10. A bouquet of flowers
The tradition: Roses
The twist: Flowers are
beautiful, but they ultimately whither and die. Give her something as lasting
as your love by garnishing the bouquet with a variety of tiny tokens. A vase
full of candy might be a nice addition to your bouquet.
09. A home-cooked meal
The tradition: The
well-intended, but ultimately disastrous, home-cooked meal.
The twist: Hire a
professional chef to cook for both of you. Your local Yellow Pages are full of
qualified caterers who will not only cook a sumptuous feast for you. Bon appétit!
The tradition: Lingerie
that you find arousing (think latex nurse outfit).
The twist: Present her
with a provocative piece of lingerie from a high-end retailer. And rather than
buying her the teeniest, tiniest and trashiest thing you can find, buy her
lingerie she'll actually wear. That means making sure it will flatter her best
assets, while concealing the areas she might be most sensitive about. The
sexier she feels, the more likely she'll be to wear it over and over and over
again.
07. A mix CD
The tradition: A CD of songs that have a special significance in your relationship.
The twist: CDs are so 1999. Truly impress her by putting "your song" on a brand new MP3 player with photo and video capabilities. If an MP3 player is out of your price range, you could buy her a digital picture frame to keep on her office desk instead.
The tradition: A CD of songs that have a special significance in your relationship.
The twist: CDs are so 1999. Truly impress her by putting "your song" on a brand new MP3 player with photo and video capabilities. If an MP3 player is out of your price range, you could buy her a digital picture frame to keep on her office desk instead.
06. Jewellery
The tradition: A bland ring or necklace.
The twist: Titanium's the new silver. Rather than dropping cash on some random unoriginal accessory, buy her something that'll stand out — like a pink sapphire tension set titanium ring. Have the ring engraved with a personal message. The message could be as simple as your names and anniversary date. Regardless of what you choose, she's guaranteed to appreciate this thoughtful — and lasting — declaration of your love.
The tradition: A bland ring or necklace.
The twist: Titanium's the new silver. Rather than dropping cash on some random unoriginal accessory, buy her something that'll stand out — like a pink sapphire tension set titanium ring. Have the ring engraved with a personal message. The message could be as simple as your names and anniversary date. Regardless of what you choose, she's guaranteed to appreciate this thoughtful — and lasting — declaration of your love.
05. Chocolates in a heart-shaped box
The tradition: A box of chocolates purchased at the local pharmacy.
The tradition: A box of chocolates purchased at the local pharmacy.
The twist: Avoid clichs this Valentine's Day and give her
chocolate-covered strawberries instead.
04. A horse and buggy ride
The tradition: The clichéd carriage ride.
The twist: Why limit yourself to just a carriage? Go up, up and away in either a helicopter or a hot air balloon. Her heart will positively soar looking down on the bright lights and landscape of your city as you glide through the air. As an added bonus, you can even bring along a picnic basket filled with food and champagne to enhance your special ride.
03. A love letterThe tradition: The clichéd carriage ride.
The twist: Why limit yourself to just a carriage? Go up, up and away in either a helicopter or a hot air balloon. Her heart will positively soar looking down on the bright lights and landscape of your city as you glide through the air. As an added bonus, you can even bring along a picnic basket filled with food and champagne to enhance your special ride.
The tradition: Expressing your intimate thoughts in poetry or prose.
The twist: When it comes to love letters, the key is presentation. If writing isn't your strength, you can make her a special video or photo slideshow set to some of her favourite romantic songs. No matter how feeble your effort, cherished gifts like these are certain to end up in her special "memories" box for eternity.
02. A hotel stay
The tradition: A room for the night at an upscale hotel.
The twist: A night away is always a treat, but it's especially nice when it's in another city altogether. Regardless of where you go, heighten your experience by booking a pair of professional masseuses for a relaxing couple's massage.
The tradition: A room for the night at an upscale hotel.
The twist: A night away is always a treat, but it's especially nice when it's in another city altogether. Regardless of where you go, heighten your experience by booking a pair of professional masseuses for a relaxing couple's massage.
The tradition: The traditional Valentine's Day dinner at a local romantic joint.
The twist: Spread your dinner across town with multiple courses at different locales. Rent a limo and go out on the town as you relive some of your most memorable dates. Have an aperitif at the lounge where you first met, enjoy dinner at the restaurant where you proposed, have dessert at the café where you first confessed your love, and finish it off with a well-timed nightcap back home. She'll fall in love all over again as the emotions conjured up by each location begin to set in.
