Friends, we get it. Dudes, we hear you. The one person that is usually hard for is the mom, sister, aunt, daughter, girlfriend, or wife. It’s the last minute “I just don’t know what she would like”. The truth is, she has been telling you little things all throughout the year but somehow, we have missed the notes section of the phone or the storage in that sweet head of yours. I get it. I am going to share with you the absolute no’s and what should be a yes in that category.
- The foot/spa bath. You know, the one you find up toward the front of the store in the same isle as the prepackaged “self-care” items. That’s a no. Think of the last time she actually had the time to sit down, uninterrupted to have a “foot spa” like the sweet lady on the box….right, never. She can’t even go to the bathroom in peace. Instead, purchase her the time away from the home to take care of those feet with a pedicure at a local salon.
- Speaking of those “self-care” prepackages…just, no. Your only other option is to show up at Sephora and Ulta and purchase her a signature scent and yet again, send her to the salon for the love.
- Head massager or chair massager. Another nope. Book that woman a series of once a month massage instead.
- Lingerie. My dudes, when she said “I wish you were more romantic” 1000 times during the year, this is not what she meant. I can assure you. Book a place for some alone time and show her how special she is. Oh, and let that be the catalyst to you keeping it up all year long with random flowers and special other things.
- Car cleaning products. Book that car she has for a cleaning from someone else. She spends her days working and cleaning the house, she doesn’t need to be doing that too. If money is tight, spring for using your elbow grease. Trust me, it’s the thoughtfulness that gets you points here.
- Home cleaning products. What sis needs here is a housekeeper, not your tastefulness in how well you pick out floor wash. Or you can gift her a “night off” and you can clean for her.
- Gym membership. This one is a toss-up. I know a lot of women (including myself) who don’t mind getting exercise equipment, clothing, shoes, or memberships for this. However, I know this is not the case for everyone. The alternative to this? A special place you can take her to hike or to enjoy the outdoors together.
- Self-help books. I do not care if it is her favorite Rachel Hollis book, journal, blah blah blah. DO NOT purchase her a book. Instead, write her a love letter, build her a book on your relationship with her and genuinely share with her in some way how much she means to you. That is more than any self-help book will provide her.
- Gift card to the same store she grocery shops. This lady will spend that money on her family before she spends it on herself. Instead, select a card to a local specialty shop where she will have to pick something just for herself.
- A dog or cat. This is a hard no for many reasons. Picking a dog or cat is a very personal choice and there is an unspeakable bonding moment that happens between a new owner and its animal. Often that can be missed this way. In addition, unless she is the one seeking for a furry friend, chances are, she isn’t ready for one so the responsibility of caring for it shouldn’t not be imposed when one is not ready. Instead, sponsor an animal at the local shelter in her name.
Gifting for a woman isn’t hard, it just takes practice knowing when she mentions things throughout the year if they are things she really wants or if it’s just something she needs that you could be helping her with anyway.
‘Tis the Season!
all things kal 
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