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VALENTINE’S DAY GIFTS IN THREE PHASES

Posted by Jennifer on January 30, 2014 Comments Off

Jan 302014

Oh boy, Valentine’s Day is coming up here soon and I have to think about what to give my boyfriend, Jason, so he knows that he is my love, my one and only Valentine. I know that there are those big red boxes in the shape of a heart that hold delicious chocolates, but that is something that everybody gives their boyfriend. There is no surprise in those. And they are boring gifts. Once you eat the chocolates, there is nothing to show for what you gave anymore other than a few extra pounds on the scale to remind you that you indulged in too many sweets.

I want to do something entirely different and am thinking of “going outside the box” and into “sweets” of a different kind. No, I am not talking about those chocolate boxes; this is the figurative meaning.

So, what is it that I am planning on doing? You will love this idea as I know that it will thrill my guy no end and will be a memorable moment for both of us forever. This is a three phase plan that you may even want to copy for your special man.

Three Valentines Day Gifts

Phase One is that I am going to kidnap and blindfold Jason as I lead him out of the house and on to the street. Around the block I will have a Jaguar parked that I rented especially for him to drive us to a swanky restaurant.

This is where Phase Number Two starts. I will already have arranged with the Maitre ‘D to reserve a cozy, private, candle lit room for two (they have some that are curtained off), with a nice bottle of chilled red wine waiting for just the two of us. Soft music will be piped in and the ambience is set for a romantic evening.

I will have pre-ordered the dinner and selected Jason’s favorite appetizer, main course, and dessert. I know what he likes and don’t need to guess. He and I rom_din have been together for only a short while, but when we go to restaurants, I know what he orders. He likes fine dining and appreciates carefully prepared chef’s gourmet specials. Our pre-ordered dinner will include lobster bisque, au gratin potatoes, asparagus vinaigrette and a special chef’s salad as well. Dessert will be a baked Alaska. Sounds real yummy doesn’t it. I can almost taste it already.

After dinner, there will be no figuring out what the bill will come to, because that too, I will have arranged in advance, so that when we are done with the meal, we can just relax, gaze into each other’s eyes, (his are a charcoal black), talk about sweet nothings, touch fingers across the table, and just continue to fall in love even harder.

But Phase Number Three is still waiting. That is the part that tops off the evening and the Valentine’s celebration. We are going to a Bed and Breakfast that offers theme rooms. I have reserved the Jungle Room for us, which has a motif of pure wilderness. There are fan palm trees in the room. The walls are painted with a large mural of tropical trees covered in vines. The bed is covered with a duvet in tiger stripes and on the floor is a faux bear rug.

You get the drift I imagine? This is where Jason will show his true animal instincts, and that is what I know he will love. I can see us entering the room and as he oohs and aahs about the décor and the ambience, I will quickly disappear into the bathroom and quietly slip into something more comfortable. I am bringing a tiny jungle outfit with me that will surprise the socks off Jason when he sees me. And you know what will happen. He will become the Tarzan to my Jane and we will have a lot of fun in our jungle room, making animal noises of delight as we celebrate an unforgettable Valentine’s Day that is “out of the box” and into jungle. Nothing could be wilder that this and I know that Jason will be ape over this exciting adventure.

If you like my ideas but you can’t really take care of all three phases, then I suggest that you do Phase One and Two, or even only Phase One, only Phase Two, or even only Phase Three. All three are fun, different, and definitely memory-making moments.

If you are only going to do Phase One, get the exotic or luxury car, and invite him to a romantic drive along the beach, with the top down. If it is cold outside, no worries, wrap yourselves in extra warm outfits, but enjoy that feeling of freedom as you drive with your heads in the air. Stop somewhere to have a cup of steaming hot chocolate or a stein of beer that will heat up your insides. Of course, if it is nice and balmy outside, no need for the extra togs. Just enjoy the experience. Stop and count stars before you continue your drive.

If you are going for Phase Two only, make sure that you pre-arrange the dinner AND the bill with the manager or the Maitre ‘D of the restaurant, so there won’t be any awkward moments at the end of the meal. And he will appreciate so much that you went to all that trouble of thinking of all the details, including taking care of the bill in advance.

Of course Phase Number Three is the bomb and is the best of my Valentines Day gifts! You will have to find a B&B that has theme rooms, and it doesn’t have to be a jungle room. It could be a rock room where the walls may be made of rocks and where the showerhead and wash basin come out of the rocks. Or you could go for an Austrian Room that is decorated with a sweet Lilies of the Valley motif, and the wallpaper is in soft pastel colors. Then there is the Fairytale Room, which will have scenes from different childhood stories. There are many more to chose from if you find a really good B&B. And it is what you expect from your man that will decide your choice of room. I just know that you will have a truly incredible time with your guy if you indulge in any or all of these phases. Try these Valentines Day Gifts for boyfriend and then let me know your experience. Mine was the best ever in my life.

GIFTS FOR EMPLOYEES

Posted by bruins2 on January 21, 2014 Comments Off

Jan 212014

If you are in the same position as I am, which is having to be the one who plans and arranges for gifts for employees who work for your husband, then let me give you a few hints. You want to make sure that the employee gifts you present will make a difference and are not just only a token gift.

My husband, John, is the office manager for a rather big trucking company. Their trucks haul merchandise and perishables interstate and most of the drivers have been with the company for several years. The company is doing rather well and the pay is good which, of course, is a great incentive for people to stay. On long hauls, the drivers stay away from home for several weeks at a time, which can be difficult on families with young children. It’s hard for them to have their husband and daddies absent during important school or club functions. Some dads have missed many Parents’ Days at their kids’ schools, others have missed important sports events. One of John’s driver’s sons, Jalen, is a budding pitcher in middle school, yet Jalen’s dad has yet to attend one of Jalen’s baseball games. And the boy is really quite the athlete. Another driver has a very talented daughter, Lauren, who has won a couple of local spelling bees. She is poised to represent her school at the regional championship. But because Lauren’s Dad is the one driver who is the expert on hauling specific fragile loads across country, he will be missing this very important event in his daughter accomplishments. Because of deadlines in the trucking industry it is crucial to meet them. The company will suffer huge financial losses if they miss those. Often, there are bonuses involved when all deadlines are met, and truckers benefit from those as much as the company as a whole does. On-time deliveries of damage free goods, no traffic fines on the course cross-country, and efficient and professional transactions are the mainstay of a profitable trucking industry. In other words, truck drivers are the ambassadors, if you will, of the trucking company.

The Right Employee Gifts Are Important

As the office manager, John is tasked with keeping a high morale among the staff in addition to his many other responsibilities. At the end of the company’s fiscal year, and when there is a good showing of profits, John awards drivers and staff with thank you gifts from the company. He is very serious about the type of gifts he presents them; not only does he want to give his employees awards that will be of use or enjoyment to them, but there is an element of thoughtfulness and gratitude in his gifts. He does not go for company plaques with the employees’ names engraved on them, citing them for a job well done. Those plaques look good when they are presented at some company function where the employees are recognized by their peers and supervisors. Some folks who get them take them home, possibly to relive the moment every once in a blue moon. Others may keep them in the office. But most people who get these kinds of awards look at them once, maybe twice. They may hang them on a wall somewhere to be reminded of that moment in time when they were presented the award. But the majority will put them somewhere out of the way. Yes, it is nice to be recognized with something that was inscribed specifically for you, but how much real value will it have once the moment has passed.

Employee Gift Ideas Should Be Well Thought Out

Because I feel the same way John does about employee gift ideas that award employees for a job well done, he has asked me to help him think of awards that will give his employees pleasure and benefits. The first thing we think of, of course, is MONEY. Who would not gain pleasure or benefits from moolah. And that is indeed one of the things John insists on for his employee gifts. Depending upon his/her years of service, everyone gets a sum of money ranging from $50 to $500. There are two drivers who have been with the company for over 20 years who benefit from the $500 gifts. Several others receive $100 or more and only very few get $50. These are not checks that they get; these are crisp new bills that come fresh from the bank. People love getting money in their hands that they can spend right away. They much prefer that rather than checks that will have to be taken to the bank to be exchanged for money. And John’s employees love the feel of crisp new bills.

Gifts For Employees That Deserve Them The Most

Where I come in is finding the additional thoughtful part of the award for drivers who have driven the longest distances, have been away from home the most, and have made the most profitable deliveries. I look at what they may have missed being so far away from home for such long periods. For one of the drivers, for instance, I arranged for a masseur and aesthetician to come to the house to give him AND his wife a full body massage, including manicure and pedicure. That was a huge success with both husband and wife. For another driver, who loves easy rock music, I found out that The Eagles would be on tour in our area, and I got a couple of tickets for him and his significant other. That was another tremendous home run. And speaking of home runs, Jalen’s Dad and Jalen got tickets for a father and son date to go to a professional baseball game together, complete with limo pick-up and delivery back home. John made sure that Jalen’s Dad would not be on a delivery route for that game. We tried to make all the employee gift ideas meaningful.

There are various other ways to show appreciation with employees’ gifts from husband; for instance: gift cards are always welcome presents, especially if they are not limited to a specific store. I like to give Visa and Master Card gift cards which can be used anywhere. You can give gift cards from grocery stores, Home Depot, Lowe’s, restaurants, amusement parks, flower shops, Best Buy, and dozens of other places. My experience has been that those are always much appreciated and enjoyed, much more so than the plaque bearing the employee’s name and years of service. People like to receive rewards that they can do something with rather than just look at. And believe me, they will remember you, the occasion, the reason for the award, and what they were able to do with the reward.

So, remember, know a little bit about the employees who work for your husband and you will be able to get gifts for employees which will make the difference. They do for me.

What To Get Your Boyfriend For His Birthday When You Want Something Really Unique? How About a Hot Air Balloon Ride?

Posted by bruins2 on December 9, 2013 Comments Off

Dec 092013

This Is Especially Great For A 40th Birthday Gift

If you gals are asking yourselves what to get for your boyfriend for his birthday, don’t despair. I have the answer for you. Actually, you could use this also as one of your great first anniversary gift ideas, or ideas for a best friend gifts and even for a Valentine’s Day gift. What I am going to share with you will be great for any of these celebrations. It’s fun, it’s exciting, and it’s totally different from the run of the mill presents. Besides, if you use it as one of the birthday ideas for boyfriend, it can be truly awesome and totally romantic. If you are game for this, then you will have to work a little bit ahead of time because you need to make reservations in advance. You are going to take your man on a surprise HOT AIR BALLOON RIDE. Sounds like fun? Well it is!

I did this for my favorite guy, Jim, as a surprise present for his 40^th birthday gift. About 3 weeks or so before the big day, I met with the balloon people (you can do this through the internet as well), and told them that this would be a birthday celebration. I wanted a private balloon ride that would take just the two of us over the California wine country. They told me that they could fly a big “Happy Birthday Jim” banner from the balloon. Of course, I agreed to do that. As we were discussing the ride, I got more and more excited just thinking about flying high just the two of us, letting the whole world know that we are celebrating my Jim’s birthday. I could not wait for the day to get here.

When it finally did, I told Jim that I had a surprise adventure planned for just him and me. We had to get up early at the crack of dawn. The air was still cool and crisp as we drove to the balloon hanger. When we got there, we saw that the engineer was putting the final prep on the balloon. But the “Happy Birthday Jim” banner was already affixed to the balloon. You can’t imagine the look of utter surprise and excitement on Jim’s face when he saw that. He asked if that was meant for him, silly guy. Of course, it was, I said. Well then he couldn’t wait to get started and wanted to board right away, but I wanted some pictures taken of us before going up. So, moments before we stepped into the basket, we had the engineer snap a few pictures of us with the balloon and the banner as background. I wanted to make sure that we would have mementos of this memory-making adventure of ours. We looked so small by that enormously big contraption that was about as high as six or seven stories. The basket could actually hold a total of up to 12 people, but this time, this ride was reserved for just the two of us. I wanted this to be a very romantic day for us, and did not want to share this experience with anyone else. Going up about 3000 feet in the air, I wanted to find out what it would feel like to be so high in the sky, on cloud nine, with just my sweetheart and no one else.

When we were done with picture taking, the engineer/pilot invited us to step in and start our ride. He asked if we had a specific “flight plan,” in mind. Jim thought that was so cool! We could decide which direction to go, depending on the course of the wind, of course. We wanted to fly over the California wine country and some scenic sites in the area we told the pilot. And off we went.

I still remember so vividly what an awesome view we had from so high up. We felt as if we owned the world looking down on some incredibly awesome country sights. The lakes and wineries over which we flew looked so small from where we were. Even the large estates around the wineries looked small. We could not clearly see any people because the distance was too far for that. But the feeling of the wind blowing in our hair and face, the fresh air we were breathing in, the thrill of sharing this incredible experience together, was definitely something we will never forget. I was with my one and only love, soaring in freedom with his strong protective arms around me, neither one of us having a care in the world. It was a sensation that will be in our memory forever. We basked in the peace and quiet around us; our closest neighbors were occasional curious birds looking in on us. Probably wondering what in the world we were doing in their own wide open space. There were no city noises, no ringing telephones, no barking dogs; just serenity and magnificence around us. We did not want this ride to end and could have ballooned to the end of the earth. Before we realized that we had been in the air for over an hour, we started our descent and got back to solid ground safely.

But this was still not the end of this beautiful experience. Knowing in advance that this was a surprise birthday celebration, the balloon staff welcomed us back with refreshing Mint Julips, a birthday cupcake and their version of the happy birthday song. They told us we were their newest “aeronauts”, and we loved it! They made us feel so special! Of course, Jim could not thank me enough for thinking up such an incredibly wonderful time.

Works For Best Friend Gifts As Well

He has talked about it to all his friends and colleagues, and urges them to experience the same thrilling moments with their loved ones. And one of them has indeed taken him up on his suggestion. This was also given as one of his best friend gifts to his wife. He took his wife on a balloon ride and came back with the same sense of excitement, wonder, and awe.

So If You Don’t Know What To Get Your Boyfriend For His Birthday, This May Do The Trick

So, if you are looking for something that your number one man will love, will talk about forever, and credit you for having come up with an unforgettable, incredible surprise gift, be it for a birthday, Valentine’s Day, Christmas or anniversary present, take him on a hot air balloon ride. It is bound to be your best prize winning idea of all times.

WHAT ARE GOOD OUTDOOR GIFTS FOR MEN ?

Posted by bruins2 on December 6, 2013 Comments Off

Dec 062013

My boyfriend loves to go hunting, and when I had to find a gift for his 25^th birthday, I was at a loss. I really don’t know much about rifles or other kinds of guns that he uses when he goes hunting. I never join him on his hunting trips. He does that with his buddies. It seemed to me as if he had everything already that a hunter might want or need. He never asked for anything or went shopping himself for something additional in hunting stuff. He outfitted himself with all the necessary gear, including camouflage trousers, shirts, hats, boots and gloves. It’s really funny to see him when he leaves before daybreak, dressed in those green forest-looking clothes. He looks like a serious dyed-in-the-wool hunter, but in fact, he is only an amateur hunter. He enjoys the excitement of being out in the “wilderness,” and sharing that macho experience with his hunting friends. There are three of them and they have formed some kind of bond, talking about their hunting exploits when they are together. And you should see them when they come back: they look absolutely beat, like real hunters who spent an entire day in pursuit of big game somewhere in Africa or so. I really believe that, deep down, they dream of going on a real safari some day. (But that is NOT what I had in mind for him for my birthday gifts for him, because I just don’t have the moolah to finance such an expedition). We will have to save up our pennies for a long, long time before we can even think of such an exciting trip. So when his birthday kept creeping up closer and closer I asked myself: what in the world should I get for him this time. It being his 25^th birthday, I wanted my gift to be something really special, something related to his love of going out hunting.

Mind you, being the amateur that he is, he doesn’t feel that he absolutely must have something to show for when he gets back from his hunting trips. Just having had the exhilaration of being in the “wild” and the chance of seeing some game, gives him the sense of being on a hunt. He and his three buddies carpool when they go on hunting, and they rotate as to who will be the driver. My guy has a Jeep so they really like to ride with him, because sitting in a Jeep already gives them that sense of being in pursuit of big game, spotting it, chasing it, and out-running it. Of course that never happens, as there is no big game where they go, but the illusion is enough for them to get excited about. So I came up with the idea of giving my boyfriend the thrill of taking this excitement a step further. And I knew that he would just love it.

Well, I searched and searched and finally found some great looking camouflage seat covers for his Jeep that would make his total hunting adventure a complete success, whether he came home with any game or not. These covers are really awesome because they transformed his ordinary every-day looking Jeep into a machine that could take professional hunters on their big game expeditions. There are two covers for the front seat with separate head rest covers, so every inch of the seats is covered. Then there is also a rear bench seat cover, that also includes a back head rest. Again, the entire back bench is covered in camouflage material, which is made of 100% washable cotton. These covers slip over the existing covers easily, so no struggle with removing the old stuff and installing the new ones. They come with adjustable straps, so installation over the old covers is easy and the straps will ensure a good fit. Also, the edges of these covers are made with an elastic band, so they will stay in place once they are installed. In other words, they will provide an absolute perfect and snug fit. Once they are in place, the Jeep will look as if it were custom made for the hunter. The entire interior of the Jeep would be completely hunter-ready.

Preparing My Birthday Gifts For Him

Now I was all set and well prepared for his birthday to come along, and when it did, my gift was an absolute huge success with the birthday man. Of course, he immediately had to go and “dress up” the Jeep, but not before he told me how much he appreciated my thoughtfulness and caring. He couldn’t thank and kiss and hug me enough, saying over and over again that I was his one and only love, his greatest catch in all his hunting expeditions. No need to tell you how that made me feel.

But maybe the greatest triumph came when he called his two friends to come and see what he got for his birthday from me. Of course they loved that total hunting look of this new mode of transport for their next big chase. Not only did they congratulate him on his birthday, but they also congratulated me on finding such great outdoor gifts for men, which all three would enjoy ultimately. To me, they are almost like the three musketeers: “One for all, and all for One. I could just imagine these three guys getting in the Jeep and savoring the excitement of being away from city hustle and bustle. Going into the “wild” dressed like hunters in a vehicle that is totally geared for a fantastic hunting adventure. I believe they fancy themselves to be like the great author and hunter Ernest Hemingway, whose African exploits are well recorded through literature. I know that they have read some of Hemingway’s books, so I wouldn’t be surprised if, in their heart of hearts, they wished they could be even a little bit like him.

Now These Ended Up Being Great Birthday Gifts For Boyfriend Turning 25

And I had accomplished what I set out to do for my boyfriend’s 25^th birthday. Got him THE best gift he ever wanted.

HORSEBACK RIDES MAKE GREAT ROMANTIC GIFTS FOR HIM

Posted by Alexis on November 28, 2013 Comments Off

Nov 282013

My boyfriend Aiden has his 21st birthday coming up in a couple of months and I wanted to do something really special for him. He and my brother Jonathan have become good friends, and when Aiden is not with me his spends some of his free time with my brother. You see, Jonathan works at a horse ranch and Aiden likes going to the ranch to see the horses. He often helps with feeding and grooming the animals. He also enjoys going to the horse races with me whenever the season starts. We don’t bet on the horses at the races but just love seeing those beautiful animals run. I myself have ridden a horse before, but Aiden has not. But I knew that he would love to ride one some time; he said so himself. So, of course that is the thought that hit me when Aiden’s 21st birthday was coming up soon. Why not go on a horseback trail ride with him. That would really be a huge surprise for him.

So I started asking around at my brother’s work if they could recommend a horse trainer or ranch where we could rent a couple of horses for a day’s ride. With their recommendation and some additional research I found out where we could go for a trail ride and adventure on horseback. The trail boss at the Dude ranch where I arranged for a “beginner’s” ride and a picnic for the two of us, would take us on some really cool trails through the hillside and into some valleys. I explained to the trail boss that Aiden had never been on a horse before. He said, that was no problem, because he would accompany us on the ride so we would not get lost or, if we should have any difficulties with the horses, we would have the expert right there to take care of any problems. I could not ask for anything more and was so pleased to have found such a perfect birthday present for my number one guy. This was going to be the best ever gift for Aiden.

When it got to be about a week or so before Aiden’s 21st birthday, I told him that I had planned a surprise outing for his birthday present. I suggested that he wear comfortable clothes and boots for an all day mini adventure. Of course he wanted to know what I had in mind, but I did not tell him what the surprise was. He had absolutely no idea that we would go on a trail ride. After all, he had never sat on a horse before, let alone take one out on a ride.

On the morning of his 21st, we left the house early and arrived at the Dude ranch around 9:00 am. I introduced him to Mr. Wilson, the trail boss, who congratulated Aiden on his birthday and then told him that the three of us were going on a trail ride. When Aiden heard what Mr. Wilson had to say, he got so excited; he couldn’t wait to get on a horse. But we first had to meet the horses and select the ones that would take us on our ride. Mr. Wilson had a few that were especially reserved for riding. They were used to meeting strangers and none of them were nervous or shy. We saw some that looked huge while others were a lot smaller, but they were all so beautiful. There were shiny black horses with long manes, also some chestnut colored ones with shorter manes, and then there were the spotted Palominos. There were even little miniature ponies for kids to ride. Mr. Wilson recommended that we take Trigger, a gentle black and white horse for Aiden, and Harrison, another easy rider, for me. Mr. Wilson’s own horse, Shadow, was a gorgeous white horse that would lead us on the trail. Mr. Wilson also took extra care to ensure that Aiden was seated comfortably and safely on Trigger, especially since this was Aiden’s very first horseback adventure.

So off we went on our trail ride. We handled the horses gently and did not demand a lot of them as we took a trail along a creek and through a lovely wooded area. There were no rough terrains for them to maneuver. We could tell that they were happy with us as they snorted in loud appreciation. The weather cooperated with us as well because it was a balmy morning with some sunshine coming through the tall trees. We rode at an easy, slow clip and after about an hour or so we stopped under a grove of trees with plenty of shade. We dismounted, tied up the horses, gave them some sweet morsels, and made sure that they were content and able to get some rest. We then spread our blanket for the picnic, which was provided by the Dude ranch. And as we munched, and rested and chatted, we found out what an interesting story teller Mr. Wilson was. He shared with us how he became a trail boss after a career change from being in an executive position in the corporate world to becoming an overseer and ranch boss. He loves the outdoors and prefers it to sitting behind a desk. And he apparently loves being with horses, which shows in how fondly he talks about them and how expertly he handles them. All three of us felt so at peace; we were in such an idyllic and romantic setting. No hustle and bustle of city life, no telephone ringing, no car noises, just the quiet serenity of nature was around us. Aiden and I drank in every precious minute of the moment. We were reluctant to end the magic, but we knew that we had to get going again. I realized what great romantic gifts for him these were.

So, after we finished our picnic lunch and felt ready to continue our ride, we got back in the saddle. Mr. Wilson and Trigger led Harrison and Shadow and us through a lovely valley which eventually got us back to the ranch. Our ride had taken almost 2 hours, not including the stop. Mr Wilson helped us get down as we were somewhat stiff from sitting in the saddle for so long. But what an experience this had been for us. I was especially happy when I saw how excited Aiden was with this surprise 21st birthday present and adventure. He talks about it all the time and has even arranged a trail ride as a birthday present for his best friend to take his girlfriend.

This Was Better Than 21 Birthday Ideas

At first I tried to come up with 21 birthday ideas, but this single idea was the best of all. So, if any of you are looking for something different, yet exciting and wonderful, to give as a birthday present, a Christmas present, a happy Valentine’s Day outing, or maybe even a surprise anniversary adventure, I highly recommend you take a horseback trail ride with your most loved one.
You won’t regret it!

COMPETING WITH DANCING WITH THE STARS?

Posted by Abigail on November 26, 2013 Comments Off

Nov 262013

Good Christmas Presents Are Tough Especially When Getting Gifts For Men Who Have Everything

And my boyfriend does have everything he needs so I had to think especially hard for this Christmas.

For all you aficionados of Dancing With the Stars, let me tell you what I did for my boyfriend for Christmas. Austin and I love watching that program because we are dancers ourselves. We are not professionals like the ones on T.V., but we do ballroom dancing and our favorite dance is the Viennese waltz. I just found out that in the early 1800s, the waltz was considered to be uncivilized and vulgar. Can you believe that! What would they have thought about the gyrating twist or the sizzling tango in those days. And how about break dancing or any of the Latin American dances. Phew, I am glad our civilization has come a long way since then and doesn’t consider the art and athleticism of today’s dancing to be vulgar or uncivilized. We would otherwise be ostracized for doing the waltz, and that is the one dance we really enjoy doing together.

Austin and I actually met at a local dance club a couple of years ago and started dancing together most weekends. We found out that we are pretty good in the waltz. Austin is 6’2” and I am 5’7”, which seem to be the ideal heights for this beautiful, graceful and romantic dance. We have learned to adapt to the correct posture where we hold our heads upright and our necks stretched upward. Our instructors told us that with the Viennese waltz, posture and grace are what count in competitions. Those two things get the highest scores if executed to perfection. When they felt that we were ready to compete, our instructors encouraged us to do so since we dance very well together. So, we started to participate in local competitions and after a couple of those, we placed second place at our third try. That really motivated us to continue and train even harder and compete more frequently. So, a couple of months ago we came in as first place winners for the waltz. That’s when we started thinking about competing on the regional level, and with the encouragement of our instructors, we went ahead and registered for the Christmas Special Regional Dance Competition. You can imagine that we now are dancing even more and practicing four or five times a week. There is so much to think of with the Viennese waltz, not only how to hold your head and neck, but also your back, your arms, your feet, and the whole posture of the body of course.

While we practice in regular street clothes, we know that when we participate at the regional level in formal competitions, we will have to dress in formal dancing clothes. If you have ever watched ballroom dance exhibits or competitions then you know that the dance floor looks almost as if it is transformed into a beautiful salon in someone’s palace somewhere. Men and women are dressed to the nines; the ladies with elegant formal ball gowns, long gloves, and beautiful jewelry. Men are in tuxedos and/or long tails.

I know that Austin has a tux already, but he has not taken any time yet, or given any thought to looking at how it can be spiffed up for the event. I have already selected what I am going to wear. I found a gorgeous midnight blue strapless ballroom gown with sequins sprinkled on the bodice and the bottom of the skirt. I am also going to wear long dangling crystal earrings to match the sequins on the dress. Am not sure if I should wear the small tiara that came with the earrings; will decide on that later.

Even Obvious Gifts Like Shirts Can Make Good Christmas Presents

So, to help Austin put more glam on his outfit, I am going to surprise him with a special stretch white satin ballroom shirt as one of my early Christmas presents. This beautiful shirt is very comfortable, and is specifically designed to wear under a tux. The stretch satin gives him the freedom to move easily, which is very important when dancing the waltz with its many left and right turns. The shirt will stay firmly tucked in and won’t slip out of his pants while Austin is making these required Viennese waltz dance moves. What is also an added feature is that the visible parts of the satin shirt show luminously at the front panels under his tux jacket, at the cuffs, and at the wing collar. I can just imagine how that satiny white of the shirt will contrast against the black of Austin’s tux. He will look so elegant and oh so sophisticated.

These Are The Kind Of Gifts for Men Who Have Everything

Austin doesn’t know anything about this Christmas gift that I have already gotten for him. For all he knows he thinks that he has all the necessary pieces together for our big “coming-out” at the regional competition. He would be right in thinking so what with his tux and tie, but I know that he will love the extra elegance the white satin shirt will add to his formal wear. I have it tucked away in my closet, out of his sight, all wrapped up in a beautiful Christmas box, ready to give to him the day before our competition. We both will look like stars, maybe not yet like the “Dancing with the Stars” stars, but we will be our own stars come our first big regional Christmas dance competition.

Austin is one of those guys who doesn’t need anything but I think presents like this make great gifts for men who have everything. Don’t you?

I thought I would share this little surprise I have for my boyfriend with all of you ladies who may want to go dancing for Christmas or for any other “formal” occasion where you want to look like king and queen. You don’t need to ask yourselves, “what kind of gift can I give my boyfriend” when the occasion presents itself. Do something like what I did: go out, spiff up his tux and at the same time show him that he is indeed your “shining star.”

HOW TO SAVE FOR GIFT GIVING – WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE

Posted by Aubrey on November 25, 2013 Comments Off

Nov 252013

Anyone who watches this show on television knows that one can make a lot of money with the right answers. And with a little bit of smarts and some luck, quite a few people have indeed made a nice little extra spending money. Granted, some of the questions are so difficult to figure out, let alone give an intelligent answer to. But what I remember from my high school multiple answer quizzes, is that, when in doubt, go for the answer that is the longest. Often that is the correct answer, also on the TV shows. But if you don’t have the courage to do so, and merely guess, because you don’t want to lose the money you have already accumulated with the first easy questions, then don’t. Just quit at that point and walk away with money you did not have when you got there in the first place. That was EASY MONEY, right? But you say: How many people get selected to come down and play the Who Wants To Be A Millionaire game. What are YOUR chances of being one of those lucky people? Probably one in several thousands, right?!. So then, how can you get or save some extra spending money without appearing on a television show. Not being one of the lucky contestants on T.V., you must take a different approach if you want to get some extra spending money together. Should you put money in a savings account or open up a CD (Certificate of Deposit)?

Well, if you think that keeping money in the bank in hopes of earning some kind of interest income then you surely are living in a dream world. There certainly is no gain in doing that. Interest rates are at their lowest now and even with a substantial amount of money in savings, interest earnings are ridiculously low. And CD’s hardly yield any interest either. How then can you save any money for when you want to buy some big ticket item and don’t want to go into debt.

How I Saved For My Boyfriend’s 21st Birthday Gifts

My best friend Avery taught me how to do it, and I am now following her suggestions I am saving up for Ethan, my boyfriend, for his 21st birthday in March next year. The presents I have in mind for him are a bit pricey (it’s going to be his 21st birthday, so he deserves something special, you agree, don’t you). I know he will love what I have in mind for him. You see, Ethan is somewhat of a clotheshorse, so I am going to buy him a three piece suit which will look great on him. He has quite a few nice dress pants and shirts, but he does not own anything like a three piece suit yet. But I don’t have the money for it now so I will have to save up for it, and that is where Avery’s system comes into play.

Here it is: Avery uses “The Envelope” system. If you want the system to work then you must be really strict about it. Because if you don’t and are lax about being really committed to the system, then it won’t work. I started with it a couple of months ago and am already seeing the results of sticking to it.

So, I have three separate envelopes in which I put money every time I get paid, which is once a week. One envelope is marked “jacket and trousers,” on the second one I wrote “vest,” and the third one has “silk tie” written on it. I figured out how much I needed to save up for each present and divided that amount by the weeks that I needed to come up with the total cost of each item. I have given myself enough time to where I don’t have to forego my own essentials. I can still take care of my daily expenses without going into debt, because that is the whole idea of “The Envelope” system. I just put myself on a strict budget, which I have to admit, was quite a challenge in the beginning. I am just limiting myself to not going out to dinner as much. Dining in is not bad at all I found out. Also, I will forego buying those extra pairs of shoes that I don’t really need anyway. I don’t have to be like Imelda Marcos, wife of the late president of the Philippines whose closet housed hundreds of pairs of shoes. And for the time being I will give up going to the spa until I have all the funds together for Ethan’s birthday gifts.

Once I started on the system and saw the money “grow” in the envelopes, it became easier each time I added to the budgeted amount in the specific envelope. It is actually quite exciting to see the money “grow.” It gives me a sense of power knowing I can do this all on my own, without the help of any bank or other financial institution. Keeping my savings in my own hands, without having to keep it in the bank, where any interest earned would be negligible and almost insulting, gives me the satisfaction of having control over my own destiny. I now have saved almost the entire amount I need to buy that beautiful three piece suit for Ethan’s 21st birthday gifts.

No, I did not go on “Who Wants to be a Millionaire,” but I can tell you that I feel smug and quite happy with my own achievement in getting that extra money together. And having achieved that goal, I am motivated to continue saving with “The Envelope” system. I am triumphant knowing that savings is not as hard as it is made out to be.

GONDOLA RIDES WILL MAKE AWESOME ANNIVERSARY GIFTS FOR MEN

Posted by Chloe on November 22, 2013 Comments Off

Nov 222013

My boyfriend and I just celebrated our 3^rd anniversary in the most amazing way, because I surprised him with a fantastic experience that he would never have dreamed of himself. This can be done for any occasion, like a birthday celebration, Valentine’s Day, and even make great Christmas gifts. So I am recommending this to those of you who are at a loss as to what to give your favorite guy for Christmas this year. No longer do you need to ask yourself: “What shall I get my boyfriend for Christmas.” This gift is a truly unique gift that he would never have thought of in a million years. My boyfriend is very creative with his gift giving, but he never would have come up with this one himself. He likes to give me nice gifts of jewelry, tickets to a musical or play that I am dying to see, or he splurges on a fancy dinner at a 4-star restaurant. But what I presented him on our anniversary day totally bowled him over; it was never in one of his thought processes.

This Was One Of The Most Creative Anniversary Ideas Ever

Well, I took him on a romantic gondola ride just for him and I.

I learned about these rides from a couple of friends who have done this with their spouses on their special occasions. My best friend took her boyfriend on a gondola ride for his birthday, and he couldn’t get over the fact how awesome it was and how much he enjoyed that lovely, intimate experience. One of my co-workers told me about the gondola ride she took with her fiancé as a celebration of their engagement. They too had a fantastic and unforgettable time. Well, after I heard about these rides, I decided on taking my number one guy on one of these romance-inducing adventures myself. I thought that if it would turn out as wonderful and unforgettable as it did for my friends, then I could not think of anything more awesome to give him as an anniversary gift. But remember: you can do this for any occasion! So, if you have a birthday coming up, do it! If it is for Christmas, do it! Valentine’s Day, anniversary, or “just because I love you day,” do it! It’s fun, it’s romantic, it’s memory-making for sure!

But I did not just take him to the gondola and the ride on the water. I was real secretive about this whole thing and when our anniversary came around, I “kidnapped” him and told him that I had a different sort of anniversary gift in store for him. I had already made reservations at a nice restaurant at the waterfront for a table for two and pre-ordered a Chateau Briand for the main course to be topped off with Baked Alaska (his all time favorite) for dessert. The meal was to die for and the dessert was expertly presented. He told me that he loved the dinner out with me and praised me for the forethought I had to pre-order his favorite items on the menu. He thought that that was the surprise anniversary gift I had planned for him. But little did he know.

After dinner I suggested that we take a little stroll along the water to enjoy the balmy evening and the star-studded sky. Of course he was up for that. He did not know that we were walking in the direction of where our gondola was moored and waiting for us. So, as we approached the gondola, the gondolier who had been prepped to greet us by name, smiled and invited us to step down into his gorgeous, ornate, canopied gondola. And as the gondolier held out his arm in a welcoming gesture, my boyfriend looked at me with a gleam in his eyes, beginning to realize what was happening. He then knew that the surprise anniversary gift had only just begun.

These Were Unforgettable Anniversary Gifts For Men

From then on it was one unforgettable, magical and fantastic evening. It was a cool night, but the thick rugs on the gondola’s floor, and the blankets on our sumptuously cushioned “throne” under the canopy kept us nice and toasty. We settled in and snuggled close together. There were two fluted glasses and a bottle of champagne on the little table by our feet, as well as a vase with two long-stemmed red roses and a small box of Godiva chocolates. We had everything within arm’s reach, including each other, to complete the electric romance in the air. The ambiance was palpably romantic if anything at all. The gondolier, a romantic man himself and gifted with a beautiful baritone voice, softly serenaded us with songs from Italy. You know: “O Sole Mio,” and “Sorrento,” among others. And as we glided through the smooth waters, under the moon and star-lit sky, we kissed each time we passed under a bridge. The gondolier had mentioned that kissing under a bridge would bring great wealth and good health. Needless to say that we heeded his advice. And there were quite a few bridges. I confess that we indulged in a lot of smooching, kissing and more …

The one hour gondola ride came to an end much too quickly. We both were so relaxed and wished for more time to spend together in this lovely little romantic getaway called gondola. Since these were such great anniversary ideas, we promised each other to do it again for Christmas when the ride would be even more wonderful with all the shoreline houses lit up with lights and decorations. We can hardly wait for that day to come. I think they might even make great Christmas gifts for my parents too!

So friends, if you want your boyfriend, fiancé, spouse or significant other to have truly unforgettable, memory-making moments and intimate time with you, go on a gondola ride and have the best time of your life ever. I did and you should too!

OF COWBOYS, RODEOS, HORSES, AND HATS

Posted by Danielle on November 9, 2013 Comments Off

Nov 092013

I Have The Best 21st Birthday Gift Ideas If Your Guy Is A Cowboy!

If your boyfriend is a cowboy and is around horses a lot, then I have an idea for what to buy your boyfriend for his birthday. My relationship with my boyfriend is rather new. We have been together for about a year and a half now, and it has been really wonderful. Before I met him, I had never been around cowboys much. I have always been a city girl and never really had the opportunity or occasion to become involved with horses, let alone with cowboys. But a friend of mine recently became engaged to her longtime boyfriend, who actually is a cowboy. At her engagement party I met Chuck, also a cowboy. We hit it off right from the beginning, started dating not long after that, and have been together ever since. Being with him has opened up a whole new world for me; a fun world of cowboys, horses, and rodeos. And he has taught me so much about them. I have always thought of horses as beautiful animals to admire from a distance. I had gone to a couple of horse races at the local county fair, and enjoyed seeing the grace and speed with which they run. But I had never participated actively in this whole new arena of equine culture. But Chuck has turned that around for me. I have become a true horse lover and “wannabe” cowgirl. I have even gone to a few rodeos with him and thoroughly enjoyed the excitement there. Chuck has been teaching me how to ride a horse properly and comfortably. Let me tell you, it is not easy for someone who has never sat on a horse before. Sitting in a saddle is very different from sitting in a chair that supports you with armrests and a back. Being on horseback only gives you a pommel and stirrups for support. And then you still have to be able to lead the horse as well. This is no easy feat, but I wanted to learn and stuck with it, and Chuck was a very patient instructor. I learned to ride on a gentle Palomino in a corral, which gave me a lot of confidence. Now I am fine with getting on a horse and even look forward to going on trail rides with Chuck. We do that on the weekends, in the early morning hours when we can enjoy the quietness and beauty of nature. I think the most fun is when we ride the horses on the beach.

But Chuck is not just a trail-riding cowboy; he competes in cattle roping at rodeos. He practices a lot, every chance he gets he is out there riding and roping. There is quite a skill to mastering the art of roping apparently and his hard work at it has paid off. It amazes me each time I see how expertly he controls both horse and cattle when he does roping. He has become very good at it, so much so actually, that he recently won an award at the State rodeo competition. That was really neat, because many of the other competing cowboys came over to congratulate and recognize him for his accomplishments. There is nothing more satisfying than getting your peers’ accolades, right? And to top off the event, he was invited to the awards presentation at a dinner party at the ranch of one of the promoters. Wives and girlfriends were also invited.

And that was what inspired me when I was trying to think of some 21^st birthday gift ideas.

I noticed that Chuck owned a couple of cowboy hats: one was a straw hat and the other a palm leaf hat. He wore them interchangeably at roping practices, and because he wore them so often, they looked real dusty and became somewhat worn. He looked great in both of them though, but I thought that for going out on the town, he might want to own a nice dress-up kind of hat that he could wear for all kinds of events. So I went shopping and started looking at the many different kinds of cowboy hats. What I found really amazed me because I did not know that there were so many available; one for every cowboy, budget and style. I saw all kinds of Stetson hats, (probably the most popular and recognizable ones), soft wool felt hats, Marshall wool hats, and some horse cavalry buffalo fur hats, which looked really cool. Hats ranged in price from $50 to over $800. A Mexican Palm cowboy hat for instance cost around $48, and an ultra deluxe El Presidente Stetson hat was priced at $799. I looked long and carefully and finally decided on a beautiful felt, black Stetson hat with a leather sweatband on the inside and on the outside it sported a small silver buckle. It looked cool and classy and I just knew that it would go with Chuck’s personality. He is a cool and classy kind of guy!

When I gave it to Chuck as one of his 21st birthday gifts, he just beamed and put it on right away. But that was after he told me how much he loved the hat AND ME! And of course he wore it at the awards dinner party after the rodeo. Needless to say that he got beaucoup compliments, not only on winning the roping contest, but also on looking so cool in his Stetson hat. He sure was walking tall at that party. And as his girlfriend I was so proud to be there with him. In fact, I can say that I have changed from being a “wannabe” cowgirl to a real lover of cowboys, rodeos and horses.

Hats Ended Up Being The Perfect 21st Birthday Gifts

So, if you are looking for something to buy for you cowboy boyfriend, be it for his birthday, Christmas, or Valentines, don’t just keep wondering : What can I buy for my boyfriend. Go out there and get him an extra cowboy hat, something he can always use another one of. It may just be the best idea you will ever have as far as boyfriend gifts is concerned.

Timekeepers Can Be Great Gift Ideas For Men

Posted by Elizabeth on November 7, 2013 Comments Off

Nov 072013

My boyfriend’s birthday is the day after Christmas, which is nice on the one hand, but not so nice on the other. Nice because you are already in the holiday and gift giving spirit. Not so nice because sometimes people combine birthdays with Christmas if the two days are very close together. That means that the birthday person really misses out on celebrating his/her birthday as a separate and special occasion. Expecting cool Christmas gifts, they have to wait for their birthday gifts instead. Fortunately, my boyfriend, John, does not combine his birthday with Christmas and we celebrate two different days for two different reasons. Sometimes we even postpone his birthday a week or more so that we are not totally in the Christmas spirit anymore on his special day, but put the focus on him. In fact, last year we even put it off until January 26^th before we celebrated his birthday. It was great because on December 26^th, his true birthday date, we were able to stay in the Christmas spirit without having to feel that we had to change that because we had a birthday to think of.

However, no matter how you look at it, having a birthday so close to Christmas does pose the problem of coming up with gift ideas for men when it is time to buy for the birthday that is not already a present under the Christmas tree. And this year too, I was faced with that dilemma. We will celebrate his birthday early in January. What should I buy for my boyfriend for his birthday was the question I asked myself several times. I had already bought the gifts for him that would be his Christmas gifts, but nothing yet for the birthday. He is a guy who seems to have everything he would want or need. He has a pretty good job and makes nice money, so he does buy some pretty neat things for himself.

So I decided to do some window shopping early in hopes of getting some ideas. I saw the usual gifts like fancy belts, leather wallets, silk shirts, I-Pods, I-Pads, and all the other latest gadgets. But I just did not feel the right vibes as to what the ideal gift would be for him. I did know that he loves watches, and he has a couple that he switches wearing. He has a simple, no frills every day kind of watch, which he wears to work. Then he has this other really nice one that he wears on special occasions when he dresses up in suit and tie. But I have heard him say on occasion that he would love to own a watch that had more than just one time zone. (His brother, to whom he is close, lives in Europe and he likes to know what time he is living in, compared to U.S. times). So I thought, why not look for one like that. One that gives him the option to see the European time zones: an altogether different kind of watch, a different brand with a different kind of look. Something he would enjoy wearing and knowing his brother’s time of day just by glancing at his watch.

A friend of mine told me that there are shops with just the stuff that I was looking for around beach boutiques. Because of the diverse and international clientele that comes to beach cities, the shops there always have more exotic, exquisite, and unique merchandise. Granted, some are more expensive than others and totally out of reach of my pocket, but there are enough to choose from not to have to spend oodles of money. Selections in those kinds of stores are better.

So, off I went in search of that special type of watch I wanted for my guy, and zeroed in on jewelry and watch stores. I saw some really awesome ones like Rolexes, Cartiers, and Patek Philippes. They ranged in price from a mere $6500.00 to over $500,000. They were way over my budget, of course, so I quickly bypassed them. But I also saw some watches that I had never seen before in malls around town. There were brands I had never heard of. Some had a lot of bling or were studded with “diamonds.” Others had showy wide bands, big clasps and glittery faces. Those would be ideal for the man who likes to show off his wealth in a very obvious kind of way. But that is not for my boyfriend. He does not go for the shiny, showy stuff. He is more of the understated kind of guy, who does not flaunt his “wealth.” Well, finally I found THE kind of watch that I just knew was exactly right for my boyfriend. This one, a Diesel Limited Edition watch, had the different time zones, a digital as well as an analog display of the time, was water resistant, and very manly looking. This one was specifically geared for the man who prefers the classy, understated, elegant look. I knew I had found my birthday gift for John. Now it is just a matter of a few weeks before I will have the pleasure of seeing the surprised look on his face when he opens his birthday gift from me. I know that no one else thought about giving him this special kind of watch and I also know that he will treasure the watch AND ME for giving it to him.

It really pays to shop early, be it for a Christmas present or a birthday gift, and especially if those two special days fall closely within their own specific December dates. No longer do you have to wonder: What should I buy for my boyfriend for Christmas, or What should I buy for him for his birthday. You can be the person who thinks and plans ahead. Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday to You!

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