10 Gifts Guys Actually Want For Valentine's Day
I know I am not the only one who has a challenging time shopping for her man. I love giving intentional gifts, but I have to try very hard to do so. My husband has a pretty specific set of hobbies and I have a limited scope of them. For instance, my husband is an avid cyclist. He reads the magazines, has the tight shorty shorts for road biking, wears that zip up jersey with the pockets and says words like, shred and righteous when he is headed to the trails. I don't know what gadget he needs next unless I ask my brother-in-law. It is just as hard for me to pick out a "fork" for his bike as it would be for him to pick out a curling iron for me. So since we have 13 days left ladies, I have compiled a great list of practical gifts that he will actually use.
1.) MEN'S BEARD GROOMING KIT : TEXAS BEARD COMPANY
One year for Christmas I got my husband something that I thought was really awesome and just knew he would love it. Well, right before he opened my gift, he opened a gift from his dad which was a beard trimmer and grooming kit. He freaked out and went nuts over this beard stuff then gave me some sympathy reaction for my second place gift. All to say, guys eat this stuff up...or at least mine does. Texas Beard Company keeps the bearded man in your life well groomed. On top of that, when I go in for a kiss, I would rather Justin's beard smell like he had just wrangled a pine tree out of the woods with his bare hands rather than hot sauce and chicken wings. Anybody out there know what I'm talking about???
2.) A MEN'S MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION : THE GIFT THAT GIVES ALL YEAR LONG
This is a great idea because its something that will engage his mind and interests all year long. When men come home from work they need a minute to change gears. Most men have to do this to some degree, so why not put some thought into how that happens each day? There are TONS of magazine subscriptions for all kinds of things. Does your husband tinker? Is he a little bit nerdy? Is he an athlete? Does he like crunching numbers? Is he the hunting type? www.Magazines.com has a large list to shop through, and I am most certain you can find something your beau will enjoy. Here are just a few:
- Men's Health Magazine
- National Geographic Traveler
- ESPN Magazine
- American Survival Guide (My personal favorite)
- Men's Journal
- Field & Stream
- Popular Sience
- Cycling Magazine
3.) MEN'S TOILETRY TRAVEL BAG
We travel often, so Justin's toiletry bag has a lot of miles on it. Have you ever tried to shop for one of these bags...? I have, and I had to go all over town to 5 different stores just to find one that didn't have pink all over it. Whether he goes on a business trip or headed overseas, He has to have his man stuff all in one space. This canvas bag from The Wild Marshmallow does all of that! Everything is hand made and I really like the large zipper pull. It is a good size and the coloring is the perfect blend of masculine style and rugged appeal.
4.) HIT UP A BREWERY FOR A BEER TASTING
I love giving gifts, but giving the gift of experience is at the top of my gift meter. Taking your beer loving guy out on a man date will definitely be fun for him! There are breweries all across the U.S. and one close to my neck of the woods is the Saint Arnold Brewery in Houston, Texas. You can take a tour free of charge during the week with food and drinks on the house. Or if you want to venture out on a Saturday, admission is $10, which covers a souvenir glass and (4) 8oz samples of house brew.
5.) A GOOD STEAK DINNER
A good meal is the way to a man's heart...or so they say. I, for myself, know this to be quite true. My husband loves coming home to a meal he doesn't have to put together, but a steak dinner would put it over the edge. Since it is our Valentine's Day too ladies, I say we go out and let someone else do the cooking. We treat ourselves to Ruth's Chris Steakhouse for special occasions because the steaks are SO FREAKING GOOD! Did you even know that a steak could melt in your mouth??
6.) MENS ROBE & SLIPPERS
Yes this is not a romantic gift, but a nice fleece robe or slippers is a gift of value. All the men I know, LOVE their slippers. My husband wears his all the time and my brother-in-law is fancy with his UGG Men's slippers. It is the little things in life and knowing you have a nice comfy something to put on as soon as you get out of bed and stumble to the coffee pot is nice. It shows that you care about those small things that may go unnoticed. This gift would probably rank #1 for my guy.
7.) PERSONALIZED LAPTOP COVER
Everyone I know has a MAC laptop whether it be AIR, PRO or BOOK. Sometimes my dad and I get our laptops mixed up because we both have the same one. Since we all have these beautiful Apple products, we should personalize them according to our tastes. I love ALL the skins at Clique Shops but for a man who always has his computer in tow, nice wood grain would be a very understated upgrade. Sidetone, check out the abalone cover [Insert emoji with heart shaped eyes here] - It is beautiful!! Okay now, back to the men. This cover is priced right at $30, but goes up from there it if you decide to do cover the bottom and interior.
Like I said earlier, we travel a lot. We take monthly trips away for the weekend so a suitcase is sometimes not necessary. Since we travel each month, a bag of good quality is a must. This bag is a sturdy option! Made of high grade canvas, it is sure to get you through many years of weekend trips to the lake or a spur of the moment camping trip. What if you planned a weekend away and then gave him this bag and said, "go pack" ? It comes in Steele Grey, Denim, and Chestnut Brown and priced at $65.
9.) GIFT CARDS : BARNES & NOBLE | AMAZON | MOVIE THEATRE
Gift cards are a great because it allows that person the freedom to choose what they want, at a time that it is convenient for them. This is also great if your husband has a hobby that you know nothing about (for me, that would be cycling). This shows them that you thought enough about them to let them pick. This is one of my favorite presents to receive because I get the fun of shopping and picking out something that I love. On a selfish note, the movie theatre gift card idea is awesome because you get to do it together!
10.) COPPER PAN
You are probably wondering what this is, because I was wondering myself. I asked my dad, "what's a practical gift that you would love to get for Valentine's Day" ? His answer was "That Copper Pan with the deep friar option." Apparently you can melt plastic in this pan and it simply won't stick. This is an odd gift, yes. But Men like weird odds and ends that they will actually use... and this is one of them. Lucky for my mom, all she has to do is head on down to the As Seen On TV aisle - You are welcome!
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