, they remain very popular  in the United Kingdom. There has been a recent surge in popularity in Japan where it is seen as an ecologically friendly and thrifty way to keep warm.

If your lady has feet as cold as ice, then this might be just the warm-hearted
(footed?) gift she’ll love!

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!

Valentines Ideas

Love it or loathe it, February 14 is coming and if your loved one is expecting a gift then you had better get organized and get yourself some Valentine Ideas!

As usual I’m giving all the “Insider Information”, although you might think Valentine’s Day is pretty straightforward- silly, soppy girly stuff!

Well kind of, but you’re missing the point. To score maximum brownie points on Valentine’s Day you have to do one thing: make her feel special.

You know, like she’s the only one in the world, like she’s unique and that you care. It’s not the gift or the gesture itself, it’s what it means, and for that you have to know a little about her (see The Art of Giving- A Logical Guide for Men); maybe a card is all it will take, maybe a romantic gesture like a meal, maybe a gift. I’ll be giving some ideas for romantic gestures you can make in the next article, this article is focussed on ideas for gifts and I’m playing it safe and staying well within the normal bounds of Valentine’s Day gifts:

• Heart shapes
• Pink or Red items are usually a winner
• Anything to do with Love or Romance.

I have scoured the internet on your behalf for gifts for valentines; below are my top picks, for every budget and in a wide variety of categories and “Slush Factors”. As usual, I’m only using products or retailers I can personally vouch for.

Heart Jewellery

Pretty in Pink

Benefit Cosmetics’ product mix of cosmetics, fragrances and accessories appeals to the glamour gal in women of all ages.
Cupid’s bow lip shaping set – lip liner £21.50 Apparently “cupids bow” is “the double curve of the upper lip”, well I did not know that! This aptly-named item comes with dual-ended brush & sponge for defining and blending. Each cupid’s bow has a step-by-step lesson, so it’s as easy as blowing a kiss!	Her Glossiness – lip gloss £13 “…this impossibly shiny lip gloss glides on smooth for A-list lips that will give ‘em something to gossip about. The luxurious formula with jojoba oil makes your lips feel five-star pampered…”	Maybe baby – body lotion 19.50 “Inspired by our signature maybe baby fragrance, this silky, shimmering body lotion leaves your skin lightly moisturized and delicately scented. Slip it on for sexy, bare skin beauty.”
Utterly frivolous products of course, but if you’re trying to impress a glamour girl or disco diva with your thoughtfulness then any of these come highly recommended…

Electronic Valentine

Romantic Books

Top Love Songs

Kitchen Love

Say it with Flowers… when only a cliché will do!

Office romance

Lingerie

If you’re considering buying lingerie then please read my Guide I recommend figleaves for their no-fuss and FREE return policy so even if it’s not suitable it can be returned and exchanged for something that is. It’s an easy site to use with lots of helpful guides.

And that’s it for some gift ideas to get you thinking, hopefully you’ve seen something that you think might work. For the ultimate in Valentine’s Day though, watch out for my article coming soon on Romantic Gestures for ideas on how to sweep her off her feet all over again!

Lingerie as a present can make for a wonderful, intimate experience for both the gift-giver and receiver but, it can also be a nightmare- a huge, embarrassing, frustrating nightmare which results in a present that fails to hit the mark.
Here are the 4 big mistakes that lingerie novices make over and over again.

Not Knowing the Sizing
Lingerie sizing is really not that complicated however when lingerie novices go shopping they often forget about the single most important detail– the vital statistics of their wife! No wonder they look so bewildered…
Make sure you do your research and get the right sizing. You need  3 basic bits of information:

• bra size: number plus letter (note that this is normally in inches, but some shops are now switching to metric)
• dress size (a number, in the UK starts at 6, 8, 10 and so on),
• general size (XS (eXtra Small), S (Small), M (Medium) and so on).

It is wise to get all three, as knickers, camisoles and corsets can be sized as either the dress size or the general size. Note that if the shop is using some other sizing then method then just ask for help in converting the sizing data you have into the store equivalent.
When you’re looking for sizing labels, check the sets of underwear she wears most often- it’s no good checking lingerie she never wears because she may well be avoiding it because it no longer fits.
You should also check several items to be sure to get the correct size, sometimes women can have different sized items, if you’re not sure then pick the ones she wears most often.

Not Knowing Where to Shop
Lingerie novices can have a terrible time shopping what with all the hassles of a normal shopping trip combined with the extra stresses of being way outside their comfort zone. They get so hassled by the suspicious stares of the female shoppers around them that they grab the first thing that catches their eye and make a beeline for the checkout. Don’t be this guy- go shopping online first and take your time!
From the comfort of your desk you can peruse many different styles, colours and moods of lingerie. Some online places are better than other, but most have great search facilities that let you plug in the sizing you’re looking for, the price range and then you go from there- they can show you matching items from the same range and they may even gift wrap it for you. Which brings me on to my next point…

Forgetting About the Presentation
The whole thing with lingerie, at least as I understand it, is that it’s a luxury item and a sexy present. Well in that case the presentation must match the contents. Don’t be like the novice and just use the plastic bag the items were purchased in, make an effort with the gift wrapping.

OK, if fiddling with ribbons and tape isn’t your thing then get someone else to do it for you, like the store you bought it from or use a luxury style gift box which is incredibly simple but very effective and will set the right tone for your gift.

Not Paying Attention to the Refund Policy
Even after all your best detective efforts, the lingerie you chose may well just not fit. In this case be well prepared and keep the receipt, or ask for a gift receipt when purchasing so that she can change it herself. Check the returns policy of the store and don’t rip off tags that need to be left in place in case of exchange.