What Women Really Want For Christmas

OK, so I've been noticing a lot of silliness on some websites (I won't name any names, but one rhymes with Rahoo) regarding what women really want for Christmas. These articles are aimed at clueless husbands, boyfriends, brothers, fathers, grandfathers, sons, etc. Let's face it, at this time of year, men are desperate to figure out the best Christmas gifts to purchase for females in their lives. Some guys are willing to take advice some totally ridiculous articles. Fellows, I am here to help you out.

Many of the articles I've seen online are just advertisements disguised as being helpful. There is a long list of items women supposedly want for Christmas and links for your to buy these items. Guess what? I've been reviewing these "great" gift ideas and most of the ideas are not so great at all.

In one article, the items listed were mostly just expensive makeup gift sets. I don't know about anyone else, but I don't trust any man to buy the right colors for my skin tone. It is also silly for a man to spend plenty of money on makeup when it might not be the right brand or color. Women are picky about their makeup! Please guys, don't listen to that advice. Unless the lady in your life has given you specific brand names, colors, and store locations to make this purchase, don't bother with buying her makeup. Here is some real advice about what women really want for Christmas.

Yes, women still like to receive jewelry as a gift. It helps if you know the woman pretty well to determine what type of jewelry to purchase. For instance, some women like simple jewelry. Just a plain chain necklace with a gold heart will be enough. For other women, they might like something that really stands out. Still, there are some women that don't feel comfortable wearing expensive jewelry. You could buy her a pretty pair of earrings for $20 and she would be perfectly happy.

When in doubt, you can do something absolutely crazy... ask her what she likes! Take her shopping one day and "accidentally" walk into the jewelry department with her. Pay attention to what she says is pretty, what she says she would never wear, what she thinks is too expensive, etc. She might even say she doesn't like jewelry and you can cross that off the list for potential presents you can buy her. When in doubt, something simple and modest is always a sweet gesture. Then take notice as to how much she wears it and if she seems to really like it. You can remember that for future presents.

I would not recommend buying a gift card as the only gift for your favorite lady in your life, but it is a nice stocking stuffer idea. The key to buying a gift card someone will really like is finding out what store she likes the most. This is especially the case if she always talks about loving a particular store, but she can't afford to shop there as much as she wants.

I would recommend going to the store to buy the gift card and picking up a small item at the store at the same time. You can include the gift card along with the small gift. For instance, if she enjoys shopping at New York and Company, you can buy a pretty scarf and glove set (they happen to be only $10 on sale right now) and a gift card. Wrap both the card and scarf and glove set together in one package or simply put both in a pretty gift bag. I would also recommend not purchasing clothes with sizes unless she has specifically directed you to do so. Stick to something small and cute, such as gloves, scarves, jewelry, watches, socks, hats, or something else she will enjoy. Buying the wrong size for a sweater might potentially turn into a fight if you buy a small gal an extra large, and you don't want that!

Some people will say this is a generic gift, but the fact is, many women still love them. Bath and Body Works, The Body Shop, Sephora, and a number of other stores sell bath gift sets. You can get items such as shower gels, soap, lotions, bath bombs, bath salt, bubble bath, sponges, body spray, shampoos, conditioner, lip gloss, and more in a bath set. It is fun to personalize the gift set by finding one with a lot of items she would enjoy. Also, it is a great idea to get a scent she really likes. If you aren't sure about a favorite scent, check out her shower gels in her bathroom or look for lotion in her home or office.

A cute way to present the gift is to create your own gift basket with favorite bath items and perhaps some candles or perfume. This is much nicer than purchasing one already created at the store. You can also put everything in a pretty Christmas gift bag. The presentation of the gift can sometimes be just as important as the gift. It never hurts to add a gift card to a set like this as well!

In many situations, some women are not that interested in physical items. The gift of time is a better Christmas present. If your grandmother is not able to get around as much, why not offer to make some repairs in her home? Perhaps she'd simply like to spend time with you once a week. Give her a "coupon" book full of "offers" she might like. Get a small book and write an activity on each page. Some examples of activities she might like: one trip to the library, one lunch at Panera, one walk with her dog in the park, etc.

If you are looking for the perfect gift for a busy mother or over-worked girlfriend, you can always give a coupon book with offers like: vacuum the floor, clean the bathroom, do the laundry, clean out the fridge, wash the windows, and any other chore you can imagine. When she "cashes in" the coupon, you are not allowed to complain about it. You simply do the chores she needs so she can get a little rest.

Of course, you don't even have to make your own coupon book. Some stores actually sell them. If you are looking for something a little sexy for the woman you love, there are plenty of coupon books available with some other special offers you can give her. I won't go into too many details since this is a PG rated hub, but you get the idea. Some coupon books are not even that racy. Instead, offers for massages, kisses, hugs, and more are included in the book.

Not every woman is going to appreciate a stuffed animal, but many women do still enjoy them. When shopping at stores, do you notice the woman in your life likes to look at the stuffed animals. Does she remark about how cute they are or even cuddle with one? She might just be the type of gal the would like a stuffed animal for Christmas.

Find out what animals she likes and it could be an easy present. If she has pet cats, she might like a stuffed animal cat. The same goes for birds, dogs, hamsters, or any other pet. I would recommend going with something small to see what she thinks. Based on her response, you can determine if you should ever get her another stuffed animal again. By the way, a giant stuffed animal is not something a grown woman (or perhaps even a child) ever needs. It is cute if you win one at the fair; otherwise, something under 2 feet tall is just fine.

Household items can be a really terrible gift. Most women are not too excited to receive items that remind them of housework. Also, since we are not living in the 1950s, most women are pretty offended if they get a vacuum or a blender for Christmas. However, some women geniunely enjoy cooking or really need some items to help clean the house. If a women specifically requests a household item, it is totally OK to purchase it for her.

Some women are more than happy to tell you they'd like a new crockpot or the giant George Foreman grill that is on sale. In this situation, it is OK to give her these things as a Christmas present. It also never hurts to give her something sweet and fun to go along with those presents. All practical items and no fun gifts will make you seem kind of dull.

When all else fails, a nice houseplant or flowers is always a sweet Christmas present. This is, of course, unless she has some serious allergies preventing her from having plants. If she has ever mentioned having any type of plant or flower allergy, stay away from houseplants. Otherwise, it is certainly a nice gesture. You can also purchase small indoor pine trees that are already decorated, Poinsettias, and other winter plants that a woman might appreciate.

When in doubt, it never hurts to get some small items and combine them together as a gift set. Maybe some bath items, a card, some earrings, and a coupon book given with a nice plant might be a great way to determine what she would like for future holidays. If you plan it just right, you can spend under $30 for all those items! Christmas shopping doesn't have to be too expensive. You can find the perfect gifts by putting some thought and consideration into it. Merry Christmas!

Copyright ©2012 Jeannieinabottle