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Oh, boy, what do you give for Valentine’s Day? It seems like everything has been done and you want to think of something special. Well, you can go traditional and give the gift a twist to make it unique. Or, you can break away from the pack and give that gift that no one has ever thought of before.

Flowers are always appreciated, by either woman or man. You can never go wrong with these traditional and lovely plants. But speaking of plants, how about something more permanent? How about a bonsai tree whose branches are shaped like your loved one’s name? Ok, that might take a little longer to plan than you have. But you could get one with a tiny rock garden that spells out “I Love You”.

Candy is traditional, too. But a box of chocolates is a box of chocolates… unless it’s from Russia. Or Tibet. Or a little known town in the southwest corner of Missouri called Donchawannit. The idea is to make the gift something the same as the usual that is also a little bit different.

Maybe he or she is the outdoors type. Sure a personalized set of golf clubs is a great idea. But you might be saving that for Christmas. So, how about a toboggan ride down some snow-covered slopes along a path that spells out his or her name? Then you can take a photo at the end and put it in that special frame you’ve been saving.

Hmmm… Maybe that’s a little hard to arrange. So, make it easy on yourself. Go with that favorite wine. But, wait. Don’t just pick up a bottle at the local store. A gift membership from an online wine club is the gift that keeps on giving all year ’round. And, rather than one wine, you get a dozen or more. Now, that says “I Love You”. Or, that you’re with an alcoholic. It’s hard to be sure.

No one would turn down a new car. But that could stretch the budget just a little. So, how about a new toy car? It could be in the form of a complex model the two of you could build. With a hundred parts or more you could be done just in time for next year’s Valentine’s Day. Or, in the same vein, you could go for a miniature ship that says “Ahoy, let’s sail off together into the sunset”.

One of you just has a heart set on jewelry. Not a bad idea. But jazz it up. Make it unique. Sure, diamond earrings are always a hit. But instead you could go for a kanji ankle bracelet made with gold and amethyst. The Japanese characters can be selected to say “Long Joy Together” while no one has to translate what the jewels mean.

Be creative. Combine the old with the new. Take an idea and turn it upside down or inside out. After all the one you’re with often does that to you, no?

           Gifts for Him                          Gifts for Her

Guys have a hard time with Valentine’s Day. It so often seems that the day is really for females. It’s the perfect opportunity to come up with something special. The rewards are ample.

Flowers, chocolates, jewelry, even wine… these are standard. And they still are great ideas. But go beyond the usual. Be creative. Give your gift some serious thought.

If you want to go with flowers, do more than just write a word or two on the card that comes with them. Make it an entire scroll, full of poetry and images that shows you know who she is and what she wants. Roll it up and secure it with a ribbon from her hair.

Chocolates are always appreciated. But don’t just get a box of the usual from the local store. Find those unique confections and that special container that no woman has ever seen before. It could be Japanese. They have a unique way of celebrating in which the woman gives chocolates on Valentine’s Day. Then, the man reciprocates on March 14th. That opens some interesting possibilities.

Some women don’t wear jewelry. For those who do, make sure you choose a ring or bracelet that is unique. No woman wants to appear at the party wearing the exact thing her friend is wearing. Get something custom made or specially inscribed.

Wine is a great Valentine’s Day option. But make sure you know what she likes… then go out of your way to get that type from a very unusual source. It might be a specialty vintage from British Columbia. Or, it could be a unique brand from Turkey. Valentine’s Day is special. Make the wine special, too.

Now, get really creative.

Think long and hard about what that special someone enjoys that is different from others you know. Every woman wants to know that you’ve been listening and observing. Prove that by seeking out a gift that fits her just right.

That fit could be literal: a piece of lingerie that is her color, her size, her style. Or, ‘fit’ could be metaphorical. It could mean finding the CD that contains her favorite song or artist. Not yours! It might entail hunting down that book she read years ago that still has a special meaning for her.

Take it up a notch. Make her the focus of the day, or at least the evening. Find that restaurant that she has been wanting to go to forever, but you’ve been too busy (or too cheap!) to try. Ask her friends to tell you what she was reluctant to reveal because she didn’t want to make you feel bad. Make it a surprise.

Gifts are always appreciated. But they’re only worth as much as the thought that went in to them. The key to Valentine’s Day success is finding out what she likes. Her. That unique individual.

           Gifts for Him                          Gifts for Her

It’s tough to find Valentine’s Day gifts for men. Sometimes, what they want is just hugely expensive. Laptops, cameras, motorcycles and more all carry a hefty price tag. But more often the problem is how to move away from the mundane and find that special gift, one that says you know what he likes.

Ask his friends. Whatever he hasn’t told you, he has told them. They won’t tell you his secrets, but they will tell you what he has confessed he wants for Valentine’s Day. That may be the music you never knew he liked. Or, it could be a special vacation he has just never thought to tell you about.

Ask his Dad. Men are often more like their fathers than they want to admit. Ask his dad what your special man would like. Chances are he’ll have some good guesses. It might be that golf club he didn’t want to mention because it seemed too extravagant.

Maybe you haven’t been together long enough to know what to get. Or, you might not have in mind something quite that expensive. No problem. Valentine’s Day is the most flexible holiday. It’s for couples married for 50 years and those who have known one another only 50 minutes.

A Valentine’s Day is one way to say you’d like to move it up a notch. A beautiful watch might be more than your relationship warrants just now. But a fine alligator band is both practical and a chance to inscribe his initials on the inside with your special hint.

Wine can be a great choice. It’s something you can share, yet gives an opportunity to say ‘I know what you like’. But that idea can extend to just about anything. The key is to make the gift reflect his individual interests and desires.

Combine the two ideas. You want to get to know him better, and you want to choose something that fits him well. But how do you do one without already knowing the other? By extending whatever you already know about him.

He’s the outdoors type. That’s something that doesn’t take long to find out. People act and dress a certain way that tells you right away. Great! Go on a picnic in the snow. Arrange a scavenger hunt in the forest. At the end, he finds you.

He loves gadgets. One look at his apartment and you’ll know that. Here you’re in luck. Because even those guys that have a thousand toys, can always use a thousand accessories to go with them. Camera buffs always need new filters. Audiophiles just can’t rest easy without that extra set of speakers for the home office. Home entertainment buffs might have held off on that new Blu-ray machine that has come way down in price.

Whatever the gift, the idea is to show that you put some thought into it. Whether your relationship is an hour old or someone you’ve known all your life, like your father, showing you know them is something guys appreciate as much as gals.
          Gifts for Him                           Gifts for Her

Around the world, love is the same. But wines carry a distinctive character that only the soil and climate of that region can produce.

There are still those who insist that chocolate doesn’t pair well with wine. We beg to differ. Tell that to someone who has tasted a fine Spanish Madeira while munching on the best French truffles. The robust, fruity taste of this heavy red stands up well to even the darkest chocolate. Neither overpowers the other.

Or, consider how romantically perfect is a pairing of fine strawberries with a delicate Champagne from Champagne, the famed region in France that gives its name to this sparkling wine. Be bold and go against tradition. Dip the strawberries in chocolate sauce.

Even a fine Gewürztraminer, a light German wine, will be appreciated by lovers around the world. Think romance and Germany may not come first to mind. But Goethe and Schiller were THE romantic poets/playwrights of the 19th century - when Valentine’s Day was invented. Indeed, this flavorful, dry white is the perfect way to say ‘I love you’. You can just say it to the glass while that special someone is near enough to hear.

But, you protest, Valentine’s Day is associated with red. No argument there. Have it both ways. Go with a superb Cabernet Sauvignon made in the heart of Portugal. Too strong? Select a delicate rosé from California and serve it with some roses.

No, you need something a little more passionate. Never fear, there are lots of choices. A French Framboise with an infusion of raspberries will provide the fruity red that says ‘Meet me after work’. There’s nothing more passionate than a wine with the exact ingredients needed to celebrate this day dedicated to love.

Some of that French influence migrated to Canada generations ago. Try a fine Chardonnay from Quebec and find out why this region - making wine since the 1800s - produces wines that lovers have truly loved for the past 25 years.

New Zealand is known for its passion, as well. Thankfully, that comes in liquid form ala the great Syrahs from down under. Say shazam and a shiraz will appear that will light your heart on fire.

Surely, you haven’t forgotten about Italy? No country in the world is more closely associated with romance, after all. It also happens to be one of the major wine producers. Methinks, that’s no accident. Enjoy a superb Merlot from Tuscany and you’ll soon know what love is all about.

And, while we’re on the subject of geography and wines…. America has its own distinctive contribution to the world: Zinfandel. If this hearty red doesn’t get your blood racing, you probably shouldn’t be celebrating Valentine’s Day at all.

            Gifts for Him                       Gifts for Her

Each year when Valentine’s Day comes around on February 14^th, it is still cold. Winter still has a strangle

hold on most of the country….but love and romance are supposed to be warm. Love and romance doesn’t make us think of snow, ice and cold gray skies. Love and romance brings forth pictures in our minds of sunshine, warmth, beautiful white sandy beaches…..  bikinis. Enough of winter, already! We need warmth! 

Maybe that is why romantic Valentine’s vacations to exotic and warm destinations are so popular. The thing that you need to remember is that everybody else is going to have the same idea. If you really want to take that Valentine’s Day vacation with the love of your life to a warm and sunny shore, you will need to make your plans early…VERY early!
Valentine’s Day is right in the middle of the ‘high’ season in the warm southern countries. If you are planning a Valentine’s Day vacation, you can expect to pay premium rates for hotel rooms, restaurants and entertainment of all kinds. You aren’t likely to find any bargain basement prices for a Valentine’s Day vacation to a warm and exotic island.
You can also be pretty sure that you are going to have to fight the crowds. The beaches are not going to be deserted.
But even though you are going to have to make your reservations early, pay premium prices and fight the crowds, a Valentine’s Day vacation to a warm and exotic location can be worth all of the trouble and expense!  

     Gifts for Him                           Gifts for Her

St. Valentine’s Day falls on February 14^th each and every year. It is the day that is set aside annually for telling those that you love that you do love them. It’s not a bad idea when you think about it. We get busy. Life intrudes upon love. We get so busy and so involved in all of the various aspects of life that it is easy to forget to tell that special someone just how special they really are to us. 

There are many ways to say “I love you”. A romantic dinner for two….a quiet evening with Champaign toasts to love eternal and beautiful romantic music playing in the background…..a magical  vacation to an exotic location……sending red roses, chocolate and a romantic card….giving a gift of heart shaped jewelry….all of these are special ways to tell your special love just how loved they are. 

I think one of the secrets of successfully conveying feelings of true love on Valentine’s Day or any other day is in knowing the other person well enough to know what to choose. Showing up on the doorstep of your lady love with a bottle of wine or Champaign only to discover that she doesn’t drink…AT ALL…is a long way from conveying romantic feelings. Giving a gift of large dangling earrings when she would never wear anything but studs isn’t romantic either. Sending her a large (no matter how expensive) box of chocolates when she is allergic to chocolate isn’t going to tell her that you love her. It will only serve to tell her that you don’t know anything about her and don’t care enough to find out. 

Remember that Valentine’s Day is a day for expressing love and love means caring enough to know the other person well enough to choose a gift or an occasion that will truly please them.   

          Gifts for Him                           Gifts for Her

Valentine’s Day is a day set aside each year (on February 14) to say, “I love you”. Usually people consider Valentine’s Day a day for lovers - and it IS a day for lovers but it is also a day to say, “I love you” to other people in your life.

Red roses are the number one (make that only) choice of flowers to send to the lady love of your life. The meaning of the red rose is ‘love and passion’ but roses are available in different colors and each color has a special meaning.

You might send yellow roses to your parents. Yellow roses symbolize warmth and happiness. Your parents provided you with warmth and happiness for all of your growing-up years so you (both sons and daughters) should send yellow roses to parents on Valentine’s Day this year.

If you have a young daughter or a young niece or God daughter that you want to remember on Valentine’s Day, send her white roses. White roses symbolize “purity and innocence”. They are the perfect flower to send to the young girls in your life.

Send pink roses to your grandparents. Pink roses symbolize grace and elegance. Your grandparents are graceful and elegant so tell them that you love them with a bouquet of pink roses on Valentine’s Day.

Different kinds of roses also have significance. A bouquet of petite roses symbolizes affection. Petite roses are also known as sweetheart roses. A single long stemmed rose says, “Thank you” or “Good job”.

Send roses for Valentine’s Day and choose the ones that will deliver the right message to each person in your life that you care about.

          Gifts for Him                           Gifts for Her

There are all kinds of Valentine’s Day gift baskets available both online and off. There are, of course, sensual, sexy gift baskets for lovers to send to lovers. These baskets contain items that are designed to inspire romance. Many have massage oils along with a bottle of wine and two long stemmed glasses. Some come with rose petals and satin sheets and pillow cases.

Gift baskets for lovers, however, are not the only kind of Valentine’s Day gift baskets that are available. There are gift baskets that are appropriate for giving to parents, grandparents, coworkers, and friends.
You can even make your own gift baskets. The ideas for items included in home-made gift baskets are limited only by the gift giver’s imagination. You might include nostalgic items. For example, if you really look, you can find to-scale replicas of most all vintage automobiles. Consider making a collage of old photographs that have meaning to the recipient to include in a Valentine’s Day gift basket.
There are Valentine’s Day gift baskets that include candies and cookies. There are Valentine’s Day gift baskets that contain fruits and nuts. You can find (or make) a Valentine’s Day gift basket that is the perfect gift for every person in your life that you would like to tell how important to you they really are and Valentine’s Day is your opportunity to do so.   

          Gifts for Him                           Gifts for Her

There are several theories about where and how St. Valentine’s Day got started. The real reason why, each year we celebrate love on the fourteenth day of February, may always be shrouded in mystery but there is no shortage of the legends about why this is true.  
One theory is that Valentine was a priest who defied Emperor Claudius II in Rome during the third century. Claudius, it is said, decided that single men made better soldiers than married men so he issued a decree making it illegal for young men to marry. The priest, Valentine, continued to perform wedding ceremonies in spite of the decree. He just performed the ceremonies in secret. When Claudius found out about Valentine’s disobedience he ordered him executed.
 

Valentine’s Day contains vestiges of ancient Roman tradition as well as Christian tradition and the Catholic Church has at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus all of whom are martyred.
There are stories that suggest that St. Valentine was killed by the Romans for helping Christians escape from Roman prisons. There is also a legend that says that Valentine actually sent the first Valentine greeting himself to a young woman (rumored to have been the daughter of one of his jailers) while he was imprisoned. The legend claims that Valentine wrote a love letter to her before his death and signed it “From your Valentine”. (This is the legend that I like the most.)
You can choose the legend that you like the best. Just don’t forget to send Valentine’s Day greetings to all of those whom you love on February 14^th…and especially to that special someone in your life! Valentine’s Day is the day to celebrate love in all of its many forms.  

        Gifts for Him                           Gifts for Her

Valentine’s Day is the single most romantic day of the year. Christmas is nice. Birthdays are special but Valentine’s Day is the day for lovers. If you are considering asking your lady love to marry you, you just couldn’t pick a more romantic time to ask her than on Valentine’s Day.

 Take your time. Make your plans early. Schedule a seductive, intimate get-away weekend or plan a special romantic evening at home. Do everything that you can to make the event memorable. It’s the memories that keep you warm as the years go by so make a wonderful memory. 

Online you can find many choices of great romantic weekend trips to exotic (and warm) destinations. The exotic and warm vacation destinations are very popular for Valentine’s Day so you need to make your reservations early. Today is not a moment too soon. 

You will need to order red roses early as well. If you wait too close to the big day (February 14^th), red roses may not be available. Red roses are the symbol of undying love and devotion and you want to be certain that your lady love will get an armful of red roses on Valentine’s Day. 

When you are shopping for that perfect engagement ring that will make her eyes shine and bring that lovely smile to her face, be sure that you take the time to choose wisely and well. There are hundreds of styles and sizes in engagement rings. Choosing may be difficult but you can do it….and she will love what you choose for her. 

If you are going to propose marriage, Valentine’s Day is the day to do it!  

        Gifts for Him                           Gifts for Her