Valentine's Day - A Guide for Men
By Indra Books
Did you know that after Christmas, Valentine's Day is
the biggest retail holiday? That means a variety of
things for you the consumer, but mostly it means the
market is saturated with a plethora of heart-shaped,
cutesy, not so worth it products.
I have a philosophy … one that is not always popular…
but here it goes. If you love someone, then saying
"I love you" is a full time job, not one accomplished
by dime store shrink-wrapped chocolates and plush
toys holding bags of candy hearts.
Don't get me wrong. These things were great when we
were 10, but we are adults now so here are a few ways
to ensure you have a classy holiday that shows you
put a lot of thought into it.
The key to success if knowing your significant
other's tastes and not stepping on a land mine in the
process of telling her how much you care. Yes, this
article is geared mostly towards the men out there
who are trying to get it right this year. However,
women, you can take heed of this advice as well
because I don't know a man alive who wants a teddy
bear holding a cheap satin heart.
- Ask yourself "Do I know her tastes well enough to
buy a personalized gift?" We are going to help you
sort this out, but you are going to have to too.
- What is your budget? Financial troubles as a
result of overspending on Valentine's Day are not
going to help your romantic life.
- Always be classy. You don't have to spend a
fortune to achieve style.
We have broken the choices down by the major items
generally purchased for Valentine's Day. This by no
means is an all-inclusive list, but will put you on
the road to victory.
Chocolate:
Does she like it? If not, then obviously skip this
traditional gift. Does she have a favorite brand? Or
favorite ingredient?
Whatever your answers to those questions, do not buy
shrink wrapped, generic chocolate. We are not a big
fan of the heart shaped, fake lace and Elvis velvet.
You know what I am talking about. Now avoid it! A
simple, elegant box with a nice ribbon is much
classier.
Flowers:
Does she like flowers? (Remember some people are
allergic to certain flowers)
Does she have a favorite? There is not a rule that
says they must be red roses. I happen to love yellow
roses and it would be a sign to me that my mate
understood me if he bought me yellow roses instead of
traditional red.
Jewelry:
Now talk about a land mine. If you are determined to
buy jewelry, consult her friends and family to find
out what she likes and wants if you are not absolutely
positive.
Good jewelry is an expensive proposition to screw up.
Avoid heart shaped anything … please, I am begging
you. The act of giving her the jewelry is saying
"I love you." There is no need to tattoo it on her
forehead, so to speak, by giving her a heart shaped
necklace she feels obliged to wear all of the time.
Dinner or Brunch:
- Go where you will both be comfortable.
- Make reservations to avoid waiting.
- If you want to try something new, go somewhere
that you both have wanted to try.
- If you are nervous about a new place and you want
the perfect evening, check out the place ahead of time.
- Be yourself. For example, if you are not a wine
expert then ask for help from the staff. We women
like a guy who will ask.
- Or be daring … don't go out to eat. If you are not
a very good cook, order take away from a local
establishment (not fast food or pizza) or hire a
personal chef, and put your time into setting a
beautiful table. She will be very impressed that you
made the effort.
Lingerie:
Oh yet another land mine. Do you get the feeling this
holiday was meant to test the best of relationships?
Be careful here. Your fantasies may not be her
desires. And please, please, please again be classy
not tacky. Cheap lingerie does not say "I love you."
It says "I'm cheap or you are a tramp." If you aren't
sure about this one at all, then make it a partner
activity. Tell her you want to buy her something nice
and that you want to do it together.
Other Gifts:
There is no rule that your Valentine's Day gift has
to be heart shaped, red/pink or traditional. I don't
recommend buying her a blender or cordless drill, but
if there is something that she has really been
checking out and you can afford it, then show her
that you have been paying attention and go for it.
Travel:
Many places offer weekend specials for Valentine's
Day, but often are booked well in advance. As an
alternative, plan a weekend away at a different time
and give this to her as a gift over your Valentine's
Day dinner.
Proposals:
OK, we saved this one for last because it is a big
one. For some reason, the multitudes feel that
proposing on Valentine's Day is the thing to do.
In case you couldn't tell from this article, I am
encouraging you to think out of the box. Valentine's
Day proposals have come to be expected. Why not be
different, propose at a random time and really
surprise her? However, if you feel that you must
succumb to the pressure, do it right. Follow all
of our tips above and crank them up a notch. Again,
be creative but classy. You want her to remember this
special time.
So here you are at the end of the article and about
ready to chuck in the towel. Don't! We know you can
do it. Take a deep breath, do not wait until the last
minute, and if it all seems a bit too overwhelming,
call in help. Use your resources and make this a
truly special day that is only the beginning of a
truly special year of romance.
