Gifts Under $40
A WORLD OF WONDERS
submitted by: Nicole Maki

One day I decorated different rooms of our house as places for us to visit and we spent the evening ‘travelling’. Some ideas:
- Roman Bath: bubble bath (1.00), candles (tealights 1.00), plants (from around the house), wear a toga with ivy in your hair. Bathe him, feed him grapes (1.50) and offer sips of sparkling cider (2.00).
- Big City: Beautifully set table, flowers (4.00), silver helium balloons (7.00), candles, dancing, wear something elegant, dessert (5.00).
- Middle East: belly dancing, warm oil massage (baby oil in an ornate metal gravy boat looks exquisite), sliced fruit (3.00), adore him. Wear fancy bra, panties and sheer scarf.
- France: picnic of baguettes (1.00) and cheese (2.00), sketch him, tell him he is a work of art. Dress like exchange student or whatever suits you.
- Total cost : $27.50
Be sure to include all the senses: play music, and use different scents and sounds to create atmosphere. For example, I had incense in the middle eastern room, Frank Sinatra playing in the big city room, quiet classical music in the roman baths. Also, I used lights, candles, sheets, sari’s and anything else I could borrow to make each room feel authentic. By moving a table into the living room and clearing the dining room out for a ‘dance floor’ in our big city restaurant we really felt transported to another place. Be sure to remember some favorite comfy clothes for him to slip into after the bath. I ordered the evening Roman Baths, Middle East, back to the bath to rinse off the oil (don’t forget fluffy towels) and then big city. Also, a neat touch was hanging a sign on each door with the name of the next place before I slipped out to change. It made him really anticipate the next adventure.
Hope you like this idea. My husband sure did.