Valentine’s Day is a time to celebrate love, passion and romance. Take the time to make your counterpart feel special and loved. It's a crucial day for any relationship, and nothing can ruin this occasion faster than a lack of planning. Valentine's Day gifts represent personal feelings and relationship status. Take the time and necessary steps to make this day worthwhile!



♥ Give a Valentine
Choose your greeting cards carefully, and yes a card is necessary for this occasion (I’m speaking to men here). There are a wide variety of Valentine's Day cards available, so make sure you find one that reflects your relationship. Do not purchase a card with a mushy love poem for a new relationship. This gesture may push the other person away. At the same time, a silly or humorous card may be taken offensively in a serious relationship. If you do find a silly card you like, make sure it seems fitting to your relationship and the other person's sense of humor. Supplement it with another card that expresses feelings. That way your bases are covered.

♥ Plan a Romantic Dinner
Valentine’s Day is the biggest day of the year for dining out. Plan ahead and make reservations if you are going out to eat. It’s not fun or romantic to drive from restaurant to restaurant looking for the least crowded place. If you are staying in and making dinner, planning ahead is still important. That means finding a recipe (if needed) and getting all the necessary ingredients. I'm sure this goes without saying, but choose a meal that you know the other person likes. Try to have the table set and dinner ready by the time he/she arrives. Consider using a red tablecloth, candles and music to make the evening even more romantic. An indoor candlelit picnic is a unique idea. Make your own chocolate covered strawberries for a romantic dessert.

♥ Avoid Gift Certificates
This is a sentimental occasion that deserves a sentimental gift. Although men generally don't mind gift certificates, it's still better to give something meaningful. The only gift certificates that are acceptable for this couple's holiday are ones for couple's massages or things of that nature. Gift certificates for stores or malls are very generic gifts. Valentine's Day is about showing you care. Handing the other person a slip of paper doesn't show much effort.

♥ Pamper your Special Someone
In our busy lives, who doesn't need a day to relax? Consider giving that special man or woman a sensuous massage or a day at the spa. At the spa, men will typically enjoy a good sports' massage (if for no other reason because it sounds masculine in comparison to other choices). Women might like a swedish massage, body wrap, facial, manicure or pedicure. Women also love bath & body gifts like bubble bath, shampoo, body wash and lotion. Add candles, a good book and a relaxation CD for extra stress relief. Pampering gifts are a great way to show you care.

♥ Look to the Future
If you are looking for a thoughtful gift for that special man or woman, consider tickets to an event. If he's a sports fan, consider getting tickets to see his favorite hockey team, or if she loves music, give her tickets to see her favorite band. Gifts like these show that you want to share the other person's interests and also that you have been paying attention. Of course gifts like these imply that you plan to be together in the future, so you may want to be careful with buying gifts like these in new relationships. You don't want to seem too serious and scare the other person away. Instead you may want to stick to the same theme, but choose sports memorabilia or a CD. These are still gifts aimed at the person's personal tastes, but they don't hold the same connotations.

♥ Be Careful with Lingerie
Although lingerie is a top-seller for Valentine's Day, that doesn't mean it's a great gift for everyone. A gift of lingerie in a new relationship is a death sentence. Even if you've been together for awhile, there are still dozens of ways this gift can backfire. Before setting foot in Victoria's Secret, make sure you know her exact size- NOT an estimate. Giving something sized too large or too small may be taken offensively. Another dilemma arises in the type or style of lingerie you choose. You don't want to overstep her boundries by chosing something too risqué. Choosing a gift of this nature can be very risky. If you are going to venture in this category, make sure you give a more sentimental gift as well. You want her to feel special and loved, and making her think you have one intention for the evening won't do that.

♥ Give Personalized Accessories
Jewelry is a classic gift for Valentine's Day. Jewerly can be very personal, like an engagement ring, promise ring, engraved bracelet or birthstone earrings. Pearls, diamonds and other precious stones are also favorites of most women. Choose personalized jewelry, engraved jewelry boxes, picture frames or vases for women. Men might like monogrammed tie clips, cuff links, engraved pocket watches or personalized travel bags. For new relationships, or for those who don't want to spend a lot of money, consider sterling silver jewelry.

♥ Send her Flowers
Flowers are another classic gift idea for Valentine's Day. For new relationships, giving a bouquet of flowers with a card is a nice sentiment. In serious relationships, flowers are more of a supplementary gift. Consider sending her flowers at work. It will impress her and her coworkers, which is important because she gossips about you to them. Having them on your side will never hurt. Place a single rose under her windshield wiper with a love note. Be creative and give a bouquet of her favorite flowers, or choose certain rose colors to send a particular message. Look below for rose colors and meanings.

"There's nothing like unrequited love to take
all the flavor out of a peanut butter sandwich."
-Charlie Brown


Celebrate your love this Valentine's Day!