**UPDATED** Looking for Ideas and Not Happy About It...

My most creative gift giving on V day was my "blue" valentine's day. My husbands favorite color is blue. So I bought him a new blue winter hat, a blue tie for work, navy dress socks, etc etc but the finale was tickets to go see Blue Man Group in NYC (tickets hadn't come in yet so I wrote the event and date on a piece of blue construction paper). He loved it all and we had a blast a few weeks later in NYC for the day. Good luck, I can't wait to hear!

Hi, L.:
Had you thought about creating a special moment in time for a gift giving idea?
Something not materialistic?
Just a thought.
D.

Hi LEAP!
I think all a guy ever wants is YOUR COMPLETE UNDIVIDED ATTENTION< especially sexual attention. I mean you are SO into him you are hangin' on every word!

Like you cannot BELIEVE your plum good luck at having such an AWESOME FASCINATING guy with a LARGE FUNCTIONAL, uh, sense of humor, tehehe.

Get a room, go to dinner, look him in the eye, find pats of his body you haven't seen in years....

I THINK that's what they want.

(Well, that or a sandwich and a little peace and quiet to watch the football game!)

:)

I hate store bought cards, even if they say what I really want to say. What I would suggest, if your husband reads books AT ALL... is to go find something interesting that he might enjoy reading and inscribe the front cover.

Red Envelope also has some very unique gifts.
**Yikes ~ I didn't even realize how close we are to V-day. Sorry! Gotta love the Red Envelope tho ;) He is a lucky man ~ does he know how much you think of him?! I'm sure whatever you decide will be fabulous as you can tell from your post how much you love this man!!

I love Things Remembered. You can engrave anything on everything, and the prices are fair. Cufflinks, knives, clocks, glasses, you name it! Maybe a flask saying 'I'm glad you're my sweetie'... Check them out :)

Hi L.,
One of our best Anniversary's started with a couples mani/pedi (he had never had one and loved it), then lunch and ended with a couples massage. We take turns planning what we are going to do. This was one of the years I planned. I hope this helped.

tickets to a movie or concert.
a red sweater
since your in PA - a new snow blower :-)
a new watch

What about a naughty/sexy calendar... featuring you? A digital camera with a timer (or a good friend to help) and some creativity could make for some good pictures. All you need is a computer and a printer.

I was thinking about doing this. I plan on taking the pictures in the morning, best light and when I look my personal best.

Keep him thinking of you all year long. Good luck.

One valentines day, I wrapped myself in just a bow. That usually goes over really well! :)

If he's a hard-working fellow.... what about a massage, facial, and/or pedicure. OK, OK, so he's a manly man. Well, so is my Dad. (Army,, trained killer kind-of-guy.) He has recently come to appreciate these things. Honestly, what man do you know whose feet could not benefit from some professional attention?

How about you make him a customized Coupon Book? You can get really creative with that :) Here's one website:
http://www.dltk-cards.com/coupon/index.html
If you google "customized coupon books" you'll find lots of others.
Add a box of his favorite candy & a bottle of wine and you have a great (& inexpensive) gift!

No problem! I've given him tools, both individual things like jigsaw or sets that come with a drill etc, he always loves that kind of stuff. I got him car tire ramps once so he could change oil at home etc. (he likes that kinda stuff too) this last year for Christmas I gave him a nice pair of winter boots and gloves which will probably never need to be replaced, not what he asked for or expected but definitely came in very handy. For smaller type gifts I like to get him things I know he likes but doesn't have very often like wasabi peas (we are big food ppl) or some special kind of hot sauce that he's never tried. Also got him a nice big warm fuzzy blanket that is still his favorite. If you know his favorite cologne that works too, or maybe a new one that you think smells good :) comfy jammies & slippers are always good too, even if just for lounging. Just think about what he likes to do or what he's into, that's always a good place to start. Good luck! )

This year Im strapped for cash, so im making my DH a coupon book. There are going to be coupons for breakfast in bed, massage, one free day where he can ice fish all day, a sleep in day, and various romantic ones (use your imagination). Im also going to hide the coupon book and he will have to do a scavenger hunt around the house to find clues.

If the standard "steak and a BJ" won't do (hehe) (and hopefully I didn't just get myself banned with that comment) . . . . what about a red all-weather type of jacket (its one of my husband's fave all-time gifts in green, from Gander Mountain, comes with different inserts for diff weather, is a light jacket on its own, tons of pockets/some hidden). Or homemade chocolate covered strawberries? Or a red tool box of some sort to help organize engine tools? Or really nice red slippers (my man is a manly man as well, but is a brat when it comes to nice slippers!)? Good luck!

Don't forget to tell us what you got!

What kind of guy is he?

ETA - Now that you've explained... I can help. : )

Gift cert for Summit Racing!!! Trust me. And if you want something for him to open... Go on their website and look at their clothing options. Believe me, you can get something sent to your house within a few business days.

They've got awesome stuff for a car person.

What about giving him tickets to something and make arrangements for dinner on the night of the event.

We don't exchange anymore either, but one of the best gifts I gave my husband (pre-kids) was a night in NYC. I bought tickets to the Lion King, made reservations at a nice (not overly expensive) restaurant and reservations at a hotel. I had the whole night planned, including the train schedule and put all of the "pieces" in a wrapped box. It was a blast!

I'm with you, though, I don't like giving something just for the sake of something to open.

Some ideas for "time together" or events:
- concert tickets
- movie tickets
- couples massage
- reservations at a restaurant that he would really love
- sounds funny, but order some killer steaks from Omaha Steaks and have them delivered then wrap the shipping container (we did this for my FIL and he loved it)
- g.c. for a "lesson" or something that he's always wanted to learn... my husband has always wanted to learn how to shoot a rifle. Random, I know but he's talked about it forever. I was able to contact our local NRA branch and they helped me find a place that provides "safety and lessons"... really reasonable and he was so surprised!

This year, the hubs is getting a bluetooth for his cell phone. It's not exciting, but he covets mine so he will be thrilled to open it!

Does he have a sweet tooth? I just made truffles for Valentine's Day. Here is a great and EASY recipe. I rolled some in cocoa, some in confectioners' sugar, some in chocolate sprinkles and some in crushed pistachios. They are beautiful!

http://www.womansday.com/Recipes/Chocolate-Truffles-Recipe

I love a homemade gift! Also, you could make sugar cookies and ice them and decorate them. I sometimes use heart and lips cookie cutters for Valentines Day. I am sure you could pick up everything you need in the baking aisle at the grocery store. Inexpensive and personal!

Good luck and Happy V-Day!

Guys tend to be a lot more practical then girls. So get him something he's been wanting, but hasn't purchased for himself. I usually buy my hubby a clothing item because he likes to wear nice clothes but won't spend the money on himself.
Is there a tool he's talked about? A gadget? Does he admire something one of his buddies has?
I know the gift my hubby loves best is when I take him somewhere. A play, a romantic dinner, an event, anything special where we get to be together.

Valentines day is one holiday we don't go big on. Every year I give him a pair of v-day boxers. He wears them all year round, it's cheap and practical.
This year I am going to make him a steak dinner and I bought some sexy lingerie. He'll be super happy. =)
A long time ago I learned that most men like things they can actually use. So when I need a last minute gift for my SO I usually get him a gift certificate to a place thats close to his job. Like a coffee shop, his fav mexican place, vintage care shop, etc.
Good Luck L.!