Saturday, May 12, 2012

Anniversary #1 - Paper

We must be having fun. Our first year of marriage flew by in an instant. What better way to celebrate your first year? Fly a kite!

Hubby surprised me with a 5-foot "paper" airplane kite. Pretty good twist on the traditional paper gift for the first year. That's why I married the guy!

How have you skewed the fine lines of the traditional or expected anniversary gift-giving? Below is the "guide" from anniversarygift.org.
AnniversaryTraditional Gift IdeasModern Gift Ideas
FirstPaper – a personalized love poem or invitation, scrapbook of mementos from your first year, or a bouquet of paper flowersClocks- there are many clocks and watches to fit any budget
SecondCotton/Straw – Bed linens, placemats, terrycloth bath robes, crazy tee shirts or my favorite a hammock are good cotton gift choices; straw hats or placemats or how about a hayride for straw gift optionsChina – a set of China dinnerware, china serving dishes or china figurines would make a wonderful gift
ThirdLeather – depending on your budget consider a gift of a leather bag or leather luggage, leather jackets, skirts,  pants, or a leather hat or beltCrystal/Glass – crystal glasses or vases, stemware or if you are feeling really creative how about a stained glass window
FourthBooks/Fruit/Flowers – if your significant other is a book lover this is a great category and flowers are a romantic gift for any occasion. Fruit sounds a bit mundane but a bowl of colorful Mexican made paper mache fruit would make an unusual and attractive giftLinen/Silk – these are two of the finest fabrics made so finding a silk scarf, lingerie, blouse, suit, pillow cases or an arrangement of silk flowers should be an easy assignment. A linen suit for a man or woman is an elegant gift. And if you don’t want clothing try linen placements or table linens
FifthWood – study and strong wood is a great symbol for a fifth anniversary. You could choose from as diverse gift choices as planting a tree, giving a cord of wood, or objects made of wood, for example a salad bowl, candlesticks, jewelry, furniture or how about a totem poleSilverware – there is the obvious table settings of silverware or you could go with something more exotic like a bracelet made from an old silver fork or sticking with a silver theme maybe a silver dollar or silver picture frame
SixthSugar/Iron – How about a box of candy or sugar cookies. More creative you could take a vacation to Hawaii or Puerto Rico to visit the sugar cane fields or if the season is right head up to maple syrup country. Iron offers a lot of variety for example wrought iron furniture, BBQ tools, a iron wine rack, tools or how about going with a pumping iron theme and getting him or her a membership to the local gym or a set of bar bellsWood – study and strong wood is a great symbol for a fifth anniversary. You could choose from as diverse gift choices as planting a tree, giving a cord of wood, or objects made of wood, for example a salad bowl, candlesticks, jewelry, furniture or how about a totem pole
SeventhWool/Copper – for wool you can go with a sweater, hat or gloves or the yarn to make any of the above, a wool suit or jacket would make a special gift for him or her.Desk Sets – For a professional a leather, wooden or brass desk set would be an appreciated gift your spouse would use everyday
EighthBronze/Pottery – Bronze sculptures, plaques and bells or wind chimes are good ideas as are pottery bowls, pitchers, clay figures, hand painted clay tiles and for the personal gift you could always go to a pottery studio and throw your own bowl for your special giftLinens/Lace – A linen suit for a man or woman is an elegant gift. And if you don’t want clothing try linen placements or table linens. Or a lace pillow case, table cloth or a lace camisole or slip all would make a good gift choice
NinthPottery/Willow – pottery bowls, pitchers, clay figures, hand painted clay tiles and for the personal gift you could always go to a pottery studio and throw your own bowl for your special gift. Willow offers the option of willow furniture, wreaths, baskets and distinctive willow framesLeather – depending on your budget consider a gift of a leather bag or leather luggage, leather jackets, skirts,  pants, or a leather hat or belt
TenthAluminum – Aluminum cans are made into some great jewelry, or there are artists who specialize in large aluminum sculptures, aluminum watches and sunglasses you can even find aluminum sundialsDiamond Jewelry- diamond rings, earrings, bracelets and pendants are a good choice, check out eternity bands for a special gift
EleventhSteel – durable and strong steel is symbolic of a relationship that has lasted eleven years-you could go with stainless steel pans or kitchen accessories or steel knives, there are also stainless steel jewelers and sculptors who make great giftsFashion Jewelry – is a fun and inexpensive gift you can find at any department store or online
TwelfthLinen/Silk – these are two of the finest fabrics made so finding a silk scarf, lingerie, blouse, suit, pillow cases or an arrangement of silk flowers should be an easy assignment. A linen suit for a man or woman is an elegant gift. And if you don’t want clothing try linen placements or table linens.Pearls – Natural or cultured pearl jewelry or for a unique gift a mother of pearl inlaid jewelry box
ThirteenthLace – a lace pillow case, table cloth or a lace camisole or slip all would make a good gift choiceTextiles/Faux fur – There are thousand of faux fur gifts including pillows, throws, jackets and coats or cute little furry animals. If you are looking for textiles you can find rugs, tablecloths, scarves, aprons or fabric art and quilts
FourteenthIvory – this is tricky because of the ban on selling ivory to protect the elephants. There are alternatives to animal ivory such as “vegetable” (also called tagua nut) ivory and “mandarin” ivory from which many beautiful carvings and ornaments and even a watch are madeGold Jewelry – you can find beautiful manufactured gold chains, rings, bracelets and pins or you can go the handcrafted gold jewelry route and choose an original jewelry piece from an artist
FifteenthCrystal – crystal glasses or vases, stemware will be an appreciated and treasured giftWatches – this is a great category for any spouse you can get sports watches, dress or casual watches. How about a classic Disney watch or a gadget watch that does everything and tells time too
TwentiethChina – a set of China dinnerware, china serving dishes or china figurines would make a wonderful giftPlatinum – there are wonderful platinum jewelry choices, platinum dipped roses, or you could get your significant other a platinum CD set
Twenty-fiveSilver – silver jewelry is a natural choice or a silver picture frame…picture provided by you, silver candle sticks, serving bowls, pitchers or trays also make great giftsSilver – silver jewelry is a natural choice or a silver picture frame…picture provided by you, silver candle sticks, serving bowls, pitchers or trays also make great gifts
ThirtyPearl – Natural or cultured pearl jewelry or for a unique gift a mother of pearl inlaid jewelry boxDiamond – diamond rings, earrings, bracelets and pendants are a good choice, check out eternity bands for a special gift
Thirty-fiveCoral – this is a tough category if you are concerned about the destruction of the coral reefs coral jewelry is probably not an option, consider as an alternative a trip to a coral reef for some great snorkeling or choosing a gift that is coral in colorJade – jade jewelry or sculptures are a beautiful choice or you could go for a jade plant if you are buying for a plant lover
FortyRuby – ruby jewelry is the most common choice but you could also go for the Ruby Ulander pattern of Wedgwood China or a Ruby Bone China Tea Set, or some of the beautiful ruby colored glasses or stemwareRuby – ruby jewelry is the most common choice but you could also go for the Ruby Ulander pattern of Wedgwood China or a Ruby Bone China Tea Set, or some of the beautiful ruby colored glasses or stemware
Forty-fiveSapphire – sapphire jewelry is stunning, if you want a non-jewelry gift there are some wonderful clothing and scarf gifts you can find in the distinctive sapphire blue colorSapphire – sapphire jewelry is stunning, if you want a non-jewelry gift there are some wonderful clothing and scarf gifts you can find in the distinctive sapphire blue color
FiftyGold – gold jewelry, gold plated roses or seashells, a gold handbagGold
Fifty-fiveEmerald – silver jewelry is a natural choice or a silver picture frame…picture provided by you, silver candle sticks, serving bowls, pitchers or trays also make great giftsEmerald – silver jewelry is a natural choice or a silver picture frame…picture provided by you, silver candle sticks, serving bowls, pitchers or trays also make great gifts.
SixtyDiamond – diamond rings, earrings, bracelets and pendants are a good choice, check out eternity bands for a special giftDiamond – diamond rings, earrings, bracelets and pendants are a good choice, check out eternity bands for a special gift
Sixty-fiveBlue Sapphires – sapphire jewelry is stunning, if you want a non-jewelry gift there are some wonderful clothing and scarf gifts you can find in the distinctive sapphire blue colorBlue Sapphires – sapphire jewelry is stunning, if you want a non-jewelry gift there are some wonderful clothing and scarf gifts you can find in the distinctive sapphire blue color
SeventyDiamond/Platinum – diamond rings, earrings, bracelets and pendants are a good choice, check out eternity bands for a special gift. Platinum jewelry or platinum picture frames that you add the photographs to are a special giftPlatinum –platinum jewelry or platinum picture frames that you add the photographs to are a special gift
Seventy-fiveDiamond – diamond rings, earrings, bracelets and pendants are a good choice, check out eternity bands for a special giftDiamond – diamond rings, earrings, bracelets and pendants are a good choice, check out eternity bands for a special gift