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.
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!
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!
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.
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.
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 .
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.
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:
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.
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.
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?
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:
| January | Carnation |
| February | Iris |
| March | Daffodil |
| April | Daisy |
| May | Lily of the Valley |
| June | Rose |
| July | Larkspur |
| August | Gladiolus |
| September | Aster |
| October | Calendula |
| November | Chrysanthemum |
| December | Narcissus |
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.
Giving flowers that are her favourite colour or even her favourite flower is a simple idea that’s sure to be a winner!
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.
There are too many plants to list but here are just a few ideas I thought of that would make thoughtful presents.
| Someone who… | might like… |
| has a Scottish connection | heathers, thistles |
| loves to cook | olive tree, chilli pepper plant or strawberry for the kitchen |
| loves fragrances | lavender, verbena, jasmine or rosemary plant |
| forgets to water plants | flowering cactus |
| has dry skin | Aloe Vera |
| interested in growing her own vegetables or herbs | organic vegetable seeds |
| likes the low-maintenance option | flowering bulbs in pretty pots |
Blooming Good luck!
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.
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:
Again, it’s best to know these preferences before you buy.
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!
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!
Although you might think Valentine’s Day is pretty straightforward i.e. silly, soppy girly stuff!
Well kind of, but you’re missing the point. To score maximum 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, perhaps a gift too. 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:
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.
Every time I order an item from PhotoBox it’s a winner! The ordering process is easy, the turnaround is scary-fast and the quality is suberb. Add to the fact that you now have a custom gift, just for her and you’re golden!
They have a pink mug (perfect for office coffee), a hear-shaped lazer-etched keyring (for the top-end in key rings) and lots of other bits and pieces that you can choose from.
Make sure you use a flattering picture of her, if she’s in it.
Or you could use one of yourself, cropped in a hear shape and printed on a mug for her desk. It’s up to you!
Here’s a selection of handmade jewellery which incorporates a little heart. I can personally vouch for the quality of these items because I made them!
 | GBP 35.00 End Date: Sunday Sep-26-2010 5:52:08 PDT Buy It Now for only: GBP 35.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list |
 | GBP 12.00 End Date: Monday Sep-27-2010 5:55:44 PDT Buy It Now for only: GBP 12.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list |
 | GBP 20.00 End Date: Sunday Sep-19-2010 11:38:59 PDT Buy It Now for only: GBP 20.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list |
 | GBP 20.00 End Date: Thursday Sep-16-2010 13:08:43 PDT Buy It Now for only: GBP 20.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list |
 | GBP 25.00 End Date: Monday Sep-06-2010 13:00:22 PDT Buy It Now for only: GBP 25.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list |
Let’s face it, for sheer convenience in perusing, picking and delivery, you can’t beat Amazon. Here are some ideas that you might not have thought of!
If you’re considering buying lingerie then please read my article, Common Mistakes Men make When Buying Lingerie.
And that’s it for some gift ideas to get you thinking, hopefully you’ve seen something that you think might work, good luck!
