Since the holidays its time for my family to extend the warmest wishes to you and your family.  Its been a crazy year when you think about it… lots of mixed emotions of highs and lows and I know that we all share these same trials in our lives.

The most recent trial has to be the stress of getting a good gift for my wife for the holidays.

Like a typical wife – she tells me not to worry it doesnt matter – yahhh theres a bear trap in there. Here my short list of springing your self from that trap and hopefully not end up giving her a vacuum cleaner (although I hear the Kenmore Intuition vacuum is amazing!) and not getting thrown out of the house or hit upside the head with a frying pan.

Studio based Family Portraits – its a solid A+ in any wife’s I want book. Add in some pampering time for her to get ready, maybe a haircut and color the day before for her and really hit a homerun.

As you know my wife is a family photographer really specializing in outdoor candids but you cant take pictures of yourself all that well and sometimes you need to go in to a studio add a backdrop and have a photo session like the one we did at PhotoOpNYC. You know they take good photos when the husband of a photographer is posting their images. The thing with PhotoOpNYC is not only do they take family shots you could easily just do a glamor session for your wife as well there.

A new handbag – its a B in the rating book – B is for bag 😛 now really its kind of done and over played. Also what did you get your own mother if the answer is a BAG then you cant be getting one for your wife too. Clearly the higher the price the better the bag.  See what her friends are wearing during these weeks of holiday parties and events and try to notice if she drools over anyone bag or just what brand their wearing. Make sure your wife doesnt already have the same bag cause then you just get in trouble for not noticing her.

A romantic night out – its a A or a B or a C – this one is tricky it really depends – first giving night outs as a gift isnt all that great cause its a reward for both of you (kind of like a gift to yourself) but if the plan is to stay overnight at a hotel its in that A or B range if its just dinner its a B to C range.  So any add on to dinner is a solid B depending on the event it could be an A.  Dinner and a Movie is a C why cause its just casual. A night out to spark something…. getting dressed up, heading to the hottest place in town, heading out dancing or to a hard to get ticket/broadway show/concert — thats a A it is all smooth and places she wants to go.

New Clothes – its a B in terms of idea – but if you spring for the high end fashions you could easily warm her up to an A 🙂

Last quick tip the rock solid jewelry – its a B in concept and a C or a D if she doesnt like it but here price does matter – if its a diamond the bigger the better.