The Big 3-0

[MsSassyBaskets]

I'm trying to think of gifts for DH's 30th birthday. Something special but not incredibly expensive - I'm flexible on price range, but consider a med school budget. I also need to be thinking ahead to our 1-year anniversary two months later.

The man loves watches. He has several, and he prefers low-profile, vintage styling.
He also loves scotch. I could maybe get him a decent bottle of Macallan.
He also loves leather boots and most things from the J. Crew catalog.
If money and apartment space were irrelevant, I would get him a leather chair. I'm sure you're getting the themes here. Pretty sure he wanted to be Indiana Jones growing up.

Any creative ideas?

[scrub-jay]

If you do go for a watch, things to keep in mind for MS3 and beyond: second hands are nice (although most patient rooms have a clock with a secondhand) and if blood/bodily fluids get splattered on the watch, can it be cleaned adequately? (We went with stainless steel & waterproof as opposed to a leather porous band.)

[GreyhoundsRUs]

Also, if he's planning on going into surgery, he won't wear a watch past med school - too much risk of getting lost, and even on clinic days, he may be called into the OR

He will be needing dress clothes (shirt/tie) for most rotations MS3/4, so that would be an option. I filled his car with 30 balloons while he was at work and left a card in his car. I also had a cookie cake at home and decorated. We maybe went to dinner, but I honestly don't remember.

[scrub-jay]

Also, if he's planning on going into surgery, he won't wear a watch past med school - too much risk of getting lost, and even on clinic days, he may be called into the OR

He will be needing dress clothes (shirt/tie) for most rotations MS3/4, so that would be an option. I filled his car with 30 balloons while he was at work and left a card in his car. I also had a cookie cake at home and decorated. We maybe went to dinner, but I honestly don't remember.

This is so true on both counts!

[MsSassyBaskets]

He doesn't plan on surgery, but that is still a good point about the watch. He will be 2 weeks out from Step 1 on his birthday, so I don't think we can make any plans. And he hates cake. And I can't eat ice cream cake unless I magically learn to make it myself, gluten-free. MAYBE I can get him to go out to dinner in between study sessions, but it's iffy. So a lot is riding on the gift! He also has a dress code for school, so he has a full wardrobe of dress clothes already. Although he has worn out a couple pants and shirts lately so it wouldn't hurt to get him more... it just doesn't feel very special.

[niener]

I got DH a nice leather laptop bag one year, it was well used throughout med school and even now in residency. Let's see... a flask, a wallet with his initials engraved, a good bathrobe and slippers.

My DH may be an anomaly but he wears a watch to work every day. He puts it in the pocket of his white coat when he scrubs into a case.

[Deebs]

DH started wearing a 24 hour watch during residency (when he was I tired he didn't know night from day). it could definitely come in handy if he likes unique watches.

[MsSassyBaskets]

Ok, the watch is a definite possibility if I can find something his style that would also be easy to clean... He has a leather laptop bag but it is getting a bit old... He would probably like new slippers but never wears them in warmer weather so the timing isn't quite right... Good ideas. I had one fun idea -- if I get him a watch or something small, I will look for a vintage medical book at a thrift store and hollow it out as a gift box!

[MrsK]

I filled his car with 30 balloons while he was at work and left a card in his car.

I like this. I really struggled to remember what I got DrK for his 30th. We were very seriously dating, not yet engaged but talking about it (he'd asked but I was putting him off). His birthday is a week before my nephew's and my nephew was turning 1. DrK happened to see this doll (http://www.amazon.com/LeapFrog-Hug-L...+baby+tad+doll) that I got for my nephew and went bananas for it. Then my dad happened to get the same doll for my nephew so I bought it from my dad and gave it to DrK. I also had a shirt made for him, got him a CD, fed him chocolate cake in bed. . . but he was most excited about the doll. We broke it out of the box when K1 was born. (See, I'm no help.)

[oceanchild]

We always seem to do trips for big birthdays. And sometimes for small birthdays. We're all about trips.

For DH's 30th, I also wanted some of the public attention factor. I brought a bunch of (non-latex) balloons and 30 cupcakes into the PICU and rounded up as many people as I could find to sing to him. (After having checked with other fellows to find the best time for this operation.)

As far as watches go, we're both huge Skagen fans, particularly the ones with the mesh bands. Durable and really low profile.

[houseelf]

I'm definitely one of the least "gift-y" person I know. (Yes, I know that is not a word). Any sort of experience would float my boat, however: hot air balloon, airline tix, super cool concert, race car experience.