Valentine's Day...part 2

Now gifts for women. I’m not exactly the expert (check my dating record for proof) but I think I have some good suggestions for the lady in your life. Valentine’s Day can be tricky, but be bold, smart, and observant. I think that this is the perfect opportunity for you to show somebody that you really know them and if they don’t like what you pick, maybe it’s a sign that you don’t know them well enough.

By the way, I’m a big planning person, so most of my ideas are events rather than physical gifts, but to each his own.

1) Concert Tickets - I think the key to Valentine’s Day is that you need to show your lady that she is special year round and what better way to do that than by planning a special night further down the road. There are some amazing shows coming to a city near you in the next few months, maybe even look at her ipod to make sure that she actually likes the artist that you choose (some say they like people because it makes them look cool in your eyes). I think it speaks volumes if you pick something that she really wants to see (even if it wouldn’t be your first choice). A few suggestions: No Doubt Reunion Tour, Billy Joel/Elton John Face 2 Face Tour, Taylor Swift (tickets are only $20), Coldplay Summer Amphitheater Tour, Keith Urban, Katy Perry…these are just some of the ones off the top of my head, but go to ticketmaster.com and check who is coming to your area.

2) Tiff’s Treats – everybody in their office is going to get flowers, why not send something original like COOKIES, not just any cookies, but cookies that are guaranteed to be delivered WARM, fresh out of the oven and with milk, they are sold in dozens so she can share with people in the office and they will know that her guy is AMAZING, not just boring old overpriced, wilting by the time they’re FedExed roses. http://www.cookiedelivery.com/ (don’t forget to have them delivered on the 13th this year, since Saturday the 14th nobody will be at work)

3) Drive-In Movie Night – I recommended this to a friend a few weeks ago and he said it went really well. Go to the grocery store and pick up some snack foods, if you’re talented, make a cheese tray/dessert assortment (don’t get too carried away if this is your first rodeo), grab a bottle of wine and head to the nearest drive-in movie theater. There are great movies out right now and it is creative, you can talk, hang out watch a movie outside, bring a blanket and sit on the hood of your car (that is if you’re not crazy over-protective of yours)…could be corny in the end, but what isn’t corny about V-day?

4) Adele - For the simple and to the point, buy her 19, the debut album from Adele, its romantic raspy and poetic. She'll love it if she likes Norah Jones, John Mayer, Sara Bareilles and/or Michael Buble. Its a great romantic and nice cd.

Hope some of these spark some interest or at least steer you in the right direction. I’m not a big fan of corny jewelry for women (such as the newest heart pendant from Zales), so I refuse to go down that route and I don’t think you have to spend a lot of money to have a great time, plus I think when you plan something it shows you care way more than just peeking into her medicine cabinet to replicate some expensive perfume that she already has and gets from grandma every year for her birthday, but if you’re bold and think you can pick out a pair of Tory Burch flats that she’s been dying for, then be my guest, she’ll love you just as much for knowing exactly what she wants.

"Love is the greatest refreshment in life."
-Pablo Picasso