15 Impressive Gifts for a Man
1. Bake him his favorite dessert (cookies, brownies, cake etc)
-The key is to find out exactly what his favorite is. If he like chocolate chip, don't make him peanut butter.
2. Vamp up the romance (chocolate dipped strawberries and a bottle of red wine)
-Guys are always the ones with the burden of creating a romantic mood, contribute one time and he will not forget it.
3. Wear his favorite color
-It sounds crazy but men are visual and if he likes white or red then find an awesome dress in that color and work it demurely as if you just happened to accidentally buy it. I knew a guy that loved the 50s pin-up style so if I was his girlfriend (we never dated) I would have sported some polka dots and red lipstick just for him.
4. Shave your legs to perfection
-Exfoliate those babies and get every last stubble. Then slather on you richest lotion, add a touch of baby oil and very casually brush this piece of heaven by his hand or leg. Sometimes the simple things are the best.
5. Apply a shade of red lipstick and leave a big fat kiss mark on his side view mirror
-Every time he changes lanes he will be thinking of you. Make sure that you do it in secret so that he doesn't see you. Say nothing and wait for him to find it to get his reaction. It helps if you have somewhat full lips.
6. Take him to see his favorite sports team
-You may have to plan this one out. If he loves an east-coast team then wait until they play the local team and buy tickets specifically for that game. Impressive gifts sometimes take thought and planning. Men love sports so give the people what they want!
7. Speaking of Sports: Buy him a pint glass with his favorite team logo or mascot
-You can find some amazing things online.
8. The Hobby Gift
-If he loves video games, even if you hate them, buy him one. You may need to recruit my gamer brother for advice on this one. Does he run? New shoes. Golf? Golf balls. Techie? Tech-gadget. It doesn't have to be expensive. This gift says that I am attentive and I support what you do. Think subtle or custom and always unexpected to make this one wow him. Don't wait for a holiday or special occasion. Give it to him on a wednesday. He will love you forever.
9. Picnic
-Packed with ALL his favorite food. This requires extensive investigation. Make sure that if you are making sandwiches that you know what kind of bread and meat he likes. Does he hate mayo and love mustard? The idea is the customize it to him entirely, every detail and every course. Pick a cool spot like the highest point for a great view, the beach or the mountains for a snow picnic! Years later I still have guys raving to me about that picnic I took them on. It's a number one stunner....satisfaction guaranteed.
10. The T-shirt
-Buy a t-shirt and take it to your local printing company. All sports teams and high school cliques use them. Have his last name put across the back like a sports jersey. Find out what his number was in sports without being too obvious about it and put his number under his name. If he plays soccer, put a soccer ball patch on the sleeve etc. This gift is an ego-stoker and let's be honest who doesn't want to feel like they have their own personal fan club from time to time. The reveal moment needs to be really low-key to keep from coming off as creepy. Don't wear it in front of his friends of parents. It should a personal joke between you and him, a cute private moment or in a public setting around strangers that have no clue.
11. Impromptu Present
-This should be something small. I used to stop by the liquor store and pick up a Snickers Ice Cream bar for my boyfriend just because. Sometimes when I made a boyfriend stop endlessly at Starbucks for me, he would wait in the car and I would come back with his favorite....a chocolate chip cookie. The element of surprise is the most important. A random gift is often times more memorable then what you gave them on their birthday when they were expecting to get something. A little treat or something you thought was nice in the store like a belt will suffice because giving someone a belt for Christmas is kind of lame, but if they weren't expecting it, you will knock their socks off.
12. Borrow his car and fill it up with Gas
-Ok, I have never done this one and it just came to me but I am surely going to try it out! I can only imagine what I would think if someone did this for me. Major kudos! Again, don't say anything. If you tell them what you did and try to get praise for it, you have ruined the gift. Make sure that you have a legitimate reason to borrow the car so he doesn't suspect anything or else wait until the occasion arises spontaneously. If you think he is really so dense not to notice you could always leave a little note behind the gas tank door that reads "because I love you."
13. Online Photo Scrapbook
Compile all of your pictures together and go on one of the many internet scrapbook sites to make an album. Customize it with captions, inside jokes, quotes from that day etc. The more personal the better. Add your favorite song. Give him a card that is blank on the inside with just the link. Damn you're good.
14. Make him Dinner
Make sure you find out what he likes first and practice before you do it, especially if cooking is not your strong suit. Pay attention to the details. It's all in the details! The glasses, table setting, presentation are all important. You want to wow him not just feed him. You are showing effort and showing off your Suzie Homemaker Skillz. Do it up and do it big. Think linens and classy but in my opinion don't try to get all romantic. Candles kind of cheese it up in my opinion. You're going for classy restaurant atmosphere. If you want romance, you can always get close and share a dessert. Sharing is so sexy.
15. Use your talents
If you can sing, sing him a song. Choose lyrics that reflect your feelings for him. If you play an instrument, write him a personalized melody and tell him why it sounds the way it does or what it reminds you of. If you can draw, paint, sculpt, write calligraphy, craft or whatever else then make him something. It can be silly and ridiculous or elegant and functional. Whatever it is, it will show effort and remind him of you.
Hopefully by now you are noticing a trend. The key elements are surprise and customization. Have a mini brain storm session with a creative friend and write down all of his activities, hobbies, preferences and interests. You can easily use the list to come up with your own ideas. Your attitude should be to constantly try and out-do yourself. Don't repeat the same things over and over. Mix it up, keep it fresh and take my word for it, you will keep him impressed.
