I accepted some time ago that this was a recipe for Birthday Disappointment. So now I just aim for something I’ll enjoy.
DH is really good at present buying and can be trusted to go out on his own, but he does run out of ideas after a couple of gifts. We don’t have children so spoil each other rotten at Christmas. I like quite particular things and he does pay attention but sometimes asks for a bit of guidance. I write him an incredibly long list with all sorts of price ranges, the place I want him to buy it from and colours etc and then he just picks bits off it. So it’s still a surprise but I’m guaranteed to love it. I also add stuff to his Amazon wish list (obviously he’s happy for me to do that).
This year I’m after a new pashmina from N.Peal, books on Christian Dior and Lucrezia Borgia, cashmere bed socks, a picture from Thrills of the Emporium, a Guy Morse hat block, house plants, a place on an upholstery course, some Alexander Henry fabric, some new clothes, a disco ball for the bathroom ceiling (I live with a very tolerant man), a really nice scrabble set that comes in a wooden box, Benefit make up, YSL make up, lots of O’Keefe hand cream, gloves, a nice umbrella, some toiletries, a picnic hamper from F&M (I just want the wicker basket!), woodwick candles, Haviana flip flops, some vintage tree decorations and some flying saucers.