Valentine's Day Tips

Handmade Valentines Cards are a great way to show you care. You can use your favorite poem or song lyrics, or you can write your own poem.




Valentines Day Gifts - Find wonderful gifts for Valentines Day

Put together a scrapbook filled with mementoes of your time together. Items can include photographs, ticket stubs from movies and concerts, as well as keepsakes from places you have visited. With each item a short paragraph explaining why that particular moment is so special.

Mixed CDs of romantic love songs, or your significant others favorite songs is always a good idea for a Valentines Day gift.

There is no need to go out to eat when a home cooked meal can be just as romantic. Prepare your significant others favorite meal, choose a perfect wine, light some candles, place a vase of fresh flowers, and turn on some romantic music. It's the perfect way to have a romantic private meal for two without having to go out.

Plan some time together. You can book a getaway for the two of you, or you can keep it closer to home. You can both sign up for a class that teaches something you are both interested in, such as cooking, or dancing.

Breakfast in bed is a great way to start the day on Valentines Day. Get up early and take the time to make it extra special with heart shaped pancakes, or toast. Don't forget the love note and single rose to go along with the meal.

Instead of buying something for your Valentine, take the extra time to put together a homemade gift. You can make a candy jar filled with chocolate kisses, or personalized M&M's. You could also make a pretty planter and put plants in it. The possibilities are endless - and your loved one will appreciate the thought, creativity and energy that was put into it.

If you know that you want to do something big and extravagant for your Valentine, take the time to really plan ahead. Make sure that you have the money to do it, if it involves going out, make sure to have the reservations booked a long time in advance. If it involves tickets, make sure that you have gotten them.

Thinking of buying your Valentine flowers this year? If you want to save some money, order well in advance, or perhaps think outside the traditional red roses. Knowing what your Valentines favorite flower is might save you some money. For example if your Valentines favorite flower is a Daisy, why buy red roses…get the Daisy's! You can also purchase a live plant that will live for many years (provided its cared for) instead of just a few days.

Knowing your Valentine well will allow you to get the best possible gift for them. Don't buy someone jewelry or a tie if they are never going to wear it. The best gifts are ones that are well thought out, and the recipient is thought of - their likes, dislikes, wants and needs.

Many local newspapers offer special rates for Valentine's Day greetings, including your sentiments, a poem, and in some cases, even a picture of your sweetheart. Check your local paper, and create a truly one-of-a-kind Valentine's Day gift for about as much as that tie or jewelry he or she may never wear!

Buy your spouse a massage or a spa treatment at a place that pampers them. Take the time to go there first rather than just picking them out of a phone book. Because it's very personal, you want to ensure that it will be a comfortable, professional environment. Ask your friends for recommendations. You can include the gift card in the flower arrangement. This will be an extra-special Valentine gift!

For a clever Valentine's Day dessert, bake a batch of cupcakes in your love's favorite flavor (for example, devil's food cake with pink-tinted vanilla frosting or cherry cake with chocolate frosting). On a large tray or platter, arrange them in a heart shape and top with candy "conversation hearts," heart-shaped cake decors, M & M's or other topping.

Some bakeries offer prepared cupcake trays of this type for $10 to $12; you can do this for less at home!

Surprise your special someone with a small trip somewhere. It doesn't have to be something on a grand scale but can be something local and inexpensive. Try looking at interesting areas and attractions in your area such as a trip to a winery, a picnic in a nice park, an evening boat ride if you are near water, a night in a mountain cottage, etc. It shows that you are thoughtful for planning the little excursion that goes outside of your normal routine.

While you are planning your gift for your loved one, find a creative way to present it too! For example, if you are planning a romantic dinner for two at home after they get off work, have a trail of thoughtful notes leading from the front door to the dinner table.

For a gift he or she will remember for years - go to a local animal shelter and adopt a dog or cat. There are plenty to choose from.

Create your own "conversation hearts". Purchase a glass jar from a crafts store and label it with "I love the way you...." Be creative and decorate it with your loved one in mind. Using the traditional Valentine's colors - red, pink, and white - cut out hearts with construction paper and complete the sentence with one thought on each heart. For example, you could complete the sentence with "love me".

For something easy to pull off at the last minute either go out to, or rent a romantic movie. Spend some quality time together.

Don't forget the age old tradition of bringing valentines to school. Help your kids put together some fun valentines to hand out to their teachers and classmates.

If you choose to do a romantic dinner at home, put a twist on it by making it more elegant. Have each other dress up in a nice suit and dress. If you have a child, you can even have your child dress up to and be your "waiter" for the evening.

Guys, buy your Valentines Day gift a bit early so you don't forget. There's nothing worse than remembering on February the 13th and having to scramble that night to find something appropriate. Remove that anxiety and DO IT NOW!

If you are a guy on a tight budget try making her dinner. even if if does not come out great she will appreciate the effort.

Here is a cute tip for making cupcakes for Valentine's Day: place a marble inside each muffin tin on the outside of the paper cupcake cup to create heart-shaped cupcakes.

If you really want to make a splash, make a reservation at a hard to get into restaurant a year or so before hand. Not only will she enjoy eating at an exclusive, swanky spot but she will appreciate the forethought that went into the planning.

If you can swing it - try a surprise lunch date! This can be hit or miss, but if you pull it off you will get extra points for being spontaneous!

Build some fond memories on valentines day by doing something together. This can be something as simple as making cookies together.

Throughout the year (but especially closer to Valentine's Day), listen to things she says she likes as you are shopping, watching TV, etc. She is most likely trying to give you subtle hints on what she would like as a gift. Jot down notes somewhere if you need help remembering. If you present her a gift that she hinted at previously, it will show that you listen to her and will make the gift even that more special.

Find a great picture of the 2 of you and have it enlarged and professionally framed.

When sliced right, strawberries look just like little hearts! Place them on top of your valentines day cupcakes or cake for a nice treat.

Know what your special lady's favorite flowers are. Sure, almost everyone loves red roses but they are such a standard gift like a box of chocolates. It will show that you pay attention if you send her a bouquet of tulips, daises, lilies, etc. She will appreciate you more for thinking outside of the box.

Make sure your pet has a safe Valentine's Day. Try to keep any of your chocolates and flowers that can harm your pet out of their reach. You don't want your pet getting sick from the box of chocolates you bought your loved one!

If you are married, Valentine's Day could be a great time to plan a surprise, romantic renewal of your wedding vows.

Here is tip for someone that does not have special person on Valentines Day. Give that homeless person that you pass everyday on your way to work a few dollars or get something for a Senior that you know is alone. It will make you both feel good.

Since Valentines Days falls on a Sunday this year. A road trip to a local beach or lake could be fun - even in the winter it is nice to walk along the water and talk.

Revisit the reasons why you fell in love with your partner and still do! Have the two of you create lists showing at least 5 things that they does that you love and vice versa. Share them with each other on Valentine's Day.

Rather than just buying her standard, stock item, try to find a Valentine's Day gift that can be personalized. Giving her a gift with her name engraved on it will be more meaningful because of the thought and time that went into finding it.

Check your local newspaper for any events that may be going on to celebrate Valentines day. It could be a fun craft workshop for the kids or a romantic valentines day ball.

An alternative to buying regular flowers is to buy glass flowers which will last forever as a symbol of your eternal love where the regular flowers will die after a week or so.

Surprise your wife by doing the house cleaning that week.

Since Valentines day is on a Sunday this year, plan a day trip to a place that has special meaning for both of you.