H&M pants, sweater & bracelet c/o Banana Republic, bag c/o Roots Canada,
“Um, so do you want to get these for me for our anniversary?” I asked as Matt stood in line to pay for a few men’s shirts at H&M. “They’re like, $15…I didn’t try them on but whatever, I can always exchange.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yeah, they’re pretty cute. The print’s kind of nice, isn’t it?”
“Sure.”
“Eeerrrhhmmmmmmmmmm k well actually hold on…I dunno if I really want to have to come back down to exchange if they don’t fit, this isn’t my favourite location but this will be the only place that will have the other size so I’d have to come here. And they look like they might be really high-rise. And I kind of want to try more high-rise waistlines out, but at the same time I kind of did that already a few years ago and I don’t really know if it’s really the most flattering cut on my body, I mean maybe if I try…”
“BABE. I have to pay. And they’re $15. Figure it out.”
Heavy sigh, furrowed brow and finally, an “……….okay………I’ll do it.”
“K, throw them in the pile. Happy anniversary!”
So concludes the story of how these lovely printed pants came into my life.
This is generally how we like to do gift-shopping. Well, to be fair, my boyfriend’s actually good at buying thoughtful gifts and has proven this time and time again over the course of our relationship, but since I am so completely abysmal with gift-giving, I really lower the bar for us as a couple. Slowly but surely, I’ve chipped away at standards until our gift-exchanges have now been reduced to tawdry 2-3 item shopping lists (as evidenced above).
Having said that, though gift-giving is not really our strong suit as a twosome (again, I’d just like to point out that that is my doing, something which I’m weirdly proud of), I do have to say that we are good at the experiential side of things. And though this might be a pretty self-serving point to make given how this post has gone so far, I do believe that experiences slightly edge out materialism when it comes to ringing in important milestones together as a couple.
Take our five year anniversary, for example, which is coming up on Sunday…we’re jetting (read: ferrying) off to the cabin, where we’ll undoubtedly have a few wonderful days packed full of rocky canoe rides (just to settle this once and for all, paddling more vigorously/forcefully does not make you a better paddler….MATT), gorging ourselves on pizza/cinnamon buns then feeling queasy, drinking too much red wine and passing out with the TV on, sleeping in until the early afternoon and finally, to cap it all of, me manically running into the water, “encouraging” (read: forcing) Matt to swim in the February-freezing ocean (I get a kick from swimming in glacier-cold waters…it’s weird). See? Memories. Special, special memories.
What about you: are you good at artful/thoughtful gift-giving, or do you focus on making memorable if not always hiccup-free experiences to mark special milestones?
Haha – this totally made me laugh! 🙂 also love the outfit – I just bought skinnies similar to this print at Old Navy and never would have thought to pair them with a mustard top – thanks for the inspiration!!
http://www.pennypincherfashion.com
Mustard is so your colour, pally – so much so you almost make me want to give it a second chance. But not quite 😉 And I kind of love the story of how these pants became yours, it sounds a little bit like conversations Ian and I have except ours usually go, "Are we doing gifts for {insert celebration here} this year?" "I don't know, are we?" "I don't know, do you want to?" "Maybe… is there anything you want?" "I don't know, not really, what about you?" "Well, nothing specific…" etc., etc. To his credit, Ian outdoes me every time in the thoughtful gesture department.
xox,
Cee
haha, guys will never understand 🙂
those pants and shoes are perfection! mustard looks amazing on you too!
Have a wonderful anniversary weekend! Sounds fun! annnd, love the pants!
Coffee Beans and Bobby Pins
lol – I also suck at gift-giving. Our 7th wedding anni is this weekend, and we've already agreed no gifts. Our gift is schlepping the kids off to my mom and a night out in the big city (Toronto). I also totally thought these were the ON pants (I just bought them in red). Very cute – and I dig the combo with the mustard sweater. And those shoes rock. I have to ask….are they walkable? I'm pretty good with heels, but I suspect I would be teetering in those ones…
I used to be good at gift giving but after four years of dating it just seems like so much work. Usually we go shopping together and I'll buy his shoes and he'll buy mine. It confuses the sales people and we have a good laugh at their expense. I wish I was better at gift giving but boys are just so hard to shop for.
Also you look fabulous in those pants. Happy Anniversary!
the pants, sweater, bag — all perfect! xo
http://allthingsprettyandlittle.blogspot.com/
what's so nice sweat, I like this yellow!
Kiss
Aurélie
http://www.lespetitesbullesdemavie.blogspot.com
Haha, I love the story of these pants – sounds like me and Kev 🙂 They are so cute, so I'm glad you decided to throw them in the pile!
I try to give thoughtful/handmade gifts, but the older I get the more simple and practical my gifts are getting 😀
Your anniversary weekend sounds amazing!! Have a great time! Can't wait to hear how it went! Good luck in that freezing cold water!
Love your printed pants!
~Sara
This post made me laugh, I love that he talked you into the pants without trying them on because they do look great. Especially with that gorgeous mustard sweater. Going to the cabin to relax and hang out sounds like the best way to spend an anniversary ever! Enjoy!
xJennaD
I'm all about the experience! A few hiccups are worth it in the long run, aren't they?!
http://www.quarkshoes.com/blog
Love that shade of yellow on you! 🙂
Also, awesome print pants and cool heels <3
Trendy Teal
Love thes pants, I just got a similar pair at the Limited. My hubby and I are similar gift givers, he's so stinking hard to buy for I just et hi pick out what he wants. 🙂
Ginny
mynewfavoriteoutfit.blogspot.com
I am a self proclaimed gift giver. I love giving gifts to my husband, friends, family…it's just fun for me. However, having said that, I'm also all about the quality time and experiences that can be had. Take this past Christmas for example. Rather than exchanging gifts, my husband and I decided to put our money into our recent trip to Maui. Well worth the "sacrifice" of not opening a gift from him on Christmas morning.
Love the anniversary pants:) Have a fabulous weekend away!
Jen xo
http://www.prairiegirlinthecity.com
These pants are awesome on you! What a great $15 find/gift! Haha, and I love that you purposely lower the bar in gift giving – too funny! I feel like I used to be a good gift giver, and then this past year have sucked – like, I will buy something, but forget to get wrapping paper or a bag and just hand it to them, or try to get something last minute (like this valentine's day) and then have a rambly explanation… "SO… I was going to get you this, and then I checked here, but they didn't have it, and then I didn't know if you'd rather have this or that, so I just didn't buy anything, but we can go back and get it!" TERRIBLE. I promised myself I'd really work on it this year!
you look amazing!! Love the pants, bag, and the sweater!
Lovely!
Stylejourneys
absolutly beautiful
Love the story and the outfit. I love those pants, Im wearing the skirt of that print today on my blog!
xo Dina
Sweetest Somethings
Love those pants – have seen them at H&M and thought about getting them. May just have to now!
Megan
budgetfashion101.blogspot.ca
The boy and I are terrible gift givers, although I did manage to surprise him with a pair of brown Camper oxfords he was coveting last Christmas.
You look amazing ! Last season, I got the burgundy version of those pants and I loved and wore them a lot. When I saw the blue version the other day, I almost got them, but since it's the same print in an other color I didn't… now I kinda wish I did !!! Maybe I'll go with the skirt version !
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First of all, your outfit is so cheerful and bright, and those printed pants really ups the style factor. Second, thanks for sharing that story! Made me chuckle and I'm in the same boat as you. I'm a terrible gift giver to my husband, but I blame it on the fact that he doesn't like many material things and men are so difficult to shop for. I sometimes wish we could just go on shopping trips like you because it would make MY life easier!
Marisa
http://style-rhapsody.blogspot.com
Cool pants!
http://initialed.blogspot.com
I love the pants, and they look even better with this jumper, so that's the happy end of the H&M story I guess 🙂
http://www.leahudson.com
Haha – glad you decided to go for the pants! I usually pick out my own presents too 🙂 The pants are fabulous and so are those shoes…love!
Annie
The Other Side of Gray
Le pantalon est vraiment chouette 🙂
Bisous
Yuliya
LOVE the shoes, but can't find them online. Help!!
http://www.partlysouthern.wordpress.com
hahaha what a cute post – hope you had a fabulous anniversary!
I can't tell you how much I love this outfit! Those pants are amazing and I love the way they look with the oversized yellow sweater! Just fabulous!
Kate xo petite-adventures.blogspot.ca
Nice look! I love your blog 😀
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