Christmas and the holidays and in love? Here is your gift guide. It’s something about having someone to spend the holidays with. I notice that it’s the one that are married or in long term relationships that tend to not appreciate their loved one. Remember that even when your person gets on your last nerves there is someone who wants your portion. So here is your gift guide for couples.
Time to Connect
One of the things that I have loved the most especially in these last years is the gift of time. Connecting on a large scale is important. This can be achieved by blocking out some time at a different location like vacation, staycation, or just an overnight hotel stays. When you connect you must set some boundaries like no cell, and make sure you bring things with you during your connection time that will allow a level of connectivity that you and your person needs.
Consider favorite food or going to your favorite restaurant. One of the things that I know my husband and I struggle with making sure we increase connection time. For the holidays we try to go to an elevated dining experience, and an overnight stay at bare minimum.
For those who do not gift during the holidays
There is nothing wrong with not gifting gifts. However, make sure you do things like continue being genuinely pleasant to your person. There shouldn’t be long stretches of ignorance between you and your person. Why again are you together if you do not genuinely do not like one another. One of my personal pet peeves is being around couples who outwardly argue in public. My husband and I used to be that couple. Nobody wants to be around the couple who can’t seem to agree and embarrass one another in public settings. If you also berate and treat your person like a child especially in public spaces, is another pet peeve for me.
There is no reason that you can’t enjoy down time with your person not gifting each other but also enjoying one another.
Think Outside of the Box for the Holidays
This is your time to shine. One year I gifted my husband a pair of skates. You would think that was a simple request but it’s not. He wears a size 15. That size isn’t always readily available, so I had them made. He loves skating and is good. In the past he had issues renting skates due to his size so he would have to watch on the sidelines. He kept talking about it and I went to work and found a company that did not only a good job but handled the order with care from order to delivery. He opened that box and felt so seen. Contrary to poplar belief everyone wants to be heard and seen.
All it took was listening. One year my husband got me set of My Little Pony toys. Yes, he like I gifted him more than skates. I got the things that I liked but he heard of a specific pony that I didn’t get as a child and found it for me. Listening and thinking outside of the box is key. There is an art of gifting. Don’t simply get things just so they can open a gift under the tree. Put some thought into it.
Other suggestions
- Give towards your person’s business
- Take a trip to their childhood home
- Reunite them with a long lost friend
- A dream pet that fits your lifestyle and budget
Is Gift Cards a thing with your Person?
Yes, there’s nothing wrong with gift cards. For instance, my husband gets me quite a few gift cards to at least 3 of my favorite stores. This ensures that I get what I want as he knows I love the after Christmas sells. He does in true faith get me plenty to open on the day too. I am like a big kid I love boxes like the next person. So, if you are gifting a gift card make it in addition to something to open. Give them an amount that you can afford. Allow them the freedom to use them as they see fit.
Vacations and Staycations
As I stated earlier taking a trip with your person is a great gift. I saw one husband that decorated the house in addition to the Christmas decorations in things that they would see and do on their vacation that he gifted. He also gifted his wife things like new suitcases, clothes, and more to use. The creativity needs to be there. Go where you both will enjoy. I like places that are hot, and my husband wants to go to places that allow you to explore. We combine our wants and meet in the middle.
If you are going on a staycation, consider what you want to do. For instance, I like more high-end hotels and so does my husband. The hotel needs to have a full restaurant, if possible, swimming pool or jacuzzi. So, when we select a hotel, we are passionate that it has many of the items that we both like. We don’t simply just book a hotel near us and keep moving.
Get to know your person. If they like gadgets get them. I gifted my husband his last Apple iPad. He doesn’t get one every year, but I like to upgrade them every few years. They are what he likes, and I know he will use it well. If your person is into self-care like me, my husband fills my stockings with things like fragrances, masks, shower tablets, and more. Don’t stress. Do not also do what others are doing if it doesn’t fit your style and budget. Do what works for you and them.
Philadelphia Restaurant or Holiday Experiences to try
- Positano Coast
- Ritz Carlton pink room pop up
- White Elephant Pop Up
- Christmas Village
- Rivers Casino-Martorano’s Prime
- Aleksander
- Steak 48
- Ocean Prime
- Loch Bar
- Fork
Top Romantic Hotels
- Sofitel
- Kimpton Hotel Monaco
- Four Seasons
- The Logan Hotel
- Guild House
