It was the week of my birthday, and work was getting rough. My boyfriend, Andrew, had helped me tons that week. Whether it was a ride from work, a venting session or a cute text message letting me know that I could get through the day, he was there for me.

He surprised me with the most amazing cooler I had ever seen for my birthday. I knew he was making it, and I even helped him Mod Podge glitter to some sides. But my first gut reaction when I got this cooler was posting it on The Cooler Connection so everybody could ooh and ahh over how amazing a boyfriend he was to do this for me. I felt bad after I did it.

I didn't feel bad about boasting about the cooler (it was amazing, who wouldn't?), I felt bad that the possessions that he gave me was the only thing I wanted to share. I didn't tell anybody about how he picked me up from work when I was too exhausted in the morning to drive, and I didn't tell anybody about the amazing sandwich he can prepare on my one-hour lunch break. I posted about a material possession he gave me and not about the true things that really made me feel special.

So many of us are quick to post a picture of how your boyfriend surprised you with flowers (I've done it too) or how he braved a Lilly Pulitzer store to pick you up a new "thing." But what about the sweet words he said that made you feel like you could accomplish anything? The new clothing will lose its value, but your opportunity to make him feel just as special could too.

Double check what you think "spoiling" is to you whenever he brings home the gifts again, because to me the new meaning will be how he treats me when he's frustrated, and he handles it like a true gentleman and his attempts at making me an amazing dinner after a long, hot, rough day.