Birthday gifting ideas

With actor Simbu recently tweeting that he was ‘breaking his head to buy a gift for his girlfriend’s birthday’, TOI suggests five things that you could get your special someone on their special day…
What guys want on their birthday
Men are well, men. They are chivalrous, gentle and know how to make women feel good. Not just by giving gifts but by providing an experience.Men are special and who knows that better than women? Here are a few things that will please your guy no end on his special day.
1. Dream big: Get tickets for a cruise (yes, they are very much available near Chennai itself) or passes for the play/movie that we’ve always wanted to catch. The reason behind this is simple — it’s not just girls who love surprises; guys do as well.
2. Go wacky, Go Wild: Before you get any ideas, we’re referring to wacky gifts that we might not get from anybody else. Forget that latest mobile phone in the market (we’ll buy it ourselves — unless, of course, you’re getting a pair and using the other one) or that gaming device (admit it, you’d know as much as gaming as we’d know of, say, hair clips), go in for something wacky. There are dime a dozen stores selling wacky stuff; just spend time and you’ll find something.
3. Personalize stuff: Guys go crazy about it. Surely, there are many secrets that a boy shares with his girl. Try to figure out the ones that you, only as a girlfriend, know and work out a birthday gift on those lines. Perhaps he might have used a line or word frequently in his conversations — try to work that out into a song or something. That’d work wonders — for, it’s something that only he’d understand. And, it’ll remain for life.
4. Think social: For a change, you could attack our heart — and by that, we mean, our ‘other side’. It’s not just celebrities who do things like visiting an orphanage or spending time with the less privileged. Take us to one such place, somewhere we’d never have been, and spend time with the people there. While materialistic gifts work at most times, this can just about take your relationship to a new high.
5. Be with us: Last, but certainly not the least, the best gift that you can give us on our special day is not materialistic. Simply be with us the entire day, if it’s possible, and give us memories that we will cherish. That, dear girls, is more valuable than anything you might possibly give us.
What girls want on their birthday
Women by nature are very charming, sensible, festive, lovable and most importantly, unpredictable. They like courtship and love receiving lots and lots of gifts and surprises on her birthday. So, if you love your woman, then what can be better than some lovely gifts for her? Read on to know what women really want.
1. Jewellery and accessories: A brilliant piece of jewellery will take you places. If your pocket allows, you can go overboard and buy her diamonds. But if you really know her, you’d know what her taste is. Personalize her piece, maybe a bracelet with something written on it that only the two of you will understand.
2. Body care because we love to pamper ourselves: Yes, we admit, we love to pamper ourselves and love it more when the man we love understands that. Instead of just gifting a basket full of roses, add a basket of body care products. Or, you could take us to a spa. A whole day full of massages, pampering and relaxation unwinds us. Trust us, it will be worth it and you can join in too.
3. Bags: A woman can never have enough bags. They are like clothes to us; we need a different one with every outfit. There are totes, clutches, slings, duffels, hobos, messenger, satchels, the list is endless. You can personalize the bag by putting her name on it, like ‘Made For ____’. Many high-end luxury brands offer the service.
4. Getaway: Plan a romantic getaway for us and sweep us off our feet. We love to travel and more so when it’s a surprise and we don’t have to plan for it. Subtly find out which place your woman would love to travel. It doesn’t just have to be Pondicherry or Mahabalipuram, the city has many more romantic destinations.
5. Cook for her: Finally, a girl wants nothing more than to spend some time with the guy she loves. Make an effort to show us that you care. Cook for us something from scratch. Just use the internet if you know nothing about cooking. Don’t forget to make arrangements and it doesn’t always have to be a candle-light dinner. Think out of the box, go crazy, go over-board. You can even plan a picnic and take your cooked food there.