I had already shown her the earrings and told her the story how I bought them with the intention of giving them to a future girlfriend. I am not giving them to her this Christmas. I may hold off on giving those until New Years eve. She so much wants to start the New Year off by kissing a guy when the clock strikes midnight.
I got matching thermal underwear for her and her daughter. She said not to buy her clothes or perfume, but that was after I had already purchased and wrapped said item. She told me not to buy her anything, but I think that would just get me sentenced longer in the dog house. I got her daughter a pack of 10 Disney stories and a princess kit. I have some pondering to do as I am a lousy gift shopper.
you aren't a lousy gift shopper, just out of practice. Gypsy is right. A gift doesn't have to be expensive, just meaningful. A gift is an extension of your feelings. That can be something silly or romantic or related to a shared memory. It's the emotion behind it that makes it meaningful. It's also what makes gift-giving hard; most of us try to do it without any thought and therefore the act of giving has no meaning. If you really like GF40, think about why. If you want to give her something, give her something that reflects those reasons. Give her something that relates to the conversations you've had with her, or something that reminds you of her. Give her something that you know she likes. Maybe that is thermal underwear, I don't know. I would certainly like it if GF40 gave ME thermal underwear, preferably with some SmartWool socks. But give it a little thought and don't end up in the doghouse!
Notes with a gift always bring greater meaning. You can always write something that relates to warmth and her and you.. or whatever strikes your fancy.
Yes, a nicely written note or card is what is called for. It is funny that the few notes/cards we have given each other express similar endearing thoughts, but hers use a more adult (R rated) language which I like a lot!
If her notes use more "R" rated language, maybe you could mention the thermals are to keep her warm for the times when you aren't there to do it yourself.
The last couple days trapped in the house by snow has been somewhat productive as I have been going through and reorganizing and boxing up X's stuff. She was quite the messy and disorganized woman. I still need to turn the office/romper room back into a family room, but I am seeing the light at the end of the clutter tunnel.