7 Valentine's Day Gifts Ideas

Valentine’s day is quickly approaching and whether you’re doing your shopping in January or on February 13th you want to make sure that your gift (or lack thereof) isn’t going to break your loved one’s heart.

Chocolate and cards are always…well, fine – but you should look at Valentine’s Day as a bit of a way to ease off of the holidays. It can be a great opportunity to celebrate with a little bit of gift-giving on a day that’s not Christmas or someone’s birthday. You are probably already going through enough trouble to make Valentine’s Day special for your significant other, but by the time the passions subside and the last candy heart is gone, they’ll probably forget what may have been a pretty romantic night. Give them something that they can hold onto and remember the evening by. Now you may or may not be someone who enjoys the sappy V-Day mawkishness that happens at this time of year, so here are some gifts that range from the silly to the sincere. But I’m not putting flowers on the list. I’m just not going to do it. You can do better than that.

Heart Buckle

Here’s something for the country couple that doesn’t like to get too sappy with their Valentine’s gift exchange. These heart belt buckles from Montana Silversmith at BootCity.com are great for the little lady who would rather spend V-Day two-stepping than getting schmoozy during an overpriced dinner. Plated with 99.9% silver, the buckle is something that people aren’t going to miss the next time you two go out to the honkey tonk.

Dinner

Some couples want to spend the evening enjoying one another’s company in a more traditional way. It’s never a bad idea to have a night of intimate conversation over a quiet dinner. Chamberlain’s Steak & Chop House in Dallas offers its guests a sophisticated atmosphere with an absolutely stellar dinner menu. Steak dinners might seem too butch for your tender evening together, but pairing your food with wine instead of a beer will give the entire meal a romantic quality that both of you can appreciate. Not to mention your honey’s sweet tooth will appreciate something off the dessert menu a whole lot more than candy.

Jewelry


Maybe it’s only your first Valentine’s Day with that special someone, and both of your tastes side with the simple. You don’t want to get anything that will look too serious, but you want to reassure her of your newly-blossoming affection. These silver necklaces from ZuluMoon have the straightforward simplicity that you want from a first-Valentine’s gift. But even if you and your loved one have seen many seasons together, one of these necklaces can be the small gesture that reminds her of when your love was in its infancy. If you’re not quite ready for a proposal these gifts will make a good primer for when you do decide to get down on a knee.

Men's Jewelry

Women aren’t the only ones who can appreciate a bit of jewelry as a gift. The fact is that plenty of men enjoy wearing jewelry, and actually know how to wear it well. We’re not talking giant medallions hanging behind an unbuttoned card shirt, but a little bit of ‘bling’ so to speak can actually bring balance to a guy’s outfit. Most guys won’t care for anything too flashy, but something like these Magnetic Bracelets from WesternHats.com can offer a subtle flair to a guy’s image. These bracelets don’t hang, swing, jingle, or shine more than you’d like – they’re for the down-to-earth everyman who doesn’t buy into every fashion trend, but is still conscious about how he looks.

Spa Treatment

Every girl wants to be pampered, and although she may want to spend all of Valentine’s day with he hubby, it won’t be long before she’s craving some ‘me-time’. A spa treatment gives a woman the chance to unwind and be reassured of her beauty when work, school, or (yes) her boyfriend is becoming more than she can handle. A certificate for a facial, massage, pedicure, or any activity where your girlfriend can just relax will definitely be well-received and will save you the agony of having to choose between a dozen different gifts at the department store.

Chocolate

So I know that no matter how many unique gift ideas are given to them, some men are just going to play it safe this year with a box of chocolates. Now I suppose this gift isn’t anything to scoff at (it is the most characteristic Valentine’s Day gift), but at least try to make it interesting by getting your Valentine a box of chocolate that's as unique as she is. Variety boxes are possibly the most hackneyed gift you can find – go to a gourmet chocolate shop and find something that's different, but still decadent. Chocolate is delicious, but it can be boring if you aren’t willing to experiment with something you haven’t tried before. Chocolate can be infused with chili, salt, alcohol, and even bacon (though, probably not the most romantic selection), so don’t limit yourself to the usual caramel or coconut fillings.

Anything Heart-Shaped

You don’t always have to buy a gift that’s going to make your loved one tear up with joy - sometimes you want to save the big emotional payload for birthday or holiday gifts. Some people like to dote on their loved one a bit, but don’t buy into the Valentine’s Day hype. A gift that’s festive but practical is always a great choice for these intermediate holidays. These types of gifts are for people who would rather not break the bank or spend hours shopping in at the mall, but still don’t want to be empty-handed on the when it comes time to exchange presents. If this is the case, you’ll want to find something that has everyday use but is just novel enough to qualify as a gift for a special occasion. A heart-shaped mug or even a heart-shaped egg mold might be a little bizarre, but sometimes that’s all you need to remind someone that you care.