Weekend window shopping for an upcoming friendiversary

 --- One of my friends and I have a special friendiversary coming up soon and I've been wondering what I should get for her to mark the occasion. She's one of those people who never buys herself nice things just because she can afford to. She is exceptionally frugal and disciplined and while her house is homely and cozy, almost everything she has decorated it with, has been gifted to her by friends and family. Our friendiversary is coming up on the weekend of 1st July. On the weekends running up to our get together, I take my time window shopping for things that she might like, that will remind her of our bond and all that we've shared through the years (which will be 11 years this time around). I sometimes get sneaky about it beforehand and show her photos of things that I talk about as if I'm going to buy them for myself and then gauge her reaction to decide which one she likes the most. ---  --- This past weekend I found the vases in the first image and can imagine one of them sitting on her lounge coffee table, front and center. She absolutely adores fresh flowers and yet, she only owns two vases. One tiny one and one long flute (which I bought her previously and she adores) so this is definitely a good option. Over the years I think she's started to catch on to my tactics though, so I've previously had to change them up a bit in the past. Last year I bought myself something that I didn't even consider as something she would particularly like, but when she saw it, she *WOULD NOT SHUT UP* about how gorgeous it was. So on our decade of friendship, I didn't even have to guess. Perhaps she figured she would go easy on me last year and give me a bit of a head start. ---  --- Valerie has been a very close and special friend, in fact, she's probably more like a sister to me. She's one of the people that love me unconditionally and non judgmentally. When we talk on the phone she can sense if something *"ain't right in Em's world"* as she says and then she insists that I cough up and let it spill. I have done the same with her in the past. She hasn't had a particularly easy life, but she's always got a smile on her face and appreciates little gestures, probably more than I do. So I'm hoping to get your buy in this year as I'm planning on getting her gifts this coming Saturday. If you had the option of a vase like in the first pic or a collection of lovely smelly thingies for around your friend's house, which would you buy? Or do you think a vase and a smelly thingy? We have a "girl's weekend" planned (and booked) where we're going to get our hair and nails done and all the girly things that we don't normally do; because, you know - life! _{Our hairdresser is probably already muttering under her breath hahaha. She swears even more than I do, so I'm quite looking forward to it.} Let me know in the comments what your thoughts are. Any additional suggestions are also welcome 😊 --- ##### Proudly AI Free, all original photos unless otherwise stated and sourced