Your guide to the perfect Valentine's Day gift
If you are one of those people who hates Valentine’s Day or who is ramping up for your annual diatribe on how awful Valentine’s Day is and how you don’t need a special day to show someone that you love them, etc., etc., then this post is not for you. If you are someone who enjoys making a fuss over your loved one and doing something extra special (because of course we all do something special for our loved ones each and every day, right….) then pull up a chair. I’ve got the secret decoder ring that is going to help you earn an “exuberant expression of gratitude” on Valentine’s Day (wink, wink). The key to effective gift giving is to consider the occasion, the preferences of the recipient, the message you want your gift to convey and your budget. Contrary to what some of you may think, small kitchen appliances and power tools do not say “I Love You” on Valentine’s Day (well, maybe they do, but I digress…..)
Now, these suggestions assume that you are in a committed relationship with the person for whom you are shopping and that you have a reasonably good track record with regard to gift giving. If you are only casually dating or in one of those “it’s complicated” relationships a different set of recommendations applies (and that’s a post for another day…..). Also, if you usually give your husband/wife a gift that would also have been appropriate for your father/mother, all roads on your shopping trip are going to lead to Jared
, Kay
or Cornell’s
. For those of you who generally hit your mark with gift giving, I offer the following:
Art
A framed print or poster from Poster Art
on Monroe Ave. is an awesome gift. They have hundreds of pieces from which to choose and offer framing for a very affordable price. Below are two of my favorites, appropriate for a celebration of love:
The Gift of Song
You probably think I am going to suggest a concert or a CD of some sort. Both are very nice suggestions. But they pale in comparison to a Singing Valentine delivered in person by the Fusion Quartet
. These lovely ladies will serenade the object of your affection in four-part harmony with a rose and a card containing your personal message. This has a certain old-fashioned charm and is sure to be the gift that your loved one talks about for years to come.
Sensual Scents
Fragrance plays a huge role in romance. Scent is primal and is part of what attracts us to each other. You could certainly go to the mall and buy a designer sent. But a much better option would be to visit Paula’s Essentials
on Thurston Road and at the Public Marke
t. There, you can create a unique fragrance and have a variety of items infused with that fragrance. You could create your own gift basket including items like whipped shea butter, bath/shower gel, lotions and room fragrance. Side note: definitely keep in mind fragrances that are known to be aphrodisiacs such as jasmine, lavender, ylang-ylang and ginger. However don’t overlook that fact that sometimes scents are associated with memories and that recall can be an aphrodisiac.
Human Touch
Massage therapy has many health benefits and a couple’s massage at Healing Haven
on East Avenue would set just the right tone of relaxation for your Valentine’s Day date. Choose from an assortment of therapies like Shiatsu
and Reiki
. Healing Haven gives you the option to each get the type of massage that suits you best. You are probably thinking that you could save money by just giving your loved one a massage yourself. I want you to think about your skill level vs. that of a trained professional. I also want you to imagine your loved one’s face on Valentine’s Day when you say “honey, guess what I got you” as you stand there grinning with a bottle of Johnson’s Baby Oil in your hand…… I thought not…
Tasty Treats
Let’s face it – chocolate is the iconic Valentine’s Day gift. But before you rush down to Rite-Aid and buy the chocolate assortment in the big, heart-shaped box or the Whitman Sampler, you need to consider the chocolates at Hedonist Artisan Chocolates
on South Avenue. Not only are they hand made and presented in packaging that doesn’t suggest that you let a 3rd grader pick it out, but they come in grown-up flavor assortments like Lavender
and Spice
. Side note: chili is a known aphrodisiac. Chili peppers contain capsaicin, a chemical that stimulates the release of endorphins,increases the heart rate and sensitivity of nerve endings, thereby facilitating that “exuberant display of gratitude” I mentioned earlier
.
What are you planning to get your loved one for Valentine’s Day?