Make a Lasting Impression With These Unusual Gifts on Your First Date

She finally said yes and you are going out on your first date! After weeks and months of mooning after her, flirty exchanges and then finally mustering the courage to ask her out properly, the big date is dawning closer and you realise you need an awesome gift to make a great first impression. First dates are a bit like job interviews: you are thrilled to have made it so far but how do you stand out, make the right impression so you actually get the job? Or in this case ensure this will be the first of many dates and a lasting relationship. Being nervous is but natural then, but having a good game plan will boost your confidence and even help you enjoy your date. So first things first - the awesome gift.

As tempting as it may be to go with standard 'romantic' gifts, the box of chocolates, a red rose and a soft cuddly bear are kind of passe. This is your moment to shine, to show her that it was wise of her to choose to go out with you. Either you think up of a super fantastic way to give her those 'traditional' boyfriend gifts that she will remember for a lifetime, or you pull up your socks and come up with a gift she will not forget in a hurry. It doesn't even have to be an object - come up with a gesture so sweet she will be swept off her feet.

You have managed to get her attention, now you need to find a way to win her affection, not attempt to purchase it with an over the top expensive present. In fact, an expensive gift sends out all the wrong signals, so it's best to stick to inexpensive gifts. It's the gesture that counts here.

That first gift is, amongst other things, a way to show her what's to come, what she can expect in a relationship with you if she chooses to stick around. It will say as much about you as you want it to. Use it to show her that you know how to give her a good time, that you are interested in getting to know her, and that you want to learn about her too. Have a great sense of humor? Give her a taste of it. Have a great eye for artistic things? Bring her an artful and creative gift.

First dates can be nervous for both people. Shyness can creep in unexpectedly, leaving you tongue tied. After all the flirting that led up to the date, suddenly being alone with each other can even be slightly awkward. Why not take a gift that gives you something to do while on the date. A game that let's you ask each other lots of questions, or makes you do silly and fun things or an activity you both enjoy can put you in the comfort zone so you enjoy each other's company.

Make a list of talking points for the date. It is important to keep the conversation going, learn things about your girlfriend, let her get to know you, and have a good time. Or you can pick up a cube of Table Topics. A clear acrylic cube that holds 135 cards, each containing an interesting conversation starter for a date or a party. There is a box for teens which is great for first dates and friends.

Here is a sample from this box: What will be the best thing about leaving home and what will be the scariest? There is a box for family, another for couples with potentially revealing questions like ‘Which of you is the worst backseat driver?’ and ‘How much do you need in the bank to feel secure?’ Need something with a little more zing? The ‘What Would You Do’ box has provocative questions that can spark a lively debate. There is also a cocktail box with an array of interesting questions about wine, beer, cocktails and other drinks. Pick a box suited to you. Priced at Rs.1,619 at uncommongood.com.

Notice how she loves lugging that massive handbag of hers around? She is not alone. Women usually want to carry so many things with them everywhere they often wind up with a big-ish purse, and then have trouble finding things in a hurry.

Give her a gift she will be forever thankful for. The Goank Impressive Luma Lights Motion Activated Lights for Handbags will switch on as soon as she opens her bag, illuminating the contents inside, enabling her to easily find what she is looking for. This set of two motion sensing lights comes with a holder and can also be used inside drawers and cupboards, on the bedside table and inside the car. The light shuts off automatically after 15 seconds.

Make it more memorable by adding a cheeky little line as you give it to her: ‘I thought you could use a little help finding things in your bag.’ She will remember you every time the light comes to her rescue. Buy it for Rs.414 on Amazon.

Girls love bags, there is no question about it. They like it in every colour, design, shape, size, design and material available. It’s not just the utility that appeals to them, but how the right bag can complete an ensemble. Now buying a bag at this early stage may seem inappropriate, and you may not yet be familiar with the styles she favors. A canvas tote bag however, is ideal. These lightweight fabric bags can be folded and tucked in her regular purse for when she needs an extra bag, like at the market, or used on its own.

The way to get this right is by selecting an inexpensive, yet pretty bag which will be useful to her. Such as this Floral Personalized Canvas Tote Bag in White. It is pretty, simple, useful, and it can be personalised with her name - it ticks off all the right boxes. Order it for Rs.499 at giftsbymeeta.com. The same bag is available in different designs as well.

There is something strangely calming about playing with Thinking Putty, the hip and cool new cousin of silly putty. And that’s not us talking, so say the parents of kids who wind up playing with the colourful, gooey, slimy, stretchy mess. Wait a minute, are we really suggesting you give your girlfriend something kids play with? Sure.

So what is this putty thing? It’s not the stuff used in furniture but a silicone based, non-toxic putty that can be squished, pulled, twisted, torn, pinched, bounced and will never dry out - think of it as chewing gum for the hands! It started out as silly putty for kids to play with, till Aaron Muderick turned it into thinking putty, a prettier, cooler version that adults cannot seem to get enough of. He made it with adults in mind, for regular folk sitting at a desk job, needing an outlet to relieve stress or just something to play with. Buy her this Crazy Aarons Krypton Glow In The Dark Thinking Putty Mini Tin. Weighing a little under 23 gm she can easily slip it in her bag for when she needs something to fidget with. Available for Rs.915 on Amazon. You can give it to her saying, ‘I hope you don’t wind up having to use it on this date, but I thought this is something you would enjoy’.

If you want to combine unusual with old world charm, give her pretty, embroidered or lace handkerchiefs. Though you rarely see people use them now, in the days of yore, women collected an array of pretty kerchiefs made with lace, embroidered detail, and monogrammed handkerchiefs. They served as status symbol, fashionable accessories, even as good luck charms. Though bear in mind that in parts of the country it is considered inauspicious to give handkerchief as gift, so check before you set out to buy one.

You can either give her a few wrapped as a gift, or keep one ready, offering it to her as a gentleman when she needs it. She may continue to reach for her pack of tissues the next time she sneezes but will like to have a pretty kerchief in her bag. Monogram it with her initial to make it more special. You can pick up something like this Hankytex Cotton Embroidery Ladies’ Handkerchiefs Lace set of 6. Made of 100% cotton , they are machine washable and featured embroidered detailing. Buy the set for Rs.1,497 from Amazon. Or inquire at local shops to find a single pretty lace kerchief. If you feel odd giving a set of 6, give her one at the first date, then another the next time she needs a kerchief, and so on till she has all.

Want to make things interesting on your first date? Why not bring along a fun card game that will help overcome any shyness and awkwardness. It is a great way to bring her a gift if you are not sure how to simply hand over a present to her. After you are done playing she can take it home with her and try it out with friends, or if things go well, you may end up playing it together again and again later.

Try this Battle of the Sexes Blind Date Card Game by University Games. It is a fast paced card game that makes its players try to defend their gender by proving they know the dating game better than the other sex. The game comes as a set of 48 cards that hold 144 gender-based questions on dating, love, friendship and relationships that test your insight of the opposite gender. The first to win 3 cards is the winner. It can be played by two people, or by more players teaming up to defend their kind. It comes in a red tin box and you can buy it for Rs.1,809 at Amazon.

The average booklover is always on the lookout for interesting bookmarks to make her reading experience more enjoyable. Besides, bookmarks are absolutely essential - ask anyone who has ever lost the page while reading a gripping novel. The hunt for the right page, flipping back and forth, re-reading pages, inadvertently reading a surprise turn you weren’t ready for can be extremely frustrating. Especially in these busy times when she cannot find as much reading time as she would like.

Help her keep her beloved books free from dog-ears with these hand shaped bookmarks, which when placed inside a book, looks like a drowning hand calling for help. The engraved bookmarks are a unique design she will enjoy using. A set of 4 bookmarks will set you back by Rs.250; you can buy them at Big Small.

Does she enjoy tea? Then she may like an interesting and unusual tea infuser to make her tea with. Later you can gift her interesting tea blends to use with her infuser. We liked this whimsical tea strainer man. He lounges against the edge of the cup much like a man would while relaxing in a hot tub. His ‘trousers’ serve as that part of the infuser where the tea leaves are placed. Made of food grade silicone, the Little Man can withstand temperatures up to 230 degrees Celsius. The matte finish on the infuser makes it easy to grip and use. Buy it for Rs.499 on flintstop.com

Even as the world moves toward wireless technology you can’t really get away from wires, and managing the existing set can become a nuisance. Laptop wires, phone charger cord, headphones, and the other cables for numerous devices and gadgets can jumble to create a tangled mess. How about helping her restore order and balance in her life with a set of cord winders? It is simple to use - all you have to do is bundle up the extra wire and twist a cord winder around it to keep it in place.

And with winders as cute as these, dealing with an inconvenient mess becomes all the more appealing. They can be used for earphones, laptop and mobile phone chargers, wires for gadgets and appliances, and even the pesky office wires jumbled around at the back of the computer. A set of 2 cord winders costs Rs.299 on Big Small. Choose from minion, blue elephant monster, one-eyes green monster, blue monster and three-eyes green monster.

Small plants are wonderful gifts and a good alternative to flowers. Go with a succulent as they look very pretty, are available in a wide variety, and require minimal maintenance. Instead of going with a regular planter, place it in this Cute Corgi Dog Standing Resin Succulent Pot. The pot is made of resin and is decorative even on its own. Designed for both indoor as well as outdoor use, it is durable and resistant to rust. Buy the pot for Rs.799 on giftcart.com. It comes without a plant so take it to the local nursery and have a succulent potted inside. If you happen to have a green thumb, buy the plant and pot it yourself. You can pick from other animals like elephant, a dinosaur, a whale and a Dachshund as well.