I’m not really a jewelry person, and I’m definitely not a surprise-me person. It’s a miracle that I still have my wedding ring, not because I don’t absolutely love it, but because there was the time in Florida that drug-addled teenagers robbed us blind, but my ring had fallen into a crack and was spared. And the time I left my ring in our tent, the tent that got inundated with sand and had to be shaken vigorously before folding, but my ring was still on my watchband inside and wasn’t buried in the dunes. (read more and enter the giveaway.)


First of all, you just reminded me that my anniversary (lucky 13) is Monday and I haven’t bought my husband anything yet. Which means I am not exactly the best gift giver. When I remember, I like to give gifts tailored to what I think they would like.
I like practical gifts and have no problems “hinting” to my husband. I have made lists before. Although the best gifts my husband have given me are the ones I didn’t hint at, but he knew I wanted, like my first kitchen aide. He prefers surprises- to give and get- which makes present shopping hard on me. Some my favorite gifts are homemade ones friends and family have given me- I appreciate the time and effort put into making them.
I will try to let my UT friends know about this give away.
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Jane Reply:
May 2nd, 2009 at 2:54 pm
Yeah, if my husband surprised me with a Kitchen Aide, I’d be happy!
Congrats on 13!
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I don’t live in Utah, so I’m excluded.
However, I love to be surprised and over the years David has done a lovely job. Not as often as I would like, but enough that I know he hasn’t completely forgotten about me.
Secondly, I am DYING to find out what you think of the Bell Jar. It was such a life-altering event for me when I read it. (keep in mind I was 16 so very impressionable).
Love the pic! You look fabulous!!
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Jane Reply:
May 2nd, 2009 at 2:55 pm
I’m about halfway through TBJ, and so far, it’s reminding me of nothing so much as The Catcher in the Rye, and making me sad that we always read books by men about men (or boys). So I’ll let you know when I finish.
and, Thanks!
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Oh, oh, I’ve got a pandora bracelet (and a second one, too, that friends gave me because they hadn’t noticed I already had a half-full pandora already). The bracelet was a Christmas present, and giving me a charm/bead when required, um, expected, um when he wants to, has really helped DH over the past 12-18 months of gift giving, and some other family members as well. I’ve had to pull the reins on it, though, as the bracelet is pretty full now, and I want to leave space for a few more special beads, including a fancy gold one when I get to my goal weight.
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Jane Reply:
May 2nd, 2009 at 3:05 pm
Ooh, good luck on the goal weight!! I am so discouraged right now, I don’t even have a goal weight.
On the Pandora bracelet, you’ve pretty much proved what the organizers of this event told us, which was that everyone in Europe (and AUSTRALIA!) loves these things, and now they’re on the coasts of the U.S., but us poor Utah rubes are just discovering them.
They’re really beautiful, and I like the clean lines. We got a charm free, and then I actually won an extra charm in the door prizes — I never win ANYTHING, and I really cleaned up on Thursday. (It pays to blog, sometimes, I guess!)
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Kirsty Reply:
May 2nd, 2009 at 3:15 pm
I am surprised they’re not bigger over here (and seeing as I’m “here”, I can say “here”). Though, I did buy some charms at a store in Denver last year, so maybe they’ve been hiding them from you Utahans. At home, we’ve got Pandora from Denmark, Tedora from Italy, Troll Beads and Love Links from Australia, Chamilia (they have the Disney licence for charms), and I’m sure that I’m forgetting other brands. HUGE over here with the yummy mummies.
I got my bracelet for Christmas 07, and the funny thing is, I had decided “no more jewelry” from my husband – I have enough that I don’t wear often enough now, so no more. Then I went out scrapbooking with some friends, saw their bracelets, and came home and told DH that I’d changed my mind.
Freakily enough, he was thinking of getting me a pandora bracelet before I made the “no jewelry” declaration.
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Mom Blogs – Blogs for Moms…
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I don’t like to be surprised. I like practical gifts. On the other hand, I would be disappointed by surprise jewelry it it was pretty or classic!
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I meant, I would _not_ be disappointed.
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Man. Knew I should’ve gone.
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See how beautiful you are? Wayyyyy HOTTER than Liza.
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I would love to be surprised by a Pandora bracelet!! (grin) I leave hints. Somehow they are seldom heard. So I know that for birthday/Christmas I’ll be getting clothes picked out by my daughters. Last Valentines day I got a great surprise – he fixed all my broken jewelry for me. That was VERY cool. But usually if it’s a surprise it’s not generally something I actually want. . . .:(
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I love to be surprised and I always have been happy with the gifts.I love my practical gifts,just please don’t get me pots and pans for a present. When I shop I like to get what I feel the person would like . Its fun
Thanks for the wonderful giveaway!
matternu@aol.com
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I think the picture of you in this post is awesome. You’re beaming and beautiful. I have been showing it to all my colleagues today.
As for Mother’s Day coming up, thanks for the heads up. I am searching frantically in Atlanta for something to surprise you.
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Being surprised is the best because it shows that someone has taken time to think about what I’d like. Gift-wise, I’m all about frivilous because I buy my own practical things.
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I usually don’t like being surprised. I like to specify exactly what I want. But, if someone knows me enough to get me something I didn’t know I even wanted but I instantly love it, that’s obviously awesome!
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I’m posting it on facebook!
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I have to say that I’m a bit jealous that Dick reads your blog and that he would leave such a sweet comment. Feeling envious.
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I like to hint gifts ~ and I usually hint that I would like a pandora charm!
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I LOVE being surprised because I then know that someone was thinking about me without prodding. At least without my prodding, which matters. But I’m not afraid of telling the hubs that I want something specifically. But then if it comes down to that, I’ll go out and get my own gifts and then tell my husband what he “bought” for me. hah!
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I hint at gifts, but the hints don’t normally get picked up on.
I do like being surprised and I really love to surprise with gifts.
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I love to be surprised and really like picking out unique gifts, but it doesn’t always happen. I blogged about the giveaway too.
http://tmwolfe.blogspot.com/2009/05/free-pearl-necklace-awesome.html
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Well…..I do drop hints, but surprises are super nice. I prefer to give gifts tailored to the recipient, but when in doubt, GIFT CARDS! I like frivolous gifts for me…..though the practical usually rules in our house.
Thanks for the giveaway!
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K, throwing my hat in the proverbial ring, even though you never pick me! I like to be suprised. But then of course I’m disappointed if it’s something I don’t like. Which unfortunately has made my hubby pretty hesitant with the gift buying. For Mom Day I sent him a list of bunches of stuff I like (favorites from etsy) and he can “surprise” me with which thing he picks.
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I say i hate to be surprised- but really i think it’s quite fun when i my husband actually does get away with a surprise. i’m the kind of person that would open any christmas gift under the tree if it’s put out early. i do try to give hints, but i don’t think they are good enough- he usually has NO clue.
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I like to be suprised but I tend to be a practical person. Sometimes I do give hints but usually let him pick it all out!
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I love to be surprised, so long as I am surprised with getting exactly what I want! (I keep a wish list handy for my husband to reference).
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I try to do surprises sometimes. She assumes she’s getting nothing, and I assume it’s not going to be something she will like, that way everybody’s expectations are met or exceeded.
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The surprise factor is the best part. Since I want one of everything, it’s not hard to find something I want.
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I prefer to get something from my hubby that I have hinted at. He is notorious for wanting to surprise me, then giving me something I did NOT want at all. I tend to like the practical gifts. I don’t do flowers because of bad allergies they just make me sick. So I prefer to get something that I can use. As for giving, I like to look seriously at what a person has wanted forever, or could really use. I don’t want to give them a clunker gift they will “regift” with.
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I would love to be surprised and Matt has surprised me a few times with wonderful gifts! But for typical Christmas/mother’s day gifts I tell him what I want and where to get it and how much it should cost. I know that is a little/lot controlling, but I have learned I am happy when I get what I want!
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I tried to print up the coupon and now have all 13 pages of this posting plus comments! I was busy reading and failed to notice the printer was going and going and going!
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Jane Reply:
May 6th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
Sorry!
Um, hope the pearls are worth it?
(Btw, you’ll notice our lawn is looking almost as green as yours now that we’ve been stalking the IFA store, but our dandelions are nice and healthy too!)
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Renae Salisbury Reply:
May 6th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
Free pearls are worth killing off one tiny tree, don’t you think? And if you continue to fertilize the heck out of your lawn, the grass will choke out those little golden monsters! Of course, you’ll be mowing and mowing and mowing!
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Jane Reply:
May 6th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
There should be a copy of the coupon in those 13 pages, but if not, you can easily get the coupon, and only the coupon, by clicking on it and opening it in other window.
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Renae Salisbury Reply:
May 6th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
Now that’s too weird. The first time I clicked on the coupon, it took me to the Goldsmith website, but I just tried again as you suggested, and presto, there was a stand-alone coupon. Oh well, I’ll just cut out the copy on page 2 of 13. : )
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