13 Valentine Gift Ideas

 If you're reading this on Thursday, there are only 5 shopping days left until Valentine's Day, and since you're short on time, you probably want to use Amazon so you can receive your item quickly.  In fact, some items even ship same or next day.  Even if you're on a fixed income (like me), and you think you can't spring for a Prime membership, you may be able to choose Prime at a discounted monthly rate.

So, what kinds of things can you give to the one you love?  Anything!  But why choose the tired, old "candy and flowers" routine?

Hallmark Paper Wonder Pop Up Valentines Day Card (Honeycomb Cupcake)

In Love & Pajamas: A Collection of Comics about Being Yourself Together

Sea Glass Earrings

Cute Dish Towel

Scrapbook Photo Album

Lava Rock Tiger Eye Bracelet

Shower Steamers

Burt's Bees Gift Set

Rose Quartz Massager and Jade Facial Roller

Scented Soy Wax Candle

Sterling Silver Rose Heart Initial Necklace

Mini Succulent Live Plant

Spa Gift Basket

I hope you find your Valentine the perfect gift!  Check out Thursday Thirteen for more fun!

Links are affiliate links meaning if you choose to make a purchase, I may receive a small compensation at no extra cost to you.

Thursday Thirteen Valentine's Edition

 I am resurrecting a post I wrote in 2015 in honor of the upcoming Valentine's Day "holiday" with a few minor changes.  (Guys, Valentine's Day is Monday.  Don't allow Superbowl Sunday to keep you from remembering this.)

This edition of Thursday 13 is brought to you by Valentine's Day. I'm not necessarily a huge proponent of Valentine's Day, as you can read in this post, but to my male readers (although I think most of my readers are female) you need to know that when a woman says, "Oh, you don't need to get me anything," or "Oh, anything will do," it is a good-natured LIE. Women just don't want to TELL you they expect a gift. They want it to be your idea. So, Men, your wife or girlfriend will always LOVE to get a gift from you, regardless of how much the lady doth protest.

1. A card - Not a Hallmark card. A card you have either made yourself, or if you must buy a pre-made card, include a super-sweet or sexy sentiment handwritten by you, or perhaps a love poem tucked inside. 

 

2.Candy - I prefer Peanut Butter M&Ms, but some women want a candy heart. But here's a tip... Skip the Pangburn's and go straight to the really good stuff like Dove, Ghiradelli, Lindt, Godiva, or even Russell Stover.

3. Flowers - I love the color pink and pretty much any type of flower such as carnations and roses. And I like Cala Lillies, too. Try to send them to her at work where her friends and co-workers will see them. That'll earn you some extra sugar. And make sure they come in a vase, not a box!

4.Stuffed Animals - Again, I don't mean the ones you get off the shelf at CVS or Walgreens. Get the good stuff! Go to Build-a-Bear workshop, probably in every mall near you, choose a cute bear, record your voice giving her a message, and the Bear-Builders will place the message so she can hear it when she presses a button in the animal's paw. She'll see you as thoughtful. I have a pink cat that my husband and children gave me that I love.

5. Pajamas or lingerie - Nothing too risque. A pajamagram is a great gift idea.

6. A Restaurant Dinner - Take her out to her favorite restaurant. And don't forget to make reservations so you don't have to wait for hours.

7. Perfume - Find out her favorite fragrance and purchase it for her.

8. Jewelry - Diamonds are nice, but so are earrings, necklaces, and bracelets. Ask a salesperson to help you choose something stylish in the costume jewelry section if your budget can't take diamonds right now. I have fallen in love with Charming Charlie!

9. Bubble Bath - And the time to take a long, hot bath without kids disturbing her! Or take one together. I love the detox rocks from Bath Junkie. And lavendar is a relaxing fragrance. I also like the  lavender/vanilla bath stuff from Bath and Body Works. But get what your lady likes.

10. Candles - Can you tell that women love fragrance? And again, don't go for the dollar store candles. Choose one at a place such as Yankee Candle Company or Bath and Body Works. If you want to support someone with a home-based business, PartyLite makes the best candles.  And if she prefers flameless wax fragrance, Scentsy is another home-based business that has quality products.

11. Movie Tickets - Take her to see that chick-flick she's dying to see.

12. Theater Tickets - Even better than a movie, buy tickets to the theater. She'll see you have a cultural side.

13. A Professional Massage or Facial - Saved the best for less. Massage Envy tends to be an affordable place. Find a day spa near you that gives deep cleansing facials, one hour massages, or better yet, couples massages. She'll be so relaxed! And a relaxed woman is a happy woman!

NOTICE: APPLIANCES ARE NOT ON THIS LIST ANYWHERE! 

Ladies, what do you prefer as a Valentine gift?

Happy Valentine's Day! Visit Thursday Thirteen here. 

My Happy List

This is Mamarazzi's weekly link-up!  What are you happy about today?

I'm happy for this...

The hubz and I "celebrated" our Valentine's Day early with dinner at Olive Garden this weekend.  I received these gorgeous flowers today, and we'll be going to lunch togther since I'm taking off half a day to have a medical prodecure done.  I'm thinking there will be bath stuff, candles, or candy to follow!

Trivia:  Parlement of Foules is a poem written by Geoffrey Chaucer in 1318.  This is the first recorded evidence linking Valentine's Day to romantic love. Chaucer wrote:

For this was on seynt Volantynys day
Whan euery bryd comyth there to chese his make.

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!

Valentine Contest

Winner to receive a $50 Tiny Prints * gift certificate! Will it be you?

If you've never visited Tiny Prints, please do so. They have a new line of Valentine cards, beautiful stationery, birth announcements, notecards, birthday cards, invitations, photo cards, stickers, and so much more! They are all printed professionally on high quality stationery, and they have such a variety, you're sure to find something you love.

Put your thinking cap on now.

I have no idea what to do for my husband for Valentine's Day this year. He's not the most romantic guy, and he never plans ahead, just to give you an idea of what he's like. He doesn't particularly like surprises. Go figure! So, I don't want to do anything too mushy, and I don't have a lot of time to devote to this since I work and have so many other obligations. I also don't want to spend more than $30 or $40. Obviously, he'll get a card (Tiny Prints has some pretty ones!) but what else?

Here's the deal. Can you come up with a unique, affordable idea for Valentine's Day? Please help me out! The person whose idea I choose will win the $50 gift certificate to Tiny Prints. Just leave your suggestion** in the comments on this post no later than January 28, 2009. One idea could get you SIX entries! See below.

Extra entries - after you've left your idea, you may do any or all of the following - Leave an extra comment for each entry.

1. Subscribe to my blog via a reader (let me know if you already subscribe).

2. Follow my blog (let me know if you already follow).

3. Stumble this post.

4. Blog about this post. Don't forget to leave your link.

5. Visit Tiny Prints and come back here and tell me your favorite Valentine design.

*If you decide to go ahead and place an order at Tiny Prints, you can receive 10% off orders of $49 or more by using coupon code TPLOVE by February 2, 2009. See details on their website.

**You MUST leave an idea for me first to be entered in the contest.

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Scrolling Saturdays

I've been waiting for Saturday this week, since it's so close to Valentine's Day! I am reposting "Hallmark or Holiday" originally posted on 2/14/06. Check out the meme at Scrolling Saturdays! Join the fun!

I often wonder who the romantics are and wh0 the cynics are. I think it's easily determined according to each person's thoughts on Valentine's Day. My husband and I decided to be frugal this year. We each got the other a card. I got him a small box of chocolates, and he got me two pink roses. I also made him a gift - a very clever (imho) coupon book, and I wrote him a short poem. We went to dinner together sans kids - very early as he doesn't make reservations - and it was blissful.

Now - did we do enough for eachother? I believe so! I suppose that Valentine's Day was originally a true observance or commemoration of something or someone that I have heard about in legends, but I think now that it's mostly a Greeting Card Company Marketing Technique. Obviously, the American public buys into it wholeheartedly. I "participate," but with reservation because what exactly am I celebrating? Perhaps I am celebrating my love for my husband, children, and God, but don't I celebrate that every day? If I don't give a Valentine to my husband, does that mean I love him less? My answer is no. Would I feel a little guilty if I didn't. Yes, I would. Perhaps Valentine's Day is a celebration of love, and perhaps it's just another day. It's a tug-of-war for me.Oh well.

Who's a cynic and who's a romantic?

Thursday Thirteen # 18

In Honor of the upcoming Valentine’s Day Holiday,
13 Sweets to Satisfy My Sweet Tooth

1. Cold Stone Creamery – chocolate ice cream with Reese’s peanut butter cup mix-ins

2. Blue Bell Dutch chocolate ice cream
3. Russell Stover Strawberry Cream Chocolates
4. 3 Musketeers candy bar
5. M & M’s – They are so much better than Kissables!
6. Lawler’s Turtle Cheesecake
7. Hershey’s Special Dark
8. Twix candy bar
9. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups – melt in your mouth!
10. Nestle Tollhouse cookies – homemade and still warm
11. Borden or Oak Farms chocolate milk
12. Sweet Tarts, especially pink and purple, not the chewy kind, though.
13. Watermelon jolly ranchers (yep, only the watermelon ones!)