Once Again My Homie Doing the Man Labor While the Wife Is Always on the Lookout

It's a known fact that men are the worst to shop for.  I mean, what do you give the man who has everything?  This question has stumped women for centuries.  TV commercials and magazine ads will tell you cologne, a sweater, a tie….  But I dare say it's toothpicks in jar.

Let me explain.

My Father-in-law loves to relax after a meal with a toothpick in his teeth.  On our family cruise this past May, I remember excitedly grabbing a toothpick for him on the way out of the dining room, only to find he had already acquired one.  It's like he has a honing device for toothpicks.  It was then that the idea first sparked in my mind to make him a toothpick holder for Father's Day.  I figured he should have access to toothpicks at all times…and a jar overflowing with toothpicks for his office desk seemed to fit the bill.

The cowboy-theme was Mark's idea.  My FIL rocks a cowboy hat and boots with the moxie of John Wayne.  And my sweet MIL is quite the cowgirl herself.  What a pair they make!  (In these photos, they're not dressed for a costume party…this is how they enjoy dressing up for church…in Florida!  Isn't that so cool?)

So, with the help of a free Playbill font from FontSpace, I whipped up some vinyl labels on my Silhouette, slapped them onto a small jar I picked up at Hobby Lobby, and glued on a black leather cord using the Amazing E6000 for some added flair of the wild wild west.

Here's how "A Cowboy's Toothpick Holder" turned out:

In case you thought they were yours….

A friendly reminder.

Sunday afternoon, around the dinner table at my in-laws' home, I felt like a giddy little girl watching my FIL unwrap the tissue paper encasing his gift.  With eyes closed, he felt the jar, trying to guess what it was.  Of course, he had no idea.  How could he?  This is the first cowboy-themed toothpick holder that I've ever seen!  And from his surprised reaction, I could tell it was the first one he had ever seen, too.  {He's a fan.}

Back to the Question:

So, what do you give the man who has everything?

Something just for him.  Not cologne, or a sweater, or a tie (though don't get me wrong…I still get those in a pinch).  But I've learned that you don't have to spend big bucks to show him you care.  In fact, I think some of the most meaningful gifts don't cost much at all.  Those gifts say, "I know you have an affinity for toothpicks.  And cowboy boots.  And I'm going to celebrate those two affinities in a gift made just for you."  Those gifts say shout, "I love you."

A Tip

Oftentimes, the week or days before a birthday or Father's Day feel too late to come up with a creative gift idea, but if you've got a list of ideas to pull from, you'll have no trouble at all.

So, I suggest keeping a running list of gift ideas for the men (and women!) in your life.  That way, when that spark of inspiration strikes you about making a toothpick holder or a punny t-shirt, you have a place to record it before it flies away.  I've been doing this for over a year now, and it has proved useful onmanyoccasions.

Here's a snapshot of my list, which I keep in my "Stickies" program on my Mac.  This is what it actually looks like (minus the blurring out and purple circles, of course).  I keep it minimized to keep a certain husband from seeing it…though guessing he is going to read this post eventually, I might have to come up with another top secret location.  {Dope!}

Punny T-Shirt in Action

And remember the punny t-shirt I made for my Dad for Father's Day?  You may not remember because it was ages ago (a first for me).  Well, I thought I'd give y'all the update that he l-o-v-e-d it, just his smile in this photo my Mom texted me suggests.  He wore it all day on Sunday.

Father's Day 2013

Your turn!

Dear reader, I want to hear your response to the question, "What do you give the man who has everything?" What gifts have you given to the men in your life (little men included) that were particular and unique to them…like the cowboy-themed toothpick holder was to my FIL!  Do share your stories in the comments below.  I'm curious to know!

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Source: https://www.thinkingcloset.com/2013/06/18/what-do-you-give-the-man-who-has-everything/

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