Got any ideas?

[stormkeeper_lovesall]

So, my 5-year anniversary with my partner is coming up and I am looking for ideas on something special to do and/or to give her to mark this occasion. (Actually, the anniversary is still many months away but anyone who knows me knows that I like to plan way far in advance). I was reminded of our impending anniversary when Doris recently told me that one of her employees is reaching her 5 year anniversary at Doris’s business. She was pondering what to buy the employee as a gift, and then she said, “Hey, our five year anniversary is coming up.”

Does anyone have any ideas on cool gift ideas? And it doesn’t have to be a gift; it can be an event or something unique instead. I realize that no one on my f-list other than nytshd3 has actually met Doris. Doris can be tough to buy for. When it comes to presents, she’s less about the actual gift itself and more about “it’s the thought that counts”. I know that might sound weird, so let me give you an example. Years ago we heard a song playing at a party. Neither of us knew the artist, but I later tracked down the artist’s name and gave the CD as a gift to Doris. Doris ended up not being crazy about the CD itself but she said that she loved it as a gift because I remembered that she liked the song and researched the artist; basically, she liked that I made a note of something she fancied and I did some homework.

As another example, one year for X-mas, she asked me to just give her something that I made myself rather than buying her something. (So I made her a collage).

As one more example, let me tell you about something Doris once did for me. Once there was a period of about 10 days where we wouldn’t be able to see each other at all due to my business trip and her family visit to Mexico. She gave me tiny little….items, one for me to open each day that we’d be apart. They were things like love notes, lip gloss, Peppermint Patties, nail polish, etc. Each had a brief note attached to it talking about the trinket’s significance. (You know, mooshy stuff like, “I can’t wait to paint your toe nails with this polish” or “I look forward to kissing your lips…here’s some stuff to keep them nice and smooth”). I loved that gift.

She also likes to attend plays, and any other sort of live performances – theater, dance, rock concerts, etc.

So it’s stuff along these lines that I believe Doris would like for our anniversary. I guess the main things she likes are creativity and thoughtfulness, rather than the dollar amount spent on the gift. But I am feeling low on creativity lately. Any ideas?

Comments

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

You said she likes theater and perforamnces like that, right? I don't know if there are any universities or colleges near where you live, but if there is you could always look into buying season tickets for the college's drama or dance department, or for their concert series or something like that. The same could be said of just about any performance space, of course, but the thing about colleges and universities is that (at least around here) there a lot less expensive than paying for a season subscription at one of the major theaters or symphonies, while still being really damned awesome performances. So rather than paying a ton of money just for one performance, you can pay almost the same amount for performances spread out over the course of full year - basically, an assurance that you'll do something nice together at least once every month or so.

There's also community theaters and youth symphonies and stuff like that, if there aren't any colleges nearby with suitable programs, but those are sometimes iffy, depending on where you are and all. Same goes for a membership to a museum or some other kind of program that she'd be interested in, or signing up for an evening series of classes in something she's interested in together? Community colleges and stuff usually have some fairly random and interesting (and reasonably priced!) classes on all kinds of wacky stuff you wouldn't expect.

All slightly obviously-a-student ideas, I know. But maybe it'll spark something?

[stormkpr.livejournal.com]

Excellent ideas, especially the season tickets at a university. I'll definitely consider it. Thanks!

[trixtah.livejournal.com]

I like the idea of season tickets too. Alternatively, a swanky outing in another town attending a groovy performance followed by a night in the finest of the city's hostelry might be a go as well. But it won't be as long-lasting. :-)

[stormkpr.livejournal.com]

That is a good idea as well. A play, dinner, night at a hotel...it's a classic. I will add it to my list of ideas -- thank you!

[sesana]

If you're looking for something DIY-ish, there are places where you can decoate your own plates. I would be totally charmed if my SO gave me a set of plates, decorated with things important to us as a couple. Of course, I don't know if you could find one of those places near you...

Also think the season tickets would be a real winner. Especially if you can find a place that's putting on a show that she really loves during the season.

[stormkpr.livejournal.com]

That is an innovative idea! So, you actually like paint something yourself onto the plate? And it's an actual plate, as in a dinner plate? Very interesting.

[sesana]

It's an actual plate, and you really paint on it, anything you want. One of the teachers at my school and her siblings each did a plate for their mother's birthday.

[stormkpr.livejournal.com]

Cool! Thanks for the idea.

[loopeleigh.livejournal.com]

WOW? 5yrs already? It seems like just the other day. Congrats! to both you and Doris. I'm so happy you guys are still going strong. :)

Hmmmm... ideas....

What I did once for friend's 21st (we've been friends since we were four) was make her like a parcel of gifts from special events in our lives (I got some of our other close friends and her family to contribute as well) - things like an ornament of an angel (we were angels in a play together in preschool (kindergarden?)), chocolates she scoffed 25 of in an hour(and denied it later) during a camp we went (we didn't sleep the whole 4days and lived on sugar), the sheet music of her favourite piano piece etc. Then I made a book bound in leather (yes, made, that bookbinding skills class my uptight preppy highschool made me do is actually useful :D) of a timeline of her life, focusing on our fiendship, and highlighed it with pictures and notes from friends and the odded keepsakes which people scrouged up. Left the last half of the book empty and told her we'd fill it up over the next 60odd years.

She really loved it.

Maybe something similar would work for Doris? Like a parcel of momentos from (or items that remind you of) you relationship, and a few items for the future as well.

[stormkpr.livejournal.com]

That is a great idea as well. I can get her a basket and fill it with mementos of things we did. Your gift for your friend sounds fantastic and very very thoughtful!

Thank you for the idea.