by Juliet Romano

Created on: January 23, 2010

Valentine's Day is just like any other day only more commercialized than ever before. It is a day where the recession, just like during Christmas, does not exist. There is no such thing as an "ideal" gift really. You must customize the gift as much as possible. What does your significant other want? Actually that does not matter as they should not know what you will do or give them as long as you remember presents and gifts are separate. A present can be given whenever, but a Valentine's gift comes once a year.

Stay at Home Dinner and a Movie

The first thing you do is schedule out of work if you can, especially if your partner is planning on going to work. If she/he is at work, prepare a coming home meal with rose petals and soft music playing. Please note, soft music does not mean your favorite pop song, try classical to set the mood. Make sure to grab her/his favorite movie from the video stores so the two of you can cuddle up and watch it. Of course, when you plan this lunch or dinner don't try to pass it as a surprise just open the door as if it was casual and ask about their day or something.

Scavenger Hunt

If you can't get out of work, reserve a dinner table at a fancy and upscale place if you can afford it or her favorite restaurant. Call up the nearest department store, buy a nice dress or suit and pants, leave a note in there that tells her/him to go to the restaurant.Call her/him up and tell her/him you will be working late so you can get a chance to freshen up. Order some red roses and send them as soon as possible to your partner with a note telling them to go to the department store or where ever and give the person working there her/his name. If they are extremely paranoid and doesn't know what is going on, write your name on the card to give them some peace of mind, but try to not answer their calls. If she doesn't know where to go, leave proper directions and addresses on each of the cards as she hunts down the restaurant.

The Spa Day

Another great gift is knowing that your partner is stressed and relieving that stress by offering them a few hours of quiet, this means no arguing give your partner whatever they desire, even if it means listening to heavy metal for an hour and a half. Massage them with oil while having incense burn nearby. The smell and soft haze of the incense will create a calming mood. This is also a great gift in other areas that involve the use of the bedroom too, but I'd let you use your imagination on that one.

Overall, a Valentine should never be some cheaply elaborated cut up heart or those nasty tasteless candy hearts from Wal-mart. Sure, you can write a thousand poems to woe her to heaven and back, but if you can limit yourself to one poem and that's it. It's a waste of paper and your partner has to read the same sappy things over and over again. Make your partner feel special, not tell them how much you love them, show them you love them and remember it's their day more than it is yours.

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