It was a warm summer's day back in June 2010 (ok I may be exaggerating, it was in Wales so it definitely wasn't warm!), and my boyfriend and I headed off to the supermarket for our weekly shop. While we were there we were also looking for a present for our flatmate whose birthday it was. We were students, don't judge us! A running joke in our house was how much of a baby our flatmate was so we decided to buy him some baby things like bottles and dummies. We arrived at the supermarket, did our shopping and started perusing the baby aisle looking for the perfect present. As we looked up and down the aisle a purple colour caught my eye (if you don't know me very well then you won't be aware of how obsessed I am with purple!). That purple colour happened to be a box full of purple monkey toys and I just can't let something like that go! A cute purple monkey toy - I had to have it! So I turn to my boyfriend and flutter my eyelids and he asks, 'would you like it?'. As if he had to ask. And nine months into our relationship, that it how we found 'our teddy'.
You may not know it, but your girlfriend probably has a teddy which she associates with your relationship - either because you bought it for her or because she associates it with a memory of you. If she doesn't have one, then hopefully soon you'll find your story and the teddy to go with it.
Our teddy has ended arguments (she asked mummy to stop being mad at daddy back in our first year together) and because we're in an LDR (long distance relationship), she's a reasonable replacement for cuddling up to at night when the other half is away! She even gets sprayed with my boyfriend's aftershave sometimes, when we separate. She also wears a necklace which was a present that he bought back from a holiday he had without me in France!
There are two reasons why I told you that story...
- To show that presents don't need to be expensive. The purple teddy that has been so important to our relationship only cost about £3! The secret to presents is to make them personal. As one half of a relationship, memories also make fabulous presents and if you're ever stuck then just think of a memory or a thing that sums up your relationship and you have a winning present!
- And because if you've ever wondered who lila was...wonder no more.
This beautiful purple monkey is a very special monkey and she also has a very special name!
I still think that my very first post was one of my best, so if you'd like to check it out, then click here. As for all the rest, you should definitely take the time to read through them all because I hope that at least one will either explain the female mind to you or give you good ideas for presents as well as keep you entertained.
To all who have been religious readers of my blog: thank you!
To all those who have only recently discovered my blog: please keep reading!
With love from me and lila xx
