gift guide time

[cosmo105]

hey internet friends, i am facing the annual conundrum of finding the perfect xmas gift for my hubby and thought starting a thread for suggestions might be fun. i can't be the only one on here scratching her head for gift ideas. so! in this thread, post the person and their likes/needs etc. and whatever other pertinent info, cost range, and hopefully we can make suggestions for each other! right? DEAR GOD PLEASE HELP ME.


GIFT TARGET: husband
PROFILE: hardworking, clean-cut guy with a serious love for video games, food, his cat, and bourbon. has very little free time to spare. greatly enjoys Batman but isn't much one for merchandise like that (or things like Triforce t-shirts etc.) and doesn't consider himself "that" geeky. overall very understated style. not one for ironic t-shirts. loves indie/art films. Enjoys puzzles and brainteasers and modern art. The ideal gift in my mind is a membership to our local indie theater, but for both of us (he'd definitely want me to have one too) it'd be $500 and that's way out of my grad school student budget. he needs new clothes but is pretty tough to shop for in that department. has stated that he wants some art on our walls. a nice pair of cufflinks might be good but so many of them are ugh tacky or ew lame.
BUDGET: below $200 if possible, but hey, anything for my sugarblood, right?

[MC Moot]

Magnetic Thinking Putty covers all your holiday needs!… (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXJuJQVrgbI)

Or perhaps something from my sisters storefont!… (http://www.etsy.com/shop/buttonempire)

[Guy Incognito]

not really that on topic but might as well be here

Me" What would you like from Father christmas?"
My 6 yr old daughter :"An ipad, a television, a phone and an ipod"
Me"You have an mp3"
Daughter:"Yes but i need to manage it properly".

She's getting a bike.

[cubsfirstplace]

you can find some cool batman artwork on ebay.

[cosmo105]

The thing is, he loves actual Batman comics - and I've given him plenty of those - but not Batman stuff. He'd probably feel silly having that on our walls.

That putty is awesome.

[Dorothy Wood]

Society6.com has some decent art (and some terrible). And 20x200.com


If he likes music, numero group puts out solid compilations.

[yeahwho]

Well. I wear hoodies, usually Russel but lately I've noticed they're not holding up as well as they did when I was in High School.

Now I hear about this online store that makes their hoodies completely in America. (http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/technology/2012/12/american_giant_hoodie_this_is_the_greatest_sweatsh irt_known_to_man.html)

This Is the Greatest Hoodie Ever Made

How American Giant created the best sweatshirt known to man (http://www.american-giant.com/men/sweatshirts.html).

I'm going to be very pleased if I get one for Christmas, Quality trumps.

[Dorothy Wood]

Well. I wear hoodies, usually Russel but lately I've noticed they're not holding up as well as they did when I was in High School.

Now I hear about this online store that makes their hoodies completely in America. (http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/technology/2012/12/american_giant_hoodie_this_is_the_greatest_sweatsh irt_known_to_man.html)

This Is the Greatest Hoodie Ever Made

How American Giant created the best sweatshirt known to man (http://www.american-giant.com/men/sweatshirts.html).

I'm going to be very pleased if I get one for Christmas, Quality trumps.

Wahh, that would be a good gift for my man friend, but it says they're sold out!

[Yeti]

hey internet friends, i am facing the annual conundrum of finding the perfect xmas gift for my hubby and thought starting a thread for suggestions might be fun. i can't be the only one on here scratching her head for gift ideas. so! in this thread, post the person and their likes/needs etc. and whatever other pertinent info, cost range, and hopefully we can make suggestions for each other! right? DEAR GOD PLEASE HELP ME.


GIFT TARGET: husband
PROFILE: hardworking, clean-cut guy with a serious love for video games, food, his cat, and bourbon. has very little free time to spare. greatly enjoys Batman but isn't much one for merchandise like that (or things like Triforce t-shirts etc.) and doesn't consider himself "that" geeky. overall very understated style. not one for ironic t-shirts. loves indie/art films. Enjoys puzzles and brainteasers and modern art. The ideal gift in my mind is a membership to our local indie theater, but for both of us (he'd definitely want me to have one too) it'd be $500 and that's way out of my grad school student budget. he needs new clothes but is pretty tough to shop for in that department. has stated that he wants some art on our walls. a nice pair of cufflinks might be good but so many of them are ugh tacky or ew lame.
BUDGET: below $200 if possible, but hey, anything for my sugarblood, right?

What about a large bottle of Woodford bourbon, a video game and a painting/photograph created by a local artist?
If you do it can you give me your address? I want to get drunk on Woodford bourbon and play video games.

[Adam]

I had a similar conundrum for my other half.

I decided on a camera lens for her DSLR.

The thinking goes like this. It's an expensive indulgence that she wouldn't buy herself but isn't a present for present sake because it is something that is useful. It will get used a lot but not all the time and every time she uses it she will hopefully think of me. Any good shots she gets out of will be because of me indirectly and it lets her take another step further into her craft. It's also something with a long shelf life.

I'm all for practical presents.

Is he a PC or console gamer? My thinking would be a new GPU if PC (i.e. an indulgence he wouldn't get himself but something that will be appreciated). Although it would probably only have a shelf life of around 2-3 years. Consoles I don't really play myself and they are even less shelf life in my experience so maybe avoid them.

But think of something he uses from moderate to a lot, something he technically doesn't need but would totally pimp out the object to take it a step forward. And something he wouldn't really justify buying himself unless he just got a decent bonus from work.

[yeahwho]

Wahh, that would be a good gift for my man friend, but it says they're sold out!
another great gift is quality shaving gear, badger brush and a jar of premium shaving cream, perhaps a mirror that uses a suction cup in the shower, the difference of getting an excellent vs the same old messy ass sink shave is like day and night.

I use the Art of Shaving (http://www.theartofshaving.com/shaving-products-shaving-cream/shaving-products-shaving-cream,default,sc.html) products currently, the two best are Sandalwood Essential Oil (http://www.theartofshaving.com/Shaving-Cream/00670535300038,default,pd.html?start=2&cgid=shaving-products-shaving-cream&navid=shaving-products-shaving-cream) and Lemon Essential Oil (http://www.theartofshaving.com/Shaving-Cream/00670535300014,default,pd.html?navid=AltPDPThumbna il), both are excellent, thick, luxurious, and make the job easy while leaving the face smooth.

Plus be sure to get the badger brush (http://www.theartofshaving.com/shaving-brushes/shaving-brushes,default,sc.html), that will whip up the lather to a fine chiffon.

I still use the Gillette MachIII blades which really are hard to beat.

The bar is set for the best shave ever. Really.

[YoungRemy]

what about a big boy watch?

I'm asking Mrs Claus for a timepiece under $200.

[cosmo105]

sadly these are all gifts i've either given him in the past or know he wouldn't be into. he thinks shaving kits are silly, has no use for a watch, has had pretty much every fancy bourbon purchased for him (and still has plenty of it - in fact, saving that gift for our upcoming anniversary), and is a 360 gamer, not PC. HE IS THE HARDEST PERSON TO SHOP FOR EVER. but you guys are giving me some good ideas!

[Adam]

I'm sort of thinking things I want here.

Does he ride a bike? Any time at night? Some fancy strong lights that make you the brightest thing on the road could work. I see the top of the range stuff around £150.

I was once caught out on country roads with terrible tiny cheap lights because I went for a ride too far that went on too long. Such lights would of made the journey fun rather than scary.

[MC Moot]

I've asked for these 2 things...

”My Ideal Bookshelf”… (http://www.amazon.com/My-Ideal-Bookshelf-Thessaly-Force/dp/0316200905)

”Monopoly The Godfather Edition”… (http://www.amazon.ca/Monopoly-Godfather-Edition-Board-Game/dp/B007M6XWI2)

[HEIRESS]

Adam's bike light idea is awesome (not sure if you guys are cyclists) but you can NEVER have too many lights on your ride. But I normally don't buy the high-end stuff because its annoying to always have to remove all your lights every time you pop in somewhere, go low-end and then you don't care as much if your gear gets ripped off.

On that note, do you guys own head-lamps for camping purposes? They are ridiculously handy and are also good to keep in the car "just in case"

Does he go to the gym with you? If not, maybe get him a manly yoga mat for use at home or perhaps a Kettlebell also for use at home?

Does he read a lot, the book thread on the board here has TONS of good suggestions.

You both are into beer as well right? Maybe a nice selection of holiday limited release craft brews?

The indie movie thing is a sweet ass idea, but yeah, 'spensives. Is there a cheaper membership option for your local theatre? At mine you just pay $10/year and you get to see movies for only 6 bucks instead of 10 each time, it's a killer deal! Although the unlimited membership packages is like 1500/couple YOWZAS.

Something like this could be a cheaper Art (http://www.allposters.com/-sp/Cool-Hand-Luke-Posters_i8089018_.htm) option as well.
Especially if you can find some posters of Criterion collection film artwork.

Umm, ummmm, Does he have a good quality waterproof rain shell? It's the handiest of all weather outerwear and you can get pretty awesome quality ones for under $150.

I am still unemployed so all I could afford to buy my husband this year was some assorted teas and some vitamins, oh well, maybe next year I will be baller again :(

[HEIRESS]

I've asked for these 2 things...

”My Ideal Bookshelf”… (http://www.amazon.com/My-Ideal-Bookshelf-Thessaly-Force/dp/0316200905)

”Monopoly The Godfather Edition”… (http://www.amazon.ca/Monopoly-Godfather-Edition-Board-Game/dp/B007M6XWI2)

There are only two copies of the Monopoly left, I hope Santa already picked one up for you!

[MC Moot]

^Hmmmm point taken…maybe this (http://www.amazon.com/Scrabble-98927-Catch-Phrase/dp/B0083TXXTA ) as an alternative…Because in my family we all know that Christmas is a time for games,drinking and throwing things at one another…

[YoungRemy]

has no use for a watch...

to tell time?

and it adds to an overall aesthetic...

I never had a watch in my life better than a cheap fossil brand. but I decided it was time

[cosmo105]

Adam's bike light idea is awesome (not sure if you guys are cyclists) but you can NEVER have too many lights on your ride. But I normally don't buy the high-end stuff because its annoying to always have to remove all your lights every time you pop in somewhere, go low-end and then you don't care as much if your gear gets ripped off.

On that note, do you guys own head-lamps for camping purposes? They are ridiculously handy and are also good to keep in the car "just in case"

Does he go to the gym with you? If not, maybe get him a manly yoga mat for use at home or perhaps a Kettlebell also for use at home?

Does he read a lot, the book thread on the board here has TONS of good suggestions.

You both are into beer as well right? Maybe a nice selection of holiday limited release craft brews?

The indie movie thing is a sweet ass idea, but yeah, 'spensives. Is there a cheaper membership option for your local theatre? At mine you just pay $10/year and you get to see movies for only 6 bucks instead of 10 each time, it's a killer deal! Although the unlimited membership packages is like 1500/couple YOWZAS.

Something like this could be a cheaper Art (http://www.allposters.com/-sp/Cool-Hand-Luke-Posters_i8089018_.htm) option as well.
Especially if you can find some posters of Criterion collection film artwork.

Umm, ummmm, Does he have a good quality waterproof rain shell? It's the handiest of all weather outerwear and you can get pretty awesome quality ones for under $150.

I am still unemployed so all I could afford to buy my husband this year was some assorted teas and some vitamins, oh well, maybe next year I will be baller again :(

hoboy. see, this is why i have this conundrum:

we rarely ever bike anymore because the area we live in is extremely bike-unfriendly and he has expressly stated he doesn't want to unless it's somewhere safer/we move, we already own camping headlamps, pretty sure he has a rain shell, he does go to the gym with me and has a yoga mat (though a kettlebell might not be a bad idea), he has zero time to read and lots of books piled up for vacations and such anyway, i'm way more into craft beer than he is (he calls me a snob :mad:). SEE?? HE IS THE WORST. i will look at the poster selection and check out the local independent place to see if there's anything cheaper though! so far i've gotten him a couple little things that i know he'll dig so these will help out a bunch.

[HEIRESS]

This is a challenge!

If you get him a kettlebell you will probably end up using it too, super intense workout but it's produces amazing results quickly!

Plus it would be funny seeing him try and pick up a box containing a 20lb weight xmas morning!

[Pres Zount]

I say get him a really good (well, in budget) pair of boots. If he already has a good pair of boots, then I don't know.

Second the raincoat as a back up to boots.

What sports does he play or want to play?

[cosmo105]

does skyrim count as a sport?

[Echewta]

As you know Cosmo, I enjoy drinking. Why not enlighten Mr. Husbands knowledge of Bourbon by hunting down a tasting?

http://thirstyinla.com/2010/10/21/october-23-bourbon-grand-tasting-at-seven-grand/

[MC Moot]

Buy him a goat and gift the goat away!...Goats are good!…Throw in a couple of chicks, a sheep or 2 and you’ve pretty much created a nativity scene somewhere in the 3rd world… (http://www.oxfamamericaunwrapped.com/donate-goat)

[Pres Zount]

Get him Skyrim playing gloves.

[Adam]

So, what'cha get him in the end?

[cosmo105]

i ended up getting him a pair of vintage typewriter key cufflinks with our last initial on them - he desperately needed a pair and likes them a lot! and an Aesop Rock shirt (his fave), and a certificate for a local racetrack thing where they train you and you get to drive 20 laps in a stock racecar. he seemed stoked on it. i was going to get a gift certificate from our friend who's super talented for some custom art but she's swamped for the next few months so this ended up working out just fine. thanks again everyone for the suggestions, i'm sure i'll have the same conundrum for his birthday (y)