Valentines Ideas Men

RENEE MOILANEN: This 'man's man' turned her ideas of masculinity upside down

At first, I didn't know what to make of my husband's nice-guy ways.

I was in college when we met, going to fraternity parties and football games, smitten by bad boys at the local bars, and here he was, a smart, soft-spoken guy who wooed me with calculus problems on our first Valentine's Day and ditched his friends to care for me when I was sick.

Sadly, I wasn't impressed.

I chalk it up to being young and infested with cliched ideas about men, swooning over the guy doing keg stands instead of the one cramming for his organic chemistry test.

Like many women, I craved a man's man. Despite all my feminist rhetoric, I didn't want the lithe, porcelain-skinned, androgynously vegan men in my women's studies courses. I wanted a guy who could talk football and fix cars, bench 250 pounds and install a toilet, someone who could sling me over his shoulder if he had to.

But my husband has never fit neatly into that box of masculinity.

Sure, he likes power tools and lifts weights. But he's tall and slim, and I worry that if he ever tried to throw me across his back, he'd snap like a twig. He once got his hands dirty changing a car battery but only after he spent 20 hours researching and studying how-to videos on the Internet. He'll watch a football game if it's on but don't ask him who's in the playoffs.

To this day, I'm taken aback when my husband exhibits chest-thumping, hairy-knuckled behavior like rattling off the engine statistics of a muscle car - something about horsepower, torque, blah blah blah - or getting in some guy's face to avenge a slight (to his credit, he often feels very, very bad about hurting the other person's feelings).

In general, my husband is far more comfortable building computers, chatting politics and quietly researching 100 years of stock market performance than engaging in any stereotypical manly pursuits.

So he's not exactly what I had in mind.

My perception of masculinity grew out of a childhood defined by rigid gender roles. Despite burning her bra and marching for women's rights, my mother - at least within the confines of our family - fell into a conventional female role. She cooked. She cleaned. She took care of the kids.

My father, on the other hand, did the guy-type things, like painting the house and installing new drywall, changing the oil in the cars, clattering around with a tool set.

Affordable Valentine's Day Gift Ideas – Sterling Silver Jewelry ...

If you’re at a loss of what to get your Sweetie for Valentine’s Day, silver jewelry can bring a smile to the faces of even the most hard-to-please special people in your life; and not break your pocketbook. Whether you are shopping for your spouse, friend, kids, parents or a potential new love interest, you can find virtually thousands of styles and designs sterling silver jewelry to choose from at affordable prices; and find appropriate Valentine’s Day gifts for everyone on your list. To impress your girlfriend or show your wife she’s special, heart-shaped designs are always a great representation of love and commitment. However, you will want to choose the appropriate style and design to express the correct sentiment. You won’t want to give your mom a sterling silver ring with two entwined hearts; that represents more of a romantic relationship. But your girlfriend would definitely appreciate such an expression of commitment. For mom, a delicate necklace with a single heart-shaped charm will show her that she’s close to your heart, while she wears it close to hers. To show your daughter, niece or any female youths in your life that you’re thinking of them on Valentine’s Day, try a pair of simple heart-shaped earrings or a charm bracelet. The key in finding the perfect silver jewelry Valentine’s Day gift for women is distinguishing what is the appropriate symbol of love for the specific type of relationship you have with her. It may sound challenging, but with a little thought you’ll find the perfect gift for any gal on your list. With virtually hundreds of styles to choose from, the affordability of sterling silver jewelry, and the fact that all women love it, you can’t go wrong. Valentine’s Day shopping for men is typically more difficult than buying for the ladies. Most women will swoon at the mere glimpse of that plush velvety box just knowing that a sparkling new trinket is soon to join the growing population in her jewelry box. But men are different. For the men in your life choose a sterling silver jewelry designs with more rugged and durable styles. The easy part is, that no matter what his age or relationship to you is, you can find a number of men’s silver jewelry gifts that are appropriate for your husband, dad or son. Try a nice thick silver chain and charm set tailored to his individual style.

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