We hear the collective sigh from here. In fact, we breathe it too. Christmas’ Amazon Wish Lists have been exhausted and gift barrels well and truly scraped clean. Valentine’s Day will be here before you know it, and with it, the expectation of flowers and chocolate and nothing in the least bit imaginative.
While these may be great fallback items, they are just that. For your sister, lover or mother perhaps; to be brought on from the sub’s bench in times of crisis but certainly not used to express undying adoration. To capture the romance of the occasion, then, and to show appreciation for the one you love, give a gift from the heart; personalised, individual and partner-appropriate. So, here are 5 IDEAL unique Valentine’s gift ideas.
REST AND RELAXATION
Sometimes a busy man or woman just wants a night off to unwind and relax. As simple as that. Rather than venturing out to dinner on one of the busiest nights of the year – spending a fortune in the process as restaurants rack up the prices to cope with demand – why don’t you set up a night of rest and relaxation at home? Buy your partner a new pair of pyjamas or robe and some slippers. Open a bottle of wine, put on some relaxing music, run them a bath and let the stress melt away.
A RESTAURANT VOUCHER
A voucher for your partner’s favourite restaurant can be a great gift, and one far more warmly welcomed than the usual, boring suspects. You’re essentially putting down a deposit for them – and you – to have a good time. So, when the evening of your meal comes around, you can indulge in all of the food and wine completely stress and worry free; no fearing the bit where you ask for the bill (oh, that’s just us? whoops). An added bonus; restaurants often offer special offers and discounts on vouchers, earning you a free glass of something fizzy on arrival, or a little extra nibble. Lovely stuff.
UNIQUE JEWELLERY
This Valentine’s Day, forget the heart-shaped everything and look past the advertisements. Jewellery will always have a place at the top table of gifts, but if you’re getting the same pair of earrings as everyone else then that table might as well be at McDonald’s. If you are going to tread a cliched path, present-wise, then at least make it unique. Consider a family ring with everyone’s birthstones for mum. Or, perhaps an emerald pendant, perfect for the Spring season which – thankfully – isn’t far away. If you’re shopping for the man in your life, cufflinks or a tie clip make a great accessory piece which provide function as well as sparkle.
COFFEE, TEA, OR ME?
If your partner is a coffee or tea connoisseur (aren’t we all?) then make them a gift basket celebrating their love of caffeine. If coffee is the name of the game, add a few bags of specialty coffee, biscotti, and a new mug. If your coffee lover doesn’t already have a French press, add one of those as well. Don’t forget to make them the coffee, preferably serving it to them in bed on Valentine’s Day when they wake up. Little gestures like this are often the biggest, and really show how much you love someone.
For tea lovers, create a selection of specialty teas and consider getting them a three-piece steeping mug. You could also get them one of the many hilariously shaped tea infusers, like a shark, submarine, deep sea diver, or rubber duck. Pair with some delicious cookies (bonus if they’re homemade).
AGREE NOT TO
Hey, here’s a thought. Valentine’s Day is just a commercial construct, manufactured and manipulated by marketing departments to fleece the already struggling public of their hard earned money through guilt. You’ve already had to prove your love for family and friends through Christmas presents. So if you’re still reeling from festive splurging 6 weeks later, for Valentine’s Day you and your partner could just agree not to.
