Need Gift Ideas - Portland,OR

I don't know about your husband other than maybe some time alone together, but I think the best gift you can give to your doula is a great letter of recommendation. A cash tip would probably also be appropriate.

For your husband, you don't HAVE to buy him something for his birthday. Make him dinner, his fav., watch his fav. movie, have time to yourselves, befoer the baby gets there. :) For christmas, you and his family would know him best. Try asking his family if you are having a hard time thinking, they could give you some really good ideas.

P.S.
Congrats on the baby!

For your doula: we've just given cash as a thank you. We've worked with three different ones and that seemed the appropriate thing. I know that $700 is the going rate for doula services (that's what the all quoted us).

For your husband, maybe a shared experience? a gift card to a movie theater?

If your husb has a leaning toward small projects around the house, or just likes gadgets and tools, there's a nice website I've discovered that has all sorts of practical goodies for the home, garden, toolbox and woodshop. They also have a fun selection of less-than ordinary seasonal toys.

I've always been impressed by the quality-for-price balance of their products (nothing gimmicky), and on the one occasion I had a problem with an order, their correction was personal and quick.

Check out Lee Valley Tools at http://www.leevalley.com – be sure to click whether you want to shop in U.S. or Canadian dollars to start (the company is based in Canada, but ships from a U.S. address, too).

R.,
Buying him a gift for the house or the family is always a good idea. Something that would make your home better...and/or make you guys more comfy cozy?? We always get those types of gifts for eachother at my house and we love it. Under the counter stereo for the kitchen, small flat screen Tv for the bookshelf in the familyroom, dvd player for bedroom tv, set of nice kitchen knives, set of nice stainless steel pots and pans...these are a few of the gifts we have bought eachother over the last few years.

Happy Holidays!

If your husband has no interest in recreational activities, its no wonder you're having marital difficulties. Everyone needs something in which they are interested outside the family and work. Does he have any male friends? If so do you know them and what their interests might be. If so arrange for your husband to do something with that friend.

Did he have any interests before you were married or in the early days of your relationship. If so get him something that might reawaken that interest.

Or is there any activity that you think he might be interested in? You could try to awaken an interest by getting him started.

An example: I've never been interested in fish, let alone Bettas. My granddaughter saw a betta and immedidately wanted it. I bought it for her. You can keep one in a relatively small bowl. Not too small I've learned. And they can be inexpensive. They do require frequent water changes if you don't have a filter.

What has happened is that I've become very interested not only in Bettas but in keeping fish in general. I'm reading up and learning a whole lot and feel excited and involved in a hobby for the first time in a long time.

I went with my brother, who does have a very large aquarium, to a large independent fish store and met some interesting and enthusiastic clerks. I enjoyed looking at the many tanks of fish and intend to go back to just look.

I also got interested in hermit crabs when my granddaughter wanted one. She kept them at her house and wanted to make all the decisions and do all the care. I kept the Betta at my house and so far she's not interested anymore. But I am! Hermit crabs might be a hobby for him.

If he is at all interested in cars there are many inexpensive model cars to collect as well as models to put together.

If he's at all adventurous, a gift certificate for a rock climbing wall would be fun. There's one on Sandy but I'm sure there are others scattered thruout the area.

Another mom suggested things for the house. There are some inexpensive items. A blender to make fancy non-alcoholic drinks. Perhaps include a book of recipes. My Dad, a teetotaler, enjoyed mixed fruit, veggie, and soft drinks.

If he enjoys eating, a crock pot could be fun.

There are the usual such as slippers, a throw, a hat, gloves, scarf, perhaps one of those "holiday gifts" that are out in a special display at Christmas time. a light for the key chain, an all in one tool.

You could look at Spencer gifts or Hallmark and perhaps find something that relates to a 40th birthday. Look on the Internet for 40th bd ideas. Because 40 is a milestone there are probably lots of ideas.

You could give him "certificates" listing a specific task that he can redeem and you will do it for him. Or perhaps a "certificate" for a favorite dish that you would prepare for him when he redeems it.

For the doula, I suggest a gift certificate. The Lloyd Center now has a gift card that can be used at any of the Lloyd Center stores. I think cash is now considered somewhat crass. But....if she's a student without much money I bet she'd appreciate cash more. One thing about a gift certificate is the person has to choose something and hopefully it would be for themselves. Or they could use it to buy Christmas presents for their family or friends. It's easy for cash to be spent without the person who receives the money knowing where it went. It just gets added to the money they have.

Do you know if she has a CD or DVD player. A gift certificate to a store that sells CDs and DVDs would be good. I shop often at Everyday Music on Sandy. There's one on west Burnside too. She can purchase new or used. I've expanded my collection more quickly by purchasing used.

For your husband, maybe just a nice dinner out with a card telling him that you care. Sometimes time together is all we need.

For the doula, a gift certificate for a manicure/pedicure would be nice.

Congratulations on your pending arrival :)

Something my husband and I started doing 2 years ago is that for birthdays we "plan" presents, and announce what it is on our birthday. (Or we can choose to have a party instead). That way it gives us a minimum of a whole year to save for the gift, and we put money aside all year long. I announced laptop, he announced party. He got his party the next year... but it took 2 years to save for my laptop (quite a bit more expensive) so I didn't "get" a present last year, and I got it on my birthday this year :) :) :) We don't have a max $ amount per year cap, it just takes as long as it takes to save for it. Last year he announced a new tattoo, and I announced a pair of knee high leather boots. The idea being something bigish that we really really want, but wouldn't be able to afford without saving for it. (We don't have credit cards... so we can't splurge). Kind of a pain, but it works out - most of the time.

Our 7yo son always gives us each a small present... I might get makeup, or a framed picture he painted or a book, dad might get guitar strings or a video game or a book. It's always his idea... whatever he thinks we would like, so it's always fun. He really wants to see us using our presents every day, so he looks for things he sees us doing every day. LOL... the makeup cracked me up. He says red isn't my color, so I'm not "allowed" to have red lipstick (one came in the box that he got for me, and he threw it away and then explained why the package was open, and missing bits).

For xmas we do presents for the house / giftcards for new clothes. And for valentines day we exchange smell good stuff (perfume/cologne).

For your husband get a nice piece of paper and make it into a i.o.u. for a dinner out after the baby comes. If you are close to a craft store get some colored pens and make some flourishes and maybe some stickem' hearts.

The spa idea for your doula sounds great.