Christmas Gifts for Men

Since my post the other day - Christmas Gifts for Women - I decided that the men {fathers, husbands, brothers, nephews, etc.} should have a post all their own, or rather, a post on what to get them anyway. This post, unlike the one on women's gifts, will mostly be ideas and random pictures along with what I'm doing for my husband this year. We currently haven't put our heads together to figure out what to make and sale for men. *winks*

One of the standard things to get a man for just about any occasion is something that has anything to do with sugar and/or eating. So, a box of chocolates is always a safe buy - just don't get coconut if the guy you're buying for is anything like mine who hates coconut. More for me! Another neat idea is to get two or three different kinds of his favorite candy and pour them into a good sized jar, evenly mixing them {he can have the leftovers after Christmas} and tie a ribbon around the neck of the jar. That'd look snug and inviting under the tree, don't ya think? Note: if you have small children, maybe you should wrap the jar before sticking it under the tree - just in case. *winks*

Yes, alcohol is another fairly standard present. Still, who can go wrong with a bottle of champagne or wine? Perhaps he has always wanted to try some of the harder stuff - treating him to a small bottle of brandy or port would make a good impression on him. Don't get him an eighteen pack of his favorite beer - he can do that himself later on. If alcohol isn't his {or your} thing, try a different flavor of sparkling cider you haven't tried yet, an unusual flavor of soda or some exotic coffee adorn with tri-colored ribbons and a new mug.    

A slightly less standard gift idea for a guy, be it brother, husband, father, that kid three doors down, etc. is a puppy. Ya know they're called man's best friend for a reason, right? If your husband is an outdoors man or you own a fair piece of land, get him a big dog such as a collie, Labrador {pictured}, or German shepherd. Or, if he's like my dad and husband, a wrinkly little pug, bulldog or Boston terrier would be ideal. They could keep each other company watching the football game while you're off shopping.

Another creative line of unique ideas is a box of hearts with a note written on each heart. Just picture a rain of colorful paper hearts all over your man on Christmas morning. If he's as sensitive and sweet as my husband, he'll greatly appreciate this type of gift. Last Christmas I wrote my husband a completely original unique poem and hand decorated it with colored pencils and ink pens. I think my gingerbread men came out funny but he adored it. For his birthday I got a nice "manly" journal and copied down every single poem I'd written for or about him in the previous months {his birthday is in April} with two or three new ones he hadn't read yet. He was touched with this gift and still has the journal in a safe place on the bookshelf. If poems aren't your thing, you could always copy down the lyrics from his favorite song, get a new iPod or MP3 player and compile a playlist of his favorite songs, or get him his favorite show or movie on DVD that he's been wanting for awhile.

This year for Christmas I'm getting my husband {among other things} a new wallet. He already knows this so I can post about it here. He's been in need of a new wallet for several months now. His old sturdy wallet has two pockets for bills - a feature he wanted in his replacement wallet. So I shopped around and found several on Amazon. The one I finally decided on has the required two bill folds, with picture windows {he has a thing for pictures}, and plenty of card slots. The final verdict of whether he likes it or not will come on Christmas Day when he sees it for the first time. Find out what your man needs, be it new gloves, a wallet, new phone case, etc. and then shop around till you find the right price and requirements.

Tools are overrated in my opinion; if a guy needs a new tool he'll make it known or he'll go out and get it himself. My husband has made it known he wants a hand-plainer. He doesn't get one this Christmas cause I have no idea how to go about getting it without his help, and he doesn't have any wood to play with anyway. For awhile, my siblings would themselves and our dad lots of tape measures {my dad goes through those like you wouldn't believe} and cool looking flashlights that mysteriously disappear about three weeks after Christmas. Guys like gadgets though so cool looking flashlights, things with buttons, and noise makers with flashing lights are always welcome. You could also give him an electric toothbrush - maybe that teenage son would be more inclined to use it than a regular toothbrush. Next up on my to-get-for-husband-list is a wooden pen. He just doesn't know if it'll be for his birthday or Christmas or anniversary. Muhahaha!

I hope this post has aided you in the daunting task of what to get the men in your life. At my parents' store, BigBear Store and Nursery, we don't have wallets and hand-planers but we do have a large variety of seasonings for the men who love to cook, gift baskets that are easily customizable, and several gadgets in the form of plant shears, snippers, piping gadgets {guys go crazy when they see those}, and thermometers. So come on by and pay us a visit this Christmas season!

Merry Christmas ya all!