Yes, I’m in the bathroom. It’s happened before, so nothing new.
One of my sweet friends sent me a link to a clothing store that only a Dave Ramsey fan could love, okay that’s not true, if you like cute clothes you’ll love it too. Enjoy, Down East Basics and tell me you don’t want to place an order right now.
The sweater…Clay…the sweater. The skirts, the shirts, the long pearls. We’ll walk through it together. Never mind, just give me some clothing money and I’ll order it myself. Merry Christmas to ME! Also, your daughter would like a few things from this sight, so you need to double whatever you’re giving me…or triple, whatever.
I’ll be using my Twitter feed, Facebook page and this blog to give subtle Christmas hints to Clay. Please ignore them, unless you are Clay.

Hon, read the reviews, I think it is entirely possible that I could learn how to use this camera. I know what you’re thinking, I don’t know how to use my cellphone, but I do know how to use your Iphone and I think this camera would be much more user friendly…blah, blah, blah… I want the camera. I think it’s time to retire the old Kodak Easyshare circa 2004. Her buttons are worn and the battery thingy is broken and well, it’s days are numbered.
Clay, remember the year you got me socks? And the other year that you went Christmas shopping with Gary and you picked out a man’s XXL fleece pull-over with giant OLD NAVY stitched to the front in soft feminine colors of black and red? And of course there was the diamond necklace debacle, we won’t go there.
Through the years I’ve tried to use the children to aid you in your gift selections. Specifically Ellen, I would point to items in the store and say, “Ellen, if you are ever shopping with Dad, tell him to buy that for me.” For some odd reason you never believe her and she’s so easily persuaded to like anything that she loses focus and ends up agreeing that I would love some strange snake swirling necklace with a diamond slapped on the surface. Oh, sorry, I went there. It’s okay though, because look at all the help I’m giving you this year. The key is to not choose for yourself. Okay? No wandering off into the wide world of shopping and getting the great idea that I would love a pair of Birkenstocks or Men’s Doc Martins. Why do you always buy me men’s clothing? What is that?
So, let’s review; camera, clothing and an external hard drive. I know you know what an external hard drive is and you’re probably shocked that I want one, but here’s the deal…I also want you to go through all our computers and extract every single photo from them and put them on the hard drive. Then organize the photos so that they make sense. Like chronologically would be a good. Please don’t do that weird thing where if it has a tree in the photo you put all the tree photos in one folder, unless they were all tree photos from November 2003, then okay.
I love you, happy shopping..er..or should I say, happy following your wife’s very specific instructions. Do not let the children help you. Do not hop around to a bunch of other sites. Clay? Clay? Clay, are you listening to me? CLAY!!
This concludes our bathroom blogging for today. Please wash your hands before exiting this site.




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Women everywhere are trying to figure out how to casually leave this post up for their husbands to stumble upon. I wonder if our husbands could be brothers? I’ve forbidden mine to never buy me jewelry again. Can you imagine? Don’t wear it enough for some crazy sparkly something that looks like a Jezebel from the street. I’m a simple girl. Simple jewelry. It’s easy – or should be. I’d rather not have any than be asked for a trick.
You are far too interesting for the mediocrity that is that Down East Catalog. It is full of boring clothes. You have too much personality for those clothes. I am now going to find a Dave Ramsey budget catalog for interesting people. I will be back soon:) hopefully
Really? Dang, I thought they were cute. Shoot…am I getting old? I bought a pair of Clarks a few weeks ago…oh no, I am getting old.
That’s so funny.
I too think the external hard drive for photos is a great idea. Me want. Me want.
Should I even ask why you were blogging in the bathroom? The title had me a bit scared at first!
I do like your hints though. I wish you luck!
Okay, since my husband is 62, he may be a distant uncle or something because I swear these guys are related.One year he shopped at the CAR DEALER. I kid you not. I got a keychain, baseball hat and tee shirt with my car logo on it.
Why do they buy what they want? I don’t get it! I leave plenty of hints or blatantly say exactly what I want. All I can say is there are plenty of us out there and we feel your pain.
Oh, if they would only listen!
My husband has wanted that camera (or one very nearly like it) for years and I’ve always scoffed at the price. But now that I’ve started blogging, I want it too. The dilemma is how to give him something he’s always wanted without being too obvious about how much I want it for my own use.
One year for mothers day my husband bought me an AR-15. It’s a rifle, a mean black tough rifle. I never shot it but I didn’t let him shoot it either. “It’s mine! You can’t shoot it, get your own!” Two birthdays I’ve received handguns, this year I got a vintage Russian sniper rifle. In case you’re wondering we don’t have an arsenal, we usually sell them back to a gun dealer when we’re in a financial pickle.
But then there’s the year I got pearls, real ones, and matching earrings. I still wear those! And the time he ordered a bright turquoise handbag (also still in use), real leather, just because turquoise is my favorite color. I can go on and on, there have been hits and there have been misses. But I’m the first to tell you I have NO IDEA what to get him, except maybe some guns.
Just go shopping for yourself, it saves time and money by not having to return anything and you get what you want.
Merry Christmas to me, from me, for me!
One year I got a power saw…yes a power saw. Wrapped up and had my name on it and everything. The worst part is I saw the receipt(income tax you know!) for it and thought “Oh, they got a saw. Wonder what they’ll do with that.” I’ve never used it.
Now I just get what I want…usually before Christmas so I can enjoy it more!
I’ll have to check out that site, but the real place for Dave Ramsey folks to buy clothes is DAV or Goodwill or Plato’s Closet. Clay, do NOT listen to me and do NOT buy your wife clothes from either of those places for Christmas! The results could be disastrous, though I rather like them when I’m shopping for myself.
Danny has gotten better at picking out gifts for me over time. I love it when he listens to little hints, but my very favorite thing is when he sees something he knows I will like that I haven’t even mentioned wanting. I love surprises and I love when a gift shows that he really knows me and has been paying attention to what I say beyond flat out requests.
Awesome! My husband and I were just discussing the fact that you can’t “hint” to man – you have to hit them over the head if you want something. Funny tho…my emails with “I want this” still seem to be ignored.
I think I’m in love with Down East Basics.
last year Jeff got all sentimental (key word – mental) and wanted us to get things that we’d always remember were gifts from that Christmas.
He got me a set of embroidery hoops. Even though I had gone to several stores and picked out photo frames that I really wanted to showcase his photos of us… I even texted him photos showing exactly where they were in the stores… I did everything short of buying them for him to give to me!
And I got him the book he had been subltly hinting about for a few months.
The hoops were cheap and wont hold my projects.
He hasn’t cracked open the book.
Meanwhile, this year I threw his “Cheaper Than DIRT!” catalog at him and told him to highlight the REASONABLE things he would like to receive.
Still haven’t figured out what I’m going to do about showing him what I want.
ACK! What have you done to me? I LOVE those clothes! Now I’m thinking about buying clothes and I really don’t think I *need* any. However, if my SIL should ask what to get me, I’m going to tell her to look at the sale page. Unbelievable prices and I love so many of the tops (first six, minus the henley) and skirts (floral fixation and turning colors). I don’t even really *wear* skirts, but I think I may need to start. AND I’m recommending this site to my 17yodd’s best friend because I know she will love these clothes too. Wow! Great recommendation and there are even shirts in there that don’t fit tight around the muffin top. Gotta love that.
Um, yeah. Forget dropping hints and BE DIRECT! VERY direct. One year, before we even lived out in the country, hubby surprised me with a lever action .22! What on earth made him think I wanted THAT? Gotta love em!
Mr. Dirtywrench once got me a sewing machine for Christmas. It’s arrival was immediately followed by the arrival of a large stack of blue jeans that needed repair. This was the year we were engaged and I hadn’t gotten a ring yet. Everyone thought I would get a ring for Christmas but noooooo! Rings are not at all practical donchaknow.
OK so I just have to tell you, I tend to be a little bit… OK, a huge shopaholic, and I pretty much am now in love with that shop. Why did you do this to me??? What would DR say?
I’m thinking a nice gift card might do the trick. You can pick out what you want. A gift card from a store with NEW clothing, I mean.
Couple years back the Farmer’s daughter (hah) saw a necklace in a catalogue she wanted and convinced her dad to get me one. Way expensive. He apparently felt forced to purchase this. A chain with a little silver stick with words on it and a “stone” (possibly plastic). He presented it in his traditional wrapping of a plastic grocery store bag, wadded into his pocket. He threw it at me at the end of Christmas day and said “Here, I got you something.” So romantic! I wondered if the stick words were characteristics I lacked and was supposed to work toward. Eventually I figured out this was my birthstone and traits for my birth month. So now I wear it constantly, to show I care. He’s forgotten he gave it to me. Sometimes no one wins!
Well at least you got an ugly necklace…I got um, let’s just say a large adult toy for a present from my ex. Oh not just once EVERY DING DANG GIFT GIVING HOLIDAY. I just don’t remember saying “oh honey, you know what I REALLY want for Christmas this year? A big purple dildo that vibrates and uses a 12 Volt battery. Yes, that is what I truely desire.”
I’ve read through the comments, and what is it with men thinking their women folk want guns? I once received a 9mm for my birthday, and he conveniently registered it in his name!!
Keep throughing the hints at him…I have faith in Clay!
^^throwing. Ugh!
OK, I want you to go to this website. Enter your measurements and see what type of clothes flatter you best.
http://www.myshape.com/
Then go to a good consignment store, or Goodwill and buy the best things you see. Use lots of color,
Hee, hee – so HOW much time do you get to spend in the bathroom?? My son would be knocking at the door in less than 1 minute (but he’s only 6) and dancing around saying he has to go potty (conveniently, while I’M in there).
Clay will come through this time, because if he doesn’t, he’ll probably be hearing from “us.”
Good luck.
Know of any good cameras under out Dave Ramsey budget of $300?
I doubt my budget would allow an increase of $200…..
And I liked those clothes!
Great way to drop hints for Christmas. I may have to use your technique. Love it, love it!
Curse you for introducing me to Down East Basics. I bought a dress and a skirt! But I will say that we will be DEBT FREE on Monday (just waiting for a bank transfer of money) so maybe this will be my reward for 4 long years of hard work – Damn Ramsey really works!
I just said this to Pioneer Woman, but I’m laughing out loud. And I know it’s not that I’m in a hilarious mood b/c I just started my girly time… TMI? Whatever. You make me laugh–out loud–by myself–during my girly time.
-a post-it note stuck to MY debit card reading “Good for $50 worth of preggo clothes”.
-a post-it note stuck to his debit card reading “IOU”.
-the year I handed him money, told him which store, exact location and wrote down a description of a specific mirror, he bought a completely different one (it was much less $$) and a fishing rod for himself.
-the year I asked for a gift card to a specific day spa, he gave me a folded piece of computer paper reading “Good for one (or actually two) free eyebrow waxin’s!” It was also illustrated.
Good thing I love him so much!
And for what it’s worth, I love Down East Basics. The original idea was that they’re *basics*. The whole point was to expand whatever else is in your wardrobe with a few basic pieces–give new life to an old skirt with a new cardigan, sort of thing. But they’ve expanded their line a lot the last couple of seasons. Seriously, how can you not love these skirts? http://www.downeastbasics.com/skirts.aspx
anyway, this long-time lurker, first time commenter wholly supports your choice of Christmas hints and completely commiserates on your need to be dropping them.
After the absolute debacles that were gifts in the early years of our marriage, I now no longer leave these things to my husband. For several years I bought my own gifts and gave them to him to wrap. These days I trust him enough to email him the exact link for what I want. I do this sometime in mid November, with a note to *buy this now*. Do *not* wait until 3 days before Christmas. No, buy it *now*. You can wrap it 3 days before Christmas.
Bring on the not so subtle hints! Last year almost everything I rec’d was “AS SEEN ON TV” products! Crazy! And funny at the same time!
Inga
OMG- I had never heard of Downeast Basics before- I LOVE THEM! Thank you for fueling my addiction (they’re prices aren’t too bad!)! My husband likely has something else to say to you.
You almost have the right idea. I find things on the internet and print them out and store them in a folder marked “Callie Wants”. I told my husband that I am setting him up for success. Now he only has to look in the folder for gift ideas. We had a ‘old lady gold earrings” debacle a few years back. He made fun of the folder at first but now he loves it. Plus, I am greedy and LOVE presents.
My husband got a sewing machine one year for father’s day.
After that he stopped buying me bulls and pregnant heifers for mother’s day.
oh the lengths we go to so that we can actually be happy with our presents on Chirstmas morning instead of pretending
Sometimes, this is the best thing for a man. A list, with pictures.
I’ve been a Downeast girl for years! They’re dresses are super flattering on ANY figure; you really can’t go wrong there! I’m blessed enough to live near a DownEast Basics clothing store so I can try things on first. Love it!
Loved this post! Made me think of all the crazy things I’ve received over the years. Like the “pink-ish” umbrella my hubby gave me one birthday year many moons ago…..because, he couldn’t think of anything else and thought it to be a practical gift. Going to have to give that external hard drive a whirl..yes that would definitely work to organize photos and make sense of them all.