Whatever you decide to buy, please make sure you put some thought into it. This applies to your wife or woman that you’re dating, and even that mom or other women on your gift list. They will love if you buy something that makes them feel appreciated.

Click the links to purchase each product online, and for more gift ideas, check out the other categories in our Holiday Gift Guide.

Brooks Running Gear

Marathons have become increasingly more popular over the last few years, and whether you’re a serious runner or just do it for fun, having the right gear is essential. While most people tend to stick to popular brands like Nike and Adidas, it’s better to buy from a specialty company like Brooks Running, who offers an entire catalog of products designed specifically with runners in mind. Footwear options range from the PureFlow 3, a lightweight shoe with a more rounded heel and repositioned Toe Flex to better align your stride, to the award-winning Cascadia 9, which is better suited for trickier terrain thanks to its 4-point pivot posts and a BioMoGo DNA midsole that adapts cushioning to your feet and the surface beneath. Both styles come in a variety of bold colors, and the same goes for all the apparel as well, including the water-resistant Infiniti Jacket IV, the retroreflective PureProject Jacket (which is both wind- and water-resistant) and the moisture-wicking Infiniti Tight III. After giving our wives the chance to test out some of the gear provided by Brooks Running, the verdict was unanimous: if you care about function and quality, this is one brand that every runner should add to the top of their wish lists.

eCreamery.com Custom Ice Cream Pints

We’re avid believers that ice cream is great no matter what time of year it is (especially for those whose winters actually feel like, well, winter), and the folks at eCreamery.com have created the perfect gift for the holidays: create-your-own ice cream, gelato and sorbet with customized labels on the packaging. All you need to do is select your base, main flavor and mix-ins, and then give your new creation a name. We made a custom ice cream (Cinnamon with Chocolate Covered Pretzels) and gelato (Cheesecake with Strawberry Swirls and Chocolate Chunks), and both were incredibly delicious, especially the latter, which is one of the best frozen treats we’ve ever sampled. There are over 40 flavors and 30 mix-ins to choose from, and the quality is definitely a step up from your typical store-bought ice cream, but it comes at a price, with four pints (the smallest possible order) costing a whopping $59.99, and that doesn’t even include shipping. While that may seem pretty steep for ice cream, eCreamery’s custom pints make for a really unique gift that’s worth splurging for at least once.

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Valentine’s Day means different things to different people. However, one thing is certain: it doesn’t matter how stupid, irrelevant, commercialized and unimportant Valentine’s Day is, it’s not going anywhere. So, men, it’s time to figure out how you’re going to make the woman in your life happy during this holiday. Many men choose to simply buy her something expensive. However, sometimes showing your love through acts of service can be just as important. So, this year you can save some money and spend some time actually doing things to make her happy.

Clean the Entire Home

Chances are, she spends a lot of her time cleaning up after you and the kids. Do you know why she takes care of things like this? Because nothing feels better than a nice, clean home. This year, show her how much you care by cleaning the entire home for her. Remember, this is Valentine’s Day. That means you need to do more than simply vacuum and do the dishes. Think of big ways you can help. Clean the carpets, baseboards and dust everything. It will be a huge help, and she’s sure to notice it. Use succulents as an accent once the house is clean to tie everything together.

Paint the Walls

Perhaps your house is already clean. If so, there are other ways that you can do things around the house. If she’s been talking about putting a fresh coat of paint in one of the rooms, paint it for her while she’s out one day. This will take a bit of planning. Find out what color she wants to paint the walls. Bring it up in conversation, or take a more direct approach by bringing her to the home improvement store in town.

Finish the To-Do List

If your house is clean and walls are painted, then there’s certainly a list of things that she’s been wanting you to do for several months now. Dig out that list and get to work. Don’t stop until you’ve marked everything off of it. She’ll love the fact that you finished everything she has asked you to do. Understand, though, that once you finish it there will certainly still be more that she’ll want you to do. A real man’s work is never done.
Acts of service are a great way to show your love on a deeper level. Be sure to still get her chocolates and flowers, of course. But you can save that diamond necklace for your anniversary. This year, show her how much you love her through acts of service.

It’s a common stereotype how women give their husbands a “Honey-Do” list that is never ending. Whether this is the case or not in your household, consider surprising your wife this winter with some new additions. Instead of waiting to be asked, take some initiative and change things up, which will make your wife—and in turn you—all the more happy. Being spontaneous and surprising your wife is good for your marriage as well.

1. Surprise your wife with a new haircut. Has your wife been nagging you about getting a haircut? Why not get a new do and surprise her with it. Subtly ask her opinion beforehand, to get an idea on how she will respond to it. You could also change your facial appearance by growing (or removing) a beard.

2. Redecorate the bedroom as a Christmas surprise. This can go beyond doing fixes or hardware upgrades. Consider what colors your wife likes. Find a color scheme and purchase a new bedspread. Upgrade with Bed Bath Store curtains and valances. If you aren’t particularly skilled with color scheming and interior design, ask a store associate for help. Most are trained to know the color wheel and what works with what.

3. Pick out a new winter wardrobe. This will be a nice surprise for your wife if you aren’t a big clothes shopper. Buy some new sweaters and dress nice on your date night. Buy stylish and complementary clothes to replace any worn or ratty clothes stashed away in your closet.

4. Take up a new hobby with your wife. Quality time is important and often overlooked in our hectic daily lives. Choose a hobby with your wife that you would both enjoy. You could start wine tasting, take a cooking class, go to a woodworking workshop, take an art class or even something off the wall like singing lessons. This newfound hobby will bring you together and bring more excitement to both of your lives.

5. Give your wife a spa day. Offer to watch the kids and surprise her with a gift certificate to her favorite spa or beauty parlor. She can be pampered with massages, hot tubs, hair and nails. Being a mom is a 24-hour a day job that often goes thankless. Mom deserves a break every now and then.

6. Cook your wife her favorite home cooked meal. If possible, have it ready to be served when she arrives home. Try to make something that is a rare treat, or something she hasn’t eaten in a while.

7. Go big and plan a trip! Surprising your wife with a romantic and fun trip for the two of you might even be more pleasing to her than jewelry and you get to go too, so why not! You can find many luxury lifestyle websites to get fancy trip ideas.

Finding a gift that to make your special women happy this Christmas can be a difficult task. You need to go for something practical, useful and the gift should also suit her personality. Here are some gift ideas to consider this Christmas.

1. Stylish Jewelry box

If your daughter, sister, mother or wife love jewelry, and have a large collection, then a jewelry box can be a great gift. Try to think of the box as a place which should be as special to her as the jewelry itself. If you want to add a traditional touch, you can go for a handmade jewelry box, or even make one yourself. However, it would be best to go for a stylish one. Examples include Mele Rene Black Suede, Modern Espresso and Allison.

2. Sleepwear

Giving her something comfortable is also an option. A warm set of Christmas PJs would also raise the spirit of the day, and she is going to be one happy lady. You can go with cashmere robes, or classic silk pajamas. Apart from PJs, you can also select from other sleepwear items such as slippers and bath robes. Christmas sleepwear for your women can be purchased from local stores. If you want to avoid the crowd, you can buy sleepwear online. You can browse your options from websites like www.crazyforbargains.com for more accessories and products.

3. Perfume

Perfumes are a safe gift as most women love them. You’ll need to find about which scents appeal to her. You can get an idea by observing the aromas she uses already. Another way of making the right choice is by observing their lifestyle. If your women like to spend lots of time outdoors, then a perfume would a natural scent would be the right pick. If they spend most of the time domestically enjoying family life, then you can go for a robust amber fragrance. Some of the affordable options include Euphoria by Calvin Kelvin and Kenzo Amour by Kenzo.

4. Gift certificates for spa treatment/spa products

If you feel your women need love a chance to relax, then a gift certificate for a spa treatment would be a great Christmas gift. Alternatively, you can gift her spa products. Some examples of Spa products include body polish, lotions, sea salt soak and bubble baths. You can make a Christmas spa product basket and add a few decorations. However, this may not be necessary as manufacturers usually decorate these baskets at this time of the year. Some options include Pampering Cherry Blossom Spa Set and Perfect Petals Spa Set. If your women are close to nature and love organic items, you can go for the Go Green Spa Set.

You shouldn’t have a problem choosing the right present if you know your women well.

We posted our Holiday Gift Guide last week just in time for Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It’s broken down into categories like Gadgets, Movies, TV, For Her, Games, Guy Stuff and For the Home. Browse through the sections and you’ll find some great gift ideas.

With Cyber Monday there are loads of deals out there. Check out the deals at Amazon.com for a variety of gift ideas.