Holiday Gift Ideas for Her: For the Love of your Life

This post is for the guys out there.  Ladies, you may have to pass this along to your man because let’s face it, this blog doesn’t exactly appeal to the male contingency on the ‘Net.

Gentlemen (all two of you who read this blog, and husbands of my fair readers): I want to let you in on a little secret.  The woman you love wants to be pampered. Yes, she does.  EVERY woman likes to be pampered.  It’s all about knowing what it is that sets her heart on fire.  Is it bling?  Is it an event that you can share together?  Is she a gadget girl?  Or does she like to cozy up in front of the fire in luxurious loungewear?  I can’t help you there.  It’s up to you to figure out what she likes.  Then come back here, and I hope I have an idea that will inspire you to pamper your sweetheart this holiday season.

Cashmere. I’m a firm believer that every woman should own at least one piece of cashmere.  I’m particularly fond of JCrew’s cashmere sweaters — like how about this zip-front hoodie?  I’ve wanted one of these since I saw them last year.  It’s perfect to throw on over your favorite tank top or tissue-tee with a pair of jeans.  Or you can dress it up with an embellished top and a skirt or dressy pants.

Or this turtleneck.  I have two of these turtlenecks, and I wear them ALL the time in the winter.  So warm and soft and comfy.  DIVINE.

Ann Taylor has their cashmere turtlenecks on sale for $50 off this week.

Or if you don’t know what size she wears, you can’t go wrong with this ribbed cashmere scarf.  She can wear it with her winter coat to keep warm outside, or she can use it as an accessory to dress up her favorite t-shirt.  Cashmere is amazingly soft and sumptuous, and never scratchy.

Ugg Slippers.  I know this doesn’t sound particularly romantic, but I promise she will love you forever if you pamper her with the Coquette slipper by Ugg.  I’m telling you, I would live in these things if I could.  I tried them on in the store, and not only are they soft and fuzzy inside, but they instantly conform to your foot so it’s like you just grew a paw.  Unlike my Tar-jay knock-offs which come off my feet when I walk upstairs or take a turn too quickly.  I’m hoping to find a pair of these under MY Christmas tree this year.

Pajamas. There’s nothing like a brand spanking new pair of cute pjs.  Old Navy is my go-to store for pajamas.  They are cute, affordable, and they wear well.  And wouldn’t they go great with those cozy Ugg slippers up there?

Jewels. Of course jewelry is always a hit.  I’m a sucker for anything designed by Lisa Leonard, particularly her custom necklaces.  My friend has this one, and I admire it every time she wears it.

A Stylish Handbag. Now you should know I couldn’t do a post on gift ideas without including at least one handbag.  I discovered Teresa Cowley’s handbags from Arianne and Sara Sophia’s Eco Lovely Gift Guide (y’all should totally check this out, by the way!)  Aren’t these just gorgeous?

iPod Touch. When we got married almost 15 years ago, my husband promised never to buy me a gift that plugs in.  But I guess it’s safe to say we threw that rule out the window last Christmas when he surprised me with a MacBook.

In this day and age, some gals get as excited about electronics as the guys.  If your beloved is more of a gadget girl than a mall rat, get her an iPod Touch where she can keep all her favorite tunes and photos in one handy device.  She can also surf the net and download all kinds of cool apps to keep herself and her little ones busy as they wait in busy doctor’s offices and car rides.

A Girl’s Gotta Spa! Perhaps your sweetheart’s love language isn’t indulgent gifts.  Some women prefer to be pampered with activities or events that they can spend with their special someone.  (Is it wrong if you like all three?)  This morning I asked the ladies on Twitter, What is your favorite way to be pampered? The most popular answer, by far, was a massage, followed by a pedicure as a close second.  I know that when I get a gift certificate to my favorite spa or nail salon, I am one happy camper.  And this is SUCH an easy gift to give!

The gift of TIME. Is money tight this year?  Several of the answers on Twitter involved having time to themselves — to read, shop, or nap.  One year my husband gave me a handmade gift certificate for a day alone at the mall.  I posted about it on my blog, and the comments from the ladies blew my husband away.  He thought he was taking the easy way out, but they all thought he was wonderful.

OR.

Spend time with her.  Take her somewhere SHE wants to go.  Maybe it’s the Nutcracker, or to the movie theater to see New Moon (I know, gag, but whatever floats her boat, ya know?), or for a drive around the neighborhood to admire the Christmas lights.  For many of us, the opportunity to spend time with our special someone is the best gift of all.

Acts of Service. Wash her car.  Clean up the dinner dishes every day for a week.  Offer to put the kids to bed while she puts her feet up and enjoys a glass of wine.  Let her sleep in on Saturday while you get up with the kids, and make sure you clean up after you make breakfast!!!  Obviously you can do these things all year round (and you SHOULD) but giving them to her as an intentional gift so that she knows she can cash in on it when she needs it the most is a great way to show her you love her without spending a dime.

Ladies, let’s hear from you.  What is your favorite way to be pampered for Christmas?  Help the guys out.

For my other Gift Guide posts, click on the button below (or the one on my sidebar.) I will be adding posts daily.

About Jo-Lynne Shane

Jo-Lynne Shane has written 2854 posts..

I'm a transplanted Virginian living in the suburbs of Philadelphia with my husband and three lively children and author of this mom blog. When I'm not buried under piles of laundry, you will mostly likely find me with my nose stuck in a book or hanging out on Twitter: JoLynneS.

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