Still haven’t picked out a Valentine’s Day gift for your significant other? You’re not alone . . . More often than not, people leave Valentine’s Day gifts/plans to the last minute. I’ve done it too so have decided to use this week’s blog post to offer some suggestions on last minute gifts you can make/buy.
FOR HER:
I’m a woman so I can safely say . . . I don’t think you can go wrong buying your wife/girlfriend something romantic and traditional for Valentine’s Day. Unless she’s really into juicing and making smoothies, forget about the blender. And while we’re talking food- I do not recommend buying any woman a big box of chocolates. Most women view this as a diet sabotage. Better, if you’re so inclined, to purchase a box of small, very high quality chocolates from a fancy brand like Vosges. There’s a reason Victoria’s Secret used to give a small box with any lingerie purchase around Valentine’s Day- their marketing people understand women.
- Buy a bottle of nice massage oil or lotion and give her a massage- if you look closely, you can usually find decent quality products at Walgreen’s. The beauty of this gift is that it’s all about your effort, so even if in your last minute flurry you can’t find a nice brand of lotion, she will love the final product.
- Make her dinner- Didn’t make that dinner reservation in time and now everything is booked? Don’t worry . . . most women we know love the idea of their man cooking them dinner. Even if you’re not good in the kitchen, it’s really not that difficult. Just find a good recipe, bring it to the grocery store, buy the ingredients and come home and follow the recipe. If you can read and can follow instructions, you can cook! Here is a link to some really good recipes that all have a romantic twist to them. And remember: even if you mess them up, your significant other will just love the fact that you made the effort.
- Serve her breakfast in bed- This is even easier than the dinner. Some yogurt, coffee and cereal are super easy. And anyone can scramble an egg! All you do is crack a couple eggs in a bowl and mix them up with a fork. Then, cut about a half an inch off a stick of butter and put it in a frying pan. Turn the heat up to high and move the butter around until it melts. Reduce the heat to medium, add the eggs and keep stirring them around (use a wooden spoon if one is readily available) until they are cooked. Add a little salt, and maybe some Tabasco, and you have a great breakfast. If you’re feeling ambitious, get a couple ounces of cheese (cheddar works well), cut it into little chunks, and put in the bowl with the eggs before you put them into a frying pan. If you really want to get fancy, buy a bottle of sparkling wine and some orange juice, mix them together equal parts and serve in a Champagne flute with the meal. Flowers in a vase on the breakfast tray show you have gone that extra mile.
- A dozen red roses- This sounds boring, but it doesn’t matter. EVERY WOMAN loves this. Truth is, because most men think it’s unoriginal, many women have never received a dozen red roses. All florists stock extra on Valentine’s Day so you needn’t worry about not being able to find them.
FOR HIM:
Let’s face it . . . most men are not as enthusiastic about Valentine’s Day as women. Not that they aren’t romantic, it’s just that many men show love in different ways. Many of them view little acts of service, or words of affirmation, as more important than romantic gestures. So why not use this Valentine’s Day to take the opportunity to speak to your man in his “love language?”
- Write him an email telling you how much you appreciate him- Many men just want to be appreciated for all the work they do. So take a moment to sit down, reflect about last week, and think of all the things, little or big, that your man has done for you. Remember: things that seem obvious, like going to work every day to earn the money to pay the mortgage, or showing up for dinner each evening, and very important and more than many men do. Take the time to acknowledge those efforts.
- Give him a Free Pass for the Day- Sometimes men just want to be left alone. Give him next Sunday, or the following, a whole day to watch TV, play video games and eat junk food. If you really want to go the extra mile, make him some nachos and let him eat the whole plate while he watches the game on TV!
- Give him a gift card to iTunes- These can easily be purchased at Walgreen’s. They’re a great idea because he can buy music, apps and even games. What man doesn’t secretly like to sit around and play video games all day?
- A bottle of Tennessee whiskey- This is like roses for women! Seems simple and boring, but most men love it. In fact, every time I’ve bought a man a bottle of whiskey, they’ve turned to me and said “This is the best present you ever got me.”
FOR BOTH MEN AND WOMEN
- A shared experience- Think of an activity you both like to do together. Hiking? Horseback riding? Skydiving? Not only will you enjoy taking part in a shared experience, but it will help you reconnect with your partner in a meaningful way. There are many websites where you can buy vouchers for experiences and print them up for immediate giving. Here’s an example: trulyexperiences.com
- Hugs and kisses- This is really the most important part of Valentine’s Day . . . shared love and intimacy. Even if you don’t have the time or money to get your partner anything, set aside the time to give them a big hug and kiss and tell them what they mean to you. If you really must give something, pick up a little bag of Hershey’s kisses and give them a chocolate kiss 🙂