What To Get?

I'm trying to figure out what to get my girl for her birthday almost two months away. Since I'm coming to the states in a week's time, it's the perfect opportunity to pick up something great at an affordable price. Things here are expensive. I kid you not, a pack of throat lozenges cost like $7. Not the $.99 Halls, but the red ones. Still...way too much. You can imagine the markup on any other kind of goods. Being a financially conservative person (compliments of my late mom), this kills me when I convert the price to US dollars. The upside is that services here are cheap. A typical salon visit to get my hair conditioned, braided (cornrows), nails and feet filed and buffed (no polish) costs a total of maybe $12 with a nice gratuity included. I am always curious about these things, so I like to share them.

I digress. What to get for my girl? I will be picking up some items she's requested and given me money for. We worked out her budget and added and subtracted some things to fit. With our focus on starting life together late this year(fingers and heart crossed) we're trying to be conscious of saving. I however, have made a bonus profit on an investment, half of which I'm socking away. I am thinking of surprising her with the items she subtracted from her list, because A. I know without doubt she will love them B. They are great deals, not to mention classic (read: timeless) clothing items (I love that!) C. They are practical. But of course you saw C coming. The thing is, it doesn't show any original thought I actually put into it. I should probably mention that I plan to visit her for her birthday which is not exactly in budget.

Do you think these things will suffice? She's not a difficult person to please. I don't want to go overboard with my bday being a month after hers, and set the bar too high. Let's recap, several clothing items a little out of her budget, a trip to see her, and as mentioned in another post, a harness she's been drooling over. Let's be clear... I'm the wearer, lol. Too much?

I could probably wait to visit her until the halfway point between our birthdays or closer to mine, and we go half on that. It's less than her coming to see me, because I'd stay in her house instead of her in a hotel not to mention the fear factor of one of my staff talking. That leaves clothes she adores and a harness, though the harness is more for both of us. And that's not setting the bar too high right? Really just clothes I know she really likes? By the time her birthday rolls around we'll have been together for eighth months! That's longer than some couples I know who are already living together. So I want it to be special.

She has mentioned a couple of times she'd like me to wear something to 'show I'm taken'. Lol. So I am thinking of getting matching engraved rings with our initials. I'd of course have to put mine in a keepsake box. Maybe I will have them made and keep to give her until I leave this summer (which coincides with our anniversary)...she will be joining me later in the year. Nice thought Sip. Her mom (who actually calls me!) is likely to know I'm visiting the US and family is super important here. So I'm thinking of, in addition to getting her the clothes, getting her mom a ring with her children's birthstones. I'll have to play private detective and get Kay's siblings' birthdates for that one lol.

Welcome to my crazy and slightly tangential thought process. I do tend to come full circle don't I? Anyway I won't go on much longer, but I think I will keep the clothing items on the list and think over something more personal in addition.


Ideas anyone?