book recs, author services, general badassery
  • Blog
    • Free Romance Reads
    • Our Thoughts
    • 1-Click Wonders
    • Author on Authors
    • Chattin' with Authors
    • So You're New To...
  • Book Recs
  • Reviews
    • 5-Star Reads
    • Contemporary Romance
    • Historical Romance
    • New Adult Romance
    • Paranormal Romance
    • Romantic Comedy
    • Romantic Erotica
    • Romantic Suspense
    • Teen Young Adult
    • Hall of Shame
  • About
    • Contact
    • Review Policy
    • Guest Post Guidelines
    • Advertising on Romance Rehab
  • For Authors
    • Romance novel blurb help
    • Referral Program
    • Romance Author Services
    • Online Writer's Resources
    • Do It Yourself Blurb Help
    • Proofreading Test >
      • Proofreading Test Answers
  • Blog
    • Free Romance Reads
    • Our Thoughts
    • 1-Click Wonders
    • Author on Authors
    • Chattin' with Authors
    • So You're New To...
  • Book Recs
  • Reviews
    • 5-Star Reads
    • Contemporary Romance
    • Historical Romance
    • New Adult Romance
    • Paranormal Romance
    • Romantic Comedy
    • Romantic Erotica
    • Romantic Suspense
    • Teen Young Adult
    • Hall of Shame
  • About
    • Contact
    • Review Policy
    • Guest Post Guidelines
    • Advertising on Romance Rehab
  • For Authors
    • Romance novel blurb help
    • Referral Program
    • Romance Author Services
    • Online Writer's Resources
    • Do It Yourself Blurb Help
    • Proofreading Test >
      • Proofreading Test Answers
Picture

Gifts you should NEVER give a woman (and alternatives that’ll keep her from hurting you)

11/23/2017

1 Comment

 
Gift NOT to give a woman
Look, we realize our audience is probably 90% women, and this post might not reach a ton of dudes. That’s OK. Because we still want to help the men out there. Just because the majority of them aren’t in our reading audience, doesn’t mean we like the thought of them blindly stumbling through this holiday season, making gifting faux paus that could haunt them for years to come. If we can help only a handful of dudes make smart buying decisions this year, so be it. With that in mind, ladies, we’re asking that you pass this one along to the men in your lives. (Subtly, of course. Let them think they found this one all on their own.) So, without further ado, here is our list of gifts you should NEVER give the woman in your life:

Spa gift cards
The IDEA of offering the woman in your life a day of pampering is lovely. But nothing screams “I didn’t know what to buy and didn’t want to go shopping blind” like a gift card.

Alternative to a spa gift card
Instead of a spa card, why not get her the ultimate kit for home pampering that will keep giving all year round? It’s simple:
  • A few wonderful bath products, because women LOVE long, hot, relaxing baths. We particularly like Philosphy’s Christmas cookie bubble bath from Sephora, but there are tons of other options and kits available on their site if you don’t find Christmas cookies appealing (and if you don’t: we’re trying not to judge, but…*side-eyeing you hard*)​
  • The new Kindle Oasis. Why would this be included in the ultimate home pampering kit? It’s. Waterproof. (Right? We were amazed, too.) It’s also designed to be light as paper for one-handed reading, has the highest resolution of any Kindle reading device, and has 8GB storage capacity. In other words, it’s all kinds of fabulous.
  • Check out her Kindle wish list and load that new Kindle up for her, so that she can enjoy HOURS of reading throughout the New Year in a nice, hot bath. And if you don’t know what she might like to read, we have a few suggestions. ​
  • ​Time. Make it clear that YOU will make certain she has plenty of time throughout the year to relax and unwind. No kids banging on the door, no asking her where the laundry detergent is, no “what-do-you-want-for-dinner-I don’t-care-whatever-you-want” debates. (Those debates are the WORST)

Picture
Sexy lingerie
Unless the woman in your life has specially asked you for lingerie or you know for a fact she actually likes walking around the house half naked (trust me, she doesn't), don’t buy it for her. Why? Because sexy lingerie is uncomfortable and, let’s face it, It's really more for you than it is for her. Giving her a gift that’s designed to please you shows that you’re a selfish asshat. As always, the lesson here is: Don’t be an asshat.

Alternative to sexy lingerie
Instead of buying something that she’ll look good in for YOU, how about you buy her something cute and comfortable that SHE’LL feel great in? And I’m not talking about flannel PJs and house coats. We personally like Lou and Grey for stylish, cute loungewear. Everything there is adorable, super comfortable, comes in a wide variety of sizes, and isn’t ridiculously overpriced. Note: pay careful attention to her size. Nothing is more insulting than buying a size 4 woman a size 10 article of clothing, or buying a size 14 woman a size 10 article of clothing. Either mistake shows that you’re not in touch with her reality. Long-story-short: choose her correct size.
 

Or, if you don’t want to pick out clothes, you could go the classic bunny slippers route. (Hey, it worked out GREAT for Cal and Min in Jennifer Crusie’s Bet Me.)  As far as bunny slippers go, you can’t really go wrong, but we particularly like these:

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

Framed photo of the two of you
Sure, this is a cute idea. She’d probably like it, too. But it’s BOOOOORRRRRIIIIINNNNNGGGGG. It’s been done to death.

Alternative to a framed photo
Why not create a custom photo book or calendar full of your favorite pics of the two of you together? It can be themed—maybe something like, “What I love about you and me,” or something as simple as “Our lives together,” or “There’s no me without you.” It really doesn’t matter. The point is, putting together a book like this takes time, thought, and energy. She’ll appreciate that book and cherish it forever. Sites like Shutterfly, Apple and Blurb make it easy, affordable, and cheap to pull off something like this, too. Blurb even lets you create an ebook version of your masterpiece to email to friends and family. And no, you don’t need to be a poet or professional designer to make this idea work. (It’d help, of course, but it’s totally not necessary)
Picture
Picture

Cleaning supplies/appliances
Unless she has specifically asked for these things for Christmas, DO NOT BUY THEM AS GIFTS. Just…don’t.
Alternative to cleaning supplies/appliances
You know what’s sexier than a man cleaning while a woman sits on the couch relaxing? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Don’t believe us? You’ll want to check this out (and buy the woman in your life a copy). Give her coupons that would allow her to assign you household tasks that normally fall to her. (Note: that doesn’t apply to only cooking and cleaning, of course. If your woman typically handles snow removal and lawn maintenance, I’m sure that her seeing YOU do those things for her will be every bit as sexy as watching you cook and clean would be. It’s all about HER. Remember that.)
Picture

Something totally random
If you truly have no clue what to buy, that’s OK. No one is judging. But taking wild guesses or overthinking it and buying something weirdly random will get you into trouble every time.

Alternative to buying something totally random
ASK HER! No one says you have to read her mind. It’s totally OK to ask her what she’d like for Christmas!

via GIPHY

What about y’all? Have any “just say no” gift ideas you think we should include? Let us know! We’d love to hear from you.

1 Comment
Tony
1/18/2025 08:53:28 am

Great job on your blog post! The topic was interesting, and I found the information you shared to be relevant and helpful. To explore this subject further, <a href="https://a4c78fnmebbz6zdan30rgqxby1.hop.clickbank.net" target="_blank">click here</a>.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Romance Rehab newsletter sign up

    FOLLOW US 
    Reedsy Top Book Reviewer 2019

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    February 2025
    January 2025
    July 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    January 2024
    November 2023
    September 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017

Picture

BLOG
FREE Romance books
​Book Recommendations

Our Thoughts
1-Click Wonders
5-Star Reads
Authors on Authors
Chattin' with Authors
So You're New To...
What Not to Read
REVIEWS
​
Contemporary Romance
Historical Romance
New Adult Romance
Paranormal Romance
Romantic Comedy
Romantic Erotica
Romantic Suspense
Teen/Young Adult
ABOUT
Contact
Review Policy
Guest Post Guidelines
Advertising on
​Romance Rehab

​
FOR AUTHORS
Online Writer's Resources
Proofreading Test
ROMANCE AUTHOR SERVICES 
Romance novel blurb help
Romance Remedy program

Referral program

Romance author services
  • Book cover critique
  • Animated book covers and social media graphics
  • Beta reading
FREE Romance Rehab newsletter: ​Subscribe here
KnockinBooks LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
​© 2020 KnockinBooks LLC