Romantic Gift Ideas for Valentines Day

Before I get into the romantic gift ideas for Valentine’s Day, I want to discuss what It means to be romantic and why it is important for every relationship. First off, being romantic is not always shown In what you buy or what you do, it is shown in how you express your love for your partner through your actions.

I never thought of myself as being an overly romantic person. Although I’m always hearing my girlfriend’s friends say things like “he’s so romantic,” and “I wish my husband would do things like that for me,” or “how did you find a guy like that?” Words like that always boost my ego but that’s not why I do the things I do. I do the things I do because I truly know my girlfriend. I know how stressful her day is, I know how hectic things get at home being a single mom of 3 boys, and I know it seems like there is never enough time in the day for her to enjoy the things she wants to enjoy because she’s so busy tending to everyone else’s needs.

It’s the small things that I do that seem to be the most romantic. Things like cooking dinner and having it ready for when she gets home from work. Making repairs without her having to point them out to me seem to top the list too. And who would have thought that cleaning up and emptying the dishwasher could be a romantic gesture?

Being affectionate helps too; whether it’s a tender touch or holding hands, massaging the tension from her neck, back, and feet, or staring into her eyes as I caress her cheek, slide her hair over her ear and gently but passionately kiss her on the lips as I feel her embrace tighten around me.

One other thing I noticed works really well too, and that is giving her space. We don’t have t cuddle every time she sits on the sofa with me even though I really enjoy the cuddles. And I don’t have to talk to her on the phone as she drives to and from work. Early in our relationship I found the drive time to be alone time and in the beginning it was but we discovered that we allowed that talk time to become habitual and monotonous. It was the time, before I came along, that she used to clear her mind and prepare herself for the daily transitions between bread earner and homemaker. With the high stress career she has, she needs that transition time and having it back has done wonders for our relationship.

When you want to get a Valentine’s day gift for your partner you should take some time and really consider what it is that brings them happiness but you should also take into consideration what you can afford and remember that some of the best gifts are heartfelt.

Framed Picture with Poem

Take a picture of you and your partner together, write a handwritten poem or have it finely printed and take them to have framed together.  Or you can have a caricature drawn from your photo and write a heartfelt message to your partner and have them framed together.

Day at the Spa

Treat you and your partner to a couples massage.  Let yourselves be pampered.

Weekend Getaway

There is no rule that says you have to celebrate Valentines Day on February 14^th.  Sometimes, like this year in 2011 the day falls on a Monday but there is nothing stopping you from celebrating the weekend before.  Make reservations to a hotel in a nearby city, or even in your same town, just get away from your home.  Or, find a Bed and Breakfast nearby and be catered to.

Valentines Day Dinner

Make reservations at your partner’s favorite restaurant, get properly groomed and all dressed up. Present her with a bouquet of flowers or him with a special card.  If your partner’s favorite restaurant is a fast food joint then step it up and find a place that serves fine dining.

All of the Above

This is what I am doing for Valentines Day this year.  But I’m being a bit creative with it also.  I have devised sort of a scavenger hunt for my girlfriend.  On Friday evening I will present her with a card and in the card there will be a clue that leads the caricature and poem that I had framed for her. Next to the caricature she will discover a handwritten poem/clue that will lead to the brochure explaining our day a the spa as well as another handwritten poem/clue that will lead to the itinerary for our weekend getaway to a B&B just over the border in Wisconsin.  I already made arrangements for Grandpa to babysit.  When we return on Sunday to a perfectly clean house she will see the reservation on the counter to her favorite restaurant for Monday evening.  No, you don’t have to celebrate on the 14^th but you certainly cannot let the day pass without some form of romantic gesture.