Dare I give him the gift ... of thrift??

Does this look like a man who could bear a gift ... that's thrift?

I'm not so sure. When I gave my talk last week to a women's group on shoestring shopping for the holidays, I warned them against buying thrift gifts for peeps who may not, um, appreciate them. I used my dear mannie as an example. I don't mean this in a mean way. It's just who he is. While I'm a thrift store addict boho clutter bug, he's a new high-tech loving guy with a streamlined style sense, who's got the latest iPod this, fancy car, Abercrombie & Fitch wardrobe, etc ... I swore I'd never buy him a thrift gift, ever. Ever.

But truth be told: I'm a gal on a tight budget, and well, I just can't afford the latest iPod this or that. And I know he doesn't expect that from me. But what's a gal to do, then, when she wants to buy her Brit hunk, from far away, a lovely giftie for the holidays (especially when he's going to do his utmost to get his cute butt over here for Christmas to spend with 'lil 'ole me)?

The other day, I found this amazing gift in a thrift shop (amazing to me, of course - whether he'll find it amazing is, exactly, the question!). Unfortunately I can't even show it to you, because my dear sweet man checks in to my blog when he's not navigating the skies. But this gift, let's say, relates to what he does (pilot who travels a lot), has a sense of history (and is most certainly vintage), is practical and could be used if he wants, and is somewhat design-savvy - if not that then most certainly interesting style-wise - and is pretty well made, in my humble opin. (No honey, it's not a vintage model plane, sorry).

I think I may just go for broke (literally, ha ha) and give it to him.

But I never thought I'd ever, ever give him the gift of thrift!!