2. Make it an experience. Okay, so all you got her was a deck of cards. So what? Downplay the lameness of your gift by making unwrapping it fun. For example, take a cue from The DaVinci Code and send her on a scavenger hunt throughout your apartment. You may feel dorky when writing out clues, but it’s Christmas. Suck it up. You could also wrap her gift in different-sized boxes, which is tired in theory, but for some reason still fun this time of year. If all else fails, keep in mind that any occasion with a piñata is guaranteed to be memorable.
3. Make her feel like a kid again. Do you want to be the sweet and sensitive guy for the holidays? Appeal to her inner child with a brand new set of crayons and a sketchpad. Or hit up the toy store for her favorite board game– or yours. If you don’t want to be sweet and sensitive, yet you know she loves chess, bring over a bottle of alcohol as well. And keep in mind you can incorporate stripping into any game, not just poker.
The Fall-Back
A short list of things no woman can resist:
1. Shoes
2. Weekend Getaways
3. Johnny Depp
Assuming number three is out of the question in terms of a Christmas present, focus instead on the first two. Both vacations and shoes can be expensive, but we’ll assume you’re resourceful and know they don’t have to be. The key here is in the delivery. Rather than walking her into Steve Madden and telling her to choose something she likes, wrap up a shoebox and put a card in it telling her you’re taking her shoe shopping. You cannot go wrong with shoes, but rather than trying to guess her taste and size, find a creative way to let her pick them out herself.
The same applies to weekend getaways. Whether it’s an off-season trip to Santa Fe or an overnight stay at a Vermont Bed and Breakfast, the opportunity for genius is in the execution. Give her a mysterious note wrapped in a jewelry box: Have a suitcase packed by 3 pm on January 18th. Bring skis. (Don’t expect to actually leave before 4:00.) If her friends start hitting on you, don’t be surprised. She will be the envy of her social circle.
 | ||||||
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
|
|
||||
| ||||||
