6 Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas
Posted by: Jennifer Chang in: ● January 29, 2010
A Valentine’s Day Guide
Not sure what to do for Valentine’s Day? Here are a few cheesy but romantic gift ideas for the helpless (but not hopeless!) romantic. Remember, it’s the thought that counts, so don’t just buy the object and forget the details.
These are just some of my ideas, and trust me, I’m a cheeseball. If you have any suggestions, feel free to write them down in the comments section below!
Note: These are meant to be gender neutral, so if you have any ideas on how to tweak the ideas to apply more to your gender, feel free to do so!
Lyrical Messages
We all remember back in the days when a sweet but cheesy gift to your crush was a mix-tape of his or her favourite songs, or ones that described your true feelings for that significant other. Now to fast forward into the 21st century, purchase an iPod, or any audio device that has a screen and allows you to input lyrics, images, and playlists. Create a playlist (remember to give it a sentimental name!) and to give it an even more personal touch, write a little blurb in the lyrics portion of each song or input a personal image into the album cover. Remember to modify these within your playlist on the device, not in your music library.
My experience: Yeah, I went all out on this one… I recorded a message to start off, like an audio card, and ended the playlist off with a song I wrote and recorded. It was for his birthday, so for each song in the playlist, I inserted images with me holding up a few letters, the whole list spelled out “Happy Birthday _____!!! 
”. The girl in my also decided to tie a bow around my nano… which to my dismay he took off while carrying it around because he didn’t want to look girly (It’s only natural ladies, don’t feel sad if they don’t appreciate bows and butterflies!). I don’t quite remember what his feedback to my sentiments…hm.
Couples’ Accessories
Couples’ accessories can come in just about any form these days, the most popular being rings, necklaces, watches, keychains, and cell phone chains. Personally, I think the best option is a necklace. It’s not too cheap, comes in a variety of cool designs, and doesn’t have any emotional apprehension strung around it. You can also personalize the items by having them engraved (even Walmart! Just make sure you don’t tell anyone).
My experience: Yup, got the whole couple rings with each other’s names engraved on the inside with a “<3″, no joke (See what I mean by referring myself to the cheesy romantic?). Make sure you’re both ready for something like this, because couple accessories can seem binding. Unfortunately because of the engravings, we had to trade the rings when we broke up. So now I have a large ring sitting somewhere in my drawer with my name on it…
Fragrances
One of sexiest turn-ons is to get your “other” to wear a fragrance that you like. However, they won’t be able to unless you tell them which one you like, or unless you actually go and buy it for them. Go to your local perfume or general store to sample a great selection of different fragrances. Of course they should like it as well, so a way to keep it safe would be to choose one that’s in the same scent category as something they already have. These categories are generalized into floral, citrus/fruity, aquatic, greens, woody, oriental, chypre and fern, but if you yourself don’t know what category their perfume of choice falls into, surreptitiously sneak a few drops away to the nearest perfume retailer, and ask them to find you something similar.
And while you’re at it, make sure they are not allergic to any of the ingredients. That’d probably steamroll any of your chances of making it a memorable day for either one of you.
My Experience: Somehow my ex and I were drawn to the same fragrances, and non-coincidentally had matching ones. I guess it was kinda cute in a weird way. My personal favorites for both men and women series are: Guess (Women Men), CK Euphoria (Women Men), CK One (Women Men).
Scrap-booking made easy
Digital picture frames are popular these days and come in a variety of styles and sizes. All you need is a USB and a database of pictures, and you’re ready to put together tear-jerking set of memories on an LCD screen. Make it even more sentimental and scrapbook-like by photo-editing your selection.
Tickets
If you’re looking for a more interactive gift idea, find tickets to their favorite sports team or concert. It’s something both of you can enjoy together, and it’s great for creating memories. If the event is not on Valentine’s Day, no sweat! Just present the tickets with a card, in a bouquet, or any other creative way, and you’re set. Bonus points if it’s something that they like, but they’re convinced you don’t. After all, love can be painful.
Idea courtesy of one of our founders.
Breakfast in Bed
As they say, the way to the man’s heart is through his stomach. But that’s not just a male-only application; women love the sentiment too. There’s no better way to start off the day than with a delicious meal made with nothing but pure love (and some healthy cooking ingredients). Pay attention to their favorite foods, and if you haven’t had much experience cooking, make sure you practice before delivering your grand finale. Many cookbooks have great ideas on how to spice up a regular breakfast. Oh yeah, and don’t forget to buy a breakfast tray as well.