The Gifting Year

My husband turned 45 last Tuesday, and I had no idea what to get him.  Most years I'm inspired and know right away a list of things, but this year had me stumped!  He's a man who thoroughly researches whatever he wants to buy, so if I get him anything technology related, I likely will not have researched and/or chosen the right thing.  I also do not like buying gifts for the sake of having a gift for someone.  I feel like it has to be thoughtful- if not to them, at least to me!  LOL.

SO, I booked an hour and a half massage with my masseuse who makes me laugh from pain!  She is truly gifted at finding what needs help on a body.  I thought I'd drive him down, have him get a massage, drive him home, and go eat at our favorite sushi place for lunch.  I was making his favorite dinner and had put together a dessert he sent a video of to me months earlier.  I honestly did not have another gift for him.  So on Sunday night when he told me that he HAD to be in the city to record for his podcast on his birthday at the exact time his massage was scheduled, I was screwed!  

The next two days (yes, on his birthday I was still searching) had me thinking and trying to come up with something, but I still had only a small gift on its way early April to save me.  As it stands, that no longer means anything and will likely be given to Starks.  Thankfully, he fell asleep on the couch before we got to cards, cakes, and no gift.  The next day when we finally and properly celebrated, he was disappointed to have nothing to open.  However, in my card, I explained that I would gift him 45 gifts over this next year to celebrate his turning 45.  Being Russ, he immediately read it and said aloud, "That's a gift every 8 days.  Good luck."  CRUSH!!  Jeez.  

It's going to go like this.  I can give him an experience, a gift, or do something for him.  The gifts are on MY terms.  No hinting or asking me to buy him something as one of his gifts.  They are from ME.  Yesterday, I gave him gift #1.  I bought him a Groove ring.  They are silicone rings you don't have to take off to lift/CrossFit.  Geek vibe strong, but they are awesome.  The QALO rings make his finger itchy, red, etc.  This Groove Ring brand has an air channel to allow the skin underneath to breathe.  I wore mine for over a week to make sure it stood up to its promise, and then I ordered him one.  :)

Gift #2 came today.  After he left for work, I had our electrician scheduled to come over and install three ceiling fans I bought last June!  I haven't been able to get anyone install them for me, and I can't do it myself as the ceiling is 13 feet high.  SO, after a few hours, they were up and looking fabulous!  I wasn't home when he had a quick turnaround from work to the baseball field, but Starks said, "Didbow told me to tell you that he LOVES them!"  :)  Score #2.

I have a few other gift ideas en route or on my upcoming schedule.  What I thought was a disappointment in not having a gift for him actually inspired me to have the BEST gift!  I am loving this idea.  I like that I'm thinking more and more about what I can do for him.  I like being even more focused on what he says and notices.  I like looking forward to giving to him!  I'm not sure it'll take me a year to get 45 gifts given, but we'll see.  I am having fun scheming and thinking, and I'll let you know how the rest go!