Monday 27 December 2010

Paper Hearts and Ticking Clocks

The 27th of December is my anniversary. Not my wedding anniversary; please, I'm only 20. But today my mister and I have been together a whole year.

Eugh, please forgive me for this,
 readers.

I'm a hopeless romantic, but I'm not really the mushy type - I like to keep that stuff private. I'm already cringing about including that picture.

Anyway, this made me think about how, traditionally, your first wedding anniversary is your paper anniversary, whilst the modern rules dictate that it's a clock anniversary (?!).

Here are some great gift ideas along these themes:

A photo album or scrap-book of special moments, or waiting to be filled up in the future (if you're the optimistic type). 



A more original take on the
traditional photo album
£7 (was £12)
Urban Outfitters
Image from urbanoutfitters.co.uk




A book - either a novel that means something to you and that you want your other half to share with you, or that you know was a childhood favourite of theirs. Or, if you're super into romance, poetry. For me (in case you hadn't guessed), it has to be e.e. cummings everytime. Or, of course, the Bard. 
But here's a poetry book I really liked recently:


"I love all films that start with rain:
rain, braiding a windowpane
or darkening a hung-out dress
or streaming down her upturned face"

Image from internetwritingjournal.com


A signed picture... of whomsoever your sweetheart admires. My boyfriend was given a signed picture of a football player (Frank Lampard, if you're interested - my boyfriend is a Chelsea fan. Sigh.) for his last birthday and was so chuffed with it, so I guess it makes a good present.


Personally, I'd prefer this.
Image from autographmagazine.com




Tickets... what for depends on the depth of your love, the clearness of your diary and the size of your wallet. Tickets for the theatre, stand-up comedy, a gig or the opera are a great gift, depending on both your interests. At lastminute.com you can get tickets for various 'experiences' from wine-tasting to meals to bungee jumping and spa days for a range of prices. Or, buy a pair of plane tickets. Wow.


Why not?
Image from hunternuttall.com

Believe it or not, I've reached this minor relationship milestone before and when I did, I gave my then-boyfriend a jar full of paper cranes that a childhood friend made me before she went back to Japan. Origami is a beautiful art and makes a really thoughtful, inexpensive gift.


The children's monument in Hiroshima, Japan.
For the truly touching true story of Sadako Sasaki,
the girl in the monument, follow this link.
Image from galenfrysinger.com

And then, of course, some form of time-piece. 

For her, I love this:

Image 1 of ASOS Vintage Style Skinny Twisted Metal Watch
ASOS Vintage Style Skinny Twisted
Metal Watch
£24
ASOS
Image from asos.com

And for him, this is so retro cool it deserves its own decade, or something:

Image 1 of ASOS Retro Style Digital Watch On Expander Strap
ASOS Retro Style Digital Watch on
Expander Strap
£20
ASOS
Image from asos.com



Anniversary Ideas also informs me that the gemstone to earmark your first year is the freshwater pearl (a personal favourite!!) and the flower representing it is the pansy - which, naturally, gave me a few more ideas:

A chanel costume jewellery pearl necklace. These have been my ultimate fashion crush since forever, and I'm lucky enough to have found a second-hand one at an affordable price and now own a little piece of fashion heaven.


Chanel pearls. Who wouldn't?
Image from fashionfigurines.com

Of course, there are some more affordable options in terms of pearls at many online vendors. Another option is German charm-smith Thomas Sabo. I've had a Sabo charm bracelet for about a year and a half now and I'm slowly adding to it as I go. They have both pearl charms and pearl charm-holders with which to start building a new, unique and meaningful jewellery project.


H1430-028-14
They also have these beautiful, classic pearl
studs
£32.95
Thomas Sabo
Image from shop.thomassabo.com

As pansies go, you could buy an actual pansy (and a pot-plant also kind of fits the 'paper' theme too), or a pansy print item of clothing. Florals aren't going anywhere any time soon, and watercolours are my current favourite update on the trend, something which pansies lend themselves to perfectly.


Image 1 of Oasis Pansy Print Bubble Dress
Oasis Pansy Print Bubble Dress
£37 (was £75)
ASOS
Image from asos.com


For your man, why not a pansy-print tie or shirt? As long as you don't make him look like an actual pansy, the poor thing.

And now for a teeny-tiny sliver of culture (so that the poetry up there doesn't get lonely), a print by one of my favourite artists (whose work I based my own GCSE final piece on), Georgia O'Keeffe. I don't think there's anywhere you could hang this where it wouldn't look good.


Pansy, 1926 by Georgia O'Keeffe
Pansy, 1926 by Georgia O'Keeffe
£22 (was £27)
Art Republic
Image from artrepublic.com

So, if you've got a one-year anniversary coming up, be it with a boyfriend/girlfriend, spouse, your baby's first birthday, or the anniversary of any other special occasion, why not commemorate it with one of these ideas?

Ciao for now,
Charlotte

8 comments:

  1. Great ideas! Also congrats with the anniversary :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Aww! Haha, cute mushy photo! I'm a hopeless romantic too...in fact, I find a lot of girls are! Hope you have many, many, many more anniversaries with your man! :)

    http://red-soledfashionista.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  3. ohhh thank you guys! feel all smooshy!
    he just got home from visiting his family & opened the huuuuge pile of xmas presents he got from me, my fam & our friends. so much love in the room!

    thanks for the comments!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Congrats on the year! It's gone so fast! I might borrow this idea if you don't mind for Feb :) See you soon xx

    ReplyDelete
  5. d'awww thank you lovely :) of course you can pilfer the idea - i got the entire blogging idea from you!
    besides, my relationship is childsplay compared to mummy charlie and daddy mick! xx

    ReplyDelete
  6. p.s. can't wait to see you :)

    ReplyDelete