You see, in our relationship, Mr. Red House is actually the romantic one. For our first Valentine's Day together, he put together a scavenger hunt for me through a part of town. My friend gave me instructions with the first clue, which led me to a florist who gave me a bunch of roses and a card with a clue for where to go next. The trail led to half a dozen stores, all of which gave me a little something and a card with a clue in it, and then finally led, of course, to Mr. Red House, who took me out to dinner. Yeah, he's a keeper.
We both agreed that he could never top that, so we should keep expectations low from then on. So of course, for our second Valentine's Day together, the only thing Mr. Red House did was build me a little crate made of handmade chocolate planks with homemade chocolate raspberry truffles nestled inside. And also give me a couple hard to find books that he had scoured the internet for to add to my book collection of old girl detective novels.
Yeah, how am I supposed to live up to that? I have no idea what I gave Mr. Red House for our first couple of Valentine's Days - it was probably socks or something equally practical. (Who doesn't love a good pair of socks?) I'm usually the one who is still wracking their brain right before Valentine's Day, wondering what in the world can I get that proves I still love this guy (just in case he doesn't know) and that I can afford and that doesn't require shipping because it's by now it's too late for that.
Last year I stumbled upon an idea that was pure genius - Mr. Red House loves to get packages, so on Valentine's Day I told him I was going to send him one package for each year we were married throughout the month of February. Thus I didn't have to pick what to get him right then (though I had the vague notion that he needed some more black socks), and it was the gift that keeps on giving all through the month! (I was very thankful we had Amazon prime with all those shipping costs.)
Mr. Red House isn't just romantic at Valentine's Day. These are all pictures of the birdhouse he built for me for Christmas that I had to show off. He painted it red, because he knows how much I miss our red house. (I won't tell you what I gave him, as it would look sad and pathetic in comparison. Unless you really enjoy homemade salsa.)
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Does anyone else have the same problem as me? Or are you the romantic one in the relationship? Or have you decided to rebel against the greeting card companies and just not celebrate Valentine's Day at all?
And if you are romantic, do you by chance have any good ideas for what to get a guy for Valentine's Day? Preferably something that doesn't require shipping at this late date...
Happy Valentine's Day to all of you!
(And to all you fellow non-romantics, good luck!)
I am totally with you! I think buying Christmas gifts for my hubby is hard enough. I always side on the practical. Your birdhouse is gorgeous! Lucky you to have such a romantic and talented husband!
ReplyDeleteI am lucky! I think men in general are hard to shop for!
DeleteOh Mr RH is definitely a keeper! Mr C is the hardest person on the planet to buy for. I always handmake cards but that's as far as it goes, this year's gift to him? Fudge, slightly less romantic than socks but he's also a keeper xxx
ReplyDeleteMr. Red House read this and is now demanding fudge. That is a great idea! Next anniversary, socks and fudge it is!
DeleteThe bird house is fabulous. I am absolutely in awe of Mr Red House. He must spend all year dreaming of presents you would love to receive. Happy Valentine's Day!
ReplyDeleteHe is quite a creative person, which you might not think given he's a techy guy. Or maybe it's that engineering brain, constantly thinking of stuff!
Deletelittle Russian church - how gorgeous is that?!
ReplyDeleteI know! He got the idea from a beautiful bird-church that we spotted in a local nursery. So beautiful, and it has a lot of personal touches in remembrance of the red house!
DeleteYou have a terrific husband, Indie - not all men are romantics. But mine is as well, thank goodness. I'm very lucky that way. We downplay Valentine's Day quite a bit in that we exchange funny cards (and maybe chocolate) but no real gifts. Instead we save our dollars for trips and special dinners at other times of the year. It works for us!
ReplyDeleteI love the church birdhouse - very lovely.
Happy Valentines Day!
I'm a huge trip/event person, but Mr. Red House loves gifts and would be sad if we did away with them. Easy for him to say - he has all the creative ideas! Happy Valentine's Day to you, too!
DeleteNice birdhouse! He does indeed sound like a keeper. If I have a little chocolate, I will be very happy. It doesn't take much for me. ;-)
ReplyDeleteOh, chocolate would keep me happy, too! That's one of my favorites!
DeleteI think we are kindred spirits in the gift-giving department. I rack my brains and still come up with the practical, not so exciting or awesome gift. Meanwhile, he comes through every time (2 years ago he built me a terraced garden--think several big trucks full of materials arriving on my birthday.) Then our first baby was born on Valentine's Day (he's turning 6 tomorrow)...so Valentine's, at least, is pretty low key. I come up with some kind of scrumptious strawberry dessert and he usually gets me flowers. Phew, done! Except his birthday is NEXT WEEK and I still haven't figured out what to get him. Aaack! So yes, I feel your pain. Good luck from a fellow sufferer of gift-idea paralysis. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's nice that I'm not alone! A terraced garden, wow, yours is quite the keeper, too!! Happy birthday to your now 6-year-old, and good luck with the gift ideas!
DeleteI can't believe Mr. Redhouse did all that! Don't spread it around because it will make women all over the world annoyed with their partners and men annoyed with your husband! And that birdhouse! Fortunately my husband and I share a complete disdain/disregard for Valentine's Day so neither of us has his/her feelings hurt when no gifts materialize.
ReplyDeleteHe does up the bar, doesn't he? The problem is he ups the bar for me, too, ha!
DeleteMine is the romantic one and I have the hard time trying to buy for him. He tells me what to buy. This year we decided to give each other dinner and opted for lobster. he of course bought and cooked it....it was a no pressure delicious V Day. Oh and we got each other a card. We only give cards on Christmas, V Day and our birthdays. Yep we are a practical pair.
ReplyDeleteLove that red house...and yes your hubby is a keeper.
That is so nice to have a guy cook for you! Very sweet! My husband loves getting cards too - he is always a little disappointed when I forget to get a card for him.
DeleteMr. Red House is definitely a keeper! This birdhouse is beautiful and such a thoughtful gift! I'm afraid my Mr. P stopped being a romantic years ago, and I've decided Valentine's Day belongs to the grandkids, so they're the only ones I buy for now.
ReplyDeleteAw, I'll bet the grandkids love the special effort you make for them! Kids have so much fun with holidays.
DeleteThe Red House is just plain awesome, what a thoughtful husband you have! I am no better at gift giving than you are; one year I bought my DH socks, too. We're both too cheap to buy Valentine cards so when we're in the store, we pick through the fanciest cards and hand them to each other to look at. And then we put them back in the rack.
ReplyDeleteThe Valentine's scavenger hunt was an amazing idea and what a lot of work to organize. He certainly is a romantic.
That's so cute that you show each other the cards you'd like to buy on Valentine's day! Mr. Red House loves cards and letters, though I often forget to get him one (and when I do, I can never figure out what to say on them, either!) It's funny, he's really a computer/techy guy, but at heart, he must be a poet or something.
DeleteLet me tell you, I am constantly telling myself how lucky I am, and how much I love my great husband, and even I found myself a little jealous! That's a very romantic man you've got there.
ReplyDeleteHa, he does have his faults (and as his wife I know all of them ;) but he definitely is a keeper!
DeleteThat red birdhouse is amazing! I want to know what Mr. Redhouse did for Valentine's Day this year. I will have to live vicariously through you. My hubby has not a romantic bone in his body, bless him, though his unromantic bones are good ones. (His marriage proposal consisted of "Well, when are we getting married?") He actually requests socks for Christmas, and he means it!
ReplyDeleteI actually request socks every year for Christmas, too, and mean it! I have quite the assortment since my kids usually pick out some for me every year :)
DeleteThis year for Valentine's Day, Mr. Red House took me to a fancy dinner, where he tried hard to be the perfect date. (He even made a list of questions to ask to keep the conversation flowing! So cute!) He also got me chocolates and a cheese-making kit. I honestly never knew guys could be romantic until I met Mr. Red House!