|
|
Valentines Gifts Gestures from the Heart by Kate WallingValentine's Day is no comparison to Christmas when it comes to gift-giving, and that is what makes this holiday so sweet. The smallest gestures of love go a long way on February 14. Here are some of my favorite Valentine gift ideas: Share the food of love. It's been estimated that over a billion dollars is spent on Valentine's Day cards alone. Imagine how much more is spent on candlelit dinners out! You can soften the blow to your wallet by dining in on Valentine's night. It's perfect - you don't need a reservation; there's no wait or noisy table neighbors; and you can sweeten the deal by actually cooking dinner yourself (or together). Spending time to cook for a loved one is far more special than dining out. And, if you're truly a menace behind the stove, you can order in. Create a recipe for love (or a whole cookbook). Gather some of your sweetheart's favorite recipes and create a cookbook, like a scrapbook. Or, start a Valentine's Day tradition by trying a new recipe at home each year. Add each year's new recipe to a personalized cookbook and you'll have an entire recipe book of love to pass down to your children. Roses aren't the only flower out there. Yes, roses are considered to be the traditional Valentine's Day gift. This is why their prices skyrocket the second week in February. Think outside the dozen-roses-box and select a new flower for your sweetheart. Find out what her favorite flower is (if it's not the rose) or venture into your wedding album and choose a bud from her bouquet (take the pictures to the florist if you're not sure). If you must buy roses, consider the source. Supposedly Latin American roses have bigger blooms, while domestic roses smell sweeter. Give your sweetheart an I.O.U. Or, give them a whole book of them. Pick up a small notepad from your local dollar store and create a packet of coupons for your sweetheart. Include anything from a "get out of doing dishes" coupon to a voucher for a back rub or special night out. Be creative and keep in mind the most important part of this simple and virtually free gift: you HAVE to honor the coupons when they are tendered! Take a picture perfect trip down memory lane. Digital cameras are great for taking hundreds of photos that will live on your computer forever. Go through your collection and choose some favorites from over the years. Most photo processing centers, such as CVS (www.cvs.com), have online services where you can upload images from your computer to be printed and picked up at the store. Include non-digital prints that date back a little further and put them all together in a little photo album. Leave a note. Love letters are often made out to be well-crafted, poetic musings of the heart. They don't have to be! A simple sticky note on the steering wheel of your sweetheart's car is enough to brighten his or her day. If you're feeling more ambitious, skip the old Valentine's Day card route and write down the things you love most about your sweetheart, or write about a favorite memory you share. E-mails count, but having something to hold on to is twice as nice on Valentine's Day. Go the extra mile and actually use your handwriting skills (they're probably rusty from typing e-mails the last five years!) Spread the love. Valentine's Day does not have to be a stressful or over-gifted holiday, nor is it a holiday only to be shared between sweethearts. Parents, friends and other relatives are prime targets for cupid's arrow. Buy a packet of kids Valentine's cards (like the ones you handed out in school) and send them by mail (you may need to use another envelope). Not only will it bring back memories of grade school, but it will let the people in your life know you care.
Don't stress over the "perfect" Valentine's gift this year. Trust me; it'll be the small, heart-felt gestures that your sweetheart, family, and friends will remember.
About the AuthorKate Walling is founder of Secret Ingredients (www.TheSecretIngredients.com). She so cherished the traditions passed down in her family that she came up with a way to help other families do the same by creating personalized heirloom cookbooks. Visit http://www.thesecretingredients.com or contact her at kate@thesecretingredients.com. valentines gift gestures
Home Page > Directory-Home > RELATIONSHIPS > valentines gift gestures
|