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Push Presents: The Latest Pregnancy Trend

Pregnant Woman with GiftMaybe we shouldn’t call it a ‘pregnancy’ trend. After all, Push Presents are all about the end of pregnancy, when the mom-to-be does the honorable task of pushing her little bundle of joy out into the world. Either way, push presents are definitely the latest trend in gift giving.

Push presents are gifts that expectant fathers give to their counterpart – the soon-to-pop mom – around the time of the baby’s birth. As the name suggests, push presents are intended to acknowledge the mother’s hard work during childbirth.

There is no hard-and-fast rule about when to actually give a push present. Dads can give push presents either a few days before the baby’s scheduled due date, upon arriving at the hospital, in the delivery room, or shortly after the birth of the baby.

Unlike most gifts that the expectant mother will receive while pregnant, a push present is meant to be something special just for her, not for the baby. Here are our favorite push present ideas:

Sterling Silver Mother & Child Locket. This heart-shaped locket features an engraved image of a mother and child. Perfectly appropriate, beautiful, and can hold a photo of the new baby.

Multi Crystal Tennis Bracelet. A sparkly, colorful bracelet that both mom and baby will adore.

Sterling Silver “Family Promises” Bracelet. The charms on this bracelet represent various aspects of life, love and faith.

Mother & Child Diamond Stud Earrings. These 14k yellow gold earrings are simple yet symbolic of the powerful bond between mother and child.

Sterling Silver Mother & Child Necklace. A slightly more modern version of the mother & child. This necklace also comes in a two-child version, for the couple that is welcoming their second child to the family.

Men’s Guide to Gifting

Problem SolvedLet’s face it men: you have a bad reputation for being poor gift givers. Once upon a time in history, a man gave a woman a vacuum cleaner for her birthday and – WHAM! – a general consensus was born that men suck at giving gifts.

It’s doubtful that you’re reading this article because you have nothing better to do, so let’s cut to the chase and define the basics of picking great gifts for the women in your life. And because we know that this the absolute last thing on earth you want to be doing right now, we’ve included bold headings to get you through it quickly.

Ready? Set. Go!

Show her that you know what she likes and care enough to give it to her.
The whole point of gift giving is to acknowledge the person receiving the gift. And what woman doesn’t want to be acknowledged by a man she loves -romantically or platonically?

Let’s say you’re buying a gift for your girlfriend who is really into cooking and reading books when she has down time. It’s not enough to think: woman = cooking or woman = books. Think: this woman = loves to read + loves to cook = a copy of  Garlic and Sapphires: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise by Ruth Reichl. A gift like this shows that you pay attention to what she enjoys and you put some thought into what type of gift reflects those things.

If she ASKED for a home appliance, you CAN gift it.
But if she didn’t ask, or she hasn’t been whining about a broken this or that – steer clear. Chances are she’ll feel that the gift is impersonal. Unless she is a total kitchen geek or raves about the benefits of steam cleaners, go for something a little more fun and fitting to what she enjoys to do in her free time. Another alternative: get her an appliance that does the work FOR her. Our favorite is the iRobot Roomba that does the vacuuming while we sit with our feet up. (Seriously, we’re in love with this thing.)

Wrap it like a four year-old – she’ll love it.
Crisp, clean wrapping paper is pretty, but that’s not the point. Women enjoy knowing that you’ve attempted to properly present their gifts. It shows added care and thought (are you seeing a theme??) So whether you buy a simple gift bag (get one that comes with matching tissue paper and be sure to remove the price tag) or actually use wrapping paper, tape, and ribbon, she’ll be impressed. An imperfect, slightly crumpled or torn wrapping job says, ‘I may not know what I’m doing, but I cared enough to try.’ Score. Include a card for extra brownie points.

Keep the receipt!
Whether you think you’ve hit it out of the park or you’re questioning your judgement, keep her options open. Maybe she loves the gift but would prefer a different color. Maybe the size is wrong or she already has one of those. Either way, you did your best and you want her to be happy. Let her know that you have the receipt if she wants to exchange the gift for something else.

Gift cards are acceptable – if properly thought out.
Yes, gift cards are great. Everyone loves to get cash and be able to spend it on whatever they want. But if giving cash was all you wanted to do, then you’d just slip a $50 bill into a Hallmark and call it a day. Gift cards however, give you an opportunity to say, ‘I know where you like to shop and I’m thrilled to contribute to your next spree.’ That said, put some thought into the most appropriate store for her and give a card to that specific store. Remember: it’s not about quantity ($25 vs. $50 denomination), but quality (a card from a retailer she’ll love)

One of the most important things you can do is give yourself time to find the right gift. Put a reminder in your phone for at least two weeks before you have to give the gift. This will give you time to think of the best gift option, shop for it, and allow for shipping (if applicable.) Waiting until the last minute and buying the closest thing within reach will put stress on you and probably won’t put a smile on her face.

10 Gift Ideas for Wives

Wife GiftsListen up, husbands! We know you hate shopping for your wives. But we also know that you love her and want to make her smile. With that in mind, here are 10 gift ideas that should accomplish just that.

1. Custom Full-color Photo Stud Earrings. Choosing jewelry that she’ll love doesn’t have to be hard – especially if you make it personal! Create custom earrings with a personal photo of the two of you, the kids, the dog, or anything she loves!

2. Fifty Shades of Chicken: A Parody in a Cookbook. What’s better than a practical and whimsical gift all in one? Nothing – and that’s what this smart cookbook accomplishes. She’ll appreciate the humor and maybe cook something great for dinner!

3. Sodastream Fountain Jet Soda Maker Starter Kit. If your wife likes the bubbles in soda but is trying to cut back on calories or money, let her have her treats and save too! She can make bubbles at home for half the cost!

4. O’s Big Book of Happiness. Does your wife love Oprah? Yes? Well, get in line. Here’s a book she’ll love relaxing with over and over again.

5. Sterling Silver Crystal Ball Necklace & Earring Set. Two gifts in one! This earring and necklace set will give her two new pieces she can wear together or separate. Classic silver and black, which goes with everything.

6. For the Love of Coffee Gift Basket. Give your sweet some coffee and sweets! She’ll enjoy the selection of cookies, cakes, and caffeine, plus have a beautiful fabric basket to keep!

7. Polka Dots & Posies Flower Bouquet. No, women don’t NEED flowers. But that doesn’t mean we don’t enjoy them when we get them! This pretty bouquet comes in a cute pink vase with polka dot ribbon.

8. White Ice Sterling Silver Diamond Open Bangle Bracelet. This slim, simple bracelet is perfect for any woman – whether she wears a lot of jewelry or not. You’ll add sparkle to her wrist and a smile to her face when she sees it and thinks of you.

9. Crescent Moon Convertible Yoga Tote. This tote bag is so cute that it will be hard for your wife NOT to like it. She can carry it as a regular tote or use it’s mat wrap to carry her yoga or Pilates mat. Easy peasy.

10. Sanuk Women’s Yoga Mat Sandals. Your wife will be impressed by this unique gift – and her feet will be thanking you. What are they? Soft, cushy flip flops made from real yoga mats. Cool!

We hope we solved your gift-giving dilemma. Need more help? User our CustomSniff feature to tell us more about your wife and what she likes – then we’ll give you more ideas!

10 Gift Ideas for Husbands

Husband RingLet’s face it ladies: as picky as we can be, men can be much harder to shop for! While you might have an idea of what YOU want for your husband, a real gift is something HE wants and will enjoy. Here are 10 great gift ideas for husbands.

1. History Channel’s America at War Megaset. There is some truth to the stereotype that men like history. And stuff about battles. This 14 disc set will keep your honey busy for hours; and he’ll learn something, too!

2. Cuisinart 14-Piece Deluxe Grill Set. Not every man can be called a great chef, but every man should have the tools to be a great griller. This grilling set comes in a leather case for added masculinity.

3. Game Time Elite Sports Team Watch. Choose a watch that honors his favorite team. Choose from MLB, NFL, NHL, MLS, NBA, and college teams, and many different watch styles.

4. Men’s Health Magazine Subscription. Here’s a gift that he can relax with every month – each time a new issue comes in the mailbox!

5. Picnic Time 2-in-1 Tailgating Cooler & Grill. Win some major brownie points with your husband and his buddies! A great gift for when they go to the game, and something you can use on a more romantic excursion, too!

6. Metal and Wood Business Card Holder. Support your honey while he’s on the job with this sleek and stylish business card holder. Personalize it by engraving his name and title on it!

7. Swiss Army Knife. It may seem old school, but every man enjoys a gold old fashion pocket knife. Get the original with this iconic red multifunctional tool.

8. GorillaTorch Flashlight. This puppy is way more than a flashlight. This light comes on super bendy legs that make it easy to set this light up in the garage, on a worksite, or at the campground.

9. Sports Team Tablet Sleeve. Keep his tablet safe with a sleeve bearing his favorite professional sports team. Tons of colors and teams to choose from.

10. Sorel Falcon Ridge Suede Slipper. Who says tough guys don’t get cold feet? Keep your hubby’s toes toasty with these sturdy, manly slippers.

Need more help? User our CustomSniff feature to tell us more about your husband and what he likes – then we’ll give you more ideas! You can also browse our Gifts for Him section.

10 Gift Ideas for Mom

Mom TattooNeed tips on selecting a gift for your mother? GiftSniffer cuts to the chase with 10 great ideas:

1. Personalized Charging Station and Desk Organizer. Help mom keep things neat and tidy, plus give her a pretty spot for charging her phone or tablet. This organizer is beautiful, holds a photo (put one in before wrapping it!), and can be personalized with her name or your message.

2. Greenland Home Francesca Throw. This beautiful throw (not a blanket – mom already has tons of those!) is both practical and pretty. Not the right colors? Check out the other patterns by Greenland.

3. Chicken Soup For The Soul Gift Basket. This gift basket includes gourmet sweets and treats for mom to snack on while enjoying a copy of Chicken Soup for the Soul: Moms Know Best. She can even keep the basket!

4. Sand Dollar Bracelet. There’s something about sand dollars; everybody loves them! This sterling silver bracelet is perfect for the beach loving mom and is a unique gift that will have all of her friends talking!

5. Stylish Embroidered Tablet Sleeve. Tech savvy moms will appreciate this practical tablet sleeve with beautiful embroidery.

6. Blue Topaz Earrings. These blue topaz earrings set in sterling silver are simple and elegant. Perfect for moms of any age and sure to get you a big thank you!

7. Sloggers Rain & Garden Shoes. Moms are practical people, and your mom will love these practical shoes to wear outdoors. Choose from a variety of patterns and sizes!

8. Slow Cooker Revolution Cookbook. A cookbook that can save her time and have great meals? What mom would say no to that?

9. Heated Waterfall Foot Bath. Let mom pamper herself whenever she wants to with this great gift! She’ll appreciate the thought each time she relaxes her tired toes!

10. Personalized Bamboo Family & Friends Photo Tray. Here’s another great gift for mom’s home that can be personalized. You know she loves to show off photos of you, so help a lady out!

There you have it: 10 great gift ideas for mom.

Still not sure? Narrow your options further with our CustomSniff feature or browse Gifts for Her.