Simple sentiments that show you care
If all the advertisements for romantic candlelit dinners and chocolate arrangements haven’t hit you yet, let this be a reminder: Valentine’s Day is almost here! While historically, the day was a celebration of the Christian feast of St. Valentine, it has since graduated into a commercial holiday that celebrates love and romance.
Now, we shouldn’t need annual reminders to cherish our significant others or loved ones, but any excuse to spoil them is never a bad thing. Here are a few out of the ordinary gift ideas to spread some love without breaking the bank.
Matching shirts
Whether you want to be funny, silly, cute or actually kind of cool, there’s a lot of room for interpretation with this gift. Depending on what you’re going for, matching shirts for you and your better half can make for a cute photo together, or it can be a fun conversation starter or a cute public declaration of love. That is, if you’re brave enough to wear it in public together!
Handmade with love
There’s nothing better than a gift you’ve made yourself. If you’ve got a particular talent, this is a great opportunity for you to create something special and unique for your loved one. If you’re musically inclined, record a song or put together a cd of their favourite music. If you’re a whiz in the kitchen, make them their favourite food. For those of you whose artistic abilities extend beyond drawing stick men, break out the glitter glue and coloured paper for an extra special Valentine! Share your love the way you know best.
Bring back the love letter
Some of the most important historical documents are, in fact, love letters. Your beloved will always appreciate hearing about why you love them, and that kind of honesty is best written down, where they can read it and cherish it any time they want (Whatsapp is temporary, the written word lasts forever). Think about everything you want them to know, write it all down — bring back the love letter!
Pic courrtesy Feather Project
Personalised gifts
A lot of creative freedom with this one too. Thoughtful gifts could be as simple as a key tag with a special message on it like the ones from Feather Project (www.instagram.com/featherproject), merchandise from a movie or TV show you know they like, or even a nice engraved watch. A gift based on your inside jokes or special moments throughout your relationship shows them that you remember and cherish all those moments that are uniquely yours. Get thinking!
Pic courrtesy Brown Sugar
Food gifts
If you know that food is the way to their heart, this is a surefire hit. Find out what their favourite food is and treat them to it. For extra brownie points, you could even have it decoratively arranged for some special flair. Chicken nugget bouquets and donut bouquets like the ones from Brown Sugar (www.instagram.com/brown_sugar_treats/) are popular options. Go ahead, dough it! Bake it happen! We’ll stop now. (Pro tip: make sure you know of any dietary restrictions!)
Spending time together
Let’s be real: undivided attention is a gift we’d all love to get but rarely do, especially in the age of smartphones and lack of work/life balance.
Whether it’s a grand romantic outing or a night in with Netflix — make time for your favourite person, and just spend a date together with no distractions whatsoever.
Don’t forget your friends
Love comes in all forms, and it doesn’t have to be romantic. Your friendships are just as worthy of celebrating! This is your excuse to buy that cheesy BFF necklace you’ve secretly always wanted. Or like Leslie Knope from Parks and Recreation, you can host your own Galentine’s Day and celebrate the people who have always been there for you.