Anniversary gifts...help please

[ellewills618]

Ok, I've started jumping in on posts and haven't intro'd so I'm going to make this a twofer.  

1- My problem- My third wedding anniversary is coming up and I blew my wad on my best ideas for his birthday (new boxers/slippers) and Xmas (espresso maker and all the extras).  I am really struggling to come up with gift ideas and am hoping that some of the brilliant, lovely ladies here can help get my creative juices flowing.  MH is a practical to a fault, no frills kinda guy.  He likes to work out and wash his car but he also works 80 hours a week and doesn't have much free time.  The traditional 3rd wedding gift is leather (but leather/non leather doesn't matter--we're not that traditional).  I don't have a budget per se but extravagant gifts aren't really our MO.  I'm open to any and every idea and TIA.

2- About me- I was active on TTGP on TD before having my son.  I tend to do more lurking than participating because the time difference where I live makes it hard to keep up.  I love coffee, small dogs, sarcasm, soft pants, and malbec.  I'm looking forward to getting to know you all more.

[Rama]

Mar 19, 2015 17:18:11 GMT -5 ellewills618 said:

Ok, I've started jumping in on posts and haven't intro'd so I'm going to make this a twofer.  

1- My problem- My third wedding anniversary is coming up and I blew my wad on my best ideas for his birthday (new boxers/slippers) and Xmas (espresso maker and all the extras).  I am really struggling to come up with gift ideas and am hoping that some of the brilliant, lovely ladies here can help get my creative juices flowing.  MH is a practical to a fault, no frills kinda guy.  He likes to work out and wash his car but he also works 80 hours a week and doesn't have much free time.  The traditional 3rd wedding gift is leather (but leather/non leather doesn't matter--we're not that traditional).  I don't have a budget per se but extravagant gifts aren't really our MO.  I'm open to any and every idea and TIA.

2- About me- I was active on TTGP on TD before having my son.  I tend to do more lurking than participating because the time difference where I live makes it hard to keep up.  I love coffee, small dogs, sarcasm, soft pants, and malbec.  I'm looking forward to getting to know you all more.

Welcome!

How about a nice new wallet?  You could think about splurging a little and getting an Italian leather one.  Traditional, practical gift. ;)

[mugster]

Mar 19, 2015 17:28:15 GMT -5 Rama said:

Mar 19, 2015 17:18:11 GMT -5 ellewills618 said:

Ok, I've started jumping in on posts and haven't intro'd so I'm going to make this a twofer.  

1- My problem- My third wedding anniversary is coming up and I blew my wad on my best ideas for his birthday (new boxers/slippers) and Xmas (espresso maker and all the extras).  I am really struggling to come up with gift ideas and am hoping that some of the brilliant, lovely ladies here can help get my creative juices flowing.  MH is a practical to a fault, no frills kinda guy.  He likes to work out and wash his car but he also works 80 hours a week and doesn't have much free time.  The traditional 3rd wedding gift is leather (but leather/non leather doesn't matter--we're not that traditional).  I don't have a budget per se but extravagant gifts aren't really our MO.  I'm open to any and every idea and TIA.

2- About me- I was active on TTGP on TD before having my son.  I tend to do more lurking than participating because the time difference where I live makes it hard to keep up.  I love coffee, small dogs, sarcasm, soft pants, and malbec.  I'm looking forward to getting to know you all more.

Welcome!

How about a nice new wallet?  You could think about splurging a little and getting an Italian leather one.  Traditional, practical gift.

We like the traditional gifts, but we do them DIY. I made my husband a leather wallet (it is still in progress, actually, whoops,), and I leather-tooled it with his family crest. He bought a fancy leather photo album for me that will have two pages per year of our marriage (and which he promises to fill each year). He also customized the album with our initials.

Does he need any workout things? We got adjustable dumbbells lately, and love them... workout clothes are always good. Does he like tools? Clamps and powertools float my husband's boat. Would he like having his car detailed?

[morwen]

Welcome! Sorry, no specific gift ideas.

[joy]

My husband and I give each other a nice dinner on our anniversary.

[Rama]

Mar 19, 2015 17:34:18 GMT -5 mugster said:

Mar 19, 2015 17:28:15 GMT -5 Rama said:

Welcome!

How about a nice new wallet?  You could think about splurging a little and getting an Italian leather one.  Traditional, practical gift. ;)

We like the traditional gifts, but we do them DIY. I made my husband a leather wallet (it is still in progress, actually, whoops,), and I leather-tooled it with his family crest. He bought a fancy leather photo album for me that will have two pages per year of our marriage (and which he promises to fill each year). He also customized the album with our initials.

Does he need any workout things? We got adjustable dumbbells lately, and love them... workout clothes are always good. Does he like tools? Clamps and powertools float my husband's boat. Would he like having his car detailed?

This is really, really fucking cool.  I am in awe of you, Muggy!

[rablissful]

Mar 19, 2015 17:35:33 GMT -5 joy said:

My husband and I give each other a nice dinner on our anniversary.

jumping off this, if you do date night you could plan them out for the next few months/for the year and put then in envelopes. When date night comes he can open it and it'll be a fun surprise! That way he doesn't have to plan since he works so much.

[rablissful]

Mar 19, 2015 17:36:59 GMT -5 Rama said:

Mar 19, 2015 17:34:18 GMT -5 mugster said:

We like the traditional gifts, but we do them DIY. I made my husband a leather wallet (it is still in progress, actually, whoops,), and I leather-tooled it with his family crest. He bought a fancy leather photo album for me that will have two pages per year of our marriage (and which he promises to fill each year). He also customized the album with our initials.

Does he need any workout things? We got adjustable dumbbells lately, and love them... workout clothes are always good. Does he like tools? Clamps and powertools float my husband's boat. Would he like having his car detailed?

This is really, really fucking cool.  I am in awe of you, Muggy!

ditto

[kariann12]

Mar 19, 2015 17:35:33 GMT -5 joy said:

My husband and I give each other a nice dinner on our anniversary.

I love ideas like this. MH and I don't like just giving each other things, so we get things for us to do. One year he got me tickets to one of my favorite comedians. Last year I got him tickets to a concert he wanted to see. That way you're getting him a gift, but you can make it time to spend with each other too. If he works a lot, it may be nice to plan to spend time doing something together.

[stephiestark]

My H and I have trouble giving gifts after being together for 10 years. I think as I get older I value experiences and memories more than actual things. I would plan a day trip somewhere close by or make plans to go to a local or statewide event in the next few months.

[lemoncupcake]

My H is also a no-frills, practical guy and he LOVES this wallet. It has a 100 year warranty and is really well made.

www.saddlebackleather.com/bifoldwallet

[♪♫choppinbroccoli♫♪]

Does he like outdoors stuff? Hunting, fishing, camping? If not, completely disregard. If so, an idea I entertained for our 3-year was a holster for one of my husband's knives. I ended up not getting one because he already did, but he loves having it!

[paloslee]

I like the DIY gift idea. Cool stuff mugster. I am not that crafty. For xmas I made a gift for DH using beer caps. He drinks a lot of beer and saves the caps, I figured I'd put them to good use.

[icaughtfire]

Mar 19, 2015 18:18:57 GMT -5 W said:

A blowjob.

(Channeling my inner icaughtfire)

Blowjobs are always a winner in Casa de Fire.

[lilsneezy]

You said YH likes to wash his car but doesn't have a lot of free time. How about a gift certificate to get his car detailed?

[nuggetrn]

Mar 19, 2015 19:39:22 GMT -5 lilsneezy said:

You said YH likes to wash his car but doesn't have a lot of free time. How about a gift certificate to get his car detailed?

I was thinking along these same lines... maybe car wash tokens/gift certificates so he can get his car washed a couple of times.

[renbee]

Mar 19, 2015 19:38:39 GMT -5 icaughtfire said:

Mar 19, 2015 18:18:57 GMT -5 W said:

A blowjob.

(Channeling my inner icaughtfire)

Blowjobs are always a winner in Casa de Fire.

A beej always works in the bee house too ;-)

[lilsneezy]

Mar 19, 2015 19:43:12 GMT -5 nuggetrn said:

Mar 19, 2015 19:39:22 GMT -5 lilsneezy said:

You said YH likes to wash his car but doesn't have a lot of free time. How about a gift certificate to get his car detailed?

I was thinking along these same lines... maybe car wash tokens/gift certificates so he can get his car washed a couple of times.

It's a great gift for after the winter! Depending on where you live, I suppose. 

[nuggetrn]

Mar 19, 2015 19:45:29 GMT -5 lilsneezy said:

Mar 19, 2015 19:43:12 GMT -5 nuggetrn said:

I was thinking along these same lines... maybe car wash tokens/gift certificates so he can get his car washed a couple of times.

It's a great gift for after the winter! Depending on where you live, I suppose. 

My husband would absolutely love that. He is car obsessed. It is actually a gift I have considered getting him before but I always end up with something else instead.

[lilsneezy]

Mar 19, 2015 19:51:11 GMT -5 nuggetrn said:

Mar 19, 2015 19:45:29 GMT -5 lilsneezy said:

It's a great gift for after the winter! Depending on where you live, I suppose. 

My husband would absolutely love that. He is car obsessed. It is actually a gift I have considered getting him before but I always end up with something else instead.

Same here! I've had this gift idea on the back burner for years. Maybe one day I'll actually do it. 

[thechickencoop]

Mar 19, 2015 19:38:39 GMT -5 icaughtfire said:

Mar 19, 2015 18:18:57 GMT -5 W said:

A blowjob.

(Channeling my inner icaughtfire)

Blowjobs are always a winner in Casa de Fire.

+1 in casa de Chicken.

[cindylouwho]

I thought about doing a boudoir shoot and getting some pics for our next anniversary.

And, you could wear leather!

[Deleted]

Welcome. What about a little gift basket of his favorite car cleaning products? If you include leather cleaner, I think that counts.

[rooskie]

A nice gym bag? I really have nothing. We always go out of town for our anniversary. We actually have to go out of town for a wedding this year and we are both mad we can't go to our regular place.

[ellewills618]

Sorry for the P&R but my toddler turned maniac and we had to get out of the house before he and I each had a melt down. And THANK YOU ALL !!11!1ELEVENTY I knew you wouldn't disappoint and these ideas are fantastic.

Rama, @mrsjohnmarston, & lemoncupcake,- love the wallet and belt idea but DH went to Thailand last year and came home with about 4 identical wallets and matching belts as well as a bunch of silk neck ties (which he never wears). I had to shake my head because I can't imagine why you would need 4 identical wallets and belts but he doesn't question my shoe collection so I guess we're even.
mugster- leather tooling some of those wallets sounds like a great idea and then they won't be identical. And, I love the idea of the adjustable weights. You killed it.
morwen- thanks for the welcome
joy, kariann12, stephiestark, rablissful @bloodyjack87,- We're trying a new baby sitter this Sunday and if she works out we will be going out to dinner. We have hardly had any alone time since LO debuted and we're sorely overdue for couple time.
♪♫choppinbroccoli♫♪- he likes the outdoors and is a fishing nut, but no time. I could get him a leather holster for his cell or computer mouse (and die laughing). I am definitely filing this away for the future when he has more time though. And a nice rod to go with (and I'm thirteen because typing rod made me snicker).
W, renbee, icaughtfire thechickencoop,- BJ's are always a hit. I think he missed out last year because my parents were in town so this may have to happen.
paloslee-I like to pretend to be crafty but I get bored and give up. This is why I love Etsy!
lilsneezy & nuggetrn- This is also a great idea. I just have to find a reputable place because that car is DH's other baby.
@justinslovo- I want that for me!
cindylouwho- I did boudoir for our first anniversary (I think that one is paper?). It was so much fun. Someday I will definitely do it again.
@wallflwr926-That is a good idea. His supplies are all pretty haphazardly strewn about the house/garage.
rooskie- I'm jealous. I'd love to get DH to agree to a trip for every anniversary but he's also married to his job so I get vetoed.
@usherrr- Love the way you think! Might have to go drunk shopping.
******- He's not a watch guy but I still think he wouldn't mind a nice box to keep his cufflinks and things.

I hope I got everyone and tagged correctly! Legit thank yous all around and I hope I can help you all as well!