Gift Ideas For Valentine's Day

"Love is in the air, everywhere I look around!"

It's nearing Valentine's Day and although I don't believe in the whole silly holiday, lots of people do and they need some good ideas for what to do for their loved ones on the day of love. I don't have a Valentine for this day and I'm fine with that. I spend every other day alone and so one day prescribed as the day of love is just a normal day for me. If you're like me and are not spending Valentine's Day with anyone, don't make yourself unhappy. It takes a stronger person to be alone and happy than to be happy with someone else. I think as long as you're happy in yourself, there's nothing wrong with being single and you should be proud of that. I am!

Okay, so now onto the gift ideas which is why you came here:

1. Roses and Chocolates.

These are the traditional gifts of Valentine's Day and although you may think it is a little cheesy and it's not very imaginative, it still works well as a gift. Especially if you don't get your partner flowers often, this makes it even more special; and every girl loves chocolates so why wouldn't they love this present?

2. Dinner at a restaurant.

This doesn't need to be a really expensive restaurant where you need to dress up. It could just be a restaurant that you went to on your first day or the first time you realised you loved your partner. This coupled with the story of why you brought her to the restaurant; it will make it so much more romantic. Sometimes, less is more. And in fact, dinner doesn't need to be at a restaurant, perhaps you could cook dinner at home or drive her to a special place to have a picnic type dinner. The more imaginative you can get according to your little love story will make it more romantic and the more thought = the more she'll love it.

3. Scrapbook of your love story.

Now this is probably a little too late of a gift idea for you to achieve in 2 days but it would be nice if you were a little arty to take a scrapbook and fill it in with some of your best pictures and memories together. It would make you look like a fantastic boyfriend/girlfriend for you to have remembered all the different occasions and even better if you were to put in some of the smaller memories that she/he might have forgotten. I think that sometimes the more personal the gift is, and the more thought about it is, the better it is and it turns what is quite a commercial holiday into a true day about love.

4. Do the chores.

This sounds like a really silly and really cheap idea of a Valentine's Day gift but if you have a busy household, those that have busy jobs and children will find this one more manageable and probably will be best received. But if you find that your partner is always doing the chores and never gets a rest; take on the role and do everything that they do for them. Make them put their feet up and rest for the day whilst you treat him/her like the queen. It's thoughtful, budget and it also shows how much you really care about them other than just buying something for them. Also, maybe buy some flowers and chocolates if you're feeling super romantic.

5. Standard jewellery.

It's a little self explanatory and a little cliché, but they don't call them clichés for any old reason. Clichés are there because they work and every girl will love jewellery for a gift. My only hesitation for this is that if you always buy jewellery, I would steer clear of it for this year and change it up a little with one of my other gift ideas so that it's not just a chore- you want a surprise.

6. Trip to Paris.

 Paris is one of the love cities of the world apparently and if you have some spare money around then perhaps a day trip or a weekend trip to Paris would top off her Valentine's Day. It might be nice for you to plan this without him/her knowing and to surprise him/her more than he/she could even imagine. I think that it would be fab to find out that you were going to Paris on the morning that you were and he/she would surely love you for that gift! 

7. Tell him/her you love him/her.

With all relationships, sometimes they get a little stale after a while and the routine sets in where you get up, kiss him/her goodbye in the morning, go to work, come home, eat dinner and go to bed. After the honeymoon phase has gone, you're left with reality of life and the demands of other things and so if you have found yourself in a rut where you don't always put romance at the forefront, just do something you would have done when you first met. Call him/her up during the middle of the day to tell them you love them etc. Or leave little notes in her bag so that she can look at them during the day. Remind one another of the reason you fell in love.

8. Pay to see his/her favourite band/musical/gig etc.

If you know your loved one well, you will know exactly what they would love to see- whether that's their favourite artist/band or to go see a play/musical. It would be a lovely surprise if you gave her tickets to see something he/she loves. It shows that you know what they like and even if you don't like whatever it is he/she would love to see, you have spent the time and effort to get tickets and to go and see them with him/her.

Now, I don't know about you but those are some pretty nifty ideas if you ask me. Some are easier than others and you've probably thought of them all but there's not much else I can suggest without knowing exactly who you are buying for. So take these ideas, ditch them or tweak them to your own liking. I hope I've helped those of you that might be struggling.

Ta'ra my beautiful swans!

xxx