Top 10 Valentine’s Day Gifts & Tips

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and I am sure many of you are in full panic mode by now.

Of all the holidays out there, this one has the most pressure. How to be romantic, but not cliche? What does she expect? How much is enough?

Rule #1: It’s not about the stuff. That’s just commercialism talking. Yeah, a gift is great, but it’s more about how you give the gift than the gift itself.

Rule #2: It’s about creativity. That’s where all the pressure comes from. It’s not easy to be creative – in the gift, the dinner or the giving.

So, I am going to offer you some tips to make Valentine’s Day perfect for you and your special someone – a gift guide, and a gift giving guide.

Gift Guide:

1. Go for quality. If you are going the route of bath products, go for the good stuff. Avoid anything in a supermarket or drug store, and go specialty. Like an aromatherapy store, or a store like Lush.
   
2. Things that sparkle. Jewelry is a girl’s best friend. Go simple and elegant with a solitaire necklace, or a nice bracelet.
   
3. Bake something. You can’t beat the romanticism of a well-candled room, free from clutter (and kids), and a great dessert. Whether you have dinner out or not. This is where you can highlight chocolate. (recipes)
   
4. Flowers are a classic gift. To up the creativity factor, go to a reputed local florist and talk to them about colors or flowers that your special someone likes best (Ianiv did this for our wedding day). Be sure to order early.
   
5. Moo Mini Lover Madness. If you start today, you can order up a set of Moo Mini cards, with pictures of you as a couple or special moments you have shared, and writing on the back in place of contact details a poem, "I love you", or something intimate.
   
6. Gift packages. If you are going to give a gift card – be it to the spa or her favorite clothing store – be sure to pair it with at minimum some flowers. Otherwise, caring as it is, it comes off cold.
7. Candy or chocolate. Again, specialty is the key. Go for local chocolate stores, not chains, and go to specialty candy stores. Grab unique stuff and package it all up yourself.
   
8. Dinner. You cannot go wrong with a fancy dinner. One great way to make it more romantic: ask the server or chef to prepare a menu for you that has no prices and/or has only a select few items on it. This way, your date won’t know what something costs, so will just order based on what she wants – no guilt. Reserve early for the best times. Be sure to ask for seating reservations too, as often you can request more private areas.
9. Say it with a frame. Have a special picture framed. It could be a picture of you both, or perhaps even a special place you’ve visited. Go for a nice frame with matting, and consider a custom job to choose colors and match a custom size.
   
10. Donate. Charity speaks fondly of the heart. Make your gift a donation to a charity like the American Heart Association – enclose your reason for doing so in a card, and let your actions speak louder than words. You might want to still throw in dinner, though.

Gift Giving Guide:

• Focus on the wrapping paper – wrap it neatly with crisp, new, stylish paper. Need not be Valentine’s related. Opt for recycled or natural paper for a unique look.
  
• Add ribbons & bows – fabric ribbon & bow options being the most classy.
• Think outside the box. Literally. Use a gift to wrap a gift. Try this red pail filled with candy or bath products, for example. Or a shiny garden pot. Or a beautiful glass vase.
  
• Cards cards cards. I cannot emphasize enough how much a really beautiful card, and a few memorable words, can mean to a girl.
  

Tags: valentines, valentines day, v day, gifts, gift guide, what to give, shopping, dating, women, buying gifts, dating tips