I think I'm pretty low maintenance as well, but being a grad student probably gives me a different perspective about his situation.
Good points all around everyone. She got her MS in Nursing Administration, so yeah she did put in a ton of sweat and tear equity into it. I guess I didn't think of it that way. A night away sounds good.
x3. Assuming she didn't finish the program just to impress YOU, that she did it because it was a life goal, then it isn't up to you to make a big stink. That, and after the stress of final exams she might want to just take it easy. Flowers, dinner, time together...all sounds just fine. Especially since you just took two days off to help her move.
Yea, I'm gonna have to agree with the above people. I wasn't aware that the grander the accomplishment, the grander the gesture required to show adequate validation. Or maybe it's not about validation and more about the fact that one cares and is proud. The point of the story is, when you take her to McDonald's, let her get the large fries and drink.
I don't mean it in a "make a big stink about it" kind of way. I think of it more like dinner + flowers = sweet gesture for birthdays, anniversaries, Mother's Day. To me, graduating is an accomplishment that isn't really on par with life events that happen every year and require just existing. If my boyfriend was graduating, I'd want to do something a little more special. Your girl may want something completely different.
Maybe I am remembering this incorrectly, but The Dude's master's degree diploma seemed excessively large. It looked like it would be kinda expensive to frame. Perhaps you can frame her diploma for her? I don't know. I didn't get The Dude a gift. I took him out to a nice dinner and cleaned the hell out of his apartment for him. I thought that was okay, but now I feel like I should've done more.
When the boyfriend finishes his masters next semester I'll just take him out for a nice dinner. Knowing him, he will think that even that is excessive. But to each their own. You know best what your girl wants, Juice.
When Mrs. Noland got her Masters I bought her something expensive, sparkly, and blue. It also coincided with her birthday and her moving 500 miles South to live with me, so there was a lot going on other than just the degree.
Why not ask her what she wants? Go to her with a bouquet of flowers and a few ideas (dinner, weekend trip, whatever else) and see what she says. Maybe I'm crazy, but after finishing something exhausting and stressful I'd rather get a massage and watch movies in bed for a day than get fancied up for a nice dinner. But boyfriend and I celebrate lots of things with charcuterie and cheese and wine at home because we are poor bums, so maybe I'm not the best judge.
A good set of All-Clad cookware and an apron? When my wife got her MBA, I threw her a surprise party and gave her a Coach briefcase. When I got my master's, we and our girls went out for a nice dinner, plus they gave me a really nice leather messenger bag from Levenger's and had the sheepskin framed (which isn't cheap--cost around $240).
After my girlfriend finished her Master's and CPA exams this summer/fall, all she wanted was a giant margarita and back massages. However we did some more celebrating this past weekend with a little vacation. Oh that helps too. She just didn't want to bother with a big fancy date after the exams and isn't into shiny things either (not a very materialistic girl).
Skin question: I have a scar on my face from acne when I was a kid - kind of like a dark spot. What product would work best to get rid of it? Proactive has worked great, but their Dark Spot Remover is impossible to find. Any experience with Clinique? Another brand?
MLab is a good one, but it's pricey. I also suggest checking into GroupOn - the places around here often have specials for some kind of skincareawesomeness that may help.
Question for the TiBettes and TiBers. My husband's birthday is in a couple of weeks and it is catching me a bit unprepared. For the past couple of years I have bought him basketball tickets so the birthday gift thing was covered. This year, we didn't do that so I actually need to pick something else out. He has mentioned a couple of times in passing that he would like a nice watch. I am not sure if he is thinking Rolex when he says nice, but I know that I sure as hell am not. I would prefer something with a price tag in the hundreds rather than the thousands. I have a friend in the jewelry business and she suggested to look at TW Steel. So, here is the one that I like. I know next to nothing about watches so am including the link with the product info so those in the know about this sort of thing can tell me if it would be a good choice. It seems awfully....big. But the guy assured me that this is the current trend in watches. My husband isn't a flashy guy in general, but I know that he would lean to the flashy side for a watch. To be honest, his "watch" is usually his cell phone so this would be mostly for looks. Dress wise he is business casual at work with the occasional suits a couple times a month. Ideally I would like something that would look good with both. <a class="postlink" href="http://www.watchxl.com/tw-steel-ce6001-ceo-pilot-mens-watch-swiss-made-48mm.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.watchxl.com/tw-steel-ce6001- ... -48mm.html</a>
I like the way that brand looks but not so much the one you linked. Personally, I would pick one with a metal band unless you specifically know he has been oogling at colored ones. A gold or silver band looks sharper and won't clash with any clothes he might wear. What color metal is his wedding band? Perhaps you could match it.