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Dec 08

THE BEST CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS FOR THE HARD-TO-BUY-FOR HUSBAND

Dec 08

Here's a collection of some of the best Christmas gift ideas for the hard-to-buy-for husband.

Okay, raise your hand if your husband is hard to buy for. Yeah, I thought so. You’re right there with me, aren’t you? Your husband doesn’t have a lot of hobbies, has everything he needs or everything he wants is like, $500. I hear you! Mr. Maven tends to buy his own gifts throughout the year. If he sees something he really wants or needs, he buys it. He’s not breaking the bank or anything, but let’s just say Amazon loves us! 😉 So, today I’ve rounded up the best Christmas gift ideas for the hard-to-buy-for husband or man in your life.

1. THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

A collection of the best Christmas gift ideas for hard-to-buy-for Husbands

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN

 If you’re not familiar with thedatingdivas.com, you’re missing out! They have some of the best ideas to keep the fun and excitement in your marriage. Two years ago, I clicked on their 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN and knew I’d hit the jackpot in terms of hubby gifts. I used the awesome printables that they provide free of charge to go with this gift, but used my own ideas in terms of the actual gifts themselves. It was a huge hit with Mr. Maven. He looked forward to getting a little something each day. (I’m doing this again this year-shhhh)

2. A MASSAGE

Having a hard time shopping for your hubby's Christmas gifts? Look no further. Here are some of my best Christmas gift ideas for hard-to-buy-for husbands.

Who doesn’t love a massage? It’s a whole hour of pure relaxation and there’s no talking required. This is a win-win for most men. Plus, it’s a great way to show your appreciation for all the hard work he does each day to provide for you and your family. Amazon offers Spafinder gift cards that you can load with whatever amount you choose and can be used at 25,000 spas.  Or, to make buying a massage more economical, I highly recommend Groupon. In the summer, I was able to buy two hour-long massages for $40. That’s less than the price of one.

3. _________ OF THE MONTH CLUB

 

Looking for the perfect gift for your hard-to-buy-for husband this season? Look no further.

Mr. Maven LOVES cheese. I mean, like, he could eat it breakfast, lunch and dinner and not be sick of it-ever! I like it too-we’re kind of a cheesy household 😉 So, last year in my quest for creativity and something my Honey might actually enjoy, I thought of the cliche “cheese of the month club”. This could work for any food or interest your husband has. Maybe he likes soda, books or jerky. However, instead of buying an over-priced membership from some late night informercial (did that pop-up in anyone’s head?), create the gift certificate yourself by using a free online template. Customize it to whatever it is that your husband loves and your budget can accommodate. This was probably Mr. Maven’s favorite gift of all time!

4. CAR DETAILING GIFT CERTIFICATE

Looking for the perfect gift for your hard-to-buy-for husband this season? Look no further.

If your guy has an old clunker and doesn’t care about his car, then maybe this one isn’t for you. On the other hand, if your guy baby’s his car, names it and talks to it like it’s a person…well, then, you’ve hit the jackpot of ideas with this one. (not that Mr.Maven does this 😉 Most detailing places have Christmas deals going on right now, so it’s a great time to buy a gift certificate. I don’t know about you, but my poor car often gets neglected inside because the only time I think about cleaning it is…when I’m inside!

5. MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION

Looking for the perfect gift for your hard-to-buy-for husband this season? Look no further.

Even if your man isn’t a reader, this one can still make a great gift. Because he may not be a reader, but I bet you $5 he reads in the bathroom. Oh yes, we all do it, and hey, why not give him something new to read each month? A magazine subscription will give him something to look forward to while he does his “business”. Besides, I bet he’s sick of all the Real Simple and BHG articles by now anyways. (you know you have a few of those in the bathroom).

6. WEEKEND GETAWAY

Looking for the perfect gift for your hard-to-buy-for husband this season? Look no further.

The best gift to give you husband is time with you. Isn’t that really what he loves the most and the reason he married you in the first place? He loves you and loves spending time together. A weekend getaway is the perfect fit. You don’t have to go at Christmas time. In fact, it would be cheaper to plan the getaway for an off-season month, which will vary depending on where you’re going. Check out a quiet bed and breakfast in the country, or maybe a swanky hotel in the city if that’s more his speed. Whichever you choose, make sure to check places like Groupon for great deals. Or an even better alternative is to find a friend who has a cabin or vacation home and is willing to lend it to you cheaply (or free) during those less-busy months.

7. FOOD

Looking for the perfect gift for your hard-to-buy-for husband this season? Look no further.

You know the saying-the way to a man’s heart…FOOD! Maybe it’s a gift card for his favorite restaurant or a homemade gift basket full of all of his favorite snack foods. Whichever way you go, you can’t lose with this gift. Now, Mr. Maven is not a foodie. I mean, he enjoys really good food, but he’ll also eat anything that’s put in front of him. That being said, he loves hot sauce and candy (and cheese, as you already found out). He would be super-stoked to get a basket full of that. Be creative with this one. Put a gift card in the middle of the homemade gift basket. Or put all of his favorite foods inside a hat of his favorite sports team or in a new bag for work.

8. AN EXPERIENCE

Looking for the perfect gift for your hard-to-buy-for husband this season? Look no further.

I don’t know about you, but one of the things that I dislike about exchanging gifts at Christmas is all the clutter that is left. An experience gift is a ideal way to combat that problem. There isn’t “stuff” to deal with if you give this kind of gift. Plus, the experience gifts are often the gifts we remember the most. So, maybe your husband loves to golf, ski, workout or enjoys the theater. Give him a round of golf, a pass to the gym or tickets to a local theater. Gear the experience to your budget and again, get creative. If you know someone who can get you a discount on that gym pass, then go for it. The best part about this sort of gift is that you may get to enjoy his gift with him.

9. LOVE COUPONS

Looking for the perfect gift for your hard-to-buy-for husband this season? Look no further.

I’ve done this before and let me tell you, it was well-received! Now, before you start thinking these coupons have to be bedroom-inspired, let me tell you they aren’t (although, they could be if you wanted). These will all be coupons from you to him, so think simple: a foot-rub, watching his movie choice instead of yours, making his favorite dinner, taking out the trash for him or breakfast in bed. The possibilities are endless with this one. These are “love coupons” so they will be different for everyone and will be customized to how your husband feels loved. This is the perfect gift if your budget is tight and even if it isn’t, he’ll love it.

10. AMAZON GIFT CARD


Best gift for a husband who’s hard to buy for?  The one he can pick out himself! Amazon gift cards are great because Amazon has just about everything, free shipping on many items and easy returns.

I hope you liked my gift ideas for the hard-to-buy-for husband and they help if you’re having trouble picking out the perfect gift for your husband this Christmas. I’ve tried most of them and have been met with lots of smiles and snuggles. I promise I wouldn’t tell you to give something that backfired for me. That said, I’m pretty confident that whatever you choose for him he’s going to love because it’s from you.

Good luck shopping, ladies! If you choose one of these ideas, please let me know how it turns out and shoot me a picture if you take one.

Merry Christmas!

(*Note: The links in this post are Amazon affiliate links, which means I get a little kickback if you buy something through that link. No cost to you, but it does help me to be able to continue creating awesome posts)

Posted by Lauren Leave a Comment
Filed Under: Gifts

Sep 16

4 SUREFIRE WAYS TO MAKE YOUR CHILD’S BIRTHDAY MEMORABLE

Sep 16

Looking for ways to make your child's birthday special? Check out these 4 easy ways.

Years ago, my husband and I decided that we wanted to change how we were celebrating birthdays and Christmas in our home. Birthdays were always fun; with a party and one or two presents from Mom and Dad, but never anything big. We tended to buy the “bigger” gifts for Christmas.

Christmas had become all about, “How many presents are under the tree for me?” and less about the birth of the Savior, Jesus Christ.

After some thought, we decided to make a switch. Big birthdays to celebrate our kids! A day just about them, to let them know how grateful we are that they are a part of our family. Christmas would be small; just one meaningful gift from us to them.

So, how did we do this? We created some fun traditions that our kids look forward to each year.

Breakfast in Bed

Birthday Traditions

Usually the week before their birthday, I find out what they’d like for breakfast. Frequently, the request is for crepes with whipped cream and berries (probably because I forget to make them the rest of the year!). But we’ve also had breakfast burritos, puffy oven pancakes with buttermilk syrup and pop tarts. I get up early and my other two children help me make and assemble breakfast on a tray, which we take to the birthday child for breakfast in bed. We serenade them with “Happy Birthday” as we enter, in our most terrible beautiful singing voices. The rest of us, sit on the floor and join the birthday child in eating their yummy breakfast of choice!

Presents after breakfast

Birthday Traditions

After the yummy breakfast, we bring in the gifts. Usually, there are about four gifts. I don’t necessarily plan to buy four gifts, it just ends up that way. I think it’s fun to open a bunch of presents and be spoiled once a year. It doesn’t always matter what’s inside. Sometimes it’s just about the opening! We try and get them things off of their amazon wish list that they keep throughout the year. I also keep a running list of gift ideas for each child in my phone. As they mention something they really want, I jot it down.

Themed Parties

Themed Birthday Party

We have a rule that determines the number of party guests that can be invited. If they’re turning seven, they can invite seven kids for example. However, we cap the guest list at eight children. With my three kids and eight others, that’s more than enough for this only child (me!) to handle! I love doing a themed party with decorations, cupcakes and games. The kids really enjoy it and the games and activities keep everyone occupied. I won’t lie-this is a bit of work. It takes some planning and lots of pinterest surfing (that’s the fun part), but in the end, it’s all worth it. In the past, I’ve done a puppy party, spy party, halloween-themed party, garden party, spa party and more.

Pick Your Dinner and Cake

Burger and Fries

In addition to choosing what they have for breakfast, I let the kids pick the menu for dinner. Yes, they’re getting spoiled, but it’s only one day a year. Usually, their request is something like mac n cheese, hot dogs or burritos. Easy peasy! The odd time they want to go out for dinner, but it’s typically a request for Denny’s or Sonic, which are pretty cheap. The best part is that if we go out, I don’t have to clean up!

Then comes dessert! My favorite =) I prefer to make cupcakes, but sometimes they really want cake. This past year, K wanted a key lime cheesecake. I found a copycat cheesecake factory recipe that was to die for!

Take Lots of Photos

Birthday Traditions

I know, this is a given. Sometimes though, in the midst of all the celebrating, it’s easy to forget to take pictures of the amazing day you’ve created. Not only is it great to have photos to send to relatives or get inspired for future events, but your kids will love looking back on the fun birthday memories they’ve formed from year to year.

These are just a few simple birthday traditions to your make your child’s special day one to remember, and make them feel like a king or queen for the day. I don’t know about you, but that’s all I want on my birthday! Good food, some gifts to open and relaxing time with my family. A perfect day in my book. Well, as long as chocolate is involved in there somewhere.

What does your family do to make birthdays memorable? Do you have some of the same traditions?
 photo 25F5B747D7043C1592C3A421F716126A_zps0mi2bxex.png

Posted by Lauren Leave a Comment
Filed Under: Gifts, Parenting Tagged: birthdays, kids, traditions

I’m Lauren, the wife, mother of three and homemaker behind One Haven Maven. I love dark chocolate, old movies and all things pretty! Stick around for a while and enjoy mouth-watering recipes, ideas to help you strengthen your family and discover some easy ways to make your house a home.
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Day in the Life Vlog: Laundry+Cleaning+Cupcakes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9zN8RXPYHI&t=1s
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