Is this gift silly?

oddyogi

So I was at petsmart today getting dog food and new toys, and I saw they had travel mugs on sale. After skimming for a Corgi (mine) I looked for a black lab, because that's what one of SL's dogs is. We're both super dog lovers, and when I'm with someone if I see a little no big deal gift somewhere, I'll pick it up for my guy. I'll even do it for friends and family, but usually I'm not thinking about them all the time.

So anyway, I bought the mug. But now I wonder, was it a silly idea? Do women only use the cute doggy items like travel mugs? Lol I know this is a silly question, but if you were a guy, a dog lover, one of your dogs was a lab, and your gf bought you a little "just because"/funny gift, would you like it?

Sorry...lol.

shammxo

I think it's clever and cute. I know I appreciate it when people get thoughtful gifts... I'd assume it would be the same for guys.

Especially since ya'll share a love for dogs!

dbrightwell1270

Just give him the gift. Don't over think this. It's not like he has to be seen in public by all his friends in some overly feminine stupid outfit that matches yours so you'll be happy. It's just a coffee mug.

Carl01

Anything that tells him you are listening to and that you care about his likes is perfect and not silly.

Be aware that does not mean he will show it to every person he knows but may choose to cherish it for himself alone.
Understand that.

oddyogi

Anything that tells him you are listening to and that you care about his likes is perfect and not silly.

Be aware that does not mean he will show it to every person he knows but may choose to cherish it for himself alone.
Understand that.

Oh of course! I don't expect him to use that mug every morning for the rest of time. :P

He was kinda awkward when it was his birthday and I bought him beer and cake. I'm not sure if he's entirely comfortable with receiving gifts.

Too bad cuz I love gift giving! Lol I bought my roomie stuff at PetSmart too.

mrmanmeat

So I was at petsmart today getting dog food and new toys, and I saw they had travel mugs on sale. After skimming for a Corgi (mine) I looked for a black lab, because that's what one of SL's dogs is. We're both super dog lovers, and when I'm with someone if I see a little no big deal gift somewhere, I'll pick it up for my guy. I'll even do it for friends and family, but usually I'm not thinking about them all the time.

So anyway, I bought the mug. But now I wonder, was it a silly idea? Do women only use the cute doggy items like travel mugs? Lol I know this is a silly question, but if you were a guy, a dog lover, one of your dogs was a lab, and your gf bought you a little "just because"/funny gift, would you like it?

Sorry...lol.

You should stop buying your dog food at Petsmart.

jenj1313

If you're worried about it seeming too gifty, don't present it as such. Just say, oh... saw this and thought of you and hand it to him.

JanieJack

It seems to me that most guys don't attach the same meaning to gifts that women do. But that doesn't mean he won't like it and smile every time he sees it! I'm just saying be prepared for him not to have the same attachment that you might have if he gave you something.

flimflamfloz

I really like this kind of thoughtful gifts!

As Janie said, we probably don't attach the same meaning to it that women do (which is a good reason to not spend tons on these little gifts btw), but still there is about 1 in 10 "silly gift" that I will just love and use constantly!
The rest will be somewhere and make me smile when I see it, as she said.

Roadie2000

I'd love it, mainly because I also have a black lab and you can never have too many travel mugs. I would also appreciate the thoughtfulness and the gesture. It depends what it looks like though, if it was too "cute" or had a puppy or a kitten on it or something, it would probably be a little too silly.

Random gift giving can make people uncomfortable though. Sometimes I feel like "Oh crap, now I have to get her something" even though I know that's not really the case. But I'm still jaded by an ex-girlfriend who would always yell at me about how I "never" did anything like that, even though I did, just maybe not as often as her.

oddyogi

I'd love it, mainly because I also have a black lab and you can never have too many travel mugs. I would also appreciate the thoughtfulness and the gesture. It depends what it looks like though, if it was too "cute" or had a puppy or a kitten on it or something, it would probably be a little too silly.

Random gift giving can make people uncomfortable though. Sometimes I feel like "Oh crap, now I have to get her something" even though I know that's not really the case. But I'm still jaded by an ex-girlfriend who would always yell at me about how I "never" did anything like that, even though I did, just maybe not as often as her.

Yeah, I think he just gets kind of awkward about it because he's used to doing stuff for me. For example, 95% of the time he cooks dinner for me. I offer to cook him dinner a lot but he normally declines. However, he's had a long week and he's agreed to let me come cook for him at his place while he relaxes tonight.

The mug is green and has an adult lab on it, so it's not too girly or cutesy or anything I think. He uses the "doggy" voice on his boys, so I think he'll like it.

But yeah, he's starting to open up to letting me do things for him more and more. I think we're both givers--I definitely don't expect him to buy me random little gifts! I just like doing that.. it was only $5, so it's really just like a knick knack.

MikeM53082

So I was at petsmart today getting dog food and new toys, and I saw they had travel mugs on sale. After skimming for a Corgi (mine) I looked for a black lab, because that's what one of SL's dogs is. We're both super dog lovers, and when I'm with someone if I see a little no big deal gift somewhere, I'll pick it up for my guy. I'll even do it for friends and family, but usually I'm not thinking about them all the time.

So anyway, I bought the mug. But now I wonder, was it a silly idea? Do women only use the cute doggy items like travel mugs? Lol I know this is a silly question, but if you were a guy, a dog lover, one of your dogs was a lab, and your gf bought you a little "just because"/funny gift, would you like it?

Sorry...lol.

It doesn't really matter what the present is, it's the thought that really counts. He should be very thankful and happy that you went out of your way to buy him something (even if he never actually uses it).

AnnaPixie

Definitely give it to him. God, I bought pants for my mate cos we were talking about them and I knew he would like them !! :laugh:

It would be a rare (and sad) person that would take offence to a random act of kindness! :flowerforyou:

catherine4211

Not silly at all. Very thoughtful. GIVE IT TO HIM.

catherine4211

I gave my old ID card holder to my "friend" non-boyfriend - whatever he is. (yes we are talking again) He said it was the BEST gift he's ever gotten. So I think guys can care about little things like that. Personally that was my first experience with that. Kinda nice.

Tropical_Turtle

I would for sure give it to him. I bet he will appreciate it and appreciate the thought that you thought of him when you saw it.

poncho33

Give it to him, and if he isn't excited that you were thinking about him... dump his unappreciative *kitten*!!

sunnymel126

I think that's really thoughtful and to me who doesn't like getting gifts!!! Even if he is awkward about receiving them he should be thankful for it.

TheKitsune6

So I was at petsmart today getting dog food and new toys, and I saw they had travel mugs on sale. After skimming for a Corgi (mine) I looked for a black lab, because that's what one of SL's dogs is. We're both super dog lovers, and when I'm with someone if I see a little no big deal gift somewhere, I'll pick it up for my guy. I'll even do it for friends and family, but usually I'm not thinking about them all the time.

So anyway, I bought the mug. But now I wonder, was it a silly idea? Do women only use the cute doggy items like travel mugs? Lol I know this is a silly question, but if you were a guy, a dog lover, one of your dogs was a lab, and your gf bought you a little "just because"/funny gift, would you like it?

Sorry...lol.

You should stop buying your dog food at Petsmart.

A year ago I would agree - but now Petsmart does carry quality grain-free dog food brands for decent prices as does Petco.
Unless of course, you're encouraging a raw diet

I think that gift is amazing. If you see something and it reminds you of someone - go for it! If he gets offended then... eh base future decisions on that. In the meantime that sounds perfect... especially because he uses a doggy voice

TheKitsune6

I think that's really thoughtful and to me who doesn't like getting gifts!!! Even if he is awkward about receiving them he should be thankful for it.

Ooh, this is a great point too! I -love- getting thoughtful gifts, and I keep stuff like that forever. However receiving them makes me feel incredibly awkward because I don't want them to feel obligated, and it can bring about emotions that are difficult for me to express.

JanieJack

It doesn't really matter what the present is, it's the thought that really counts. He should be very thankful and happy that you went out of your way to buy him something (even if he never actually uses it).

True, usually... but for sake of argument...

When we have expectations ("you should be happy I did this, it's the thought that counts") we set ourselves up for disappointment. I try not to hold the expectation "he's gonna love it" or anything because I may not know him well enough, and if his reception is lukewarm I'll be hurt. And plus, I don't always believe it's the thought that counts. Paying attention counts. When I do something for a man, and he doesn't seem enthused about it, I take note and try not to make/buy that again.

I think the mug is a great gift and a nice gesture. OTOH, I have a constant rotating houseful of junk men gave me out of a nice gesture and it's a relief to throw it out when we stop seeing each other because I don't like extra knick-knacks in the house. Out of the last 3 years, only one man I dated ever bought me stuff I actually LIKED and USE but, alas, I wasn't "the one" for him ;-)

Someone mentioned it could set up an awkward expectation imbalance "oh great, now she expects me to give her little gifts..."
Indirectly pressuring the guy. Especially if she is a giver and does like I tend to do once I start giving: I tend to go overboard and smother him which is why I restrain myself from doing too much for guys. Or I do a lot for him (I love to cook) that he couldn't care less about but feels pressure to "be happy because she expects me to be thrilled about her effort"

And talk abut the pressure if he doesn't like it "oh great, if I don't like it and don't display it in a place of honor and use it every day now she's gonna dump me...but if I act like I like it she's gonna keep giving more stupid stuff I don't need"

Even if he really likes it (and I'm sure he will, Buffy, I'm just trying to make a point for future reference), he could be worried it's a sign that you're moving too far too fast in your mind (for some women, one minute they're buying their man little trinkets and the next day they're expecting an engagement ring).

oddyogi

It doesn't really matter what the present is, it's the thought that really counts. He should be very thankful and happy that you went out of your way to buy him something (even if he never actually uses it).

True, usually... but for sake of argument...

When we have expectations ("you should be happy I did this, it's the thought that counts") we set ourselves up for disappointment. I try not to hold the expectation "he's gonna love it" or anything because I may not know him well enough, and if his reception is lukewarm I'll be hurt. And plus, I don't always believe it's the thought that counts. Paying attention counts. When I do something for a man, and he doesn't seem enthused about it, I take note and try not to make/buy that again.

I think the mug is a great gift and a nice gesture. OTOH, I have a constant rotating houseful of junk men gave me out of a nice gesture and it's a relief to throw it out when we stop seeing each other because I don't like extra knick-knacks in the house. Out of the last 3 years, only one man I dated ever bought me stuff I actually LIKED and USE but, alas, I wasn't "the one" for him ;-)

Someone mentioned it could set up an awkward expectation imbalance "oh great, now she expects me to give her little gifts..."
Indirectly pressuring the guy. Especially if she is a giver and does like I tend to do once I start giving: I tend to go overboard and smother him which is why I restrain myself from doing too much for guys. Or I do a lot for him (I love to cook) that he couldn't care less about but feels pressure to "be happy because she expects me to be thrilled about her effort"

And talk abut the pressure if he doesn't like it "oh great, if I don't like it and don't display it in a place of honor and use it every day now she's gonna dump me...but if I act like I like it she's gonna keep giving more stupid stuff I don't need"

Even if he really likes it (and I'm sure he will, Buffy, I'm just trying to make a point for future reference), he could be worried it's a sign that you're moving too far too fast in your mind (for some women, one minute they're buying their man little trinkets and the next day they're expecting an engagement ring).

You're right, Janie. He liked it, said thank you, said "Awwww look it's Kodiak!" (his lab) and put it in the sink to be washed. I don't expect him to use it all the time. I kind of give things in a "if you like it, you can keep it! If not, you can keep it for when all your other mugs are dirty and you don't have time to wash them" way. Lol. So success. But then minutes later I notice a coffee cup in his dish drying rack that has pictures of him and his dogs on it with birthday hats on the dogs and a doggy cake, with "Happy Dog Dad Day" or something written on it. I picked it up and said awwww that's cute! And he said yeah his ex (wife) got it for him a couple years ago. I know he didn't mean anything wrong by it but I had to kind of lol inside to myself cause that coffee cup totally owns my travel mug. Lol. Don't worry. Not like I'm going to get into a gift giving challenge with my mental version of his ex wife that he's been done with for almost two years. Just thought that was kind of a cowinkydink and cute because it's something I mighta thought of. :P

End babbling.